Pickleball net

Abstract

One example pickleball net apparatus includes first and second uprights, a scissor mechanism connected to the first and second uprights, a net removably connectible to the first and second uprights, and legs connected at least indirectly to the uprights, and the legs are configured to move automatically in response to manipulation of the scissor mechanism, so that the pickleball net apparatus moves between a folded state and a deployed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A net apparatus, comprising:
 first and second uprights;   a scissor mechanism connected at least indirectly to the first and second uprights;   a net removably connectible to the first and second uprights; and   legs connected at least indirectly to the uprights.   
     
     
         2 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the net apparatus is configured to move between a folded state and a deployed state. 
     
     
         3 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scissor mechanism comprises a set of double elements. 
     
     
         4 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein two of the legs are indirectly connected to a sliding sleeve that is configured to move up and down along one of the uprights. 
     
     
         5 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the legs are configured to move automatically in response to a reconfiguration of the scissor mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the legs are movable between a horizontal position that is parallel to a playing surface, and a vertical position that is parallel to the uprights. 
     
     
         7 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a strut that connects one of the legs to a sliding sleeve disposed on one of the uprights. 
     
     
         8 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one of the legs is rotatably connected to a fixed sleeve disposed on one of the uprights, and a strut is rotatably connected at one end to the one leg and at another end to a sliding sleeve disposed on the one upright. 
     
     
         9 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scissor mechanism comprises an element with an asymmetric configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scissor mechanism is rotatably connected to the uprights. 
     
     
         11 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the net apparatus is in the deployed state, a lowermost portion of the scissor mechanism is positioned above the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising wheel mechanisms configured to removably connect to respective legs. 
     
     
         13 . The net apparatus are recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scissor mechanism is connected to a sliding sleeve disposed on one of the uprights, and the sliding sleeve engages a sliding sleeve locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock the sliding sleeve on the upright. 
     
     
         14 . The net apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the net comprises an elastic fabric and webbing which, when the net apparatus is in a deployed state, impart tension to the net.