Sports goal practice backstop

Abstract

A sports goal practice backstop which attaches to a regulation goal and may remain in place, if desired, at the conclusion of practice and during games. During practice, the sports goal backstop of the present invention provides a suitable backstop to stop most balls from traveling beyond the goal. At the conclusion of practice, the sports goal backstop of the present invention is foldable such that it need not be removed at the conclusion of practice. Rather, the sports goal backstop of the present invention may remain in position, out of sight, in its folded configuration during a game without interfering with normal play.

1 . A sports goal practice backstop comprising: 
 a backstop net;    a left section;    a middle section; and    a right section.    
   
   
       2 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an upper support bar which runs along the entire top edge of said sports goal practice backstop;    a left vertical support which runs between said left section and said middle section;    a right vertical support which runs between said middle section and said right section;    a first horizontal support attached to both said left vertical support and said right vertical support;    a second horizontal support attached to both said left vertical support and said right vertical support;    a first hinge located along said left vertical support at the mid-point between said first horizontal support and said second horizontal support;    a second hinge located along said right vertical support at the mid-point between said first horizontal support and said second horizontal support;    a third hinge located at the connection point between said upper support bar associated with said left section and said middle section;    a fourth hinge located at the connection point between said upper support bar associated with said middle section and said right section; and    connecting means to attach said sports goal practice backstop to a sports goal.    
   
   
       3 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 2  wherein said backstop net associated with said middle section is shorter than said backstop net associated with said left section or said right section to allow for proper installation of said sports goal practice backstop with said sports goal.  
   
   
       4 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 3  wherein said sports goal is a lacrosse goal.  
   
   
       5 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 3  wherein said sports goal is a soccer goal.  
   
   
       6 . A method of storing a sports goal practice backstop around a sport goal comprising: 
 folding a top portion of said sports goal practice backstop to the rear of said sports goal at a first hinge and a second hinge;    folding a left section rearward and inward at a third hinge;    folding a right section rearward and inward at a fourth hinge; and    folding said left section and said right section forward at said third hinge and said fourth hinge.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said sports goal is a lacrosse goal.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said sports goal is a soccer goal.  
   
   
       9 . A sports goal practice backstop comprising: 
 a backstop net;    a left section;    a middle section;    a right section;    an upper support bar which runs along the entire top edge of said sports goal practice backstop;    a left vertical support which runs between said left section and said middle section wherein said left vertical support is telescoping;    a right vertical support which runs between said middle section and said right section said right vertical support is telescoping;    a first horizontal support attached to both said left vertical support and said right vertical support;    a second horizontal support attached to both said left vertical support and said right vertical support;    a first hinge located at the connection point between said upper support bar associated with said left section and said middle section;    a second hinge located at the connection point between said upper support bar associated with said middle section and said right section; and    connecting means to attach said sports goal practice backstop to sports goal.    
   
   
       10 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 9  wherein said backstop net associated with said middle section is shorter than said backstop net associated with said left section or said right section to allow for proper installation of said sports goal practice backstop with said sports goal.  
   
   
       11 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 10  wherein said sports goal is a lacrosse goal.  
   
   
       12 . The sports goal practice backstop of  claim 10  wherein said sports goal is a soccer goal.  
   
   
       13 . A method of storing a sports goal practice backstop around a sports goal comprising: 
 simultaneously telescoping a left vertical support and a right vertical support;    folding a left section forward at a first hinge;    folding a right section forward at a second hinge; and    folding said left section and said right section downward at said first hinge and said second hinge.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said sports goal is a lacrosse goal.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said sports goal is a soccer goal.