Game net and shuttlecock for use therewith

Abstract

A game net for playing a game involving hitting an object back-and-forth between players located on opposite sides of the net. The game net has a netting or panel that is supportable on a frame or otherwise above a ground surface and is movable from location to location. The netting or panel has an opening or window formed completely therethrough to provide passage of the object through the netting or panel when hit by one or more players located on opposite sides of the netting or panel. With the game net, players must direct the object more accurately through the window with a higher degree of precision than what is required to pass an object over existing game nets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game net for playing a game involving players hitting an object back-and-forth between them, the game net comprising:
 a panel of netting;   the panel of netting having opposite first and second side edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the first and second side edges, the top edge, and the bottom edge defining an outer net periphery;   the panel of netting having an opening formed completely therethrough to allow an object to pass through the opening when hit by one or more players located on opposite sides of the netting, the opening having an opening periphery and the netting surrounding the opening periphery;   the panel of netting further having a first sleeve extending along the top edge of the panel of netting, the first sleeve having opposite ends, a second sleeve extending along the first side edge, the second sleeve a first end and a second end, and a third sleeve extending along the second side edge, the third sleeve having a first and second end;   the first end of the first sleeve and the first end of the second sleeve being spaced from one another creating a first corner space, and the second end of the first sleeve and the first end of the third sleeve being spaced from one another creating a second corner space;   a frame configured to hold the panel of netting above a ground surface with the netting extending vertically;   the frame having a top frame member, and first and second vertical frame members, the top frame member extending through the first sleeve, the first vertical frame member extending through the second sleeve, and the second vertical frame member extending through the third sleeve;   a first connector coupling a first end of the top frame member to a first end of the first vertical frame member, the first connector being disposed in the first corner space; and   a second connector coupling a second end of the top frame member to a first end of the second vertical frame member, the second connector being disposed in the second corner space.   
     
     
         2 . The game net of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The game net of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a border attached to the netting and extending around the opening periphery, the border providing support to the netting around the opening.   
     
     
         4 . The game net of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 one or more elastic cords, wherein each elastic cord is attached at one end to the border and at an opposite end at a location that is outwardly spaced from the border along the panel of netting.   
     
     
         5 . The game net of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first elastic cord connected at one end to the panel along the bottom edge and connected at an opposite end to the frame at a location below the bottom edge, and a second elastic cord connected at one end to the panel along the bottom edge and at a spaced distance from the first elastic cord and connected at an opposite end to the frame at a location below the bottom edge.   
     
     
         6 . The game net of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further has a first legs connected to the first vertical frame member at a second end thereof, and a second legs connected to the second vertical frame member at a second end thereof, wherein the first and second legs are configured to support the frame on the ground surface. 
     
     
         7 . The game net of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further has a cross-frame member that is connected at opposite ends to the first and second vertical frame members and extends therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . A game net for playing a game involving players hitting an object back-and-forth between them, the game net comprising:
 a panel of netting;   the panel of netting having opposite first and second side edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the first and second side edges, the top edge, and the bottom edge defining an outer net periphery;   the panel of netting having an opening formed completely therethrough to allow an object to pass through the opening when hit by one or more players located on opposite sides of the netting, the opening having an opening periphery and the netting surrounding the opening periphery;   the panel of netting further having a first sleeve extending along the top edge of the panel of netting, the first sleeve having opposite ends, a second sleeve extending along the first side edge, the second sleeve a first end and a second end, and a third sleeve extending along the second side edge, the third sleeve having a first and second end;   the first end of the first sleeve and the first end of the second sleeve being spaced from one another creating a first corner space, and the second end of the first sleeve and the first end of the third sleeve being spaced from one another creating a second corner space;   a frame configured to hold the panel of netting above a ground surface with the netting extending vertically;   the frame having a top frame member, and first and second vertical frame members, the top frame member extending through the first sleeve, the first vertical frame member extending through the second sleeve, and the second vertical frame member extending through the third sleeve;   a first connector coupling a first end of the top frame member to a first end of the first vertical frame member, the first connector being disposed in the first corner space;   a second connector coupling a second end of the top frame member to a first end of the second vertical frame member, the second connector being disposed in the second corner space;   a border attached to the netting and extending around the opening periphery, the border providing support to the netting around the opening;   the frame further having a first legs connected to the first vertical frame member at a second end thereof, and a second legs connected to the second vertical frame member at a second end thereof, wherein the first and second legs are configured to support the frame on the ground surface; and   a first elastic cord connected at one end to the panel along the bottom edge and connected at an opposite end to the frame at a location below the bottom edge, and a second elastic cord connected at one end to the panel along the bottom edge and at a spaced distance from the first elastic cord and connected at an opposite end to the frame at a location below the bottom edge.   
     
     
         9 . The game net of  claim 8 , wherein the opening is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The game net of  claim 8 , wherein the frame further has a cross-frame member that is connected at opposite ends to the first and second vertical frame members and extends therebetween.