Portable enclosure system

• US 20060005487A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Morrow Sports, LLC
• Original Assignee: Morrow Sports, LLC
• Inventors: Morrow, William David
• Application Number:
  US10/876,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

Generally, a portable enclosure assembled from a first plurality of axially coupled linear segments and a second plurality of axially coupled linear segments each plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate one of a pair of arcuate supports which can be erected on a support surface a distance apart to provide support for a flexible material having a terminal edge which engages the support surface to establish an enclosure perimeter. Specifically, a portable sports activity enclosure which supports a net having an aperture through which balls can be thrown for pitching and batting practice.

Claims

1. An enclosure, comprising:

a. a first plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate a first arcuate support;

b. a second plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate a second arcuate support;

c. a length of a material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support;

d. a first tension generator coupled to said to said first arcuate support;

e. a second tension generator coupled to said second arcuate support, wherein said first tension generator and said second tension generator adjust to generate sufficient tension to erect said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support a distance apart on a support surface; and

f. a flexible supported by said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support erected on said support surface, wherein said flexible material sufficiently engages said support surface to establish an enclosure perimeter.

2. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of axially coupled linear segments have a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.

3. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said second plurality of axially coupled linear segments have a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.

4. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of axially coupled liner segments have a tubular configuration.

5. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of axially coupled liner segments each have a length of between about two feet and about four feet.

6. An enclosure as described in claim 5, wherein said tubular configuration has a diameter of between about three quarters of and inch and about one and one half inches.

7. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of axially coupled linear segments and said second plurality of axially coupled linear segments comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, metal, aluminum, and fiberglass.

8. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising an elastically tensioned coupling between said first plurality of axially coupled segments and said second plurality of axially coupled segments.

9. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising a first arcuate retention line coupled to each end of said first plurality of axially coupled segments to generate said first arcuate support.

10. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising a second arcuate retention line coupled to each end of said second plurality of axially coupled segments to generate said second arcuate support.

11. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said length of material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support comprises a plurality of lengths of material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support.

12. An enclosure as described in claim 11, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of lengths of material between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support comprises coupling four lengths of material between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support.

13. An enclosure as described in claim 11, wherein each of said lengths of material coupled between said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support have a length of between about five feet and about twenty feet.

14. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said first tension generator coupled to said to said first arcuate support comprises a first plurality of tension generators coupled to said first arcuate support.

15. An enclosure as described in claim 14, wherein said first plurality of tension generators coupled to said first arcuate support comprises a first plurality of four tension generators coupled to said first arcuate support.

16. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said second tension generator coupled to said second arcuate support comprises a second plurality of tension generators coupled to said second arcuate support.

17. An enclosure as described in claim 16, wherein said second plurality of tension generators coupled to said second arcuate support comprises a second plurality of four tension generators coupled to said second support.

18. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said length of material between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support, said first tension generator, and said second tension generator comprise an integral erector element.

19. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising an aperture element in said flexible material through which a projectile can pass.

20. An enclosure as described in claim 19, wherein said flexible material comprises a net.

21. An enclosure as described in claim 20, wherein said projectile is selected from the group consisting of a baseball, a softball, a football, a golf ball, a tennis ball, and a soccer ball.

22. A method of generating an enclosed space, comprising the steps of:

a. axially coupling a first plurality of linear segments;

b. axially coupling a second plurality of linear segments;

c. flexing said first plurality of axially coupled linear segments to generate a first arcuate support;

d. flexing said second plurality of axially coupled linear segments to generate a second arcuate support;

e. coupling a length of a material between said first arcuate support in said second arcuate support;

f. coupling a first tension generator to said first arcuate support;

g. coupling a second tension generator to said second arcuate support;

h. adjusting tension in said first tension generator and in said second tension generator to erect said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support on a support surface;

i. supporting a flexible material with said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support; and

j. establishing an enclosure perimeter between said flexible material and said support surface.

23. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of axially coupling a first plurality of linear segments comprises axially coupling a first plurality of linear segments to generate a first linear support having a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.

24. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of axially coupling a second plurality of linear segments comprises axially coupling a second plurality of linear segments to generate a second linear support having a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.

25. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of liner segments have a tubular configuration.

26. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein each of said liner segments have a length of between about two feet and about four feet.

27. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 26, wherein said tubular configuration has a diameter of between about three quarters of and inch and about one and one half inches.

28. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said linear segments comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, metal, aluminum, and fiberglass.

29. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of generating an elastically tensioned coupling between said plurality of axially coupled segments of said first support.

30. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of securing each end of said first arcuate support to a corresponding end of a arcuate retention line.

31. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of securing each end of said second arcuate support to a corresponding end of a arcuate retention line.

32. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of coupling a length of material between said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support element comprises coupling a plurality of lengths of material between said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support.

33. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 32, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of lengths of material between said first arcuate support and said second material arcuate support comprises coupling four lengths of material between said first arcuate support in said second arcuate support.

34. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of coupling a first tension generator to said first arcuate support comprises coupling a plurality of tension generators to said first arcuate support.

35. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 34, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of tension generators to said first arcuate support comprises coupling four tension generators to said first arcuate support.

36. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of coupling a second tension generator to said first support comprises coupling a plurality of tension generators to said second arcuate support.

37. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 36, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of tension generators to said second arcuate support comprises coupling four tension generators to said second arcuate support.

38. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said length of material coupled between said first arcuate support in and said second arcuate support, said first tension generator, and said second tension generator comprise an integral erector element.

39. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said length of material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support has a length of between about four feet and about ten feet.

40. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of providing an aperture element in said flexible material through which a projectile can pass.

41. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 40, wherein said flexible material comprises a net.

42. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 42, wherein said projectile is selected from the group consisting of a baseball, a softball, a football, and a tennis ball.

43. An enclosure, comprising:

a. a first support having a first end and a second end, wherein said first support has sufficient flexure to alter configuration between a substantially linear configuration and an arcuate configuration in which said first end of said first support and said second end of said first support each have a fixed location on a support surface;

b. a second support having a first end and a second end, wherein said second support has sufficient flexure to alter configuration between a substantially linear configuration and an arcuate configuration in which said first end of said second support and said second end of said second support each have a fixed location on said support surface;

c. a length of a material coupled between said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration;

d. a first tension generator coupled to said first support in said arcuate cofiguration;

e. a second tension generator coupled to said second support in said arcuate configuration, wherein said first tension generator and said second tension generator adjust to generate sufficient tension to erect said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration said length of said material apart on said support surface; and

f. a flexible material supported by said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration erected on said support surface, wherein said flexible material has sufficient area to establish an enclosure perimeter between said flexible material and said support surface.

44. An enclosure as described in claim 43, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support has a length between said first end and said second end of about 25 feet and about 30 feet.

45. An enclosure as described in claim 44, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support comprises a plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length.

46. An enclosure as described in claim 45, wherein said plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length further comprise an elastically tensioned coupling between each of said plurality of axially coupled segments of said first support.

47. An enclosure as described in claim 46, further comprising a first circumferential groove established in said linear configuration of each said first support and said second support at the location at which said length of material couples between said first support and said second support, and wherein each said circumferential groove mates with a hook connected to said length of material to couple said length of material between said first support and said second support.

48. An enclosure as described in claim 47, further comprising:

a. a pair of circumferential grooves one each established proximate to said first end and said second end of said first support, and

b. a line having a first end and a second end, wherein each of said first end and said second end of said first line terminate in a hook which mates with one of said pair of circumferential grooves to generate said arcuate configuration of said first support.

49. An enclosure as described in claim 48, further comprising:

a. a second pair of circumferential grooves one each established proximate to said first end and said second end of said second support, and

b. a second line having a first end and a second end, wherein each of said first end and said second end of said second line terminate in a hook which mates with one of said second pair of circumferential grooves to generate said arcuate configuration of said second support.

50. An enclosure, comprising:

a. a flexible material;

b. an aperture element in said flexible material through which a projectile passes;

c. a first support which supports said flexible material;

d. a second support which supports said flexible material, wherein said first support and said second support have a sufficient flexure to alter configuration in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material;

e. a length of a material coupled between said first support and said second support;

f. a first tension generator coupled to said to said first support;

g. a second tension generator coupled to said second support; and

51. An enclosure as described in claim 50, wherein said sufficient flexure to alter configuration in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material comprises sufficient flexure to alter configuration of said first support or said second support up to about 6 inches.

52. A method of establishing an enclosure, comprising the steps of:

a. altering configuration of a first support from a substantially linear configuration to an arcuate configuration in which a first end of said first support and a second end of said first support each have a substantially fixed location on a support surface;

b. altering configuration of a second support from a substantially linear configuration to an arcuate configuration in which a first end of said second support and a second end of said second support each have a substantially fixed location on a support surface;

c. coupling a length of material between said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration;

d. adjusting a first tension generator coupled to said first support in said arcuate configuration;

e. adjusting a second tension generator coupled to said second support in said arcuate configuration, wherein adjusting said first tension generator and said second tension generator generates sufficient tension in said first tension generator and said second tension generator to erect said first support and said second support; and

f. supporting a flexible material with said first support and said second support to establish an enclosure perimeter between said flexible material and said support surface.

53. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 52, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support has a length between said first end and said second end of about 25 feet and about 30 feet.

54. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 53, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support comprises a plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length.

55. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 54, wherein said plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length further comprise an elastically tensioned coupling between each of said plurality of axially coupled segments of said first support.

56. A method of establishing an enclosure, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing an aperture element in a flexible material through which a projectile can pass;

b. supporting said flexible material having said aperture element through which said projectile can pass on a first support and a second support;

c. altering configuration of said first support and said second support in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material;

d. coupling said first support to said second support with a length of material;

e. adjusting a first tension generator connected to said first support; and

f. adjusting a second tension generator connected to said second support, wherein said steps of adjusting said first tension generator and said second tension generator maintains said first support and said second support erect.

57. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 56, wherein said step of altering configuration of said first support and said second support in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material comprises flexing said first support between about one half inch and about three inches.