Croquet hoop

Abstract

A croquet hoop assembly may include a croquet hoop and a croquet hoop base operative to support the croquet hoop. The croquet hoop base may have support legs. A croquet hoop assembly may include a corresponding plurality of tabs extending from respective ones of the support legs; the corresponding plurality of tabs may extend a distance less than the fiber length of a playing surface. In this regard, the croquet hoop assembly may be deployed onto a playing surface comprising a membrane from which fibers extend. The support tabs may be shorter than the fibers' length, so the support tabs may engage the fibers but not penetrate the membrane, thus allowing use of the croquet hoop assembly on artificial field surfaces without causing damage to the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A croquet hoop apparatus, comprising:
 a croquet hoop;   a croquet hoop base operative to supportably engage the croquet hoop in a first direction, the croquet hoop base having a plurality of support legs extending perpendicularly to the first direction in which the croquet hoop extends relative to the croquet hoop base; and   a corresponding plurality of tabs extending from respective ones of the support legs in a second direction opposite the first direction, the corresponding plurality of tabs extending a first distance equal to or less than a fiber length of a playing surface on which the croquet hoop base is to be disposed.   
     
     
         2 . The croquet hoop of  claim 1 , wherein the croquet hoop base further comprises hoop sleeves for removable engagement of the croquet hoop. 
     
     
         3 . The croquet hoop of  claim 2 , wherein the support legs extend from the hoop sleeves. 
     
     
         4 . The croquet hoop of  claim 3 , wherein the support legs extend diagonally from the hoop sleeves. 
     
     
         5 . The croquet hoop of  claim 4 , wherein an included angle between support legs extending from opposite ones of the hoop sleeves is equal to or greater than an approach angle of the croquet hoop. 
     
     
         6 . The croquet hoop of  claim 5 , wherein the approach angle comprises a range of angles from which an approaching croquet ball may pass through the hoop. 
     
     
         7 . The croquet hoop of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one support member extending between respective ones of the plurality of support legs.   
     
     
         8 . The croquet hoop of  claim 7 , wherein additional tabs extend from an intersection of the at least one support member and the respective ones of the plurality of support legs in the second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The croquet hoop of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one support member extends through the approach angle of the croquet hoop and is offset from the plurality of support legs in the second direction. 
     
     
         10 . The croquet hoop of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs extend in the second direction not more than 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The croquet hoop of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tabs extend in the second direction not less than 1 inch. 
     
     
         12 . The croquet hoop of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs are disposed at terminal end portions of the plurality of support legs. 
     
     
         13 . A kit, comprising:
 a croquet hoop according to  claim 1 ; and   a center post base comprising a plurality of center post support legs extending from a center post engagement member, the center post support legs comprising center post tabs extending in the second direction.