Folding sport net with ball return system

• US 8,894,511 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huaimian Zhang
• Original Assignee: Huaimian Zhang, Renan Lore
• Inventors: Lore, Renan, Zhang, Huaimian
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/854,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20130260925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 273398-402, 273/395, 273/396, 273/394, 473/476, 473/478, 473/434, 473/435, 473/197, 473/454, 473/431, 135/125, 135/126, 135133-136, 135/138
• US Class Current: 473/431
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

A portable and easily foldable sport net 50 includes a ball return system wherein balls 930 or other projectiles are stopped and gently rolled back to the user. A frame system 200 may include spring steel or fiberglass and may further includes front frame members 210, rear frame members 220 and lower lateral frame members 230. An inside net 100 is attached or integrated into the front frame members 210 and the inside net 100 has little contact or attachment to the rear frame members 220. The judicious use of netting material and other components result in a lightweight and easy to assemble sport net. Embodiments feature two lateral voids 250 and a rear void 240 which provide an economy of construction and efficiency of use.

Claims

1. A sport net and ball return system, the system comprising:

a) a frame system, the frame system comprising front frame members, and rear frame members, with the front and rear frame members in attachment to a lower lateral frame member and at an upper apex;

b) the frame system attached to two lower lateral support panels, each lower lateral support panel in attachment to a lateral stabilizer cord, with each lower lateral stabilizer cord attached to lower sides of an elastic front lateral stabilizer net and an elastic rear lateral stabilizer net, the elastic front stabilizer net further defined by a first stabilizer cord and the elastic rear lateral stabilizer net further defined by a second stabilizer cord;

c) the front and rear frame members further secured together by two upper lateral stabilizer cords;

d) the upper apex attached to a top canopy system;

e) each lower lateral frame member having a rear side with the rear sides in attachment to a rear stabilizer cord;

f) each lower lateral frame member having a front side with the front sides in attachment to a front stabilizer cord; and

g) an inside net having lateral edges attached to the front frame members, and the inside net having upper rear portions attached to two or more elastic cords the elastic cords attached to the rear frame members.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower lateral support panel comprises a static non-elastic member.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the lateral stabilizer cords comprise a static non-elastic member.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the front stabilizer cord and the rear stabilizer cord comprise a static non-elastic member.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first stabilizer cords and second stabilizer cords of the front and rear elastic lateral stabilizer nets comprise a static non-elastic member.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the top canopy system comprises a front member, two lateral members and a rear member.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising two lateral voids, the lateral voids defined by the front frame member, the rear frame member, the upper lateral stabilizer cord, the elastic front lateral stabilizer net and the elastic rear stabilizer net.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a rear void defined by the rear stabilizer cord and the rear frame members.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising the rear void further defined by the rear member of the top canopy system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the rear stabilizer cord is attached to the rear frame members and ends of the lateral stabilizer cords.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the front and rear stabilizer nets are made of solid fabric.