Patent ID: 8806952

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring a tension force on a net cord of a sports net disposed between two opposing static posts, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a first end and an opposite second end, and configured to connect to a first one of the static posts; a slidable member, comprising flexible cable, having a first end disposed within the housing and passing through a centering indicator, the slidable member further having an opposite, second end extending at least partially outside of the housing through at least one opening defined through an end block at the second end of the housing; at least one attachment member disposed proximate the second end of the housing, connected to the slidable member, and configured to engage a portion of the net cord; a resilient member retained inside the housing and connected to the slidable member; an indicator member connected to the slidable member within the housing; and a rigid sleeve having a first end and a second end and a substantially tubular body portion defining a hollow internal passage between the first end and second end, wherein: the first end of the rigid sleeve engages the end block and the second end of the rigid sleeve engages the centering indicator, the rigid sleeve is disposed longitudinally through a passage defined by the resilient member, the flexible cable of the slidable member is received through the hollow internal passage of the rigid sleeve, and the rigid sleeve is configured to have a length that is less than the length of the resilient member when the resilient member is in an uncompressed or partially compressed state, and such that the length of the rigid sleeve restricts the resilient member from compressing by an amount greater than a corresponding yield compression in response to an applied force, wherein the slidable member is configured to move within the housing in response to and by a distance proportional to an amount of tension force on the net cord as received at the at least one attachment member and relative to an opposing force generated by the resilient member, and wherein the indicator member is connected to the slidable member such that at least a portion of the indicator member is exposed through a slotted opening defined in the housing that is different from the at least one opening defined at the second end of the housing.