Collapsible net apparatus

Abstract

A ball net structure arranged to be portable, collapsible, and provide the required structural support to receive or capture a projectile, such as but not limited to a soccer ball or baseball. The ball net structure comprises a support portion, first and second extensions, a first bracket pivotally coupling the first extension to the support portion, a second bracket pivotally coupling the second extension to the support portion, first and second flexible rods removably coupled to the support portion, and a net received by at least the first and second extensions and received by at least the first and second flexible rods. The net is configured to bend the first and second flexible rods from a linear state to an arcuate state, such that a net tension holds the net upright.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A net apparatus, comprising:
 a support portion having a first end and a second end;   first and second extensions;   a first bracket pivotally coupling the first extension to the first end of the support portion;   a second bracket pivotally coupling the second extension to the second end of the support portion;   first and second flexible rods coupled to the support portion, wherein the first flexible rod is at a first fixed angle, wherein the second flexible rod is at a second fixed angle;   the first flexible rod having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is removably coupled to the support portion;   the second flexible rod having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is removably coupled to the support portion; and   a net, received by at least the first and second extensions and received by at least the upper ends of the first and second flexible rods, the net being configured to bend the first flexible rod and the second flexible rod from a linear state to an arcuate state, such that a net tension pulls the first flexible rod into the arcuate state and the net tension simultaneously pulls the second flexible rod into the arcuate state.   
     
     
         2 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises a first shaft and a second shaft, wherein the lower ends of the first and second flexible rods are received by the first and second shafts, respectively, to couple the first and second flexible rods to the support portion. 
     
     
         3 . The net apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first shaft is distally separate from the first bracket, and the second shaft is distally separate from the second bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the first flexible rod is remote from the first bracket. 
     
     
         5 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the second flexible rod is remote from the second bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , the first bracket comprising:
 a groove;   a pivot, wherein the first extension is received within the groove and adapted to pivot about the pivot within the groove;   at least one sidewall; and   a locking device, wherein the at least one sidewall prevents the first extension from pivoting beyond a desired position, wherein the locking device holds the position of the first extension within the groove.   
     
     
         7 . The net apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the locking device comprises a locking pin or a locking push button. 
     
     
         8 . The net apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the locking device comprises a stop extending from a surface of the groove, wherein the stop provides a physical barrier to maintain the position of the first extension within the groove. 
     
     
         9 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , the net further comprising:
 a first edge extending between the first extension and the upper end of the first flexible rod;   a top edge extending between the upper end of the first flexible rod and the upper end of the second flexible rod;   a second edge extending between the upper end of the second flexible rod and the second extension; and   a bottom edge extending between the first and second extensions.   
     
     
         10 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the net is received at a side surface of the first and second extensions, such that the first and second extensions at least partially extend beyond the net. 
     
     
         11 . The net apparatus of  claim 1 , the support portion further comprising:
 a plurality of support portions; and   at least one support portion bracket;   wherein at least a pair of the plurality of support portions are received by the at least one support portion bracket, such that at least one of the pair of the plurality of support portions is pivotally coupled to the at least one support portion bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The net apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of support portions and the at least one support portion bracket are aligned along the same axis. 
     
     
         13 . A net apparatus, comprising:
 a support portion comprising at least a first support portion and at least a second support portion;   first and second extensions;   a first bracket coupled to the first support portion, wherein the first extension is received by the first bracket, such that the first extension rotates about a first pivot of the first bracket;   a second bracket coupled to the second support portion, wherein the second extension is received by the second bracket, such that the second extension rotates about a second pivot of the second bracket;   the support portion further comprising a third bracket adapted to receive the first support portion and the second support portion, such that the first support portion rotates about a third pivot of the third bracket and the second support portion rotates about a fourth pivot of the third bracket;   first and second flexible rods each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein each of the lower ends of the first and second flexible rods are removably coupled to the support portion, wherein each of the lower ends of the first and second flexible rods are remote from the first and second brackets; and   a net adapted to receive at least the first and second flexible rods and at least the first and second extensions, wherein the net bends the first and second flexible rods from a straight relaxed state into a bow-shaped flexed state such that the first and second flexible rods are biased away from each other to hold the net upright.   
     
     
         14 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the support portion comprises a first shaft and a second shaft, wherein the first and second flexible rods are received by the first and second shafts, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The net apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first shaft is on the first support portion and the second shaft is on the second support portion. 
     
     
         16 . The net apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first shaft is separate from the third bracket and the first bracket, wherein the second shaft is separate from the third bracket and the second bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the net is adapted to receive at least part of the support portion. 
     
     
         18 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , the net further comprising:
 a first edge extending between the first extension and the upper end of the first flexible rod;   a top edge extending between the upper end of the first flexible rod and the upper end of the second flexible rod;   a second edge extending between the second extension and the upper end of the second flexible rod; and   a bottom edge extending along the first and second extensions and the support portion.   
     
     
         19 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , the net further comprising a first seam extending between the first bracket and the upper end of the first flexible rod, and a second seam extending between the second bracket and the upper end of the second flexible rod, wherein a net tension pulls the first and second flexible rods into the bow-shaped flexed state and maintains the positioning of the first and second seams. 
     
     
         20 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first support portion comprises a second third bracket and a pair of first support portions coupled to the second third bracket, wherein a first one of the pair of first support portions is coupled to the first bracket, and a second one of the pair of first support portions is coupled to the third bracket. 
     
     
         21 . The net apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first one of the pair of the first support portions pivots about a fifth pivot of the second third bracket, and the second one of the pair of the first support portion pivots about a sixth pivot of the second third bracket. 
     
     
         22 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second support portion comprises a third third bracket and a pair of second support portions coupled to the third third bracket, wherein a first one of the pair of second support portion is coupled to the second bracket, and a second one of the pair of second support portions is coupled to the third bracket. 
     
     
         23 . The net apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the first one of the pair of the second support portions pivots about a seventh pivot of the third third bracket, and the second one of the pair of the second support portions pivots about an eighth pivot of the third third bracket. 
     
     
         24 . The net apparatus of  claim 13 , the first bracket further comprising:
 a groove, wherein the first extension is adapted to pivot within the groove;   at least one sidewall configured to define a pivot range of the first extension; and   a locking device configured to hold the position of the first extension within the groove.   
     
     
         25 . The net apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the locking device comprises a locking pin or a locking push button. 
     
     
         26 . The net apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the locking device comprises a stop extending from a surface of the groove, wherein the stop provides a physical barrier to maintain the position of the first extension within the groove. 
     
     
         27 . A frame structure, comprising:
 a support portion comprising at least a first support portion and at least a second support portion;   first and second extensions;   a first bracket coupled to the first support portion, wherein the first extension is coupled to the first bracket such that the first extension pivots about a first pivot of the first bracket;   a second bracket coupled to the second support portion, wherein the second extension is coupled to the second bracket such that the second extension pivots about a second pivot of the second bracket;   first and second flexible rods each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein each of the lower ends of the first and second flexible rods are removably coupled to the support portion, the support portion further comprising at least one support bracket, wherein that at least one support bracket is configured to receive the first flexible rod, wherein the first and second flexible rods are configured to exert a bias onto at least one of the support portion, the first extension, or the second extension to assist in stabilizing the frame structure.   
     
     
         28 . The frame structure of  claim 27 , wherein the frame structure is configured to receive a net, wherein the net is removably coupled to at least the first and second flexible rods, at least the first and second extensions, and at least the support portion. 
     
     
         29 . The frame structure of  claim 28 , wherein the net comprises a plurality of sleeves configured to be received by at least the first and second flexible rods, at least the first and second extensions, and at least the support portion, wherein the net bends the first and second flexible rods from a straight relaxed state into a bow-shaped flexed state such that the net is held by tension and forms at least one net surface. 
     
     
         30 . The frame structure of  claim 27 , wherein the first support bracket receives the first support portion opposite the first bracket, wherein the first support portion is pivotally coupled to the first support bracket. 
     
     
         31 . The frame structure of  claim 27 , wherein a second support bracket is axially aligned with the support portion and configured to receive the second flexible rod. 
     
     
         32 . The frame structure of  claim 31 , wherein the second support bracket receives the second support portion opposite the second bracket, wherein the second support portion is pivotally coupled to the second support bracket. 
     
     
         33 . The frame structure of  claim 27 , the support portion further comprising at least a third support portion, wherein the first support portion and the third support portion are received by a first support portion bracket, and wherein the second support portion and the third support portion are received by a second support portion bracket. 
     
     
         34 . The frame structure of  claim 33 , wherein the first support portion pivots about a third pivot of the first support portion bracket and the third support portion pivots about a fourth pivot of the first support portion bracket. 
     
     
         35 . The frame structure of  claim 33 , wherein the second support portion pivots about a fifth pivot of the second support portion bracket and the third support portion pivots about a sixth pivot of the second support portion bracket. 
     
     
         36 . A frame structure, comprising:
 a support portion having a length in a first plane extending between a first end and a second end;   first and second extensions;   a first bracket pivotally coupling the first extension to the first end of the support portion;   a second bracket pivotally coupling the second extension to the second end of the support portion;   first means for supporting a first rod on the support portion proximate the first end; and   second means for supporting a second rod on the support portion proximate the second end, wherein the first rod and the second rod are configured to exert a first bias and a second bias, respectively, onto at least one of the support portion, the first extension, or the second extension to assist in stabilizing the frame structure.   
     
     
         37 . The frame structure of  claim 36 , wherein the frame structure is configured to receive a net, wherein the net is received by at least the first and second extensions and received by at least an upper end of the first and second rods, the net being configured to bend the first rod and the second rod from a linear state to an arcuate state, such that a net tension pulls the first rod into the arcuate state and the net tension simultaneously pulls the second rod into the arcuate state.