Volleyball upright and associated assemblies with an extension pole or a net

Abstract

An upright configured such that the widest portions of the upright are adapted to be in line with a net line tension. An upright may also be configured such that its flat inner sides are adapted to be substantially perpendicular to a net line tension, which may also space the thinnest portions of the upright away from a net line tension. Furthermore, an upright may have a sloped top surface and an improved pin connection with an inner extension pole. As a result of any or all of these features, exemplary embodiments of an upright, an associated assembly with an extension pole and/or a net, and a related assembly method may provide improved resistance to net line tension.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An upright comprising:
 a first widest portion;   a second widest portion that opposes said first widest portion;   a first thinnest portion; and   a second thinnest portion that opposes said first thinnest portion   wherein said upright is adapted to at least assist with support of a net such that said first widest portion and said second widest portion are configured to be in line with and resist a net line tension.   
     
     
         2 . The upright of  claim 1  wherein said upright is adapted to at least assist with support of a volleyball net. 
     
     
         3 . The upright of  claim 1  further comprising a sloped top surface that forms a tallest edge that is configured to be in line with and resist a net line tension. 
     
     
         4 . The upright of  claim 3  wherein said tallest edge is formed by said first widest portion. 
     
     
         5 . The upright of  claim 3  wherein said tallest edge is configured to be on a same side of said upright as a net. 
     
     
         6 . The upright of  claim 3  further comprising a pin that is adapted to secure an extension pole within said upright;
 wherein said upright is configured such that said pin is adapted to be on a side of said upright that is opposite said tallest edge when securing an extension pole within said upright. 
 
     
     
         7 . The upright of  claim 3  further comprising a pin that is adapted to secure an extension pole within said upright;
 wherein said upright is configured such that said pin is adapted to be in line with a net line tension when securing an extension pole within said upright. 
 
     
     
         8 . The upright of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first flat inner side that facilitates said first widest portion; and 
 a second flat inner side that facilitates said second widest portion. 
 
     
     
         9 . The upright of  claim 8  wherein:
 said first flat inner side is parallel to said second flat inner side; and 
 said first flat inner side and said second flat inner side are configured to be perpendicular to a net line tension. 
 
     
     
         10 . The upright of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first curved inner side that facilitates said first thinnest portion; and 
 a second curved inner side that opposes said first curved inner side and facilitates said second thinnest portion; 
 wherein said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side space said first widest portion from said second widest portion; and 
 wherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion are configured to space said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side from a net line tension. 
 
     
     
         11 . The upright of  claim 10  wherein said first thinnest portion and said second thinnest portion have a consistent width. 
     
     
         12 . A net assembly comprising:
 an upright comprising:
 a first widest portion; 
 a second widest portion that opposes said first widest portion; 
 a first thinnest portion; and 
 a second thinnest portion that opposes said first thinnest portion; and 
   a net supported by said upright such that there is a net line tension;   wherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion of said upright are in line with and configured to resist the net line tension.   
     
     
         13 . The net assembly of  claim 12  wherein said net is a volleyball net. 
     
     
         14 . The net assembly of  claim 12  wherein said upright further comprises a sloped top surface that forms a tallest edge that is in line with and configured to resist the net line tension. 
     
     
         15 . The net assembly of  claim 14  wherein said tallest edge is formed by said first widest portion. 
     
     
         16 . The net assembly of  claim 14  wherein said tallest edge is configured to be on a same side of said upright as the net. 
     
     
         17 . The net assembly of  claim 14  further comprising:
 an extension pole positioned in said upright such that said net is also supported by said extension pole; and 
 a pin that secures said extension pole within said upright; 
 wherein said upright is configured such that said pin is on a side of said upright that is opposite said tallest edge. 
 
     
     
         18 . The net assembly of  claim 14  further comprising:
 an extension pole positioned in said upright such that said net is also supported by said extension pole; and 
 a pin that secures said extension pole within said upright; 
 wherein said pin is in line with the net line tension. 
 
     
     
         19 . The net assembly of  claim 12  wherein said upright further comprises:
 a first flat inner side that facilitates said first widest portion; and 
 a second flat inner side that facilitates said second widest portion. 
 
     
     
         20 . The net assembly of  claim 19  wherein:
 said first flat inner side is parallel to said second flat inner side; and 
 said first flat inner side and said second flat inner side are perpendicular to the net line tension. 
 
     
     
         21 . The net assembly of  claim 19  wherein said upright further comprises:
 a first curved inner side that facilitates said first thinnest portion; and 
 a second curved inner side that opposes said first curved inner side and facilitates said second thinnest portion; 
 wherein said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side space said first widest portion from said second widest portion; and 
 wherein said first widest portion and said second widest portion space said first curved inner side and said second curved inner side from the net line tension. 
 
     
     
         22 . The net assembly of  claim 21  wherein said first thinnest portion and said second thinnest portion have a consistent width.