Portable ball stop

Claim 2

A portable ball stop, comprising: an umbellate net supporting frame comprising a rear hub member, four support arms extending forwardly from said rear hub member in an umbellate relationship and terminating in free end portions, pivot pin means pivotally connecting the support arms to said hub member, a support stem for a brace assembly rigidly attached to said rear hub member and extending axially forwardly therefrom, and a collapsible brace assembly for the support arms comprising a ring member surrounding said stem and being slidable axially therealong, and four radial brace members, each of which is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the sliding ring member and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the rear part of one of the support arms at a location on such rear part spaced from the hub member a distance slightly greater than the length of such brace arm; a pair of laterally spaced apart line members in tension interconnected between the free end portions of said support arms; a net supported by and between said line members, said net having a vertical dimension that is substantially larger than the length of said line members; means securing the upper portion of said net to said stop; slide connector means along the sides of said net slidably attaching said net onto said line members below said upper portion so that a ball striking said net at an upwardly directed angle will move the net vertically, to absorb the momentum of the ball, as well as rearwardly into the space between said support arms; and a rear prop connected to the umbellate frame, for holding it in a position placing the net generally vertical.

Claim 3

A portable ball stop according to claim 1, wherein said prop comprises a pair of rear legs which are detachably connectable to the support stem adjacent said hub member and which extend in an umbellate relationship with two of said support arms.

Claim 4

A portable ball stop comprising a net and means for holding said net generally vertical, including an umbellate frame comprising a rear hub member, four support arms extending forwardly from said rear hub member in an umbellate relationship, said support arms comprising radially outwardly opening channel shaped rear parts which are attached to the rear hub member, said support arm rear parts being pivotally attached to said rear hub member, forward parts having forward end portions to which the net is detachably connected, and pivot pin means pivotally connecting the forward parts to the rear parts for pivotal movement of each said forward part between a folded position wherein it is housed within the channel of its rear part and an extended position in which it extends coaxially forwardly from its rear part, a support stem for a brace assembly rigidly attached to said rear hub member and extending axially forwardly therefrom, and a collapsible brace assembly for the support arms comprising a ring member surrounding said stem and being slidable axially therealong, and four elongated radially extending brace members, each of which is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the sliding ring member and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the rear part of one of the support arms at a location on such rear part spaced from the hub member a distance slightly greater than the length of such brace arm, the channel shaped rear parts of the support arms comprise radial side walls and an interconnecting web, and wherein the pivot pin means comprises a pivot pin for eAch support arm which extend laterally of the side walls of the support arm rear part and through the rear portion of the support arm forward part, at a location spaced a sufficient distance back from the forward end of such rear part so that the web portion forwardly of the pivot pin will brace the forward part against rotation inwardly beyond a coaxial position with the rear part, and wherein said net includes means mounting it onto the forward parts of the support arms in such a manner that a generally radially inwardly directed force is applied on the forward part of each support arm, tending to rotate it against its said bracing web portion.

Claim 5

A portable ball stop comprising a net and means for holding said net generally vertical, including an umbellate frame comprising a rear hub member, four support arms extending forwardly from said rear hub member in an umbellate relationship, said support arms comprising radially outwardly opening channel shaped rear parts which are attached to the rear hub member, said support arm rear parts being pivotally attached to said rear hub member, forward parts having forward end portions to which the net is detachably connected, and pivot pin means pivotally connecting the forward parts to the rear parts for pivotal movement of each said forward part between a folded position wherein it is housed within the channel of its rear part and an extended position in which it extends coaxially forwardly from its rear part, a support stem for a brace assembly rigidly attached to said rear hub member and extending axially forwardly therefrom, and a collapsible brace assembly for the support arms comprising a ring member surrounding said stem and being slidable axially therealong, and four elongated radially extending brace members, each of which is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the sliding ring member and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the rear part of one of the support arms at a location on such rear part spaced from the hub member a distance slightly greater than the length of such brace arm, the channel shaped rear parts of the support arms comprise radial side walls and an interconnecting web, and wherein the pivot pin means comprises a pivot pin for eAch support arm which extend laterally of the side walls of the support arm rear part and through the rear portion of the support arm forward part, at a location spaced a sufficient distance back from the forward end of such rear part so that the web portion forwardly of the pivot pin will brace the forward part against rotation inwardly beyond a coaxial position with the rear part, and wherein said net includes means mounting it onto the forward parts of the support arms in such a manner that a generally radially inwardly directed force is applied on the forward part of each support arm, tending to rotate it against its said bracing web portion.

Claim 6

A portable ball stop according to claim 3, wherein said means for mounting the net onto the forward parts of the support arms comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart, generally vertical lines in tension, each of which is interconnected between the forward part of a lower support arm and the forward part of an upper support arm, wherein said net has a vertical dimension which is substantially larger than the length of the lines, and said ball stop also includes means securing the upper portion of said net to said ball stop, and slide connector means along the sides of said net, slidably attaching said net onto said lines below said upper portion, so that a ball striking said net at an upwardly directed angle will move the net vertically, to absorb the momentum of the ball said ball stop also includes a rear prop connected to the umbellate frame.

Claim 7

A portable ball stop according to claim 4, wherein said prop comprises a pair of rear legs which are connected to the umbellate frame adjacent said hub member and which extend in an umbellate relationship with two of said support arms.

Claim 8

A portable ball stop according to claim 3, further comprising a rear prop connected to the umbellate frame, for holding it in a position placing the net generally vertical.