Retractable court standard and methods of use

• US 8,057,329 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vickie J. Cusimano
• Original Assignee: Vickie J. Cusimano
• Inventors: Cusimano, Vickie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu; Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US12/573,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 473490-495, 4031091-1098, 403/378, 403/379.1, 403/379.5, 403/348, 403/349, 403/353
• US Class Current: 473/492
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2061/025 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/58 slideably retracted in a housing when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 61/02 Posts; Revolvably-mounted posts ; Straining or adjusting devices on the posts, e.g. coin- or time operated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/028 Floor sockets for removable poles

Abstract

An improved retractable court standard is described. The retractable court standard typically comprises a plurality of elongated tubular sections and an elongated top section. Each of the elongated tubular sections has a top end and a bottom end, and different dimension. Additionally, the elongated top section typically has a top end and a bottom end, and a net securing assembly coupled proximal the top end. At least one elongated tubular section is slidably and rotatably disposed within another circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section. Importantly, the at least one elongated tubular section has one of at least one rotational locking channel and at least one securing pin. The circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section has the other of the at least one rotational locking channel and the at least one securing pin. Methods of extending, retracting, and storing the improved retractable court standard are also described.

Claims

1. A retractable court standard comprising:

a plurality of elongated tubular sections, each having a top end and a bottom end, and different diameter relative to the other elongated tubular sections; and

an elongated top section having a top end and a bottom end, and a net securing assembly coupled proximal the top end;

wherein at least one elongated tubular section is slidably and rotatably disposed within another circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section, the at least one elongated tubular section having one of at least one rotational locking channel and at least one securing pin, the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section having the other of the at least one rotational locking channel and the at least one securing pin;

wherein the elongated top section is coupled to and slidably disposed within a topmost of the elongated tubular sections, the topmost of the elongated tubular sections comprising a clamping mechanism operatively coupled thereto, the clamping mechanism adapted to releasably lock the elongated top section.

2. The retractable court standard of claim 1, wherein the at least one rotational locking channel includes at least one L type channel.

3. The retractable court standard of claim 1, wherein the at least one rotational locking channel includes at least one double-L type channel.

4. The retractable court standard of claim 1, wherein the elongated top section includes a plurality of notches vertically disposed thereon, each of the notches adapted to fixably engage with the clamping mechanism.

5. The retractable court standard of claim 1, wherein the net securing assembly comprises at least a pulley and a handle.

14. A method extending the retractable court standard of claim 1 when the retractable court standard is in a fully retracted configuration and is substantially subsurface, the method comprising:

pulling upwardly on a top end of the elongated top section thereby causing the topmost of the elongated tubular sections to extend upwardly until an end of an extended longitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections engages with the at least one securing pin of a circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section;

rotating the topmost of the elongated tubular sections generally around the axial center thereof whereby the at least one securing pin of the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section moves along a substantially latitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections;

pulling upwardly on a one of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections and the elongated top section thereby causing the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section to extend upwardly until an end of an extended longitudinal channel portion of another of the at least one rotational locking channel engages with another of the at least one securing pin of a next circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section;

rotating the one of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections and the elongated top section substantially around the axial center thereof whereby the another of the at least one securing pin of the next circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular sections moves along a substantially latitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section; and

repeating said pulling upwardly and rotating operations until the retractable court standard is fully extended.

15. A method retracting the retractable court standard of claim 1 to retract the retractable court standard when the retractable court standard initially exists in a fully extended configuration, the method comprising:

releasing the elongated top section from the clamping mechanism thereby causing the elongated top section to slide substantially into the topmost of the elongated tubular sections;

rotating the topmost of the elongated tubular sections generally around the axial center thereof whereby the at least one securing pin of a circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section moves along a substantially latitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections until the at least one securing pin of a circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section engages an end of the substantially latitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections;

releasing the topmost of the elongated tubular sections thereby causing the topmost of the elongated tubular sections to slide substantially into the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section guided by the at least one securing pin of the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section through an extended longitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the topmost of the elongated tubular sections;

rotating the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section around the axial center thereof whereby the at least one securing pin of a next circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section moves along a substantially latitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section until the at least one securing pin of the next circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section engages an end of the substantially latitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section;

releasing the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section thereby causing the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section to slide substantially into the next circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section guided by the at least one securing pin of the next circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section through an extended longitudinal channel portion of the at least one rotational locking channel of the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section; and

repeating said rotating and releasing operations until the retractable court standard is fully retracted.

6. A retractable court standard comprising:

a plurality of elongated tubular sections, each having a top end and a bottom end, and different diameter relative to the other elongated tubular sections;

one or more O-rings, each of the O-rings being coupled to and generally encircling around an outer circumferential surface of at least one of the elongated tubular sections whereby the O-ring will be in contact with another circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section; and

an elongated top section having a top end and a bottom end, and a net securing assembly coupled proximal the top end;

wherein at least one elongated tubular section is slidably and rotatably disposed within another circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section, the at least one elongated tubular section having one of at least one rotational locking channel and at least one securing pin, the circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular section having the other of the at least one rotational locking channel and the at least one securing pin, and the elongated top section is coupled to and slidably disposed within a topmost of the elongated tubular sections.

7. A retractable court standard system comprising:

a retractable court standard, the retractable court standard comprising,

a first elongated tubular section having a top end and a bottom end;

a second elongated tubular section having a top end and a bottom end and being slidably and rotably disposed within the first elongated tubular section;

a third elongated tubular section having a top end and a bottom and being slidably and rotably disposed within the second elongated tubular section;

a fourth elongated tubular section having a top end and a bottom end and being slidably and rotably disposed within the third elongated tubular section, the fourth elongated tubular section having a clamping mechanism at the top end;

an elongated top section having a top end and a bottom end and being slidably disposed within the fourth elongated tubular section; and

a net securing assembly having a pulley, the net securing assembly coupled to the top end of the elongated top section;

wherein each elongated tubular section comprises at least one rotational locking channel, each of the at least one rotational locking channel is adapted to receive at least one securing pin from another elongated tubular section with which it is slidably and rotatbly disposed; and

the clamping mechanism is adapted to a (i) allow the top elongated section to slide longitudinally in a first state and (ii) prevent substantial movement between the fourth elongated tubular section and the top elongated section in a second state.

8. The retractable court standard system of claim 7 further comprising:

a well, the well having an elongated tubular section adapted to receive substantially receive the retractable court standard when the retractable court standard is in a fully retracted configuration.

9. The retractable court standard system of claim 8, wherein the well further includes a base section, the base section having at least one securing flange adapted to interface with at least one rotational locking channel.

10. The retractable court standard system of claim 9, wherein a one of the first elongated tubular section, the second elongated tubular section, and the fourth elongated tubular section has at least one least one bore through an outer surface and an inner surface.

11. The retractable court standard system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first elongated tubular section, the second elongated tubular section, and the fourth elongated tubular section further includes (a) overlapping portions of circumferentially adjacent elongated tubular sections of four or more inches longitudinally and (b) at least one of an L type channel and a double-L type channel for the at least one rotational locking channel.

12. The retractable court standard system of claim 9 further comprising:

a one of a winch assembly or a hook assembly.

13. The retractable court standard system of claim 12 further comprising:

a net, the net including a net webbing portion and one or more guy wires;

wherein a first portion of at least one on the one or more guy wires is coupled to the pulley proximal the net webbing portion and a second portion is coupled to the one of the winch assembly or the hook assembly distal the net webbing portion.