GB2351673A - Portable sports net or barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable device assisting the practice of sports on temporary sites comprises two telescoping poles 12, each with a tapered end for insertion into the ground, together with a flexible member 14 suspendable between the poles, this member typically being a mesh net for the playing of tennis, badminton or volleyball, or a web or sheet having a graphic depiction of a goal for football. The tapered ends of the poles can be constituted by removable and interchangeable end units for different types of ground, Figs 5 and 6 (not shown).

Description

2351673 PORTABLESPORTSAPPARATUS This invention relates to sports

apparatus, in particular to portable sports apparatus. In one aspect, the invention relates to a portable net, or other barrier or 5 partition.

There are many situations in which a portable sports net would be ideal to enable sports games to be played, or practised, on temporary grounds, for example, at the beach or in the garden, or at grounds where no perinanent nets are available. Such a net may, for example, be used as a goal for games such as football, or as a dividing net for games such as tennis, badminton and volleyball.

However, in order for the net to be practical it has to be supported robustly so that it will not fall over when contacted by, for example, a ball. The supports tend therefore to be fairly bulky, which reduces the portability of the apparatus.

It would be desirable to provide a sports net which is portable, easy to erect, and yet which can be packed into a relatively small size for storage and transportation when not in use.

In one aspect, the invention provides apparatus comprising first and second telescopically extendible poles, a tapered end for each pole to enable the pole to be inserted into a support (for example, the ground), and a member attached or attachable to the poles to be suspended between the poles.

17he member is preferably a web or sheet, to defme a partition or barrier.

Preferably, the member is or represents a sports net. For example, the web may be an 2 open mesh net. Alternatively, the member may be in the form of flexible sheet on which a net is presented graphically.

The tapered end for the pole may be a separate end-unit which is attachable to the remainder of the pole. Alternatively, the tapered end may be integral with the remainder of the pole. If the end is provided as a separate or separable unit, then this can increase the versatility of the design by allowing different tapered end-units to be fitted, depending on the ground into which the tapered end of the pole is to be inserted.

For example, for soil or grass, the tapered end might include a closed tip, to allow the end to be driven forcibly into the ground.

For sand, the tapered end might include an open, fi-usto-conical type tip, which would allow sand to enter the tapered end, and assist in fixing the tapered end in the sand.

Ile web or sheet may be attached or attachable to the poles using any suitable fixing means. In the preferred embodiment, hooks are used to engage in eyes.

The poles may be made of any suitable material, for example, plastics or metal. In 20 the preferred embodiment, the poles are of aluminium.

An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portable sports net; Fig. 2 is a side view of the net of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the details of a pole; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the pole in its collapsed state; 3 Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a pole end unit for grass; and Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a pole end unit for sand.

Referring to the drawings, a collapsible, portable sports net 10 consists generally 5 of left and right support poles 12, and a web 14 attached to the poles to be suspended therebetween.

Each pole 12 is telescopically collapsible, and comprises telescoping segments 16 which, when collapsed, nest one within another. In this embodiment, each pole 12 comprises three segments 16. When extended, the segments 16 offer resistance to collapsing. This may be achieved either by a tight friction fit, or by a spring bias, or by a mechanical clamping or locking device which has to be manually released before the segments can be collapsed. The purpose of this feature is to avoid accidental collapsing of the pole 12 when the sports net is in use. In the present embodiment, adjacent segments are connected by a spring biased projection 17 on one segment which engages in a hole in the other segment. Die connection can be released by depressing the projection by a finger or thumb. The connection can be used to lock the segments relative to each other in an extended condition, and/or in a collapsed condition.

Each pole includes a pull handle 18 attached to the uppermost segment 16 which can be pulled to extend the pole to its full length.

In this embodiment, the segments 16 are of aluminium.

The telescoping poles 12 permit the apparatus 10 to be collapsed quickly and easily to a relatively small size when not in use, for ease of transportation and storage.

4 Each pole 12 has a tapered end 20 for insertion into, for example, the ground. The tapered end may either be integral with the remainder of the pole, or it may be a removable end unit (described in more detail below).

In the present embodiment, the web 14 represents a net. The web 14 may either comprise an actual net, for example, formed by filaments, or it may comprise a sheet on which a net is depicted graphically. If a sheet is used, then the sheet may also carry other graphics, such as a team logo, a manufacturer's or sponsor's logo, or a representation of goal keeper player. The web is preferably of plastics material.

When the net is intended to be used as a goal net, it is preferred that, rather than using a fixed cross-bar member, the cross-bar is depicted (at 22) either graphically on the web, or by a thicker strand of netting. This can avoid the need for a rigid cross-bar member which has to be assembled to, and disassembled from, the upright poles 12.

Also, when the net is intended to be used as a goal, the web 14 may be shaped to form a recess, or concave profile, as can be seen in Fig. 2. The web 14 may either be fixed to the ground using, for example, pegs (not shown), or the web may be pulled taught along its bottom edge using, for example, a length of elastic or a draw string.

In the present embodiment, the web 14 has tags, loops or hooks (not shown) which are attached to respective hooks or eyes on the pole segments. The web 14 is secured in such a manner that it does not hinder substantially the telescoping of the segments 16. For example, the attachment point might be at the upper end of a segment 16.

When not in use, the net 10 can be packed into a small size by collapsing the poles 12, and then rolling the poles towards each other, in order to roll up the web 14. In this condition, the net can be carried easily by hand, and also put into almost any normal motor vehicle.

To erect the net 10, the web 14 is unrolled, and the poles 12 are then extended to their full lengths. The tapered ends 20 of the poles can then be driven into the ground (as illustrated by arrow 30 in Fig. 4) at appropriate positions, to provide a generally free standing sports net.

As mentioned previously, if desired, the tapered ends 20 of the poles may be in the form of removable end units. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate two different form of end units 24 intended for use depending on the type of ground into which the end 20 is to be inserted.

Fig. 5 illustrates a first type of end unit 24a intended for grass, or soil. The end unit 24a is closed (so that soil does not enter the unit 24a), and tapers towards a point 26.

Fig. 6 illustrates a second type of end unit 24b intended for sand (for example, for use on a beach). The end unit 24b has a flusto-conical shape, and is open at its narrow end 28. In use, when the end-unit 24b is driven into the sand, sand can enter through the open end, to stabilise the pole in the sand.

It will be appreciated that the above end-configurations are not limited only to removable end-units, but may also be used for fixed end configurations.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description is merely illustrative, and that that many modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. Although features of importance are identified in the appended claims, the Applicant claims 6 protection for any novel feature or idea described herein and/or illustrated in the drawings, whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (7)

7 CLAIMS

1. Portable sports apparatus comprising first and second telescopically extendible poles, a tapered end for each pole to enable the pole to be inserted into a support, and a member attached or attachable to the poles to be suspended between the poles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tapered end of each pole is for insertion into the ground.

I Apparatus according to claim I or 2, wherein the member is in the form of a web or sheet.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the member is, or represents, a sports net.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the member is flexible.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the member can be rolled up.

7. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the tapered end for each pole is in the form of an end unit releasably attachable to the pole.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising for each pole, a first end of a first type, and a second end of a second type different from the first type.

8 9. A support pole for use in the apparatus of any preceding claim, the support pole being telescopically extendible, and comprising a tapered end to enable the pole to be inserted into a support.

10.A support pole according to claim 9, wherein the tapered end is detachable from the remainder of the support pole.

11. A method of erecting a portable sports apparatus as defined in any of claims I to 8, the method comprising the following steps in any order:

unrolling the member; extending the poles from a collapsed condition to an extended condition; and inserting the poles at respective positions into the ground.

12.A method of collapsing a portable sports apparatus as defined in any of claims I to 8, the method of comprising the following steps in any order:

withdrawing each pole from the ground; collapsing each pole from an extended condition to a telescoped condition; and rolling up the member into a rolled or wrapped configuration.

13. A method or apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

9 Amendments -to the clairns have been riled w follows Portable sports apparatus comprising first and second telescopicallY extendible poles, a tapered end for each pole to enable the pole to be inserted into the ground, and a member attached or attachable to the poles to be suspended between the poles, wherein the tapered end for each pole is in the form of an end unit releasably attachable to the pole, and wherein the apparatus comprises a first end of a first type and a second end of a second type different from the first type.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the member is in the form of a web or sheet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the member is, or represents, a sports net.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the member is flexible.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the member can be rolled up.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first end unit includes a closed tip, and said second end unit includes an open frustoconical tip.