Flying ball stopping net device

• US 20010034271A1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toa Sports Machine Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toa Sports Machine Inc.
• Inventors: Nozato, Kazu
• Application Number:
  US09/725,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/197
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/54 Foldable elastic frame members automatically resuming their expanded state when released
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A flying ball stopping net device including an elastic wire rod assembly which assumes an annular form when it is in a free state lying on a horizontal flat surface. The assembly first and second end members with intermediate members constituting transition members between the first and second members. A flying ball stopping net is provided closing a first end space surrounded by the first member. A flexible first connecting member interconnects the first and second members and counteracts the elastic restoring force of the wire rod assembly to enable imaginary extension planes of the first end space and a second end space to cross each other at a predetermined angle.

Claims

1. A flying ball stopping net device including an elastic wire rod assembly that assumes an annular form when it is in a free state lying on a horizontal flat surface, said wire rod assembly including a first end member constituting one end of said wire rod assembly in one direction extending along said horizontal flat surface, a second end member constituting the other end of said wire rod assembly in the direction opposite to said one direction, and a pair of intermediate members respectively positioned in a longitudinally intermediate place in each side of said wire rod assembly to constitute a transition portion from the first end member to the second end member, said flying ball stopping net device further including a flying ball stopping net closing a first end space surrounded by said first end member, and attached at its outer edge to said first end member, each of said intermediate members being bendable such that imaginary extension planes of a second end space surrounded by said second end member and of said first end space cross each other at a predetermined angle, in which bent state said second end member is contacted with the ground while said first end member is raisable with respect to the ground, said flying ball stopping net device being characterized in that

a flexible first connecting member is provided for interconnecting said first and second end members while counteracting the elastic restoring force of said wire rod assembly, so as to retain said predetermined angle.

2. A flying ball stopping net device as set forth in

claim 1

, characterized in that said first end member is tilted toward the second end member as seen in a side view of said flying ball stopping net device with respect to a vertical line.

3. A flying ball stopping net device as set forth in

claim 1

or

2

, characterized in that a second connecting member, which is flexible, is provided for interconnecting the sides of said wire rod assembly in the state in which said sides are brought closer to each other while counteracting the elastic restoring force of said wire rod assembly.

4. A flying ball stopping net device as set forth in any one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that a bag-like ball collecting net is attached to said first end member, said ball collecting net being adapted, when said first end member is raised, to be positioned adjacent the lower portion of said flying ball stopping net and opened upward.

5. A flying ball stopping net device as set forth in any one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that by bending the wire rod assembly while counteracting the elastic restoring force of the wire rod assembly, a plurality of spiral annuluses of substantially the same diameter can be formed and superposed on each other on substantially the same axis.