GB1562025A - Net structure for a ball game - Google Patents

Description

(54) A NET STRUCTURE FOR A BALL GAME (71) I DERICK WILLIAM CHELL of 105, Meadowside, Whitestone, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, a British subject, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a net structure for a ball game.

According to the invention, a net structure for a ball game comprises a net, a band of flexible sheet material of inverted U - section extending across, and embracing between the limbs of the U, the upper edge of the net, an eyelet set in the band near each end thereof, an upright supporting post at each end of the net adjacent an upright edge thereof, a supporting loop of elongated material extending from each post through the adjacent eyelet to hold up the net, and a net cord of flexible elongated material extending across the upper edge of the net and accommodated in the inverted U - section net band, and the net cord extending, at each end of the net, over the eyelet, through the supporting loop, and down the end edge of the net, and being connected therewith, and connected to the supporting post near the base portion thereof.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly sectional view of a net structure according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale of part of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of a bat which may be used in playing a ball game over the net structure of Figure 1, and, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan of a court which may be used for a ball game in conjunction with the net structure of Figure 1.

The net structure shown in Figure 1 is shown in that Figure set up for use. It comprises a net 5 of nylon filaments with a square mesh, in which the squares have 4.5 cm sides, and a net band 6 of flexible synthetic plastics sheet material folded so as to have an inverted U section and extending across the upper edge 7 of the net 5. The limbs 8 and 9 of the band 6 are seamed together along a line 10 near the lower edge 11 of the band, trapping the edge 7 of the net which is thus embraced by limbs of the band 6.

A metal eyelet 14 is set in an aperture in the band 6 near each end thereof and an upright supporting post 15 is located near each end of the net 5. In Figure 1, only one end of the net and one supporting post 15 are shown. Each supporting post comprises a hollow cylinder of polypropylene with a wall thickness of 38 mm. The base portion 16 of each post 15 is located in a hollow cylindrical polypropylene socket 17 set in the ground 18.

Over the open top of each post 15 is fitted a cap 19 also made of polypropylene and the post and the cap are pierced by diametrically oppositely located apertures 22. Adjacent apertures 22 in the cap and post are in register and a hollow flanged spigot 23 is located as a push fit in each adjacent pair of apertures 22 (Figure 2).

A looped guy line 20 with two limbs 24 and 25 provided with conventional runners 26 helps maintain each post 15 upright. The line 20 may be made of thin nylon rope. the runners 26 form adjustable loops at the lower ends of the limbs 24 and 25 of the guy line, the loops being hooked over pegs 27 inserted in the ground. The looped upper end 28 of the guy line 20 extends through the spigots 23 in the apertures 22 and this extends through the cap and post. Each loop 28 also extends from the associated post 15 and is threaded through the adjacent eyelet 14 serving to support the net and keep it taut.

In erecting the net structure, each guy line is threaded through the corresponding eyelet and is inserted through the spigots 23 before the runners 26 are fitted. A length of polypropylene tubing 29 is threaded over each guy line and is located so as to extend through the corresponding eyelet 14 to protect the line from chafing.

Extending across the upper edge 7 of the net 5 and accommodated between the limbs of the inverted U of the net band is a net cord 32 of flexible elongated material such as thin nylon rope. At each end of the net the cord 32 extends over the associated eyelet 14, through the supporting loop 28 of the adjacent guy line 20, through a gap left in the seam on the line 10 and down the adjacent edge 33 of the net with which it is connected by being intertwined with a vertical filament of the net. Near the base portion 16 of the adjacent post 15 the cord 32 is connected with the posts by being threaded through oppositely located apertures 34 in the post and tied into a knot 35.

The top of the post and the top of the net are approximately 75 cm above ground level when erected.

Additional equipment for playing a ball game over the net structure may comprise a resilient ball, for example a tennis ball, and a wooden bat 36 (Figure 3) for each player.

Each bat 36 may be made of plywood approximately 9 mm thick and have a builtup handle 37. Preferably each bat has a square shaped end as shown and is approximately 38 cm long and 14 cm wide at its widest point.

A court for a ball game may be marked out with tape 1.5 cm wide pierced at intervals by eyelets and secured to the ground by pins inserted through the eyelets. One possible form of court is shown in Figure 4. The size of the court is preferably 10 ft (3m) by 20 ft (6m) and it is divided into two equal halves by a longitudinal line 38. The net 5 extends across the centre of the court, also dividing it into two halves.

Using the net structure described above, set up on a court as shown in Figure 4, a ball game may be played by two persons with bats as shown in Figure 3, according to the following rules: 1. The ball must be served under-arm from the position behind a base line 39, and to one side of the centre line 38, into the diagonally opposite quarter of the court on the opponent's side of the net. The ball must bounce once before being returned by the opponent (who may stand in front or behind his base line 39).

2. A ball which hits the net when served and drops into the opponent's quarter is a "no-ball" and is served again.

3. A ball which when served drops into the directly opposite quarter of the court, onto the server's side of the net, or drops outside the boundary of the court, whether after hitting the net first or not, constitutes a fault.

4. When a ball has been successfully served into a receiving quarter the whole court is open for play but the ball must be hit over the net, before bouncing more than once, to fall within the opponent's half of the court. A ball falling outside the boundary of the court or hitting the net and falling back to the striker's side of the court constitutes a fault.

5. The lines are regarded as part of the court and a ball hitting the lines at any time is a good ball.

6. The server serves five consecutive balls into the same quarter of the court and the opponent then serves five consecutive balls from behind the base line of that quarter. The original server then serves five consecutive balls into the other quarter of his opponents half of the court and the opponent replies by serving five balls from behind the base line of the said other quarter, and so on.

8. Each time a fault is committed, the opponents of the player committing the fault scores one point. The game is won by the first player to reach 10 points with at least a two point lead. If the score reaches 9-9 then play continues until a two point lead is achieved by one player.

9. After each game the players change ends and the loser of the game serves first in the following game irrespective of how the serve lay at the end of the previous game.

Flat grass and sand are convenient surfaces for the above game which is suitable for domestic lawns or the beach.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A net structure for a ball game comprising a net, a band of flexible sheet material of inverted U - section extending across, and embracing between the limbs of the U, the upper edge of the net, an eyelet set in the band near each end thereof, an upright supporting post at each end of the net adjacent an upright edge thereof, a supporting loop of elongated material extending from each post through the adjacent eyelet to hold up the net, and a net cord of flexible elongated material extending across the upper edge of the net and accommodated in the inverted U section net band, and the net cord extending, at each end of the net, over the eyelet, through the supporting loop, and down the end edge of the net, and being connected therewith, and connected to the supporting post near the base portion thereof.

2. A net structure for a ball game as claimed in claim 1, wherein each post comprises an open-topped tube and has a cap fitted over the open top and each supporting loop comprises a loop in a guy line two limbs of which extend together through apertures in the cap and in the post located opposite one another so that the limbs of the guy line

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and is inserted through the spigots 23 before the runners 26 are fitted. A length of polypropylene tubing 29 is threaded over each guy line and is located so as to extend through the corresponding eyelet 14 to protect the line from chafing. Extending across the upper edge 7 of the net 5 and accommodated between the limbs of the inverted U of the net band is a net cord 32 of flexible elongated material such as thin nylon rope. At each end of the net the cord 32 extends over the associated eyelet 14, through the supporting loop 28 of the adjacent guy line 20, through a gap left in the seam on the line 10 and down the adjacent edge 33 of the net with which it is connected by being intertwined with a vertical filament of the net. Near the base portion 16 of the adjacent post 15 the cord 32 is connected with the posts by being threaded through oppositely located apertures 34 in the post and tied into a knot 35. The top of the post and the top of the net are approximately 75 cm above ground level when erected. Additional equipment for playing a ball game over the net structure may comprise a resilient ball, for example a tennis ball, and a wooden bat 36 (Figure 3) for each player. Each bat 36 may be made of plywood approximately 9 mm thick and have a builtup handle 37. Preferably each bat has a square shaped end as shown and is approximately 38 cm long and 14 cm wide at its widest point. A court for a ball game may be marked out with tape 1.5 cm wide pierced at intervals by eyelets and secured to the ground by pins inserted through the eyelets. One possible form of court is shown in Figure 4. The size of the court is preferably 10 ft (3m) by 20 ft (6m) and it is divided into two equal halves by a longitudinal line 38. The net 5 extends across the centre of the court, also dividing it into two halves. Using the net structure described above, set up on a court as shown in Figure 4, a ball game may be played by two persons with bats as shown in Figure 3, according to the following rules:

1. The ball must be served under-arm from the position behind a base line 39, and to one side of the centre line 38, into the diagonally opposite quarter of the court on the opponent's side of the net. The ball must bounce once before being returned by the opponent (who may stand in front or behind his base line 39).

2. A ball which hits the net when served and drops into the opponent's quarter is a "no-ball" and is served again.

3. A ball which when served drops into the directly opposite quarter of the court, onto the server's side of the net, or drops outside the boundary of the court, whether after hitting the net first or not, constitutes a fault.

4. A kit of parts for a net structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

4. When a ball has been successfully served into a receiving quarter the whole court is open for play but the ball must be hit over the net, before bouncing more than once, to fall within the opponent's half of the court. A ball falling outside the boundary of the court or hitting the net and falling back to the striker's side of the court constitutes a fault.

5. The lines are regarded as part of the court and a ball hitting the lines at any time is a good ball.

6. The server serves five consecutive balls into the same quarter of the court and the opponent then serves five consecutive balls from behind the base line of that quarter. The original server then serves five consecutive balls into the other quarter of his opponents half of the court and the opponent replies by serving five balls from behind the base line of the said other quarter, and so on.

8. Each time a fault is committed, the opponents of the player committing the fault scores one point. The game is won by the first player to reach 10 points with at least a two point lead. If the score reaches 9-9 then play continues until a two point lead is achieved by one player.

9. After each game the players change ends and the loser of the game serves first in the following game irrespective of how the serve lay at the end of the previous game.

Flat grass and sand are convenient surfaces for the above game which is suitable for domestic lawns or the beach.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A net structure for a ball game comprising a net, a band of flexible sheet material of inverted U - section extending across, and embracing between the limbs of the U, the upper edge of the net, an eyelet set in the band near each end thereof, an upright supporting post at each end of the net adjacent an upright edge thereof, a supporting loop of elongated material extending from each post through the adjacent eyelet to hold up the net, and a net cord of flexible elongated material extending across the upper edge of the net and accommodated in the inverted U section net band, and the net cord extending, at each end of the net, over the eyelet, through the supporting loop, and down the end edge of the net, and being connected therewith, and connected to the supporting post near the base portion thereof.

2. A net structure for a ball game as claimed in claim 1, wherein each post comprises an open-topped tube and has a cap fitted over the open top and each supporting loop comprises a loop in a guy line two limbs of which extend together through apertures in the cap and in the post located opposite one another so that the limbs of the guy line

thus extend through the cap and post.

3. A net structure for a ball game, the structure being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.