Practice backstop/net system

• US 6,849,009 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tracy Forlini
• Original Assignee: Tracy Forlini
• Inventors: Forlini, Tracy
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Legesse, Nini F.
• Application Number:
  US10/347,647
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 473/446, 473/476, 473/478, 473/197, 473/490, 473/491, 273/398, 273/400, 273/407, 273/408
• US Class Current: 473/446
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

By providing a fully adjustable net system which is quickly and easily mounted to any hockey goal assembly for peripherally surrounding the outer edges of the goal assembly and establishing an expanded protected area or zone, an easily used, readily deployable backstop or net system is attained which may be employed by a wide variety of sports enthusiasts, for controlling or preventing unwanted, errant shots from damaging property or people in the surrounding area. Furthermore, the net system of the present invention may be constructed in a wide variety of alternate sizes, shapes, and configurations for achieving broad based use and applicability.

Claims

1. A universally employable, easily constructed, fully adjustable multi-purpose backstop or net system constructed for cooperating with a conventional hockey goal assembly incorporating support members and netting interconnected thereto, said backstop/net system comprising:

A. a first rectangular shaped panel assembly comprising an overall length substantially greater than the height of the hockey goal assembly and

a. mounted to a first side edge of the hockey goal assembly,

b. extending above the hockey goal assembly, and

c. arcuately pivotable relative to the first side edge through an arc of at least 180°

to extend from said first side edge in a desired direction;

B. a second rectangular shaped panel assembly comprising an overall length substantially greater than the height of the hockey goal assembly and

a. mounted to a second side edge of the hockey goal assembly,

b. extending above the hockey goal assembly, and

c. arcuately pivotable relative to the second side edge through an arc of at least 180°

for being selectively positionable to extend from said second side edge in a desired direction; and

C. third rectangular shape panel assembly comprising an overall length substantially equivalent to the width of the hockey goal assembly and mounted to a top edge of the hockey goal assembly, extending between and interconnected with the first rectangular shaped panel assembly and the second rectangular shaped panel assembly,

whereby a backstop/net system is created which peripherally surrounds the entire hockey goal assembly in a manner which achieves the desired errant shot blocking effect while also providing complete adjustability of the position of the side panels.

2. The multi-purpose backstop/net system defined in claim 1, wherein each of said rectangular shaped frame assemblies comprises a rectangular shaped frame member defining the outer peripheral edge thereof and netting material affixed to the frame member for effectively closing the entire zone defined thereby, whereby the desired area is completely protected by netting material for capturing errant shots.

3. The multipurpose backstop/net system defined in claim 2, wherein both the first rectangular shaped panel assembly and the second rectangular shaped panel assembly are arcuately pivotable relative to the hockey goal assembly.

4. A universally employable, easily constructed, fully adjustable, multi-purpose backstop or net system comprising:

A. a hockey goal assembly incorporating

a. a first U-shaped support member mounted to a second U-support member at the terminating ends thereof, defining a substantially 90 degree angle therebetween,

b. said first U-shaped support members being maintained in a substantially vertical plane, with said second U-shaped support member being in a substantially horizontal plane, and

C. netting material extending from said first U-shaped support member to set a second U-shaped support member for effectively establishing a rearwardly extending holding zone therein; and

B. a first rectangular shaped panel assembly comprising an overall length substantially greater than the height of the first U-shaped support member and

a. mounted to a first side edge of the first U-shaped support member,

b. extending above said first U-shaped support member, and

C. arcuately pivotable relative to the first side edge through an arc of at least 180°

to extend from said first side edge in a desired direction; and

C. a second rectangular shaped panel assembly comprising an overall length substantially greater than the height of the first U-shaped support member and

a. mounted to a second side edge of the first U-shaped support member,

b. extending above said first U-shaped support member, and

C. arcuately pivotable relative to the second side edge through an arc of at least 180°

for being selectively positionable to extend from said second side edge in a desired direction; and

D. a third rectangular shaped panel assembly comprising an overall length substantially equivalent to the width of the first U-shaped support member and mounted to the top edge of the first U-shaped support member, extending between and interconnected with the first rectangular shaped panel assembly and the second rectangular shaped panel assembly.

5. The multipurpose backstop/net system defined in claim 4, wherein each of said rectangular shaped frame assemblies comprises a rectangular shaped frame member defining the outer peripheral edge thereof and netting material affixed to the frame member for effectively closing the entire zone defined thereby, whereby the desired area is completely protected by netting material for capturing errant shots.

6. The multipurpose backstop/net system defined in claim 5, wherein both the first rectangular shape panel assembly and the second rectangular shape panel are arcuately pivotable relative to the first U-shaped support member.

7. The multi-purpose backstop/net system defined in claim 4, and further comprising:

E. a substantially flat netting panel affixed at its terminating edges to the first U-shaped support member for effectively closing and blocking the open zone formed by said first U-shaped support member, establishing and easily constructed pitch-back system for use with a plurality of sport activities.

8. The multi-purpose backstop/net system defined in claim 7, wherein said system further comprises an elongated rod member incorporating fastening means for quickly and easily affixing the rod member to the first U-shaped support member at the base thereof, effectively closing the fourth edge of said first U-shaped support member and providing an additional surface to which the netting panel is affixed.

9. The multi-purpose backstop/net system defined in claim 8, wherein the substantially flat netting panel is further defined as comprising circular disks affixed to a plurality of terminating loop members formed at the outer edge of said panel for enabling said loop members to be wrapped about the U-shaped support member and the rod member quickly and easily, and being fastened in place by passage through a cooperating portion of the loop member.

10. The multipurpose backstop/net system defined in claim 8, wherein said system further comprises a pair of arcuately pivotable bracket members mounted between and interconnecting the first U-shaped support member with the second U-shaped support member for enabling said first U-shaped support member to be movable in a plurality of alternate positions, with each of said positions defining a unique angular relationship therebetween, whereby said backstop/net system is able to achieve a pitch-back construction wherein the netting panel is capable of being positioned in a plurality of alternate desirable orientations.