Free-standing sports training wall

Abstract

A free-standing sports training wall is provided, the free-standing sports training wall including a frame and a substantially smooth heat-strengthened glass panel attached to the frame. The glass panel forming at least part of a rebound surface of the free-standing sports training wall.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A free-standing tennis training wall, comprising:
 a frame; and   a substantially smooth and planar heat-strengthened glass panel attached to the frame, the glass panel forming at least part of a rebound surface of the free-standing tennis training wall and wherein:   the glass panel comprises markings configured to represent a tennis net.   
     
     
         2 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat-strengthened glass panel is attached to the frame through attachment means, the attachment means being substantially flush with a front surface of the heat strengthened glass panel. 
     
     
         3 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the glass panel is configured to withstand tennis ball impacts. 
     
     
         4 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the glass panel has a thickness of at least approximately 12 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the glass panel comprises heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass. 
     
     
         6 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the glass panel is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         7 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of mild steel posts, preferably a plurality of cold-formed mild steel posts. 
     
     
         8 . The free-standing training wall as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the free-standing sports training wall is for outdoor use. 
     
     
         9 . A sports area comprising:
 a sports court; and   the free-standing tennis training wall as claimed in  claim 1  fixedly attached to the sports court.   
     
     
         10 . The sports area as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the sports area is a tennis court. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a free-standing tennis training wall, the method comprising:
 assembling a free-standing frame of the free-standing tennis training wall;   providing a heat treated and substantially smooth and planar glass panel to form a substantially smooth heat-strengthened glass panel of the free-standing sports training wall;   applying markings configured to represent a tennis net on the glass panel; and   attaching the substantially smooth and planar heat-strengthened glass panel to the free-standing frame to form at least part of a rebound surface of the free-standing sports training wall.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the markings are heat treatable markings, and the method comprises heat treating the markings such that the markings irreversibly bind to the glass panel. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the heat treating of the glass panel and the heat treating of the markings occurs simultaneously.