Multi-sports ball/disk return net system and method thereof

• US 20090029805A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Net Return
• Original Assignee: The Net Return
• Inventors: Crawley, Matthew J., Crawley, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/434
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/005 having means not protruding from the profile of the post for attachment of a net
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00

Abstract

A multi-sports ball/disk return net system and a method thereof that consistently returns a ball/disk hit, kick, thrown or struck into it back toward a user and that is portable and easy to assemble and disassemble. The multi-sports ball/disk return net system has a frame and a net mounted on or across the frame. The net forms an upper U-shape forward bulging pillow having a square net pattern and a lower U-shape channel or hammock with the square pattern at the opposite ends of the U-shape channel being skewed to become diamond shapes. The net is configured to cause a projectile propelled into the U-shape pillow to drop down to the U-shape channel, which funnels the ball to the lowest and central point of the U-shape channel for discharge toward the user.

Claims

1. A system for returning a propelled projectile back toward a user who propelled the projectile into the system, comprising:

a frame having an upper portion and two side portions; and

a net attachable to said upper and two side portions, said net defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion across said two side portions of said frame;

wherein a projectile propelled into said net is discharged from the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion back toward the user, and

wherein said net having a generally bread shape with a wider bulging upper portion, a wider rectangular lower portion and a narrower tapered middle portion.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said net is wider than said lower portion of said net.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said net further having an upper edge and a lower edge that are substantially parallel to each other and of substantially the same width.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said upper and middle portions and said upper edge of said net having a continuous sleeve for attaching to said upper and two sides portions of said frame.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve elements connected together.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each of said sleeve element is shaped and sized to be sleeved across said upper portion and two side portions of said frame to minimize undesirable movement of the sleeve elements from its position on said frame.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame further having a lower portion configured to support said frame in an upright position.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said each side portion of said frame is substantially S-shaped.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a plurality of tubular elements which are interconnectable to each other to form said frame.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said frame further comprises means for interconnecting said plurality of tubular elements to each other.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a tapered end and a non-tapered end at each tubular element, said tapered end of each said tubular element is configured to be inserted into said non-tapered end of another one of the tubular elements.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said interconnecting means further comprises a pushbutton at said tapered end and an opening at said non-tapered end of each tubular element, said pushbutton is configured to be snapped into said opening upon the insertion of said tapered end of one of said tubular elements into said non-tapered end of another one of the tubular elements.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said frame further comprises means for facilitating interconnection of said plurality of tubular elements.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said facilitating means comprises a plurality of matching indicia at corresponding ends of each pair of tubular elements that are to be interconnected.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said plurality of matching indicia includes a plurality of matching colors.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of tubular elements include fourteen tubular elements.

17. The system of claim 4 wherein said upper portion of said frame comprises:

an upper front transverse member having a first end and a second end, and

first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

wherein the first end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said first upper rearwardly extending horizontal member and the second end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein each side portion of said frame comprises:

an upper downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

an intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having a first end and a second end, and

a lower downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the second end of said first or second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member is interconnectable to the first end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member, the second end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member is interconnectable to the first end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and the second end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member is interconnectable to the first end of said lower downwardly extending vertical member.

19. The system of claim 18 having first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members, first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, and first and second downwardly extending vertical members.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said frame further comprises a lower portion configured to support said frame in an upright position, said lower portion comprises:

first and second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said lower rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

a lower rear transverse member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the second end of each of said lower downwardly extending vertical members is interconnectable to said first end one said first or second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, and the second end of each of said first or second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnectable to said first and second ends of said lower rear transverse member.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said upper edge of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said upper front transverse member of said frame, said upper portion of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members and said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members of said frame, and said middle portion of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members and said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members of said frame.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said net further having a plurality of pleats at said upper forward bulging portion to provide a ruffle effect.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said net having a square pattern of ½

″

square holes.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said net having a weight of approximately 1.1 ounce per square foot.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said net further having a resin coating applied thereon.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said net having a square pattern, said square pattern being horizontally and vertically aligned at said upper forward bulging portion of said net, and said square pattern being skewed to become diamond shapes at opposite ends of said lower generally U-shape channel portion of said net.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein each side portion of said frame further comprises a forward extending horizontal element to provide additional forward stability to the system.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said forward extending horizontal element extends from said lower downwardly extending vertical member.

29. The system of claim 19 wherein each side portion of said frame further comprises a transversely extending horizontal element to provide additional support to reduce swaying of said frame.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said transversely extending horizontal element extends from said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members.

31. The system of claim 20 wherein said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members are shorter than said first and second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein said upper forward bulging portion of said net is angled in a rearward direction.

33. A system for returning a propelled projectile back toward a user who propelled the projectile into the system, comprising:

a frame which includes;

an upper front transverse member having a first end and a second end, and

first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members, each upper downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, each intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having a first end and a second end, and

first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members, each lower downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

first and second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said lower rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

a lower rear transverse member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the first end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said first upper rearwardly extending horizontal member and the second end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member, each second end of said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members, each second end of said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, each second end of said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members, each second end of said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, the second end of said first lower rearwardly extending horizontal member is interconnectable to said first end of said lower rear transverse member, and the second end of said second lower rearwardly extending horizontal member is interconnectable to said second end of said lower rear transverse member; and

a net defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion, having a generally bread shape with a wider bulging upper portion, a wider rectangular lower portion, a narrower tapered middle portion, and an upper edge and a lower edge that are substantially parallel to each other and of substantially the same width,

wherein said upper edge of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said upper front transverse member of said frame, said upper portion of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members and said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members of said frame, and said middle portion of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members and said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members of said frame, such that a projectile propelled into said net is discharged from the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion back toward the user.

34. A method of returning a propelled projectile back toward a user who propelled the projectile, comprising the steps of:

providing a frame having an upper portion and two side portions;

providing a net having a generally bread shape with a wider bulging upper portion, a wider rectangular lower portion, a narrower tapered middle portion, and an upper edge and a lower edge that are substantially parallel to each other and of substantially the same width, attachable to said upper and two side portions of said frame and defining an upper forward bulging portion that is angled in a rearward direction and a lower generally U-shape channel portion across said two side portions of said frame;

absorbing the energy of a projectile propelled into said upper forward bulging portion of said net, with said net moving in the direction of the propelled projectile;

returning the net to its original position allowing the projectile to move in the direction opposite its propelled direction and into said lower generally U-shape channel portion of said net; and

discharging the projectile at the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion of said net back toward the user.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said upper portion of said frame comprises:

an upper front transverse member having a first end and a second end, and

first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

wherein the first end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said first upper rearwardly extending horizontal member and the second end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein each side portion of said frame comprises:

an upper downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

an intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having a first end and a second end, and

a lower downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the second end of said first or second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member is interconnectable to the first end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member, the second end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member is interconnectable to the first end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and the second end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member is interconnectable to the first end of said lower downwardly extending vertical member.

37. The method of claim 36 having first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members, first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, and first and second downwardly extending vertical members.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said frame further comprises a lower portion configured to support said frame in an upright position, said lower portion comprises:

first and second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said lower rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

a lower rear transverse member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the second end of each of said lower downwardly extending vertical members is interconnectable to said first end one said first or second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, and the second end of each of said first or second lower rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnectable to said first and second ends of said lower rear transverse member.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said upper edge of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said upper front transverse member of said frame, said upper portion of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members and said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members of said frame, and said middle portion of said net is configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members and said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members of said frame.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein said net having a square pattern of ½

″

square holes.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein said lowest and central point of said U-shape channel is at a predetermined distance from a surface on which said frame is placed, further comprising the steps of:

pushing said two side portions of said frame toward each other to decrease said predetermined distance between said lowest and central point of said U-shape channel from the ground.

42. The method of claim 34 wherein said lowest and central point of said U-shape channel is at a predetermined distance from the surface on which said frame is placed, further comprising the steps of:

pushing said two side portions of said frame away from each other to increase said predetermined distance between said lowest and central point of said U-shape channel from the ground.

43. A system for returning a propelled projectile back toward a user who propelled the projectile into the system, comprising:

a net adapted to be mounted across and on a frame, said net defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion,

wherein a projectile propelled into said net is discharged from the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion back toward the user.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said net having a generally bread shape with a wider bulging upper portion, a wider rectangular lower portion, a narrower tapered middle portion, and an upper edge and a lower edge that are substantially parallel to each other and of substantially the same width.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the frame having:

an upper front transverse member having a first end and a second end,

first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members, each of said upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having a first end and a second end,

first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members, each upper downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, each intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having a first end and a second end, and

first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members, each lower downwardly extending vertical member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the first end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said first upper rearwardly extending horizontal member and the second end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member, wherein the first end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said first upper rearwardly extending horizontal member and the second end of said upper front transverse member is interconnectable to the first end of said second upper rearwardly extending horizontal member, each second end of said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members, each second end of said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, each second end of said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members is interconnectable to each first end of said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members,

wherein said upper edge of said net is configured and adapted to be sleeved and positioned across the upper front transverse member of the frame, said upper portion of said net is configured and adapted to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second upper rearwardly extending horizontal members and said first and second upper downwardly extending vertical members of said frame, and said middle portion of said net is adapted and configured to be sleeved and positioned across said first and second intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members and said first and second lower downwardly extending vertical members of said frame.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said net further having a plurality of pleats at said upper forward bulging portion to provide a ruffle effect.

47. The system of claim 43 wherein said net having a square pattern of ½

″

square holes.

48. The system of claim 43 wherein said net having a weight of approximately 1.1 ounce per square foot.

49. The system of claim 43 wherein said net further having a resin coating applied thereon.

50. The system of claim 43 wherein said net having a square pattern, said square pattern being horizontally and vertically aligned at said upper forward bulging portion of said net, and said square pattern being skewed to become diamond shapes at opposite ends of said lower generally U-shape channel portion of said net.

51. The system of claim 43 wherein said upper forward bulging portion of said net is angled in a rearward direction.