Sports net backstop

• US 5,730,442 A
• Filed: 11/27/1995
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacific Rim Supplies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pacific Rim Supplies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Anderson, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/563,183
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 273/400, 273/411, 273/401, 273/407, 473/197, 473/421, 473/454, 473/462, 473/476, 473/478, 87/12, 87/13, 245/7
• US Class Current: 273/400
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A backstop for use in limiting the flight of sports balls and other projectiles used in sports. One or more net panels (10, 10'"'"') are supported by a plurality of posts (60, 90) comprising an external frame. Preferably, cross members (64, 92) extend between the tops of the posts to provide additional support for the framework. Net panels are connected together to produce different configurations by, for example, wrapping a line around bound edges (12) that extend around the perimeter of each of the net panels. Tension lines connect the bound edges of the net panels to the external framework, to support the net panels in the desired configuration. Disclosed and described are a backstop (30) suitable for use in practicing driving a golf ball, and backstop (70) suitable for use behind a catcher'"'"'s mound on a baseball diamond. Many other configurations can be made by linking varying numbers of the net panels together and supporting them with an external frame of suitable dimension and configuration.

Claims

1. A system for constructing a sports backstop to limit a flight of a projectile that is thrown or hit in a sports activity, comprising:

(a) a plurality of generally quadrilateral panels, each comprising a net having a mesh sized to prevent passage of the projectile through the mesh;

(b) a plurality of self-locking ties for coupling the panels together in a desired configuration, by binding an edge of one panel to an edge of another panel, each of said plurality of ties passing through the mesh of the nets comprising adjacent panels in the desired configuration, wrapping around the edges of said panels, and locking to form a closed loop around the edges of said panels;

(c) an external frame that is disposed adjacent at least two edges of the desired configuration of the backstop; and

(d) a plurality of tension lines, said tension lines being employed to connect the desired configuration of the backstop to the external frame, said panels being thus supported by the external frame under tension so that the panels are spaced apart from the external frame to prevent the projectile from striking the external frame upon hitting the mesh, any projectile striking one of the panels being deflected thereby, said mesh absorbing kinetic energy from the projectile to prevent the projectile from rebounding to a position at which the projectile was thrown or hit.

2. A method for constructing a sports backstop in one of a plurality of different configurations, said sports backstop being used to limit a flight of a projectile that is thrown or hit, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a plurality of quadrilateral-shaped panels together along adjacent edges to form a desired configuration for the backstop, each panel comprising a net having a mesh sized to prevent the projectile from passing through the mesh, a plurality of self-locking ties being used for coupling the panels together in a desired configuration by binding an edge of one panel to an edge of another panel, each of said plurality of ties passing through the mesh of the nets comprising adjacent panels in the desired configuration, wrapping around the edges of said panels, and locking to form a closed loop around the edges of said panels;

(b) providing an external frame to support the plurality of panels connected together in the desired configuration; and

(c) connecting the external frame to the plurality of panels using a plurality of tension lines, said tension lines connecting the panels to the external frame under tension, so that the external frame is spaced apart from the panels and is disposed outside and spaced apart from the desired configuration sufficiently far to ensure that the projectile does not strike the external frame after striking the net, said mesh absorbing the kinetic energy of the projectile so that the projectile does not rebound to a position from which the projectile was hit or thrown.