US4969651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible projectile arresting device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: 1990-11-13
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Expires: 2010-02-20
Abstract
Abstract The flexible projectile arresting device is used typically in the playing or practicing of a ball game such as baseball, golf or soccer to restrict the flight of the ball to a limited area. The elements of the device include side and roof panels of flexible material, such as netting, loosely suspended by cord or rope between rigid compression struts or poles at corners. The struts are inclined so as to be located behind the panels out of the path of the ball or projectile. The tops of the struts are restrained by tension guys secured at the ground. The device moves upon impact by the projectile thereby absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy and preventing dangerous rebound. The device returns to its original shape after impact.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig D. Comartin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/02; A63B71/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A flexible projectile arresting device comprising: (a) a plurality of essentially vertical side panels of flexible two-dimensional material, said side panels being arranged contiguously in plan with vertical edges of adjacent said side panels attached continuously to one another at panel intersections and with lower edges of said side panels lying in a common horizontal ground plane; and means of attachment therefor; (b) inclined compression struts of rigid linear material at each said intersection, the lower end of said inclined compression strut located in said ground plane, the upper end of said inclined compression strut located at the upper end of said intersection, said inclined compression strut making an angle with the vertical; (c) tension guys of flexible linear material attached to each said inclined compression strut, said tension guy being attached to and extending from the ground plane to the upper end of said inclined compression strut, said tension guy making an angle with the vertical greater than that of said inclined compression strut; and means of attachment therefor; (d) draped tension reinforcement of flexible linear material located continuously along and attached to the upper edges of each said side panel, said draped tension reinforcement being supported at each said panel intersection by attachment to the upper end of said inclined compression strut and following an essentially parabolic curve between adjacent said inclined compression struts; and means of attachment therefor; whereby the kinetic energy of a projectile impacting said flexible projectile arresting device is transferred and dissipated, without high energy rebound of said projectile and with said flexible projectile arresting device returning to its original position after impact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A flexible projectile arresting device comprising: (a) a plurality of essentially vertical side panels of flexible two-dimensional material, said side panels being arranged contiguously in plan with vertical edges of adjacent said side panels attached continuously to one another at panel intersections and with lower edges of said side panels lying in a common horizontal ground plane; and means of attachment therefor; (b) inclined compression struts of rigid linear material at each said intersection, the lower end of said inclined compression strut located in said ground plane, the upper end of said inclined compression strut located at the upper end of said intersection, said inclined compression strut making an angle with the vertical; (c) tension guys of flexible linear material attached to each said inclined compression strut, said tension guy being attached to and extending from the ground plane to the upper end of said inclined compression strut, said tension guy making an angle with the vertical greater than that of said inclined compression strut; and means of attachment therefor; (d) draped tension reinforcement of flexible linear material located continuously along and attached to the upper edges of each said side panel, said draped tension reinforcement being supported at each said panel intersection by attachment to the upper end of said inclined compression strut and following an essentially parabolic curve between adjacent said inclined compression struts; and means of attachment therefor; whereby the kinetic energy of a projectile impacting said flexible projectile arresting device is transferred and dissipated, without high energy rebound of said projectile and with said flexible projectile arresting device returning to its original position after impact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The flexible projectile arresting device of claim 1 including a roof panel of flexible two-dimensional material extending between upper edges of said side panels and being continuously attached to said draped tension reinforcement; and means of attachment therefor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a projectile arresting device comprising a plurality of essentially vertical side panels of flexible two-dimensional material, said side panels being arranged contiguously in plan with vertical edges of adjacent said side panels attached continuously to one another at panel intersections and with lower edges of said side panels lying in a common horizontal ground plane; and means of attachment therefor; the improvement comprising: (a) inclined compression struts of rigid linear material at each said intersection, the lower end of said inclined compression strut located in said ground plane, the upper end of said inclined compression strut located at the upper end of said intersection, said inclined compression strut making an angle with the vertical; (b) tension guys of flexible linear material attached to each said inclined compression strut, said tension guy being attached to and extending from the ground plane to the upper end of said inclined compression strut, said tension guy making an angle with the vertical greater than that of said inclined compression strut; and means of attachment therefor; (c) draped tension reinforcement of flexible linear material located continuously along and attached to the upper edges of each said side panel, said draped tension reinforcement being supported at each said panel intersection by attachment to the upper end of said inclined compression strut and following an essentially parabolic curve between adjacent said inclined compression struts; and means of attachment therefor; whereby the kinetic energy of a projectile impacting said projectile arresting device is transferred and dissipated, without high energy rebound of said projectile and with said flexible projectile arresting device returning to its original position after impact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a projectile arresting device comprising a plurality of essentially vertical side panels of flexible two-dimensional material, said side panels being arranged contiguously in plan with vertical edges of adjacent said side panels attached continuously to one another at panel intersections and with lower edges of said side panels lying in a common horizontal ground plane; and means of attachment therefor; the improvement comprising: (a) inclined compression struts of rigid linear material at each said intersection, the lower end of said inclined compression strut located in said ground plane, the upper end of said inclined compression strut located at the upper end of said intersection, said inclined compression strut making an angle with the vertical; (b) tension guys of flexible linear material attached to each said inclined compression strut, said tension guy being attached to and extending from the ground plane to the upper end of said inclined compression strut, said tension guy making an angle with the vertical greater than that of said inclined compression strut; and means of attachment therefor; (c) draped tension reinforcement of flexible linear material located continuously along and attached to the upper edges of each said side panel, said draped tension reinforcement being supported at each said panel intersection by attachment to the upper end of said inclined compression strut and following an essentially parabolic curve between adjacent said inclined compression struts; and means of attachment therefor; whereby the kinetic energy of a projectile impacting said projectile arresting device is transferred and dissipated, without high energy rebound of said projectile and with said flexible projectile arresting device returning to its original position after impact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The projectile arresting device of claim 3 including a roof panel of flexible two-dimensional material extending between upper edges of said side panels and being continuously attached to said draped tension reinforcement; and means of attachment therefor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-12 | 1994-05-14 | 1994-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-12 | 1998-05-14 | 1998-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-12 | 2002-05-14 | 2002-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |