Flying disc entrapment assembly

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to flying disc entrapment assemblies and, more particularly, to entrapment assemblies which employ chains for absorbing the kinetic energy of a flying disc so that the disc comes to rest in a receptacle disposed below the chains.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a flying disc entrapment assembly in accordance with the present invention, and showing a disc being caught by the assembly;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1 enlarged to show the hooks which attached the chains to the support bracket mounted on top of the post.

#Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a post 10 having a longitudinal axis x--x and designated as hole number 9 is mounted in an upright position in the ground by any suitable means such as in a concrete base (not shown). A support bracket 14 in the form of a cap 16, inner annular band (or ring) 18, intermediate band 20, an outer band 22 and a plurality radial support rods 24 and 26 is mounted to the top of the post by welding or by other suitable means. An upwardly opening basket 12 is secured to the post below the support bracket 14 via collar 32. A plurality of outside chains 28 (at least eight and preferably twelve in number) are mounted with the upper ends thereof attached at spaced annular positions (i.e., 30.degree. apart) via hooks 25 to the radial support rods 24 of the bracket 14. The lower ends of the outside chains 28 are attached (e.g. by welding or otherwise) to a first loose ring 34, which surrounds the post 10 within the confines of the basket 12. The length of the outside chains allows the ring 34 to assume a position slightly above (e.g. 1/2") the bottom 12a of the basket 12.

#A plurality of inside chains 32 (at least eight and preferebly twelve in number) are mounted with the upper ends thereof attached at spaced annular positions (i.e., 30.degree. apart and offset 15.degree. with respect to the outside chains) via hooks 27 to the radial support rods 26 of the support bracket 14. The lower ends of the inside chains 30 are attached to a second loose ring 36 which also surrounds the post 10 within the confines of the basket 12. The length of the inside chains allows the ring 36 to assume a position preferably slightly above the ring 34 (e.g. 1" above the bottom of the basket 12) although the vertical positioning of the rings 34, 36 may be reversed or equal.

#In the preferred embodiment of the disc entrapment assembly, the basket 12 has an outer diameter of about twenty-four inches and a depth of about four inches to six inches. The outer diameter of the support bracket 14 (or diameter of the circle defined by the attachment points of the upper ends of the outside chains to the support bracket 14) is between sixteen to twenty-four inches and preferably between eighteen and twenty-two inches or approximately twenty inches. The distance between the support bracket 14 and the top of the basket 12 is about twenty inches. The diameter of the circle defined by the attachment points of the upper ends of the inside chains to the support bracket 14 (e.g. hooks 27) is within the range of six to ten inches and preferably about eight inches.