Sports practice net for arresting flying projectile objects

Abstract

A sports target for practicing baseball throwing, hockey shots or the like comprises a hoop; a net loosely suspended from the hoop and spanning its interior, and a pair of elastic straps for suspending the hoop from a crossbar or the like. The straps splay outwardly to provide an anti-rotation bias to the structure. An inner hoop and net may be suspended within an outer hoop and net for more advanced target practice.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A sports target, comprising: 
 a hoop;    a net-like web loosely suspended from said hoop and spanning the interior thereof;    at least two spaced apart elastic suspension means for suspending said hoop from a crossbar or the like;    said hoop being characterized by an elongate generally circular hoop member, the respective ends of which overlap to form a region of overlap within which said hoop member crosses against itself at least twice to form an interlocking hoop structure.    
     
     
         2 . A target device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hoop is formed from wood.  
     
     
         3 . A target device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hoop member crosses itself at least three times within said region of overlap.  
     
     
         4 . A target device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said net is sufficiently loosely suspended from said hoop to form a pouch-like portion of said web which dangles below said hoop when said hoop is suspended vertically.  
     
     
         5 . A sports target, comprising a frame formed from a pair of spaced apart vertical members, spanned by a generally horizontal crossbar; 
 a hoop suspended from said crossbar by means of a pair of elastic suspension members;    a net-like web fastened to said hoop and spanning the interior thereof, said web being of a suitable size to form a basket-like interior region for retaining therein a projectile thrown against said target;    said hoop being characterized by an elongate hoop member curved into a generally circular configuration, the respective ends of said hoop member overlapping to form a region of overlap, within which region said hoop member crosses itself at least two times, to form an interlocking structure.    
     
     
         6 . A target device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said hoop is formed from wood.  
     
     
         7 . A target device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said hoop member crosses itself at least three times within said region of overlap.  
     
     
         8 . A target device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said net is sufficiently loosely suspended from said hoop to form a pouch-like portion of said web which dangles below said hoop when said hoop is suspended vertically.  
     
     
         9 . A sports target, comprising a hoop; 
 a net-like web loosely suspended from said hoop and spanning the interior thereof for catching and stopping a projectile;    at least two spaced apart elastic members joined to said hoop for suspending said hoop from spaced apart supporting members, said suspension means being radially displaced from each other by an angle of greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees from each other.    
     
     
         10 . A sports target as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said radial displacement is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.  
     
     
         11 . A sports target as defined in  claim 10  wherein said radial displacement is between 120 degrees and 180 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . A sports target as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising an instruction set for directing a user to anchor said target to a pair of spaced apart supporting members, by fastening each of said elastic straps to a corresponding supporting member such that said elastic straps are under tension, and splay outwardly by an angle between 120 degrees and 180 degrees.  
     
     
         13 . A sports target as defined in  claim 12 , further including instructions for anchoring said elastic straps to supporting members selected from a hockey goal, spaced apart trees, spaced apart upstanding poles, or an anchor fastened to a house or other permanent structure or a combination of any of said supporting members.  
     
     
         14 . A sports target as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said hoop comprises a flexible tubular member, the free ends of which are fitted together in a tube-in-tube arrangement for sliding together for reducing the diameter of said hoop.  
     
     
         15 . A method for providing a sports target, comprising: 
 providing a hoop having a net-like web loosely suspended therefrom, spanning the interior of said hoop for stopping a projectile, and at least two spaced apart elastic members joined to said hoop and radially displaced from each other by an angle of greater than 30 degrees and less than 180 degrees;    attaching said at least two suspension means to a structure comprising spaced apart upstanding members such that said elastic members are under lateral tension and said target is elevated above ground level, and said elastic members splay outwardly by between 120 degrees and 180 degrees.    
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said elastic members are placed under sufficient tension to maintain a radial displacement thereof of between 160 and 180 degrees.  
     
     
         17 . A sports target, comprising: 
 an outer hoop;    a net-like web loosely suspended from said hoop and spanning the interior thereof for stopping a projectile;    at least two spaced apart elastic members joined to said hoop for suspending said hoop from a pair of spaced apart upstanding supports;    an inner hoop having a smaller diameter than said first hoop, joined to said first hoop in a substantially co-axial position, said second hoop having a net-like web loosely suspended therefrom and spanning its interior for stopping a projectile.    
     
     
         18 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said inner hoop has a diameter which is between ¾ and ½ of the diameter of the first hoop.  
     
     
         19 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said inner hoop has a diameter of between ⅜ and ½ of the diameter of the first hoop.  
     
     
         20 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17  wherein said inner hoop is approximately ⅓ the diameter of said first hoop.  
     
     
         21 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said at least two elastic members are displaced from each other by an angular displacement of between 30 degrees and less than 180 degrees.  
     
     
         22 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said inner hoop is suspended from said outer hoop by at least 2 cord members, and said inner hoop is in a substantially co-cleaner relationship with outer hoop.  
     
     
         23 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said inner hoop is joined to said outer hoop by at least one rigid member.  
     
     
         24 . A sports target as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said inner hoop is displaced outwardly from said outer hoop.  
     
     
         25 . A sports target as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said inner hoop is displaced inwardly from said outer hoop.  
     
     
         26 . A sports target as defined in  claim 17  wherein said outer hoop comprises a flexible hollow tubular member the free ends of which are fitted together in a tube-in-tube arrangement for sliding together to reduce the diameter of said outer hoop.