Ball rebound device

• US 6,209,877 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce D. Warnick
• Original Assignee: Bruce D. Warnick
• Inventors: Warnick, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/220,093
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 273/395, 273/396, 473/279, 473/518, 473/570, 473/435
• US Class Current: 273/396
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00

Abstract

An improved ball rebound device which will deliver a playground type ball such as a soccer ball, basketball, or kick ball which is propelled against the device, back to the user with surprising speed and distance. This ball rebound device utilizes a series of monofilament nylon elastic cords which are independently stung back and forth in a basket-weave fashion within a rectangular frame as a tennis racket is strung. This enables the device to more efficiently convert the kinetic energy of the ball into a powerful rebound back to the user. One embodiment of the device has within its frame the capability for adjustment of the tension of the cords to keep them operating at the desired tension. Another embodiment of the device has the capability for its frame to be adjustably oriented at various angles to the user to better suit the individual practice needs of the user.

Claims

1. A ball rebound device for rebounding a playground size ball propelled against the device, the rebound device comprising:

a) a cord assembly including a first set of cord segments arranged in substantially parallel relationship with one another and a second set of cord segments arranged in substantially parallel relationship with one another, the first and second set of cord segments being woven together in a basket weave fashion so that the cord segments of the first set are disposed at substantially a right angle to the cord segments of the second set and so as to provide a substantially planar impact surface toward which a ball is expected to be propelled; and

b) a generally rectangular frame having two pairs of opposite, spaced side members between which the first and second set of cord segments are tautly strung, wherein the cord segments of the first set of cord segments extend between the side members of one pair of side members so as to span the entire distance therebetween and wherein the cord segments of the second set of cord segments extend between the side members of the other pair of side members so as to span the entire distance therebetween, and

each side member of the frame defines a plurality of through-holes arranged in a row which extends along the length of the side member and wherein the through-holes are arranged in the plane of the impact surface, and

cord segments of the first set of cord segments are provided by a first single cord which is passed back and forth between the side members of one pair of side members in a series of passes across the frame so that at the end of each pass of the first single cord across the frame, the first single cord is routed through through-holes provided in a corresponding side member of the one pair of side members so that upon stretching the first single cord to a taut condition between the side members of the one pair of side members, each pass of the first single cord across the frame is anchored to the one pair of side members so that the length of the first single cord capable of being stretched by a ball which impacts the impact surface is equal to the spaced distance between the side members of the one pair of side members, and

cord segments of the second set of cord segments are provided by a second single cord which is passed back and forth between the side members of the other pair of side members in a series of passes across the frame so that at the end of each pass of the second single cord across the frame, the second single cord is routed through through-holes provided in a corresponding side member of the other pair of side members so that upon stretching the second single cord to a taut condition between the side members of the other pair of side members, each pass of the second single cord across the frame is anchored to the other pair of side members so that the length of the second single cord capable of being stretched by a ball which impacts the impact surface is equal to the spaced distance between the side members of the other pair of side members, and

so that when the frame is rigidly supported relative to the ground or other underlying support surface and a ball is propelled toward the impact surface, the rebound velocity of the ball is not appreciably less than the velocity of the ball before impact with the surface.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the cord segments in each of the first and second sets of cord segments are spaced a minimum of 0.5 inches apart.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each cord segment is between 0.05 and 0.20 inches.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the diameter of each cord segment is about 0.095 inches.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame has a width and height with opposite sides spaced a distance of at least six feet apart.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the cord segments are comprised of a monofilament material.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein one pair of side members of the frame includes a first set of opposite side members, and the segments of the first single cord which are passed back and forth between the side members of the first set provides the first set of cord segments, and

wherein the other pair of side members of the frame includes a second set of opposite side members, and the segments of the second single cord which are passed back and forth between the side members of the second set provides the second set of cord segments.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 further comprising an adjustable support structure assembly for supporting the frame upon the ground or underlying support surface, the support structure assembly including an elongated brace member which is pivotally connected at one end to the frame and a support base positionable upon the ground and including an elongated telescoping arrangement whose length can be altered between two or more alternative lengths, and one end of the telescoping arrangement is pivotally connected to the frame and the other end of the telescoping arrangement is pivotally connected to the end of the brace member opposite the frame so that by arranging the telescoping arrangement in one of its alternative lengths, the impact surface is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the ground and so that by arranging the telescoping arrangement in one of its other alternative positions, the impact surface is oriented at a position between the 90 degree angle and a 45 degree angle with respect to the ground or underlying support surface.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the support structure assembly is comprised of:

a) rigid members pivotally attached to the frame and attached to each other in such a manner as to provide a support structure portion which lays on the ground or underlying support surface, and

b) a pair of adjustable mechanisms, each of which is pivotally attached on a corresponding side of the frame and includes two slidably coupled members which connect each corresponding side of the frame to the support structure portion which lays on the ground or underlying support surface and which can be adjusted in length by slidably adjusting the coupled members relative to one another so that by slidably adjusting the coupled members relative to one another, the angle of orientation of the frame relative to the ground or underlying surface is adjusted.

10. The device as defined in claim 8 further comprising a means for enabling the device to be relocated, the means being

a) a pair of lever bars each having an upper and lower end, the lower end having an attached rotatable wheel and the upper end serving as a handle, and each lever being pivotably connected to the support structure on opposite sides thereof at a location between the upper and lower ends so that by manipulating the upper end of the lever bar the wheel is forced downward against the ground, so that the frame is lifted from the ground to an elevated condition at which the device can be moved across the ground or underlying surface as the wheels rollably engage the ground or underlying surface, and

b) a means for releaseably locking the lever bar into a position at which the frame is elevated from the ground or underlying surface by the wheels.

11. The device as defined in claim 1 in combination with a round playground size ball having a diameter of at least eight inches.

12. A device for securement in a stationary condition for rebounding a ball which has been propelled to the device, comprised of:

a) a generally rectangular support arrangement having two opposing, spaced side members, and opposing, spaced top and bottom members, and

b) a plurality of cords individually strung back and forth between the two opposing side members so that the cords span the spaced distance between the two opposite side members of the support arrangement and back and forth between the opposing top and bottom members of the support arrangement so that the lengths of cord which span the distance between the opposing side members and the lengths of cord which span the distance between the opposing top and bottom members cross one another in a basket weave fashion whereby a planar, taut, elastic, strung, impact surface is provided to rebound the ball back to the user, and

each of the side, top and bottom members of the support arrangement defines a plurality of through-holes arranged in a row which extends along the length of the corresponding side, top or bottom member and wherein the through-holes are arranged in the plane of the impact surface, and

each cord of the plurality of cords are passed back and forth between the opposing side members and the opposing top and bottom members of the support arrangement in a series of passes across the support arrangement so that at the end of each pass of the cord across the support arrangement, the cord is routed through through-holes provided in the corresponding side, top or bottom member of the support arranagement so that upon stretching the cord to a taut condition between the corresponding pair of opposing side members or opposing top and bottom members of the support arrangement, each pass of the cord across the support arrangement is anchored to the corresponding pair of opposing side members or opposing top and bottom members of the support arrangement so that the length of the cord capable of being stretched by the ball which impacts the impact surface is equal to the spaced distance between the corresponding pair of opposing side members or opposing top and bottom members of the support arrangement; and

c) means for providing structural support for the taut impact surface wherein the support-providing means includes four rigid structural members which are connected together to form a rectangular frame which is disposed outboard of the support arrangement and further includes means for attaching the structural support-providing means to the support arrangement.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 further comprising a means for providing adjustment of the tautness of the impact surface wherein the adjustment-providing means includes:

a) headed fasteners which are disposed at selected locations around the perimeter of the frame wherein each fastener has a head and a shank which extends through a side, top or bottom member of the arrangement and the corresponding rigid structural member disposed adjacent to the side, top or bottom member of the arrangement, and

b) a group of nuts wherein each nut is threadably secured upon the shank of a corresponding headed fastener so that the side, top or bottom member of the arrangement and the corresponding rigid structural member are captured between a nut and a head of a fastener and so that by tightening or loosening the nut about the shanks, the tautness of the impact surface can be adjusted.

14. The device as defined in claim 12 further comprising an adjustable support structure assembly for supporting the frame upon the ground or underlying support surface, the support structure assembly including an elongated brace member which is pivotally connected to one end of the frame and a support base positionable upon the ground and including an elongated telescoping arrangement whose length can be altered between one of several alternative lengths, and one end of the telescoping arrangement is pivotally connected to the frame and the other end of the brace member opposite the frame so that by arranging the telescoping arrangement in one of its alternative lengths, the impact surface is oriented at a 90 degree angle with respect to the ground and so that by arranging the telescoping arrangement in one of the other of its alternative lengths, the impact surface is oriented between a 90 degree angle and a 45 degree angle with respect to the ground or underlying support surface.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 wherein the support structure assembly is comprised of:

a) rigid members pivotably attached to the frame and attached to each other in such a manner as to provide a support structure portion which lays on the ground or underlying support surface, and

b) a pair of adjustable mechanisms, each of which is pivotably attached on each side member of the frame, and consisting of two slidably coupled members which connect each corresponding side member of the frame to the support structure portion which lays on the ground or underlying surface, wherein the adjustable mechanisms enable for the frame to be adjusted and fixed to a desired angle orientation for use.

16. In combination:

a) a round, inflated playground ball having a diameter of at least eight inches and an inherent tendency to return to a normally-expanded condition when one of its sides is compressed upon impact with a surface, and

b) a ball rebound device for rebounding the playground ball when the ball is propelled against the device, the rebound device including;

a cord assembly including a first set of monofilament cord segments arranged in substantially parallel relationship with one another and a second set of monofilament cord segments arranged in substantially parallel relationship with one another, the first and second sets of cord segments being woven together, rather than knotted, in a basket weave fashion so that the cord segments of the first set are disposed at substantially a right angle to the cord segments of the second set and so as to provide a substantially planar impact surface toward which a ball is expected to be propelled; and

a frame having two pairs of opposing, spaced side members between which the first and second set of cords are tautly strung, wherein the cord segments of the first set extend between the side members of one pair of side members so as to span the distance therebetween and wherein the cord segments of the second set extend between the side members of the other pair of side members so as to span the distance therebetween, and

each side member of the frame defines a plurality of through-holes arranged in a row which extends along the length of the side member and wherein the through-holes are arranged in the plane of the impact surface, and

cord segments of the first set of cord segments are provided by a first single cord which is passed back and forth between the side members of one pair of side members in a series of passes across the frame so that at the end of each pass of the first single cord across the frame, the first single cord is routed through through-holes provided in a corresponding side member of the one pair of side members so that upon stretching the first single cord to a taut condition between the side members of the one pair of side members, each pass of the first single cord across the frame is anchored to the one pair of side members so that the length of the first single cord capable of being stretched by a ball which impacts the impact surface is equal to the spaced distance between the side members of the one pair of side members, and

cord segments of the second set of cord segments are provided by a second single cord which is passed back and forth between the side members of the other pair of side members in a series of passes across the frame so that at the end of each pass of the second single cord across the frame, the second single cord is routed through through-holes provided in a corresponding side member of the other pair of side members so that upon stretching the second single cord to a taut condition between the side members of the other pair of side members, each pass of the second single cord across the frame is anchored to the other pair of side members so that the length of the second single cord capable of being stretched by a ball which impacts the impact surface is equal to the spaced distance between the side members of the other pair of side members

so that when the frame is rigidly supported relative to the ground or other underlying support surface and the ball is propelled toward the impact surface so that one side of the ball impacts and thereby compresses against the impact surface, the rebound velocity of the ball is not appreciably less than the velocity of the ball immediately before impact with the impact surface.