Patent ID: 6749520
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A device for practicing ball sports comprising an enclosure defined by a membrane supported from a self-supporting structure, said structure comprising a base having a playing surface and having a forward edge and a support means spaced forwardly and upwardly of the base and supported at least in part from the base, said structure further comprising an upstanding frame supported from sides of the base and extending over the base and having an uppermost point, said enclosure being supported from said structure to define a space having an open end and a closed end, said space being of a general conical configuration, said open end being supported from the base to maintain said open end in an open condition adjacent the forward edge and the closed end being supported from the support means in spaced relation to the open end, wherein a lower portion of the enclosure is inclined downwardly from the closed end to the base to enable a ball thereon to return to the playing surface and wherein the enclosure extends to each side of the base to provide lateral panels to each side of the base rearwardly of the forward edge of the base, the open end having an upper rear edge extending from adjacent the rear of the base and being inclined forwardly from adjacent the rear of the base to pass adjacent the uppermost point of the upstanding frame, and wherein the membrane is formed of netting in cylindrical form.