Table tennis automatic ball server backstop

Abstract

A backstop for an automatic ball server has a frame, a net and a curtain. The frame is adapted to be mounted on a table for table tennis. The net is mounted on the frame and is mounted around the automatic ball server. An opening facing the table is defined in the net. The curtain is attached to the net to close the opening in the net, has a gap defined in the curtain through which the automatic ball server can serve balls and is comprised of multiple strips. Each strip has a proximal end attached to the net and a free distal end to allow the ball pass through the curtain and into the net when the ball strikes the curtain. Accordingly, a ball striking the net is slowed down, and the ball can be kept from sticking in the net or rebounding onto the table.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A backstop for a table tennis automatic ball server mounted on one end of a tennis table with two ends, and the backstop comprising: 
 a frame adapted to be mounted on the end of the table tennis table with the automatic ball server;    a net mounted on the frame to be adapted to mount around the automatic ball server and having an opening adapted for facing the tennis table; and    a curtain attached to the net to close the opening in the net, comprised of multiple strips having a free distal end and a proximal end attached to the net and a gap adapted for the automatic ball server serving balls through the gap.    
     
     
         2 . The backstop as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strips are resilient.  
     
     
         3 . The backstop as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each resilient strip has a width adapted to equal a ball for table tennis.