Modular temporary fencing system for sports arenas

Abstract

A modular, temporary fencing system for sports arenas comprises a plurality of spike-footed poles and a plurality of mesh fencing panels. The poles each have four longitudinal “key-hole” slots, and opposite side ends of the mesh fencing panels are configured to fit in the slots. To delineate a sports playing field or arena, the side ends of the fencing panels are inserted into the key-hole slots, and the poles are partially inserted into the ground, with the fencing panels supported there between, according to the desired dimensions and shape of the playing field or arena. Further, the poles are composed of a polymer chosen so that the poles are rigid enough to support the fencing panels and to delineate the playing area, yet flexible enough so that when a player falls against the fence, the fence can bend substantially to the ground without injuring the player or breaking.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular fencing system for delineating a sports playing field comprising: 
 a. a plurality of fence poles each comprising: 
 i. a substantially flexible shaft composed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene, said shaft defining a plurality of longitudinal, radially tapering slots;  
 ii. a ground insertion tip affixed to a first end of the shaft; and  
 iii. a safety cap affixed to a second end of the longitudinal shaft; and  
   b. a plurality of non-rigid fencing panels each comprising: 
 i. a sheet of plastic mesh having first and second side ends and a mesh spacing selected to allow wind to pass through the sheet and to prevent players from catching fingers or other objects in the sheet, wherein the first and second side ends are folded back over and connected to the sheet to form first and second pockets, respectively; and  
 ii. first and second rods respectively disposed in the first and second pockets, wherein the respective rods and pockets, in combination, are dimensioned to friction fit in the radially tapering slots of the fence poles, so that the fencing panels can be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles; whereby if a player falls against the fence poles or fencing panels, the poles and fencing panels bend without injuring the player or breaking, and return to an upright position when the player is no longer against the fence poles or fencing panels.  
   
     
     
         2 . The modular fencing system of  claim 1  further comprising a goal panel configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between two of the fence poles, said goal panel having a pocket with two spaced-apart upper flaps for accessing the pocket from outside the modular fencing system when the goal panel is in use; whereby when a ball enters the pocket, the ball can be retrieved from outside the fencing system by way of the flaps.  
     
     
         3 . The modular fencing system of  claim 1  wherein the fence poles are each about forty-five inches in length and the fencing panels are each about thirty-six inches in height.  
     
     
         4 . The modular fencing system of  claim 1  further comprising at least two gate panels for facilitating entry into the playing field delineated by the fencing system, said gate panels being configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles, wherein the at least two gate panels each have a different width for facilitating entry by different groups of users.  
     
     
         5 . A modular fencing system for delineating a sports playing field comprising: 
 a. a plurality of fence poles configured to be partially inserted into the ground; and    b. a plurality of non-rigid fencing panels configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles;    c. wherein the fence poles are substantially flexible, such that if a player falls against the fence poles or fencing panels, the poles bend without injuring the player or breaking, and return to an upright position when the player is no longer against the fence poles or fencing panels.    
     
     
         6 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein each fence pole has a ground insertion tip affixed to an end of the fence pole for facilitating inserting the pole into the ground.  
     
     
         7 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein each fence pole comprises: 
 a. a shaft defining a plurality of longitudinal, radially tapering slots; and  
 b. a ground insertion tip affixed to one end of the longitudinal shaft.  
 
     
     
         8 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein each fence pole has a safety cap affixed to an end of the fence pole that lies above the ground when the fence pole is partially inserted into the ground.  
     
     
         9 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein each of the fencing panels comprises a sheet of plastic mesh.  
     
     
         10 . The modular fencing system of  claim 9  wherein the sheet of plastic mesh has a mesh spacing selected to allow wind to pass through the sheet and to prevent players from catching fingers or other objects in the sheet.  
     
     
         11 . The modular fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the mesh spacing is selected from the group consisting of 9×9 spaces per inch mesh spacing and 10×10 spaces per inch mesh spacing.  
     
     
         12 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein the fence poles are composed of a polymer having a high flexural modulus and a high tensile strength.  
     
     
         13 . The modular fencing system of  claim 12  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene.  
     
     
         14 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  further comprising a goal panel configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between two of the fence poles and having a pocket with two spaced-apart upper flaps for accessing the pocket from outside the modular fencing system when the goal panel is in use; whereby when a ball enters the pocket, the ball can be retrieved from outside the fencing system by way of the flaps.  
     
     
         15 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein each of the fence poles has an axial through-bore for facilitating attachment of a top safety cap and/or a ground insertion tip.  
     
     
         16 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein the fence poles are each about forty-five inches in length and the fencing panels are each about thirty-six inches in height.  
     
     
         17 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein the fencing panels are each provided with a plurality of grommets along bottom edges of the fencing panels, for facilitating temporary attachment of the bottom edges of the fencing panels to the ground via the use of stakes.  
     
     
         18 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  wherein: 
 a. each fence pole comprises a shaft defining a plurality of longitudinal, radially tapering slots; and  
 b. the fencing panels each comprise: 
 i. a sheet of plastic mesh having first and second side ends that are folded back over and connected to the sheet to form first and second pockets, respectively; and  
 ii. first and second rods respectively disposed in the first and second pockets, wherein the respective rods and pockets, in combination, are dimensioned to friction fit in the radially tapering slots of the fence poles, so that the fencing panels can be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles.  
 
 
     
     
         19 . The modular fencing system of  claim 5  further comprising at least two gate panels for facilitating entry into the playing field delineated by the fencing system, said gate panels being configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles, wherein the at least two gate panels each have a different width for facilitating entry by different groups of users.  
     
     
         20 . A modular fencing system for delineating a sports playing field comprising a plurality of fence poles configured to be partially inserted into the ground and a plurality of non-rigid fencing panels, wherein the poles and fencing panels have complementary attachment means for removably affixing the fencing panels to the fence poles, such that the fencing panels can be disposed between and supported by the fence poles, and wherein the fence poles are substantially flexible, such that if a player falls against the fence poles or fencing panels, the poles bend without injuring the player or breaking, and return to an upright position when the player is no longer against the fence poles or fencing panels.  
     
     
         21 . A fence comprising: 
 a. a plurality of spaced-apart fence poles each partially inserted into the ground; and    b. a plurality of non-rigid fencing panels each removably affixed to and disposed between two of the fence poles;    c. wherein the fence poles are substantially flexible, such that if a player falls against the fence poles or fencing panels, the poles bend without injuring the player or breaking, and return to an upright position when the player is no longer against the fence poles or fencing panels.    
     
     
         22 . The fence of  claim 21  wherein each fence pole comprises a shaft composed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene.  
     
     
         23 . The fence of  claim 21  wherein: 
 a. each fence pole comprises a shaft composed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and polypropylene, said shaft defining a plurality of longitudinal, radially tapering slots; and  
 b. the fencing panels each comprise: 
 i. a sheet of plastic mesh having first and second side ends that are folded back over and connected to the sheet to form first and second pockets, respectively; and  
 ii. first and second rods respectively disposed in the first and second pockets, wherein the respective rods and pockets, in combination, are dimensioned to friction fit in the radially tapering slots of the fence poles.  
 
 
     
     
         24 . A modular fencing system for delineating a sports playing field comprising: 
 a. a plurality of fence poles each comprising: 
 i. a shaft defining a plurality of longitudinal, radially tapering slots; and  
 ii. a ground insertion tip affixed to one end of the shaft;  
   and    b. a plurality of non-rigid fencing panels each having first and second side ends configured to press fit in the radially tapering slots of the fence poles; whereby for delineating a sports playing field the poles are partially inserted into the ground by way of the ground insertion tips, and the fencing panels are disposed between the poles by way of the first and second side ends of each fencing panel being respectively longitudinally inserted into two of the radially tapering slots of two of the poles, according to a desired playing field configuration.    
     
     
         25 . The modular fencing system of  claim 24  wherein the first and second ends of the fencing panels each comprise: 
 a. a pocket; and  
 b. a rod disposed in the pocket, wherein the rod and pocket, in combination, are dimensioned to press fit in the radially tapering slots of the fence posts, such that the ends of the fencing panels cannot be radially removed from the radially tapering slots of the fence posts, once longitudinally inserted therein.  
 
     
     
         26 . A modular fencing system comprising: 
 a. a plurality of fence poles configured to be partially inserted into the ground;    b. a plurality of non-rigid fencing panels configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles; and    c. at least two gate panels for facilitating entry into a playing field delineated by the fencing system, said gate panels being configured to be removably affixed to and disposed between the fence poles, wherein the at least two gate panels each have a different width for facilitating entry by different groups of users.