US 6,248,030 B1Granted

Tennis net regulating apparatus

OwnerGordon N. Pierceinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus for adjusting a tennis net of the kind that is supported by a cable or the like stretched between two supporting points, the apparatus comprising a tightening mechanism for adjusting the tension on the cable, and a tension indicator for sensing and giving an indication of the tension on the cable.

Claims3

Dependent claims

In combination, an active tennis net post and calibrated tensioning apparatus for selectively setting characteristics of a tennis net for use in “No Let” tournament and recreational play, said apparatus comprising:

a) said active net post having a central axis and comprising a hollow rectangular cross section, a plurality of walls, one wall of which includes an inner wall and an outer wall, said outer wall having longitudinal slot means associated with said slide guides for permitting mounting of a hook slide in slideable engagement with the outer wall wherein the cable and surrounding spring are off set from the axis of the drive screw;
b) a calibrated tightening apparatus for selectively setting characteristics of a tennis net for use in “No Let” tournament and recreational play having an inner member and an external member;
c) said inner member comprising;
i) an upper threaded guide and a bottom support thrust bearing positioned along the central axis of the net post;
and
ii) an elongated feed screw rotatably supported between said guide and thrust bearing;
for threadably engaging an off-set hook slide;
d) said external member comprising;
i) means for selectively calibrating said cable comprising an offset hook slide mounted on said feed screw comprising a hook for engaging one end of said net cable surrounding a helical spring mounted between an upper guide member and lower guide member and a pull nut positioned on said feed screw;
ii) means for capturing said pull nut causing said nut to travel between a first non-compressed position to a selected compressed position between said upper thread guide and said bottom support thrust bearing in a reciprocal direction along said feed screw said for adjusting the tension on and calibrating said cable, and
(iii) an external calibrated tension indicator for sensing and giving an indication of calibration selectively and setting characteristics of said net and cable and to provide predictability and repeatability of interaction between a served ball and the net, particularly in view of the new proposed “no let” rule.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a) said active net post having a central axis and comprising a hollow rectangular cross section, a plurality of walls, one wall of which includes an inner wall and an outer wall, said outer wall having longitudinal slot means associated with said slide guides for permitting mounting of a hook slide in slideable engagement with the outer wall wherein the cable and surrounding spring are off set from the axis of the drive screw;
b) a calibrated tightening apparatus for selectively setting characteristics of a tennis net for use in “No Let” tournament and recreational play having an inner member and an external member;
c) said inner member comprising;
i) an upper threaded guide and a bottom support thrust bearing positioned along the central axis of the net post;
and
ii) an elongated feed screw rotatably supported between said guide and thrust bearing;
for threadably engaging an off-set hook slide;
d) said external member comprising;
i) means for selectively calibrating said cable comprising an offset hook slide mounted on said feed screw comprising a hook for engaging one end of said net cable surrounding a helical spring mounted between an upper guide member and lower guide member and a pull nut positioned on said feed screw;
ii) means for capturing said pull nut causing said nut to travel between a first non-compressed position to a selected compressed position between said upper thread guide and said bottom support thrust bearing in a reciprocal direction along said feed screw said for adjusting the tension on and calibrating said cable, and
(iii) an external calibrated tension indicator for sensing and giving an indication of calibration selectively and setting characteristics of said net and cable and to provide predictability and repeatability of interaction between a served ball and the net, particularly in view of the new proposed “no let” rule.

8 more elements