Retractable garage door ball bounce back system

• US 9,908,023 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew D. Martin, Michael C. Hamm
• Original Assignee: Andrew D. Martin, Michael C. Hamm
• Inventors: Hamm, Michael C., Martin, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berdichevsky, Aarti B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glenn, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/594,882
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 473197, 473421, 473435, 473493, 273396, 4504
• 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 2210/58 slideably retracted in a housing when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00

Abstract

A retractable ball return system having a rebounding surface that is retractable on a roll back into a reel assembly housing, which housing is mountable above a garage door opening or in an open space such as a gymnasium. The rebounding apparatus includes an integrated cable support structure, which is securable at its lower corners to attachment members mounted to the garage door frame. The door frame attachments have a plurality of different connection points which allow the rebounding surface to be secured at different degrees of angle, from angling forward to angling back, or centered in the middle for a perpendicular setting. Once connected, the support cable is retracted, either manually or mechanically, to pull the cable taught, to allow for a strong support structure. The rebounding surface is also then retracted until it has a desired tension level to allow the rebounding surface to be used with different balls as well as to adjust the different performance levels with the same ball.

Claims

1. A ball rebounder system comprising:

a) a reel assembly including a rotatable reel;

b) a rebounding apparatus having a first end and a second end in which the second end is attached to said reel assembly such that the rebounding apparatus may be extended or retracted on said rotatable reel, and including a rebounding surface;

c) a support cable connected on its ends to said reel assembly and slidably secured extending around the first end and sides of said rebounding surface to short extensions attached to the periphery of the rebounding surface such that the support cable is spaced apart from the first end and sides of the rebounding surface when the rebounding apparatus is in an extended position;

d) a plurality of cords each connected to a pulley secured to the support cable in close proximity to said first end;

e) a plurality of adjustable connectors attached to a support structure to which said cords are detachably secured when the rebounding apparatus is in an extended position, said connectors each including a frame section attached to the support structure and an arm member pivotably attached to the frame section, said arm member having a plurality of spaced apart notches on at least one side surface, and being lockable in a horizontal use position in which a side surface containing said notches is facing downwardly, said notches comprising different attachment locations for the cords and providing at least two different settings for varying the angle of the rebounding surface;

f) said reel assembly being operated to secured the support cable and second end of the rebounding apparatus at different extended positions in order to adjust the tension on the rebounding surface when the cords are secured to said adjustable connectors.

2. The ball rebounder system of claim 1 in which the use of different attachment locations allows the angle of the rebound surface to be secured at a positive or negative angle with respect to vertical.

3. The ball rebounder system of claim 1 additionally comprising a motorized actuator operatively connected to said reel assembly for extending and retracting as well as adjusting the tension of said rebounding apparatus.

4. The ball rebounder system of claim 2 in which the cords are selectively securable to the attachment locations such that the rebound surface is angled to cause a ball thrust at the rebound surface to rebound to the left of center or to the right of center.

5. A retractable reeled sports practice rebound system comprising:

a rebounding apparatus having a surface adapted to withstand the impact of a sports ball forcibly thrust at the surface, and positionable for use in a location substantially covering an opening,

a housing, said housing enclosing a reel assembly including a retractable reel, configured to extend, retract, and lock in a given position, an upper end of the rebounding apparatus being permanently secured to the retractable reel,

a support cable connected on its ends to the reel assembly and slidably secured to the rebounding surface by short extensions attached around the periphery of the rebounding surface in which the tension on the rebounding surface can be incrementally increased and decreased by adjusting the locked position of the reel assembly,

separate motorized actuators for independently controlling deployment and retracting of the support cable and rebounding apparatus,

connectors for releasably connecting a lower end of the rebounding apparatus when in an extended position to a support surface adjacent said opening, said connectors each including a plurality of horizontally spaced attachment locations such that the angle of the rebounding surface is adjustable by securing the lower end of the rebounding apparatus to different combinations of attachment locations on each connector, including a plurality of angles relative to a vertical angle, and a plurality of angles such that a ball thrust at the rebound surface will selectively rebound to the left of a center position, to the right of a center position, or a center position,

said rebounding surface having a tension which is adjustable to accommodate use of the sports practice rebound apparatus with different types of sports projectiles by adjusting the locked position of the retractable reel.

6. The sports practice rebound system of claim 5 in which the plurality of attachment locations enable the rebounding surface to be positioned at angles ranging between a positive angle relative to vertical and a negative angle relative to vertical.

7. The sports practice rebound system of claim 5 further comprising a cable which surrounds and supports the rebounding surface.

8. The sports practice rebound system of claim 7 in which the lower end of the rebounding apparatus is secured to the connectors by a flexible cord secured to the support cable.

9. The sports practice rebound system of claim 8 in which the flexible cord is secured on one end to a pulley connected to the support cable, and having an enlarged opposite end which is secured over one of the attachment locations.

10. The sports practice rebound system of claim 9 in which the connectors each include a frame section attached to the support surface, and an arm member pivotally attached to the frame section and being pivotable into a horizontal use position in which one or more notches are located on a downwardly facing side surface of the arm member.

11. The sports practice rebound system of claim 7 in which the frame section is a pin member.