Overhead-supported net system

A net system for pivotally displacing a net between a playing position in a vertical plane bifurcating a playing area and a substantially horizontal elevated storage position freeing the playing area for other uses, the net system comprising:

• a pair of parallel poles located on opposite sides of the playing area, a net coupled to the pair of poles to lie in a plane including the pair of poles, coupling members for coupling pivot members to ceiling structure above the playing area, and supports having a proximal end fixed to an upper end of each of the pair of poles and a distal end extending on a common side of the plane, the distal end of the supports being coupled to the pivot members to allow the poles and net to be pivoted about an axis lying parallel to but outside said plane, the position of the pivot members ensuring a downward force on the playing surface by lower ends of the poles when the poles are in the vertical playing position.

A net system for pivotally displacing a net between a playing position in a vertical plane bifurcating a playing area and a substantially horizontal elevated storage position freeing the playing area for other uses, the net system comprising:

• a pair of parallel poles located on opposite sides of the playing area, a net coupled to the pair of poles to lie in a plane including the pair of poles, coupling members for coupling pivot members to ceiling structure above the playing area, supports having a proximal end fixed to an upper end of each of the pair of poles and a distal end extending on a common side of the plane, the distal end of the supports being coupled to the pivot members to allow the poles and net to be pivoted about an axis lying parallel to but outside said plane, the position of the pivot members ensuring a downward force on the playing surface by lower ends of the poles when the poles are in the vertical playing position, and a cushion member movably mounted to the bottom of each of the poles to adjust the vertical alignment of the poles to achieve the optimal playing position.

A method for deploying a net to a playing position in a vertical plane bifurcating a playing area, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a pair of parallel poles vertically positionable on opposite sides of the playing area having a net coupled to the pair of poles to lie in a plane including the pair of poles with supports fixed to an upper end of each of the pair of poles including pivot members positioned on one side of the plane,
• coupling the pivot members at selected points of a ceiling structure covering the playing area to allow the poles and net to be pivotally displaced from a storage position above a playing surface on one side of the playing area to a vertical playing position in a vertical plane bifurcating the playing area, and
• adjusting the position of members on the lower end of each of the pair of poles to ensuring a downward force on the playing surface by the lower ends of the poles when the poles are in the vertical playing position.