Abstract:
A net stabilizer that secures a baseball game net along the bottom border of the net to prevent the net from being blown around by the wind. The net stabilizer is releasably secured to the net at the game time and is conveniently assembled at the playing field.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to the outdoor ball games having a net apparatus and, more particularly, to an easily assemblable and disassemblable net stabilizer for maintaining the net in a desired place for stopping a running ball in a ball game. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A sports net is usually mounted on a structure which are of some height and width used for play or practice of a ground-rolling or ground-contacting ball in mini golf, baseball, softball, or the like. The netting has a mesh sized to prevent passage of the ball through the mesh. The backstop net is also suitable for use behind a catcher&#39;s mound on a baseball diamond. However, the bottom mesh portion of the net needs some weight to stabilize and to prevent the ball from rolling passing the net or to prevent the net from being blown around by the wind. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,246 granted to Byrne, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a net structure with a mounting means being fastened to a garage inwardly of a garage door. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,442 granted to Anderson, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a backstop for use in limiting the flight of sports balls and other projectiles used in sports, wherein one or more net panels are supported by a plurality of posts comprising an external frame. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,784 granted to Redlich et al., entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a rebound net having a reinforced periphery that can be removably attached to a structure surrounding a door opening of a domestic garage. The periphery of the rebound net may be removably attached to the structure by one of the following means: an eyebolt, a snap hook, a J-type screw hook, an adjustable strap, an anchor pin, or a shock cord hooks. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,834 B1 granted to Nozato, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a flying ball stopping net device having a plurality of legs arranged side by side on the ground. The legs extend in one direction substantially horizontal with a frame extending upward away from the legs. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,863 B2 granted to Speck, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a baseball equipment bag having an elongated bag portion of flexible material and a substantially planar interior shelf within the elongated bag portion. The equipment bag includes a bat compartment which allows a bat to be accessed from either of two openings. The equipment bag is capable of collapsing to a substantially flat configuration when not in use. 
         [0008]    U.S. patent application publication no. 2006/0068943, entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a portable net device having an adjustable net mechanism, thereby expanding usability further to baseball catching, hockey ball catching, or soccer ball catching. 
         [0009]    Those who are serious about practicing sports may not be able to conveniently travel to a playing field that allows sufficient space for hitting or throwing balls used in practicing a game. Practice that involves hitting or throwing a ball in a relatively small back yard or community park may only be possible if some type of temporary backstop or net apparatus is used to limit the travel of the ball. A permanent installation of such a backstop or net apparatus may not be practical. The backstop usually comprises a net attached to the perimeter of a capturing frame and a rigid support frame attached to the capturing frame. 
         [0010]    None of the above-identified disclosures teaches a net stabilizer that is versatile, convenient and easy to use in maintaining the sports net in an appropriate place for stopping a running ball in a ball game. Further, there is a great need for a net stabilizer that can be used to stop a sports net from being blown around in the wind. It is beneficial to substitute net stabilizing means for ground anchoring the nets or using chains that eventually snag the nets to keep the wind from blowing the net around in a ball game. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    One object of the invention provides an easily assemblable and disassemblable net stabilizer for maintaining the sports net in a desired place and keeping the net from being blown around by the wind. 
         [0012]    One aspect of the invention provides a net stabilizer for stabilizing a bottom border of a sports net in place, comprising: an elongate bag body, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one opening at the distal end; and fastening means secured to an exterior surface of the elongate bag body, wherein the fastening means is configured to releasably fasten the net stabilizer to the sports net. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the bag body of the net stabilizer is sized and configured for loading at least one bat for baseball or softball games. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the bag body of the net stabilizer comprises a plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment has an opening for loading weighted material or sporting gears. In another embodiment, at least one of the compartments is made with a see-through woven mesh patterns for identifying the subject stored within. In still another embodiment, at least one of the compartments is color-coded for easy or convenient identification. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the fastening means of the net stabilizer comprises a Velcro hook and loop fastener, wherein the number of the Velcro fasteners on the bag body is between about 2 and 10. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, a diameter of the bag body of the net stabilizer is between about 1 and 10 inches, preferably between about 2 and 4 inches. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, a length of the bag body of the net stabilizer is between about 2 and 10 feet, preferably between about 4 and 6 feet. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the bag body is made of nylon or polyester material. In another embodiment, the bag body is made of plastic material. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the at least one opening of the bag body of the net stabilizer is equipped with a zipper, an elastic strap, a drawstring, or a Velcro fastener. 
         [0020]    Some aspects of the invention provide an elongate bag having an interior enclosure that serves as a bat carrier and a net stabilizer. 
         [0021]    For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as conceived or suggested herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be conceived or suggested herein. 
         [0022]    All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Additional objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood from the following Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an overall exterior view of a net stabilizer with Velcro-like hook and loop fasteners. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a top cross-sectional view of a net stabilizer. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the net stabilizer filled with heavy substance as a sand bag. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the net stabilizer in operation that is releasably secured to a bottom border of a net apparatus. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows (A) a net stabilizer secured to a net apparatus, and (B) an enlarged illustration of the securing mechanism between the next stabilizer and the net apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention described below relate particularly to an easily assemblable and disassemblable net stabilizer for maintaining the net in an appropriate place with intended functionality. While the description sets forth various embodiment specific details, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting the invention. Furthermore, various applications of the invention, and modifications thereto, which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described below. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows an overall exterior view of a net stabilizer  10  comprising an elongate bag body  15  with an enclosure and Velcro-like hook and loop fasteners  13  spaced apart that are secured or stitched on the exterior surface of the bag body, each fastener  13  comprising a hook component  14 A and its matching loop component  14 B. When the bag body is emptied, the elongate net stabilizer is foldable with lightweight for easy storage and carrying around. Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. One aspect of the invention relates to a net stabilizer comprising an elongate hollow body  15 , a proximal end  11 B and a distal end  11 A, wherein an opening is located at about the distal end or proximal end for loading heavy substance or weighted material (for example, gravel, sand, rock, chains, bats, and the like) into the enclosure. In one embodiment, the opening is equipped with a zipper  12 . In another embodiment, the opening is equipped with an elastic strap, a drawstring, a Velcro fastener, or the like. 
         [0031]    The net stabilizer of the present invention has a length of between about 2 and 10 feet, preferably 4 and 6 feet. The outside diameter of the elongate bag body after filling is substantially uniform axially and has a dimension of between about 1 inch and 10 inches, preferably about 2 and 4 inches. The number of Velcro fasteners on the bag body is about 2 to 10. The total weight is configured to counter the blowing of a strong wind so to stabilize the net during a ball game. In an alternate embodiment, the outside diameter of the elongate bag body is substantially uneven axially. In still another embodiment, the cross-section of the bag body is not circular or round shape configured for maintaining the net stabilizer steady (not easy to roll). 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a top cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a net stabilizer  10 A with two end-compartments  16 A,  16 B separated by at least one middle compartment  16 C. The compartments are physically separated by a barrier member or divider  17 A,  17 B. In operation, the bag body  15  is axially stretched and the two end-compartments are filled with sand or equivalent to stabilize the bottom portion of a net by appropriately fastening the stabilizer to the net or rolling the bottom border of the net around and over the net stabilizer. In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the middle compartment is empty. In one embodiment, at least one compartment is made with woven mesh patterns for easily identifying a subject stored within the at least one compartment. In another embodiment, at least one compartment is color-coded for easy identification. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the net stabilizer filled with weighted material (for example; sand) as a sand bag. One aspect of the invention relates to a net stabilizer with approximate even weight distribution axially as shown in  FIG. 3 . Another aspect of the invention relates to a net stabilizer with uneven weight distribution axially. The bottom portion of the net can roll around the elongate net stabilizer without using any fasteners. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the net stabilizer  10  in operation that is releasably secured to a bottom strand  23 A of a net apparatus  21 . The net apparatus  21  may comprise a netting that is supported horizontally at top of the netting and vertically at two sides of the netting with poles. In general, the netting comprises multiple vertical knitted strands  22  and horizontal strands  23 . In operation, removably fasten the periphery of the net at the bottom border or the bottom strand(s)  23 A of the net to the net stabilizer  10  through Velcro fasteners  13  on the net stabilizer. Preferably, the net  10  is made of nylon in a strong open weave pattern to provide strength and durability for the impact of a ball. In one embodiment, the net stabilizer is made of nylon, polyester, or other plastic material. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5A  shows a net stabilizer secured to a net apparatus whereas  FIG. 5B  shows an enlarged illustration of the securing mechanism between the net stabilizer and the net apparatus of  FIG. 5A . In one embodiment, the vertical strands  22  stay about and outside the elongate bag of the net stabilizer  10 . In another embodiment, a portion of the bottom horizontal strand(s)  23 A is wrapped and fastened by the Velcro fastener while the next-to-the-bottom horizontal strand  23 B is not fastened to the Velcro  13 . 
         [0036]    For best installation results, one needs at least 3-4″ of net resting on the ground. In one embodiment, some easy installation instruction is illustrated as follows:
       (1) Fill the bag with weighted material. Try not to use sharp rocks.   (2) Lie the bag near the net you are going to stabilize and disperse the weight in the bag so it is even over the length of the bag.   (3) Attach the bag to the net border using the Velcro straps already secured to the weighted border stabilizer (also known as net stabilizer).   4) Roll the bag into the extra net. This will distribute the tension across more of the net when the ball hits the base or the net. This will also minimize stress and snaring where the Velcro attaches.   (5) Don&#39;t leave your net stabilizer expose to water. Remove it when not in use and hang it in a dry place.   (6) Most applications do not require you to fully fill up the bag. High winds may require full fill. You do not need to border your whole net, just the parts you may need.       
 
       EXAMPLE NO. 1 
       [0043]    A net stabilizer  10  has an elongate bag portion of flexible material, an interior enclosure as a bat compartment, and a plurality of Velcro-type hook and loop fasteners  13  (also known as Velcro straps) spaced apart at the exterior surface of the bag. The bag portion has one opening for loading the bat(s) into the bat compartment. In one embodiment, the opening can be partially closed by a drawstring to securely hold the bats in the bat compartment. The net stabilizer is also capable of loading with sand as a sand bag net border. 
         [0044]    One aspect of the invention relate to a net stabilizer for stabilizing a bottom border of a sports net in place, comprising: an elongate bag body, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one opening at the distal end; and fastening means secured to an exterior surface of the elongate bag body, wherein the fastening means is configured to releasably fasten the net stabilizer to the sports net, wherein the bag body is sized and configured for loading at least one bat for baseball or softball games. The bag body is also useful for loading gloves or other sport gears. 
       EXAMPLE NO. 2 
       [0045]    A net stabilizer  10  has an elongate bag portion of flexible material, an interior enclosure with multiple isolated compartments, wherein each compartment has an opening for loading the weighted material (for example, sand) independently or for storage purposes. In operation, at least one compartment is filled with the weighted material. In an alternate embodiment, at least some compartments are partially filled with the weighted material. 
         [0046]    From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that a net stabilizer has been disclosed. While the components, techniques and aspects of the invention have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the specific designs, constructions and methodology herein above described without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
         [0047]    Various modifications and applications of the invention may occur to those who are skilled in the art, without departing from the true spirit or scope of the invention. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be defined only by a fair reading of the appended claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.