Ball returning tent net

• US 20090062026A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kwang Han Cho
• Original Assignee: Kwang Han Cho
• Inventors: Cho, Kwang Han
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/194
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• 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 ball returning tent net includes a frame that is supported on the ground on three or four contact points, and a ball-catch enclosure that is supported by the frame. The ball-catch enclosure includes an aperture that is adapted to pass a ball through, and a rear wall that is adapted to catch the ball and a bottom net. The frame includes a front frame member that supports the aperture and a rear frame member that supports the rear wall. The bottom net is inclined downward toward the front frame member. The ball-catch enclosure further includes an anti-sagging device that prevents sagging of the bottom net.

Claims

1. A ball returning tent net comprising:

a) a frame that is adapted to be supported on the ground on a predetermined number of contact points; and

b) a ballcatch enclosure that is supported by the frame;

wherein the ballcatch enclosure comprises an aperture that is adapted to pass a ball through, a rear wall that is adapted to catch the ball and a bottom net;

wherein the frame comprises a front frame member that supports the aperture and a rear frame member that supports the rear wall;

wherein the bottom net is inclined downward toward the front frame member;

wherein the ball-catch enclosure further comprises an anti-sagging device that prevents sagging of the bottom net, and wherein the anti-sagging device comprises a support strip that is extended from one or more points of the bottom net.

2. The ball returning tent net of claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of contact points is three (3), wherein the bottom net has a triangular shape, wherein the support strip is extended from an apex of the bottom net and is detachably attached to the rear frame member.

3. The ball returning tent net of claim 2, wherein the ballcatch enclosure further comprises a plurality of sleeves, wherein the front frame member and the rear frame member are inserted into the sleeves, whereby the ball-catch enclosure is supported by the front frame member and the rear frame member.

4. The ball returning tent net of claim 3, wherein each of the front frame member and the rear frame member comprises two or more elastic pole segments that are attached end to end, wherein each of the pole segments comprises a hollow rod.

5. The ball returning tent net of claim 4, wherein the frame further comprises a pole connector that connects the front frame member and the rear frame member at the top of the ball returning tent net.

6. The ball returning tent net of claim 5, wherein the pole connector comprises a T-shaped member to which the pole segments of the front frame member and the rear frame member are fixed.

7. The ball returning tent net of claim 4, wherein the ball catch enclosure further comprises three ground strips that are extended from the corners of the bottom net, and three ground pins attached to the ground strips, wherein each of the ground pins is inserted to the free end of the hollow rod.

8. The ball returning tent net of claim 4, wherein the aperture comprises a ball stopping band that are positioned at the bottom of the aperture, whereby balls rolled down the bottom net are stopped near the aperture.

9. The ball returning tent net of claim 2, further comprising a target that is positioned inside the ball-catch enclosure, wherein the target comprises a hitting surface towards which balls are directed.

10. The ball returning tent net of claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of contact points is four (4) , wherein the bottom net has four sides, wherein the support strip is extended from the rear side of the bottom net and is adapted to be fixed on the ground on which the frame is placed.

11. The ball returning tent net of claim 10, wherein the ball-catch enclosure further comprises a plurality of sleeves, wherein the front frame member and the rear frame member are inserted into the sleeves, whereby the ball-catch enclosure is supported by the front frame member and the rear frame member.

12. The ball returning tent net of claim 11, wherein each of the front frame member and the rear frame member comprises two or more elastic pole segments that are attached end to end, wherein each of the pole segments comprises a hollow rod.

13. The ball returning tent net of claim 12, wherein the ball catch enclosure further comprises four ground strips that are extended from the corners of the bottom net, and four ground pins attached to the ground strips, wherein each of the ground pins is inserted to the free end of the hollow rod.

14. The ball returning tent net of claim 12, wherein the aperture comprises a ball stopping band that are positioned at the bottom of the aperture, whereby balls rolled down the bottom net are stopped near the aperture.

15. The ball returning tent net of claim 10, further comprising a target that is positioned inside the ball-catch enclosure, wherein the target comprises a hitting surface towards which balls are directed.