ITBS20110089A1 - NETWORK OR FABRIC FOR SPORTS USE FOR TRAINING - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

â € œMESH OR FABRIC FOR SPORTS USE FOR TRAININGâ €

Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to the sports sector, and in particular relates to a net or a fabric for sports and recreational use, for play and training, suitable for being arranged on a door or on an equivalent support.

State of the art

In various sports, the use of nets arranged on door-shaped structures is envisaged, ie structures consisting of at least two vertical uprights and a horizontal crossbar. The best known examples include the following sports: football, five-a-side football, water polo, handball, etc.

The nets can be made of natural fibers, such as hemp or cotton, or of synthetic fibers, such as nylon, polyethylene, etc. In recent years, synthetic fibers have found more and more space thanks to their characteristics of rot, high resistance to wear and atmospheric agents and lightness.

In general, the nets are woven, with knot or without knot, with meshes of various shapes and colors, according to the applications and tastes of the user. For example, in football the nets are usually white, with a square mesh or hexagonal mesh.

US patent US 6,383,096 describes an example of a football net.

In sports in which at least one goal is used, the use of a ball or a ball is always included. Normally the net is fixed to the crossbar and to the uprights of the goal in such a way as to form a single containment bag for the ball or the ball behind the goal itself; Match scoring is calculated based on the number of times a team manages to get the ball or ball into the net, through the goal, as in the sports mentioned above.

Disadvantageously, traditional nets do not allow to verify a posteriori which trajectory the ball or the ball followed when approaching the goal or crossing it. Once the ball or ball has entered the goal, it is no longer possible to identify the area of the goal through which the ball or ball has passed.

Aims and summary of the Invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for equipping a goal or an equivalent support for sporting and recreational use, particularly for training, with a net, or a fabric, which makes it possible to subsequently verify the trajectory of the balls or of the balls thrown into the goal against the net itself.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a net or a fabric particularly for training which can be configured to allow a posteriori verification of the final trajectory of a ball or a ball thrown against the net, and possibly assign a score or a valence to the shot on the basis of this trajectory.

In a first aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a method according to claim 1 for equipping with a net, or a fabric, a door for sports and recreational use or a support equivalent to the door.

In particular, the method according to the present invention comprises the steps of:

a) make available a net / fabric that develops substantially in height and width;

b) hang the net / fabric on the goal, or its equivalent support, to intercept balls or balls moving through the goal; And

c) providing in the net / fabric a plurality of containment pockets for said balls or said balls.

The terms length and height are conventional and have the following meanings for the purposes of this description. The width of the net or of the fabric is intended as a dimension parallel to a crossbar of the goal, i.e. parallel to the pitch, and the height of the net is understood as a dimension parallel to the uprights of the goal, i.e. perpendicular to the ground. of game. Clearly the net retains its width and height even when it is not yet mounted on the door and is, for example, spread over a plane.

For simplicity we will refer from now on to the network only; the person skilled in the art will understand that the invention also includes an equivalent fabric for sports and recreational use suitable for being placed on a door or similar support.

Again for simplicity we will refer from now on to a door for sporting and recreational use; the person skilled in the art will understand that the net or the fabric according to the invention are suitable for being arranged on supports, frames, supporting elements equivalent to a door, even if having a different structure.

Advantageously, the balls and balls thrown into the goal remain collected in one of the pockets obtained in the net. Starting from the detection of the pocket in which a ball was retained following the relative shot on goal, it is easy to trace the trajectory that the same ball took to enter the goal.

The method according to the present invention is therefore feasible to equip the goals in different sports, for example in football, five-a-side football, handball, etc., with obvious advantages especially in the training phase, since each player can verify the trajectory followed by the ball or ball entering the goal and making consequent changes to one's shooting technique.

The pockets can have variable dimensions, shapes and depths according to the needs; for example, each pocket is sized to hold only one ball or is sized to hold several balls, even of different diameters. By way of example, the pockets can be square, rectangular, circular, oval, rhombic, hexagonal, etc. and in general they have a shape that is as geometric as possible.

In one embodiment step c) is carried out by arranging the containment pockets in vertical and / or horizontal series in the net. In this way, each pocket can be assigned its own virtual coordinates along the height and width of the mesh. This configuration makes it possible to subsequently check the trajectory of the shot on all or almost all of the area defined by the goal. In this way it is possible to establish rules for different games, in which each shot can be assigned a score according to the pocket reached.

Preferably step c) is carried out by arranging each pocket in correspondence with a quadrangular portion of the net, defined quadrant, and more preferably at the lower edge of the relative quadrant. In practice, the net can be thought of as the ideal union of several quadrants, each of which includes its own pocket for containing the balls.

Alternatively, step c) is carried out by arranging each pocket in correspondence with a circular, or oval, or rhombic, or rectangular, hexagonal, etc. portion of the mesh, however defined as quadrant for the purposes of the present invention. However, the pocket is preferably arranged in correspondence with the lower edge of the relative quadrant. Clearly in the circumstance in which the pockets are circular, some portions of the net interposed between several quadrants will be without pockets.

In the circumstance in which the pockets are arranged one in correspondence with a quadrant of the net, the method according to the invention includes the further phase:

d) mark or delimit each containment pocket through one or more steps between:

- color the perimeter of each pocket of the net with a different color than the color of the rest of the net,

- apply a quadrant identification label to the mesh in correspondence of each pocket;

- arrange along the perimeter of each pocket a rope, or a ribbon or an equivalent demarcation element having a different color than the net itself or a thickness greater than or equal to the thickness of the weaving rope of the net.

The marking of the containment pockets facilitates their identification by the players, even far from the goal, and therefore makes it easy to target a specific pocket, for example the pocket located at the corner between the crossbar and a goal post , or the pocket located at the base of a door jamb. In this way it is possible to attribute a score, value or value to the shot made on the basis of its trajectory and on the basis of the pocket in which the ball or the ball is after the shot.

Preferably the network is configured in quadrants arranged in vertical and / or horizontal series; the corresponding pockets are adjacent, that is directly adjacent, or spaced apart. In practice, the containment pockets are arranged in rows and columns. For example, the quadrangular containment pockets are arranged in analogy to the quadrants of a chessboard, or they are in any case arranged in rows and columns, but spaced one from the other according to a predetermined step.

The pockets can be made in different ways. For example, the pockets are obtained by carrying out one or more of the following phases: e) joining together several meshes, even if not contiguous, of the net;

f) arranging one or more horizontal cords / ribbons tied to the door uprights and one or more vertical cords / ribbons tied to a door crosspiece and grouping some meshes of the net at the intersection between vertical and horizontal cords ; g) fixing portions of a second net to the net.

In the circumstance in which the pockets are made by carrying out step g), the portions of the second net can be applied in correspondence with the front side of the net, that is the side destined to be facing the players, or in correspondence with the rear side, opposite to the previous, and in this case suitable openings are made in the network.

Phase g) can also be carried out by packaging the containment pockets individually or in groups, separately from the net, and fixing the pockets thus formed to the net during assembly, for example with ribbons, ropes or seams.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a net or a fabric for applications in the sports and recreational field according to claim 11.

In particular, the present invention relates to a net of the type that can be fixed to a goal, or an equivalent support, for intercepting balls or balls, in which a plurality of pockets for containing the balls or balls are formed in the net or are applied to it, for example sew.

The advantages related to the use of the network according to the present invention are the same as described above in relation to the method.

Preferably, each pocket is obtained or applied in correspondence with a quadrant of the network and are distributed in vertical and / or horizontal series, as previously described.

Preferably the pockets of a horizontal series are adjacent and the pockets of a vertical series are spaced according to a pitch corresponding to the height of the quadrants.

Preferably the width of each pocket is between 1/10 and 1/2 of the total width of the net fixed to a door and the height of each pocket is between 1/10 and 1/2 of the total height of the net fixed to the same door. By way of example, a net according to the present invention for the game of football comprises 21 pockets distributed in three horizontal series and seven vertical series.

Preferably, the network also comprises a marker of each quadrant. The marker can be of various types; example of markers suitable for this purpose are a rope arranged along the perimeter of the dial, a ribbon, a label, a portion of the net colored differently from the rest of the net, etc.

The pockets are obtained by fixing to each other some non-contiguous meshes of the net with fixing means arranged in correspondence with at least a portion of the lower side of each quadrant, or by fixing or joining together pre-packaged pockets individually or in groups.

Alternatively or in addition to the previous solution, the net comprises one or more support ropes of the net at a door. The rope or ropes extend horizontally and vertically, to form a grid, through a plurality of non-perimeter meshes of the net; the pockets are formed by grouping some meshes of the net at the intersection between vertical and horizontal cords.

Alternatively or in addition to the previous solutions, the network is built by obtaining holes or quadrants from one or more of the relative portions; the holes are closed with corresponding pockets, joined to the net during assembly.

Brief description of the drawings

More details of the invention will become evident from the continuation of the description made with reference to the attached exemplary and non-limiting drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a network according to the present invention;

- figure 2 is a front view of the network shown in figure 2, and - figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the network shown in figure 1.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to figures 1-3, a net N according to the present invention is shown applied to a soccer goal 10, formed by two uprights 11 and 13 and a crosspiece 12. The goal 10 can comprise, as in the application shown in figure 1, a traditional network 14.

Net N can also be a fabric for sports use.

The net N is bound to the uprights 11, 13 and to the crossbar 12 of the goal 10 to intercept the balls B addressed to the goal. In general, the network N is made up of meshes that can have a square, rhombus, hexagonal shape, etc.

The network N is virtually subdivided quadrangular portions, defined quadrants, organized in horizontal and vertical sequences starting from the lower left corner of the door 10. The quadrants are identified with the reference n followed by a progressive number 1 - 7 increasing in the horizontal direction and with the reference n followed by a progressive number 1, 1â € ™ or 1â € ™ â € ™ increasing in the vertical direction. Therefore the last quadrant along the intermediate series of quadrants in height is identified with the reference n7â € ™. Each quadrant n1-n7â € ™ â € ™ includes a plurality of meshes of the N.

In the network N shown in the figures the quadrants are marked with a chord 15 clearly visible in figure 3, which shows the quadrant n1â € ™ â € ™ in an enlargement. The rope 15 is preferably colored differently from the net to offer the player a sufficient visual contrast to be able to identify the dial even from a distance. For example, the N net can be woven with a white fiber and the rope 15 is red or orange. In addition or alternatively the rope 15 has a greater thickness than the rope used to weave the net N.

The rope 15 is a single rope fixed to the uprights 11 and 13 and to the crosspiece 12 of the door to form a grid, clearly visible in figures 1 and 2, or it is made up of a plurality of knotted or otherwise joined ropes. What matters is that the quadrants n1-n7â € ™ â € ™ are easily identifiable. A possible alternative to rope 15 is for example offered by the possibility of directly coloring the fiber of the N network in correspondence with the perimeter of the quadrants.

The string 15 shown in the figures performs a second function besides that of marking the quadrants n1-n7â € ™ â € ™; in particular, it has the task of at least partially supporting the N net at the posts 11 and 13 and at the crossbar 12. In this way the N net retains a certain rigidity and does not deform excessively when it is hit by a B ball.

Alternatively or in addition to the rope 15 or the coloring of the relative perimeter, the quadrants n1-n7â € ™ â € ™ can be identified with labels 16 fixed to the net, for example numbered labels.

In correspondence of each quadrant n1-n7â € ™ â € ™, and preferably in correspondence with the lower side of each quadrant n1-n7â € ™ â € ™, there is a pocket P to contain the B balloons.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the net N comprises twenty-one pockets P whose width, i.e. the dimension along a direction parallel to the direction of development of the crosspiece 12, is equal to 1/7 of the overall width of the net N and whose height, i.e. the dimension along a direction parallel to the development direction of the uprights 11 and 13, is equal to about 1/10 of the total height of the net N. These dimensions allow the pockets P to contain more than one balloon B at the same time, for example two or three balls B.

Thanks to the presence of the P pockets, players can check in retrospect which quadrant n1-n7â € ™ â € ™ was intercepted by the shot. The N net is therefore a valid tool for training or for playing in all circumstances in which a goal or an equivalent support structure is used.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1-3, the pockets P are obtained by grouping a plurality of meshes of the net N at the intersection 17 between vertical and horizontal cords 15. In other words, the vertical cords 15 cross a plurality of non-perimeter meshes of the net N and the grouped meshes are supported by a horizontal cord 15.

In the configuration shown, the pockets P are side by side and spaced apart in height. However, in general, the arrangement and number of P pockets can be different depending on the training needs or the rules of the game. For example, the P pockets can be only four, distant from each other and arranged at the four corners of the door 10.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the attached figures, the pockets P are made by tying together several meshes of the net N, for example by means of laces, ropes, mechanical fasteners, knots, etc.

In another alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the pockets P are obtained by fixing portions of a second external net to the N network. These external portions are fixed to the net frontally, or in correspondence with the side of the net facing the players, or they are fixed to the net at the rear, or in correspondence with the side of the net opposite the players and in the latter circumstance in the N net they are practiced corresponding access openings to the pockets P.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS 1. Method for equipping a goal (10) for sporting and recreational use, or an equivalent support structure, with a net (N), comprising the steps of: a) make available a net (N) or a fabric that develops substantially in height and width; b) hang the net / fabric (N) on the goal (10) to intercept balls or balls (B) moving through the goal (10); And c) providing in the net / fabric (N) a plurality of pockets (P) for containing said balls or said balls (B). Method according to claim 1, wherein each pocket (P) has dimensions sufficient to hold one or more balls or flasks (B). Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said step c) is carried out by arranging the pockets (P) in vertical and / or horizontal series in the net (N). 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-3, in which said step c) is carried out by arranging each pocket (P) in correspondence with a reduced portion (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) of the net / of the fabric ( N), called quadrant. Method according to claim 4, wherein the quadrants of the net and / or said pockets (P) have a substantially square, or rectangular, or circular, or oval, or hexagonal or rhombic shape, and are adjacent to each other or separated and distant . 6. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each pocket (P) is arranged at the lower edge of the relative quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™). 7. Method according to any one of claims 4-6, comprising the further step: d) mark or delimit each quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) by means of one or more steps between: - color the perimeter of each quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) with a different color than the color of the rest of the mesh / fabric (N), - apply to the mesh / fabric (N), in correspondence of each quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™), an identification label of the quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™); - arrange a rope or a ribbon (15) along the perimeter of each quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™), the rope / ribbon (15) having a different color than the net / fabric (N) and / or a thickness greater than or equal to the thickness of the rope with which the net (N) / fabric is woven. 8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 4-7, in which the mesh / fabric (N) is configured / or in quadrants (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) arranged in vertical series (n1-n1â € ™ â € ™) and / or horizontal (n1-n7), adjacent to each other or separated and distant from each other, and / or it is configured in quadrants (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) arranged in random order. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8, wherein said pockets (P) are obtained by carrying out one or more of the following steps: e) joining together several meshes, even if not contiguous, of the net (N); f) arranging one or more horizontal ropes (15) bound to the uprights (11, 13) of the door (10) and one or more vertical ropes (15) bound to a crosspiece (12) of the door (10) and grouping some links of the net (N) at the intersection between vertical and horizontal cords; g) fixing portions of a second net to the net (N). 10. Method according to claim 9, in which step g) is carried out by pre-packing the pockets (P), individually or in groups, and joining them to the net (N) by means of ropes, tapes, seams or equivalent means. 11. Net or fabric (N) for applications in sports or recreation, particularly for training, of the type that can be fixed to a door (10) to intercept balls or balls (B), in which a plurality of pockets (P) for containing the balls or balls (B) are obtained in the net / fabric (N) or are applied to it / or. Net / fabric (N) according to claim 11, wherein each pocket (P) is obtained or applied in correspondence with a reduced portion (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) of the net / fabric (N), defined quadrant. 13. Net / fabric (N) according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the net / fabric develops substantially in height and width and said pockets (P) are distributed in vertical and / or horizontal series, adjacent between them or distant, or they are distributed in no particular order. Net / fabric (N) according to any one of claims 12-13, wherein the pockets (P) and / or the quadrants (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) have a substantially square, or rectangular, or rhombic shape, or oval, or circular or hexagonal. 15. Mesh / fabric (N) according to claim 13 or claim 14, in which the pockets (P) of a horizontal series are contiguous and the pockets of a vertical series are distal according to a pitch corresponding to the height of the quadrants ( n1-n7â € ™ â € ™). Mesh / fabric (N) according to any one of claims 11-15, wherein the width of each pocket (P) is between 1/10 and 1/2 of the total width of the mesh (N) fixed to a door (10) and the height of each pocket (P) is between 1/10 and 1/2 of the total height of the net (N) fixed to the same door (10). 17. Net / fabric (N) according to any one of claims 11-16, further comprising a marker of each quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™), said marker being selected as a whole comprising a cord / ribbon ( 15) arranged along the perimeter of the dial, a label, a portion of the net / fabric (N) colored differently from the rest of the net / fabric (N). 18. Net (N) according to any one of claims 11-17, further comprising means for reciprocally fixing some non-contiguous meshes of the net, said means being arranged in correspondence with at least a portion of the lower side of each quadrant (n1-n7â € ™ â € ™) to obtain a pocket (P). Net (N) according to any one of claims 11-18, further comprising one or more ropes (15) for supporting the net to a door (10), the rope or ropes (15) extending horizontally and vertically through a plurality of non-perimeter meshes of the net (N) and in which said pockets (P) are formed by grouping some meshes of the net (N) at the intersection between vertical cords (15) and horizontal cords.