Abstract:
A foldable net includes a flexible frame that may be formed from a single wire or form a plurality of flexible tubes connected end-to-end. The frame is arranged to have an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion. The lower frame portion forms a base that supports the upper frame portion in a generally upright orientation on a generally horizontal surface with the base extending in a forward direction relative to the upper frame portion. A fabric section is connected to the frame and arranged for a projectile to be incident thereon. A plurality of straps is connected between portions of the frame to constrain it to a predetermined configuration for supporting the fabric in a position for receiving the projectile.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of applicant&#39;s copending application Ser. No. 08/899,906, filed Jul. 24, 1996. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods that allow a person to practice hitting or throwing a ball or the like in a confined space without having the ball travel a large distance or hit other persons or objects and cause injury or damage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The foldable net according to the invention has several advantages over the prior art. The foldable net preferably includes a frame that preferably comprises either a single wire or a plurality of flexible tubes connected end-to-end to form a segmented frame. The foldable net according to the present invention is easy to manufacture, sturdy, self-standing, easily collapsible for storage or transit and can be used indoors or outdoors. The single-wire embodiment of the frame requires no assembly. The segmented frame requires engagement of a male connector at one end of each frame segment with a corresponding female connector and connecting one or more straps between selected portions of the frame. After assembly, the segmented frame embodiment of the invention may be folded for storage without disassembly of the frame.  
           [0004]    A foldable net structure according to the present invention comprises an elastic frame member arranged to have an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion. The lower frame portion forms a base that supports the upper frame portion in a generally upright orientation on a generally horizontal surface when the foldable net is in its erected configuration with the base extending in a forward direction relative to the upper frame portion. A fabric section is connected to the frame and arranged for a projectile to be incident thereon. In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of rear support members is connected to the frame and arranged to extend therefrom in a direction opposite to that of the lower frame portion. A pair of straps extend between the upper and lower frame sections to retain the upper and lower frame sections at a selected orientation with respect to one another.  
           [0005]    The foldable net according to the present invention may include a fabric band that preferably extends between opposite sides of the frame to cooperate with the pair of straps to retain the upper and lower frame sections at the selected orientation with respect to one another. The foldable net according to the present invention may further comprise on or more weighted bags arranged to provide additional stability.  
           [0006]    Each of the rear support members preferably further comprises a rod connected to the frame and a fabric connected to the rod and to the frame and arranged to provide support to the frame.  
           [0007]    The rod preferably is connected to the frame by a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may be removable from the frame when the net is to be folded. Alternatively, the mounting bracket may be rotatably mounted to the frame.  
           [0008]    An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a flexible frame that includes a plurality of frame segments connected end-to-end and arranged to have an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion arranged so that the lower frame portion forms a base. A net is connected to the frame and arranged to span the interior area bounded by the frame and absorb the impact of a projectile directed into the interior area. Each of the frame segments preferably is formed as an elongate hollow tube with a flexible cord being placed lengthwise in the hollow tubes to arrange the frame segments in predetermined positions with respect to one another. A plurality of straps is connected to the frame to constrain the frame to a predetermined configuration to form the upper and lower frame portions.  
           [0009]    An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure and method of operation may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a frame and net structure that may be included in the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the net of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a frame and support structure that may be included in the net apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a frame structure that may be included in the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the frame structure of FIG. 4;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the frame structure of FIG. 4; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 illustrates frame segments that may be used to form the frame of FIGS.  4 - 6 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a foldable net  10  comprises a frame  12  that includes a wire frame member  12  that preferably is formed as a continuous loop. The wire frame member  12  is formed into an upper portion  14  and a base portion  16 . A pair of rear supports  18  and  20  extend from the wire frame  12  and cooperate with the base portion  16  to hold the net  10  in an upright position when the net  10  is in use. A pair of weights  22  and  24  may be attached tot he rear supports  18  and  20 , respectively, to aid in stabilizing the foldable net  10 .  
         [0018]    The wire frame  12  preferably is formed of steel spring wire. The ends of the wire frame member  12  preferably are connected together by any convenient means so that the frame member  12  is a continuous loop. The wire frame member  12  preferably is placed inside a sleeve  12 A or the like.  
         [0019]    A first strap  30  extends between a first location  32  on one side of the front portion of the base  16  and a location  34  on the upright portion. The strap  30  is preferably connected to the sleeve  12 A at the locations  32  and  34 . The upper end of the strap  32  preferably is attached to the sleeve a distance of three to five feet above the lowest portion of the base  16 . A second strap  36  extends between a location  38  on the base portion  16  opposite from the location  32  to a location  40  on the upright portion  14 . The straps  30  and  36  preferably are formed of a suitable fabric or other similar material. The straps  30  and  36  and the sleeve  12 A cooperate to hold the wire frame in the desired shape to form the base  16  and upright portion  14 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upright portion  14  and the base  16  and preferably have generally planar end portions  14 A and  16 A, respectively.  
         [0020]    A fabric section  42  is connected to the sleeve  12 A so that the entire region bounded by the wire frame  12  and sleeve  12 A is covered by the fabric section  42 . The fabric section preferably is formed of netting or the like and is arranged to absorb the impact of a projectile such as a golf ball, tennis ball, baseball, football or the like. The fabric section  42  absorbs the impact so that the projectile has no appreciable recoil velocity after it hits the fabric section  42 . Instead of using the sleeve  12 A, the net  42  may be attached to the wire frame  12  by means of straps or other convenient means.  
         [0021]    The wire frame  12  has curved regions  44  and  46  that form a transition from the base  16  to the upright portion  14 . The net  42  may be either loose hanging to stop the flight of a projectile such as a ball. Alternatively, the net  42  may be tautly mounted to the frame  12  so that the projectile is reflected. If the projectile is to be reflected, the angle between the base  16  and upright portion  14  may be any suitable angle for reflecting the projectile back generally in the direction from which it was traveling before striking the net  42 .  
         [0022]    A band  50  extends between the curved regions  44  and  46 . The band  50  preferably is a few inches wide and serves to help retain the wire frame  12  in the desired configuration shown in FIG. 1. The band  50  preferably is formed of a suitable fabric.  
         [0023]    The rear support member  18  includes a rod  52  that is mounted to the wire frame  12  at a location  56  that may be generally in the curved region  44 . The rod  52  may be attached to the wire frame  12  by any convenient means such as a bracket  60  that encloses the wire frame  12 . When the frame is erected, the rod  52  extends away from the wire frame  12 . The rod  52  preferably is attached to a fabric section  62  that may be generally triangular in shape. The apex  64  of the triangular fabric section is formed by engaging the outer end  66  of the rod  52  with the fabric. The edges of the fabric section  62  are attached to the sleeve  12 A by any convenient means such as stitching or hook and loop fasteners.  
         [0024]    The rear support  20  includes a rod  70  that is connected to the frame  12  by a bracket  72 . The rear support  20  includes a fabric section  74  that is essentially identical to the fabric section  62  of the first rear support member  18  and that is attached to the frame  12  in the same way as the fabric section  62 .  
         [0025]    The brackets  60  and  72  may be removable from the frame  12  when the net apparatus is to be folded for storage. The brackets  60  and  72  may alternatively be rotatable on the frame  12  when the net apparatus is to be stored. The support members  18  and  20  thus may be rotated toward the band  50  so that the wire frame  12  may be coiled when the net apparatus  10  is to be stored or transported.  
         [0026]    Because of the memory of the frame  12  for the erected configuration, unless it is constrained, the spring forces in the frame members  12  will cause the multi-purpose net  10  to spontaneously assume the erected configuration. Therefore, the multi-purpose net  10  is self-erecting if the frame  12  is not constrained to. some other configuration.  
         [0027]    The first step in folding the foldable net  10  for storage is to pull the extreme edges of the upright portion  14  and the base  16  toward one another so that they are substantially adjacent so that the frame  12  is shaped generally as a “taco shell.” The folding process continues by twisting the frame  12  to form a pair of loops, which may be then held close together and secured by a strap or the like. The multi-purpose net  10  is thus coiled up in a compact configuration suitable for storage or transport. The method of folding the foldable net  10  is essentially disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,094, which issued Oct. 29, 1996 to the present inventor, Anthony G. Macaluso.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a frame  80  that may be included in a foldable net structure according to the present invention. The frame  80  is formed to include a plurality of separate frame segments  82 A,  82 B, etc. as best shown in FIG. 7. The frame segments each include a male connector portion  86  and a female connector portion  88 .  
         [0029]    The frame segments  82 A,  82 B, etc. are preferably formed as hollow tubes made of aluminum, steel, plastic or other suitable material. The frame segments  82 A,  82 B, etc. preferably have the same length. However, the frame  80  may be formed of frame segments having differing lengths. The segmented frame  80  has the advantage of permitting the use of more compact packaging than is generally possible with a continuous wire frame. Compact packaging saves shipping volume and conserves storage and shelf space.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 8, each frame segment  82 A,  82 B, etc. has an inner wall  92 , an outer wall  94  and a central cavity  96  that extends throughout the length of the frame segments. As shown in FIG. 7, a cord  98  extends through the centers of the tubular frame segments  82 A,  82 B, etc. The ends of the cord  98  are secured together so that the frame segments  82 A,  82 B, etc. are retained in a predetermined order on the cord  98  with the male end of each frame segment being adjacent the female end of the adjacent frame segment. For example, the male end of the frame segment  82 A is adjacent the female end of the frame segment  82 B. The cord  98  keeps the frame segments in proper order and relationship for easy assembly and also prevents any of the frame segments from being lost or separated from the frame assembly.  
         [0031]    Assembly of the frame  80  involves placing the male ends of the  82 A,  82 B, etc. inside the corresponding female ends thereof. When the frame segments  82 A,  82 B, etc. are all connected, the frame  80  assumes a generally circular shape. A plurality of straps  100 ,  102  and  104  are connected to the frame  80  to constrain it so that when the frame is fully assembled, it assumes the shape of FIGS.  4 - 6 . The strap  100  is connected to the frame  80  between a first lower strap connector  106  and a first upper strap connector  108 . The strap  102  is connected to the frame  80  between a second lower strap connector  110  and a second upper strap connector  112 . The strap  104  is connected to the frame  80  via a pair of strap connectors  114  and  116 . The straps  100  and  102  thus are at angles to the horizontal, whereas the strap  104  is generally parallel to the horizontal when the frame is fully assembled and arranged to be upright for use.  
         [0032]    The straps  100 ,  102  and  104  thus constrain the frame  80  to have a base portion  118  that rests upon the ground, for example, when the foldable net is arranged for use. The frame  80  further includes an upper portion  120  that extends generally upward from the base portion  118 . A net  122  is connected to the frame  80 . Any suitable fastening device may be used to connect the net  122  to the frame  80 . In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of snap connectors are mounted to the net  122  and then snap-connected to the frame  80 .  
         [0033]    The frame  80  is designed to stand erect without requiring legs as in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 . As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a bag  130  may be attached to the base portion of the frame  80 . Objects may be placed in the bag  130  for storage or to provide weight for stabilizing the net structure.  
         [0034]    The structures and methods disclosed herein illustrate the principles of the present invention. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as exemplary and illustrative rather than restrictive. Therefore, the appended claims rather than the foregoing description define the scope of the invention. All modifications to the embodiments described herein that come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are embraced within the scope of the invention. The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.