Net structure with a slide hinge apparatus
AssigneeTRIAD SPORTS, INC. dba BOWNET
InventorsDavid Nelson, John Lucas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims17
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 pivotally coupled to the first base extension hinge and configured to engage a locking mechanism within the first base extension hinge;
- a second base extension hinge coupled to the second end of the support portion, wherein the second base extension is pivotally coupled to the second base extension hinge and configured to engage a locking mechanism within the second base extension hinge;
- a first flexible rod having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is removably coupled to the first base extension hinge;
- a second flexible rod having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is 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, the net configured to bend the first and second flexible rods from a linear state to a flexed state, such that the first and second flexible rods are biased away from each other by a net tension applied by the net.
A net apparatus, comprising:
- a support portion comprising at least a first support portion and at least a second support portion;
- a base hinge, wherein the first support portion is pivotally coupled to the base hinge at a first pivot, and the second support potion is pivotally coupled to the base hinge at a second pivot;
- first and second base extensions;
- a first base extension hinge coupled to the first support portion, wherein the first base extension is received by the first base extension and configured to be locked within the first base extension hinge;
- a second base extension hinge coupled to the second support portion, wherein the second base extension is received by the second base extension and configured to be locked within the second base extension hinge;
- a plurality of flexible rods each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower ends of the rods are removably coupled to the first and second base extension hinges and the first and second base extensions;
- and
- a net removably coupled to at least the upper ends of each of the plurality of rods, the support portion, and the first and second base extensions, wherein the net comprises a plurality of sleeves configured to be received by the plurality of rods, the support portion, and the first and second base extensions, wherein the net bends each of the plurality of rods from a relaxed state into an arcuate state such that the plurality of rods are biased away from other rods to hold the net upright.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.