Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
  • A63B71/02—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
  • A63B71/022—Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
  • A63B63/004—Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
  • A63B69/0024—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for hockey
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
  • A63B69/0097—Ball rebound walls
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
  • A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
  • A63B71/02—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
  • A63B71/023—Supports, e.g. poles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
  • A63B2063/001—Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2243/00—Specific ball sports not provided for in A63B2102/00 - A63B2102/38
  • A63B2243/0025—Football

Definitions

• This invention relates to a ball return arrangement particularly intended for practicing sporting games involving a ball.
• a difficulty to which this invention is directed is related is the current difficulty of being able to provide an arrangement which will provide for a ball return to a person either practicing or playing with such a ball where the return is such that the ball can be received usefully.
• a ball return apparatus including a frame, and a net or nets, supported by the frame, and being positioned and shaped so as to be in a ball receiving shape which shape includes a lowermost net or net portion which is sloped so that a lower end of said portion of the net is lowermost closest to a ball delivery location.
• the ball return apparatus is further characterized in that the ball receiving shape of the net is defined by a net or a portion of the net defining each of a side of the ball receiving shape.
• the ball return apparatus is further characterized in that the ball receiving shape of the net is defined by a net or a portion of the net defining a top or roof of the ball receiving shape.
• the ball return apparatus is further characterized in that there is a roof part which is joined or is integral with the respective sides and at its further end, to an end receiving part.
• the ball return apparatus is further characterized in that the net or net parts are each held by resilient means with respect to a supporting frame.
• the ball return apparatus is further characterized in that such resilient means comprise springs which are attached in removable fashion with respect to frame elements of the frame.
• the ball return apparatus is further characterized in that the supporting frame is constructed of, at least in the main, tubular elements.
• a ball receiving shape which is of approximately rectangular proportions providing thereby a cavernous capturing and returning area with a lowermost net or net portion shaped, held and aligned to provide a sloping and tensioned floor such that it will effect a return of a ball to a delivery location.
• the arrangement is such that there is a frame supporting a net, with a lower portion of the net or a separate net part which is adapted to be lower than a receiving area of the first mentioned net or net part and this being inclined so as to direct a ball that will fall onto this part in a return direction toward a delivery location.
• a receiving shape of the net includes a part at each side which has its rear edge joined to or integral with a receiving or end net or net part and a lower edge joined to or integral with the return sloping net or net part.
• roof part which is joined at its sides to the respective side parts and at its further end, to the end receiving part at its top.
• the net or net parts are each held by resilient means with respect to a supporting frame.
• such resilient means comprise springs which are attached in removable fashion with respect to frame elements of the frame.
• the supporting frame is constructed from linear elements held together at corners by, for each corner, an interconnecting means which can be a bracket or can be welded portions where the linear elements are at least in the main, comprised of tubes having, in one instance, one or more apertures in the wall of the tube to receive a hook of a respective resilient member supporting in a resilient manner a portion of the net or net part.
• the linear element has secured thereto a hook to which the hook of a spring element can be attached.
• the resilient means together with the supporting frame are arranged to hold the respective net parts or net so that such parts are held for each side, or a receiving end, substantially planar under such resilient tension.
• the net is comprised of a netting which is formed of knotted strands of a pliable but not substantially resilient material such as 1 " square polyester netting.
• the mesh of such netting is also chosen to be appropriate to the size of the ball or balls which are to be used so that the mesh is such that any selected ball will not readily pass through any such mesh.
• the mesh is chosen so that a variety of balls can be used which, in one example, have included a golf ball, a tennis ball, an Australian Rules football, a soccer ball, a cricket ball, a hockey ball, a baseball, a softball, a netball and a basketball.
• resilient members which can be disconnected By having resilient members which can be disconnected, it is then possible to firstly change such resilient members so that there can be provided a higher or lower spring tension, or in another case, the spring tension can be released, for instance, at the end of the arrangement so that the netting then is allowed to hang limp howbeit that the sides, top and lip are still held under spring tension.
• Such an arrangement is effective when the arrangement is used as a golf practice device.
• the golf ball is hit at speed into the end which will absorb the significant inertia of the ball but is positioned so that the ball is then simply directed to roll back to an entry location at which the practicing player is located.
• At least a resiliently held upper part, a resiliently held end part, and a resiliently held inclined lip there is provided at least a resiliently held upper part, a resiliently held end part, and a resiliently held inclined lip.
• an oblong ball such as that used for the playing of an Australian Rules football game, can be kicked so as to first impact against the uppermost part, after which it will rebound onto the end part and then rebound into the inclined part to then return to the practicing player.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ball return arrangement according to a first embodiment
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same first embodiment as shown in Figure 1 with however springs released from an end receiving part to make the arrangement more suitable for golf;
• Figure 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment as in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 is a side view of the first embodiment as in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 5 is a perspective detail of a corner part of the first embodiment as shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment illustrating a net being supported by a frame with a tethered ball at a front opening;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment with a loose net within the net structure.
• Figure 8 is a side elevation of the structure of the third embodiment as in Figure 7.
• a ball return arrangement 1 which is provided by a net arrangement 2 providing a cavernous receiving shape which is resiliently supported by a plurality of resilient members 3 to a frame 4.
• the net arrangement is made from netting material which has a mesh formed by knotted cord where the mesh is chosen in this embodiment to be 3 cms square and this is chosen so as to ensure that a golf ball will not penetrate through this even when distorted into a circular shape and is otherwise economically available and able to be held taut to provide a springing effect even though the netting material itself is simply pliable but not substantially resilient and is made from conventional netting materials such as conventional plastics materials.
• the golf net which is used in the back section is: Quins code 42960 Net Knotless polyester.
• end panel 5 There is an end panel 5, two side panels 6 and 7, a roof panel 8 and a forwardly inclined lowermost panel 9 which is supported so that it will slope toward a player's end and with sufficient slope so that a ball will roll out from the cavernous shape toward the player.
• Each of the panels 5 through 9 is supported so as to be held taut under relatively uniform tension by firstly having a plurality of reinforcing differing rods shown typically at 10 intermeshed with the side of the respective netting of a respective panel and to which respective rod 10 is secured in removable manner, spaced apart resilient helical springs 3.
• each helical spring 3 is secured in an appropriate manner and, in this case, to a hook 11 which is secured to the respective frame members immediately adjacent the appropriate location.
• the frame 4 is constructed from a plurality of individual parts which include four uprights 12, 13, one to each side of a forward end of the arrangement 1 , and 2 at the rear end at 14 and 15, one to each side at this end furthest from the practicing player.
• Each of the uprights 12, 13, 14 and 15 in this case, have secure thereto the spigots around which the ends of the respective lateral frame members 16 and 17 at the top and to each side, and 18 and 19 to the bottom and to each side.
• Each of the frame members described thus far is a tubular shape.
• transverse members 20 and 21 at the forward end and 22 and 23 at the distal end which interlock also then with the respective uprights 12 and 13 in the one case and 14 and 15 in the other.
• the distal end of the lowermost longitudinal elements 18 and 19 are supported at an elevated position when joined to the distal uprights at 14 and 15 so as to provide for the inclined alignment of the lowermost panel 7.
• the degree of tension that is chosen is such that each of the panels will be relatively taut to an extent that when a ball such as an Australian Rules football is dropped from a height of 1 metre onto a middle position of the lowermost panel 7, then this will be caused to bounce to at least 20 percent of the drop height.
• the rebound height from a football of standard type dropped from one metre onto a centre of the floor net has been 60 centimetres.
• the remaining panels, that is the distal end, the sides and the roof are tensioned to approximately the same extent.
• a frame structure 20 to support a net 21 that of itself can provide some resiliency. This is achieved by having a tubular frame that extends from a first front bottom corner 22a to a front top corner 22 across to an oppositely located back corner 23 then extending downwardly at 24 at a forwardly inclined angle of 20 degrees to a lowermost forwardly extending part 25.
• a spacer 31 exists between front cross part 32 to back lowercross part 26.
• the somewhat complex path of the tubular members means that the frame can be constructed substantially without welding.
• Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment where the frame at a bottom is now in a crossing formation similar to the top.
• a loose net 48 which is positioned to absorb the inertial impact from a golf ball and then return this through the inclined floor 49 to a front lower edge 51.
• the extent of inclination can vary but approximately 10 degrees to 30 degrees have been found to be especially useful.
• the back net of 20 degrees to the vertical is of significant advantage both for additional downward directional force on balls impacted against this or it can be used for rebound practice from the back of the whole structure.
• FIG 9 illustrates the use of Velcro strapping 56 and 57 which can now be used to attach the net 58 to the frame while there is now the additional resiliency being provided by the frame.
• a reinforcing member 59 passing through a centre of the seam material 60.
• the arrangement 1 is not only suitable for Australian Rules football practice. We have discovered that the apparatus can be used for other ball games and in particular, golf.
• distal panel 5 is released from spring tension while the sides, top and bottom panels are still kept tensioned.
• FIG. 6 this is a view of a second embodiment which is the same as the first embodiment except that rod 10 is replaced with a cable 24.
• a next variation is to simply use some parts of the arrangement 1 for other practice purposes.
• one of the side panels can be used as a rebound net for practicing the playing of tennis.
• centring alignment effect that has been spoken of previously can be by reason of the nature of the shaping of a net when it is tensioned but under impacting pressure from a ball so that in a sense the net or panel is distorted into an approximately v-shape so that the respective sloping sides then have this centring effect.
• the apparatus and method is also useful for specifically practicing hand ball as used in accordance with Australian Rules Football.
• the ball can be hand balled into the back of the net so that it will rebound off the lower net and therefore be effectively returned.
• a further application relates to the game of baseball where the apparatus can be used to provide a return of a baseball after pitching.
• the apparatus can be used for cricket where a cricket ball can be returned after practice action of throwing the ball at simulated stumps.
• a further form of the invention then could be said to reside in an arrangement to provide a rebound effect for a ball for the purposes of practice or play with such ball where there are at least two rebound surfaces, each being a pliable panel comprised of netting or the like held under resilient pressure and such that there will be effected a centring effect on a ball where a ball rebounds on a respective panel.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=3818320

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (16)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1999
  • 1999-11-23 AU AUPQ4176A patent/AUPQ417699A0/en not_active Abandoned
• 2000
  • 2000-11-23 EP EP00977311A patent/EP1237633A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-11-23 KR KR1020027006632A patent/KR20020079741A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-11-23 BR BR0015778-3A patent/BR0015778A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-23 WO PCT/AU2000/001423 patent/WO2001037948A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-11-23 CA CA002396404A patent/CA2396404A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-23 CN CN00818596A patent/CN1424930A/zh active Pending
  • 2000-11-23 JP JP2001539556A patent/JP2003517357A/ja active Pending
• 2002
  • 2002-06-21 ZA ZA200205016A patent/ZA200205016B/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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