US4009780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Volleyball or like kit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-05-24
•
Granted: 1977-03-01
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Expires: 1996-05-24
Abstract
Abstract An assemblage of components for playing volleyball is arranged in a kit for convenient packaging, storing and handling, the components comprising a pair of Z-shaped ground anchors and a plurality of post sections arranged in two sets of three post sections per set. The anchors have cylindrical parts through which two of the post sections are passed when packaged, with the other four sections in parallelism, and a pair of end members is provided for retaining the posts with the ground anchors of course retained in turn by the first two posts. As a further adjunct, a volleyball net is packaged in the kit and is retained by the means securing the end members together.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman V. Frye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:52
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/02; A63B71/023; A63B2071/024; A63B2243/00; A63B2243/0095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A kit for use in playing volleyball or the like, comprising a pair of generally Z-shaped ground anchors, each having a ground-penetrating helix, a post-supporting helix, and a leg extending between and interconnecting the helices, the helices being formed on parallel axes and extending respectively in opposite directions from the leg, the leg joining each helix at its respective first turn and said helices being tangential to the leg at the same side thereof, said anchors being arranged in the kit with the one helix of one anchor in axial alinement with one helix of the other anchor and the other two helices being in coaxial alinement with each other, and with the legs spaced apart axis-wise as respects the helices; a plurality of net post sections of substantially equal length including a first section passed through one pair of coaxial helices and a second section passed through the other pair of co-axial helices; a pair of end members respectively engaging opposite ends of the post sections; and means releasably securing the end members together with the post sections confined between them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A kit for use in playing volleyball or the like, comprising a pair of generally Z-shaped ground anchors, each having a ground-penetrating helix, a post-supporting helix, and a leg extending between and interconnecting the helices, the helices being formed on parallel axes and extending respectively in opposite directions from the leg, the leg joining each helix at its respective first turn and said helices being tangential to the leg at the same side thereof, said anchors being arranged in the kit with the one helix of one anchor in axial alinement with one helix of the other anchor and the other two helices being in coaxial alinement with each other, and with the legs spaced apart axis-wise as respects the helices; a plurality of net post sections of substantially equal length including a first section passed through one pair of coaxial helices and a second section passed through the other pair of co-axial helices; a pair of end members respectively engaging opposite ends of the post sections; and means releasably securing the end members together with the post sections confined between them.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention defind in claim 1, in which the plurality of post sections includes additional sections like the first and second sections and interposed between and paralleling the first and second sections and engaged at their respective opposite ends by the end members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention defined in claim 2, in which the securing means includes a member extending between and connected to the end members in overlying relation to certain of the post sections, and a volleyball or like net carried between said member and said certain of the post sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 2, in which each end member has a plurality of recesses therein spaced apart cross-wise of the post sections for receiving and confining the associated ends of the post sections in spaced relation to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention defined in claim 2, in which the securing means includes an elastic element for drawing the end members together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention defined in claim 5, in which each end member has a receiving means thereon and the elastic member is connected at opposite ends to the respective receiving means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 2, in which at least one of the end members includes means for receiving a display card or the like.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 7, in which said one end member includes additional receiving means for receiving a display card or the like.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention defined in claim 8, in which both end members have dual card-receiving means thereon, each dual means including a pair of slots, the slots in each pair being normal to each other and the pairs of slots being alined and facing toward and matching each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
171 words
A kit for use in playing volleyball or the like, comprising a pair of generally Z-shaped ground anchors, each having a generally cylindrical, hollow ground-penetrating part, a generally cylindrical, hollow post-supporting part, and a leg extending between and interconnecting the parts, the parts lying respectively on parallel axes and extending in opposite directions from the leg, said parts being tangential to the leg at the same side thereof, said anchors being arranged in the kit with two of the parts coaxial and with the other two parts also coaxial on an axis spaced from that of the first two parts and with the legs spaced axially apart; a plurality of net post sections of substantially equal length, including a first post section passed through the one pair of alined parts and a second post section passed through the other pair of alined parts; a pair of end members respectively engaging opposite ends of the post sections; and means releasably securing the end members together with the post sections confined between them.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
A kit for use in playing volleyball or the like, comprising a pair of generally Z-shaped ground anchors, each having a generally cylindrical, hollow ground-penetrating part, a generally cylindrical, hollow post-supporting part, and a leg extending between and interconnecting the parts, the parts lying respectively on parallel axes and extending in opposite directions from the leg, said parts being tangential to the leg at the same side thereof, said anchors being arranged in the kit with two of the parts coaxial and with the other two parts also coaxial on an axis spaced from that of the first two parts and with the legs spaced axially apart; a plurality of net post sections of substantially equal length, including a first post section passed through the one pair of alined parts and a second post section passed through the other pair of alined parts; a pair of end members respectively engaging opposite ends of the post sections; and means releasably securing the end members together with the post sections confined between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 10, in which the plurality of post sections includes additional post sections so as to provide two sets of three sections each, and the three sections of each set are adapted to fit together in end-to-end relation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention defined in claim 11, in which each end member has therein a plurality of confining means spaced apart according to the number of post sections and engaging the associated ends of the post sections to space the post sections apart in the assembled kit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-29 | 1980-08-30 | 1981-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-29 | 1984-08-30 | 1985-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-08-30 | 1989-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |