Portable volleyball net and supports
A portable erectable support for volley balls nets has two net supporting uprights. The net is attached to a ratchet engaging reel on one support, which can be hand wound to tighten the net, and directly to the other. The supports have separable interlocking upper net holding supports and lower ground engaging supports. The height is adjustable by removable interlocking extensions between upper and lower supports so men, women and juniors may use the net. There are net tie down loops on the reel itself and the other upper support. There are also guy rope tie down loops on both upper supports. Guy rope anchors have ground penetrating prongs and a ground resting base with a guy rope tie down loop.
This invention is directed to portable erectable sports nets, in general, and portable erectable volley ball nets in particular.
BACKGROUNDVolley ball nets typically consist of a net and two uprights driven into beach sand. The uprights are typically anchored by guys. Usually the volley ball net has four sides of cord with corner attachments secured to the uprights by loops, or hooks, etc. Sometimes a tensioning device is used, a reel or winch attached to the upper cross cord to tighten the top of the net and maintain it in relative position.
PRIOR ARTApplicant is aware of no specific prior art relating to instant invention.
The present invention provides a reel support, which has a reel parallel to the upper portion of the reel support. This reel has upper and lower attachment points to attach respectively the upper and lower edges of the net. An end support of equal height, has similar attachment points for the same purpose at the same height. In use the net is attached to the attachment points, the reel is then rotated to tighten the net, and the reel is locked in position. Conveniently a ratchet arrangement cooperates with the reel so that the reel tightens without release during use. Anchors and associated guys are provided to hold the supports in upright position. The reel support conveniently has horizontal upper and lower support arms which support the reel between upper and lower pivots. Typically it is desired to adjust the height of the volley ball net. This is done by reel and end support both having a lower support with a spike or the like to penetrate the ground, sand or other substrate, and an upper reel and end support to bear the net. The lower supports are in practice identical. The upper and lower supports interlock, for example, by a ferrule or sleeve interlock of pin in socket or the like so that in sports use they remain locked in stable relationship. Extensions are provided, which can be inserted between upper and lower supports and which similarly interlock, so that the net height can be adjusted for men, women and juniors. A ratchet may be provided at the bottom of the reel which interacts with a cog on the lower support arm, the cog is controlled by a lever so that the cog can be disengaged from the ratchet and the reel can be unwound.
Although the invention is described and referred to specifically as it relates to supports for volley ball nets comprising a reel, it will be understood that the principles of this invention are equally applicable to similar devices, and structures for supporting sports nets, and accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such devices, and structures, for supporting sports nets.
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a portable support for sports nets having a reel to which the net can be attached, tightened and wound. It is a subsidiary object of the invention to provide support arms bearing pivots for the reel on a support upright. It is a further subsidiary object to provide a pawl and ratchet sprocket operatively associated with the reel on one support arm, whereby the reel may be hand wound tightening the net. It is a subsidiary object of the invention to provide an end support for the other end of the net. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provided ground penetrating pins at the base of both supports. It is a further subsidiary object to provide tie downs loops for guy ropes on both supports. It is a further subsidiary object to provide net tie down loops for the net on the reel and the end support. It is a further object of the invention to provide interlocking upper and lower upright reel and end supports. It is further subsidiary object of the invention to provide at least one removable interlocking intermediate extension between the upper and lower upright reel and end supports. It is a further object of the invention to provide ground anchors for guy ropes with paired angled ground penetrating prongs attached to a ground resting base having a guy rope tie down loop.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIn one broad aspect the invention is directed to a portable support for a sports net. The support has a ground engaging base and a reel support member to extend upright from the base, and a reel parallel to the reel support member having paired upper and lower reel attachments for the sports net so the net can be attached to and wound on the reel. The support preferably comprises a second support having a second ground engaging base and a second support member to extend upright from said base and paired upper and lower member attachments for said sports net. Preferably the support additionally comprises a sports net. Preferably the reel support has upper and lower support arms. The upper support arm has an upper pivot to engage rotatably the reel and the lower support arm has a lower pivot to engage rotatably said reel. Preferably the reel has a lower sprocket wheel engaging a pawl on the lower support arm. Preferably the pawl comprises a cog mounted on a rotary shaft, which is upright in use and has a lever arm horizontal in use, and spring means acting on the lever arm, urging the cog into lockable contact with the sprocket. Preferably the spring extends from a movable holder pin mounted on the lever arm to a fixed holder pin mounted on the lower support arm. Preferably the shaft extends through the lower support arm, and the lever arm is below the lower support arm. The movable holder pin projects downward from the lever arm and the fixed holder pin projects downward from the lower support arm. Preferably the upper pivot, comprises an upper reel socket mounted below the upper support arm rotatably engaging an upper reel stud mounted on the reel, and the lower pivot comprises a lower reel stud tube rotatably engaging an axial cylindrical aperture of the sprocket wheel.
In another broad aspect the invention is directed to a portable support system for sports net comprising a reel support to stand upright having a lower reel support to engage the ground and a upper reel support and a reel parallel to the upper reel support, the reel having paired upper and lower reel attachments for the sports net so the net can be attached to and wound on the reel. The upper reel support has upper and lower support arms. The upper support arm has an upper pivot to engage rotatably the reel, and the upper pivot comprises an upper reel socket mounted below the upper support arm rotatably engaging an upper reel stud mounted on the reel. The lower support arm has a lower pivot to engage rotatably the reel, and the lower pivot comprises a lower reel stud tube rotatably engaging an axial cylindrical aperture of a sprocket wheel axially mounted on the bottom of the reel and a pawl on the lower support arm engages the sprocket wheel. The pawl comprises a cog mounted on a rotary shaft, the rotary shaft is upright in use and has a lever arm horizontal in use, and a spring acts on the lever, urging the cog into lockable contact with the sprocket. The spring extends from a movable holder pin mounted on the lever arm to a fixed holder pin mounted on the lower support arm. The shaft extends through the lower support arm, and the lever arm is below the lower support arm, and the movable holder pin projects downward from the lever arm and the fixed holder pin projects downward from the lower support arm. The upper reel support has tiedown attachment means for guys to maintain the reel support upright. The lower reel support has a bottom ground pin, vertical in use, to penetrate the ground when upright, and a reel support base insert arm horizontal in use, to rest upon the ground and maintain the reel support upright. Preferably the system additionally comprises an end support to stand upright having a lower end support to engage the ground, and a upper end support having paired upper and lower attachments for the sports net. The upper end support has tiedown attachment means for guys to maintain the end support upright. The lower end support has a bottom ground pin, vertical in use, to penetrate the ground when upright, and an end support cross arm horizontal in use, to rest upon the ground and maintain the end support upright. Preferably the reel support and the end support comprise at least one cylindrical metal tube, and the reel and end support base insert arms are square metal tubes. Preferably the upper reel support arm is a continuous portion of the upper reel support bent horizontal through a right angle, and the lower support arm is a square horizontal tube projecting from adjacent the bottom of the upper reel support. Preferably the system additionally comprising a sports net. Preferably the reel support comprises separate upper and lower reel supports, and the upper reel support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower reel support, and the upper and lower reel supports comprise cylindrical metal tubes. Preferably the lower support arm is a square horizontal tube projecting from the flared bottom sleeve of the upper reel support. Preferably the end support comprises separate upper and lower end supports, and the upper end support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower end support, and the upper and lower end supports comprise cylindrical metal tubes. There may be an intermediate reel support extension, and the upper reel support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the intermediate reel support extension, and the intermediate reel support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower reel support and the upper and lower reel supports and intermediate reel support extension comprise cylindrical metal tubes. Similarly there may be an intermediate end support extension and the upper end support, has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the intermediate end support extension, and the intermediate end support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower end support, and the upper and lower end supports and intermediate end support extension comprise cylindrical metal tubes. There may be upper and lower intermediate reel support extensions, and the upper reel support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the upper intermediate reel support extension, and the upper intermediate reel support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower intermediate reel support extension and the lower intermediate reel support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower reel support and the upper and lower reel supports and the upper and lower intermediate reel support extensions comprise cylindrical metal tubes. Similarly the end support upper and lower intermediate end support extensions and the upper end support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the upper intermediate end support extension, and the upper intermediate end support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of the lower intermediate end support extension, and the lower intermediate end support extension has a flared end to matingly engage the top of the lower end support, and the upper and lower end supports and upper and lower intermediate end support extension comprise cylindrical metal tubes.
Both support and support system may additionally comprising one or more ground anchors for a guy rope for the support or support system. The anchor comprises paired parallel ground penetrating prongs attached at an acute angle to a triangular base adapted to rest on the ground. The prongs are connected to the base at two apices, a tiedown loop being attached at the third apex of the base. The prongs and the sides of the base adjacent the third apex are an integral rod having angular bends at the apices, the third side of the base forming a connecting member between the apices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Numeral 10 indicates the portable volley ball system including reel support 12, end support 14 and net 16, attached to end support 14 at one side and reel 18, mounted on reel support 12, at its other end. Reel support 12, has lower support leg 20, of 14 gauge 1½″ o.d. tubing extending 3′1″ or 3′1½″ upward, with base insert arm 22, of 14 gauge 1½″ square tubing 6 or 6¼″ long, with smooth ground end caps; symmetrical across leg 20, and ground pin 24, 9½″ long ⅝″ diameter, which passes through and is welded to insert arm 22, extending 8″ into substrate 26. Long support extension 28 is 14 gauge 1½″ o.d. extending 1′4″ or 1′2½″ including bottom flaring 30 of 14 gauge 1¾″ o.d extending 4″, to receive the top of support leg 20. Above long support extension 28 is short support extension 32 of 14 gauge 1½″ o.d. extending 10″ or 11½″ including bottom flaring 34 of 14 gauge 1¾″ o.d extending 4″,to receive the top of short support extension 28. Above long support extension 32 is upper reel support 36 of 14 gauge 1½″ o.d extending upward 3′11″ or 3′10½″ including bottom flaring 38, of 14 gauge 1¾″ o.d extending 4″, to receive the top of long extension 32. Upper reel support is bent over at the top, with outer radius about 4½″ and inner radius about 2″, to form upper reel support arm 40 likewise 14 gauge 1½″ o.d. with attached upper reel socket 42, a 1″ or ¾″, ⅞″ i.d. pipe, welded to upper reel support arm 40 to fit loosely a ¾″ o.d. stud 56. As shown lower reel support arm 44 of 1½″ square tubing projects about 6″ from bottom flaring 38 and has lower reel stub tube 46, a 1¼″, 1¼″ o.d. tubing to fit loosely a 1 5/16″ i.d. sprocket 58. Lower reel stud tube 46 is aligned with upper reel socket 42. Reel 18 has drum 48, 16 gauge 3½″ diameter, 3′3½″ or 3′4½″ tall, with upper circular tubing 50 and lower circular tubing 52, both 5″ or 4¼″ radius of ¾″ diameter 16 gauge tubing, and upper and lower tie down loops 54, which are ½″ by ½″ or ⅝″ by ⅝″ of ¼″ diameter bent solid rods for net 16, there are also optional but preferred equispaced mid reel tie down loops 55, which are preferably 2½″ tall, project ⅝″ and are ¼″ diameter bent solid rods. Tie down loop dimensions are preferred, and considerable variation is possible. Upper reel stud 56 (not shown
In the above descriptions alternative measurements are sometimes given. In general, only one set of sizes will be used throughout a volley ball support structure, the supports and long and short extensions will be the same size as other supports and extensions. Many of the given measurements are indicative rather than mandatorily exact.
An alternative flaring structure is shown in
In the above description sprocket 58 is described as ratchet sprocket 58, because it functions as a ratchet. A ratchet of similar dimensions could be substituted for sprocket 58 without affecting its function, although strictly sprockets and ratchets are distinct.
As those skilled in the art would realize these preferred described details and materials and components can be subjected to substantial variation, modification, change, alteration, and substitution without affecting or modifying the function of the described embodiments.
Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.
Claims
1. Portable support for sports net comprising a support having a ground engaging base and a reel support member to extend upright from said base, and a reel parallel to said reel support member having paired upper and lower reel attachments for said sports net so said net can be attached to and wound on said reel.
2. Support of claim 1, additionally comprising a second support having a ground engaging base and a support member to extend upright from said base and paired upper and lower attachments for said sports net.
3. Support of claim 2 additionally comprising a sports net.
4. Support of claim 2 wherein said first reel support member has upper and lower support arms, said upper support arm having an upper pivot to engage rotatably said reel and said lower support arm having a lower pivot to engage rotatably said reel.
5. Support of claim 4, wherein said reel has a lower sprocket wheel engaging a pawl on said lower support arm.
6. Support of claim 5, wherein said pawl comprises a cog mounted on a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being upright in use and having a lever arm horizontal in use, and spring means acting on said lever arm, urging said cog into lockable contact with said sprocket.
7. Support of claim 6, wherein said spring extends from a movable holder pin mounted on said lever arm to a fixed holder pin mounted on said lower support arm.
8. Support of claim 7, wherein said shaft extends through said lower support arm, and said lever arm is below said lower support arm, and said movable holder pin projects downward from said lever arm and said fixed holder pin projects downward from said lower support arm.
9. Support of claim 5, wherein said upper pivot comprises an upper reel socket mounted below said upper support arm rotatably engaging an upper reel stud mounted on said reel, and said lower pivot comprises a lower reel stud tube rotatably engaging an axial cylindrical aperture of said sprocket wheel.
10. Support of claim 9, wherein said pawl comprises a cog mounted on a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being upright in use and having a lever arm horizontal in use, and spring means acting on said lever arm, urging said cog into lockable contact with said sprocket.
11. Support of claim 10, wherein said spring extends from a movable holder pin mounted on said lever arm to a fixed holder pin mounted on said lower support arm.
12. Support of claim 11, wherein said shaft extends through said lower support arm, and said lever arm is below said lower support arm, and said movable holder pin projects downward from said lever arm and said fixed holder pin projects downward from said lower support arm.
13. Portable support system for sports net comprising a reel support to stand upright having a lower reel support to engage the ground and a upper reel support and a reel parallel to said upper reel support, said reel having paired upper and lower reel attachments for said sports net so said net can be attached to and wound on said reel, and
- said upper reel support has upper and lower support arms, said upper support arm having an upper pivot to engage rotatably said reel, and said upper pivot comprises an upper reel socket mounted below said upper support arm rotatably engaging an upper reel stud mounted on said reel,
- said lower support arm having a lower pivot to engage rotatably said reel, and said lower pivot comprises a lower reel stud tube rotatably engaging an axial cylindrical aperture of a sprocket wheel axially mounted on the bottom of said reel and a pawl on said lower support arm engages said sprocket wheel, and
- said pawl comprises a cog mounted on a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being upright in use and having a lever arm horizontal in use, and a spring acts on said lever, urging said cog into lockable contact with said sprocket and
- said spring extends from a movable holder pin mounted on said lever arm to a fixed holder pin mounted on said lower support arm and
- said shaft extends through said lower support arm, and said lever arm is below said lower support arm, and said movable holder pin projects downward from said lever arm and said fixed holder pin projects downward from said lower support arm and
- said upper reel support has tiedown attachment means for guys to maintain said reel support upright
- and said lower reel support has a bottom ground pin, vertical in use, to penetrate the ground when upright, and a reel support base insert arm horizontal in use, to rest upon the ground and maintain said reel support upright.
14. System of claim 13, additionally comprising an end support to stand upright having a lower end support to engage the ground, and an upper end support having paired upper and lower member attachments for said sports net and
- said upper end support has tiedown attachment means for guys to maintain said end support upright and
- said lower end support has a bottom ground pin, vertical in use, to penetrate the ground when upright, and an end support cross arm horizontal in use, to rest upon the ground and maintain said end support upright.
15. System of claim 14, wherein said reel support and said end support comprise at least one cylindrical metal tube and
- said reel and end support base insert arms are square metal tubes,
- said upper reel support arm is a continuous portion of said upper reel support bent horizontal through a right angle, and said lower support arm is a square horizontal tube projecting from adjacent the bottom of said upper reel support.
16. System of claim 14 additionally comprising a sports net.
17. System of claim 15, wherein said reel support comprises separate upper and lower reel supports, and said upper reel support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower reel support, and said upper and lower reel supports comprise cylindrical metal tubes, and
- said lower support arm is a square horizontal tube projecting from said flared bottom sleeve of said upper reel support and
- said end support comprises separate upper and lower end supports, and said upper end support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower end support, and said upper and lower end supports comprise cylindrical metal tubes.
18. System of claim 15, wherein said reel support comprises separate upper and lower reel supports and an intermediate reel support extension, and said upper reel support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said intermediate reel support extension, and said intermediate reel support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower reel support and said upper and lower reel supports and intermediate reel support extension comprise cylindrical metal tubes, and
- said lower support arm is a square horizontal tube projecting from said flared bottom sleeve of said upper reel support and
- said end support comprises separate upper and lower end supports and an intermediate end support extension and said upper end support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said intermediate end support extension, and said intermediate end support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower end support, and said upper and lower end supports and intermediate end support extension comprise cylindrical metal tubes.
19. System of claim 15, wherein said reel support comprises separate upper and lower reel supports and upper and lower intermediate reel support extensions, and said upper reel support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said upper intermediate reel support extension, and said upper intermediate reel support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower intermediate reel support extension and said lower intermediate reel support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower reel support and said upper and lower reel supports and said upper and lower intermediate reel support extensions comprise cylindrical metal tubes, and
- said lower support arm is a square horizontal tube projecting from said flared bottom sleeve of said upper reel support and
- said end support comprises separate upper and lower end supports and upper and lower intermediate end support extensions and said upper end support has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said upper intermediate end support extension, and said upper intermediate end support extension has a flared sleeve to matingly engage the top of said lower intermediate end support extension, and said lower intermediate end support extension has a flared end to matingly engage the top of said lower end support, and
- said upper and lower end supports and upper and lower intermediate end support extension comprise cylindrical metal tubes.
20. Support of claim 1, additionally comprising a ground anchor for a guy rope for said support, said anchor comprising paired parallel ground penetrating prongs attached at an acute angle to a triangular base adapted to rest on the ground, said prongs being connected to said base at two apices, a tiedown loop being attached at the third apex of said base, said prongs and the sides of said base adjacent said third apex being an integral rod having angular bends at said apices, the third side of said base forming a connecting member between said apices.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 25, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2006
Inventor: J. Van Hierden (Lethbridge)
Application Number: 11/112,522
International Classification: B65H 75/38 (20060101);