Dual bracket mechanism mounted sports goal practice backstop system

• US 10,195,508 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Sports TEK Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smart Sports TEK Incorporated
• Inventors: Rigoli, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US15/388,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20170173431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 473435, 473433, 473479, 473487, 473434, 473422, 473476, 473446, 473481, 473197, 473421, D21698-705, 273400
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/026 stabilised by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal, sans any kind of tools, including a backstop net mechanism with a multiplicity of sections, a right and left bracket assembly including a corner bracket mechanism with a clamp knob and a pivot hinge member, a right and left support structures that are removably attached to the pivot hinge members and a counterweight mechanism which counterbalances the weight of the backstop net mechanism.

Claims

1. A sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal comprising:

a removably attachable backstop net mechanism comprising a multiplicity of sections;

a first bracket assembly and a second bracket assembly wherein each of the first bracket assembly and the second bracket assembly comprise;

a first corner bracket mechanism comprising a clamp knob apparatus and a second corner bracket mechanism comprising a clamp knob apparatus; and

,

a first pivot hinge member and a second pivot hinge member comprising at least 180 degrees range in travel;

a corner bracket pocket that allows each pivot hinge member to rotate freely into a latched and an unlatched position;

a pivot axel, wherein the pivot axel runs through the pivot hinge member;

a pivot hinge locking mechanism to allow the pivot hinge member make contact with the corner bracket mechanism;

a pair of anti-rotation slots located on each corner bracket member to receive an anti-rotation strap;

a set of rib areas and pocket areas on each corner bracket mechanism to reduce weight and increase strength;

a pair of bolt clamps to secure each corner bracket mechanism to the sports goal practice backstop;

a first support structure and a second support structure,

wherein the first support structure and the second support are removably attached to the first pivot hinge member and the second pivot hinge member; and

,

at least one counterweight mechanism;

wherein each corner bracket mechanism utilizes a v-shaped, self-centering geometry to deploy the sports goal practice backstop.

2. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 1 further comprising a first support structure sleeve and a second support structure sleeve, wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are in communication with the first support structure sleeve and a second support structure sleeve respectively.

3. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 1, wherein the first support structure and the second support structure are in communication with the removably attached backstop net mechanism.

4. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 1 further comprising a backstop net control strap in communication the first pivot hinge member and the second pivot hinge member.

5. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 1, wherein the first and second support structures further comprise at least one insert devices and at least one capping mechanism, wherein the insert devices are in communication with the pivot hinge member.

6. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 1 wherein the sports goal practice backstop requires no tools for assembly, installation and removal and wherein the size and orientation of the deployed sports goal practice backstop is substantially similar to a diameter of an actual goal crease and wherein the system requires no modification to the goal frame, no drilling of apertures and no mounting of secondary brackets.

7. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 wherein the sports goal practice backstop is rotatably attached to a net frame for storage behind the goal without removal from a goal frame.

8. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 wherein each corner bracket assembly is disposed to fit on either side of a net frame wherein no designated left or right corner bracket orientation is required.

9. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 wherein pivot hinge member is disposed to drop fit into place and securely lock and wherein no additional locking hardware and no tools are required.

10. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 wherein each corner bracket assembly is self-centering corner and disposed to find a center-line regardless of goal pipe diameters.

11. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 further comprising a bracket clearance channel wherein the bracket clearance channel is disposed to fit on standard and non-standard net frames.

12. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 8 wherein the pair of anti-rotation straps add a third point of contact to the goal frame to prevent each corner bracket assembly from rotating backwards during usage.

13. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 8 further comprising a set of net control straps which retain and guide the removably attachable backstop net mechanism during the process of storing or folding the backstop behind the goal.

14. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 further comprising a net wing pocket and weight bar member system wherein the net wing pocket communicates with the weight bar such that the net wing pocket and weight bar member system is disposed to retrain the sports goal practice backstop from movement during use and wherein the net wing pocket and the weight bar member system further comprise a stiffener bar member to prevent the net wing pocket from buckling during use.

15. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 6 further wherein the removably attachable backstop net mechanism is sewn only at a set of four top points of a set of net poles allowing the netting to free float absorbing impact and providing less chance of the ball tearing through the netting, wherein the net poles are fixed in place;

and,

a shock absorbing polymer net pole insert design comprising a set of net pole inserts comprising a polymer material, wherein the set of net pole inserts comprise a set of ribs to allow the net poles to better absorb and disperse impact energy when struck by a ball.

16. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 8 further comprising a net wing cross strap and a net wing base wherein the net wing cross strap attaches the net wing base to the goal frame to better control the net wing motion.

17. The sports goal practice backstop for removable attachment to a sports goal of claim 8 further comprising:

a set of reinforced net pole sleeve ends comprising a reinforcement material wherein the reinforcement material prevents the net poles from tearing through the net sleeves; and

,

a set of clamp knobs wherein the set of clamp knobs are designed to be larger than the set of netting openings in order to prevent the set of clamp knobs from catching in the netting which would prevent proper backstop operation.