Abstract: A bucket caddy stably holds a bucket or container above a horizontal support surface or ground for easier access to the contents of the bucket or container. The bucket caddy has a retainer with slots into which at least three legs are movably joined. The legs each have a shelf surface and a hook (U-shaped or crimped) or upstanding wall disposed at their proximal ends. When splayed apart, the shelf surfaces point radially inwardly toward the retainer with their top surfaces in a common plane onto which the bottom of the bucket may be positioned. The hooks receive straps or elastic bands, each of which has a fastener at its opposite end adapted to join a portion of a rim of the bucket. Length-adjustable means are associated with straps that are not elastic. Alternatively, belts or screws provide three point connection between the legs and the sidewall of the bucket.

Abstract: A freestanding basketball backstop assembly returns basketballs shot at a basketball hoop to a player positioned at a location spaced apart from the basketball hoop. A net support has a base and side legs, with vertical rods removably insertable into sockets of the side legs and threaded through sleeves extending from the side edges of the net peripheral border. The base is placed in front of the post supporting the basketball backboard. In one embodiment, the net is arranged behind the post supporting the backboard, and a slit opening in the bottom periphery of the net receives a portion of the post supporting the backboard. In other embodiments, the net remains in front of the post supporting the backboard, and the vertical rods are set variably to place the net in different angle orientations so that the assembly may be used either as a backstop assembly, or as a defender barrier in front of the basketball basket or as a barrier or practice net for other sports.

Abstract: A portable sports practice net includes a frame with a base to which removable vertical poles having top side bar supports, such as T-units or L-units, are joined holds a net to create an opening, such as a goal opening. The top side bar supports have a unique shape and extend horizontally from the top of the vertical poles in a manner that reduces the weight placed on the net fabric hung between the vertical poles and creates a goal pocket depth with need for additional vertical posts. Or, the tops of the vertical posts are joined to T-units or L-units, with each T-unit or L-unit having a horizontal bar slidably engaged thereto to create the goal opening depth. Each vertical post creates a pivot point at its bottom end, such that each vertical post is urged apart from the other post to create tension or leverage between the opposite top side bar supports or T-units or L-units, thus creating a net opening with a more realistic goal shape and reducing sag at the top edge.

Abstract: A freestanding basketball backstop assembly returns basketballs shot at a basketball hoop to a player positioned at a location spaced apart from the basketball hoop. A net support has a base and side legs, with vertical rods removably insertable into sockets of the side legs and threaded through sleeves extending from the side edges of the net peripheral border. The base is placed in front of the post supporting the basketball backboard. The net is arranged behind the post supporting the backboard. A slit opening in the bottom periphery of the net receives a portion of the post supporting the backboard. Top corners of the net are connected to the tops of the vertical rods. Bottom corners of the net are attached to front edges of the side legs. The vertical rods keep the net in tension behind the backboard.

Abstract: A bucket caddy stably holds a bucket or container above a horizontal support surface or ground for easier access to the contents of the bucket or container. The bucket caddy has a retainer with slots into which at least three legs are movably joined. The legs each have a shelf surface and a hook (U-shaped or crimped) or upstanding wall disposed at their proximal ends. When splayed apart, the shelf surfaces point radially inwardly toward the retainer with their top surfaces in a common plane onto which the bottom of the bucket may be positioned. The hooks receive straps or elastic bands, each of which has a fastener at its opposite end adapted to join a portion of a rim of the bucket. Length-adjustable means are associated with straps that are not elastic. Alternatively, belts or screws provide three point connection between the legs and the sidewall of the bucket.

Abstract: A portable sports practice net includes a frame with a base to which removable vertical poles having top side bar supports are joined holds a net to create an opening, such as a goal opening. The top side bar supports have a unique shape and extend horizontally from the top of the vertical poles in a manner that reduces the weight placed on the net fabric hung between the vertical poles. The top side bar supports also create a depth of the goal pocket without need for additional vertical posts. Each vertical post creates a pivot point at its bottom end, such that each vertical post is urged apart from the other post to create tension or leverage between the opposite top side bar supports, thus creating a net opening with a more realistic goal shape and reducing sag at the top edge.

Abstract: A sports ball rebounder net has a rebound surface positioned and angled to receive balls and to return or propel those projected balls back to the athlete. The net frame has brackets extending from the rear of each vertical post. The brackets each have an arcuate hole at a first radial distance from a center of rotation, and a series of spaced apart holes along an arc located at a second distance from the center of rotation. One arm of the back support is connected to the first bracket and a second arm connected to the second bracket, each at the respective centers of rotation. The angular position of the back support in respect of the net frame is adjusted by pulling a cord that is attached at each end to a respective plunger associated with each arm of the back support, each of which has a pin that is retracted upon pulling the cord. The respective pins of the plungers mate with one of each series of holes through the bracket attached to the net frame.

Abstract: A batting practice stand has a length-adjustable post that has a ball-receiving cone at one end and L-shaped slots through its sidewall at its opposite end. By axially sliding the post into an opening of the base and rotating, the L-shaped slots engage a bar within the base opening to secure the post to the base. A compressible washer or stopper is provided in the bottom portion of the base to facilitate connection between L-shaped slots of the post and bar within the base. Legs extend outwardly from between flanges of the sidewall of the base. Between the flanges, the base defines socket openings that receive curved detent buttons extending from the proximal ends of each of the legs. Pins extend across the flanges and through the legs, and are engaged by slots defined in the curved detent buttons. The legs are rotatably moved from a storage position aligned with the legs substantially parallel to one another to a stand support position with the legs at angles to one another.

Abstract: A portable soccer goal frame with a base to which removable vertical poles having top side bar supports are joined holds a net to create a goal opening. The top side bar supports have a unique shape and extend horizontally from the top of the vertical poles in a manner that reduces the weight placed on the net fabric hung between the vertical poles. The top side bar supports also create a depth of the goal pocket without need for additional vertical posts. Each vertical post creates a pivot point at its bottom end, such that each vertical post is urged apart from the other post to create tension or leverage between the opposite top side bar supports, thus creating a more realistic goal shape and reducing sag at the top edge of the goal opening.

Abstract: A sports ball rebounder net has a rebound surface positioned and angled to receive balls and to return or propel those projected balls back to the athlete. The net frame has brackets extending from the rear of each vertical post. The brackets each have an arcuate hole at a first radial distance from a center of rotation, and a series of spaced apart holes along an arc located at a second distance from the center of rotation. One arm of the back support is connected to the first bracket and a second arm connected to the second bracket, each at the respective centers of rotation. The angular position of the back support in respect of the net frame is adjusted by pulling a cord that is attached at each end to a respective plunger associated with each arm of the back support, each of which has a pin that is retracted upon pulling the cord. The respective pins of the plungers mate with one of each series of holes through the bracket attached to the net frame.

Abstract: A portable soccer goal frame with a base to which removable vertical poles having top side bar supports are joined holds a net to create a goal opening. The top side bar supports have a unique shape and extend horizontally from the top of the vertical poles in a manner that reduces the weight placed on the net fabric hung between the vertical poles. The top side bar supports also create a depth of the goal pocket without need for additional vertical posts. Each vertical post creates a pivot point at its bottom end, such that each vertical post is urged apart from the other post to create tension or leverage between the opposite top side bar supports, thus creating a more realistic goal shape and reducing sag at the top edge of the goal opening.