Sports Wall Securing Structure

Abstract

A securing structure and/or mechanism that is attached to a portable sports wall or panel to enable the panel to be anchored to a surface on which the panel is placed. The securing structure takes the form of a securing member, e.g., a clip that can be removably attached to the panel, such as to the frame of the panel. The clip includes an engagement member, e.g., a stake that is movably secured to the clip and can be engaged with the surface on which the panel is placed. The ability of the stake to move on the clip enables the stake to be moved into and out of a use position that allows the stake to engage the surface and hold the panel in the desired position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/982,493, filed on Apr. 22, 2014, and as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/804,422, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/587,715, filed on Aug. 16, 2012, which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional patent Application Ser. No. 61/662,551, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, the entirety of which are each expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a securing members, and more specifically to a securing mechanism adapted for use on a sports wall or panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many types of sports walls or panels, which are terms used interchangeably throughout the application, that are used to provide surfaces for various purposes in either playing or practicing a particular sport. In many situations the wall or panel is designed as a target against which an object, such as a ball used to play the sport, is thrown, kicked or otherwise directed.

With the walls and panels of this type, it is desirable to make the wall or panel portable such that it can be used in a number of locations. One drawback with making the panels portable is that the panel then requires a structure thereon that can effectively secure or anchor the panel to the surface on which the panel is positioned for use. These structures can take any number of different forms.

However, many of the anchors or other securing structures are not compatible with different types of surfaces on which the panel can be positioned, and often have configurations that add significant size and/or weight to the panel, thereby lessening the effectiveness of the portability function of the panel.

Thus, it is desirable to develop a securing structure for a portable sports wall or panel that overcomes these deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, one aspect of the present disclosure is a securing structure and/or mechanism that is attached to a portable sports wall or panel to enable the panel to be anchored to a surface on which the panel is placed. In one embodiment, the securing structure takes the form of a securing member, e.g., a clip that can be attached to the panel, such as to the frame of the panel. The clip includes an engagement member, e.g., a stake that is movably secured to the clip and can be engaged with the surface on which the panel is placed. The ability of the stake to move on the clip enables the stake to be moved into and out of a use position that allows the stake to engage the surface and hold the panel in the desired position and alternatively to be placed in a non-use position when the panel is not being used, or is placed on a surface that is not compatible with the stake.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the clip can be releasably secured to the panel, such that the securing structure can be utilized with different types of pre-existing panels.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the securing structure can be formed without the securing member, such that the engagement member is connected directly to the panel.

Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawings figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a securing structure constructed according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the structure of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, one embodiment of a securing structure constructed according to the present disclosure is illustrated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The securing structure 10 includes a securing member 12, which in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a clip 14. The clip 14 has a body 15 formed of a suitable material, such as a metal or plastic that is durable but is relatively flexible in nature, and includes a pair of opposed ends 16,18. Each end includes a tab 20 that extends outwardly from the respective end 16,18 at an angle with respect to the end 16,18, and in the illustrated embodiment extend outwardly at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the ends 16,18. The tabs 20 each include an opening 22 therein that can be aligned with one another in order to enable a fastener 24 to be inserted through each of the openings 22. The fastener 24 can be any suitable type of fastener, such as a bolt 26 and nut 28, that can be selectively engaged with one another to hold the tabs 20 together.

The shape of the clip 14 can be selected as desired and is determined by the shape of a frame member 30 (FIG. 3) forming a support frame 31 of a sports wall or panel 32 including a rebounding wall 35 attached to the frame 31 and to which the clip 14 is to be attached. The clip 14 is shaped to closely conform to the cross-sectional shape of the frame member 30, so that when the tabs 20 are engaged with one another using the fastener 24, the clip 14 is securely engaged with the frame member 30. As such the clip 14 can be formed with a generally circular shape, as in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, or in a square configuration, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2. The resiliency or flexible nature of the material forming the body 15 of the clip 14 enables the clip 14 to be flexed and positioned around the frame member 30. Also, the engagement of the tabs 20 using the fastener 24 in conjunction with the flexibility of the body 15 of the clip 14 allows the clip 14 to be secured to and/or around frame members 30 of varying diameters or sizes, and to enable the structure 10 to be selectively removed from the panel 32 in its entirety when not in use, or as desired.

Regardless of the particular shape of the body 15 of the clip 14, the structure 10 also includes an engagement member 34 attached to the clip 14. The engagement member 34 enables the structure 10 to engage the ground or other surface on which the panel 32 including the structure 10 is placed. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the engagement member 34 takes the form of a stake 36 having a generally wedge-like shape with one end attached to the body 15 of the clip 14 and the other end terminating in a tip or point 37 that is capable of readily being inserted into the ground on or over which the panel 32 is positioned.

In an exemplary embodiment, the stake 36 is formed with a pair of flat sides that enable the stake 36 to be readily engaged and withdrawn from the surface, such as a grass field, without causing substantial damage to the surface with which the stake 36 is engaged. In another exemplary embodiment, the stake 36 is angular in shape to assist in insertion of the stake 36 into the surface, but also has a thickness that is less than the length and width of the stake 36 to further assist in insertion of the stake 36 into the surface, thereby causing minimal visible damage to the surface, e.g., the grass field. The length of the stake 36 between the end attached to the clip 14 and the point 37 in one exemplary embodiment is selected to be about twice the diameter of the frame member 30 to which the stake 36 is attached. With this length, the stake 36 can penetrate into the ground a sufficient distance to effectively maintain the position of the frame member 30 and panel 32 on the ground when the panel 32 is in use, such that the stake 36 is capable of withstanding the forces exerted on and by the frame member 30 and panel 32 pushing against the stake 36 during use of the panel 32.

To assist in holding the stake 36 in engagement within the ground, the stake 36 includes a hook, barb or protrusion 38 on the stake 36 generally opposite the clip 14. The hook 38 extends outwardly from the stake 36 in an angled manner to define a shoulder 39 between the hook 38 and the stake 36 that is spaced from the point 37 and engages the ground in a generally plane defined by the surface of the shoulder 39 that is separate from and generally perpendicular to a vertical plane defined by the surface of the remainder of the stake 36 around the hook 38 in order to enhance the securing force exerted by the ground on the stake 36 when the panel 32, as well as the stake 36, is pulled upwardly or otherwise away from the ground. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hook 38 is generally pyramidal in shape with a pair of triangular surfaces joined to the stake 36 along one side and to each other at a second side, with the third side being connected to the surface defining the shoulder 39 that extends between bout triangular surfaces and the stake 36.

The stake 36 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is pivotally secured to the clip 14 opposite the point 37, such as by a hinge 41, such that the stake 36 can be moved between engaging and non-engaging positions, but can also be movably secured to the securing member 12 in any suitable manner to enable the stake 36 to move between the use and non-use positions. This allows the stake 36 to engage a ground surface in the use position, where the stake 36 points towards the surface on which the panel 32 is positioned, but can be moved to the non-use position, where the stake 36 is oriented away from the supporting surface, to avoid engaging a non-ground surface, such as a hardwood floor in a gym, for example. To assist the stake 36 in maintaining the desired position on or with respect to the panel 32, in the illustrated embodiments the body 15 of the clip 14 is formed with a flat surface 40 opposite the tabs 20 that can abut the stake 36. Further, the body 15 of the clip 14 can include other retaining features 42 to hold the stake 36 in the non-use position. For example, the retaining features 42 disposed on the body 15 of the clip 14 can include a magnet, a retaining clip or band, or any other suitable retaining structure able to hold the stake 36 in the non-use position.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the clip 14 can be omitted entirely and the stake 36 can be directly attached to the frame member 30 of the panel 32. Further, the engagement member 34 can be formed to be movably attached to the clip 14 or the frame 30 in any other suitable manner to enable the engagement member 34 to be moved between the use and non-use positions, which can include a storage position within the frame member 30. Also, the engagement member 34 can have alternative structures thereon that are adapted to engage surfaces other than by penetrating the surface, such as a suction cup, a magnet, a weight, or a clamp, among other suitable structures.

Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A securing structure for a sports wall panel, the structure comprising:

a) a securing member adapted to be secured to a frame member of a sports wall panel; and

b) an engagement member attached to the securing member and adapted to be engaged with a surface on which the sports wall panel is supported.

2. The securing structure of claim 1 wherein the securing member is selectively securable to the panel.

3. The securing structure of claim 2 wherein the securing member comprises:

a) a body having a pair of opposed ends; and

b) a fastener engaged between the opposed ends of the body.

4. The securing structure of claim 1 wherein the engagement member is pivotally attached to the securing member.

5. The securing structure of claim 4 wherein the engagement member is formed as a stake.

6. The securing structure of claim 5 wherein the stake includes a hook extending outwardly from the stake.

7. The securing member of claim 6 wherein the hook forms an annular shoulder on the stake that defines a surface generally perpendicular to the stake.

8. The securing member of claim 1 further comprising a retaining feature disposed on the securing member and operable to retain the engagement member on the securing member in a non-use position.

9. A method of engaging a panel with a surface on which the panel is supported, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the securing structure of claim 1; and

b) engaging the engagement member with the surface on which the panel is supported.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of moving the engagement member from a non-use position into a use position prior to engaging the engagement member with the surface.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of disengaging a retaining feature securing the engagement member to the securing member prior to the step of moving the engagement member from a non-use position into a use position.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of engaging the securing member with a frame of a sports wall panel prior to engaging the engagement member with the surface.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of engaging the securing member with the frame comprises the steps of:

a) positioning a body of the securing member around the frame to align opposed ends off the boy with one another; and

b) engaging the aligned opposed ends with one another.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of engaging the aligned opposed ends comprises inserting a fastener through openings in each of the aligned opposed ends.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the engagement member is formed as a stake having a hook extending outwardly from the stake that forms an annular shoulder on the stake that defines a surface generally perpendicular to the stake, and wherein the step of engaging the engagement member with the surface comprises the steps of:

a) engaging the stake with the surface in a first plane; and

b) engaging the annular shoulder on the hook with the surface in a second plane.

16. A sports wall panel comprising:

a) a support frame;

b) a rebounding wall attached to the support frame; and

c) a securing structure attached to the support frame the securing structure including a securing member attached to the support frame and an engagement member attached to the securing member.

17. The sports wall panel of claim 16 wherein the securing member is releasably secured to the support frame.

18. The sports wall panel of claim 16 wherein the securing member is a hinge connected between the support frame and the engagement member.

19. The sports wall panel of claim 16 wherein the engagement member comprises:

a) a stake connected to the hinge at one end; and

b) a hook disposed on the stake and spaced from the opposite end, the hook extending outwardly from the stake to forms an annular shoulder on the stake that defines a surface generally perpendicular to the stake.