Adjustable net support system

Abstract

A pole assembly supports an edge of a net by means of a support pole adapted to be positioned upright on a surface. A net pole is secured to an edge portion of the net to be suspended. A bracket connects the support pole and the net pole to one another at selected relative orientations. A fastener then secures the support pole and the net pole at the selected orientation. The selected orientation may be longitudinal positioning or angular positioning. A net system is disclosed and employs a pair of support pole and net pole combinations and a net to be suspended thereby. A method of positioning a net above a surface utilizing this structure is also disclosed.

1 . A pole assembly adapted to support an edge portion of a net that is to be suspended above a surface, comprising: 
 (A) a support pole adapted to be positioned in an upright manner relative to the surface;    (B) a net pole adapted to secure to the edge portion of the net to be suspended;    (C) a bracket adapted to connect said support pole and said net pole to one another, said bracket operative to permit said support pole and said net pole to be oriented with respect to one another at selected relative orientations; and    (D) at least one fastener operative to releasably secure said support pole and said net pole at a selected relative orientation.    
   
   
       2 . A pole assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said support pole and said net pole are each elongated tubular members of a selected cross-sectional configuration with each having longitudinal axes.  
   
   
       3 . A pole assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the selected cross-sectional configuration of said support pole and the selected cross-sectional configuration of said net pole are each independently selected from a group consisting of: circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, and hexagonal.  
   
   
       4 . A pole assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said bracket is operative to permit selected relative orientation of said net pole at selected locations longitudinally of said support pole.  
   
   
       5 . A pole assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said bracket being operative to permit selected angular orientation of said net pole with respect to said support pole.  
   
   
       6 . A pole assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said bracket includes at least one sleeve portion adapted to slideably receive one of said support pole and said net pole as a received pole.  
   
   
       7 . A pole assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said sleeve portion has a sidewall formed in a generally C-shaped cross-section of a selected effective cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       8 . A pole assembly according to  claim 7  including a flange projecting from longitudinally extending edges of said sidewall in facing relation to one another, said fastener operative to advance said flanges toward one another thereby to reduce the effective cross-sectional dimension thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A pole assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said bracket includes a first sleeve portion having a first sidewall and adapted to slideably receive said support pole and a second sleeve portion having a second sidewall adapted to slideably receive said net pole, each of said first and second sidewalls being formed in a generally C-shaped cross-section with an effective cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       10 . A pole assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said first sidewall includes a pair of first flanges projecting from longitudinally extending edges thereof in facing relation to one another and wherein said second sidewall includes a pair of second flanges projecting from longitudinally extending edges thereof in facing relation to one another, said first and second pairs of flanges engaging one another, said fastener being operative to advance said flanges toward one another thereby to reduce the cross-sectional dimensions of said first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       11 . A pole assembly according to  claim 9  including a pair of space-apart webs interconnecting respective longitudinal edges of said first and second sidewalls, said fastener being operative to advance said webs toward one another thereby to reduce the cross-sectional dimensions of said first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       12 . A pole assembly according to  claim 9  including a fastener associated with each of said first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       13 . A pole assembly according to  claim 9  wherein each of said first and second sleeve portions is formed as a collar each having: 
 (A) a lobe projecting therefrom;    (B) a pair of flanges projecting therefrom in spaced-apart relation to one another; and    (C) a fastener extending between said flanges and being operative to advance said flanges toward one another thereby to reduce the cross-sectional dimensions thereof;    said lobes being pivotally connected to one another.    
   
   
       14 . A pole assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said bracket is operative to permit said net pole to pivot relative to said support pole.  
   
   
       15 . A pole assembly adapted to support an edge portion of a net that is to be suspended above a surface, comprising: 
 (A) an elongated support pole adapted to be positioned in an upright manner relative to the surface;    (B) an elongated net pole adapted to secure to the edge portion of the net to be suspended;    (C) a bracket adapted to connect said support pole and said net pole to one another, said bracket including a first sleeve portion operative to slideably engage said support pole and a second sleeve portion operative to slideably engage said net pole; and    (D) means for fastening said first and second sleeve portions respectively on said support and net poles thereby to selectively resist relative sliding movement thereof.    
   
   
       16 . A pole assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said bracket is operative to permit selected relative orientation of said net pole at selected locations longitudinally of said support pole.  
   
   
       17 . A pole assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said bracket is operative to permit selected angular orientation of said net pole with respect to said support pole.  
   
   
       18 . A pole assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said first sleeve portion has a first sidewall and wherein said second sleeve portion has a second sidewall, each of said first and second sidewalls being formed in a generally C-shaped cross-section with an effective cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       19 . A pole assembly according to  claim 18  wherein said first sidewall includes a pair of first flanges projecting from longitudinally extending edges thereof in facing relation to one another and wherein said second sidewall includes a pair of second flanges projecting from longitudinally extending edges thereof in facing relation to one another, said first and second pairs of flanges engaging one another, said fastener being operative to advance said flanges toward one another thereby to reduce the cross-sectional dimensions of said first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       20 . A sports net system adapted to be erected on a surface, comprising: 
 (A) a pair of support poles each adapted to be positioned and in an upright manner relative to the surface in spaced-apart relation to one another;    (B) a pair of net poles;    (C) a first bracket interconnecting a first one of said support poles and a first one of said net poles as a first pole pair and a second bracket interconnecting a second one of said support poles and a second one of said net poles as a second pole pair, said first and second brackets operative to permit a respective said support pole and a respective said net pole of the first and second pole pairs to be oriented with respect to one another at selected relative orientations;    (D) at least one fastener associated with each of said first and second brackets, said fastener operative to releasably secure the respective said support pole and the respective said net pole of the first and second pole pairs at their selected relative orientations; and    (E) a flexible net having a first edge portion adapted to be secured to said first one of said net poles and a second edge portion adapted to be secured to said second one of said net poles.    
   
   
       21 . A sports net system according to  claim 20  wherein said first bracket is operative to permit selected relative orientation of said first net pole at selected locations longitudinally of said first support pole of the first pole pair and wherein said second bracket is operative to permit selected relative orientation of said second net pole at selected locations longitudinally of said second support pole of the second pole pair.  
   
   
       22 . A sports net system according to  claim 20  wherein said first bracket is operative to permit selected angular orientation of said first net pole with respect to said first support pole of the first pole pair and wherein said second bracket is operative to permit selected angular orientation of said second net pole with respect to said second support pole of the second pole pair.  
   
   
       23 . A sports net system according to  claim 20  wherein each said first and second bracket includes at least one sleeve portion adapted to slideably receive a respective one of said support poles and said net poles of a respective pole pair.  
   
   
       24 . A sports net system according to  claim 23  wherein said sleeve portion has a sidewall formed in a generally C-shaped cross-section of a selected effective cross-sectional dimension.  
   
   
       25 . A sports net system according to  claim 24  including a flange projecting from longitudinally extending edges of said sidewall in facing relation to one another, said fastener operative to advance said flanges toward one another thereby to reduce the effective cross-sectional dimension thereof.  
   
   
       26 . A method of positioning a net above a support surface, comprising in any order: 
 (A) erecting first and second support poles in an upright orientation on the support surface in spaced-apart relation to one another;    (B) securing a first edge portion of the net to a first net pole and securing a second edge portion of the net to a second net pole; and    (C) interconnecting a first one of said support poles and said first net pole as a first pole pair in a manner so as to permit them to be oriented with respect to one another at selected relative orientations and interconnecting a second one of said support poles and said second net pole as a second pole pair in a manner so as to permit them to be oriented with respect to one another at selected relative orientation.    
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26  including the step of securing each of first and second pole pairs in their respective relative orientations.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the orientation of said first and second net poles is longitudinal.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the orientation of said first and second net poles is a selected angular orientation relative to a respective one of said support poles thereby to generally achieve uniform tension across said net.