Multiple sport practice system

• US 5,527,032 A
• Filed: 04/01/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ballwall Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Ballwall Pty Limited
• Inventors: Coleman, Carol V., Herman, Anne B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/221,809
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 A, 273/29 A, 273/401, 273/181 A, 273/181 F, 273/127 K, 273/127 D, 273/407, 273/410, 273/185 R, 273/181 R, 273/323, 273/324, 273/184 R, 273/348 , 273/378, 273/396, 273/397, 273/398, 273/399, 273/400, 273/402, 273/55 R
• US Class Current: 473/439
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/005 Keeping track of the point of impact or entry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/002 variable in size
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/006 Forming a target or goal by fixing net or target area to garage doorway or garage parts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A system for playing or practicing multiple sports is provided. The system includes a backstop having an aperture and a removable pouch located behind the aperture for capturing a ball or other object directed at the aperture by the user. The pouch is designed to stand away from the backstop so that it can effectively capture the object and remain open after having captured a number of objects. The system includes overlays which are releasably attached to the backstop to change the sport being practiced or played. In addition to its use in capturing objects, the pouch also serves as a container for storage and transport of the system.

Claims

1. A system for playing or practicing one or more sports, each of said sports employing a moving object, comprising:

(a) a backstop for interrupting the flight of the moving object, said backstop comprising a backstop body and means for releasably attaching the backstop body to an external support, said backstop body having a front face and a back face and an aperture;

(b) a pouch for collecting a moving object which has passed through the aperture, said pouch being formed of a fabric material and having a pouch body which forms an opening, said pouch body comprising first, second, and third portions, the first portion being located behind the aperture, the second and third portions being attached to one another to form a receptacle for the moving object, the first portion having a width which is wider than that of the third portion, and the second portion having a graduated width which progresses from that of the first portion to that of the third portion; and

(c) means for releasably attaching the pouch to the back face of the backstop body so that the opening formed by the pouch body surrounds the aperture;

wherein the configuration of the pouch body causes it to stand away from the back face of the backstop body without the application of an external force to the pouch body.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the backstop body is composed of an open-weave fabric which can be screen printed and the front face of the backstop body includes a graphic design which has been screen printed onto the fabric.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the fabric has a polyvinylchloride coating.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the fabric is a polyvinylchloride-coated polyester.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for releasably attaching the pouch to the back face of the backstop body comprises a first strip of material which substantially surrounds the aperture and a second strip of material which substantially surrounds the opening, one of the first and second strips being a hook strip and the other of the first and second strips being a loop strip.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portion includes pleats along its top edge which cause the width of the top edge, after pleating, to be substantially equal to the width of the third portion.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portion has a height which is substantially equal to the height of the aperture and wherein the width of the third portion is substantially equal to the width of the aperture.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an overlay for covering a portion of the front face of the backstop and means for releasably attaching the overlay to the system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the overlay changes the size of the aperture.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the overlay covers the aperture.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the backstop is foldable and the pouch is sized to hold the folded backstop.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the pouch includes closure means for retaining the folded backstop within the pouch.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the backstop includes means for weighting its bottom end.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for weighting the backstop'"'"'s bottom end comprises a sleeve for receiving a dowel.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the backstop includes a flap at its bottom end which extends away from the front face of the backstop.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the external support is a swingset frame.

17. A system for playing or practicing one or more sports, each of said sports employing a moving object, comprising:

(a) a backstop for interrupting the flight of the moving object, said backstop comprising a backstop body and means for releasably attaching the backstop body to an external support, said backstop body having a front face and a back face and an aperture;

(b) a pouch for collecting a moving object which has passed through the aperture, said pouch being attached to the back face of the backstop body, said pouch being formed of a fabric material and having a pouch body which forms an opening, said pouch body comprising first, second, and third portions, the first portion being located behind the aperture, the second and third portions being attached to one another to form a receptacle for the moving object, the first portion having a width which is wider than that of the third portion, and the second portion having a graduated width which progresses from that of the first portion to that of the third portion;

(c) an overlay for covering a portion of the front face of the backstop; and

(d) means for releasably attaching the overlay to the system,

wherein the configuration of the pouch body causes it to stand away from the back face of the backstop body without the application of an external force to the pouch body.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the overlay changes the size of the aperture.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the overlay covers the aperture.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the front face of the backstop includes a first graphic and the overlay includes a second graphic.

21. A system for playing or practicing one or more sports, each of said sports employing a moving object, comprising:

(a) a swingset frame;

(b) a backstop for interrupting the flight of the moving object, said backstop comprising a backstop body and means for releasably attaching the backstop body to the swingset frame, said backstop body having a front face and a back face and an aperture; and

(c) a pouch for collecting a moving object which has passed through the aperture, said pouch being attached to the back face of the backstop body, said pouch being formed of a fabric material and having a pouch body which forms an opening, said pouch body comprising first, second, and third portions, the first portion being located behind the aperture, the second and third portions being attached to one another to form a receptacle for the moving object, the first portion having a width which is wider than that of the third portion, and the second portion having a graduated width which progresses from that of the first portion to that of the third portion,

wherein the configuration of the pouch body causes it to stand away from the back face of the backstop body without the application of an external force to the pouch body.

22. A pouch for surrounding the aperture of a backstop used to interrupt the flight of a moving object, said pouch being formed of a fabric material and comprising first, second, and third portions, the first portion being located behind the aperture during use of the pouch, the second and third portions being attached to one another to form a receptacle for the moving object, the first portion having a width which is wider than that of the third portion, and the second portion having a graduated width which progresses from that of the first portion to that of the third portion.

23. The pouch of claim 22 wherein the first portion includes pleats along its top edge which causes the width of the top edge, after pleating, to be substantially equal to the width of the third portion.

24. The pouch of claim 22 wherein the backstop is foldable and the pouch is sized to hold the folded backstop.

25. The pouch of claim 24 wherein the first portion includes a first strip of material and the second portion includes a second strip of material, one of the first and second strips being a hook strip and the other of the first and second strips being a loop strip, said first and second strips serving to close the pouch so as to retain the folded backstop within the pouch.