Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Target or obstacle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-04
2001-07-24
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Target or obstacle
C373S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264570
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a portable practice sports net. In particular, the present invention relates to a portable practice golf driving net having a pair of extendible support poles between which extends and by which is supported a net barrier extending from the ground to a significant height against which golf drives may practiced.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf remains one of the most popular sports and recreational past times ever. Every year, millions of golfers devote significant energies, resources and time toward improving their score on the golf course. Such efforts can range from obtaining the latest technology in clubs and balls to obtaining professional golf lessons and instruction. However, possibly the biggest focus of most golfers is finding opportunities to actually practice their swings and techniques, particularly their drive or tee shots.
Unfortunately, obtaining such opportunities is often difficult and inconvenient. Clearly the most pleasurable method is to actually play a round of golf on a golf course. This requires significant time and, in many cases, money. Other times, it is more convenient or desirable to frequent so-called driving ranges, where the golfer can repeatedly practice drive or tee shots from a driving station. Again, although consuming far less time and money than a full round of golf, driving ranges also suffer from the limitations of access and availability to many golfers.
Solutions to this problem have been proposed through the years. One solution has been the development of frame and net structures that can be used at or near the golfer's home. Such nets typically include a circular or square frame forming a periphery to which is attached a mesh or net material. Such frames usually comprise a set of interlocking right-angle poles that, when fully assembled, form a rectangular shape across which a screen or net is a positioned and into which a golf ball may be driven. Such frames, however, are usually fairly expensive and complex to assemble, particularly alone. Also, the loss of even a single pole segment renders the entire net useless. Such nets further typically consume significant storage space when not in use. Other frames comprise self-erecting flexible rings that can be folded upon themselves and which are attached about their periphery to a net or mesh. Although easier to deploy, such frames likewise consume significant space and are typically smaller when deployed and hence of lower utility.
For the foregoing reasons, an unresolved need exists for an improved portable practice sports net.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art, the present disclosure, briefly described, provides, in general form, an improved practice golf driving net into which golf balls may be conveniently driven comprising a pair of vertically extending support poles preferably consisting of three articulating and interlocking segments. The segments are preferably detachably connected together via a shock cord extending through each of the segments. A top end of each of the poles has a net support and a bottom end of each of the poles has a pole support means.
A substantially rectangular net has a top, bottom and side edges, where each of the side edges preferably have three spaced apart retaining sleeves attached at vertical intervals thereto. Each of the sleeves is situated about a vertical length of one of the three segments of the poles, where the spaced apart sleeves create a gap at mating ends of the segments of the poles, thereby allowing the pole segments to be attached and reattached to each other without interference from the sleeves that maintain the net in taut relationship with the poles. An upper corner at each side of the net is attached to the net support and a lower corner of each side of the net is attached to the pole proximate the pole support.
Thus, the net of the present invention can be readily assembled and disassembled, while providing a net that is relatively taut, but yielding, when hit by a golf ball. For example, the sleeves are connected to the poles about each of the segments and spaced apart such that each of the interconnecting portions of the pole segments are exposed and can be pulled away from its adjacent segment without interference.
There are of course additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining the several preferred embodiments of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangements set forth in the following description of illustrated in the drawings. The improved sport net of the present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in several ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for description and not limitation.
As will appear from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment to follow, the features of the sports net render it suitable for a wide variety of conditions and uses. In addition to the convenience of rendering a practice sports net readily available and thereby allowing a golfer to more frequently practice their golf skills, the practice sports net of the present invention offers a relatively inexpensive and easily stored net that can be readily manipulated by a single person.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining the preferred embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The improved sports net of the present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for description and not limitation. Where specific dimensional and material specifications have been included or omitted from the specification or the claims, or both, it is to be understood that the same are not to be incorporated into the appended claims.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims are regarded as including such equivalent constructions as far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with the patent or legal terms of phraseology, to learn quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is intended to define neither the invention nor the application, which is only measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new practice sport net, and particularly a practice golf driving net, that is easily assembled and disassembled.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new practice sports net that consumes a minimal space when not in use.
It is another object of the present
Graham Mark S.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
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