U.S. patent application number 10/801890 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for removable shelf inserts and dividers.
Invention is credited to Robert James Wroten.
Application Number | 20070029272 10/801890 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716710 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070029272 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wroten; Robert James |
February 8, 2007 |
Removable shelf inserts and dividers
Abstract
A net for sport practice is provided having one or more
apertures therein, the apertures being advantageously sized and
shaped for passage of a ball or other object thrown or launched
therethrough, in order to promote conditioning of the player's aim
at a goal, and delivery into a court plane. A specially adapted
frame may be employed for supporting the net; however, the net is
preferably strung between existing standards, to minimize weight
and maximize portability and ease of use. A backstop having inside
rebound surfaces may be attached to the frame, for returning the
object to the player.
Inventors: |
Wroten; Robert James;
(Portland, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT JAMES WROTEN
911 S.W. 21st. AVE. # 314
PORTLAND
OR
97205
US
|
Family ID: |
37716710 |
Appl. No.: |
10/801890 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0097 20130101;
A63B 71/022 20130101; A63B 2069/0006 20130101; A63B 69/0002
20130101; A63B 2071/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/134 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for practicing a sport in which it is desired to
condition a player's aim in throwing or launching a sporting object
at a goal plane, the apparatus comprising: a goal surface lying
substantially in the goal plane; and a plurality of goal apertures
formed in and through said goal surface, said apertures being
spaced-apart so that the player, in throwing or launching the
object toward one of said goal apertures has a predetermined,
minimal chance of passing the object through another of said goal
apertures.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said goal apertures are sized
and shaped according to the size and shape of the object.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame member for
supporting said net.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a stand member for
supporting said frame.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stand member supports
said frame in a substantially upright position.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising one or more hangers
for hanging the frame on an existing structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said frame is mounted to an
existing structure.
8. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a backstop for
returning an object passed through one of said goal apertures to
substantially the opposite direction from whence the object
came.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said backstop is formed to
permit at least two rebounds of the object at two inside surfaces
thereof.
10. An apparatus for practicing a sport in which it is desired to
condition a player's aim in throwing or launching a sporting object
at a goal plane, the apparatus comprising: a net forming said goal
plane, said net having one or more spaced-apart goal apertures
formed in said net for permitting passage of the object through
said net.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said goal apertures are
sized and shaped according to the size and shape of the object.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said goal apertures are
spaced-apart so that a player aiming at one of said goal apertures
has a predetermined, minimal chance of passing the object through
another of said goal apertures.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a frame member
for supporting said net.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a stand member
for supporting said frame.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said stand member supports
said frame in a substantially upright position.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising one or more
hangers for hanging the frame on an existing structure.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said frame is mounted to an
existing structure.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a backstop for
returning an object passed through one of said goal apertures to
substantially the opposite direction from whence the object
came.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said backstop includes a
first inside surface having a substantially 45 degree declination
and a second, spaced-apart inside surface having a substantially 45
degree inclination to permit two rebounds of the object, a first
rebound being at said first inside surface and a second rebound
being at said second inside surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus providing for
practicing one or more player's aim in sports in which a sporting
object is thrown or launched.
[0002] Many attempts have been made to provide an apparatus
functioning as a target for pitching a baseball, for use in the
practice of baseball throwing aim. Some of these devices catch the
baseball, such as Maye, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,607 ("Maye"); Yalvac,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,774 ("Yalvac"); some return the baseball to the
player, such as Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,427; White et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 4,364,562 ("White"); Larson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,551; and
some register a hit within a "strike zone" by electromechanical
means, such as Hanabusa et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,731; Yancey,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,729.
[0003] Some of these apparatuses, being adapted for the pitching of
baseballs, require a certain sturdiness and therefore substantial
weight for receiving, without damage or excessive recoil, a
fast-pitched baseball, such as the apparatuses of White and Yalvac.
Others of these apparatuses employ multiple components which
detract from portability and ease of set-up, such as the apparatus
of Maye. And, in other ways, apparatuses adapted to the pitching of
baseballs are not ideal for pitching or throwing of other objects
thrown or launched in other sports.
[0004] For example, many sports, such as volleyball, tennis and
frisbee involve the passing of a thrown or launched object between
two players. None of the prior devices for aiming practice in the
pitching of baseballs readily permit practice by more than one
player at a time. A particular disadvantage of failing to permit
two-way practice is that it is not only necessary in such sports to
practice aiming the projectile so that it impacts a vertical plane
("goal plane"), e.g., a batter's box, at a specific location, it is
also necessary to practice delivering the object beyond the goal
plane a particular distance. In sports such as tennis, the player
desires not only to clear the net but also to control where the
ball will land in the opposite court by controlling velocity,
delivery location and launch angle. A device adapted to register
the location of a thrown object in a single, goal plane is not
suitable for practicing sports in which it is desired to, first,
pass a thrown or launched object through a specific location
("goal") in the goal plane and, second, deliver the object to a
specific location in a horizontal plane ("court plane")
therebeyond.
[0005] Moreover, in baseball, the goal in the goal plane never
changes--it is the strike zone. In many sports, particularly sports
in which an object is thrown or launched over a net, target
locations in both the goal and court planes change constantly
throughout the game, depending on where the players are located,
how the players are moving, and the initial conditions of the
location and the velocity the object as it is received by the
player desiring to deliver or return it. Devices which register
strikes or hits only in a particular location don't allow practice
of aiming at a moving target.
[0006] Further, prior art devices adapted for the pitching of
baseballs presume a goal size and shape that is predetermined by
the rules of baseball. Other sports do not necessarily have a
predetermined goal size and shape such as a strike zone. It may be
advantageous in other sports to have a goal size or shape that is
tailored in some other way.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a novel net for sport
practice which provides for practice by one or more players aiming
at varying goals on a goal and delivering to varying locations on a
court plane, the goals having sizes and shapes tailored to the
needs of the sport, the apparatus minimizing weight and thereby
maximizing portability, and maximizing ease of set-up and use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A net for sport practice of the present invention solves the
aforementioned problems and meets the aforementioned needs by
employing a net having one or more apertures therein, the apertures
being advantageously sized and shaped for passage of a ball or
other object thrown or launched therethrough, in order to promote
conditioning of the player's aim at a goal, and delivery into a
court plane. A specially adapted frame may be employed for
supporting the net; however, the net is preferably strung between
existing standards, to minimize weight and maximize portability and
ease of use. A backstop having inside rebound surfaces may be
attached to the frame, for returning the object to the player.
[0009] Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention
to provide a novel net for sport practice.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such a net that facilitates practice of both aiming, at a goal
plane, and delivering, into a court plane.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
such a net that accommodates a plurality of players.
[0012] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide such a net that employs a goal size and shape tailored to a
particular sport.
[0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
such a net having a plurality of goals, for practicing aim at and
delivery to multiple locations.
[0014] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide such a net that minimizes weight and maximizes portability,
and maximizes ease of set-up and use.
[0015] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will be more readily understood upon
consideration of the following detailed description of the
invention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a net for sport practice
according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an elevation of a partial portion of the net of
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a section view of the net of FIG. 2, taken along a
line 3-3 thereof.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an elevation of the full portion of the net of
FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an elevation of a frame member according to the
present invention, for use with the net of FIG. 1 being partially
cut-away.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of an attachment of the frame
member of FIG. 5 to an existing structure according to the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the frame member of FIG. 5
being attached to a stand member according to the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of an attachment of the frame
member of FIG. 5 to an existing structure by a hanger member
according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a side elevation of an alternative attachment of
the frame member of FIG. 5 to an existing structure by a hanger
member according to the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of a backstop according to the
present invention attached to the frame member of FIG. 5.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the backstop of FIG. 10.
[0027] FIG. 12A is a side elevation of a first alternative
configuration of a backstop according to the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 12B is a side elevation of a second alternative
configuration of a backstop according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a net for sport practice 10 comprises a
goal surface, preferably a net material 12, in which and through
which are one or more goals in the form of goal apertures 14. The
net 10 is substantially symmetric about a goal plane 16, so that a
player or players may launch an object, such as a baseball,
football, volleyball, tennis ball, ping-pong ball, badminton cock,
frisbee or other object, toward the net and through a desired one
of the goal apertures 14 from either side of the net. The goal
apertures are sized and shaped according to the cross-sectional
size and shape of the object which it is desired to launch. For
example, while goal apertures for objects having circular
cross-sections, such as baseballs and volleyballs, are
advantageously circular, goal apertures may have other shapes for
practicing sports involving an object having a cross-sectional
shape that is not circular, e.g., for frisbees, as depicted in FIG.
1. The selected size of the goal apertures may vary according to
the sport and according to the player's present abilities. As an
example of the former, a sport requiring that the object be
delivered over a larger distance, or at a higher speed, may require
(though it will not always require) a goal aperture 14 that is
relatively larger compared to the cross-section of the object than
will a sport in which the player stands closer to the net or
delivers the object less forcefully.
[0030] Material other than net material 12 may be employed for the
goal surface; however, net material has particular advantages. For
example, net material is generally stretchable, so that impact
forces to the apparatus are minimized when a player misses the goal
apertures. A lesser impact force allows lighter material to be
employed, the lesser impact force and the lighter weight material
allow a lighter structure (described below) for supporting the net.
Another advantage of the net material 12 is that it presents
relatively little wind resistance.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the goal apertures 14 are preferably
removed, as by cutting or blanking, from a contiguous net material
12, under conditions in which the net material is not distended.
Remaining edges 18 of the net material 12 are captured between a
length of hem material 22, such as one or more fabric strips, which
is or are folded over the edges 18 in the direction of the arrows
27 and adhered at adjacent complementary surfaces 24, capturing the
edges 18 therebetween. The hem material 22 has periodically spaced
slits 25 to permit forming the hem material around curved portions
of the goal apertures 14. Adherence of the surfaces 24 can be
accomplished by sewing them together, by employing an adhesive
therebetween, or by other means known in the art.
[0032] The net material 12 also has edges 66 at side portions 29
thereof, however, preferably, the net material 12 is provided with
a pre-existing hem material 68 capturing the edges 18 at the side
portions 29. If the net material 12 is not provided with a
pre-existing hem material 68, hem material 68 may be applied to the
net material by folding over the edges 18 and capturing the edges
66 between adjacent complementary surfaces, as has been described
for the hem material 22 and the goal apertures 14.
[0033] The location of the goal apertures 14 is selected so that a
player has a selected, minimal chance of passing an object through
one of the goal apertures 14 while aiming for another, and so that
goal apertures 14 are disposed at a variety of locations on the
goal surface to permit the player or players to practice delivery
to varying locations within a court plane. While a pattern of goal
apertures 14 is shown as being regular, the invention also
contemplates that the goal apertures need not form a regular
pattern.
[0034] The goal surface is preferably attached to existing
standards, preferably the net 12 being strung across existing
upright poles 33 for use with existing nets employed in the sport
of choice. Alternatively, the goal surface may be attached to a
suitable frame 26, such as that shown in FIG. 5. The frame 26
preferably includes frame members 28 connected at right angles to
each other by connectors 30. Frame members 28 and connectors 30 may
be steel or plastic plumbing pipe and elbow connectors,
respectively, and may then include a coupler joint 34 for allowing
all the frame members 28 and connectors 30 to be screwed together.
Other, alternative embodiments of the frame 26 will be readily
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0035] The net material 12 is attached to the frame at, preferably,
each frame member 28. The hem material 68 which secures the edges
66 of the net material 12 may then be clamped, tied, clasped, or
bonded to the frame 26 in any of a number of ways that will be
readily apparent to those of ordinary skill. An exemplary
attachment is shown in FIG. 5, employing eyelets 23 through which a
string or rope 31 is threaded.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 6-8, the frame 26 may be mounted to or
hung from an existing structure 33, or may include a stand member
36 for holding the frame 26 in an upright position in the field.
The stand member 36 may be folded sheet metal and may be bolted to
the frame 26 with threaded fasteners 38, through holes 40 in both
the channel member 37 and the frame member 26. For rigidity, at
least two holes 40 in the stand member should be spaced-apart a
distance "d1" which allows the stand member 36 to resist twisting
of the frame member 26 as will be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill. Moreover, pad portions 39 of the stand member 36
should extend away from the frame a distance "d2" which permits the
stand member 36 to resist toppling of the frame member 26 as will
also be readily apparent. Other, alternative embodiments of the
stand member 36 will also be readily apparent to those of ordinary
mechanical skill.
[0037] Returning to FIG. 6, when mounted to an existing structure
33, the frame 26 may have holes 42 which correspond to holes (not
shown) in the existing structure, so that threaded fasteners 44a,
such as lag screws, may be inserted through the holes 42 into the
holes in the existing structure, the existing structure allowing
space 46 behind the goal apertures 14 for unobstructed passage of
the object therethrough. An alternative means of attaching the
frame 26 to an existing structure 33 is also shown in FIG. 6.
Clamps 41 may be employed to attach to the existing structure by
threaded fasteners 44b, which preferably are the same type of
fasteners as the fasteners 44a, through holes 47 in the clamps. The
clamps 41 enclose a frame member 28 to capture the frame member
between the clamp and the existing structure. If clamps 41 are
employed, it is advantageous that the clamp contain a central hole
49, disposed over the frame member 28, and that the captured frame
member 28 has a corresponding hole (not shown) for insertion of a
threaded fastener, dowel pin or the like 51 to prevent rotation of
the captured frame member 28. As will readily be appreciated,
particularly advantageous attachments will depend on the nature of
the existing structure. Moreover, the frame 26 may, itself, include
other hardware for facilitating attachment to an existing
structure, or may provide increased lengths of some of the frame
members 28 for extending beyond the net material 12 to attach to or
otherwise contact the existing structure.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 8, when hung from an existing structure
33, hangers 48 may be employed, which are preferably constructed of
sheet metal, the hangers being attached to the existing structure
33, preferably by the use of threaded fasteners 50 through hanger
holes 52 in the hangers 48 and in the existing structure 33. Curved
ends 54 of the hangers 48 may be looped under one of the frame
members 28 of the frame 26.
[0039] Alternatively, hangers 48 may be attached to the frame 26,
preferably by the use of threaded fasteners 50 through holes 52 in
the hangers 48 and in the frame 26. Curved ends 54 of the hangers
may then loop over the existing structure, as shown in FIG. 9.
Preferably, the hangers 48 are bent at a portion 53 thereof, so
that the frame 26 may hang directly below the curved portion 54, so
that it lies along an axis "L" that is substantially vertical.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, in an alternative embodiment
of the invention, a backstop 56 may be connected to and behind the
frame 26 with respect to the player, for returning an object passed
through the goal apertures 14 to the player by rebounding the
object. The backstop 56 preferably is a curved piece of sheet metal
having a lip surface 58 on each side thereof, the lip surface
having holes 60 therethrough for passage of threaded fasteners 62
into holes 64 in the frame 26. When constructed of sheet metal, the
backstop preferably has a plurality of stiffening ribs 65 that have
a dimension "d3" that is small compared to the object, so that they
do not interfere with rebound of the object.
[0041] Referring particularly to FIG. 11, the shape of the backstop
is selected so that, an object 80, here preferably a ball, passing
through a predetermined one of the goal apertures 14 will strike a
first rebound inside surface 66 of the backstop 56 and be rebounded
so that the angle "B" of travel that the ball makes with respect to
an exit portion 68 of the first surface is substantially equal to
the angle "A" of travel that the ball makes with respect to an
entry portion 70 of the first surface. The ball is then made to
follow a new path of travel and is caused to strike a second
rebound inside surface 72 of the backstop 56 and be rebounded so
that the angle "D" of travel that the ball makes with respect to an
exit portion 74 of the second surface is substantially equal to the
angle "C" of travel that the ball makes with respect to an entry
portion 76 of the second surfaces. In the above manner, depending
on the shape of the backstop 56, the ball may be caused to undergo
a large number of small angle rebounds.
[0042] However, a preferred number of rebounds is two. A preferred
method for achieving two rebounds provides a first rebound inside
surface 66 oriented at substantially about 45 degrees declination,
shown as line "L1", for directing a ball thrown inwardly along the
horizontal downwardly toward the second rebound inside surface 72
substantially about 90 degrees, the second rebound surface 72 being
oriented at substantially about 45 degrees inclination, shown as
line "L2", for directing the ball received from the first surface
66 substantially about 90 degrees outwardly toward the player.
Angles "A", "B", "C" and "D", therefore, will each be substantially
about 45 degrees. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary
skill that a two-rebound backstop 56 may also be obtained from the
configurations shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the choice being left to
manufacturing ease and eye appeal. In particular, in FIG. 12B, "R"
can be any convenient dimension.
[0043] It is to be recognized that, while a specific net for sport
practice has been shown as the preferred embodiment of the
invention, other configurations could be utilized, in addition to
configurations already mentioned, without departing from the
principles of the invention. In particular, it will be readily
appreciated, other components and other means of attaching the
components may be employed for the frame 26, the stand member 36,
the hangers 48 and the backstop 56, as is commonly known in the
art.
[0044] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the
foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description
and not of limitation, and there is no intention of the use of such
terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features
shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that
the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims which follow.
* * * * *