Abstract:
This invention comprises a ball-capturing tennis net assembly designed to be used in combination with existing court structures for catching balls which strike the standard tennis net. The catch-net extends under or is attached to the bottom of the standard tennis net forming two sides. Each side protrudes upwards at an angle near 45 degrees and is held in place by brackets. At least one end bracket is mounted to each of the standard net posts and functions to hold the top of the two sides of the catch-net parallel to and at a desired width from the standard tennis net. The end brackets hold the bottom of the catch net tightly around the bottom of the standard tennis net. At least two middle brackets, which when assembled form a center spacer unit, are located between the two net posts to help hold the catch-net open in a v-shaped position under and onto each side of the court divided by the standard tennis net. The catch-net is also designed to receive and hold the middle brackets in position. The height of the catch-net is substantially lower than the standard tennis net height in order to catch a maximum number of balls. This novel v-shaped design helps to dampen the velocity of the tennis balls hit into the net and helps to prevent them from bouncing out. This catch-net is intended to be used for instructional, recreational, and competitive tennis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent is a continuation of Provisional Patent: Pat. No. 60/096,447 having a filing date of Aug. 13, 1998. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to tennis net ball-catchers. More particularly the invention involves a novel design of a ball-capturing tennis net assembly which works in conjunction with a standard tennis net and existing court structures. This invention wraps under a standard tennis net forming a double sided ball-catching device which utilizes brackets to expand the sides and to attach the catch-net to the standard net posts. This ball-capturing net device catches errant tennis balls which would otherwise strike the standard tennis net and rebound back onto the playing surface causing the player(s) potential injury or interruption of play. This invention is designed to be used for instructional, recreational, and competitive tennis. 
     2. Prior Art 
     There are several patents shown in the prior art. While the basic structure of catching apparatus for receiving tennis balls off of a net is taught in prior art, the present specification addresses a novel method of structuring a ball-catcher so that it may be attached to an existing net with a minimum amount of expense and a minimum amount of time in order to make the use of the product a more viable undertaking. 
     The problem of the prior technology is that it either requires a specialized net and/or accessories to be produced or it requires a complex and unworkable solution and as a result this type of technology has not been widely accepted or produced. 
     The present invention seeks to improve on this by providing a catch-net which may be attached to existing tennis court structures and later be removed quickly and easily or attached to existing tennis court structures and left permanently. It is also a purpose to provide for a net which is easily stored. 
     Several patents in the prior art show mechanisms retaining balls at a tennis net. The most pertinent prior art in this case from the cite prior art includes the Langslet Patent &#39;268, the Moore Patent &#39;715, the Clark Patent &#39;376, the Zak Patent &#39;711 and the Thaxton Patent &#39;547. 
     The Langslet Patent shows a ball-capturing tennis net assembly which has similar features to this patent. However, Langslet has specified using either two separate nets or one continuous net looped around (not under) the standard tennis net with end and middle brackets designed to hold the catch-net away from the standard tennis net. 
     The &#39;715 Patent shows essentially the same technology wherein a catch-net is located on either side of a standard tennis net although there is negligible separation between the catch-net and the main net. 
     The Thaxton, Zak and Clark Patents show similar mechanisms in the prior art including the use of multiple catch nets to the same end. 
     3. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention, the ball-capturing tennis net assembly, consists of four major pieces: two end brackets which are attached to the standard net posts on either side of a standard tennis net, a ball-catching net which extends across the length of the court under the standard tennis net and/or attached to the standard tennis net, and at least one center spacer unit which is attached to the ball-catching net. It is possible to have two or more center spacer units. 
     To assemble the ball-catching net apparatus the end brackets are attached to each standard net post. Next, the standard tennis net center clip is detached from the tennis court. The ball-capturing net is extended across the tennis court and centered flat on the court under the standard tennis net. There is a hole in the center of the catch-net through which the center clip will later be re-attached to the tennis court. The v-shaped members (the middle brackets) of the center spacer unit are assembled by inserting a cross-bar piece from each of the at least two middle brackets into one another and attaching said assembled center spacer unit to the ball-capturing net. The attachment of the center spacer unit to the catch-net may be by way of straps from the capturing net to the center spacer unit and/or through holes in the ball-capturing net into which extensions from the center spacer unit enter or by way of holes in the ball-capturing net into which stabilizing legs from the center spacer unit fit. Next, the top bars of (or the alternate top tubes of) each of the middle brackets of the center spacer unit are attached to the catch-net inner attachment bindings. These inner attachment bindings may also be straps from the capturing net or holes in the capturing net into which the top bars fit. Next, the center clip of the standard tennis net is re-clipped onto the tennis court through the hole in the center of the catch-net. Finally, the end and side adjustable end straps protruding from each end of the capturing-net are attached to the end brackets and tightened. 
     Where more then one separate center spacer unit is used, a crossbar piece may be used to connect the separate center spacers together or they may be independent from other center spacer units. 
     The end brackets and the middle brackets of the center spacer unit are designed to bold the side bindings  33  of the catch-net parallel to and at a pre-determined width from each side of the net. This is accomplished by having each end bracket top arm and the middle bracket top arms at a desired height and width from each other. 
     The specification shows a combination of brackets and netting which may be easily attached to an existing standard tennis net in order to catch tennis balls which hit the net. In order to accomplish this a catch net which is preferably approximately 25″ wide is attached underneath/or to an existing standard net so that approximately 12″ of netting protrude on either side of the standard net at an angle bisecting the perpendicular plane of the standard net and tennis court. This catch-net preferably extends along the entire length of the standard net. End brackets are attached to both the net posts and the catch-net and one or more center spacer units are attached to the catch-net. These end brackets and the middle brackets of the center spacer unit(s) are designed to receive straps or other attachment means from the catch-net so that the netting is held in a v-shape under and around the existing standard net. 
     The novel design and function of the catch-net and brackets allows for anyone to quickly attach and remove the catch-net if they do not own the court; however, this design may also be incorporated into a standard net to provide a permanent net system for tennis courts with a built in catch-net by sewing the catch-net to the standard tennis net. 
     The invention reduces the likelihood of injury by reducing the number of balls which would be present on the court. 
     The invention also allows for the balls to be more easily collected. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a catch-net for the standard tennis net which can collect tennis balls which strike the standard tennis net preventing them from entering the area of play. 
     It is a further object of the invention to reduce injuries by reducing the number of tennis balls which are on the court during play. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a catch-net which can be used in instructional, recreational, and competitive tennis. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become better understood hereinafter from a consideration of the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, and in which like numerals correspond to part throughout the several views of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the invention installed on a standard tennis net. 
     FIG. 2 is an overhead view of the installation shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the catch-net laid out in a flat position. 
     FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the catch-net laid out in a flat position. 
     FIG. 5 shows a plan view from one side showing the operative features of the catch-net assembly. 
     FIG. 6 shows a plan view from one side showing the operative features of an alternative catch-net assembly. 
     FIG. 7 shows a detail of the end portions and the middle portion of the catch-net assembly. 
     FIG. 8 shows a detail of one of the end brackets as attached to the net post  13  with catch-net  15  shown in position. 
     FIG. 9 shows a top view of the end bracket shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 shows an end piece bracket with an alternate attachment means. 
     FIG. 11 shows two middle brackets of the “floating” center spacer unit assembled. 
     FIG. 12 shows a top view of the middle brackets of the center spacer unit shown in FIG. 11 as attached to both the catch-net  15  and the standard tennis net  11  for a catch-net layout as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
     FIG. 13 shows an alternate embodiment of one middle bracket of FIG. 11 for a net layout such as is shown in FIG. 4 and 6. 
     FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the middle brackets of the center spacer unit of FIG. 13 after assembly. 
     FIG. 15 is an alternate version of the end brackets shown in FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  with two attachment points  51   c.    
     FIG. 16 is a side view of the end bracket in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 shows a close-up view of the central bindings and central hole of the catch-net shown in FIGS. 3 &amp; 5 using a center spacer unit as shown in FIGS. 11 &amp; 12. 
     FIG. 18 shows a detailed view of the catch-net center portion embodying the layout shown in FIGS. 4 &amp; 6 using a center spacer unit as shown in FIGS. 13 &amp; 14. 
     FIG. 19 shows a detailed alternate view of the catch-net center portion embodying the layout shown in FIGS. 4 &amp; 6 using a center spacer unit as shown in FIGS.  13  &amp;  14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the standard tennis net  11 , center net strap  12 , and net posts  13 . Attached to the net posts are the ball-capturing assembly end brackets  14 , the catch net  15 , and a center spacer unit  16 . The standard center net strap is attached to the court with a center net clip  17 . FIG. 1 shows the use of a catch-net assembly having end brackets  14  and a center spacer unit  16  designed to hold the catch-net  15  in an open position. The catch-net may be set up with or permanently attached to a standard tennis net  11 . The end brackets  14  are mounted to the net posts with one or more attaching means which may be any type of attaching means known in prior art including (but not limited to) hook and loop fasteners, cords, buckles, elastic straps, screws, clamps (such as  51  and  51   c  as seen in FIGS. 5,  9 , and  16 ) or straps  51   b  (as seen in FIGS.  6  and  10 ). The existing center net strap  12  is attached to the court with a center net clip  17 . The tennis net  11  is held tightly to the tennis posts  13  on either side in a manner well known in the prior art. The center spacer unit  16  either “floats” 0  under the tennis net  11  or has stabilizing legs  16   d  (FIGS. 5 &amp; 6) which rest on the tennis court. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of the layout shown in FIG. 1 where the catch-net  15  can be seen open on either side of the tennis net  11 . The side bindings  33  are held nearly parallel to the standard tennis net while the bottom of the catch-net is held closely to the standard tennis net bottom forming a v-shaped pocket around the standard tennis net (as seen in side views in FIG. 5 &amp; 6 and cross-section in FIG.  8 ). There is no opening to the tennis court along either side of the standard tennis net other than small functional holes in the catch-net. 
     FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the catch net laid out in a flat position which is shown with details in FIG. 5 in an assembled position. The catch-net  15  is broken into two sides which are identical. The two sides of the catch-net  15  are separated by a center binding  34 . Each end of the catch-net is reinforced with an end binding  38 . Attached to the end bindings  38  and side bindings  33  there are center adjustable end straps  31  and side adjustable end straps  32  which, when assembled, will protrude from the bottom and top (respectively) of the catch net providing a tension system for the catch net. The side bindings  33  become the top edge of the catch-net  15  when assembled. There is a reinforced center hole  37  which makes it possible for the tennis net center clip  17  to be attached through the catch-net and onto the tennis court. On either side of the center hole  37  are center spacer bindings  35  which serve to hold the bottom of the v-shaped members of the middle brackets of the center spacer unit in place. Adjacent to the side bindings  33  on either side of the center hole  37  are inner attachment bindings  36  used to attach the center spacer unit to the top of the catch-net which are also described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 17,  18  and  19  below. 
     FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the catch-net laid out in a flat position which is shown with details in FIG. 6 in an assembled position. Near the four sides of the center hole  37  are center spacer holes  41  through which the center spacer unit stabilizing legs  16   d  will fit (see FIGS. 14,  18 , and  19 ) and which will be described in more detail below. The catch net  15  shown has no center binding. It shows a catch net  15  with alternative tensioning means comprised of center and side adjustable end straps  31 ,  32  and an alternative means for attaching the center spacer assembly through center spacer holes  41 . The top of each side  15  of the catch-net has a side binding  33 . Each of the side bindings  33  end in a side adjustable end strap  32 . Attached to the end bindings  38  are center adjustable end straps  31 . These center and side adjustable end straps are designed in any way known in the prior art (elastic straps, straps with buckles, cooperating hook and loop fasteners, etc.) so that the slack in each strap may be taken up in order to tighten the ends of the catch-net  15 . 
     As can be seen by reference to FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 the catch-net  15  itself is designed to form a two-sided net which protrudes on either side of the standard net from a point under and in close proximity to the bottom of the standard tennis net  11  and towards the top of the standard tennis net  11  at an angle near 45 degrees on each side, forming a v-shaped catch-net. The length of each catch-net side from the center of the standard tennis net  11  is typically about one third of the height of the standard tennis net in order to assure that the tennis balls which are hit into the standard tennis net are caught. 
     Easy installation of the invention is ensured by the design of the two end brackets  14  and the middle brackets of the center spacer unit  16 . The center spacer unit brackets are cooperatively attached to the center area of the catch-net and side binding  33  to secure the catch-net open. 
     As can be seen by reference to FIG. 5, in this embodiment center spacer bindings  35  can be seen passing from the center binding  34  over the v-shaped member  16   a  (part of the middle bracket) of the “floating” center spacer unit  16  and then back to the center binding  34 , thereby securing the bottom of the v-shaped member  16   a  in place along the center binding  34 . The inner attachment bindings  36  can be seen running from the side bindings  33  over the top bars  16   b  of the center spacer unit  16  and back to the side bindings  33  to hold the side bindings  33  out from the standard tennis net  11  (details can be seen in FIGS.  11  and  12 ). Here, one or more of these center spacer units  16  may be used, although one is shown here. 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternative construction of the center spacer unit  16 , utilizing the same end brackets  14 . The catch-net design differs here from the design in FIG. 5 because stabilizing legs  16   d  from the center spacer unit fit through the openings  41  in the catch-net  15 . If more than one center spacer unit  16  is used, more holes  41  would be required in the catch-net  15 . In this preferred embodiment (see FIGS. 13 and 14) each middle bracket consist of only two separate pieces, the v-shaped member  16   a  and the cross bar  16   c . The top bar  16   b  has been replaced with two tubes  16   g  which are attached to the v-shaped member  16   a  at the top ends, each having a hole  16   f  through which the inner attachment bindings  36  will pass and be reconnected to the side bindings  33 . (Also see FIGS. 18, and  19 .) 
     FIG. 7 shows a close-up side view of the catch-net with different types of attachments  51   a  and  51   b  holding the end brackets  14  to the standard net posts. 
     FIG. 8 shows an end bracket  14  attached to the standard net post  13  with catch-net  15  shown in position. The attaching means for the end bracket  14  depicted here is a clamp  51   a  (although other attaching means can be used with this invention). The end bracket  14  is described in more detail in FIG.  10 . Attached to the end bracket  14  are the center adjustable end straps  31  and the side adjustable end straps  32  which protrude from the end of the catch-net  15  and provide a tensioning system to the catch-net  15 . The center and side adjustable end straps  31  and  32  also help to hold the end bracket  14  against the net post  13 . 
     FIG. 9 shows a top view of the end bracket  14  attached to the net post  13  where the clamp  51   a  can be seen on either side of the net post  13  and the center and side adjustable end straps  31  and  32  can be seen with their relative spacing to hold the catch-net  15  open as shown. The side bindings  33  become the top of the sides of the catch-net  15  and are held parallel to the standard tennis net  11 . 
     FIG. 10 shows an end bracket with an alternate attachment means of a strap  51   b . The end bracket  14  has a top arm  14   a  and a shorter bottom arm  14   b  which are held perpendicular to and extend outward from the side of the net post when assembled (see FIG.  8 ). Both the top arm  14   a  and the bottom arm  14   b  have protrusions on each end  14   c  and  14   d  respectively which extend upward from the ends of these bars a desired distance in order to securely hold the center and side adjustable straps  31  and  32  in place. The center adjustable end straps  31  are attached to the bottom arm protrusions  14   d  and the side adjustable end straps  32  are attached to the top arm protrusions  14   c  (see FIG.  8 ). The arms  14   a  and  14   b  are joined together by the main arm  14   e  which runs parallel to the net post and may contain one or more tubes  14   f  which serve to hold the attachment means. 
     FIG. 11 shows one embodiment of a center spacer unit  16  (see FIG.  5  and FIG. 12 for unit with assembled catch-net). The center spacer unit  16  is made of two middle brackets. Each middle bracket has a bottom v-shaped member  16   a , a top arm  16   b , and a cross bar  16   c . In this embodiment the v-shaped member  16   a  is attached to the bottom of the catch-net  15  by a center spacer binding  35 , the top arm  16   b  is fed through the netting of the standard tennis net and is then attached to the bottom member  16   a . Each middle bracket contains at least two holes in which the cross bars  16   c  are fit (when assembled the cross bars  16   c  in this embodiment run parallel to the standard tennis net  11 ). Two joined middle brackets (containing parts  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  in this embodiment) form the center spacer unit  16 . 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of an assembled center spacer unit  16  shown in FIG. 11 after it is attached to the inner attachment bindings  36  of the catch-net  15  which helps to hold the side bindings  33  parallel to and a desired distance away from the standard tennis net  11  shown at the area of the center net strap  12 . 
     It should be noted in connection with this that in one embodiment the center spacer bindings  35  and the inner attachment bindings  36  are used to attach the center spacer (FIG.  5  and  17 ). Whereas, in another embodiment there are inner attachment bindings  36  and holes  41  for the stabilizing legs  16   d  to pass through as seen in FIGS. 6,  18  and  19 . 
     FIG. 13 shows details of an alternate middle bracket of the center spacer unit  16  disassembled. Each middle bracket in this preferred embodiment consists of only two separate pieces: the v-shaped member  16   a  and the cross bar  16   c . The top bar  16   b  has been replaced by a top tube  16   g  (see FIG. 14) which is attached to the v-shaped member  16   a  permanently and is held parallel to the standard tennis net. These top tubes  16   g  have holes l 6   f  through which the inner attachment means  36  pass and secure the top edges of the catch-net to the center spacer unit. This view shows the v-shaped member  16   a , with two stabilizing legs  16   d , and a cross bar  16   c  which fits into a hole  16   e  to connect the two middle brackets together. 
     FIG. 14 shows the preferred embodiment of the center spacer unit assembled. The middle brackets of this embodiment have only two separate pieces, the v-shaped member  16   a  and the cross bar  16   c  which fits into the holes  16   e  to connect the middle brackets of the center spacer unit together. Note that the top bar  16   b  (from FIGS. 11 and 12) is now replaced with an alternate top tube  16   g  and is attached to the top ends of the v-shaped member  16   a , running parallel to the standard tennis net. The top bar  16   b  is replaced with an alternate tube  16   g  which has an opening  16   e  to receive the inner attachment bindings  36  to hold the catch-net side bindings  33  open. 
     As can be seen by reference to FIG. 14, stabilizing legs  16   d  are built onto a v-shaped center spacer  16  and these legs will fit through reinforced leg holes  41  and stand on the court as shown in FIG.  6 . The tennis net center clip  17  will continue to go through the reinforced center hole  37  in the catch-net  15  to hold the tennis net  11  down at the center. There are various means to connect the top tubes  16   g  (or the alternate equal of top arms  16   b ) to the inner attachment bindings  36  on the catch-net. In the preferred embodiment one or more straps  36  (made of elastic, Velcro, bungee, etc.) would be attached to the side bindings  33  and from there pass through both openings  16   f  in the right side top tubes  16   g  and reattach to the side bindings  33 . Another strap (or straps)  36  would go through the left side top tubes  16   g  in the same fashion. See FIGS. 14,  18  and  19 . 
     FIG. 15 is yet another embodiment of an end piece bracket  14  shown with two alternate attachment means  51   c . 
     FIG. 16 shows a side view of FIG. 15 as attached to the net post  13 . 
     FIG. 17 shows details for the catch-net attachments to the center spacer unit. The catch-net has a center hole  37  and running along the center binding  34  it has inner attachment straps  35  which hold the bottom of this “floating version” of the center spacer unit in place. There are also inner attachment binding straps  36   a  shown which wrap around the top bars  16   b  of the center spacer unit and hold the catch-net in position. See FIGS.  5 , 11  and  12  also. 
     FIG. 18 shows details for the catch-net shown in FIG. 4 used with center spacer unit(s) shown in FIGS. 6,  13  and  14 . In this figure the inner attachment binding  36  is made of a bungee-type cord with a hook  36   b  which passes through the top holes  16   f  in the top tubes  16   g  of the center spacer unit  16  and are then attached to a grommet  36   c  to hold the side bindings  33  of the catch-net  15  in position. 
     FIG. 19 is another version of FIG. 18 where the inner attachment bindings  36  are made of hook and loop straps  36   d  and  36   e  as an alternate attachment means for the center spacer unit  16 . Also shown is a different embodiment for the center net area where the center area has the same hole configuration but a different binding configuration around the holes. 
     Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment(s) herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.