Sports Net Assembly

The invention relates to a portable sports net assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable sports net assembly that is foldable.

Most children participate in team sports that require a net. For practice, a sports net that is the same size as the net used in games is desired to keep the game experience authentic to the practice. However, many of these sports nets are difficult to transport as they need to be fully disassembled and reassembled for transportation, thus taking up valuable practice time There is a need for a sports net that is easy to assemble and disassemble, easy to transport and store; all while being sturdy enough to handle the forces being applied to it when balls, pucks and bodies collide with the sports net. When not in use, there is a need for a sports net to be easily stored and with the shift from the typical house with garage to apartments and attached houses being built a solution was needed for those who want to continue playing sports while having their own net available.

A sports net assembly includes a base having a back element and first and second depth elements connected to form a U-shape supported by the ground when deployed. Two side bars extend upwardly from the base perpendicular to the ground. Crossbars extend toward each other and are coaxial with each other while being parallel to the ground. The first crossbar has a first distal end with a dovetail channel and the second crossbar has a second distal end with a dovetail rail complementing the dovetail channel. The dovetail rail slides into the dovetail channel to form the sports net opening. A back brace is magnetically secured between the back element and the distal ends of the crossbars and the net is draped over the back brace while being secured to the base, sides and crossbars.

Referring to the Figures, a sports net assembly is generally indicated at. The sports net assemblyis designed to be easily transportable without any special equipment. Thus, the assembly, disassembly, storage and transport of the sports net assemblymay be done without any special tools or equipment.

The sports net assemblyincludes a base, generally shown at, having firstand secondback elements that are removably connected end-to-end to each other to create a single back element. The basealso includes firstand seconddepth elements. The first depth elementis pivotally connected to one end of the first back elementusing a first pivot cornerwhereas the second depth elementis pivotally connected to one end of the second back elementusing a second pivot corner. The connections create a U-shaped basesupported by the ground when deployed.

Firstand secondside bars are pivotally connected or secured to the baseand extend upwardly from the baseperpendicular to the ground when deployed. The height of the firstand secondside bars defines the height of the sports net assembly. The first side baris connected to the first depth elementwith a third pivot cornerand the second side baris pivotally connected to the second depth elementwith a fourth pivot corner.

Firstand secondcrossbars are pivotally connected or secured to the other ends of the firstand secondside bars using fifthand sixthpivot corners, respectively. The crossbars,extend toward each other when deployed, with the firstand secondcrossbars extending coaxial with each other and parallel to the ground when deployed.

In the arrangement as disclosed above, the sports net assemblyhas two halves with each half including a back element, a depth element, a side bar, and a crossbar. When the two halves are put together, the ground (not shown), the crossbars,and the side bars,form the goal or target at which the focus of the players is.

Referring specifically to, the two halves of the portable sports net assemblyare secured together using dovetail channels and rails. More specifically, the first crossbarhas a first distal endat the opposite end of the end that is pivotally connected to the first side bar. The first distal endincludes a first dovetail endcaphaving a crossbar dovetail channel. The crossbar dovetail channelhas a cross section that resembles a dovetail with flat lower surfaceand two inwardly directed surfaces.

The second crossbarhas a second distal end. Fixedly secured to the second distal endis a second dovetail endcapwith a crossbar dovetail railcomplementing the crossbar dovetail channelsuch that the crossbar dovetail railslides into the crossbar dovetail channelwhen deployed to lock the firstand secondcrossbars together.

The firstand secondback elements are removably secured together in the same fashion. In the embodiment shown in, it is the first back elementincludes a third dovetail encapthat includes a back dovetail rail. Likewise, the second back elementthat includes a fourth dovetail endcapincluding a back dovetail channel. The opposite orientation of the dovetail elements between the crossbars and the back elements helps retain the sports net assemblyin one piece while in use.

A back braceis removably securable to the back elements,and the crossbars,when deployed. The back braceis magnetically held in place between the back elements,and the distal ends of the firstand secondcrossbars. The back braceextends between a lower endand an upper end, with each of the lowerand upperends having lowerand upperendcaps plate holders, each having a ferromagnetic plate,secured thereto. The ferromagnetic plates,are attracted to lowerand uppermagnets, which are embedded in an upwardly directed armand a downwardly directed armof the thirdand seconddovetail endcaps, respectively. Each of the upwardlyand downwardlydirected arms includes a receiving face (only one receiving faceshown in the Figures) to receive the ferromagnetic plates,thereagainst.

A net, shown inas a phantom line, is removably securable to the base, the firstand secondside bars, the firstand secondcrossbars, and draped over the back bracewhen deployed.

Referring to, top and bottom views of the portable sports net assemblyin a collapsed state are shown with the netnot shown for purposes of clarity and simplicity. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the netcan be stored with the portable sports net assemblywhen it is in its collapsed state.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.