Ball Rebound Device

Abstract

A missile rebound recreational device includes a rectangular frame adjustably supported in an inclined position and supporting a registering rebound net by peripherally spaced elastic bands interconnecting the frame legs and rebound net. A support arm depends from the frame top leg behind the rebound web and is adjustable in length, along the frame leg and angularly about the frame leg axis and an impact actuated bell is mounted on the arm free end and includes an actuating member facing the rebound web. A thin flexible web having a target representation is superimposed on the rebound web front face.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to improvements in recreational devices and it relates particularly to an improved device for returning a missile, such as a ball, which is thrown at the device, an which provides an audible signal when the missile properly strikes the rebound device in a predetermined area.

In the exercise of throwing missiles such as baseballs and footballs it is often desirable to practice such exercise alone. It is accordingly necessary, or at least highly convenient, that the thrown ball be returned to the thrower so that he is not required to retrieve the ball each time he throws it. A device which has been conventionally employed for returning a thrown ball includes a rebound net elastically supported along its edges by an inclined frame mount. While such device satisfactorily returns the properly thrown ball it possesses numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. It does not present a suitable target for the ball, it does not suitably provide an indication of a properly thrown ball and otherwise leaves much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved recreational device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved recreational device of the ball return type.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device which returns a ball thrown at the device and provides an audible signal of the ball properly striking the device within a predetermined area.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ball return target.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above nature characterized by its ruggedness, reliability, versatility and adaptability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a recreational device comprising a frame member, means for supporting said frame member in an inclined position, a flexible rebound web registering with said frame member and resiliently connected thereto, an impact actuated sounding device including an actuating member, and means supporting said sounding device behind said rebound web with said actuating member confronting said rebound web and adjustable relative to said rebound web.

Advantageously the frame member is of rectangular configuration, as is the rebound web which is formed of flexible yarn net of smaller dimensions than the frame and is attached to the frame by elastic members extending between the frame legs and the edges of the rebound net. The sounding device support includes an elongated arm mounted on the frame upper leg and adjustable along the leg and angularly about the leg, the length of the arm being adjustable and supporting the sounding device at its free end. A web containing a representation of a target is replaceably superimposed on the rebound web.

The improved recreational ball return device is rugged and reliable, and provides an indication of the striking of the target in a predetermined area and manner and these parameters are easily adjustable to contribute to high versatility and adaptability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a ball return device embodying the present invention and illustrated with the target member attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrated with the target member removed; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged medial vertical sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved ball return device which comprises a support assembly 11, a rebound web 12, a target web 13 and an adjustable sounding assembly 14. The support assembly 11 includes an inclined rectangular frame 16 whose major or longitudinal axis advantages extends vertically. The frame 16 includes top and bottom horizontal legs 17 and 18 respectively and parallel side legs 13, frame 16 preferably being formed of telescopically interfitting tubular sections to facilitate the collapse and assembly thereof.

In order to support the frame 16 in an inclined position at an adjustable angle there is provided a pair of elongated support legs 20 pivotally connected at their upper end for swinging about a transverse axis, to the frame side legs 19 proximate the upper ends thereof. A pair of bracket arms 21 are swingably pivoted to corresponding points on frame legs 19 intermediate the tops and bottoms thereof, each bracket arm 21 being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 22. A bolt engages a selected aperture 20 in each bracket arm 21 and a registering aperture in leg 20 and is engaged by a wing nut 24 to releasably lock legs 20 at a predetermined angle to the frame 16 and thereby permitted the angular adjustment of frame 16.

The rebound web 12 is a highly flexible, pliable, large mesh web of a rectangular configuration similar to but smaller than that of frame 16 and having openings smaller than the size of the ball being used, the web 12 being formed of yarns or monofilaments of natural or synthetic fibers. The web 12 centrally registers with frame 16 and is resiliently connected thereto by a plurality of elastic bands or loops 23 of natural or synthetic rubber, it being noted that other elastic members, for example high stretch helical springs may be employed. The elastic bands 23 are longitudinally spaced along and engage respective frame legs 17, 18 and 19 and have their inner edges attached to the confronting edges of web 12 by S-shaped hooks 26 which engage the peripheral border of web 12 and the frame legs to resiliently draw the web borders toward the frame legs and hold the rebound web 12 in a taut condition with the elastic bands 23 being stretched and under some tension.

The sounding assembly 14 comprises a support arm 27 including a downwardly rearwardly inclined upper section 28 and a lower section 29 depending from the bottom of and inclined to the upper section 28. The upper end of arm section 28 engages the medial upper rear face of upper frame leg 17 and is releasably adjustably fixed thereto by a clamp member 30 including a cylindrical section 32 encircling the portion of frame leg 17 opposite the face engaged by arm section 28 and terminating in outwardly directed arms 33 abutting the front face of arm section 28 and releasably secured thereto by nuts and bolts 34.

Lower arm section 29 is provided along its side edges with rearwardly directed longitudinally extending flanges 36 which delineate a longitudinal channel slideably engaging an elongated arm 37 registering with the channel and projecting below the lower end of arm section 29. A longitudinal slot 38 is formed in arm 37 and is slideably engaged by a bolt 39 projecting rearwardly from arm section 29 and engaged by a wing nut 40 to permit the releasable locking of arm 37 to arm section 29 at a predetermined position along the length thereof.

Mounted on the bottom front face of arm 37 is a sounding device 41 of conventional construction which includes a base 42 secured to arm 37 and a bell 43 supported by base 42. Located within and associated with bell 43 in the known manner is a clapper member which is actuated by the rapid or sharp depression of a plunger 44 projecting forwardly of and coupled to the bell clapper. A circular strike plate 46 is mounted on the front free end of plunger 44 and confronts the rear face of rebound web 12.

The target web 13 is formed of a highly flexible, pliable, soft material capable of withstanding the impact of a ball, for example a thin woven, non-woven or knitted fabric or other web, and although illustrated as advantageously being of rectangular configuration of greater dimensions than rebound web 12 it may be of other configuration and size. Target web 13 is loosely superimposed on the front face of rebound web 12 and is supported thereon by a plurality of split rings 47 engaging spaced apertures 48 located in the peripheral border of target web 13 and corresponding elastic bands 23. Imprinted on or otherwise applied to the front face of target web 13 is a target representation 49 which may be a representation of a football player, as illustrated, in a position and attitude for receiving a forward pass with the receiving position or target area 50 advantageously centrally located, or any other desirable target, for example a baseball catcher, or the like. A plurality of target webs 13 with different representations 49 may be provided and may be selectively attached to rebound web 12.

In employing the improved ball return device 10 the inclination of the frame 16 and rebound web 12 is adjusted to the desired return trajectory by angularly adjusting legs 20 by way of bracket arms 21, as described above. The sounding assembly 14 is then adjusted to locate the sounding device 41 in the desired position, advantageously in alignment with the target area 50 along the direction of the ball trajectory as it strikes the target and at a distance from the rear face of target web 13 depending on the desired minimum force of ball impact with the target to provide an audible signal. By loosening wing nut 40 and longitudinally sliding arm 37 along arm section 29 the longitudinal or vertical position of sounding device 41 along rebound web 12 may be adjusted and may be fixed by tightening wing nut 40. To adjust the distance between sounding device 41 and rebound web 12 arm 27 is swung about frame leg 17, such adjustment being facilitated by the loosening and tightening of clamp 30 by nuts and bolts 34. The transverse adjustment may similarly be effected by loosening clamp 30 and sliding arm 27 along frame leg 17 and then tightening clamp 30.

When a ball is thrown against the target web 13 it draws webs 12 and 13 rearwardly to stretch and load the rubber bands 23 which thereafter contract and catapult or fling the ball back in the direction of the thrower. If the ball strikes the target area with sufficient force and in the proper direction it deflects the rebound web 12 sufficiently in the direction strike plate 46 with sufficient force to move the strike plate rearwardly at a rate sufficient to actuate the clapper to strike the bell 43 and indicate a proper target strike. An excessive deviation in the direction or area of impact of the ball on the web or failure to strike with adequate force will result in a failure to actuate the sounding device. These parameter limits may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the sounding device 41 as earlier described.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A recreational device comprising a frame member, means for supporting said frame member in an inclined position, a flexible rebound web registering with said frame member and resiliently connected thereto, an impact actuated sounding device including an actuating member, and means supporting said sounding device behind said rebound web with said actuating member confronting said rebound web and adjustable relative to said rebound web, the flexibility of said rebound web and the distance between said rebound web and said actuating member being such that, in a plurality of adjusted positions of said actuating member, a projectile will deform said rebound web rearwardly to impact against said actuating member when said projectile strikes the front of said rebound web in the vicinity of said actuating member.

2. The recreational device of claim 1 wherein said sounding device is adjustable along and toward and away from said rebound web.

3. The recreational device of claim 1 wherein said frame is of rectangular configuration with top, bottom and side legs and, said sounding device supporting means comprises an arm mounted on one of said frame legs and swingably adjustable about the longitudinal axis of said leg and linearly adjustable along said leg, and said sounding device is longitudinally adjustably supported by said arm.

4. The recreational device of claim 3 including a flexible web having a target representation thereon and superimposed on said rebound web.

5. The recreational device of claim 1 wherein said frame member is of rectangular configuration with top, bottom and side legs and said rebound web comprises a net of rectangular shape and of lesser dimensions than said frame and comprising a plurality of elastic members spaced along the periphery of said rebound web and connected between said frame legs and corresponding edges of said rebound web.

6. The recreational device of claim 5 wherein said sounding device supporting means comprises a first arm mounted on and depending from said frame top leg and swingably adjustable about the longitudinal axis of said top leg, and a second arm depending from and adjustable along the length of said first arm, said sounding device being mounted at the lower end of said second arm.

7. The recreational device of claim 6 including a rectangular flexible target web superimposed on said rebound web and secured thereto.