VOLLEYBALL UPRIGHT AND ASSOCIATED ASSEMBLIES WITH AN EXTENSION POLE OR A NET

Abstract

An upright configured such that the widest portions of the upright are adapted to be in line with a net line tension. An upright may also be configured such that its flat inner sides are adapted to be substantially perpendicular to a net line tension, which may also space the thinnest portions of the upright away from a net line tension. Furthermore, an upright may have a sloped top surface and an improved pin connection with an inner extension pole. As a result of any or all of these features, exemplary embodiments of an upright, an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net, and a related assembly method may provide improved resistance to net line tension.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an upright or pole (hereinafter upright) and its associated assemblies with an extension pole or a net. Exemplary embodiments further include related methods for associated assemblies with an extension pole or a net.

In a typical setup, a pair of volleyball uprights are positioned on opposing sides of a playing court, and a taut net is suspended between the uprights. Because the net is tightly drawn, a substantial amount of force is placed upon the uprights. The force will eventually cause the uprights to bend, which will in turn negatively impact the tautness and placement of the net. As a result, an upright will eventually need to be replaced.

The known art has not adequately addressed this problem. FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, show a known upright and its known associated assembly with an extension pole and a net. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the known upright, wherein the widest portions of the upright are positioned on opposing sides of the upright and spaced away from the net line tension by the thinnest portions of the upright. In such an assembly, the flat inner sides of the upright are parallel to the net line tension, and the net line tension runs through the thinnest portions of the upright. Moreover, this known upright has a flat top near the pin connection with the inner extension pole, which has a limited strengthening benefit. In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the orientation of the pin connection is perpendicular to the net line tension, which also limits the strengthening benefit. Consequently, the thinnest portions of the upright bear the most force, which eventually causes the upright to bend. A need, therefore, exists for an upright and associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net for improved resistance to the net line tension. A need also exists for a related method for an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net for improved resistance to net line tension.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may satisfy at least one of these needs. In an exemplary embodiment, an upright may be configured such that the widest portions of the upright are adapted to be in line with the net line tension. An exemplary embodiment of an upright may also be configured such that its flat inner sides are substantially perpendicular to the net line tension. Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of an upright may have a sloped top surface that extends away from a pin connection with an inner extension pole (e.g., further away from a pin connection with an inner extension pole as compared to a pin connection of a conventional upright assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result of any or all of these features, exemplary embodiments of an upright, an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net, and a related assembly method may provide improved resistance to net line tension.

In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other benefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a known upright and its conventional relationship with net line tension.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a known associated net assembly comprising the upright of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an upright of the present invention, wherein the dimensions are exemplary unless expressly set forth otherwise.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of an associated net assembly comprising the upright of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a volleyball upright and an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or net. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be particularly advantageous for the sport of volleyball. Nevertheless, unless expressly set forth otherwise, it is not intended to limit an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to any particular type of sport. For example, a badminton upright and associated net assembly may also benefit from an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As another example, net assemblies that are not for sports may also benefit from an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an upright 10. In this embodiment, upright 10 comprises opposing widest portions 12 and 14 that are spaced apart by opposing thinnest portions 20 and 22. Upright 10 may also have an inner configuration that further comprises: flat and parallel inner sides 16 and 18 that facilitate the formation of widest portions 12 and 14; and curved inner sides 21 and 23 that facilitate the formation of thinnest portions 20 and 22. In this example, sides 16, 18, 21 and 23 are interconnected to form an opening 25 that is adapted to receive an extension pole 60 that may assist upright 10 with supporting a net 40, such as shown in FIG. 4. In other exemplary embodiments, an upright may not require assistance with support of a net. An upright and optionally an extension pole may support a net in any suitable or conventional manner (e.g., in a manner similar to a conventional net assembly).

In an exemplary embodiment of a net assembly, upright 10 may improve resistance to net line tension 42 that may result from supporting net 40. In particular, upright 10 may be configured such that the widest portions 12 and 14 (most preferably the respective widest points of widest portions 12 and 14, such as shown in FIG. 3) are adapted to be in line with the net line tension 42 of a net. This exemplary embodiment of an upright 10 may also be configured such that its flat and parallel inner sides 16 and 18 are adapted to be substantially perpendicular to the net line tension 42 of a net, and its thinnest portions 20 and 22 are positioned on opposing sides of upright 10 and spaced away from the net line tension 42 by widest portions 12 and 14. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of an upright 10 may have a sloped top surface 24 with a tallest edge 26 that extends away from a pin connection 50 with an inner extension pole 60 (most preferably further away from a pin connection 50 with an inner extension pole 60 as compared to a known upright assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result of any or all of these features, an exemplary embodiment of an upright and an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net may provide improved resistance to net line tension.

FIG. 4 shows additional features that may also improve resistance to net line tension 42. In particular, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a net assembly 30 comprising upright 10 and net 40. Such as shown in this example, upright 10 may be positioned such that a tallest edge 26 of a sloped top surface 24 of upright 10 is on the side of the net 40 and in line with the net line tension 42 (see FIG. 3), which provides improved resistance against the force of net line tension 42. As a further example, a tallest edge 26 of a sloped top surface 24 may be formed by the widest portion 12, which may be particularly beneficial for improved resistance against the force of net line tension 42. Furthermore, such as in FIG. 4, exemplary embodiments may be configured with a pin 50 to connect the upright 10 to an extension pole 60 for setting a height of net 40, wherein the pin 50 is substantially in line with the net line tension 42 and preferably on a side of upright 10 that is opposite the tallest edge 26 and the net 40 for even further improved resistance to net line tension 42. Nevertheless, other exemplary embodiments without a sloped top surface 24 or tallest edge 26 may also benefit from a position of a pin that is substantially in line with the net line tension and preferably on a side of upright 10 that is opposite the net 40.

In these exemplary embodiments, the widest portions 12 and 14 have a maximum width of about 0.5-inch, and the thinnest portions 20 and 22 have a width of about 0.375-inch. These dimensions are exemplary unless expressly set forth otherwise. Other exemplary embodiments may have any suitable dimensions in which there are widest portions and thinnest portions. In one other example, the widest portions may have a maximum width greater than 0.375-inch, and the thinnest portions may have a maximum width less than or equal to 0.375-inch.

Furthermore, in these exemplary embodiments, the widest portions 12 and 14 are respectively facilitated by and radially aligned with the flat inner sides 16 and 18, whereas the thinnest portions 20 and 22 are respectively facilitated by curved inner sides 21 and 23 such that the thinnest portions 20 and 22 have a consistent width. In an exemplary embodiment, the widest portions 12 and 14 and the thinnest portions 20 and 22 extend substantially an entire length of upright 10. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the widest portions and thinnest portions may extend only a partial length of the upright. Other shapes of an upright are also possible such that there are opposing widest portions comprising widest points and opposing thinnest portions comprising thinnest points. For instance, the inner configuration of an upright may form an opening that may vary to be able to receive a particular shape of an extension pole. For example, in other embodiments, a widest portion may not be associated with a flat inner side; there may not be flat and parallel inner sides; or a thinnest portion may not have a curved inner surface or a consistent width.

Exemplary embodiments of an upright are also not limited to having an outer circular shape. Other outer shapes of an upright are possible. For some examples, an upright may have a substantially square, rectangular, or other polygonal outer shape.

Exemplary embodiments of an upright of the present invention may be constructed primarily of aluminum. Other exemplary embodiments of an upright may be constructed primarily of steel, stainless steel, carbon fiber, or other suitable materials. However, unless expressly set forth otherwise, it is not intended to limit an exemplary embodiment of an upright to any particular material.

Exemplary embodiments also include a related method for forming an upright or net assembly. In one example, a method may comprise providing an upright having opposing widest portions and opposing thinnest portions; and assembling the upright with an extension pole such that the upright and extension pole are adapted to support a net; wherein the widest portions of the upright are adapted to be in line with a net line tension. In another example, a method may comprise providing an upright having opposing widest portions and opposing thinnest portions; providing a net; and suspending the net with the upright such that the widest portions of the upright are in line with a net line tension. Other variations of a method or system are possible to account for any of the aforementioned characteristics of an upright, an extension pole, a net, or any of the aforementioned assemblies.

Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optional or preferred features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain some of the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An upright comprising: a first widest portion;a second widest portion that opposes said first widest portion;a first thinnest portion; anda second thinnest portion that opposes said first thinnest portionwherein said upright is adapted to at least assist with support of a net such that said first widest portion and said second widest portion are configured to be in line with and resist a net line tension.

2. The upright of claim 1 wherein said upright is adapted to at least assist with support of a volleyball net.

3. The upright of claim 1 further comprising a sloped top surface that forms a tallest edge that is configured to be in line with and resist a net line tension.

4. The upright of claim 3 wherein said tallest edge is formed by said first widest portion.

5. The upright of claim 3 wherein said tallest edge is configured to be on a same side of said upright as a net.

6. The upright of claim 3 further comprising a pin that is adapted to secure an extension pole within said upright; wherein said upright is configured such that said pin is adapted to be on a side of said upright that is opposite said tallest edge when securing an extension pole within said upright.

7. The upright of claim 3 further comprising a pin that is adapted to secure an extension pole within said upright; wherein said upright is configured such that said pin is adapted to be in line with a net line tension when securing an extension pole within said upright.

8. The upright of claim 1 further comprising: a first flat inner side that facilitates said first widest portion; anda second flat inner side that facilitates said second widest portion.

9. The upright of claim 8 wherein: said first flat inner side is parallel to said second flat inner side; andsaid first flat inner side and said second flat inner side are configured to be perpendicular to a net line tension.

10. The upright of claim 8 further comprising: a first curved inner side that facilitates said first thinnest portion; anda second curved inner side that opposes said first curved inner side and facilitates said second thinnest portion;wherein said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side space said first widest portion from said second widest portion; andwherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion are configured to space said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side from a net line tension.

11. The upright of claim 10 wherein said first thinnest portion and said second thinnest portion have a consistent width.

12. A net assembly comprising: an upright comprising: a first widest portion;a second widest portion that opposes said first widest portion;a first thinnest portion; anda second thinnest portion that opposes said first thinnest portion; anda net supported by said upright such that there is a net line tension;wherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion of said upright are in line with and configured to resist the net line tension.

13. The net assembly of claim 12 wherein said net is a volleyball net.

14. The net assembly of claim 12 wherein said upright further comprises a sloped top surface that forms a tallest edge that is in line with and configured to resist the net line tension.

15. The net assembly of claim 14 wherein said tallest edge is formed by said first widest portion.

16. The net assembly of claim 14 wherein said tallest edge is configured to be on a same side of said upright as the net.

17. The net assembly of claim 14 further comprising: an extension pole positioned in said upright such that said net is also supported by said extension pole; anda pin that secures said extension pole within said upright;wherein said upright is configured such that said pin is on a side of said upright that is opposite said tallest edge.

18. The net assembly of claim 14 further comprising: an extension pole positioned in said upright such that said net is also supported by said extension pole; anda pin that secures said extension pole within said upright;wherein said pin is in line with the net line tension.

19. The net assembly of claim 12 wherein said upright further comprises: a first flat inner side that facilitates said first widest portion; anda second flat inner side that facilitates said second widest portion.

20. The net assembly of claim 19 wherein: said first flat inner side is parallel to said second flat inner side; andsaid first flat inner side and said second flat inner side are perpendicular to the net line tension.

21. The net assembly of claim 19 wherein said upright further comprises: a first curved inner side that facilitates said first thinnest portion; anda second curved inner side that opposes said first curved inner side and facilitates said second thinnest portion;wherein said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side space said first widest portion from said second widest portion; andwherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion space said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side from the net line tension.

22. The net assembly of claim 21 wherein said first thinnest portion and said second thinnest portion have a consistent width.