Dasher board
First Claim
1. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
- a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end wall of one of the panels with the second end wall of the adjacent panel in an end-to-end, abutting manner;
said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter;
said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter;
a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and
at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member;
wherein the back wall includes a recess formed therein, said recess having a vertical span that is longer than the support leg, and wherein the upper and lower leg mount means comprise means for (i) movably attaching the support leg to the back wall and (ii) enabling movement of the support leg from a first, lateral position to a second, storage position such that said support leg resides in said recess when disposed in the second, storage position.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular containment wall for a sports area. The containment wall is an assembly of panels, each panel having a first edge, an opposing second edge, and interlocking members configured and arranged for (i) interlocking the first edge to a first adjacent panel and (ii) interlocking the second edge to a second adjacent panel. Support legs are rotatably disposed on a back wall of the panels. Each support leg is removably attachable to at least three different attachment sites at the back wall of a panel. The interlocking, modular design of the containment wall enables quick and easy assembly and reassembly, as well as modification to form door ways, sitting areas and similar component structures. In one embodiment, the rear side of the panel includes a recess formed therein. During periods of nonuse, the support leg can be rotated into the recess in a storage position, permitting easy stacking and storage of the panels with the support legs neatly disposed in the rear recesses.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end wall of one of the panels with the second end wall of the adjacent panel in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the back wall includes a recess formed therein, said recess having a vertical span that is longer than the support leg, and wherein the upper and lower leg mount means comprise means for (i) movably attaching the support leg to the back wall and (ii) enabling movement of the support leg from a first, lateral position to a second, storage position such that said support leg resides in said recess when disposed in the second, storage position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the support leg is rotatably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, and wherein the front and back walls are spaced apart to form an interior void, said back wall including an exterior recess compartment formed therein configured in size and shape to receive the at least one support leg when said support leg is rotated toward the panel. - View Dependent Claims (28, 38)
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29. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the panels are hollow, with the front wall and back wall being disposed in a spaced-apart orientation; wherein the panel comprises a fluidic inner layer disposed between the front wall and back wall.
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30. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the panels are hollow, with the front wall and back wall being disposed in a spaced-apart orientation; wherein the panels further comprise internal bracing means for bracing the front wall and back wall with respect to each other; wherein the internal bracing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart brace members sandwiched between the front wall and back wall; wherein the brace members include throughpassages formed therein extending through the front wall and back wall.
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31. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the support leg includes a throughpassage formed therein that is vertically disposed when the support leg is attached at the upper and lower leg mount means, said throughpassage having an upper opening and an opposing lower opening, said containment wall further comprising; anchoring means for (i) inserting into the upper opening of the throughpassage, (ii) extending from the lower opening of the throughpassage, and (iii) anchoring the support leg to a support means.
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32. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of projecting interlock members extending laterally outwardly from at least some of the end walls of the panels in a vertically spaced apart orientation; wherein the projecting interlock members extend laterally outwardly from the first end walls of at least some of the panels, and wherein the coupling means further comprise recessed walls defining a plurality of enclosures in the second end walls of at least some of the panels for receiving the projecting interlock members into said enclosures; wherein the projecting interlock members, the recessed walls defining the enclosures, and top walls of the panels have throughpassages formed therein, wherein the throughpassages formed in the projecting interlock members and recessed walls are disposed in substantial axial alignment with each other and with throughpassages in the top walls of the panels when the projecting interlock members are received into the enclosures such that the axially aligned throughpassages collectively define a single throughpassage for receiving a support rod therethrough.
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33. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the bottom walls of at least some of the panels each have a plurality of bottom throughpassages formed therein, and wherein the top walls of at least some of the panels each have a plurality of top throughpassages formed therein that are disposed in substantial axial alignment with the throughpassages in the bottom walls. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; means removably attachable to the panel for performing at least one function selected from the group consisting of; (i) supporting people in a sitting position; (ii) forming a wall extending laterally outward from the panel; (iii) forming a door; and (iv) forming a room.
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37. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the at least one support leg includes a plurality of downward projecting support elements alternating with spacial gaps therebetween; wherein the upper and lower leg mount means comprise means for (i) movably attaching the support leg to the back wall and (ii) enabling movement of the support leg from a first, lateral position to a second, storage position; wherein the bottom wall of the panel is configured at a rearward section with a plurality of rearward projecting elements alternating with spacial gaps therebetween, said spacial gaps being aligned to receive the downward projecting support elements of the lateral support member when the leg is in the storage position.
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39. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the at least one support leg further comprises first, second and third support arms intercoupled in series to form a three-sided member defining a substantially triangular central opening; wherein the first support arm is vertically disposed when the support leg is attached at the upper and lower leg mount means, said vertically disposed support arm having an upper nub and an opposing lower nub formed thereon for insertion into the upper and lower leg mount means, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; a seat member having a horizontal seat surface; a seat support member coupled to the seat member and having upright sections including upper and lower ends removably attachable to the upper and lower leg mount means, said seat support member having a lateral support member horizontally positioned at a common level with and laterally displaced from the bottom wall of the panel to provide additional stability to the panels and loading support for the seat member.
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42. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the support leg includes an upper, downwardly extending nub and a lower, upwardly extending nub disposed on the upper and lower ends, respectively, said upper and lower nubs being positioned, aligned and arranged for simultaneously extending into the upper and lower leg mount means, respectively.
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43. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the upper and lower leg mount means comprise a downwardly extending nub and an upwardly extending nub, respectively, and wherein the upper and lower ends of the support leg each include receiving slots being positioned, aligned and arranged for simultaneously receiving the downwardly and upwardly extending nubs, respectively.
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44. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the back wall of at least some of the panels comprises an upper, rearwardly extending ledge having an underside, and wherein the upper leg mount means comprises a lateral entry slot formed in the underside of the ledge, said entry slot extending toward the front wall and having an upper side. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the top wall of at least some of the panels includes an elongate slot formed therein for receiving a backstop panel thereinto; wherein the top walls of at least some of the panels each have a plurality of top throughpassages formed therein for receiving support rods therethrough, said top throughpassages having inner diameters, wherein the elongate slot defines a rear plane and wherein a gap space resides between said rear plane and the inner diameters of the upper holes, such that when support rods are disposed to extend upwardly from the upper holes and when a backstop panel resides in said elongate slot, said backstop panel and said support rods define gap spaces therebetween.
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49. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the top wall of at least some of the panels includes an elongate slot formed therein for receiving a backstop panel thereinto; wherein the top walls of at least some of the panels each have a plurality of top throughpassages formed therein for receiving support rods therethrough, and wherein the slot intercepts the top throughpassages and is thereby disposed in communication with said top throughpassages.
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50. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein a horizontal cross section taken from the at least one support leg defines a first, elongate portion having a substantial rectangular shape and a second, end portion having a circular shape defining an outer diameter, wherein the first, elongate portion is narrower than said outer diameter. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; and at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein at least some of the panels each comprise a lower front portion having a lateral slot formed therein for receiving an edge of a tile thereinto, said lateral slot being defined by a portion of the bottom wall. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A modular containment wall for a sports area, comprising:
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a plurality of interlockable panels for at least partially enclosing lateral bounds of the sports area, each panel having a first end wall and an opposing second end wall, said panels further comprising coupling means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in an end-to-end, abutting manner; said panels having top and bottom walls coupled between the opposing first and second end walls to form a substantially continuous panel perimeter; said panels having front and back walls coupled at opposing front and back edges of the panel perimeter; a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower leg mount means formed respectively at upper and lower locations on the panels for enabling removable attachment of a support leg at the back wall of the panel; at least one support leg having upper and lower ends removably attachable at the upper and lower leg mount means, said support leg having a lateral support member; wherein the leg mount means comprises means for removably attaching the support leg to at least three different attachment sites on one of the panels; wherein the back wall includes a recess formed therein, said recess having a vertical span that is longer than the support leg, and wherein the upper and lower leg mount means comprise means for (i) movably attaching the support leg to the back wall and (ii) enabling movement of the support leg from a first, lateral position to a second, storage position such that said support leg resides in said recess when disposed in the second, storage position; wherein the panels are hollow, with the front wall and back wall being disposed in a spaced-apart orientation; wherein the panels further comprise internal bracing means for bracing the front wall and back wall with respect to each other, comprising a plurality of spaced-apart brace members sandwiched between the front wall and back wall, wherein the brace members include throughpassages formed therein extending through the front wall and back wall; wherein the coupling means further comprises means for coupling the first end walls with the second end walls in a manner such that a substantially continuous surface is formed between adjacent panels; wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of projecting interlock members extending laterally outwardly from at least some of the end walls of the panels in a vertically spaced apart orientation; wherein the projecting interlock members extend laterally outwardly from the first end walls of at least some of the panels, and wherein the coupling means further comprise recessed walls defining a plurality of enclosures in the second end walls of at least some of the panels for receiving the projecting interlock members into said enclosures; wherein the projecting interlock members, the recessed walls defining the enclosures, and top walls of the panels have throughpassages formed therein, wherein the throughpassages formed in the projecting interlock members and recessed walls are disposed in substantial axial alignment with each other and with throughpassages in the top walls of the panels when the projecting interlock members are received into the enclosures such that the axially aligned throughpassages collectively define a single throughpassage for receiving a support rod therethrough; wherein the bottom walls of at least some of the panels each have a plurality of bottom throughpassages formed therein, and wherein the top walls of at least some of the panels each have a plurality of top throughpassages formed therein that are disposed in substantial axial alignment with the throughpassages in the bottom walls; wherein the upper and lower leg mount means comprise means for (i) movably attaching the support leg to the back wall and (ii) enabling movement of the support leg from a first, lateral position to a second, storage position; wherein the bottom wall of the panel is configured at a rearward section with a plurality of rearward projecting elements alternating with spacial gaps therebetween, the spacial gaps of the lateral support member on the leg being aligned to receive the downward projecting support elements of the lateral support member when the leg is in the storage position; wherein the back wall of at least some of the panels comprises an upper, rearwardly extending ledge having an underside, and wherein the upper leg mount means comprises a lateral channel formed in the underside of the ledge, said lateral channel extending toward the front wall and having an upper side; wherein the upper leg mount means further comprises vertical side walls defining an upper vertical channel disposed in communication with the lateral channel, and wherein the upper side of the lateral channel defines an acute angle with respect to the vertical side walls; wherein some of the panels define an arcuate shape sufficient in dimension and configuration to enable the panels to be sequentially intercoupled by the coupling means in an endless boundary enclosure surrounding the sports area; wherein the top wall of at least some of the panels includes an elongate slot formed therein for receiving a backstop panel thereinto. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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Specification