GB2249965A - Demountable enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable enclosure, such as cricket practice nets 13, wherein the nets and supports 31 therefor are connected by cables 27. A winch 40 in a storage housing 15 is used to wind in the cables, nets and supports into and out of the storage housing 15. The nets may be held together by touch-and-close fastener 38. To take down the nets a loop 34 is disengaged from support post 12 and the net is withdrawn by the winch as stop 36 draws back the supports 31. The net may be stored in the housing 15. <IMAGE>

Description

DEMOUNTABLE ENCLOSURE THIS XNE2J1 ION relates to a demountable enclosure suitable for sporting purposes generally inclusive of tennis courts, basketball courts, practice nets for cricket and baseball courts or enclosures.

it has been a long felt want particularly in relation to practice facilities in schools for sports such as cricket and tennis that cricket practice nets and tennis courts be of a dsmountable nature particularly when a sport is out of season and it is desired to utilize the relevant playing space for other purposes. Thus if the same space such as a concrete slab could be utilized as a tennis court or a cricket practice facility this would be particularly advantageous for schools having limited space. This also applies in relation to sporting grounds such as cricket fields which do not have a permanent area set aside for practice facilities.

The use of practice facilities for cricke.t.z- in particular have utilized demountable posts and nets attached to the posts. The posts normally had a base spike driven into the ground and additional bracing such as guy ropes also driven into the ground. Such a conventional demountable system defining a plurality of separate practice wickets were normally installed in a peripheral area of the cricket ground and were found to be particularly disadvantageous because it had to be detnounted or taken down prior to the start of a game of cricket. In addition installation and dismantling of this demountable system was found to be time consuming and inefficient.Also this practice in some casss caused damage to the ground particularly in regard to bowlers approach areas and also in relation to batsmen' 6 creases thus making it diffic1t in relation to obtaining a uniform playing surface.

In the situation where permanent practice facilities were installed adjacent to a cricket ground it was also to be appreciated that in the off season such permanent facilities were not utilized such as in winter and in this regard such practice facilities were wasted space insofar as management or owners of the cricket ground were concerned.

Also permanent practice facilities mainly otllizad wire enclosures which after a period of time required frequent maintenance and repair particularly after constant use.

Another problem in regard to permanent practice facilities that utilized flexible nets was that there was usually no facility for removal of the nets in the case of adverse weather and this meant that the nets deteriorated after only a limited period of time requiring frequent maintenance or replacement, It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a demountable enclosure which may alleviate the problems of conventional sports enclosures as described above.

The demountable enclosure of the invention includes: enclosure means comprising at least one enclosure member but more preforably a plurality of enclosure members; support means for said enclosure means; and drive means for moving said at least one enclosure member relative to the support means to facilitate dismantling or installation of the demountable enclosure to a support 'ir fce.

The drive means may be electrically, hydraulically, p-.euratlcally or mechanically operated. Suitably the drive weans is a manually operated wir.ch which may have wound thereon a support cable for supporting said at least one enclosure member. The support cable may be releasably attached to the support posts.

The enclosure means may include a single enclosure member which may comprise a single flexible net or wire lattice which also may be flexible. The enclosure member may also comprise a wall member also formed froo flexible material if desired. However, a flexible net comprising a multiplicity of interlinked cords or strands is particularly preferred. It will be understood however that the term "flexible net" as used herein will also include a flexible wire lattice.

It is preferred that the enclosure means comprises a plurality of separate enclosure members which are all releasably attached to the support means. Thus, iL the enclosure is to form a tennis court for example there may be two end enclosure members and two side enclosure members. A single enclosure member may be utilized in the situation of a round or circular tennis court or baseball enclosure.

the support means may include a plurality of support posts arranged at spaced intervals around the periphery of the demountabie enclosure nf the invention Preferably each support post is demountably mounted to a base surface such as the ground by suitable mounting means.

In another embodiment the support means comprises ore or more support frame wherein each support frame may support a respective enclosure member. In this situation each support frame may be demountably mounted to the base surface.

The demountable mounting means for the support posts or frames may in one example comprise a plurality of mounting sockets in the base surface which may each releasably mount a respective support post. This may bs achieved by any suitable :r.eans for this purpose such a post being insertable in an associated mounting socket by snap fit, interference fit or other suitable means of plug-socket interengagement.

Preferably each post has one end insertable in each mounting socket and retained therein by a retaining lug being retained in a suitable retaining aperture.

There also may be providd ancillary enclosure members locatea between or intermediate adjacent driven enclosure members and in this erntodiment there may be provided weans for releasably attaching each ancillary enclosure member to each adjacent driven enclosure member if required. This may comprise adjacent edges of enclosure members being attached by use of press studs engaging in appropriate apertures or sockets, buttons engaging in buttonholes or the use of hook and eye fasteners. A preferred form of releasable attachment means is the use of mating velcro strips.

Preferably each flexible net is supported from the support cable by the use of rings or hooks or other suitable retainers attached also to a top strand or cord of the flexible net. Upon the aforenientioned winch being actuated t;s results in movement of the support cable and also the flexible net.

In a particularly preferred arrangement the support cable may be formed into two separate components attachable to each other by releasable securing means such as a suitable clip means or securing clevis. Upon actuation of the winch described above this may cause retraction of the support cable and its associated flexible net in a direction towards the winoh after uncoupling of the support cable from the support posts After maximum retraction of the support cable the flexible net may then be moved along the support cable so that it is located on one of the separate components which suitably ray have a length approximately equal to the length of the flexible net when it is in a fully retracted or slack 6tate.

The securing clevis may then be uncoupled and the flexible net and its associated support cable component may be efficiently and rapidly stowed away in a suitable storage location such as a box or housing which also may accommodate the winch.

There also may be provided a support pulley located on a post adjacent the winch for guiding movement of the support cable when required.

Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as described in the attached drawings wherein: FIG 1 is a plan view of a demountable enclosure in accordance with the invention in the form of a practice cricket wicket enclosing a playing surface having a bowling approach area and batsman's crease area.

FIG 2 is a sectional view of part of the bowling approach area of the demountable enclosure shown in FXG 1; FIG 3 is a detailed view of a corner part of the bowling approach area of the demountable enclosure shown in FC * 1; FIG 4 is a perspective view of an enclosure member in the form of a flexible net supported from a support cable.; FIG 5 is a side view of the enclosure member shown in FIG 4; FIG 6 is a perspective view of a support post supporting a storage box or container for said flexible net wben not in use; FIG 7 is a detailed view of the support post shown in FIG 5 illustrating how the post is demountably mounted in the ground and also showing a support pulley for the support cable;; FIG 8 is a perspective view of the storage box; and FIG 9 is a perspective view of the manually actuated winch for controlling movement of the support cable.

In the drawings there is shown a demountable enclosure 10 of the invention in the form of a plurality of separate cricket wickets 11 having a plurality of support posts 12, a flexible net 13, playing surface 14, a storage box 15 for stowing of the net 13 when not in use, bowlers approach area 16 and batting crease 17 having coloured lines 18 defining the axis or centre of each wicket 11. The crease lines for the bowlers approach area 16 are indicated by lines 19 and 20. Also shown are rear flexible nets 21.

FIGS 2 and 3 show the construction of the turf mat assemblies 22 of both the bowlers approach area 16 and batting crease 17. These comprise as illustrated a mat 23 having artificial turf formed from plastics material, a base surface 25 formed from concrete or other settable material and a layer 26 of bonding agent or adhesive interposed between turf mat 23 and rubber mat 24.

In FIGS 4-5 there is shown in detail the support reans for flexible nets 13 and rear nets 21. The support leans comprises posts 12 which support a cable 27 which is formed into separate components 28 and 29 by a releasable clevis 30. The cable 27 is attached by rings 31 to a top strand or cord 32 of net 13 whioh has peripheral edge strips 33. The cable 27 is releasably attached to post 12 by loop 34 engaging with hook 35. There is also provided a stop 36 for preventing the net 13 from coming fee of cable 27 when loop 34 is released from hook 35.Each rear net 21 may be attached to side net 13 by each edge strip having a velcro strip 36 which is engageable with a mating velcro edge strip 37 associated with velcro attachment strip 38. also shown in support stand 38A for box 15. Each rear net 21 is supported by cables 39.

When it is desired to dismantle the demountable enclosure 10 the winch 40 illustrated in PIGS 8 and 9 is actuated to retract cable 27 after release from support post 12. After the cable 27 is retracted to a slack condition the net 13 after freed from engagement with rear nets 21 may then t9 transferred to separate component 28 from component 29 after release of securing clevis 30. The length of component 28 is indicated in FIGS 4 and 5 by A which corresponds to the length of net 13 in the slack state. The net 13 mounted to cable 28 may then be stowed in storage box 15.

In FIGS 6 and 7 there is shown support post 13, storage box 15, support cable 27 and support frame 38A. Cable 27 may pass through aperture 41 of storage box 15. Support frame 38A oomprises plate 42, L-shaped member 43 and bracing rod 44. Also shown are flanges 45. Also shown is support cable 39 for rear nets 21 which is releasably attached to post 13 at 46 and which may engage with pulley 47 as shown before extending laterally of post 13. Pulley 47 is attached to support rod 48 of post 13.Support cable 27 is supported by pulley 49 as shown located within the hollow interior 50 of poet 13, The aforementioned arrangement is useful in that it reans that nets 21 are spaced from posts 13 and as shown in FIG 7 after impact by a cricket ball 51 shown in phantom the net 21 cannot impact upon post 13 and thus be damaged by such impact.

Poets 12 may also be demountably secured in the ground 52 by the ngemant shown in PfG 7 wherein a base end 53 of post 12 is inserted in hollow socket tube 54 located in the ground. Suitable retaining means in the form of a retaining projection 55 being retained in retaining slot 56 of tube 54 may be provided, This arrangement ensures that when desired posts 13 may be rapidly and efficiently removed from follow socket tubes 54.

In FIGS 8-9 there is shown a detailed view of box 15 and winch 40 located therein. Storage box 15 has door 57 and hollow interior 58. Nets 13 and 21 may be supported on shelf located above winch 40. Winch 40 may be actuated by bangle 60.

The winch 40 includes securing bracket 61 which may be adjustably mounted in slot 62 by nut 63, release arm 64, spring 69 which biasses release arm 64 to an operative position, ratchet arm 66 attached to release arm 64, ratchet teeth 67 associated with ratchet arm 64 which mesh with teeth 68 of large sprocket 69, ard plate 70, handle 60 mounted on handle arm 71 and associated handle rod 72 having a hollow socket (not shown) which ay be mounted on operating hexagonal projection 73 and retained in place by pin 74, The term "cable" as used herein may also include within its scope any suitable line member such as a cord, strap, string or belt.

It will therefore be appreciated having regard to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described in detail above that the flexible nets 13 and 21 may be rapidly and efficiently dismantled mainly by use of winch 40 and store in box 15 when not required out of the influence of the weather. Also if it is desired to use concrete slab 24 for other purposes storage boxes 15 may bo dismantled if required especially in winter which is the cricket off season.

It will also be appreciated that the invention as described above can be applied to a variety of other enclosures which may he used to enclose sports arenas such as tennis courts and baseball fields. In this manner a permanent playing surface may hae a variety of uses depending upon the sport being played.

Claims (17)

Clamis

1. A demountable enclosure including: enclosure means comprising at least one enclosure member; support means for said enclosure means; and drive means for moving said at least one enclosure member relative to the support means to facilitate dismantling or installation of the demountable enclosure to a support surface.

2. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure means include a plurality of enclosure members which are each associated with a respective drive means.

3. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each driven enclosure member is substantially parallel with each other.

4. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are provided ancillary enclosure members intermediate adjacent driven enclosure =embers and releasably attached thereto.

5. A demountable enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 2 - 4 wherein there is provided an artificial support or playing surface between adjacent driven enclosure members.

6. A demountable enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each enclosure member comprises a flexible net or wall member releasably attached to a support cable.

7. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support means includes a plurality of support posts or support frames demountably secured in the ground whereby each support post or frame releasably supports said support cable.

8. A demounvable enclosure as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said support cable is formed into two separate components attachable to each other by releasable securing means.

9. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said components is utilised for supporting the flexible net or wall member in a slack condition for storage or transportation after uncoupling of the releasable ..securing means.

10. A demountabls enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 6-9, wherein the drive means is a winch having wound thereon said support cable.

11. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said winch is located in a storage housing located adjacent to a respective flexible net or wall member.

12. A demountable enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 6-11, wherein there is provided a support pulley located on a support post adjacent the winch for guiding movement of the support cable when required.

13. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided a single enclosure member in the form of a flexible net or wall member and said support means includes a plurality of support ports or support frames demountably secured in the ground and there is further provided a support cable for the enclosure member reloasably attached to each support post or frame which support cable is o,eratlvely connected to the drive means for retraction in the case of dismantling of the demountable enclosure or elongation i.-. the case of installation of the demountable enclosure.

14. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drive means includes a winch having the support cable wound thereon which is located in a storage housing for storage of the cable and enclosure member when required.

15. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim I co3prlaing a plurality of enclosure members in the form of flexible nets or wall members and said support means includes a plurality of rows of support posts or support frames derountably secured in the ground wherein each row of support posts supports a respective enclosure member and there is further provided a plurality of support oables wherein each support cable supports a respeotive enclosure member wherein each support cable is operatively connected to the drive means for retraction in the case of dismantling of the demountable enclosure or elongation in the case of installation of the demountable enclosure.

16. A demountable enclosure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the drive means includes a winch having the support cable wound thereon which is located in a storage housing for storage of tho support cable and enclosure member when required.

17. A demountable enclosure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.