# US 2024/0198201 A1 · Snag-free eyelet anchor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0198201 A1 - Document ID: US20240198201A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/085,223 - Filed: 2022-12-20 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Inventors: William Coleman Lay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240198201A1 ## CPC - A63B 71/022: {Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls} - A63B 71/023: {Supports, e.g. poles} - A63B 2071/024: {with screws or pins in the earth} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A snag-free eyelet anchor has an elongate, low-profile arc shape that provides reduction or elimination of snagging situations with netting and other snag-prone materials used with various frameworks such as recreational equipment, and more specifically, collapsible sports enclosures, including batting cages. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An enhanced snag-resistant framework for use with a snag-prone material, the enhanced snag-resistant framework comprising: a plurality of flexible frame poles, each of the flexible frame poles is connectable to another one of the flexible frame poles, connected flexible frame poles being bendable to form an archway, a plurality of the flexible frame poles further comprising a coupler sleeve with a receiving recess, at least one of the flexible frame poles has an end that is removably insertable into the receiving recess to connect one flexible frame pole to another flexible frame pole, a plurality of the coupler sleeves further comprising an elongate, arc-shaped eyelet anchor connected to the coupler sleeve, and wherein the snag-resistant framework has an interior and comprises at least two archways aligned with and spaced from each other, the archways being connected to each other by an anchoring member, each archway having an eyelet anchor oriented inward from the snag-resistant framework, the anchoring member being secured to the eyelet anchor of one archway and being secured to the eyelet anchor of another archway, the anchoring member providing taut tension between the connected archways such that the archways and the anchoring member supports the snag-prone material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 1, wherein the snag-prone material is netting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 1, wherein each flexible frame pole has a longitudinal axis and the eyelet anchor is oriented to align with the longitudinal axis, thereby reinforcing the coupler sleeve against bending. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 1, wherein the eyelet anchor as attached to the coupler sleeve defines an opening with a height that allows the guide rope to pass through the opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 1, wherein the eyelet anchor is welded to the coupler sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 1, wherein the anchoring member comprises a guide rope. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 2, wherein the netting is draped over the snag-resistant framework. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The enhanced snag-resistant framework of claim 7, wherein the netting and the snag-resistant framework form a batting cage. ### Claim 9 An enhanced snag-resistant frame pole, the frame pole comprising: a pole having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end, a coupler sleeve secured to the first end of the pole to align with the longitudinal axis, the coupler sleeve having a receiving recess, and an eyelet anchor being elongate and having an arc shape, the eyelet anchor being connected to the coupler sleeve and being oriented to align with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 9, wherein the pole is flexible and bendable into an arc. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 9, wherein the receiving recess receives in removably insertable engagement the second end of a second pole, thereby removably connecting the pole with a second pole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 11, wherein the pole and the second pole are each flexible and bendable together into an arc. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 12, wherein the eyelet anchor is oriented to reinforce the coupler sleeve against bending. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 9, wherein the eyelet anchor is welded to the coupler sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 9, wherein the eyelet anchor as connected to the coupler sleeve defines an opening with a height that allows an anchoring member to pass through the opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The enhanced snag-resistant frame pole of claim 15, wherein the anchoring member comprises a guide rope. ### Claim 17 A snag-free eyelet anchor for attachment to a coupler sleeve having a longitudinal axis, the snag-free eyelet anchor comprising: an elongate, arc-shaped body attached to the coupler sleeve such that the elongate, arc-shaped body aligns longitudinally with the longitudinal axis, the elongate, arc-shaped body as attached to the coupler sleeve defines an opening between the elongate, arc-shaped body and the coupler sleeve, the opening having a height being defined as the greatest distance between the elongate, arc-shaped body and the coupler sleeve that is oriented transverse to longitudinal axis of the coupler sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The snag-free eyelet anchor of claim 17, wherein the height of the opening allows an anchoring member to pass through the opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The snag-free eyelet anchor of claim 18, wherein the anchoring member comprises a guide rope. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The snag-free eyelet anchor of claim 17, wherein the eyelet anchor is welded to the coupler sleeve.