Portable enclosure system
Generally, a portable enclosure assembled from a first plurality of axially coupled linear segments and a second plurality of axially coupled linear segments each plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate one of a pair of arcuate supports which can be erected on a support surface a distance apart to provide support for a flexible material having a terminal edge which engages the support surface to establish an enclosure perimeter. Specifically, a portable sports activity enclosure which supports a net having an aperture through which balls can be thrown for pitching and batting practice.
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Generally, a portable enclosure assembled from a first plurality of axially coupled linear segments and a second plurality of axially coupled linear segments each plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate one of a pair of arcuate supports which can be erected on a support surface a distance apart to provide support for a flexible material having a terminal edge which engages the support surface to establish an enclosure perimeter. Specifically, a portable sports activity enclosure which supports a net having an aperture through which balls can be thrown for pitching and batting practice.
I. BACKGROUNDHit all the balls and run after them. Hit all the balls and run after them. Repeat the process until you have lost all the balls! Stop spending the same amount of time running after the balls as you do hitting them! The answer, a portable enclosure system for sports activities stored in a single case which can be carried to and assembled at a sports venue by a single person.
Temporary structures having a frame which supports a fabric material have been available for many years and include, for example, lawn tents, beach tents, camping tents, and batting cages. There is a large commercial market for temporary structures because permanent structures cannot be built for every form of transient event, to accommodate activities that have great variation in the number of participants, or activities which occur in remote locations.
Even though numerous types and kinds of temporary structures exist and even though there is a large commercial market for temporary structures, there remain significant unresolved problems with conventional temporary structures.
One significant problem with conventional temporary structures can be that they may not provide a completely enclosed space as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,577,721; 4,733,865; and 5,040,791. Because these conventional temporary structures do not establish an substantially enclosed perimeter, they may not protect persons inside the enclosure from various objects which may be thrown or hit such as baseballs or flying insects such as mosquitoes. Alternately, when used for applications such as a batting cage, conventional temporary structures may not protect persons outside the structure from balls hit from within the structure.
Another significant problem with conventional temporary structures can be that the erected structure provides a rigid frame which has little or no flexure upon impact by a person or object. As disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,370,385 and 6,655,491, conventional frames for temporary structures may be made from inflexible sections of tubular pipe. Rigid structures, especially when used for applications such as batting cages, can deflect thrown or hit balls toward the hitter. To overcome this problem, the space enclosed by a conventional rigid structure may have a larger configuration place the hitter a substantial distance from the structure walls. Alternately, the frame or walls of conventional temporary structures may provide padded walls to absorb the impact energy of thrown or hit balls.
Another significant problem with convention temporary structures can be that the frame does not collapse, break down, or disassemble into components which can be readily transported. As disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,385 “portable” means “transported by a small van or pickup truck”, or as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,491 portable means “large wheels” to allow movement. However, none of these conventional temporary structures provide disassembled components that can be placed in a single case and carried by a person on foot.
Yet, another significant problem with conventional temporary structures can be that the frames are assembled from numerous and varied shaped components as disclosed for example by U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,494 which has a mid-frame of six feet in length, an upper leg which is four and one-half foot, mid-frame elbows, and a beam. These types of conventional temporary structures may be difficult to package into a small volume for transport, take additional time to set up, and may be expensive to manufacture.
The portable enclosure system invention described below addresses each of the above-described problems of conventional temporary structures.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, a broad object of the invention can be to provide a portable enclosure system which provides an enclosed space with a closed or substantially closed perimeter. One aspect of this objective of the invention is to provide protection to persons within the enclosure from objects or environmental conditions external to the enclosed space such as rain, sun, wind, insects, sports objects (such as baseballs, softballs, soccer balls, footballs, golf balls, flying disks, or the like). Another aspect of this object of the invention can be to retain objects within the enclosed space from traveling beyond the closed or substantially closed perimeter. In this respect, the enclosure can be used as a sports training enclosure for the practice of hitting baseballs, softballs, tennis balls, golf balls, or the like.
Anther broad object of the invention can be to provide a portable enclosure system having a resiliently flexible support frame. While conventional wisdom has taught away from this object of the invention, a resiliently flexible support frame provides many unexpected benefits that rigid frame construction cannot. One benefit of a resiliently flexible support frame can be less damage to the frame upon impact with persons or projectiles. Another benefit of a resiliently flexible support frame can be less weight as compared to conventional rigid frames. An additional benefit of a resiliently flexible support frame can be that components can have a first configuration when assembled and a second different configuration when disassembled. The alternate configurations can allow storage of disassembled components in a reduced volume as compared to conventional rigid frames. Another important benefit of a resiliently flexible support frame can be a sufficient flexure in the assembled portable enclosure system to substantially absorb all the impact energy of objects thrown into or hit within the portable enclosure system. For example, baseballs hit within the portable enclosure system can have substantially reduced deflection or rebound from the frame or from the flexible material supported by the frame as compared to conventional temporary structures.
Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a “portable” enclosure system. In accordance with the invention, portable means disassembling the portable enclosure and placing or packaging all the disassembled components into a single case which can be transported by a single person without the use of wheels or other mechanical devices to assist in supporting the weight of the disassembled enclosure system. As to certain embodiments of the invention, “portable” can mean an arcuate support which disassembles into a plurality of substantially linear segments having a length not greater than 36 inches and a diameter of not greater than one and one-half inches.
Yet another broad object of the invention can be to provide a portable enclosure system which provides a plurality of linear segments of not greater than 36 inches in length from which the enclosure frame assembles without use of additional discreet hardware.
Naturally, further goals and objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A portable enclosure system erected on a support surface from a pair of arcuate supports which supports a flexible material having sufficient surface area to engage the support surface to establish an enclosure perimeter.
Now referring primarily to
As shown by
The first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2) can be produced from a variety of materials including, but not limited to plastic, such as polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinylchloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or the like; expanded or blown crosslinked polymers; various types of metal such as aluminum; and composite materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, or the like.
Now referring to
Again referring primarily to
The invention can further include one or more first tension generator(s) (16) coupled to the first arcuate support (1) and one or more second tension generator(s) (17) coupled to the second arcuate support (2). By substantially fixing the position of the first ends (5)(8) and the second ends (6)(9) of each arcuate support (1)(2) on the support surface (3), tension generated in the first tension generator(s) (17) and tension generated in the second tension generator(s) (17) can be used to establish and maintain the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2) in an erect position a distance apart, as shown by
In the non-limiting embodiment of the invention shown by
As to certain embodiments of the invention, the first end(s) (18) of the first tension generator(s) (16) can be coupled to the first arcuate support (1) and the second end(s) (19) of the first tension generator(s) (16) can be secured at a location(s) (20) on the support surface (3). Similarly, the first end (21) of the second tension generator(s) (17) can be coupled to the second arcuate support (2) and the second end(s) (22) of the second tension generator(s) (17) can be secured at a location(s) (23) on the support surface (3). Adjustment of the length of the first tension generator(s) (16) or the length of the second tension generator(s) (17), or both, between the respective first and second secured ends can generate sufficient tension or tautness in the first tension generator(s) (16), the second tension generator(s) (17), and the length(s) of material (12) coupled between the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2) to establish the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2) in the desired erect configuration.
With respect to certain alternate embodiments of the invention, the first end(s) (18) of the first tension generator(s) (16) can be coupled to the first arcuate support (1) and the second end(s) (20) of the first tension generator(s) (16) can be secured to the support surface (3). Then the first end(s) (21) of the second tension generator(s) (17) can be coupled to the second arcuate support (2) and the second end(s) (22) of the second tension generator(s) (17) secured at a location on the support surface (3) which can without adjusting the length of the tension generators result in sufficient tension or tautness in each of the first tension generator (16); the length(s) of material (12) between the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2); and the second tension generator (17), to establish the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2) in the desired erect configuration.
As to other embodiments of the invention, the first tension generator (16) can include a first plurality of tension generators (16). The first ends (18) of each of the first plurality of tension generators (16) can be coupled to the first arcuate support (1). The second ends (19) of first plurality of tension generators (16) can be secured to the support surface (3) at separate locations or secured to the support surface (3) in pairs as shown by
Similarly, the second tension generator element (17) can include a second plurality of tension generators (17). The first ends (21) of each of the second plurality of tension generators (17) can be coupled to the second arcuate support (2). The second ends (23) of the second plurality of tension generators (17) can be secured to the support surface (3) at separate locations or secured to the support surface (3) in pairs as shown by
As to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in
Specifically referring to
Again referring primarily to
Now referring primarily to
A linear segment coupler (30) allows a plurality of the linear segments (28), whether the non-limiting embodiments shown in
After assembly of the first and second plurality of liner segments (28) to generate the corresponding linear configurations (3) of the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2), the linear configurations (31) of the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2) can have sufficient flexure to generate the corresponding arcuate supports (1)(2) by reduction of the distance between the two opposing ends (5)(6) or (8)(9) of the linear configuration (31).
The various embodiments of the linear segments (28) can be produced from a variety of materials including, but not limited to various types of plastic, such as polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinylchloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or the like; expanded crosslinked polymers; or composite materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, or the like.
Now referring specifically to
The level of elastic tension in the elastic cord (36) can be sufficient to engage or assist in engagement of the linear segment coupler(s) (30) to generate the linear configuration (31) of the arcuate support(s) (1)(2). The level of elastic tension can also maintain or assist in maintaining the linear configuration (31) of the arcuate support(s) (1)(2). The elastically tensioned coupler (35) of this preferred embodiment can allow sufficient travel of the liner segments (28) for disengagement of the linear segment coupler(s) (30). Upon disengagement, the linear segments (28) can be folded as shown by
Now referring primarily to
However, it is to be understood that
The flexible material (38) can have sufficient area to engage the support surface (3) to generate an enclosure perimeter (39), as shown by
Again referring primarily to
This application of the portable enclosure can provide pitching practice in which a pitcher (43) throws the baseball (41) through the aperture element (40) and the majority of baseballs collect within the enclosure perimeter (39). This application of the portable enclosure as a batting cage can further provide batting practice in which a batter (44) located inside the portable enclosure attempts to hit baseballs (41) that pass through the aperture element (40). Of course, the pitcher (43) and the batter (44) could simultaneously utilize the enclosure for baseball practice together.
As to certain embodiments of the invention utilized as a batting cage, the aperture element (40) can be adjusted in size and location on the flexible material (38) to provide a target for the hitter. The surface of the flexible material (38) facing the inside of the enclosed space can have further target zones applied for training purposes. The target zones can be color(s) applied to the surface of the flexible material (38) or other perceivable sensorial indicia to which the batter (44) can direct baseballs (41). Similarly, the aperture element (40) can be adjusted in size or location to practice throwing and hitting of softballs. As to other embodiments of the invention, the aperture element (40) can be adjusted in size or location to facilitate the practice of throwing or receiving footballs, hitting tennis balls or golf balls, or kicking soccer balls, or the like.
The flexible material (38) can further include a terminal band (45) secured to the edge of the flexible material (38) proximate to the support surface (3). The edge of the flexible material (38) can be gathered and secured by the terminal band (45) in a manner which conforms a planar flexible material (38) to the configuration, or a portion of the configuration, of the first arcuate support (1) and the second arcuate support (2). The terminal band (45) can also establish the enclosure perimeter (39) by engaging or being proximate to the support surface (3).
Again referring primarily to
Now referring primarily to
The kit (47) to generate a portable enclosure in accordance with the invention can further include a pair of arcuate retention lines (4)(5) which can be placed inside, stored or transported in the case (49).
The kit (47) to generate a portable enclosure in accordance with the invention can further include four integral erector elements (24) as shown by
The kit (47) to generate a portable enclosure in accordance with the invention can further include an amount of flexible material (38) configured for the particular enclosure application as shown by
The particular embodiments, elements or steps of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments of the portable enclosure system generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figure.
It should also be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of an “enclosure” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “enclosing”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “enclosing”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of an “enclosure” and even a “means for enclosing”. Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the portable enclosure systems herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The claims set forth in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
The claims set forth below are intended describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
Claims
1. An enclosure, comprising:
- a. a first plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate a first arcuate support;
- b. a second plurality of axially coupled linear segments having sufficient flexure to generate a second arcuate support;
- c. a length of a material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support;
- d. a first tension generator coupled to said to said first arcuate support;
- e. a second tension generator coupled to said second arcuate support, wherein said first tension generator and said second tension generator adjust to generate sufficient tension to erect said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support a distance apart on a support surface; and
- f. a flexible supported by said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support erected on said support surface, wherein said flexible material sufficiently engages said support surface to establish an enclosure perimeter.
2. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of axially coupled linear segments have a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.
3. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said second plurality of axially coupled linear segments have a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.
4. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of axially coupled liner segments have a tubular configuration.
5. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of axially coupled liner segments each have a length of between about two feet and about four feet.
6. An enclosure as described in claim 5, wherein said tubular configuration has a diameter of between about three quarters of and inch and about one and one half inches.
7. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of axially coupled linear segments and said second plurality of axially coupled linear segments comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, metal, aluminum, and fiberglass.
8. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising an elastically tensioned coupling between said first plurality of axially coupled segments and said second plurality of axially coupled segments.
9. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising a first arcuate retention line coupled to each end of said first plurality of axially coupled segments to generate said first arcuate support.
10. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising a second arcuate retention line coupled to each end of said second plurality of axially coupled segments to generate said second arcuate support.
11. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said length of material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support comprises a plurality of lengths of material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support.
12. An enclosure as described in claim 11, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of lengths of material between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support comprises coupling four lengths of material between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support.
13. An enclosure as described in claim 11, wherein each of said lengths of material coupled between said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support have a length of between about five feet and about twenty feet.
14. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said first tension generator coupled to said to said first arcuate support comprises a first plurality of tension generators coupled to said first arcuate support.
15. An enclosure as described in claim 14, wherein said first plurality of tension generators coupled to said first arcuate support comprises a first plurality of four tension generators coupled to said first arcuate support.
16. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said second tension generator coupled to said second arcuate support comprises a second plurality of tension generators coupled to said second arcuate support.
17. An enclosure as described in claim 16, wherein said second plurality of tension generators coupled to said second arcuate support comprises a second plurality of four tension generators coupled to said second support.
18. An enclosure as described in claim 1, wherein said length of material between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support, said first tension generator, and said second tension generator comprise an integral erector element.
19. An enclosure as described in claim 1, further comprising an aperture element in said flexible material through which a projectile can pass.
20. An enclosure as described in claim 19, wherein said flexible material comprises a net.
21. An enclosure as described in claim 20, wherein said projectile is selected from the group consisting of a baseball, a softball, a football, a golf ball, a tennis ball, and a soccer ball.
22. A method of generating an enclosed space, comprising the steps of:
- a. axially coupling a first plurality of linear segments;
- b. axially coupling a second plurality of linear segments;
- c. flexing said first plurality of axially coupled linear segments to generate a first arcuate support;
- d. flexing said second plurality of axially coupled linear segments to generate a second arcuate support;
- e. coupling a length of a material between said first arcuate support in said second arcuate support;
- f. coupling a first tension generator to said first arcuate support;
- g. coupling a second tension generator to said second arcuate support;
- h. adjusting tension in said first tension generator and in said second tension generator to erect said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support on a support surface;
- i. supporting a flexible material with said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support; and
- j. establishing an enclosure perimeter between said flexible material and said support surface.
23. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of axially coupling a first plurality of linear segments comprises axially coupling a first plurality of linear segments to generate a first linear support having a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.
24. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of axially coupling a second plurality of linear segments comprises axially coupling a second plurality of linear segments to generate a second linear support having a length of between about 15 feet and about 35 feet.
25. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of liner segments have a tubular configuration.
26. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein each of said liner segments have a length of between about two feet and about four feet.
27. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 26, wherein said tubular configuration has a diameter of between about three quarters of and inch and about one and one half inches.
28. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said linear segments comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, metal, aluminum, and fiberglass.
29. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of generating an elastically tensioned coupling between said plurality of axially coupled segments of said first support.
30. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of securing each end of said first arcuate support to a corresponding end of a arcuate retention line.
31. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of securing each end of said second arcuate support to a corresponding end of a arcuate retention line.
32. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of coupling a length of material between said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support element comprises coupling a plurality of lengths of material between said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support.
33. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 32, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of lengths of material between said first arcuate support and said second material arcuate support comprises coupling four lengths of material between said first arcuate support in said second arcuate support.
34. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of coupling a first tension generator to said first arcuate support comprises coupling a plurality of tension generators to said first arcuate support.
35. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 34, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of tension generators to said first arcuate support comprises coupling four tension generators to said first arcuate support.
36. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said step of coupling a second tension generator to said first support comprises coupling a plurality of tension generators to said second arcuate support.
37. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 36, wherein said step of coupling a plurality of tension generators to said second arcuate support comprises coupling four tension generators to said second arcuate support.
38. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said length of material coupled between said first arcuate support in and said second arcuate support, said first tension generator, and said second tension generator comprise an integral erector element.
39. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, wherein said length of material coupled between said first arcuate support and said second arcuate support has a length of between about four feet and about ten feet.
40. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 22, further comprising the step of providing an aperture element in said flexible material through which a projectile can pass.
41. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 40, wherein said flexible material comprises a net.
42. A method of generating an enclosed space as described in claim 42, wherein said projectile is selected from the group consisting of a baseball, a softball, a football, and a tennis ball.
43. An enclosure, comprising:
- a. a first support having a first end and a second end, wherein said first support has sufficient flexure to alter configuration between a substantially linear configuration and an arcuate configuration in which said first end of said first support and said second end of said first support each have a fixed location on a support surface;
- b. a second support having a first end and a second end, wherein said second support has sufficient flexure to alter configuration between a substantially linear configuration and an arcuate configuration in which said first end of said second support and said second end of said second support each have a fixed location on said support surface;
- c. a length of a material coupled between said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration;
- d. a first tension generator coupled to said first support in said arcuate cofiguration;
- e. a second tension generator coupled to said second support in said arcuate configuration, wherein said first tension generator and said second tension generator adjust to generate sufficient tension to erect said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration said length of said material apart on said support surface; and
- f. a flexible material supported by said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration erected on said support surface, wherein said flexible material has sufficient area to establish an enclosure perimeter between said flexible material and said support surface.
44. An enclosure as described in claim 43, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support has a length between said first end and said second end of about 25 feet and about 30 feet.
45. An enclosure as described in claim 44, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support comprises a plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length.
46. An enclosure as described in claim 45, wherein said plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length further comprise an elastically tensioned coupling between each of said plurality of axially coupled segments of said first support.
47. An enclosure as described in claim 46, further comprising a first circumferential groove established in said linear configuration of each said first support and said second support at the location at which said length of material couples between said first support and said second support, and wherein each said circumferential groove mates with a hook connected to said length of material to couple said length of material between said first support and said second support.
48. An enclosure as described in claim 47, further comprising:
- a. a pair of circumferential grooves one each established proximate to said first end and said second end of said first support, and
- b. a line having a first end and a second end, wherein each of said first end and said second end of said first line terminate in a hook which mates with one of said pair of circumferential grooves to generate said arcuate configuration of said first support.
49. An enclosure as described in claim 48, further comprising:
- a. a second pair of circumferential grooves one each established proximate to said first end and said second end of said second support, and
- b. a second line having a first end and a second end, wherein each of said first end and said second end of said second line terminate in a hook which mates with one of said second pair of circumferential grooves to generate said arcuate configuration of said second support.
50. An enclosure, comprising:
- a. a flexible material;
- b. an aperture element in said flexible material through which a projectile passes;
- c. a first support which supports said flexible material;
- d. a second support which supports said flexible material, wherein said first support and said second support have a sufficient flexure to alter configuration in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material;
- e. a length of a material coupled between said first support and said second support;
- f. a first tension generator coupled to said to said first support;
- g. a second tension generator coupled to said second support; and
51. An enclosure as described in claim 50, wherein said sufficient flexure to alter configuration in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material comprises sufficient flexure to alter configuration of said first support or said second support up to about 6 inches.
52. A method of establishing an enclosure, comprising the steps of:
- a. altering configuration of a first support from a substantially linear configuration to an arcuate configuration in which a first end of said first support and a second end of said first support each have a substantially fixed location on a support surface;
- b. altering configuration of a second support from a substantially linear configuration to an arcuate configuration in which a first end of said second support and a second end of said second support each have a substantially fixed location on a support surface;
- c. coupling a length of material between said first support in said arcuate configuration and said second support in said arcuate configuration;
- d. adjusting a first tension generator coupled to said first support in said arcuate configuration;
- e. adjusting a second tension generator coupled to said second support in said arcuate configuration, wherein adjusting said first tension generator and said second tension generator generates sufficient tension in said first tension generator and said second tension generator to erect said first support and said second support; and
- f. supporting a flexible material with said first support and said second support to establish an enclosure perimeter between said flexible material and said support surface.
53. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 52, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support has a length between said first end and said second end of about 25 feet and about 30 feet.
54. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 53, wherein said substantially linear configuration of said first support comprises a plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length.
55. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 54, wherein said plurality of tubular segments axially coupled each having a length of about 24 inches and about 36 inches in length further comprise an elastically tensioned coupling between each of said plurality of axially coupled segments of said first support.
56. A method of establishing an enclosure, comprising the steps of:
- a. establishing an aperture element in a flexible material through which a projectile can pass;
- b. supporting said flexible material having said aperture element through which said projectile can pass on a first support and a second support;
- c. altering configuration of said first support and said second support in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material;
- d. coupling said first support to said second support with a length of material;
- e. adjusting a first tension generator connected to said first support; and
- f. adjusting a second tension generator connected to said second support, wherein said steps of adjusting said first tension generator and said second tension generator maintains said first support and said second support erect.
57. A method of establishing an enclosure as described in claim 56, wherein said step of altering configuration of said first support and said second support in response to impact of said projectile with said flexible material comprises flexing said first support between about one half inch and about three inches.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 12, 2006
Applicant:
Inventor: William Morrow (Fort Collins, CO)
Application Number: 10/876,817
International Classification: E04B 1/00 (20060101);