# US 11,027,181 B2 · Net structure with a slide hinge apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,181 B2 - Document ID: US11027181B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/956,353 - Filed: 2018-04-18 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-01 - Assignees: Triad Sports Group, LLC - Applicants: Triad Sports Group, LLC - Inventors: David Nelson; John Lucas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027181B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/00: Training appliances or apparatus for special sports (training of parachutists B64D23/00) - A63B 61/00: Tennis nets or accessories for tennis or like games {, e.g. volley-ball (devices for holding or carrying balls A63B47/00; for table tennis A63B67/04)} - A63B 63/00: Targets or goals for ball games (golf cups A63B57/40) - A63B 71/022: {Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls} - A63B 2071/026: {stabilised by weight} - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2209/02: with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B 2225/055: used for fixing - A63B 2243/0025: Football - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A ball net structure arranged to be portable, collapsible, and able to be configured into different arrangements for different nets and/or different sports-related activities. The ball net structure comprising a base structure including at least one support portion, at least one base extension, and at least one base extension hinge, wherein the at least one support portion and the at least one base extension are coupled to the at least one base extension hinge. At least one rod is removably coupled to the base structure and received by a net, wherein the net is adapted to exert a force on the at least one rod causing the at least one rod to exert a force onto said base structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A net apparatus, comprising: a support portion having a first end and a second end; first and second base extensions; a first base extension hinge coupled to the first end of the support portion, wherein the first base extension is received by the first base extension hinge and is adapted to pivot about a first pivot of the first base extension hinge, the first base extension hinge comprising at least one locking mechanism, a pivot pin, and a channel, wherein the pivot pin translates within the channel from a first position to a second position to a locked state when locked, wherein the first base extension is configured to engage a first locking mechanism such that the first base extension is displaced from the first pivot if engaged with the locking mechanism; a second base extension hinge coupled to the second end of the support portion, wherein the second base extension is received by the second base extension hinge and is adapted to pivot about a second pivot of the second base extension hinge; a first flexible rod removably coupled to the first base extension hinge; a second flexible rod removably coupled to the second base extension hinge; and a net, received by at least the first and second flexible rods and by at least the support portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The net apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first base extension can pivot within the first base extension hinge between an opened end and a closed end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The net apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first base extension is configured to engage the first locking mechanism at the opened end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The net apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first locking mechanism is within a channel of the first base extension hinge, such that the first base extension is slidably received within the channel in order to engage the first locking mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The net apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first base extension is configured to engage a second locking mechanism of the first base extension hinge at the closed end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The net apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to maintain the position of the first base extension at the closed end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The net apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a third flexible rod removably coupled to the first base extension; and a fourth flexible rod removably coupled to the second base extension. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The net apparatus of claim 7, wherein the net is received by part of the third and fourth flexible rods, the net configured to bend the third and fourth flexible rods from a linear state to a flexed state. ### Claim 9 A net apparatus, comprising: a support portion having a length in a first plane; first and second base extensions; a first base extension hinge coupled to a first end of the support portion, wherein a first end of the first base extension is received by the first base extension hinge such that the first base extension is adapted to pivot about a first pivot between an opened end and a closed end of the first base extension hinge, the first base extension hinge comprising at least one locking mechanism, a pivot pin, and a channel, wherein the pivot pin translates within the channel from a first position to a second position to engage the first locking mechanism within the first base extension hinge such that the first end is dislocated from the first pivot if engaged with the locking mechanism; the second base extension configured to be pivotally coupled to a second end of the support portion; a first means for supporting a first flexible rod proximate the first base extension hinge; a second means for supporting a second flexible rod proximate the second base extension hinge; and a net, received by at least the first and second flexible rods, wherein the first flexible rod and the second flexible rod are in a second plane substantially normal to the first plane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The net apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first base extension is configured to engage a second locking mechanism of the first base extension hinge at the closed end, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to maintain the position of the first base extension at the closed end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The net apparatus of claim 9, the first base extension hinge comprising: a groove comprising the opened end and the closed end; and a channel comprising the first locking mechanism, wherein the channel is substantially aligned with the opened end of pivot motion such that the first base extension is configured to engage the first locking mechanism within the channel to lock the first base extension within the first base extension hinge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The net apparatus of claim 9, the first base extension hinge comprising a second locking mechanism between the opened end and closed end of pivot motion, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to maintain the position of the first base extension proximate the support portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The net apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first end of the first base extension disengages the first locking mechanism by slidably retracting the first end of the first base extension from within the first base extension hinge such that the first end of the first base extension is re-located at the first pivot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The net apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first base extension hinge comprises at least one trench within a channel, wherein the first locking mechanism is within the channel, and the first end of the first base extension receives a pin, wherein part of the pin is received by the at least one trench such that the first end of the first base extension can slidably engage the first locking mechanism within the channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The net apparatus of claim 14, wherein the trench comprises a first position substantially aligned with the first pivot of the first base extension hinge, and a trench end opposite the first position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The net apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first base extension is adapted to be pivoted when the pin is at the first position of the trench. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The net apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first base extension is adapted to be pivoted when the pin is at the first position of the trench. ### Claim 18 A frame apparatus, comprising: a base structure, comprising: a support portion having a length in a first plane; a first hinge coupled to the support portion at a first end of the support portion, the first hinge comprising at least one locking mechanism, a pivot pin, and a channel; a first base extension received by the first hinge, such that the first base extension pivots about a first pivot of the first hinge, in which the first base extension pivots substantially within the first plane, wherein the first base extension receives the pivot pin such that the pivot pin translates within the channel from a first position to a second position to engage a first locking mechanism within the first hinge, in which the first base extension is displaced from the first pivot if engaged with the locking mechanism; a second hinge coupled to the support portion at a second end of the support portion; a second base extension received by the second hinge, such that the second base extension pivots about a second pivot of the second hinge; and first means for supporting a first rod proximate the first end of the support portion, in which the first supporting means supports the first rod at a first fixed angle; and second means for supporting a second rod proximate the second end of the support portion, in which the second supporting means supports the second rod at a second fixed angle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The frame apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first base extension is linearly displaced from the first pivot substantially within the first plane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The frame apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least part of the base structure, the first rod, and the second rod are configured to receive a net. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The frame apparatus of claim 20, wherein the net bends the first rod and the second rod from a linear state into an arcuate state along a length of the at least a first rod and along a length of the at least a second rod, such that a net tension pulls the at least a first rod into the arcuate state and the net tension simultaneously pulls the at least a second rod into the arcuate state, in which the first rod and the second rod are in a second plane substantially normal to the first plane.