Pickleball Net Apparatuses

Abstract

Improved pickleball net apparatuses are provided. An example pickleball net apparatus comprises a pair of end posts each configured to be affixed to a pickleball court or to a respective base and to have a net stretched between the end posts. Each end post comprises a flexibility component that is positioned above a location of the affixing, and provides for the end post to bend at the location when a pressure is applied. Example net conversion apparatuses that are adaptively configurable to convert a net for use from tennis to pickleball or vice versa are also described.

1 . A pickleball net apparatus configured for placement on a pickleball court for use during a pickleball game, the net apparatus comprising a pair of end posts, each end post configured to be affixed to a the pickleball court or to a respective base, and to, when affixed to the pickleball court or to the respective base, have a net stretched between and attached to the pair of end posts, wherein each of the end posts comprises a flexibility component positioned above a location of the affixing, wherein the flexibility component provides for the end post to bend at the location in a first direction when a pressure is applied to the end post. 
     
     
         2 . The net apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexibility component comprises a rotatable hinge configured to enable a portion of the end post to bend in the first direction in response to the pressure and to automatically return to an upright position. 
     
     
         3 . The net apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable hinge is configured to bend in the first direction that is orthogonal to the net. 
     
     
         4 . The net apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexibility component includes a spring configured to enable a portion of the end post to bend in the first direction in response to the pressure and to automatically return to an upright position. 
     
     
         5 . The net apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the end posts are each supported by a suspension arrangement configured to enable the end post to be in an upright position. 
     
     
         6 . The net apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the suspension arrangement includes a tension cord configured to pull the end post in a direction opposite to the net. 
     
     
         7 . The net apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the tension cord is aligned with and pulling the end post in the direction opposite to the net. 
     
     
         8 . The net apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the end posts is affixed to a standalone base and the suspension arrangement is enclosed in a base cover. 
     
     
         9 . The net apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the flexibility component is arranged between a position at which the suspension arrangement is attached to the end post and the location of the affixing. 
     
     
         10 . The net apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the suspension arrangement includes a plurality of tension cords and respective tension cords of the plurality of tension cords are configured to enable the bending in the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . A net conversion apparatus comprising an elongated rod that is adaptively configurable to convert a net for use from tennis to pickleball by adjusting a height of the elongated rod, the elongated rod having two modes for adjusting a height of the center of the net, the two modes comprising:
 a first mode for playing tennis, and   a second mode for playing pickleball.   
     
     
         12 . The net-conversion apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the elongated rod is configured to attach to the net at the center of the net when the net is stretched between two end posts. 
     
     
         13 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the elongated rod includes an attachment feature configured to attach the net. 
     
     
         14 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the attachment feature is configured to have the net, when the net is attached to the attachment feature, at a height of 34 inches at the center of the net in the first mode and at a height of 34 inches at the center of the net in the second mode. 
     
     
         15 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the elongated rod includes a pull clip device to adjust the height of the center of the net. 
     
     
         16 . A net conversion apparatus comprising two height adjustable elongated rods that are adaptively configurable to convert a net for use from tennis to pickleball, each of the elongated rods configured to be attached to the net at a respective intermediate location between the center of the net and a respective end post to which the net is attached, and having two modes for adjusting the height of the net at the respective intermediate location, the two modes comprising:
 a first mode for playing tennis, and   a second mode for playing pickleball.   
     
     
         17 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the two height adjustable elongated rods are connected to a common base apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the common base apparatus is adjustable to change a distance between the two height adjustable elongated rods. 
     
     
         19 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the common base apparatus includes an anchor to which a center strap attaches the net. 
     
     
         20 . The net conversion apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the height adjustable elongated rods includes an attachment feature configured to attach the net to the each height adjustable elongated rod.