Backstop and Portable Training System for a Bat-and-Ball Games

Abstract

A backstop for training of a bat-and-ball game has a body with a central portion flanked by a side portion on either side. Each side portion is adjustable at an angle less than 180 degrees relative to the central portion so that the backstop is capable of standing upright on a supporting surface. There are target areas on the body, each configured to act as one portion of a hook and loop fastener for attaching to a corresponding portion of the hook and loop fastener on an item of sporting equipment such that when contact is made between a target area within the backstop and said sporting equipment, the target area fastens to said sporting equipment thereby interfering with movement of said sporting equipment.

1 . A bat-and-ball game backstop including:
 (a) a body made of suitable material to aid in preventing a ball thrown towards a batter from exiting a playing area, wherein:
 (i) the body comprises a central portion flanked by a side portion on either side; and 
 (ii) each side portion is adjustable at an angle less than 180 degrees relative to the central portion so that the backstop is capable of standing substantially upright on a supporting surface; and 
   (b) one or more target areas on the body, wherein each target area is configured to act as one portion of a hook and loop fastener for attaching to a corresponding portion of the hook and loop fastener on sporting equipment such that when contact is made between:
 (i) a target area within the backstop, and 
 (ii) said sporting equipment, the target area fastens to said sporting equipment, thereby interfering with movement of said sporting equipment. 
   
     
     
         2 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1 , wherein each side portion of the body is able to be configured at an angle relative to the central portion such that the backstop is adaptable for use in a range of locations. 
     
     
         3 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the angle is between about 90 and about 155 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according  claim 1  wherein the angle is between about 130 and 140 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1  wherein each target area is configured to act as a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener, and the sporting equipment serves as a loop portion of the fastener, for fastening the sporting equipment to a target area when contact is made between the target area and the sporting equipment. 
     
     
         6 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1  wherein each target area is positioned on the body so as to represent a component from one or more of the following groups:
 (a) a wicket or catcher; 
 (b) a fielder; 
 (c) another component of a playing area such that fastening of the sporting equipment to the target area corresponds to a scoring event. 
 
     
     
         7 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1  wherein the backstop further includes reversible attachment means for attaching the target areas to the body to allow one or more of the following:
 (a) removal of one or more target areas from the backstop; 
 (b) addition of one or more target areas from the backstop; 
 (c) repositioning of one or more target areas on the backstop, 
 such that the backstop is adjustable to enable difficulty of game play to be adjusted. 
 
     
     
         8 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes attachment means for attaching the body to support means, the support means enhancing structural rigidity of the backstop. 
     
     
         9 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 7  wherein the attachment means is any suitable means for attaching the body to the support means. 
     
     
         10 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 9  wherein the attachment means include one or more channels on the body of the backstop such that the support means can be retained within said channels. 
     
     
         11 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 8  wherein the support means is any suitable elongate material. 
     
     
         12 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 8  wherein the attachment means are positioned along the body such that the support means are able to function as points of inflexion about which to angle the side portions relative to the central portion. 
     
     
         13 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1 , wherein the backstop further includes a securing means for securing the backstop to a supporting surface for further securing the backstop to the supporting surface during game play. 
     
     
         14 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 13  wherein the securing means includes:
 (a) one or more guy ropes having opposing ends, one end of each said guy rope being attached to a part of the body; 
 (b) one or more pegs, each peg securing an opposing end of each said guy rope to the supporting surface, 
 such that tension on the guy ropes secures the backstop to a supporting surface in a substantially upright state. 
 
     
     
         15 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1  wherein the bat-and-ball game is cricket. 
     
     
         16 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more target areas further include an auditory feedback means such that a sound is emitted when the respective target area is struck by sporting equipment. 
     
     
         17 . A portable training system for a bat and ball game including:
 (a) a backstop according to any one of the preceding claims; and   (b) sporting equipment.   
     
     
         18 . A portable training system for a bat and ball game according to  claim 17  further including one or more independent target areas. 
     
     
         19 . A portable training system for a bat and ball game according to  claim 18  wherein the sporting equipment includes equipment from one or more of the following groups:
 (a) a conventional tennis ball; 
 (b) a modified ball; 
 (c) a modified bat or similar hitting apparatus. 
 
     
     
         20 . A portable training system for a bat and ball game according to  claim 19  wherein the modified ball is a ball including a strip of hook and loop fastener for fastening to a target area. 
     
     
         21 . A portable training system for a bat and ball game according to  claim 19  wherein the modified hitting apparatus is a bat including a strip of hook and loop fastener for fastening to a target area. 
     
     
         22 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a printable textile. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A bat-and-ball game backstop comprising:
 (a) a collapsible, self-supporting frame, wherein the self-supporting  15  frame is capable of self-supporting on a supporting surface, and wherein the self-supporting frame is capable of self deploying to a self-supporting state from a collapsed state;   (b) a body made of suitable material extending across a substantially vertical portion of the self-supporting frame to aid in preventing a  20  ball thrown towards the backstop from exiting a playing area;   (c) one or more target areas on the body, wherein each target area is configured to act as one portion of a hook and loop fastener for attaching to a corresponding portion of the hook and loop fastener on sporting equipment  25  such that when contact is made between:   i. a target area within the backstop, and   ii. said sporting equipment,   the target area fastens to said sporting equipment, thereby interfering with movement of said sporting equipment.   
     
     
         26 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 25  further comprising a piece of skirting material attachable to the lower portion of the body to assist in preventing passage of a ball under the body. 
     
     
         27 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 25  further comprising a pocket seam extending around the upper periphery of the body to assist in preventing movement of the frame in a direction outward from a midline. 
     
     
         28 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 25  wherein the self-erecting frame comprises one or more loops of resiliently deformable material, wherein the frame is bent along the circumference to form an elbow such that a lower portion of the frame sits along a supporting surface  20  and an upper portion of the frame stands substantially vertical to the supporting surface. 
     
     
         29 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 28  wherein the elbow forms an acute angle between the upper portion and the lower portion  25  of the frame. 
     
     
         30 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to  claim 25 , further including a reversibly attachable brace, wherein the brace is reversibly attachable to the frame to hold the upper portion of the frame substantially vertical to the supporting surface. 
     
     
         31 . A bat-and-ball game backstop according to any  claim 25  wherein each target area is configured to act as a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener, and the sporting equipment serves as a loop portion of the fastener, for fastening the sporting equipment to a target area when contact is made between the target area and the sporting equipment.