WO2022123325A1

WO2022123325A1 - Barrier device that is usable as a game net

Info

Publication number: WO2022123325A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/051117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matteo Zingaro
Original assignee: Matteo Zingaro
Priority date: 2020-12-10
Filing date: 2021-02-11
Publication date: 2022-06-16
Also published as: US20220184478A1; IT202000030374A1; WO2022123322A1

Abstract

A barrier device (1; 1a) that is usable as a game net is able to act as a barrier against respiratory and/or salivary secretions. The barrier device (1; 1a) is sanitizable and consists of a transparent barrier element (2), said transparent barrier element (2) comprising at least one strip portion (3, 3a) made of a transparent material. The barriers device (1; 1a) comprises highlighting means (13) that is arranged for highlighting the presence of said transparent barrier element (2) when said barrier device (1; 1a) is in use. The barrier device (1; 1a) can also be used as a rear projection screen, since at least one side (4, 5; 4a, 5a) of said at least one strip portion (3, 3a) is provided with a coating comprising a transparent paint for rear projection or a transparent film for rear projection.

Description

Barrier device that is usable as a game net

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a barrier device that is usable as a game net, for example as a net for volleyball.

[0002] Background Art

[0003] In the volleyball practice, the net is a fundamental element for the players. Not only does the net divide the court into two adjacent sectors (9 x 9 metres) that are intended to be occupied by opposing teams, but it also enables the players to benefit from a correct vision in depth of the movements of the ball with respect to the court.

[0004] A drawback of known volleyball nets (which drawback emerged during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that started in 2019) is intrinsically connected to the structure thereof. Each volleyball net in fact consists of an interlacement of threads that are reciprocally crossed and knotted so as to define free spaces, namely the meshes. Inevitably, the meshes of the net are “transit routes” that are freely traversable by liquid substances such as for example the so-called droplets, i.e. the emissions of respiratory and/or salivary secretions in the form of microscopic drops that are expelled from the oral cavity and/or the respiratory tract through the effect of coughing and/or sneezes.

[0005] In volleyball, an example of game situation in which the transit of droplets through the meshes of the net can occur extremely easily is the so-called “attack against block”, in which players of one team jump up near the net and raise their hands and arms beyond the upper edge of the net to intercept the ball hit by an opposing hitter. It is clear that, in the above situation, the distance between two players positioned at opposite sides of the net is particularly reduced and is thus such as to permit an undesired exchange of droplets between two or more players.

[0006] This becomes significantly dangerous if one of the players is, for example, an individual who is asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive and is thus able to unknowingly spread the infection to the other players.

[0007] Furthermore, regardless of the specific case of SARS-CoV-2, other dangerous pathogenic microorganisms exist, such as for example meningococcus and pneumococcus, which a volleyball player could be an unknowing healthy carrier of and which he/she could thus transmit by the droplets.

[0008] Briefly, the only manner of preventing, or at least minimizing, the potential risk caused by the droplets would consist of preventing game situations like the one of the attack against block, which would nevertheless lead to a significant impoverishment in the dynamics of the game.

[0009] Another drawback of known volleyball nets, which is also due to the structure thereof, is the substantial difficulty of sanification. In fact, owing to the presence of empty spaces (the meshes of the net), it is not easy to apply suitably a cleaning or disinfecting product to the net (for example by spraying or vaporizing the product) whilst the net is fitted to the corresponding supporting elements (poles). In fact, in order to sanitize the net completely, it would be necessary to dismantle the net from the poles, wrapping the net and immersing the net into a cleaning or disinfecting solution. Nevertheless, the aforesaid procedure, if applied, would imply a significant expenditure of time by the operators employed to clean the court and the sporting equipment used by the players.

[0010] In the light of what has been pointed out above, it is clear that the persons skilled in the art (volleyball trainers and players, as well as trainers and players of other sports in which the use of a half-court net is required) feel a strong need for a game net that enables the above-disclosed drawbacks to be overcome.

[0011] Objects of the invention

[0012] An object of the invention is to improve known game nets, in particular volleyball nets.

[0013] Another object is to provide a game net, in particular a volleyball net, which can be used under suitable safety conditions even in the game situations in which the distance between players of opposing teams is such as to promote an undesired and risky exchange of droplets between the aforesaid players.

[0014] A further object is to provide a game net, in particular a volleyball net, which can be sanitized suitably and avoiding an excessive expenditure of time.

[0015] According to the invention, a barrier device is provided that is usable as a game net, as defined in claim 1. Owing to the invention, the aforementioned objects are achieved, inasmuch as a barrier device is made available that is effectively usable as a game net, for example as a volleyball net, and is easily sanitizable.

[0016] The barrier device according to the invention consists of a transparent barrier element that in turn is formed by at least one strip portion of transparent flexible material. Therefore, the barrier device according to the invention substantially consists of the transparent barrier element only. In this manner, a continuous surface (namely, a surface that is devoid of gaps or empty spaces) replaces the gaming net of known type, which on the contrary consists of a plurality of meshes (namely, a plurality of empty spaces) that can be freely traversed by the droplets.

[0017] When the barrier device according to the invention is in use, the transparent barrier element assures suitable safety conditions also in the game situations in which the distance between the players of opposing teams is reduced (for example, attack against block), inasmuch as a possible exchange of droplets between players is prevented.

[0018] The absence of the net does not prevent the players from benefiting from a correct vision in depth of the movements of the ball with respect to the court, inasmuch as the barrier device is provided with highlighting means, comprising horizontal and vertical bands that are coloured markedly (for example, red, blue, pink or black horizontal and vertical bands) and are positioned on the transparent barrier element.

[0019] The highlighting means replaces the vertical and horizontal bands of the known volleyball nets. In this manner, the transparent barrier element is highlighted chromatically with respect to the court and the player is able to process correctly both the depth of the trajectory of the ball and the movement of the ball with respect to the court and the barrier device.

[0020] Furthermore, unlike known game nets, in order to sanitize the barrier device according to the invention, it is not necessary to dismantle the barrier device from the supporting poles and immerse the barrier device in a cleaning or disinfecting solution. As the barrier device according to the invention has a substantially “continuous” structure - namely a structure that is devoid of the empty spaces corresponding to the meshes of a known game net - an assigned operator can easily apply, for example spray or vaporize, a cleaning or disinfecting product onto the surface of the barrier device, leaving the latter fitted to the poles. This enables a substantial time saving during cleaning of the court and of the sporting equipment.

[0021] Short description of the drawings

[0022] The features of the apparatus according to the invention can be better comprised and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is a perspective, fragmentary and incomplete schematic view showing an embodiment of the barrier device according to the invention;

[0024] Figures 2 and 3 are front, fragmentary and incomplete schematic views of corresponding embodiments of the barrier device according to the invention. [0025] Detailed description of the invention

[0026] In the context of the present description, as well as of the attached claims:

- the terms “game net” and “net for sporting use” are considered to be synonyms and can be used in a reciprocally interchangeable manner;

- the term “droplet” defines an emission of respiratory and/or salivary secretions in the form of microscopic drops, these microscopic drops being expelled from the oral cavity and/or from the respiratory tract of a person when the person sneezes and/or coughs and remaining suspended in the ambient air for a variable time;

- the adjective “sanitizable” indicates the ability of an object, such as for example a game net, to be subjected to cleaning and/or disinfection procedures.

[0027] Figures 1 to 3 show a barrier device 1 according to the invention, comprising a transparent barrier element 2. The barrier device 1 is suitable for the use as a volleyball net (Figures 1 and 2) or as a mini-volleyball net (Figure 3).

[0028] The transparent barrier element 2 comprises a pair of strip portions 3, 3a, each of which is shaped in the form of a rectangular strip and is manufactured from a suitable transparent and flexible material of known type, for example transparent PVC, such as Crystal type-PVC. The strip portion 3 comprises a pair of reciprocally parallel and opposite sides 4, 5. Similarly, the strip portion 3a comprises a pair of reciprocally parallel and opposite sides 4a, 5a. Although in Figure 1 the two strip portions 3, 3 a are shown reciprocally divergent and spaced apart, in the barrier device 1 that is ready for the use the two strip portions 3, 3a are reciprocally side by side, since the two strip portions 3, 3a are welded reciprocally along respective peripheral edges 3b and 3c during manufacture. In this manner, a two-layer transparent barrier element 3 is obtained. When the two strip portions 3, 3a are reciprocally side by side, the adjacent sides of the strip portions 3, 3a (namely, the side 5a of the strip portion 3 a and the side 4 of the strip portion 3) face each other. In the barrier device 1 the two strip portions 3, 3a are also reciprocally parallel.

[0029] In one embodiment of the barrier device 1 that is suitable for use in volleyball (Figures 1- 2), each strip portion 3, 3a has the dimensions shown in the following Table 1:

[0030] Table 1

[0031] In an embodiment of the barrier device 1 that is suitable for use in the minivolleyball (Figure 3), each strip portion 3, 3a has the dimensions shown in the following Table 2:

[0032] Table 2

[0033] In other embodiments, the thickness of each strip portion 3, 3a can vary between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

[0034] Each strip portion 3, 3a can be manufactured by using known methods and apparatuses for producing plastic film materials.

[0035] The barrier device 1 further comprises highlighting means 13, which is arranged for highlighting the presence of the transparent barrier element 2, and thus of the barrier device 1, during use.

[0036] The highlighting means 13 is positioned onto the transparent barrier element 2, in particular along edge portions of the transparent barrier element 2, namely on the peripheral edges 3b or 3c of the strip portion 3, or 3a. The highlighting means 13 comprises: two horizontal bands 6, 7 - namely two bands that are parallel to the strip portion 3, 3a - that extend along the opposite horizontal portions of the peripheral edges 3b and 3c; two vertical bands 8 - namely two bands that are perpendicular to the strip portion 3, 3 a (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) - that have a width of 5 cm and are positioned at the side lines of the court (not shown); two vertical end bands 9 (shown in Figures 2 and 3), which have a width of 3 cm and are positioned at the two opposite ends of the transparent barrier element 2. In other embodiments, the width of the various horizontal and vertical bands can be different from the one disclosed above.

[0037] When the barrier device 1 is in use, the horizontal band 6 corresponds to the upper edge of the transparent barrier element 2, namely to the edge of the transparent barrier element 2 that does not face the ground, while the horizontal band 7 corresponds to the lower edge of the transparent barrier element 2, namely to the edge of the transparent barrier element 2 that faces the ground.

[0038] The horizontal bands 6, 7 and the vertical bands 8, 9 can be made by using a known plastic film material, for example PVC. [0039] The horizontal and vertical bands of the highlighting means 13 are coloured markedly, in particular by using a colour other than white and, for example, by using the red, blue, pink, black colours and combinations thereof. In this manner, notwithstanding the absence of the net, the transparent barrier element is highlighted chromatically with respect to the court and the player is able to process correctly both the depth of the trajectory of the ball and the movement of the ball with respect to the court and the barrier device.

[0040] In one embodiment, a combination of the aforesaid colours is used. For example, a combination of red horizontal bands and blue vertical bands, or vice versa, can be used.

[0041] In addition to the highlighting means 13, the barrier device 1 further comprises two two-colour antennas 10 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) that are manufactured in a suitable shockproof material (for example glass fibre) and protrude vertically from the horizontal band 7 by 70 cm. The two-colour antennas 10 are analogous to those that are required in the known volleyball nets.

[0042] As a person skilled in the art can easily understand, the barrier device 1 shown in Figure 1 can also consist of a single-layer transparent barrier element 2, namely a transparent barrier element 2 comprising a single strip portion 3 or 3a.

[0043] In one embodiment, it is possible to print logos or messages (that are not shown in Figures 1-3) on the strip portion 3, 3a by using known printing methods, for example digital printing methods, which enables the barrier device 1 to be customized according to the needs of the user.

[0044] In another embodiment, the strip portion 3, 3 a is provided with a coating (that is not shown in Figures 1-3) comprising a transparent paint for rear projection of a known type or a transparent film for rear projection of a known type. In this manner, when the barrier device 1 is not used during training or match, the barrier device 1 can be used as a rear projection screen, onto which images, for example advertising slides or films, can be projected.

[0045] In the barrier device 1 consisting of the one-layer transparent barrier element 2, the coating can be applied onto one of the two sides 4, 5 (or 4a, 5a) of the strip portion 3 (or 3 a). In the barrier device 1 consisting of the two-layer transparent barrier element 2 (having both the strip portions 3 and 3a), the coating can be applied onto one of the two sides that do not face each another, namely onto the side 4a or onto the side 5. [0046] By way of non-limiting example, the weight of the barrier device 1 for volleyball (length: 10 metres) consisting of the two-layer transparent barrier element 2 is about 15 kg, the weight of the barrier device 1 for volleyball consisting of the single-layer transparent barrier element 2 is about 8 kg and the weight of the barrier device 1 for mini-volleyball (length: 7 metres) consisting of the single-layer transparent barrier element 3 is about 6 kg.

[0047] Figures 2 and 3 show the front appearance of the barrier device according to the invention in two different embodiments (the shown drawings are not in the same scale). All the elements of the barrier device according to the invention previously disclosed with reference to the Figure 1 are indicated by the same reference numbers in Figures 2-3 and are not disclosed again below. Figure 2 shows a barrier device 1 for volleyball like the one in Figure 1, while Figure 3 shows a barrier device la for mini-volleyball.

[0048] Each barrier device 1, la is fitted to supporting means 11 through anchoring means 12. The anchoring means 12 is interposed between the two opposite ends of the transparent barrier element 2 and the supporting means 11.

[0049] The supporting means 11 comprises a pair of supporting poles I la, 11b of a known type (Figure 2; Figure 3), the lower portion of which (that is not shown) is fixed to the ground. The anchoring means 12 comprises a pair of steel cables 12a and a pair of fabric cables 12.

[0050] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the steel cables 12a are arranged above, namely are positioned between the supporting pole I la, 11b and the end of the corresponding vertical end band 9 that is level with the horizontal band 6, while the fabric cables 12b are arranged below, namely are positioned between the supporting pole I la, 11b and the end of the corresponding vertical end band 9 that is level with the horizontal band 7.

[0051] In one embodiment, the steel cable 12a can be replaced with a cable of another known material, which is able to support suitably the barrier device 1, la. In another embodiment, the anchoring means 12 comprises two pairs of steel cables 12a (that are arranged above and below). In a further embodiment, the anchoring means 12 comprises two pairs of fabric cables 12b (that are arranged above and below).

[0052] In use, the barrier device 1, la assures suitable safety conditions in the game situations in which the distance between players of opposing teams is reduced, in particular by preventing a possible and undesired exchange of droplets between the players. Once the match or training session has terminated, an assigned operator can easily apply, for example vaporize, a cleaning or disinfecting product onto the surface of the barrier device 1, la whilst the barrier device 1, la is fitted to the supporting poles I la, 11b. A disinfectant/detergent of known type (Rifrax San) containing alcohol, anionic and nonionic surfactants and sodium 2-phenyl phenolate can for example be used as a suitable product. [0053] From what has been disclosed and exemplified above, it can be stated that the barrier device according to the invention enables the prior art drawbacks to be overcome easily and multiple advantages to be obtained.

[0054] Possible variations on and/or additions to what has been disclosed above and/or what has been illustrated in the attached drawings are possible. For example, although the embodiment of the invention disclosed with reference to Figures 1-3 is suitable for being used as a volleyball net or mini-volleyball net, a person skilled in the art will easily understand that, by varying the dimensions of the transparent barrier element 2 it is possible to manufacture a game net that is suitable for use in other versions of volleyball, such as beach- volleyball or snow-volleyball, or a game net that is suitable for use in a sport different from volleyball, such as badminton or tennis.

Claims

CLAIMS Sanitizable barrier device (1; la), which can be used as a game net and is able to act as a barrier against respiratory and/or salivary secretions, said barrier device (1; la) consisting of a transparent barrier element (2) and said transparent barrier element (2) comprising at least one strip portion (3, 3a) made of a transparent material. Barrier device (1; la) according to claim 1, wherein said transparent barrier element (2) comprises a pair of said strip portions (3, 3a), said strip portions (3, 3a) of said pair being reciprocally side by side, so that one side (5a) of the strip portion (3a) and an adjacent side (4) of the other strip portion (3) face each other. Barrier device (1; la) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said transparent barrier element (2) comprises highlighting means (13) that is arranged for highlighting the presence of said transparent barrier element (2) when said barrier device (1; la) is in use. Barrier device (1; la) according to claim 3, wherein said highlighting means (13) comprises horizontal bands (6, 7) and vertical bands (8, 9), said horizontal bands (6, 7) and said vertical bands (8, 9) being coloured with a colour other than white. Barrier device (1; la) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said highlighting means (13) is positioned along edge portions of said transparent barrier element (2). Barrier device (1; 1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one side (4, 5; 4a, 5a) of said at least one strip portion (3, 3a) is provided with a coating comprising a transparent paint for rear projection or a transparent film for rear projection, said barrier device (1; la) being usable as a rear projection screen. Barrier device (1; la) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said transparent material of said at least one strip portion (3, 3a) is a flexible material. Barrier device (1; la) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising anchoring means (12) that is arranged for fitting said barrier device (1; la) to supporting means (11) when said barrier device (1; la) is in use. Barrier device (1; la) according to claim 8, wherein, when said barrier device (1; la) is in use, said anchoring means (12) is interposed between two opposite ends of said transparent barrier element (2) and said supporting means (11). Barrier device (1; la) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said anchoring means (12) comprises at least one steel cable (12a) or at least one fabric cable (12b) and said supporting means (11) comprises a pair of supporting poles (I la, 1 lb).

9 Barrier device (1; la) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which can be used as a game net in a game selected from the group consisting of volleyball, minivolleyball, beach- volleyball, snow-volleyball, badminton and tennis.