Portable backstop game apparatus

• US 7,160,214 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Rome
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Rome
• Inventors: Rome, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour; Mitra
• Application Number:
  US10/998,075
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 473/197, 473/434, 473/435, 473/454, 473/462, 473/470, 473/471, 473/415, 473476-478, 473/446, 273/348, 273/410, 273/402
• US Class Current: 473/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/026 stabilised by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A game apparatus is disclosed including a barrier member, a net, and a frame. The barrier member has two opposed major surfaces and an aperture passing through the opposed major surfaces. The net is positioned adjacent one of the major surfaces of the barrier member such that the net covers the aperture. The frame supports the barrier member in a generally planar and substantially vertical orientation.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a barrier member having an aperture;

a net positioned to cover the aperture;

a frame having at least one inflatable member for supporting the barrier member in a generally planar and substantially vertical orientation when inflated,

wherein the frame comprises two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members and an inflatable base beam member connected between the two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members, and wherein the barrier member extends between one of the two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members and the inflatable base beam member; and

wherein each of the two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members has two ends, and wherein the ends of the two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members are attached such that an angle of about 80 degrees is formed between the two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting skirt attached to, and extending about, an outer edge of one of the two inflatable “

U”

-shaped members, and wherein the mounting skirt comprises a plurality of holes for securing the game apparatus to an underlying surface.

3. The game apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of containers attached to the mounting skirt, wherein each of the containers is adapted to be filled with a substance such that a weight of the substance helps hold the game apparatus in place.

4. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein a portion of the mounting skirt is adapted to receive an object, wherein a weight of the object helps hold the game apparatus in place.