EP0871521A1 - Ameliorations relatives au jeu de tennis - Google Patents

Ameliorations relatives au jeu de tennis

Info

Publication number
EP0871521A1
EP0871521A1 EP96939754A EP96939754A EP0871521A1 EP 0871521 A1 EP0871521 A1 EP 0871521A1 EP 96939754 A EP96939754 A EP 96939754A EP 96939754 A EP96939754 A EP 96939754A EP 0871521 A1 EP0871521 A1 EP 0871521A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
retaining means
net
playing
channel
tennis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96939754A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0871521A4 (fr
Inventor
Patrick Hart Cash
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Belstar Services BV
Original Assignee
Belstar Services BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Belstar Services BV filed Critical Belstar Services BV
Publication of EP0871521A1 publication Critical patent/EP0871521A1/fr
Publication of EP0871521A4 publication Critical patent/EP0871521A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B61/00—Tennis nets or accessories for tennis or like games, e.g. volley-ball
    • A63B61/003—Nets for tennis or like games or accessories therefor
    • A63B61/006—Accessories for training purposes mounted on the net
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B47/00—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls
    • A63B47/02—Devices for handling or treating balls, e.g. for holding or carrying balls for picking-up or collecting
    • A63B47/025—Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the game of tennis, and in particular to the equipment used in practising and playing tennis.
  • a player may use many tennis balls and may wish to repeat a particular shot numerous times in order to refine his or her technique.
  • many of the practice shots strike the playing net which divides the tennis court.
  • a high percentage of the balls which strike the playing net are deflected onto the playing surface.
  • many tennis balls may accumulate on the tennis court where they can represent a hazard when a player is moving to play a shot. Should a player step upon a stray ball lying on the tennis court injury to the player may result.
  • the time required to collect used tennis balls from various locations on or around the tennis court can represent a significant proportion of the total practice time.
  • the amount of time wasted in collecting tennis balls after a series of shots is undesirable, particularly in situations where the player is receiving paid tuition from a tennis coach.
  • the present invention provides a tennis ball retaining means for use in conjunction with a playing net for the game of tennis, said tennis ball retaining means being adapted to be positioned below said playing net and to extend substantially along the length of the playing net so as to retain a tennis ball upon said tennis ball striking and being deflected by the playing net into the retaining means.
  • the present invention also provides an arrangement for playing or practising the game of tennis, said arrangement comprising a playing net in conjunction with a tennis ball retaining means positioned below said playing net and extending substantially along the length of said playing net so as to act to retain a tennis ball upon said ball striking and being deflected by the playing net into the retaining means.
  • the retaining means forms a channel beneath the playing net with an open face of said channel facing upwardly and extending substantially along the length of said playing net.
  • the open face of the channel extends laterally from both sides of the playing net.
  • the retaining means is formed from a flexible walled material and more particularly from a net material.
  • the net material may be of the same type as that used for the playing net.
  • at least one spreader member is provided along the length of the retaining means being adapted to maintain the lateral width of the open face of said channel.
  • At least one hanger means is provided along the length of the retaining means to support lateral upper edges of said retaining means from said playing net whereby said lateral upper edges are supported at a predetermined height relative to a lower edge of said playing net.
  • the hanger means are adjustable to enable the height of said lateral upper edges of the retaining means to be varied relative to the lower edge of said playing net.
  • a spreader means is provided associated with longitudinal ends of the retaining means to maintain a desired lateral width of the open face of said channel at or adjacent said longitudinal ends.
  • the spreader means are adapted to be raised or lowered to raise or lower the open face of said channel at or adjacent said longitudinal ends of the retaining means relative to a lower edge of said playing net.
  • the lower edge of said playing net is located below the upper lateral edges of said retaining means.
  • the channel of the retaining means includes a lower trough section with one or more sloping regions whereby tennis balls are caused to collect in one or more separate sections.
  • the playing net be tensioned between supporting posts on opposing sides of the court so as to act to absorb energy from an incident tennis ball and deflect the ball into the retaining means.
  • Figure 1 depicts a front view of a playing net used in the game of tennis with a preferred embodiment of the tennis ball retaining means located in position beneath the playing net;
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of one end of a preferred arrangement of the playing net and the tennis ball retaining means
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of the opposing end of a preferred arrangement of the playing net and tennis ball retaining means.
  • a playing net 1 as used in the game of tennis is depicted.
  • the playing net 1 lies in a vertical plane and extends across the width of the tennis court so as to define the two halves of the court.
  • the playing net 1 is suspended from vertical posts 2 positioned on each side of the court by means of guy Iines 3 with one end being adapted to be tensioned via a winding mechanism 13.
  • the lower edge 4 of the playing net 1 is conveniently connected via guy Iines 11 to a connection ring 15 located on each of the posts 2.
  • the tennis ball retaining means 5 is arranged beneath the lower edge 4 of the playing net 1.
  • the retaining means 5 takes the form of a net which extends on both sides of the playing net 1 and across the width of the net.
  • the retaining net 5 is in the form of a channel with an open upper face 14 and a lower trough section
  • the support members 8 comprise bars 8 attached to the posts 2 via U bolts 16 such that the bars 8 can be raised or lowered as desired.
  • the guy Iines 9 are connected to the ends of the bars 8 so that the bars 8 also act as a spreader member to enable the longitudinal ends of the retaining net to be spread as desired.
  • the retaining net 5 may be suspended from the playing net 1 with a spreader bar connecting the top longitudinal edges 17, 18 of the retaining net at their longitudinal ends.
  • the retaining net 5 is arranged to form a channel comprising two walls 6a and 6b which lie on opposing sides of the playing net 1.
  • the net adopts a V or U shaped cross-sectional profile which acts to accumulate tennis balls in the lower trough region or bottom 7 of the net. Thus the tennis balls are retained in the net 5 where they can be collected after a series of practice shots have been completed.
  • One or more transversely extending spreader elements 12 may be used along the length of the retaining net 5 so as to ensure the net 5 retains a V or U shaped profile and is appropriately spaced from the playing net 1.
  • the spreader elements 12 may be suspended via hanger ropes 19 or the like from the net 1.
  • the hanger ropes 19 may be adjustable to enable the height of the top edges 17, 18 of the retaining net 5 to be varied as may be desired.
  • the retaining net 5 may be shaped or configured so that tennis balls falling into the net roll to a defined position in the net such as, for example, the middle or either end of the net. This may be achieved by appropriately adjusting the relative heights of the retaining net 5 via its various supporting means such as the support bars 8 and the hanger ropes 19.
  • the balls may then be collected from this location in the net.
  • the balls may then be transferred from the net into a ball return means so as to return the tennis balls to the player. In this way it is not necessary to gather the balls from the retaining net after a series of shots.
  • the lower corners of the playing net 1 are preferably attached by means of guy lines 11 to points on the respective support posts 2. These guy Iines 11 can be tensioned so as to ensure the playing net has the desired degree of movement so as to absorb the energy of an incident tennis ball and deflect the ball into the retaining net 5. Energy absorbing means, such as damper units, may be utilised in connecting the net to the support posts so as to ensure the desired degree of energy absorption is obtained when a tennis ball is hit into the playing net 5. Further, the lower ends 20, 21 of the retaining net 5 may be connected via guy Iines 22 to the connection ring 15 on the support posts 2.
  • the present invention to provides an arrangement for practising or playing tennis wherein the hazard of stray balls on the playing surface is reduced and which also enables a reduction in the time required to collect tennis balls after a series of shots has been made.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Agencement de filet utilisé lors de parties de tennis ou d'entraînements, permettant de collecter facilement les balles de tennis afin qu'elles ne soient pas largement réparties sur le court. Ledit agencement comporte un filet de retenue (5) placé sous le filet principal (1) et présentant une forme de gouttière avec une face supérieure ouverte (14) si bien que les bords longitudinaux supérieurs (17, 18) du filet de retenue sont latéralement espacés de chaque côté du filet principal (1). Toute balle heurtant le filet (1) est ainsi dirigée vers le bas et recueillie par le filet de retenue (5).
EP96939754A 1995-11-30 1996-11-29 Ameliorations relatives au jeu de tennis Withdrawn EP0871521A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPN6913A AUPN691395A0 (en) 1995-11-30 1995-11-30 Improvements relating to the game of tennis
AUPN6913/95 1995-11-30
PCT/AU1996/000772 WO1997019731A1 (fr) 1995-11-30 1996-11-29 Ameliorations relatives au jeu de tennis

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0871521A1 true EP0871521A1 (fr) 1998-10-21
EP0871521A4 EP0871521A4 (fr) 1999-12-29

Family

ID=3791235

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96939754A Withdrawn EP0871521A4 (fr) 1995-11-30 1996-11-29 Ameliorations relatives au jeu de tennis

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0871521A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2000501004A (fr)
AU (1) AUPN691395A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997019731A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102649014A (zh) * 2012-04-10 2012-08-29 李群星 一种能使触网网球顺坡滚到一起协助球员训练的球网

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2954170A1 (fr) * 2009-12-17 2011-06-24 Paul Guidone Filet double de volley-ball
DE102013004546A1 (de) * 2013-03-18 2014-09-18 Henricus Thijssen Vorrichtung zum Einsammeln von in ein Spielnetz geschlagenen Bällen eines Ballspiels
RU174908U1 (ru) * 2017-02-08 2017-11-09 Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Амурский государственный университет" Устройство для сбора теннисных мячей
ES1258820Y (es) * 2020-10-14 2021-03-22 Pick It Up Tennis S L Equipamiento recogepelotas para pistas deportivas

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2615715A (en) * 1947-07-17 1952-10-28 Moore James Ballard Tennis net
US3989246A (en) * 1973-12-14 1976-11-02 Brown Alvin I Tennis practice system
US4938479A (en) * 1988-07-11 1990-07-03 Jenkins Craig D Tennis ball return apparatus
US5072947A (en) * 1990-11-23 1991-12-17 Blue John D Racquet game with air ball thereof

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2638037C3 (de) * 1976-08-24 1980-02-07 Manuel 3250 Hameln Ferreira-Godinho Trainingsvorrichtung zum Üben des Aufschlages beim Tennis
US4886268A (en) * 1988-05-09 1989-12-12 Langslet Eric B Ball capturing tennis net assembly
US4919421A (en) * 1989-02-21 1990-04-24 Vandeveld Paul A Tennis ball diverter
US4971319A (en) * 1990-03-19 1990-11-20 John Cutrone Tennis ball returner

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2615715A (en) * 1947-07-17 1952-10-28 Moore James Ballard Tennis net
US3989246A (en) * 1973-12-14 1976-11-02 Brown Alvin I Tennis practice system
US4938479A (en) * 1988-07-11 1990-07-03 Jenkins Craig D Tennis ball return apparatus
US5072947A (en) * 1990-11-23 1991-12-17 Blue John D Racquet game with air ball thereof

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9719731A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102649014A (zh) * 2012-04-10 2012-08-29 李群星 一种能使触网网球顺坡滚到一起协助球员训练的球网

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0871521A4 (fr) 1999-12-29
AUPN691395A0 (en) 1995-12-21
WO1997019731A1 (fr) 1997-06-05
JP2000501004A (ja) 2000-02-02

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