Upright golf net assembly

• US 6,517,444 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Young W. Yoon
• Original Assignee: Young W. Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, Young W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US09/651,075
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 473/197, 473/478, 473/476, 273/400, 273/401, 273/395, 273/407
• US Class Current: 473/197
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

An upright golf net assembly for practicing a golf swing has a stored mode collapsible for storage and a deployed mode expandable for practice and includes a pair of interconnected frames. The first and second frames are arranged in a substantially vertical upright position when the assembly is in the deployed mode, each frame having opposite lateral sides and an upper and lower portion. The first and second frames form perimeters that are interconnected at each of their respective opposite lateral sides, such that the first and second frames intersect at their respective opposite lateral sides. The first and second frames are retained in cooperating relation one to the other such that the first and second frames mutually support one another. A netting assembly is attached to the first frame and creates a substantially vertical netting surface for engaging the ball when the assembly is in the deployed mode.

Claims

1. A unitary interconnected upright net assembly having a stored mode that is collapsible for storage and a deployed mode that is self-erecting and expandable for practice, the net assembly comprising:

a first substantially vertical flexible continuous closed-loop collapsible upright frame forming a first perimeter when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the first perimeter having opposite lateral sides, and webbing encasing the first frame,

a second substantially vertical upright flexible continuous closed-loop frame forming a second perimeter when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the second perimeter having opposite lateral sides and webbing encasing the second frame, wherein webbing of the first and second frames are interconnected at each respective opposite lateral sides of the first and second perimeters of the frames such that the first and second frames intersect at their respective opposite lateral sides and are permanently retained in cooperating relation one to the other such that the first and second frames mutually support one another,

a netting assembly attached to the webbing of one of the first and second frames about the perimeter thereof to form a substantially vertical netting surface when the assembly is in the deployed mode, and

a base panel extending between and interconnecting the first and second frames and retaining the first and second frame in cooperating relation one to the other when in the deployed mode.

2. The upright net assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second frames comprise a pair of closed, elongated collapsible loops coupled one to the other.

3. The upright net assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second frames comprise a pair of closed, rectangular loops coupled one to the other.

4. The upright net assembly of claim 1, wherein the base panel is comprised of nylon and is attached to the circumferential webbing of the first and second frames.

5. The upright net assembly of claim 1, further comprising a top connector, wherein the top connector extends between the first and second frames and retains the first and second frame in cooperating relation one to the other.

6. The upright net assembly of claim 5, wherein the distance the top connector extends between the first and second frame is adjustable.

7. The upright net assembly of claim 5, wherein the top connector is a fabric panel.

8. The upright net assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second frames have upper and lower portions, such that the upper portion of the first frame is disposed in front of the upper portion of the second frame and the lower portion of the first frame is disposed behind the lower portion of the second frame, the netting assembly attached to the first frame such that the netting assembly is slightly forwardly inclined when the assembly is in the deployed mode.

9. A unitary interconnected upright net assembly for practicing a golf swing for hitting a golf ball, wherein said assembly has a stored mode collapsible for storage and a self-erecting deployed mode expandable for practice, the net assembly comprising a pair of interconnecting continuous flexible closed-loop collapsible frames:

a first of said pair of frames in a substantially vertical upright position and forming a first perimeter when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the first perimeter having opposite lateral sides and a top, and webbing encasing the first frame.

a second of said pair of frames in a substantially vertical upright position and forming a second perimeter when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the second perimeter having opposite lateral sides, and webbing encasing the second frame, wherein the webbing of the first and second frames are interconnected at each respective opposite lateral sides of the first and second perimeters, such that the first and second frames intersect at their respective opposite lateral sides and are permanently retained in cooperating relation one to the other such that the first and second frames mutually support one another, each of the first and second frames having upper and lower portions, the upper portion of the first frame disposed in front of the upper portion of the second frame and the lower portion of the first frame disposed behind the lower portion of the second frame, and

a netting assembly attached to and about the webbing of the first perimeter of said first frame to form a substantially vertical netting surface when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the netting assembly being slightly forwardly inclined when the assembly is in the deployed mode, and

a base panel extending between and interconnecting said first and second frames to maintain said first and second frames in cooperative relation when in the deployed mode.

10. The upright net assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second frames comprise a pair of a closed, elongated collapsible loops coupled one to the other.

11. The upright net assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second frames are comprised of a plurality of intersecting tubular members.

12. The upright net assembly of claim 9, wherein the lower portion of each of the first and second frames are substantially horizontal when in contact with a support surface.

13. The upright net assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second frames each comprise sections joined together to form a rectangular shape.

14. The upright net assembly of claim 9, wherein the netting assembly is further disposed over and about the pair of frames when the assembly is in the deployed mode.

15. A unitary interconnected practice golf net assembly formed from a pair of collapsible closed, elongated loops interconnected one to the other in combination with a netting panel and used for receiving and retaining a golf ball or the like, wherein the golf net assembly is adapted for self-erecting deployment on any relatively flat ground surface and is collapsible for storage and wherein the net assembly comprises:

a pair of interconnecting continuous flexible closed-loop collapsible frames, each frame being encased in webbing about the frame, where a first of said pair of frames is in a substantially vertical upright position and forms a first perimeter when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the first perimeter having a opposite lateral sides and a top, a second of said pair of frames in a substantially vertical upright position and forming a second perimeter when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the second perimeter having a opposite lateral sides, wherein the webbing of the first and second frames are interconnected at each respective opposite lateral sides of the first and second perimeters of the frames, such that the first and second frames intersect at their respective opposite lateral sides and are permanently retained in cooperating relation one to the other such that the first and second frames mutually support one another, each of the first and second frames having upper and lower portions, the upper portion of the first frame disposed in front of the upper portion of the second frame and the lower portion of the first frame disposed behind the lower portion of the second frame,

a netting assembly attached to and about the perimeter of the first frame to form a substantially vertical netting surface when the assembly is in the deployed mode, the netting assembly being slightly forwardly inclined when the assembly is in the deployed mode, and

a base panel extending from and between and interconnecting the first and second frames when in the deployed mode.

16. The practice golf net assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second frames are of the same size.

17. The practice golf net assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second frames are further joined one to the other by adjustable connectors whereby the height and width of the net assembly in the deployed mode may be adjusted.

18. In combination with a golf practice netting panel, a pair of flexible collapsible closed, elongated continuous loops permanently interconnected one to the other to form a pair of substantially vertical adjacent frame members forming a self-erecting X-shaped structure, each frame member encased in webbing and having opposite sides attached one to the other at the webbing such that the frame members intersect each other at a midpoint along each said side of said frame members and a connecting base member extending between and interconnecting said frame members retains the frame members one to the other whereby the frame members mutually support one another, wherein the netting panel forms a substantially vertical surface for engaging a sports item such as a ball or the like when the frame members are deployed on a relatively flat ground surface, wherein the netting panel is attached to a first of the pair of frames.