SPORTS NET OR COURT TARGET
The subject matter described herein includes a sports court or net target. In one example, a sports net target includes a flexible target body comprising a fabric material and having a first side and a second side. The visual indicium is located on the first side for providing an area of visual focus for an athlete during practice of a sport. At least one attachment member is connected to the target body for attaching the target body to a sports net.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/496,328, filed Jun. 13, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/598,878, filed Feb. 14, 2012; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUNDIn sports, it is desirable to focus a player's vision on a desired target. For example, in a soccer goal, it may be desirable for practice purposes for a player to focus on aiming kicks towards a particular area of the goal. In tennis, it may be desirable to aim at particular lines or locations on the tennis court. It may also be desirable to serve or return balls over a particular portion of the net. In hockey and lacrosse, it may be desirable to practice shots on different regions of the goal. In volleyball, it may be desirable to aim serves or volleys over a particular portion of the net. Although different target configurations exist, there exists a need for a sports net or court target that is portable, facilitates a user's focus, and that is easy to manufacture.
SUMMARYThe subject matter described herein includes a sports target. The sports net target includes a flexible target body comprising a fabric material and having a first side and a second side. The visual indicium is located on the first side for providing an area of visual focus for an athlete during practice of a sport. At least one attachment member is connected to the target body for attaching the target body to a sports net.
According to another aspect of the subject matter described herein, a sports court target is provided. The sports court target includes a flexible target body comprising a fabric material and having pairs of opposite edges, a first side, and a second side. A visual indicium is located on the first side for providing an area of visual focus for an athlete during practice of a sport. At least one straightening member is incorporated into at least one of the edges for straightening the target body so that the target body will lie substantially flat when placed on a sports court.
According to another aspect of the subject matter described herein, a sports net target is provided. The sports net target includes a target body including a frame member forming a desired shape for a sports net target. A frame covering member covers the frame member. The frame covering member has a first side bearing an indicia for increasing a user's visual focus on the sports net target and a second side for contacting the sports court or facilitating attachment to a sports net.
Preferred embodiments of the subject matter described herein will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings:
The subject matter described herein includes a sports net or court target.
In
In the examples illustrated in
Targets 100 illustrated in
In addition to being useful for practicing sports, any of the targets described herein can be used for promotional or advertising purposes. For example, indicium 108 may be the logo for a school, tournament, business, non-profit, university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, a product, service. Thus, the subject matter described herein also includes using any of the targets described herein for promotional or advertising purposes.
One exemplary promotional method may include providing plurality of a sports court or net targets, each comprising a flexible target body made from a fabric material, a visual indicium printed on the target body for promoting or more of a university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, product, or service. For example, any of the targets described herein may be printed with a promotional logo as indicium 108. The method may further include distributing the sports court or net targets to third parties to promote the school, tournament, business, non-profit, university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, product, or service. For example, any of the targets described herein printed with a promotional logo may be distributed at events, such as trade shows, sporting events, fundraisers, etc., to promote the entity or product corresponding to the logo.
It will be understood that various details of the presently disclosed subject matter may be changed without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation.
Claims
1. A sports net target comprising:
- a flexible target body comprising a fabric material and having a first side and a second side;
- a visual indicium located on the first side for providing an area of visual focus for an athlete during practice of a sport; and
- at least one attachment member connected to the target body for attaching the target body to a sports net.
2. The sports net target of claim 1 wherein the target body is configured to attach to a tennis, volleyball, hockey, or lacrosse net for providing a target for a player to practice shots.
3. The sports net target of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment member comprises at least one hook member extending from the target body and containing a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener, and at least one loop member extending from the target body and containing a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, wherein the hook portion and the loop portion are separable from each other to surround a portion of the sports net when open and to secure the target body to the portion of the sports net when closed.
4. The sports net target of claim 3 wherein the at least one hook member and the at least one loop member comprise first and second sets of hook and loop members extending from a first common edge of the target body for hanging the target body in the sports net.
5. The sports net target of claim 4 wherein the at least one hook member and the at least one loop member comprise third and fourth sets of the hook and loop members attached to a second common edge of the target body opposite the first common edge for releasably attaching the second common edge of the target body to the sports net.
6. The sports net target of claim 1 wherein the target body is collapsible for compact storage.
7. The sports net target of claim 1 wherein the target body is substantially flat, rectangular in shape, and includes edges where the fabric material is folded and sewn to the target body.
8. The sports net target of claim 1 wherein the fabric material comprises canvas.
9. The sports net target of claim 8 comprising at least one straightening member sewn into at least one edge of the fabric material for straightening the target body.
10. The sports net target of claim 9 wherein the at least one straightening member comprises a rubber or nylon rope.
11. The sports net target of claim 1 wherein the visual indicium comprises a logo for a school, tournament, business, non-profit, university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, or a product.
12. A sports court target comprising:
- a flexible target body comprising a fabric material and having pairs of opposite edges, a first side, and a second side;
- a visual indicium being located on the first side for providing an area of visual focus for an athlete during practice of a sport; and
- at least one straightening member being incorporated into at least one of the edges for straightening the target body so that the target body will lie substantially flat when placed on a sports court.
13. The sports court target of claim 12 wherein the target body is substantially rectangular in shape and wherein the straightening member comprises a rubber or nylon rope sewn into at least two opposite edges of the target body.
14. The sports court target of claim 13 wherein the at least two opposite edges comprise a first edge folded around a first straightening member and sewn to the target body to enclose the first straightening member and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being folded around a second straightening member and sewn to the target body to enclose the second straightening member.
15. The sports court target of claim 12 wherein the target body is collapsible for compact storage.
16. The sports court target of claim 12 wherein the fabric material comprises canvas.
17. The sports court target of claim 12 wherein the visual indicium comprises a bulls eye.
18. The sports net target of claim 11 wherein the visual indicium comprises a logo for a school, tournament, business, non-profit, university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, or a product
19. A sports net or court target comprising:
- a target body including: a frame member forming a desired shape for a sports net or court target; and a frame covering member covering the frame member and having a first side bearing an indicia for increasing a user's visual focus on the sports net or court target and a second side for contacting a sports court or facilitating attachment to a sports net.
20. The sports net or court target of claim 19 wherein the frame member comprises a tubular member formed into a circle and joined at its ends.
21. The sports net or court target of claim 20 wherein the frame covering member comprises a canvas material folded over the tubular member and sewn to enclose the tubular member.
22. The sports net or court target of claim 19 comprising at least one attachment member attached to the frame covering member facilitating attachment of the sports net or court target to netting of a soccer goal, a hockey goal, a lacrosse goal, a volleyball net, or a tennis court.
23. A method for promoting a school, tournament, business, non-profit, university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, product, or service, the method comprising:
- providing plurality of a sports court or net targets, each comprising a flexible target body made from a fabric material, a visual indicium printed on the target body for promoting or more of a university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, product, or service; and
- distributing the sports court or net targets to third parties to promote the school, tournament, business, non-profit, university or college, sports club, sports team, sports league, product, or service.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 13, 2012
Inventor: Donnie T. Prince (Wilson, NC)
Application Number: 13/517,536
International Classification: A63B 69/00 (20060101); A63B 63/04 (20060101);