Protective Screen

Abstract

A pitching screen which provides a support structure having an arcuate support element which defines the boundary of the pitching screen and about which a ball can be pitched toward a pitching target.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of producing a screen, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a support structure including:
 i) a first member having a first member first end and a first member second end; 
 ii) a second member having a second member first end and a second member second end, said second ends of said first member and said second member coupled to dispose said first member and said second member in angled relation between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees; 
 iii) only one arcuate support element having a first end and a second end, said first arcuate support element coupled between said first ends of said first member and said second member, said arcuate support element having a radius in a range of between about 36 inches and about 200 inches; 
   b) providing a base coupled to said support structure; and   c) providing an object deflection material having a plurality of aperture elements coupled to said support structure.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of providing a cross member which couples between said first end of said arcuate support element and said first member first end. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of providing each of said first member, said second member and said arcuate support element as at least one support segment adapted for assembly into said support structure, said at least one support element corresponding to said arcuate support element flexed during assembly to provide said radius in a range of between about 36 inches and about 200 inches. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of providing at least one of said first member, said second member, and said arcuate support element as a plurality of axially coupled support segments. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the step of providing an elastically tensioned coupling between said plurality of axially coupled support segments which allow said plurality of axially coupled support segments to be disposed in a folded condition. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of providing a carrying case configured to receive within said plurality of axially coupled supports disposed in a folded condition, said base, and said object deflection material. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , said support structure substantially planar. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , said angled relation substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of adjusting dimensional relations of said support structure for use as a pitching screen. 
     
     
         42 . A method of assembling a screen, comprising the steps of:
 a) coupling a second end of a first member to a second end of a second member to dispose said first member in angled relation between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees;   b) coupling only one arcuate support element having a radius in a range of between about 36 inches and about 200 inches between a first end of said first member and a first end of said second member to provide a support structure;   c) coupling a base to said support structure; and   d) coupling an object deflection material to said support structure.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of flexing a linear support to achieve said radius in the range of about 36 inches and about 200 inches, thereby providing said arcuate support element. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of coupling a cross member between said first end of said arcuate support element and said first member. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of axially coupling a plurality of support segments to provide at least one of said first member, said second member, and said arcuate support element. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising the step of generating a substantially linear condition of the plurality of said support segments from a folded condition. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said step of coupling said base to said support structure comprises the steps of:
 a) coupling a first tee element proximate said second member first end coupled to said second end of said arcuate support element;   b) coupling a second tee element proximate said second member second end;   c) coupling a first pair of legs to said first tee element; and   d) coupling a second pair of legs to said second tee element.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising the step of rotatably coupling at least one wheel proximate said first end or said second end of said second member. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of rotatably coupling a wheel to said first pair of legs. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of rotatably coupling a wheel to said second pair of legs. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of rotatably coupling a pair of wheels one each to said first pair of legs and said second pair of legs. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 42 , said support structure substantially planar, said angled relation substantially perpendicular.