Retractable backstop assembly for a sport structure

Abstract

A backstop assembly for a sport structure that includes at least one support member that is configured to be coupled with at least one structural member of the sport structure, and a net having a top side that is coupled with an upper end of the at least one support member. The backstop assembly is moveable between a stowed configuration, in which the support member is in a stowed position and the net does not extend past a periphery of the sport structure, and a deployed configuration, in which the support member is in a deployed position and at least two sections of the net extend outwardly from the periphery of the sport structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backstop assembly for a sport structure, comprising:
 at least one support member that is configured to be coupled with at least one structural member of the sport structure, the at least one support member being moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and   a net having a top side that is coupled with an upper end of the at least one support member,   wherein the backstop assembly is moveable between a stowed configuration, in which the at least one support member is in the stowed position and the net does not extend past a periphery of the sport structure, and a deployed configuration, in which the at least one support member is in the deployed position and at least two sections of the net extend outwardly from the periphery of the sport structure.   
     
     
         2 . The backstop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sport structure has an upper member, a first side member, and a second side member that define the periphery,
 wherein the at least one support member is a first rod having a first upper end and a second rod having a second upper end, the first rod being configured to be coupled with the first side member and the second rod being configured to be coupled with the second side member,   wherein the net has a shape with a first upper corner and a second upper corner, opposite the first upper corner, and   wherein, when the backstop assembly is in the deployed configuration, the first and second upper corners of the net extend outwardly from the periphery of the sport structure and are disposed below the upper member.   
     
     
         3 . The backstop assembly of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a first coupling member configured to removably attach to the first side member and slidably receive a first lower end of the first rod; and 
 a second coupling member configured to removably attach to the second side member and slidably receive a second lower end of the second rod. 
 
     
     
         4 . The backstop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second rods are coupled to a rear side of the first and second side members, the rear sides being opposite the upper member, via the first and second coupling members. 
     
     
         5 . The backstop assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second side members extend at an angle relative to the upper member, and
 wherein the first and second rods extend at the angle such that the first and second upper ends are above the upper member.   
     
     
         6 . The backstop assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first coupling member includes a first coupling element and a second coupling element, the first coupling element being removably attached to an upper end of the first side member and the second coupling member being removably attached to a lower end of the first side member adjacent to a lower member of the sport structure such that the first rod is slidably received within the first and second coupling elements of the first coupling member, and
 wherein the second coupling member includes a third coupling element and a fourth coupling element, the third coupling member being removably attached to an upper end of the second side member and the fourth coupling member being removably attached to a lower end of the second side member adjacent to a lower member of the sport structure such that the second rod is slidably received within third and fourth coupling elements of the second coupling member.   
     
     
         7 . The backstop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second rods are coupled to outer sides of the first and second side members, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The backstop assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second rods extend substantially perpendicular to the upper member of the sport structure. 
     
     
         9 . The backstop assembly of  claim 8 , wherein, when the backstop assembly is in the deployed configuration, the first and second upper ends of the first and second rods are at a first distance relative to the upper member, and, when the backstop assembly is in the stowed configuration, the first and second upper ends of the first and second rods are at a second distance relative to the upper member, the second distance being less than the first distance. 
     
     
         10 . A backstop assembly for a sport structure that has an upper member, a lower member, a first side member in connection with first ends of the upper and lower members, and a second side member in connection with second ends of the upper and lower members, opposite the first ends, the backstop assembly comprising:
 a first rod having a first upper end;   a second rod having a second upper end;   a first coupling member configured to be coupled with the first side member of the sport structure and to receive the first rod;   a second coupling member configured to be coupled with the second side member of the sport structure and to receive the second rod; and   a net having a top side, a bottom side, a first upper corner, and a second upper corner opposite the first upper corner,   wherein the top side of the net is coupled with the first distal end of the first rod and the second distal end of the second rod, such that the first and second upper corners of the net extend below the upper member.   
     
     
         11 . The backstop assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second rods extend substantially perpendicular to the upper member of the sport structure. 
     
     
         12 . The backstop assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first side member includes a first vertical post having a first end in connection with the first end of the upper member, a first horizontal post having a first end in connection with a second end of the first vertical post and a second end in connection with the first end of the lower member, a first angled post having a first end in connection with the second end of the first horizontal post and a second end in connection with a first strut that is in connection with the first end of the upper member,
 wherein the first coupling member has a first end coupled to the first angled post with an opening that is configured to slidably receive a proximal end of the first post and a second end coupled to the first horizontal post,   wherein the second side member includes a second vertical post having a first end in connection with the second end of the upper member, a second horizontal post having a first end in connection with a second end of the second vertical post and a second end in connection with the second end of the lower member, a second angled post having a first end in connection with the second end of the second horizontal post and a second end in connection with a second strut that is in connection with the second end of the upper member, and   wherein the second coupling member has a first end coupled to the second angled post with an opening that is configured to slidably receive a proximal end of the second post and a second end coupled to the second horizontal post.   
     
     
         13 . The backstop assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second rods are configured to be moveable between a deployed position, in which the first and second upper ends are at a first distance relative to the upper member, and a stowed position, in which the first and second upper ends are aligned with or at a second distance relative to the upper member, the second distance being less than the first distance. 
     
     
         14 . The backstop assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a cable in connection with the proximal ends of the first and second rods such that the first and second rods are moveable between the deployed and stowed positions by adjusting a length of the cable. 
     
     
         15 . The backstop assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a winch configured to adjust the length of the cable to move the first and second rods between the deployed and stowed positions. 
     
     
         16 . The backstop assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first coupling member further includes a first containing portion extending from the second end of the first coupling member to the winch, and
 the second coupling member further includes a second containing portion extending from the second end of the second coupling member to the winch.   
     
     
         17 . A backstop assembly for a sport structure that has an upper member, a lower member, a first side member in connection with first sides of the upper and lower members, and a second side member in connection with second sides of the upper and lower members, opposite the first sides, the backstop assembly comprising:
 a first rod having a first upper end;   a second rod having a second upper end;   a first coupling member configured to be coupled with the first side member of the sport structure, the first coupling member having a first end configured to slidably receive a first lower end of the first rod such that the first rod extends substantially parallel to a first vertical side post of the first side member, the first vertical side post being in connection with the first side of the upper member;   a second coupling member configured to be coupled with the second side member of the sport structure, the second coupling member having a first end configured to slidably receive a second lower end of the second rod such that the second rod extends substantially parallel to a second vertical side post of the second side member, the second vertical side post being in connection with the second side of the upper member; and   a net having a top side, a bottom side, an upper right corner, and an upper left corner,   wherein the top side of the net is coupled with the first upper end of the first rod and the second upper end of the second rod, such that the upper right and left corners of the net extend below the upper member with the upper right corner being adjacent to the first vertical side post and the upper left corner being adjacent to the second vertical side post.   
     
     
         18 . The backstop assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first rod is disposed along the first side member between the first vertical side post and the first end of the lower member, and
 wherein second rod is disposed along the second side member between the second vertical side post and the second end of the lower member.   
     
     
         19 . The backstop assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second rods are configured to be moveable between a deployed position, in which the first and second upper ends are at a first distance relative to the upper member, and a stowed position, in which the first and second upper ends are aligned with or at a second distance relative to the upper member, the second distance being less than the first distance. 
     
     
         20 . The backstop assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a cable in connection with the first and second lower ends of the first and second rods such that the first and second rods are moveable between the deployed and stowed positions by adjusting a length of the cable; and   a winch configured to adjust the length of the cable,   wherein the first coupling member further includes a first containing portion extending from a second end of the first coupling member to the winch, and   wherein the second coupling member further includes a second containing portion extending from a second end of the second coupling member to the winch.