Abstract:
A fence system for quickly establishing an outfield fence and possibly a back stop for a ball game uses a series of bases with a post receivable within each base. A section of tarp extends between adjacent posts such that clips are attached to each corner of the tarp and two clips at an end of the tarp are attached to a post. The clips are received within slots at the top and bottom of each post with the top capped to prevent clip discharge. Bulbous ends of the clip prevent lateral discharge of the clip from the slot. Alternately, a single section of tarp is removably attachable to each end post via cooperating hook and loop material with the tarp passing through slots on interior posts. An end brace may be used to stabilize end posts of the fence as well as to act as a visual aid for determining what constitutes a foul ball.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a fence retaining system that is designed to quickly set up around a ball field, namely a wiffle ball play area. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Baseball is the great American pastime. Millions of Americans, as well as others around the world, love the game in all its variations, both as a spectator sport and as a participant sport. What can be better than spending an afternoon at a ballpark eating hot dogs and popcorn and cheering for your favorite team? It&#39;s a great way to spend a summer day. 
         [0005]    Baseball also finds a large following as a participant sport wherein most adults and older kids play either the actual game of baseball or its cousin softball. Home plate, three additional bases, and a homerun fence in the outfield make for a great playing field wherein the players can have hours of enjoyment. Ball diamonds can be found in most communities throughout the country. 
         [0006]    For younger kids, those just beginning to take up the sport, wiffle ball is the entry level game along with its close cousin T-ball. Young kids, who lack the strength and the refined motor skills for the more advanced baseball and softball games, find great enjoyment in hitting the hollow plastic ball of this great junior ball game. Due to the smaller size of the kids involved in wiffle ball, as well as the lightweight nature of the ball which cannot be hit or thrown as far as a baseball or softball, wiffle ball diamonds tends to be substantially smaller in overall dimensions relative to their baseball and softball diamond counterparts. And unlike their baseball and softball counterparts, very few dedicated wiffle ball diamonds exist. Accordingly, players must create makeshift diamonds that fit their specific dimensional requirements based on the age of the kids playing. While placement of home plate and the other three bases generally poses no problem, providing an outfield fence to delimit home runs can be challenging. Oftentimes, players use makeshift markers for the outfield fence out of such items as broomsticks or whatever can be found near the playing field such as tree branches and pine cones. While this may prove satisfactory to many, other players, and their coaches in the case of organized games, want a more defined outfield fence. While a fence may be built to the desired dimensions, such may prove to be not very practical, especially in the case of an ad hoc game. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a fencing system that can define an outfield fence for wiffle ball or T-ball such that the fence can be quickly assembled and disassembled so that it can be used in both organized settings as well as the just-conceived Saturday afternoon game down at the local park. Such a fencing system must be lightweight and portable so that it can be carried by the young players themselves if necessary, yet provide a good basis from which to judge what constitutes a home run. Such a fencing system should of relatively simple design and construction so that it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture so that it is readily affordable to a large segment of the wiffle ball playing community. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The ball game fence system of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing an outfield fencing system that is lightweight and portable so that it can be easily carried to the designated diamond for play and be quickly assembled for use. The ball game fence system provides an outfield fence of a desired height that allows for easy determination of what constitutes a home run for any ball that interacts with the device. The ball game fence system is of relatively simple design and construction so that it is relatively simple and straightforward to manufacture thereby making the present invention readily affordable to much of the ball playing community. The ball game fence system has the further benefit of allowing players (or umpires) to be able to determine what constitutes a foul ball with relative ease and can also be used as a back stop behind home plate. 
         [0009]    The ball game fence system of the present invention is comprised of a first base that has a first pair of base slots. A first post has a first top with a pair of first top slots and a first bottom with a pair of first bottom slots. A second base has a second pair of base slots. A second post has a second top with a pair of second top slots and a second bottom with a pair of second bottom slots. A first generally rectangular tarp has four corners. A first clip is removably attached to a respective one of the corners of the first tarp, while a second clip is removably attached to another respective one of the corners of the first tarp, while a third clip is removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the first tarp, and while a fourth clip is removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the first tarp. The first clip is received within a respective one of the first top slots and the second clip is received within a respective one of the first bottom slots. The first post is received within the first base such that the second clip is also received within a respective one of the first base slots. The third clip is received within a respective one of the second top slots and the fourth clip is received within a respective one of the second bottom slots. The second post is received within the second base and the fourth clip is also received within a respective one the second base slots. Additionally, a third base has a third pair of base slots. A third post has a third top with a pair of third top slots and a third bottom with a pair of third bottom slots. A second generally rectangular tarp has four corners. A fifth clip is removably attached to a respective one of the corners of the second tarp, while a sixth clip is removably attached to another respective one of the corners of the second tarp, while a seventh clip is removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the second tarp, and while an eighth clip is removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the second tarp. The fifth clip is received within another respective one of the second top slots and the sixth clip is received within another respective one of the second bottom slots and within a respective another of the second base slots. The seventh clip is received within a respective one of the third top slots and the eighth clip is received within a respective one of the third bottom slots. The third post is received within the second base and the eighth clip is also received within a respective one the third base slots. Each clip comprises a first arm that has a bulbous proximal end, a first distal end with a first extension, and a snap head. A second arm has a second bulbous proximal end, a second distal end with a second extension, and a snap opening. The first bulbous end is pivotally attached to the second bulbous such that the clip is capable of pivoting between an open position wherein the first extension and the second extension are spaced apart from one another and a closed position wherein the first extension and the second extension are in apposed position and the snap head is frictionally received within the snap opening such that the clip is attached to its respective corner of the tarp by placing the clip into the closed position and sandwiching the tarp between the apposed first extension and the second extension. The first base has a first hollow interior with a first fill spout leading thereto, the second base has a second hollow interior with a second fill spout leading thereto, and the third base has a third hollow interior with a third fill spout leading thereto. A fourth base has a standard extending upwardly therefrom with a cross brace extending from the standard. A collar is attached to the cross brace such that the collar is attached to the first top of the first post. A fourth post extends upwardly from the collar. 
         [0010]    Alternately, the ball game fence system can comprise a first base and a first post that has a first section of hook and loop material thereon, the first post received within the first base. A second base is provided and a second post that has a second section of hook and loop material thereon is received within the second base; A tarp has a first end has a third section of hook thereon and loop material and a second end with a fourth section of hook and loop material thereon such that the first end of the tarp is attached to the first post by cooperatively mating the first section of hook and loop material with the third section of hook and loop material and the second end of the tarp is attached to the second base by cooperatively mating the second section of hook and loop material with the fourth section of hook and loop material. A third base is provided as is a third post that has a pair of slots. The third post is received within the third base wherein the tarp passes through the pair of slots. Similarly, the first base has a first hollow interior with a first fill spout leading thereto, the second base has a second hollow interior with a second fill spout leading thereto, and the third base has a third hollow interior with a third fill spout leading thereto. A fourth base has a standard extending upwardly therefrom with a cross brace extending from the standard. A collar is attached to the cross brace such that the collar is attached to the first top of the first post. A fourth post extends upwardly from the collar. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the ball game fence system of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tarp clip used with the ball game fence system in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a tarp clip used with the ball game fence system in an open position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the tarp clip used with the ball game fence system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of a section of fence of the ball game fence system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the base and post used with the ball game fence system with tarp clips installed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the ball game fence system of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of a section of fence of the alternate embodiment of the ball game fence system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the base and post used with the alternate embodiment of the ball game fence system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the base and post of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the ball game fence system of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a series of post systems  12 . Each post system  12  has a base  14  with a generally flat bottom  16  for resting on the ground G surface and has a hollow interior which is accessible via a fill spot  18  that has a removable cap  20  attached thereto, the hollow interior being filled with an appropriate material, such as water or sand, in order to give the base  14  ballast. A receiver  22  extends upwardly from the base  14 . A pair of base slots  24  is disposed within the receiver  22  which slots  24  extend downwardly into the base  14 . The base slots  24  may be 180 degree opposed for one another as illustrated, however, the base slots  24  may be angularly offset from the 180 degree opposition. A post  26  has a top  28  and a bottom  30  with a pair of top slots  32  extending from the top  28  toward the bottom  30 , and a pair of bottom slots  34  extending from the bottom  30  toward the top  28 . The bottom slots  34  are angularly offset from one another (180 degree opposition in the illustrations) in the same fashion as the angular offset of the base slots  24  of the base  14  into which the particular post  26  is to be received. 
         [0023]    The base  14  and the post  26  may each be made from an appropriate sturdy and lightweight material such as a hard plastic (PVC, etc.,) or possibly aluminum. 
         [0024]    A clip  36  has a first arm  38  with a first bulbous proximal end  40  having one or more openings  42  thereon and a first distal end  44  that has an extension  46 . One or more snap heads  48  are located along the length of the first arm  38 . The clip  36  also has a second arm  50  with a second bulbous proximal end  52  also having one or more openings  54  thereon and a first distal end  56  that has a downward extension  58  to correspond to the extension  46  of the first arm  38 . One or more corresponding snap openings  60  are located along the length of the second arm  50 . The first arm  38  and the second arm  50  are pivotally attached to one another by aligning the corresponding openings  42  and  54  of each arm  38  and  50 , respectively, and passing an appropriate pin  62  through the aligned openings  42  and  54 . The clip  36  is positionable between an open position, illustrated in  FIG. 3  wherein the distal ends  44  and  56  of the two arms  38  and  50 , respectively, are separated from one another, and a closed position, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , wherein the two distal ends  44  and  56  are brought together. In the closed position, each of the snap heads  48  on the first arm  38  is received within a corresponding snap opening  60  on the second arm  50  and frictionally held therein in order to maintain the clip  36  in this closed position. The clip  36  is opened by pulling on the two distal ends  44  and  56  so as to overcome the frictional engagement of the snap heads  48  within the snap openings  60 . 
         [0025]    The clip  36  may be made from a lightweight and sturdy material such as a hard plastic or a metal. 
         [0026]    A generally flat tarp  64  is generally rectangular in shape and has a pair of opposing ends  66  and a pair of opposing sides  68 . The tarp  64  may be made from an appropriate lightweight and flexible material such as a soft plastic such as Vinyl or Visqueen. 
         [0027]    In order to use the ball game fence system  10  of the present invention, each base  14  is filled with an appropriate fill material as desired with the cap  20  placed upon fill spout  18  so that the fill material does not spill out if the base  14  is knocked over. A length of tarp  64  is retrieved and clips  36  are attached at each corner of the tarp  64  by opening each clip  36  and placing the first arm  38  on one side of the tarp  64  and the second arm  50  on the other side of the tarp  64  and closing the clip  36  so that the tarp  64  is sandwiched and held between the extension  46  of the first arm  38  and the extension  58  of the second arm  50 . The snap heads  48  are received within their respective snap openings  60 . Each tarp  64  has four clips  36  attached thereto, one at each corner of the tarp  64 , with the corresponding downward extensions  46  and  58  of each clip at a given end  66  of the tarp facing the corresponding extensions  46  and  58  of the clip  36  on the opposing side  68  of the tarp  64  at this end  66 . For each end  66  of the tarp  64 , one of the clips  36  is received within one of the top slots  32  of a post  26  and the clip  36  on the opposing side  68  of the tarp  64  received within the bottom slot  34  of this post  26 . The tarp  64  is dimensioned so as to be taut when the two clips  36  are so received within the slots  32  and  34  of the post  26 . During tarp  64  attachment, if the tarp  64  is sufficiently resilient, the tarp  64  is stretched after one of the clips  36  is received within its respective slot  32  or  34  in order to give the outstanding clip  36  sufficient clearance over the appropriate end  28  or  30  of the post  26 . If the tarp  64  is not sufficiently resilient, then one of the clips  36  (or both for that matter) can be attached to the tarp  64  after that clip  36  is received within its respective slot  32  or  34 . The bulbous ends  40  and  52  of the clip  36 , which are wider than the widths of the slots  32  and  34 , prevent the clip  36  from being laterally pulled out of its respective slots  32  or  34 . The other end  66  of the tarp  64  is attached to another post system  12  in similar fashion. For each post system  12  that serves as an interior post, another tarp  64  is attached to the opposing slots  32  and  34  on the post  26  in similar fashion. For post systems  12  that act as end posts, only the slots  32  and  34  of one side of the post  26  are utilized to receive a tarp  64 . As each post  26  receives its either one tarp  64  (end post) or two tarps  64  (interior post), a cap  70  is placed onto the top  28  of the post  26  in order to prevent the clip  36  or clips  36  from being discharged from their respective top slots  32  and the post  26  is received within the receiver.  22  of the base  14 . Each clip  36  is also received within one of the slots  24  on the base  14 . The receipt of a clip  36  within one of the slots  24  of the base  14  helps prevent the post  26  from rotating within the receiver  22 . Once all of the tarps  64  are connected to the device  10  so as to form a contiguous fence, the overall ball game fence system  10  is spread out to form the outfield fence for the designated ball diamond D. 
         [0028]    The post systems  12  that are located at the ends of the overall fence may have an end support  72  attached thereto. The end support  72  has a base  74  (which may be hollow and have a fill spout (not illustrated)) and a standard  76  extending upwardly therefrom. A cross brace  78  extends diagonally from the top of the standard  76  and has collar  80  on the end thereof. The collar is placed atop the top  28  of the post  26  at the end of the fence in place of the cap  70 . A post  82 , which may have a cap  84  thereon, extends upwardly from the collar  80 . The end support  72  not only helps brace the post systems  12  that form the end of the fence, but, by virtue of the post  82 , act as a visual aid for determining if a hit ball B is a foul ball or not. 
         [0029]    The end support  72  may be made from the same materials that are used to make the base  14  and post system  12 . 
         [0030]    If desired, only a two post system  12  configuration can be utilized, without the need for end supports  72  which two post system  12  can be positioned behind home plate H in order to act as a back stop. 
         [0031]    Once the game is complete, the ball game fence system  10  is disassembled by opening each clip  36  so as to release its tarp  64 . The cap  70  is removed from each post  26  (in the case of an end post, the post  82  and the collar  80  are removed therefrom) in order to remove the upper clips  36  from each post  26  and the post  26  is removed from its base  14  in order to remove the lower clips  36  from each post  26  and base  14 . Each base  14  is drained of its fill material. Each component is stowed as desired. 
         [0032]    As seen in  FIGS. 7-10 , an alternate embodiment of the ball game fence system  110  uses an elongate single tarp  164 . In this embodiment, the post system  112  has a base  114  with a generally flat bottom  116  for resting on the ground G surface and has a hollow interior which is accessible via a fill spot  118  that has a removable cap  120  attached thereto, the hollow interior being filled with an appropriate material, such as water or sand, in order to give the base  114  ballast. A receiver  122  extends upwardly from the base  114 . A pair of base slots  124  is disposed within the receiver  122  which slots  124  extend downwardly into the base  114 . The base slots  124  may be 180 degree opposed from one another as illustrated, however, the base slots  124  may be angularly offset from the 180 degree opposition. A post  126  has a top  128  and a bottom  130  with a pair of opposing slots  132  extending through a medial section  134  of the post  126  between the top  128  and the bottom  130 . The slots  132  are angularly offset from one another (180 degree opposition in the illustrations) in the same fashion as the angular offset of the base slots  124  of the base  114  into which the particular post  126  is to be received. A cap  170  may be placed onto the top  128  of each post  126 . 
         [0033]    The base  114  and the post  126  may each be made from an appropriate sturdy and lightweight material such as a hard plastic or possibly aluminum. 
         [0034]    In order to use the alternate embodiment of the ball game fence system  110  of the present invention, each base  114  is filled with an appropriate fill material as desired with the cap  120  placed upon fill spout  118  so that the fill material does not spill out if the base  114  is knocked over. A section of cooperating hook and loop material  186  (which includes the newer cooperating hook and dart material) is attached to each end  166  of the tarp  164 . A corresponding section of hook and loop material  188  is placed onto each post  126  that will serve as an end post. Thereafter, one end  166  of the tarp  164  is attached to one of the end posts  126  via mating of the cooperating hook and loop sections  186  and  188 , and the other end  166  of the tarp  164  passes through the slots  132  of each post  126 . Once the tarp  164  reaches the other post  126  that will serve as the end post, the tarp  164  is attached to this post  126  via the cooperating hook and loop sections  186  and  188 . Each post  126  is placed into its base  114  in turn so that the lower side edge of the tarp  164  is received within the base slots  124  of the base  114 . Once all the tarps  164  are connected to the posts  126  so as to form a contiguous fence, the overall ball game fence system  110  is spread out to form the outfield fence for the designated ball diamond D. 
         [0035]    The post systems  112  that are located at the ends of the overall fence may have an end support  172  attached thereto. The end support  172  has a base  174  (which may be hollow and have a fill spout (not illustrated)) and a standard  176  extending upwardly therefrom. A cross brace  178  extends diagonally from the top of the standard  176  and has collar  180  on the end thereof. The collar  180  is placed atop the top  128  of the post  126  at the end of the fence in place of the cap  170 . A post  182 , which may have a cap  184  thereon, extends upwardly from the collar  180 . The end support  172  not only helps brace the post systems  112  that form the end of the fence, but, by virtue of the post  182 , act as a visual aid for determining if a hit ball B is a foul ball or not. 
         [0036]    The end support  172  may be made from the same materials that are used to make the base  114  and post system  112 . 
         [0037]    If desired, only a two post system  112  configuration can be utilized, without the need for end supports  172  which two post system  112  can be positioned behind home plate H in order to act as a back stop. 
         [0038]    Once the game is complete, the ball game fence system  110  is disassembled by detaching each end  166  of the tarp  164  from its respective post  126  and pulling the tarp  164  out of each post  126 . The tarp  164  may be rolled or folded as desired. The cap  170  may but need not be removed from each post  126  and each post  126  is removed from its base  114 . The post  182  of the end support  172  is removed from its collar  180  and the collar  180  is detached from the end post  126  to which it is attached. Each base  114  is drained of its fill material. Each component is stowed as desired. 
         [0039]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.