Pickleball net adjustment apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a net adjustment apparatus adjusting a pickleball net to its regulation height. The net adjustment apparatus allows a player to visualize the regulation height of a pickleball net from the net post of the pickleball net, so that the player can adjust the height of the pickleball net without help from a partner and/or taking measurements using conventional methods such as a measuring tape.

1 . A net adjustment apparatus comprising:
 a hook comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and an attachment section, wherein an inner groove is disposed between the top portion and the attachment section,   an elongate member attached to the bottom portion of the hook, and   a bob attached to a bottom portion of the elongate member, the bob comprising a distal portion,   wherein the distance between the inner groove of the hook and the distal portion of the bob when the elongate member is fully extended corresponds to a regulation height of a sports net.   
     
     
         2 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sports net has a regulation height of 34 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sports net is a pickleball net. 
     
     
         4 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hook includes a tool attachment portion configured to receive a tension adjustment tool for adjusting the height of the sports net. 
     
     
         5 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bob comprises an oblong shape. 
     
     
         6 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the bob has a height to width ratio of 1.25:1-3:1. 
     
     
         7 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bob has a height of 1.5-3 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the bob comprises a point. 
     
     
         9 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises a chain. 
     
     
         10 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the chain is a ball chain. 
     
     
         11 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hook is formed from wood, plastic, metal, leather, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bob is formed from wood, plastic, metal, leather, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner groove of the hook further comprises a frictional coating. 
     
     
         14 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the frictional coating comprises leather. 
     
     
         15 . The net adjustment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment section extends from the top portion of the hook to the bottom portion of the hook. 
     
     
         16 . A method of adjusting a sports net, the method comprising:
 providing a net adjustment apparatus;   providing a tension adjustment tool to adjust the tension in the net;   placing the hook of the net adjustment apparatus on a top portion of the sports net and adjusting the height of the sports net with the net adjustment tool until the bob is in contact with a playing surface;   adjusting the tension in the sports net with the tension adjustment tool until the elongate member hangs substantially undeformed and the bob maintains contact with the ground and is in a vertical configuration with respect to the playing surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sports net is a pickleball net. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sports net has a regulation height of 34 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tension adjustment tool is attachable to the net adjustment apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tension adjustment tool is attached to the hook of the net adjustment apparatus and is detached therefrom prior to adjusting the height of the sports net with the tension adjustment tool.