Abstract:
An apparatus for the practice of any sport involving a ball that is propelled in the air includes a planar section of netting that is surrounded by an elastic cord. The netting is attached to the elastic cord by a plurality of rings that are attached to the netting and which also encircle the elastic cord. A ceiling plate is attached to the ceiling and it includes a locking mechanism that secures a draw cord in any desired position. The draw cord is used to raise or lower a base tray portion of the apparatus from an upper position proximate the ceiling plate to a lower position of rest upon a floor or ground surface. When the base tray portion is raised it gathers the netting as it is raised until it makes contact with a pair of end caps that are attached to the ceiling plate at opposite ends thereof. In the raised position, the apparatus forms a neat closed assembly that contains the netting. The base tray portion includes a pair of planar end members that are each attached to a center planar member by hinges. The pair of end members are, therefore, adapted to rest flat upon the ground when lowered and to elevate at an angle with respect to the ground when raised. When the end members are flat upon the ground the netting is unfurled and the apparatus is adapted for use to attenuate the kinetic energy of the ball.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention, in general, relates to nets and, more particularly, to devices that can safely attenuate the kinetic energy of a ball. 
     There are numerous occasions in a variety of sports when a ball is impelled with either great force or velocity. Some examples include baseball, tennis, and golf, just to name a few. There are countless other sports that rely upon a ball of some sort that is either thrown or struck. 
     Many enthusiasts of these types of sports would like to be able to practice their preferred sport at home. However space is a problem. A net that can catch a ball and attenuate its energy is desirable, but a convenient type of a net has not heretofore been available. 
     An ideal net must be easy to set up and to remove from use. It should not utilize valuable floor space when it is not in use. Furthermore, it should not present abrupt or hard surfaces that a ball can impact upon. Such a surface would pose a hazard to the user in that the ball could ricochet back and strike the user or the device, itself, could be damaged. 
     Accordingly there exists today a need for a retractable sports net that is easy to set up and remove, does not take up floor space when not in use, and lessens the likelihood of damage to the device occurring from a ball impact or of a ricochet occurring. 
     Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Nets and the like are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,449 to Schwab, Jan. 4, 1966; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,246 to Byrne, May 8, 1979; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,524 to Kifferstein et al., Jan. 15, 1980; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,423 to Wright, Feb. 17, 1987; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,645 to Weigl et al., Apr. 16, 1991; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,564 to Lamberti et al., Apr. 27, 1993; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,230 to Dunaway et al., Apr. 25, 1995; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,266 to Nichols, Nov. 5, 1996; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,905 to Bidelman, Mar. 3, 1998; and 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,831 to McCarthy, Sep. 7, 1999. 
     While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable sports net that is easy to use. 
     It is also an important object of the invention to provide a retractable sports net that is suspended from a ceiling. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a retractable sports net that retracts off of a floor when not in use. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a retractable sports net that attenuates the energy of an object (i.e. a ball) that strikes it. 
     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a retractable sports net that decreases the chances of a ricochet occurring. 
     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a retractable sports net that is attractive. 
     Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a retractable sports net that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Still yet one other important object of the invention is to provide a retractable sports net that can be adapted for use with different sizes and types of balls. 
     Briefly, a retractable sports net that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a ceiling mounting plate that is attached overhead to a ceiling. A base tray portion includes a pair of oppositely disposed planar end members that are hinged to a center planar member. A section of fabric netting is disposed intermediate the ceiling mounting plate and the center planar member. The pair of end members and the center planar member can be hoisted into a raised position proximate the ceiling mounting plate and lowered into a lower position that is adapted for use where they contact a floor under the ceiling mounting plate by the use of a lift cord and locking mechanism. When the pair of end members and the center member are lowered, the fabric netting is unfurled so as to present a vertical planar structure that is adapted to receive a ball. An elastic cord extends along the perimeter of the netting and helps to attenuate the energy of the ball. An optional weight pocket helps to lower the netting and optional stiffening ribs add strength to the end members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of a retractable sports net. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line  2 — 2  in 
     FIG. 1 except that an assembly portion is shown in a raised position in FIG.  1  and in a lower position in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a portion of a modified retractable sports net. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4 showing a modified latch mechanism to secure the lift cords. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring, on occasion to all of the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 is shown, a retractable sports net, identified, in general, by the reference numeral  10 . 
     A ceiling mounting plate  12  is attached to the ceiling  14  (FIG. 2) by screws (not shown) or by any other preferred method. The retractable sports net  10  may be mounted wherever desired such as at an opening proximate a garage door (not shown), in a garage (not shown), a family room (not shown), a fitness center (not shown), or any other type of a structure with an overhead ceiling. 
     A first end cap  16  is attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12  at a first end  12   a  and extends perpendicularly therefrom in a vertical orientation with respect to a floor  18  (FIG.  2 ). A second end cap  20  is similarly attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12  at a second end  12   b  that is opposite the first end  12   a . 
     The first and second end caps  16 ,  20  have, in the vertical orientation, a substantially trapezoidal shape that is adapted to receive other component parts of the retractable sports net  10  in a manner, as is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The retractable sports net  10  includes an assembly (identified, in general, by the reference numeral  22 , FIG. 2) that can be lifted into a first raised position (as shown in FIG. 1) that is proximate the ceiling mounting plate  12  or it can be released into a second lower position (as shown in FIG. 2) that extends away from the ceiling mounting plate  12  and end caps  16 ,  20 . In the lower position the assembly  22  rests substantially upon the floor  18 . 
     The assembly  22  includes a base tray portion that includes a pair of oppositely disposed planar end members  24 ,  26  that are hingedly attached to a center planar member  28  by a first hinge  30  and a second hinge  32 , respectively. The hinges  30 ,  32  are either formed integral with the base tray portion or are added thereto, as desired. 
     An optional weight pocket  34  may be attached where desired to the base tray portion and be used to provide extra weight that is useful to help extend the assembly  22  into the second lower position. The weight pocket  34  contains any mass that is desired, and may be filled at the site, for example, with sand (not shown). 
     The hinges  30 ,  32  are important in that when the assembly  22  is in the second lower position they permit the end members  24 ,  26  to extend and lay flat upon the floor  18 . This provides a minimum impact surface ( 24   a  FIG. 1) that is limited to the thickness of the first end member  24 . Only the impact surface  24   a  of the first end member  24  is exposed to a user (not shown) of the retractable sports net  10 . 
     It is also noted that in the second lower position, the impact surface  24   a  that is exposed is at an angle and that angle would only serve to deflect the ball upward and into a netting  36  (FIG. 2) should the ball happen to strike the impact surface  24   a  portion of the first end member  24 . Therefore, there is virtually no chance of a ricochet of the ball back to the user occurring, thereby increasing safety. 
     It is also most unlikely that a ball will be traveling so close to the floor  18  that it is able to strike the impact surface  24   a . For most applications, during use the ball will make contact with the netting  36  near its center and not near the floor  18 . However, if the ball is impelled close to the floor  18  the present design affords protection to both the retractable sports net  10  as well as to the user. 
     The netting  36  is preferably of any desired fabric and weave as desired. Obviously, a denser material for use as the netting  36  is required to stop a golf ball (not shown) than would be minimally required to stop a tennis ball (not shown) or a baseball/softball (not shown). 
     The choice of material for the netting  36  is selected as desired for the application intended. Of course, if desired, a fine weave for the netting  36  may be universally used to satisfy a wide variety of applications for the retractable sports net  10 . How the netting  36  is attached to the retractable sports net  10  is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     There are any number of methods possible to raise or lower the retractable sports net  10  and the method described is intended to suggest only one such way. A lift cord  38  and a locking mechanism  40  (shown in greater detail in FIG. 3) are used to raise or lower the assembly  22  and the netting  36 . 
     The lift cord  38  passes through an opening in the first end cap  16  (not shown in the FIG. 1 drawing). The locking mechanism  40  may be attached to the ceiling or to the retractable sports net  10 , as desired (see FIG.  3 ). The locking mechanism  40  includes a torsion spring  42  that pulls a pivoting cam  44  into contact with a first pulley  46 . 
     If the lift cord  38  is released, the torsion spring  42  pulls (i.e., pivots) the cam  44  toward the first pulley  46  and secures the lift cord  38  in place, normally in the first raised position, by pinching the cam  44  against the lift cord  38  and the first pulley  46 . This prevents the first pulley from rotating in a clockwise direction (as shown in FIG.  3 ). 
     If tension is applied by the user to the lift cord  38 , the cam  44  is held away from the first pulley  46  and the lift cord  38  can be lowered so that the assembly  22  extends down into the second lowered position. 
     An idler pulley  48  is centrally disposed on the ceiling mounting plate  12 . The lift cord  38  branches out into four segments (a first segment  50  and a second segment  52  are shown) that attach to each of four outermost corners of the two end members  24 ,  26 . 
     When the lift cord  38  is pulled, the four segments  50 ,  52  lift the end members  24 ,  26  into a somewhat vertical orientation thereby providing a “container” that is able to neatly gather the netting  36  as the base tray portion (i.e., the assembly  22 ) is hoisted up. 
     As the end members  24 ,  26  are more fully raised, they contact the end caps  16 ,  20  and are extended, as necessary, outward so as to bear against them when fully hoisted. 
     In the first raised position, the base tray portion (i.e.,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ) and the end caps  16 ,  20  of the retractable sports net  10  cooperate to form a closed structure that hides the netting  36  and internal components from view, thereby making the retractable sports net  10  neat and attractive in appearance. 
     An elastic cord  60  surrounds the netting  36  and is in a somewhat extended position in the second lowered position. The netting  36  includes a plurality of rings  62  on two sides thereof that attach the netting  36  to the elastic cord  60  in such a way that that the netting  36  can be gathered when hoisted and fully extended when lowered because the rings  62  are able to slide along the longitudinal length of the elastic cord  60 . 
     The elastic cord  60  provides a perimeter support structure that keeps the netting  36  in an open substantially rectangular planar shape and it also “gives” (i.e., it extends or stretches) during impact of the ball so as to help the netting  36  better attenuate the kinetic energy of the ball. 
     The ball is typically struck or otherwise is thrown by the user so as to impact the netting  36 . For example, a baseball pitcher (not shown) may be one user of the retractable sports net  10 . The retractable sports net  10  may include the imprint or outline of a target area  61  on the netting  36 . The target area  61  may be used as a reference to aim for with the retractable sports net  10  when the pitcher practices throwing the ball, in this case a baseball, at the target area  61  of the netting  36 . 
     Additional rings  63  may be used, if desired, at the top and bottom of the netting  36 . All of the rings  62 ,  63  permit movement of the netting  36  with respect to the elastic cord  60 . This further helps to attenuate the kinetic energy caused by impact of the ball with the netting  36 . 
     A second pulley  64  and a third pulley  66  are attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12  and provide a support for the elastic cord  60 , and accordingly, for the top of the netting  36 . The second and third pulleys  64 ,  66  may include brackets that are useful to secure the ceiling mounting plate  12  to the ceiling  14 , as desired. 
     The elastic cord  60  is able to stretch when the assembly  22  is lowered and to contract around the second and third pulleys  64 ,  66  when the assembly  22  is hoisted. If desired, a take-up reel (not shown) can be used to wind the elastic cord  60  when the assembly  22  is hoisted and to dispense the elastic cord  60  when the assembly  22  is lowered. 
     A pair of pins  72  are attached to the center planar member  28  on opposite ends and are used to secure the elastic cord  60  (and therefore also the netting  36 ) to the assembly  22 . 
     If desired, a handle  68  can be attached to the end of the lift cord  38 . Similarly, stiffening ribs  70  can be added to the end members  24 ,  26  as desired. 
     Referring now in particular to FIG. 4 is shown, a modified retractable sports net, identified, in general, by the reference numeral  100 . The modified retractable sports net  100  is similar to the retractable sports net  10 , and therefore to aid in understanding, nearly identical component parts are identified by the same reference numerals. 
     The modified retractable sports net  100  utilizes a plurality of two lift cords  102 ,  104  per side. Only the near side is shown in the drawing view. The far side (not shown) is, essentially, a mirror image and therefore contains a third and a fourth lift cord (not shown). 
     The first ( 102 ) of the two lift cords  102 ,  104  is supported by a first guide channel  106  and by a second guide channel  108 . The first and second guide channels  106 ,  108  are each attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12 . 
     The second  104  of the two lift cords  102 ,  104  is similarly supported by its own set of guide channels (not shown). 
     The first guide channel  106  is disposed directly above where a first end of the first of the two lift cords  102  is attached to a modified planar end member  110  of the base tray portion. The second of the two lift cords  104  similarly terminates and is attached to a pin  109  on a second modified planar end member  111 . 
     The modified planar end member  110  includes a center open area  112  through which the two lift cords  102 ,  104  on the near side and the third and fourth lift cords (not shown) of the far side pass. 
     A first guide cord  114  is provided on the near side and is attached at a first end thereof to the center planar member  28  at a first mounting location  116 . 
     The first guide cord  114  rises vertically and passes over the third pulley  64  (on the near side). The guide cord  114  then passes through a third guide channel  118  and around a first vertical pin  120 , the first vertical pin  120  also being attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12 . 
     The first guide cord  114  is preferably constructed of the same diameter material as the first and second lift cords  102 ,  104  and may be formed of the same material. The first guide cord  114  aids in lifting the center planar member  28  and therefore the base tray portion as does the first and second lift cords  102 ,  104 . 
     The first guide cord  114  serves primarily to align the sides of the net  36  and maintain them in a proper spaced apart vertical orientation when the modified retractable sports net  100  is in use (i.e., when it is in the down position) and to aid in collecting the net  36  as it the base tray portion is raised. 
     The first guide cord  114  may include an elastic material to help in attenuating kinetic energy of the ball when striking the net  36 , although this is not required. 
     A second guide cord (not shown) is used on the far side and is essentially a mirror of the first guide cord  114  in all ways. The rings  62  secure the net  36  to the first and second guide cords  114  on both vertical sides of the net  36 . 
     A first elastic horizontal strip  122  is attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12  at each end by ceiling pins  124  (only one is shown) and to the top of the net  36  across its width by the use of additional rings  63 . 
     A second elastic horizontal strip  126  is attached at a first end to the center planar member  28  at the first mounting location  116  and to a second mounting location (not shown) on the opposite end of the center planar member  28 . Additional rings  63  secure the net  36  to the second elastic horizontal strip  126  across the bottom width of the net  36 . 
     A second vertical pin  128  is attached to the ceiling mounting plate  12  and is used to redirect the direction of the first lift cord  102  in much the same way the first vertical pin  120  redirects the direction taken by the first guide cord  114 . 
     A third vertical pin (not shown) similarly redirects the second drop cord  104  so that it passes through a modified locking mechanism, identified in general by the reference numeral  130 . Refer to FIG. 5 as well. 
     The modified locking mechanism  130  is used to secure the base tray portion in the raised position. A knurled pin  132  rides in a serrated channel  134  on each side of the modified locking mechanism  130 . A stationary pin  136  is provided over which the first and second lift cords  102 ,  104 , the third and fourth lift cords (not shown), the first guide cord  114 , and the second guide cord (not shown) pass. 
     The first through the fourth lift cords  102 ,  104  and the first and second guide cords  114  are disposed intermediate the stationary pin  136  and the knurled pin  132  and pass down through the center open area  112  and to a modified handle  138  that secures all of their ends. 
     When the modified handle  138  is pulled at an angle away from the modified retractable sports net  100 , it draws (i.e., pulls) on all of the cords  102 ,  104 ,  114  (and their complements on the far side) and therefore also pulls the knurled pin  132  away from the stationary pin  136  and down in the serrated channel  134 . 
     If the modified handle  138  is then directed toward the modified retractable sports net  100 , the knurled pin  132  will remain down in the serrated channel  134  and will permit all of the cords  102 ,  104 ,  114  to pass through the modified locking mechanism  130  and therefore the lowering of the base tray portion, identified in general in the FIG. 4 drawing as a modified assembly  22   a  down into a position of use. 
     If the modified handle  138  is then pulled down, the modified assembly  22   a  is raised into the upper position for storage. To secure the modified assembly  22   a  in the upper position, the modified handle  138  is then pulled slightly away from the modified retractable sports net  100  so that it contacts the knurled pin  132  and is released while being held in that position. 
     This causes the knurled pin  132  to rise in the serrated channel  134  until it pinches all of the cords  102 ,  104 ,  114  against the stationary pin  136 . When the modified handle  138  is then released, friction draws the knurled pin  132  even closer to the stationary pin  136  as the cords  102 ,  104 ,  114  attempt to drop, further tightening them against the stationary pin  136 , therefore securing the modified assembly  22   a  in the raised position. 
     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.