Abstract:
A system of decorations may be applied to a basketball net to enhance the net&#39;s decorative appeal. Coloration of the net strands or links may be placed in any combination with decorative fill material placed between the strands and links, a decorative lattice surrounding the exterior surface of the net, or decorative patches affixed to the exterior of the net. Each type of decorative surface may be printed, embroidered, dyed, or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/692210, filed Aug. 22, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention relates generally to basketball and other sports nets and in particular to decorative enhancements for such nets. Nets used in basketball at all levels of competition are generally plain, with the strands or chains being undecorated. At most, the net strands may be presented in a particular color or combination of colors. Similarly, while backboards often present team indicia, the net itself generally represents an unused space for carrying decorations, particularly team indicia or marketing indicia. A system is needed for providing decorations and indicia to the net itself. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, the invention is directed to a system of decorations which may be applied to a basketball net to enhance the net&#39;s decorative appeal. Coloration of the net strands or links may be placed in any combination with decorative fill material placed between the strands and links, a decorative lattice surrounding the exterior surface of the net, or decorative patches affixed to the exterior of the net. Each type of decorative surface may be printed, embroidered, dyed, or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia. 
         [0007]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, showing the net  10 , rim  11 , first color material  12 , second color material  13 , links  14 , strands  15 , and spaces  16 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the second exemplary embodiment, showing the net  20 , rim  21 , and flexible lattice  22 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the third exemplary embodiment, showing the net  30 , rim  31 , fill material  32 , spaces  33 , strands  34 , and links  35 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of the fourth exemplary embodiment, showing the net  40 , rim  41 , and patch  42 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a system of decorative enhancements for basketball nets or other net-like structures for use in sports or in other applications.  FIGS. 1-4  show several exemplary embodiments, each demonstrating one or more features of the system, which may be applied to a particular basketball net in any combination. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows the first exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, a net  10  is suspended from a rim  11 . The rim  11  may be any regulation or non-regulation size, and is preferably made of a high strength metal material, such as steel or other material as is or may become customary for basketball rims. The net  10  is preferably a weave of nylon, cotton, or hemp fibers or metal chain other material as may be suitably flexible and durable. The net  10  may be woven in any fashion suitable for creating a generally cylindrical net (many such methods being well-known in the prior art), preferably in a manner customary for basketball nets. 
         [0015]    The net  10  may be produced in any color or combination or pattern of colors, as distinct from a neutral or un-colored material (e.g. un-dyed fiber or unfinished metal), depending on the color needs of the particular embodiment, such as the display of particular colors associated with the “home team” at the venue where the net  10  is to be installed. Any means of applying color to the net  10  may be employed; for example fiber nets may be dyed according to a suitable dyeing method for the particular fiber (many such methods are known in the prior art). Metal chain nets may be painted, powder coated, or anodized and dyed to apply desired colors. 
         [0016]    Referring still to the first exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the net  10  is made up of strands  15  and links  14 ; the strands  15  are lengths of linear material, and the links  14  are the points of intersection and attachment, whether by interweaving or fixing flexible lines, interlinking chain links, or other attachment means. The strands  15  and links  14  of the net  10  define a plurality of spaces  16 , which may be filled with a flat, flexible material, such as woven fabric. The fill material may alternate colors, for example between a first color material  12  and a second color material  13 . The fill material may also be printed, embroidered, or otherwise decorated with a pattern, design, design, symbol, logo, or other indicia. The fill material may be affixed to the net  10  with stitching, adhesives, or other fasteners between the perimeter of the fill material and the surrounding strands  15  and links  14 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the second exemplary embodiment. In the second exemplary embodiment, a net  20  is suspended from a rim  21 ; the net  20  and rim  21  are similar to the net  10  and rim  11  of the first exemplary embodiment in all aspects and possible variations. In the second exemplary embodiment, a flexible lattice  22  is affixed to the outside surface of the net  10 . The flexible lattice  22  may be made of a fabric material, and may be affixed to the net  20  with stitching, adhesives, or other appropriate fastening means. The flexible lattice  22  preferably matches the external form of the net  20  when the net  20  is in a neutral hanging position. The flexible lattice  22  may partially cover the exterior surface of the net  20  according to a diamond pattern as shown in  FIG. 2 , or may follow a different geometric pattern, or may be asymmetric following no pattern at all, or may completely cover the exterior surface of the net  20 . The flexible lattice  20  may be printed or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, designs, patterns, or indicia. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the third exemplary embodiment. In the third exemplary embodiment, a net  30  is suspended from a rim  31 ; the net  30  and rim  31  are similar to the net  10  and rim  11  of the first exemplary embodiment in all aspects and possible variations. In the third exemplary embodiment, some, but not all, of the spaces  33  between the strands  34  and links  35  of the net  30  are filled with a flat, flexible fill material  32 , which may be printed or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia. The spaces  33  may alternate unfilled spaces and spaces filled by fill material  32  as shown, or may follow any pattern or be placed asymmetrically. Each piece of fill material  32  may be affixed to its surrounding strands  34  and links  35  by appropriate fasteners for the material of the net  30 ; for example a flexible fiber net  30  may be sewn to the fill material  32 , and a chain net  30  may be affixed to the fill material  32  by adhesive. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows the fourth exemplary embodiment. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a net  40  is suspended from a rim  41 ; the net  40  and rim  41  are similar to the net  10  and rim  11  of the first exemplary embodiment in all aspects and possible variations. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a patch  42  of flat flexible material, which may be affixed to the net  40  by stitching, adhesives or other appropriate fastening means. Any number of patches  42  may be applied to the net  40 . The patch  42  may be printed, embroidered, or otherwise decorated with any combination of colors, patterns, designs, or indicia. 
         [0020]    The first color material  12 , second color material  13 , links  14 , strands  15 , flexible lattice  22 , fill material  32 , strands  34 , links  35 , and patch  42  would preferably be manufactured from flexible, durable materials that are easily cleaned, such as plastic, acetate, nylon, cotton fabric, and cotton-polyester blend fabric. Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention. 
         [0021]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.