Portable Net For A Racquet Sport"

Abstract

A portable net system for a racquet sport. The portable net has a first stanchion and a second stanchion. The first and second stanchions are configured to mate together forming a carrying case. The portable net includes a self-retracting net that resides within the first stanchion, and which unspools from the first stanchion according to a desired width of a court. The leading edge of the net clips or otherwise fastens to the second stanchion. Thus, as the first and second stanchions are separated, the net unspools forming a net for a racquet sport. Each of the first and second stanchions additionally includes a base that provides support for the portable net in a vertical orientation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A portable net system for a racquet sport, comprising:
 a first stanchion;   a self-retracting net residing within the first stanchion, the self-retracting net being configured to be unspooled from the first stanchion, thereby moving the net from a spooled to an unspooled position;   a second stanchion, wherein the first and second stanchions are configured to mate together when the net is in its spooled position;   at least one receptacle residing along the second stanchion; and   at least one clip residing along a leading edge of the net, with the at least one clip being dimensioned to be removably received in a corresponding receptacle in the second stanchion.   
     
     
         2 . The portable net system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the net comprises an upper strap along an upper end of the net; and   each of the first and second stanchions comprises a first end and a second end.   
     
     
         3 . The portable net system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end of the first stanchion comprises a base for supporting the first stanchion in a vertical orientation; and   the first end of the second stanchion comprises a base for supporting the second stanchion, in a vertical orientation.   
     
     
         4 . The portable net system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first stanchion has a semi-circular profile forming a substantially planar inward-facing surface from which the net is pulled;   the second stanchion also comprises a substantially planar inward-facing surface; and   the at least one receptacle residing along the second stanchion resides along the inward-facing surface of the second stanchion.   
     
     
         5 . The portable net system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first end of the first stanchion comprises at least one caster; and   the first end of the second stanchion also comprises at least one caster;   
     
     
         6 . The portable net system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the first and second stanchion comprises an outward-facing surface;   the base at the first end of each of the first and second stanchions comprises at least two legs for supporting the respective stanchions in a vertical orientation;   each of the legs has a proximal end pivotally connected to a respective stanchion along an outward-facing surface of a stanchion, and a distal end, wherein each of the legs is configured to pivot between a raised position wherein the distal end is adjacent to the outer surface of its stanchion, and a lowered position wherein the distal end rests on the ground and supports the stanchion in its vertical orientation.   
     
     
         6 . The portable net system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the first and second stanchion comprises an outward-facing surface; and   the base at the first end of each of the first and second stanchions comprises a semi-circular body that flares out from the outward-facing surface of the stanchion.   
     
     
         8 . The portable net system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a handle residing along the outward-facing surface of the first stanchion, the outward-facing surface of the second stanchion, or both.   
     
     
         9 . The portable net system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the net is between 20 and 40 feet in length when it is unspooled; and   the net is between 24 and 36 inches in height.   
     
     
         10 . The portable net system of  claim 9 , wherein the net is sized for pickleball when it is unspooled. 
     
     
         11 . The portable net system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the net further comprises a lower strap;   the self-retracting mechanism comprises an upper self-retracting mechanism residing within the first stanchion at the level of the upper strap, and a lower self-retracting mechanism residing within the first stanchion at the level of the lower strap.   
     
     
         12 . The portable net system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a first of the at least one clip resides along the net at a leading edge of the upper strap;   a second of the at least one clip resides along the net at a leading edge of the lower strap; and   the net further comprises a mesh field connected to and residing between the lower and upper straps.   
     
     
         13 . The portable net system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a telescoping bar having a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end removably resides within an opening along the first stanchion, and the second end removably resides within an opening along the second stanchion;   the opening along the first stanchion resides at the first end of the first stanchion; and   the opening along the second stanchion resides at the first end of the second stanchion.   
     
     
         14 . A method of setting up a net for a racquet sport, comprising:
 providing a portable net system, comprising:
 a first stanchion and a second stanchion; 
 a self-retracting net residing within the first stanchion; 
 at least one receptacle residing along the second stanchion; and 
 at least one clip residing along a leading edge of the net; 
   unspooling the self-retracting net from the first stanchion;   connecting one of the at least one clip to a corresponding receptacle in the second stanchion; and   placing each of the first stanchion and a second stanchion onto a ground surface a desired distance apart, in a vertical orientation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the net comprises an upper strap along an upper end of the net, and a mesh field connected to and residing between the upper strap;   the self-retracting net is configured to be unspooled from the first stanchion, thereby moving the net from a spooled to an unspooled position; and   each of the first and second stanchions comprises a first end and a second end.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first end of the first stanchion comprises a base for supporting the first stanchion in a vertical orientation; and   the first end of the second stanchion comprises a base for supporting the second stanchion, in a vertical orientation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 each of the first and second stanchion comprises an outward-facing surface;   the base at the first end of each of the first and second stanchions comprises at least two legs for supporting the respective stanchions in a vertical orientation;   and the method further comprises pivoting each of the legs from a raised position to a lowered position, wherein in the lowered position a distal end of each of the legs rests on a ground surface to support the respective stanchions in their vertical orientations.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the base at the first end of each of the first and second stanchions comprises a semi-circular body that flares out from the outward-facing surface of the stanchion;   and the portable net system further comprises a handle residing along the outward-facing surface of the first stanchion, the outward-facing surface of the second stanchion, or both.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the net further comprises a lower strap;   a first of the at least one clip resides along the net at a leading edge of the upper strap;   a second of the at least one clip resides along the net at a leading edge of the lower strap;   and the method further comprises:
 connecting the first of the at least one clip to a first receptacle proximate the second end of the second stanchion; and 
 connecting the second of the at least one clip to a second receptacle proximate the first end of the second stanchion. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the first and second stanchions comprises an outward-facing surface;   each of the legs has a first end pivotally connected to a respective stanchion along an outward-facing surface of a stanchion.   the first end of the first stanchion comprises at least two legs for supporting the first stanchion in a vertical orientation; and   the first end of the second stanchion comprises at least two legs for supporting the second stanchion in a vertical orientation.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the portable net system further comprises a telescoping bar having a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end removably resides within an opening along the first stanchion, and the second end removably resides within an opening along the second stanchion;   the opening along the first stanchion resides at the first end of the first stanchion; and   the opening along the second stanchion resides at the first end of the second stanchion.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the net is between 20 and 40 feet in length when it is unspooled; and   the net is between 24 and 36 inches in height.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the net is sized for pickleball when it is unspooled.