Practice target for sport projectiles

• US 7,293,776 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DMI Sports Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DMI Sports Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fenwick, Daniel P
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US10/916,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 273398-402, 473/197, 473/476, 473/478, 473/195, 473/170, 473/172, 473/193, 473/456, 473/454, 473/196, 473/446
• US Class Current: 273/400
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/006 Forming a target or goal by fixing net or target area to garage doorway or garage parts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/026 stabilised by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/04 Bow shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/003 non-electronic means for locating the point of impact on a target or the point of entry in the goal

Abstract

A target for practicing aiming sport or game projectiles, such as balls, hockey pucks, arrows, etc., is formed of a large, flexible sheet whose upper edge is temporarily secured to the lower edge of a conventional garage door when the door is lowered. The sheet is deployed to cover the garage door opening when the door is raised into open position. The sheet contains target markings which may include holes in the sheet for receiving propelled projectiles aimed at the target sheet. The target holes may be backed by pockets which receive and temporarily hold the projectiles which pass through the respective openings. The target holes may be normally covered by retractable flaps.

Claims

1. A temporary target for practicing aiming propelled sport projectiles, such as balls, pucks and other game projectiles from outside a conventional garage, comprising:

a large, flexible sheet having an upper edge and a lower edge and disposed to substantially cover a conventional garage door opening having a conventional garage door of the type which is raised for opening and lowered for closing the garage door opening, while substantially not protruding inside the garage or requiring the use of space within the garage or displacement of garage contents;

fasteners arranged along the upper edge of the sheet for temporarily connecting the upper edge portion of the sheet to the lower edge portion of a garage door when the door is arranged in lowered position;

corresponding fasteners temporarily secured along the lower edge portion of the garage door in a way that does not require tools or penetration into the garage door;

bag-like pockets secured along the lower edge portion of the sheet and being open upwardly for receiving weights; and

a series of weights positioned within the bags for holding the sheet downwardly and maintaining it relatively taut when the sheet is deployed over the door opening;

said weights being in the form of conventional plastic milk containers normally filled with water for providing the weight for holding the sheet downwardly, under the force of gravity;

with target markings formed on the surface of the sheet;

whereby the sheet may be deployed over the garage door opening by securing the upper edge of the sheet to the garage door lower edge portion when the door is lowered into closed position by inter-engaging the respective fasteners along the upper edge of the sheet and the lower edge portion of the garage door, and then raising the door into the door open position, and the target may be removed by lowering the door to collapse the sheet upon ground adjacent the garage door opening and disconnecting the fasteners.

2. A temporary target for practicing aiming propelled sport projectiles, such as balls, pucks and other game projectiles, comprising:

a large, flexible sheet of a size to substantially cover a conventional garage door opening having a conventional garage door of the type which is raised for opening and lowered for closing the garage door opening, with the sheet having an upper edge and a lower edge;

fasteners arranged along the upper edge of the sheet for temporarily connecting the upper edge portion of the sheet to the lower edge portion of a garage door when the door is arranged in lowered position;

bag-like pockets secured along the lower edge portion of the sheet and being open upwardly for receiving weights; and

a series of weights positioned within the bags for holding the sheet downwardly and maintaining it relatively taut when the sheet is deployed over the door opening;

said weights being in the form of conventional plastic milk containers normally filled with water for providing the weight for holding the sheet downwardly, under the force of gravity;

with target markings formed on the surface of the sheet;

whereby the sheet may be deployed over the garage door opening by securing the upper edge of the sheet to the garage door lower edge portion when the door is lowered into closed position, and then raising the door into the door open position, and the target may be removed by lowering the door to collapse the sheet upon ground adjacent the garage door opening and disconnecting the fasteners.