Net mending device

A device for mending a broken cord in a sports net. The device includes a pair of ferrules having deformable flaps that can be crimped onto the broken cord ends. The ferrules can be connected with each other by a flexible cord element gripped by sleeves on the ferrules, by a rigid connecting strip, or by a flexible cord element threaded through openings and gripped by the flaps crimped onto the broken cord ends. In the latter case, the broken cord ends are threaded through the openings and knotted to enhance the security of the connection.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates in general to the repair of damaged nets and more 
particularly to a device for mending broken cords of a sports net. 
Meshwork nets are used in a wide variety of sports, including basketball, 
tennis, volleyball, badminton, soccer and fishing. The net is typically 
formed from interwoven cords that can be made of nylon or another suitable 
synthetic or natural material. Substantial forces are often applied to the 
nets, and they are at times subjected to considerable abuse. Consequently, 
it is not uncommon for one or more of the cords to become frayed or 
broken, especially after the net has been in service for an extended time. 
At present, nets having broken cords are usually either taken down and 
thrown away or are maintained in service despite their defective 
condition. 
The present invention is directed to a device which serves to mend a broken 
cord in a meshwork net. Through use of the device, a broken or unduly worn 
net can be restored to essentially the same condition it was in prior to 
the damage. As a result, it is not necessary to discard the net or to 
continue to use it in a defective condition. 
It is an important object of the invention to provide a net mending device 
which can be applied to repair a broken net cord in a manner to restore 
the net to an undamaged condition. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character 
described which is able to repair cords having broken or frayed portions 
that vary in length. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character 
described which can be securely applied to the broken cord in order to 
impart to the mended cord adequate strength to withstand the forces 
applied to it in service. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of the 
character described which is simple and economical to manufacture and 
which may be quickly and easily applied to a damaged cord without the need 
for special skills or special tools. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the 
character described which does not detract significantly from the 
appearance or functional ability of the net. 
Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of 
novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following 
description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawing in more detail and initially to FIG. 2, 
numeral 10 generally designates a net of the type used in sporting 
activities such as volleyball. The net 10 is a meshwork structure formed 
by a series of horizontal cords 12 which are interwoven with a plurality 
of vertical cords 14. The horizontal cords 12 are looped around the 
vertical cords in order to provide square mesh openings of uniform size 
between the adjacent pairs of cords. Opposite ends of the net are provided 
with support cords 16 which are used to secure the net to support poles or 
the like (not shown). 
The cords 12 and 14 may be constructed of nylon or any other suitable 
synthetic or natural material or a combination of synthetic and natural 
materials. When one of the cords breaks, a pair of broken cord ends remain 
adjacent to the break, as indicated by the broken cord ends 18 on opposite 
sides of the break in one of the vertical cords 14. 
With additional reference to FIGS. 1 and 3-5, numeral 20 generally 
designates a net mending device constructed according to a first 
embodiment of the present invention. The device 20 includes at its 
opposite ends a pair of U shaped ferrules 22, each of which includes a 
flat base 24 and a pair of parallel deformable flaps 26. Each ferrule 22 
is open at its opposite ends and its top, and the flaps 22 are spaced 
apart far enough to closely receive one of the cord ends 18 between them. 
Each base 24 occupies a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the 
planes which contain the flaps 26, and the cord end 18 is placed against 
the flat surface of base 24 when it is inserted in the ferrule. Projecting 
upwardly from each base 24 is a plurality of teeth 28 which bite into the 
cord end 18 inserted in the ferrule. Each tooth 28 is triangular and 
terminates in a sharp tip. The teeth 28 are preferably punched from base 
24. The teeth 28 slope inwardly somewhat away from the outer end of the 
ferrule as they extend away from base 24. 
Device 20 includes a flexible cord element 30 which is preferably 
constructed of the same material as the cords 12 and 14 of net 10. The 
cord element 30 serves as a splice between the broken cord ends 18 and is 
connected to extend between the two ferrules 22. Each ferrule 22 is 
provided with a small sleeve 32 which is connected with the main body of 
the ferrule by a tapered neck 34 which extends from the base 24. The 
sleeves 32 are crimped around the opposite ends of the cord element 30 in 
order to securely grip it, and the cord element serves to connect the two 
ferrules 22 to one another. 
In use, the net mending device 20 is applied to the damaged cord 14 by 
first applying one of the ferrules 22 to one of the cord ends 18. The cord 
end 18 extends into the trough like channel which is formed in the ferrule 
22 between the flaps 26 and above the base 24. After the cord end 18 has 
been received in the ferrule, the flaps 26 are deformed inwardly and 
downwardly such that they securely crimp the cord end 18 in the ferrule. 
As best shown in FIG. 5, the flaps 26 are crimped onto the cord end 18 
such that the cord end is compressed with the flaps 26 and base 24 
cooperating to completely enclose the cord end and securely grip it. This 
secures one of the ferrules 22 on one of the cord ends 18. It is noted 
that the teeth 24 bite into the cord end 18 and assist in securing the 
connection. The angle at which the teeth 28 are oriented helps in 
resisting any tendency for the cord 18 to pull longitudinally out of the 
ferrule 22. 
The opposite ferrule 22 is applied and secured to the other broken cord end 
18 in the same manner. Before the deformable flaps 26 of the second 
ferrule are crimped onto the cord end 18, the cord 14 and the cord element 
30 are held taut, thus assuring that the repaired cord will be in a taut 
condition following crimping of flaps 26 onto the cord end. 
FIG. 2 illustrates device 20 in place on a broken vertical cord 14, and it 
is noted that the damaged cord has been restored to essentially the same 
condition it had prior to the break. The device 20 does not detract 
significantly from the appearance of the net, and the repaired cord 14 is 
able to function in the same manner as it did prior to breaking. 
It is contemplated that the device 20 will be provided with cord elements 
30 which vary in length. This permits the repair of broken cords in which 
the portions which are broken away vary in length, since all that is 
necessary is for a device 20 having the appropriate length to be selected 
in order to span the broken portion of the cord. It is also noted that the 
broken cord ends 18 can be extended partially or completely through each 
of the ferrules 22, and this capability adds to the versatility of the 
device 20 and permits it to accommodate breaks which vary in the length 
between the cord ends 18. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the net mending device which is 
generally designated by numeral 120 and which includes a pair of ferrules 
122 which are identical to the ferrules 22 described previously. The 
device 120 does not include cord element 30 or sleeves 32. Instead, the 
two ferrules 122 are rigidly connected with one another by a metal strip 
132 which extends between and is integral with the bases 124 of the two 
ferrules. The connecting strip 132 is flat and occupies the same plane as 
the bases 124. 
In use, the device 120 is applied to the two broken cord ends 18 in the 
same manner described in connection with device 20. It is contemplated 
that the device 120 will be provided in different lengths, with the 
connecting strip 132 varying in length to vary the overall length of the 
device. The use of the rigid metal connecting strip 132 provides the 
device 120 with the strength to withstand considerable abuse. Accordingly, 
it is contemplated that the device 120 will be used to repair nets which 
are expected to encounter considerable abuse. 
A third embodiment of the net mending device is illustrated in FIG. 7 and 
is generally designated by numeral 220. Device 220 includes a pair of 
ferrules 222 which are identical to the ferrules 22 described previously 
and which are initially disconnected from one another. Extending from one 
end of each base 224 is a flat tongue 234 which is integral with and 
coplanar with the base 224. Each tongue 234 gradually broadens as it 
extends away from base 224, and the end of each tongue remote from ferrule 
222 is provided with an end plate 236. Each plate 236 is integral with 
tongue 234 and occupies a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of 
tongue 234 and base 224. A round opening 238 is formed in each end plate 
236. Each opening 238 is large enough to closely receive one of the broken 
cord ends 18 and a flexible cord element 230 having the same diameter as 
the cord end 18. Cord element 230 is flexible and is preferably 
constructed of the same material as the net cords 12 and 14. 
In use, the device 220 is applied to the broken cord by first extending one 
of the broken cord ends 18 through one of the ferrules to 22 and also 
through the opening 238. Then, the broken cord end is tied in a knot as 
indicated at 240. The knot 240 is too large to pass back through the 
opening 238. 
One end of the cord element 230 is then threaded through opening 238 and 
also through the ferrule 222 adjacent to the portion of the cord end 18 
which extends through the ferrule. The deformable flaps 222 are then 
crimped onto the cord end 18 and the cord element 230 in the manner 
indicated previously in connection with the first embodiment of the 
invention. 
The other cord end 18 is then extended through the other ferrule 222 and is 
threaded through opening 238 and knotted such that the knot 240 is too 
large to pass back through opening 238. The remaining free end of the cord 
element 230 is then threaded through opening 238 as indicated by the 
directional arrow in FIG. 5, and the end of the cord element is also 
extended through the second ferrule 222. The two halves of the device 220 
are pulled toward one another to maintain the broken cord in a taut 
condition, and flaps 226 of the second ferrule are then crimped onto cord 
end 18 and cord element 230 with the cord element also maintained in a 
taut condition. This completes the mending of the broken cord. 
It is noted that the broken cord ends 18 are secured in two places, namely 
at the knots 240 and at the areas of the cord ends onto which the 
deformable flaps 226 are crimped. In addition, the teeth 228 bite into the 
cord ends 18 and the connecting cord element 230. In this manner, device 
220 is secured to the damaged cord in different ways and at different 
locations in order to provide considerable security for resisting forces 
tending to pull the mending device off of the cord. 
It is also to be noted that the connecting cord element 230 can have 
virtually any length in order to permit the repair of broken areas which 
vary considerably in their length. After the device 220 has been applied 
to the damaged cord, any parts of the connecting cord 230 which extend 
outwardly beyond the ferrules 222 can be cut off if desired. 
It is thus evident that the various embodiments of the present invention 
provide net mending devices which can be used to reliably repair a damaged 
cord of a net of the type used in various sports such as basketball, 
volleyball, tennis, soccer and fishing. Preferably, the ferrules and 
connected parts are constructed of metal which is able to firmly grip the 
damaged cord when crimped onto it. The gripping action provided by the 
deformable flap resists slipping of the cord ends, in cooperation with the 
teeth 28 (and the knot 240 and end plate 238 of the embodiment of FIGS. 
7-8). 
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted 
to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with 
other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the 
structure. 
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of 
utility and may be employed without reference to other features and 
subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the 
claims. 
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without 
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter 
herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be 
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.