Patent ID: 7056241
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A volleyball practice system for catching and selectively releasing at least one volleyball, the system comprising: a pair of vertical support posts; a horizontal member of adjustable length, the horizontal member being attached to at least one of the vertical support posts at a fixed orientation relative to the vertical support post to which it is attached; a backdrop net, the backdrop net having an upper edge and a lower edge that is at a backdrop net distance from the upper edge of the backdrop net, the upper edge being supported from the pair of vertical supports, the lower edge of the backdrop net having a pair of opposite ends, each of the opposite ends being tethered to an anchoring point supported by the post supports or a volleyball net lower attachment rope, the anchoring point being below the upper edge of the backdrop net at a distance from the upper edge of the backdrop net that is smaller than the backdrop net distance, so that when the opposite ends of the lower edge of the backdrop net are supported from the vertical support posts they can be moved from a first position where the lower edge of the backdrop net is generally parallel to the upper edge of the backdrop net to a second position where the lower edge of the backdrop net assumes a catenary profile, so that the backdrop net may be used to retain or release balls by adjusting the height of the opposite ends of the backdrop net.