Multi-sports ball return net system and method thereof

• US 7,600,759 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Net Return
• Original Assignee: The Net Return
• Inventors: Crawley, Matthew J., Crawley, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US11/881,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 273395-402, 473/476, 473/478, 473/434, 473/435, 473/454, 473/456
• US Class Current: 273/396
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/005 having means not protruding from the profile of the post for attachment of a net
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00

Abstract

A multi-sports ball return net system and a method thereof that consistently returns a ball hit, kick, thrown or strike into it directly to a user and is portable, easy to assemble and disassemble. The multi-sports ball return net system has a frame and a net mounted across the frame. The net forms an upper U-shape forward bulging pillow and a lower U-shape channel or hammock. A ball propelled into the U-shape pillow drops down to the U-shape channel, which funnels the ball to the lowest and central point of the U-shape channel for discharge toward the user.

Claims

1. A system for returning a propelled ball directly back to a user who propelled the ball into the system, comprising:

a frame having an upper portion and two side portions; and

a net attached to said upper and two sides portions defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion across said two side portions of said frame wherein a ball propelled into said net is discharged from the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion directly back toward the user, wherein said net having a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape comprises a longer parallel edge, two side edges and a shorter parallel edge.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame further having a lower portion for self-supporting said frame in an upright position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said each side portion of said frame has a S-shape profile.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a plurality of tubular elements having opposite ends interconnected to each other to form said frame.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said frame further comprises means for interconnecting said plurality of tubular elements to each other.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a tapered end and a non-tapered end at each tubular element to allow a tapered end of one tubular element to be inserted into to a non-tapered end of another tubular element.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said interconnecting means further comprises a pushbutton at said tapered end and an opening at said non-tapered end to allow said pushbutton to be snapped into said opening upon the insertion of said tapered end of one tubular element into said non-tapered of another tubular element.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said frame further comprises means for facilitating interconnection of said plurality of tubular elements.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said facilitating means comprises a plurality of matching indicia at corresponding ends of each pair of tubular elements that are to be interconnected.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of matching indicia is a plurality matching colors.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises fourteen tubular elements having opposite ends interconnected to each other to form said frame.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said frame comprises an upper front transverse member having opposite ends and a pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having opposite ends, wherein each end of said upper front transverse member is interconnected to one end of one of said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein each side portion of said frame comprises an upper downwardly extending vertical member having opposite ends, an intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having opposite ends, and a lower downwardly extending vertical member having opposite ends, wherein the distal end of one of said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnected to one end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member, the distal end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member is interconnected to one end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and the distal end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member is interconnected to one end of said lower downwardly extending vertical member.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said frame further comprising a lower portion for self-supporting said frame in an upright position comprises a pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members having opposite ends and a lower rear transverse member having opposite ends, wherein the distal end of each of said lower downwardly extending vertical member is interconnected to one end of one of said pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, and the distal ends of each lower rearwardly extending horizontal member are interconnected to each end of said rear transverse member.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein each side portion of said frame has a S-shape profile such that said upper front transverse member is in substantial vertical alignment with said lower downwardly extending vertical member and said lower rear transverse member is in substantial vertical alignment with said upper downwardly extending vertical member.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame is made of a lightweight material.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame is made of aluminum.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame is made of plastic.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame is made of polyvinyl chloride.

20. The system of claim 4 wherein each tubular element has a diameter of substantially 1.5 inch.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said longer parallel edge and side edges having a sleeve for attaching to said upper and two sides portions of said frame.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said upper portion of said frame having a predetermined length and said longer parallel edge of said net having a width greater than said predetermined length of said upper portion of said frame.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein each of said side portion of said frame having a predetermined length and side edge of said net having a height greater than said predetermined length of said side portion of said frame.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said longer parallel edge of said net is sleeved onto said upper portion of said frame and each of said side edges of said net is sleeved onto each of said side portion of said frame.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said longer parallel edge of said net is sleeved onto said upper front transverse member and said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members defining said upper forward bulging portion, and each of said side edges of said net is sleeved onto said upper downwardly extending vertical member, said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and said lower downwardly extending vertical member, wherein said lower generally U-shape channel portion is defined across said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member of each side portion of said frame.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said net further having a target provided thereon.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame having a width of substantially 8 feet, a height of substantially 7 feet 5 inches and a depth of substantially 38 inches, and said longer parallel edge of said net being substantially 13 feet, said shorter parallel edge of said net being substantially 9 feet and said height of said net being substantially 12 feet.

28. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cord having two ends, wherein said frame further having a hook at one of said two side portions for receiving one end of said cord, and the other end of said cord being attached to said net to raise said lower generally U-shape channel portion in an upward direction.

29. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cord having two ends, wherein said frame further having a hook at one of said two side portions for receiving one end of said cord, and the other end of said cord being attached to said net to angle said upper forward bulging portion in a rearward direction.

30. A system for returning a propelled ball directly back to a user who propelled the ball into the system, comprising:

a frame having an upper portion and two side portions; and

a net attached to said upper and two sides portions defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion across said two side portions of said frame, said upper forward bulging portion of said net absorbs the energy of said propelled ball, which then drops to said lower generally U-shape channel portion of said net and funnels into the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion for discharge toward the user, wherein said net having a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape comprises a longer parallel edge, two side edges and a shorter parallel edge.

31. A system for returning a propelled ball directly back to a user who propelled the ball into the system, comprising:

a frame comprises;

an upper front transverse member having opposite ends,

a pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having opposite ends,

a pair of upper downwardly extending vertical member having opposite ends,

a pair of intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having opposite ends,

a pair of lower downwardly extending vertical member having opposite ends,

a pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members having opposite ends, and

a lower rear transverse member having opposite ends,

wherein each end of said upper front transverse member is interconnected to one end of one of said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members, each distal end of said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnected to one end of each of said pair of upper downwardly extending vertical members, each distal end of said pair of upper downwardly extending vertical members is interconnected to one end of each of said pair of intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members, each distal end of said pair of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined members is interconnected to one end of each of said pair of lower downwardly extending vertical members, each distal end of each of said pair of lower downwardly extending vertical members is interconnected to one end of each of said pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, and the distal ends of each of said pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnected to each end of said rear transverse member; and

a net defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion, having a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape comprises

a longer parallel edge having a sleeve,

two side edges, each side edge having a sleeve, and

a shorter parallel edge,

wherein said longer parallel edge is sleeved onto said upper front transverse member and said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members defining said upper forward bulging portion, and each of said side edges of said net is sleeved onto said upper downwardly extending vertical member, said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and said lower downwardly extending vertical member, wherein said lower generally U-shape channel portion is defined across said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member of each side portion of said frame,

wherein a ball propelled into said net is discharged from the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion directly back toward the user.

32. A method of returning a propelled ball directly back to a user who propelled the ball, comprising the steps of:

providing a frame having an upper portion and two side portions;

providing a net attached to said upper and two side portions defining an upper forward bulging portion and a lower generally U-shape channel portion across said two side portions of said frame, wherein said net having a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape comprises a longer parallel edge, two side edges and a shorter parallel edge;

propelling a ball into said upper forward bulging portion of said net;

absorbing the energy of the propelled ball with said net moving in the direction of the propelled ball;

returning the net to its original position allowing the ball to move in the direction opposite its propelled direction and into said lower generally U-shape channel portion of said net; and

discharging the ball at the lowest and central point of said U-shape channel portion of said net directly toward the user.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said upper portion of said frame comprises an upper front transverse member having opposite ends and a pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members having opposite ends, wherein each end of said upper front transverse member is interconnected to one end of one of said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein each side portion of said frame comprises an upper downwardly extending vertical member having opposite ends, an intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member having opposite ends, and a lower downwardly extending vertical member having opposite ends, wherein the distal end of one of said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members is interconnected to one end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member, the distal end of said upper downwardly extending vertical member is interconnected to one end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and the distal end of said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member is interconnected to one end of said lower downwardly extending vertical member.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said frame further comprising a lower portion for self-supporting said frame in an upright position comprises a pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members having opposite ends and a lower rear transverse member having opposite ends, wherein the distal end of each of said lower downwardly extending vertical member is interconnected to one end of one of said pair of lower rearwardly extending horizontal members, and the distal ends of each lower rearwardly extending horizontal member are interconnected to each end of said rear transverse member.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said longer parallel edge of said net is sleeved onto said upper front transverse member and said pair of upper rearwardly extending horizontal members defining said upper forward bulging portion, and each of said side edges of said net is sleeved onto said upper downwardly extending vertical member, said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member, and said lower downwardly extending vertical member, wherein said lower generally U-shape channel portion is defined across said intermediate downwardly extending and forwardly inclined member of each side portion of said frame.