GB2517805A

GB2517805A - Kit for adapting a tennis court to a court of smaller size

Info

Publication number: GB2517805A
Application number: GB1320315.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Andrew Ehasoo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-08-25
Filing date: 2013-11-18
Publication date: 2015-03-04
Also published as: GB201320315D0

Abstract

An adaptation kit is used for adapting a standard tennis court into at least one tennis court ofa smaller size. The kit has an attachment piece 28 for attachment to the centre strap anchor 26 of the standard tennis court and an attachment piece 28 for attachment to a link in a fence 24 bounding the standard court. The kit includes a net suspension line 30 extendible between the attachment pieces 28, and a pair of poles 36, each pole having a foot 38 for engagement with the ground and a support element 34 at its top for supporting the net suspension line 30. The kit includes a net 32 suspended from the net suspension line 30. The suspension line may comprise an adjustment mechanism 40 that allows for adjustment of the length and tension of the line. The attachment pieces 28 may be hooks attached to the ends of the suspension line 30. The feet 38 of the poles 36 may be in the form of plates or spikes, these feet may be removable from or an integral part of the poles.

Description

TITLE

KIt FOR ADAPTING A TENNIS COURT OF ONE SIZE TO A COURT OF SMALLER

SIZE

HEW OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to tennis courts and particularly to tennis courts adapted for children's tennis play.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A standard singles tennis court measures 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. These dimensions have been adopted to fit the adult game but are ill adapted for children who lack the height, reach and strength to cover such a large area of court.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adaptation kit for adapting a tennis court of a certain size such as a standard dimensioned tennis court, into at least one tenths court of a smaller size comprising a first attachment piece for attachment to the center strap anchor of the larger tennis court, a second attachment piece for attachment to a link in a fence bounding the larger tennis court, a net suspension line extending between the first and second attachments, first and second poles each pole having a foot for engagement with the ground to support the poles, each pole having a support element at its top for supporting the net suspension line, and a net suspended from the net suspension line.

Preferably, a line tensioner is mounted in the line to adjust the length of the line and to tension the line. The attachment pieces can be hooks attached to respective ends of the suspension line. The poies and feet thereof can be such as to present the poles in a generally vertical aspect when the feet are flat on the ground. The feet can be flat plates or be of a folding character. The support elements can be sheaves rotating on bearings at tops of the poles or simply grooves in the top end of the poles. The net can be attached at second positions towards the bottom ends of the poles to ensure that the net is stretched out. The net arrangement can indude a line between the center top of the net and the lower end of the poles to set the center of the net marginally lower than the height of the net at the pole tops. The poles can have a height adjustment capability such as a telescoping arrangement. The net preferably has a length of the order of 18 feet.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tennis court of a certain siize such as a standard dimensioned tennis court which is adipted by the use of an adaptation kit to provide at least one tenths court of a smaller size than the larger tenths court, the larger tennis court having a first attachment piece of the kit attached to the center strap anchor of the larger tenths court, a second attachment piece of the kit attached to a link in a fence bounding the larger tenths court, a net suspension line of the kit extending between the first and second attachments, first and second poles of the kit, each pole having a foot engaging the ground to support the pole and having a support element at its top for supporting the net suspension line, a net suspended from the net suspension line between the respective poles and a line tensioner mounted in the line.

Preferably, a line tensioner is mounted in the line to tension the line and adjust its length.

The attachment pieces can be hooks attached to respective ends of the suspension line. The poles and feet can he relatively disposed such as to present the poles in a generally vertical aspect when the feet are engage the ground. The feet can be flat plates, spikes or other convenient support. They can be integral with the poles. Alternatively, the feet can be separate elements that are attachable to the poles when deploying the kit. In yet another alternative, each foot folds into a compact position against the pole to reduce storage and carrying space but then is unfolded from the pole when the kit is deployed for playing. The smaller siae tennis court can use parts of the boundary lines of the larger court as bounding lines. Alternatively, extra boundary line can be fixed to the larger court as by nails or adhesive to tailor the smaller court to a desired length and width.

The support elements can be sheaves rotating on bearings at tops of the poles or, alternatively, simple groove formations in the top of the poles themselves. The nets can be attached at a second position towards the bottom ends of the poles. The poles can have a height adjustment capability such as a telescoping arrangement. The net preferably has a length of the order of 18 feet with one pole positioned at the service mark on one side of the larger court and the other pole at the intersection of the service line and the center service line on said one side of the larger court. The larger court can be further adapted to have a second kit similarly deployed on the other side of the court.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the following figures are not drawn to common scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods, operation and functions of related elements of structure, and the combinations of parts and economies of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a plan view of a standard tenths court.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one side of the court of FIG. 1, but showing the deployment of an adaptation kit according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the one side of the court of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of part of a standard tenths court showing the deployment of an adaptation kit according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. Sis a side view of thepart of the court of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of part of a standard tennis court showing the deployment of an adaptation kit according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRiPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Referring in detail to FIG. 1, there is shown in plan view a standard tennis court. The court has, singles play sidelines 10, doubles play sidelines 11, a net 12, service lines 14, center service line 16, baselines 18 and center marks 20. As is well known, a tennis game is played in such a way that, other than at service, each player tries to land the ball after clearing the net in the area of the opposing player's half court extending between two of the sidelines (10 or 11, depending on whether a singles or doubles match) and between the net 12 and the baseline 18 of that half court.

One half of a standard singles tenths court measures 39 fret long and 27 feet wide. Someone standing in the center of his or her half court would have to move about 24 feet to get to the furthest corners of the half court The court dimensions have been adopted to fit the adult game but are ill adapted for children who lack the height, reach and strength to cover such a large area of court.

Referring to the plan view of FIG. 2, there is shown one half of a standard court in which there is highlighted a minicourt 22 being an area for children to play tennis. This minicourt extends across the standard court One half court of the minicourt extends in the length direction between the doubles sidelines 11 of the standard court and extends in the width direction between the baseline 18 and the service line 14 of the standard court. Someone standing in the center of his or her half of the minicourt would have to move about 12 feet to get to the furthest corners of the half court. This is half the corresponding distance of the standard court and is clearly better adapted for children's play.

Most tenths courts have a boundary fence as shown at 24. Such a fence might completely surround a single standard court with enough room for a player to play effectively around the court.

Alternatively, a fence might extend around less than the four sides of the court. However, most courts will include a boundary fence at least at the front and back of the court spaced a reasonable distance from the respective baselines 18 in order to stop missed balls and so save players from having to walk back a long distance to retrieve missed balls, Such boundary fences are usually of chain link forat Most tenths courts have a center strap anchor 26 at center court. This has an anchor point set into the tarmac, grass or clay of the court to which is attached one end of a tie strap. The strap goes over the top of the cord and is attached at its other end to the center strap anchor. The strap is used to set the height of the net at its center (usually 3 feet) somewhat lower than the height (usually 3.5 feet) of the net at left and right poles where the net is supported at the sides of the court.

A tennis conversion kit according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in its deployed condition in FIGs. 2 and 3. The kit indudes a pair of hooks or shaddes 28, such as carabiners, between which extends a net suspension line 30 from which is suspended a tennis net 32.

The suspension line 30 can be a separate line onto which the net 32 is threaded or otherwise attached. Alternatively, the suspension line 30 forms an integral part of the net 32. The suspension line 30 is supported at sheaves or pulleys 34 mounted at or near the top of respective poles 36 with the suspension line 30 retained within grooved surfaces of the sheaves 34. The sheaves rotate in bearings mounted at or near the top of the poles 36. The poles have integral feet 38 which are flat plates welded to the bottom end of the poles 36. The feet can alternatively be formed as spikes (not shown) for insertion into a grass or clay court. In yet other alternative, the feet are detachable from the poles or attached as foldable elements to the poles. Close to one of the shackles 28 is an adjustment mechanism 40 by means of which (a) the length of the suspension line 30 can be adjusted and (b) a line 30 of a particular length can be tensioned. The adjustment mechanism 40 can be of any suitable form using, for example, principles of operation found in mechanisms to adjust and tension automobile seat belts. The kit can alternatively include separate adjustment devices: one to enable the length of the suspension line to be altered and the other being a fine adjustment device to set tension in the line.

To deploy the kit, the adjustment mechanism 40 is operated to adjust the a length of the suspension line 30 to be somewhat longer than the distance between the chain link fence 24 and the center strap anchor 26, such distance measured along the center service line 16. The carabiners 28 are then used to snap tie one end of the line 30 at a lower link of the fence 24 and to snap tie the other end of the line 30 at the center strap anchor 26. The poles 36 are then erected as shown and the line 30 is supported in the sheaves 34. The adjustment mechanism 40 is then operated to tension the line 30 over the sheaves 34 and to strengthen the engagement of the poles with the ground As shown in FIG. 3, the poles 36 each have a telescopic structure with a spring mounted locking button 42 in an upper telescopic piece 44 selectively scatable in one of a series of holes 46 in the lower telescopic piece 48, so allowing the height of the pole 36, and thus the height of the minicourt net 32, to be adjusted. The net 32 is also fixed at the bottom of each pole using any convenient means such as an integral eye on the pole and a cord hanging from the net. In addition,

S

to provide a more authentic aspect to the net, further ties from the center top of the net to the bottoms of the poies allow the center of the net to be held at a height slightly lower than the ends of the net.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the sides of the minicourt are the baseline 18 and service line 14 of one half of the standard doubles court. Similarly, the ends of one half of the miriicourt are a doubles court sideline 11 and the kit net 32. This makes a minicourt half which is 18 feet square. This may be perfectly adequate for a certain setup for children's tennis play and has the advantage of using lines of the standard doubles court. There are other lines of the standard singles and doubles court which might alternatively be used to establish a court of different area, length, width, or length-to-width ratio, while still using the principle of the invention in anchoring a net suspension line between the boundary fence 24 and a standard court center strap anchor 26.

A minicourt which is specifically tailored to provide a certain area, length, width and/or aspect (length to width) ratio is alternatively obtained using boundary tape which is nailed through gronimets to the court surface or which is fixed by adhesive, in each case to provide a boundary line which is easily seen and is not easily dislodged during play, but which can be removed from the larger court when the children's play period is ended. As shown in FIGs. 4 and 5, such a boundary tape can be fixed to the court in a position where it functions as a miriicourt sideline 50 (FIG. 4).

In this particular embodiment, an extended kit is deployed having two pairs of poles to establish two minicourts, each minicourt extending across a standard singles half court, the two minicourts spaced along the length of the standard half court. As shown in FIG. 6, the boundary tape is fixed to the court in a position where it can function as the minicourt baselines 52. It will be appreciated that although the illustrated embodiments of the invention show a standard dimensioned court which is adapted to provide one or more smaller courts, the kit of the invention can be used to form minicourts on any larger court. In this respect, the use of the word standard is not intended to be limiting and should in this specification be understood to mean merely a larger court which can be adapted to provide one or more minicourts.

Claims

CLAiMS 1. An adaptation kit for adapting a standard tennis court into at least one tenths court of a smaller siac comprising a first attachment piece for attachment to the center strap anchor of the standard tenths court, a second attachment piece for attachment to a link in a fence bounding the standard tennis court, a net suspension line extending between the first and second attachments, first and second poles each pole having a foot for engagement with the ground to support the poles, each pole having a support element at its top for supporting the net suspension line, and a net suspended from the net suspension line.
2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism in the line for adjusting the length of the suspension line.
3. A kit as claimed in claim 2, the adjustment mechanism operable to adjust tension in the line.
4. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the attachment pieces being hooks attached to respective ends of the suspension line.
5. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the poles and feet relatively disposed such as to present the poles in a generally vertical aspect when the feet engage the ground.
6. Alcitas daimedin claim l,thefeetbeingofplateform.
7. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the feet being spikes.
8. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the feet being integral with the poles.
9. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the feet being separate elements that are attachable to the poles when the kit is deployed.
10. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the feet being foldable and unfoldable relative on the poles
11. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the support elements being sheaves rotating on bearings at tops of the poles.
12. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the net having an attachment pieces for attachment at second positions near the bottom ends of the poles to maintain the net in a stretched out condition.
13. A kit as claimed in claim 1, further including lines between the center top of the net and the lower end of the poles for setting the center of the net marginally lower than the height of the net at the pole tops.
14. A kit as claimed in claim 1, the poles can have a height adjustment capability.
15. A standard tenths court adapted by the use of an adaptation kit to provide at least one tennis court of a smaller size than said standard tennis court, the standard tennis court having a first attachment piece of the kit attached to the center strap anchor of the standard tenths courç a second attachment piece of the kit attached to a link in a fence bounding the standard tenths court, a net suspension line of the kit extending between the first and second attachments, first and second poles of the kit, each pole having a foot engaging the &ound to support a respective pole and having a support element at its top for supporting the net suspension line, a net suspended from the net suspension line between the respective poles and a line adjuster mounted in the line.
16. A tennis court as claimed in claim 15, the line adjuster operable to alter the length of, and to tension, the line.
17. A tennis court as dairned in cl4m 15, the attachment pieces being hooks attached to respective ends of the suspension line.
18. A tennis court as claimed in claim 15, the poles and feet relatively disposed such that the feet engage the ground and the poles are in a generally vertical aspect.
19. A tennis court as claimed in claim 15, the feet being one of plates and spikes.
20. A tennis court as claimed in claim 15, the feet being detachable from the poles.
21. A tennis court as claimed in claim 15, the feet being foldable relatively to the poles.S22. A tenths court as claimed in claim 15, the support elements being sheaves rotating on bearings at mounted in the upper end portions of the poles.23. A tenths court as claimed in claim 15, the net attached at second positions in the lower end portions of the poles.24. A tenths court as claimed in claim 15, the poles being telescopic in form to provide a height adjustment capability.25. A tenths court as claimed in claim 15, the net preferably has a length of the order of 18 feet with one pole positioned at the service mark on one side of the standard court and the other pole at the intersection of the service line and the center service line on said one side of the standard court 26. A tennis court as claimed in claim 15, the standard court further adapted to have multiple kits similarly deployed thereon.27. A tennis court as chimed in claim 26, a pair of the deployed kits having the two pairs of poles, at positions aligned with one another and having the two suspension lines connected to one another at one end and connected at their respective other ends to a fence link and a centre strap anchor.28. A tenths court as claimed in claim 15, further comprising nailed or adherent tape applied to the court surface to present a boundary line for play additional to permanent boundary lines of the court.