Sports rebounder apparatus

Abstract

A sports rebounder apparatus is disclosed that allows a rebounding panel to be adjusted to multiple angular positions to allow players to replicate and practice a variety of different pickleball shots. The degree of angle is directly related to the rebounding loft that the ball will experience. For example, the further a rebounding panel is tilted away from a player, the higher the ball will rebound than a ball striking a more vertically-positioned rebounding panel. This higher loft affords the player more time to react to the rebounded ball. Likewise, the further the rebounding panel is tilted towards a player, the ball will rebound lower and faster, giving a player less time to react. This is advantageous for players of different skill levels, as well as for providing different shots that players could replicate and practice.

1 . A sports rebounder apparatus, comprising:
 a first frame wherein the first frame has a top section and a bottom section;   a base frame for supporting said first frame, wherein the base frame has two vertical pipes that are substantially parallel to each other and a horizontal cross-bar connected to the two vertical pipes, and a plurality of legs which stabilize the rebounder apparatus on a surface;   a rebounding panel attached in the top section of the first frame, wherein the rebounding panel allows a ball to bounce back when the ball strikes the rebounding panel;   a hinge assembly that attaches the first frame to the base frame and allows at least the top section of the first frame to swing back and forth relative to the base frame; and   a locking mechanism for locking the first frame in place to prevent the first frame from swinging, wherein the top section is in one of a plurality of predetermined positions, wherein the top section is either substantially vertical or can be tilted forward and backward.   
     
     
         2 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a net attached to the bottom section of the first frame.   
     
     
         3 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of positions are 20 degrees, 10 degrees, 0 degrees, −10 degrees and −20 degrees, wherein for positive degree positions the top section is tilted away from a user, and for negative degree positions the top section is tilted towards the user. 
     
     
         4 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism is a frame extension that attaches to a bottom horizontal pipe of the first frame and the horizontal cross-bar of the base frame. 
     
     
         5 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame extension has a sufficient length to hold the first frame in the 10 degree and −10 degree positions. 
     
     
         6 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame extension has a sufficient length to hold the first frame in the 20 degree and −20 degree positions. 
     
     
         7 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism is a series of holes on the hinge assembly, one for each of the plurality of positions, wherein a pin is inserted through one of the holes to lock the frame in position. 
     
     
         8 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first frame is comprised of two substantially parallel vertical pipes, and a first, second and third substantially parallel horizontal pipes, wherein the first horizontal pipe is connected to a top end of each vertical pipe, the second horizontal pipe is connected to a bottom end of each vertical pipe and the third horizontal pipe is connected to each of the vertical pipes and is in between the first and second horizontal pipes. 
     
     
         9 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the top section of the first frame is defined by the space between the first and third horizontal pipes, and the bottom section of the first frame is defined by the space between the second and third horizontal pipes. 
     
     
         10 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a vertical support pipe attached to the first and third horizontal pipes to prevent the rebounding panel from deflecting when being struck by the ball.   
     
     
         11 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said two substantially parallel vertical pipes are each composed of a plurality of pipes. 
     
     
         12 . A sports rebounder apparatus, comprising:
 a frame wherein the frame is divided into a top section and a bottom section;   a rebounding panel attached to the frame in the top section of the frame;   fastening device for mounting the frame on a wall; and   a locking mechanism for locking the frame in place to prevent the frame from moving, wherein the top section is in one of a plurality of predetermined positions, wherein the top section is either substantially vertical or can be tilted forward and backward.   
     
     
         13 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the fastening device is a plurality of hooks that are attached to the wall and hold the frame on the wall. 
     
     
         14 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the frame is comprised of two substantially parallel vertical pipes, and a first, second and third substantially parallel horizontal pipes, wherein the first horizontal pipe is connected to a top end of each vertical pipe, the second horizontal pipe is connected to a bottom end of each vertical pipe and the third horizontal pipe is connected to each of the vertical pipes and is in between the first and second horizontal pipes. 
     
     
         15 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein a first pair of hooks support the first horizontal pipe of the frame and a second pair of hooks support the second horizontal pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a vertical support pipe attached to the first and third horizontal pipes to prevent the rebounding panel from deflecting when being struck by the ball.   
     
     
         17 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the top section of the first frame is defined by the space between the first and third horizontal pipes, and the bottom section of the first frame is defined by the space between the second and third horizontal pipes. 
     
     
         18 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of positions are 20 degrees, 10 degrees, 0 degrees, −10 degrees and −20 degrees, wherein for positive degree positions the top section is tilted away from a user, and for negative degree positions the top section is tilted towards the user. 
     
     
         19 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism is a plurality of chains, wherein one of the plurality of chains is attached to each hook of the first pair of hooks and connected to the first horizontal pipe so that the top of the frame can be tilted away from the way. 
     
     
         20 . The sports rebounder apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism is a plurality of frame extensions wherein a first end of each frame extension is connected to the second horizontal pipe and a second end of each frame extension is in contact with the wall so that the bottom of the frame can be tilted away from the wall.