US20140187360A1

US20140187360A1 - Collapsible tennis net support

Info

Publication number: US20140187360A1
Application number: US14/064,622
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Sberno
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-30
Filing date: 2013-10-28
Publication date: 2014-07-03

Abstract

A collapsible tennis net support is disclosed. The collapsible tennis net support includes a plurality of lightweight tubing to easily fold-up for easy storage and transport. The collapsible tennis net support deploys from a folded position to a fully erect position with a simple and one-handed movement and includes a height indication indicia utilized to measure a proper height of a center of tennis net and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/747,335 filed on Dec. 30, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a support. More specifically, the present invention is a collapsible tennis net support.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tennis to be properly played requires the net to be supported at the proper height at the ends and held down in the middle. Net supports are required to adjust the end net heights on a doubles court for single play. The net is always forty-two inches on the ends of the net and thirty-six inches at the middle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a support. More specifically, the present invention is a collapsible tennis net support.
The collapsible tennis net support includes a first piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the first piece of lightweight tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate a top cable of a tennis net, a second piece of lightweight tubing includes a top end and a bottom end and a third piece of lightweight tubing includes a top end and a bottom end. The collapsible tennis net support also includes a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elastic cord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord. A top anchor is coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing. A bottom anchor is coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of lightweight tubing and height indication indicia is disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the height indication indicia is a line disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible tennis net support that easily folds-up for easy storage and transport.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible tennis net support that deploys from a folded position to a fully erect position with a simple and one-handed movement.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible tennis net support that includes a height indication indicia utilized to measure a proper height of a center of the tennis net and placement of the collapsible tennis net support on a doubles court.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front environmental view of a collapsible tennis net support, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a collapsible tennis net support, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention however the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
FIG. 1 illustrates a front environmental view of a collapsible tennis net support 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The collapsible tennis net support 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is in a locked and fully extended position.
The collapsible tennis net support 100 may be installed on a tennis net 110 to lift a top cable 112 of the tennis net 110 to a regulation height of forty-two inches. The tennis net 110 may also include a bottom tape 114. The tennis net 110 may be any suitable tennis net such as a doubles court tennis net (not shown). The collapsible tennis net support 100 may easily fold-up for easy storage and transport. The collapsible tennis net support 100 may be deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a simple and one-handed movement.
FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a collapsible tennis net support 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The collapsible tennis net support 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 is in a collapsed position.
The collapsible tennis net support 200 may have a first piece of lightweight tubing 210, a second piece of lightweight tubing 220, a third piece of lightweight tubing 230, a pair of hollow couplers 240, a top anchor 250, a bottom anchor 260 and a height indication indicia 270.
The first piece of lightweight tubing 210 may include a top end 210 a and a bottom end 210 b. The top end 210 a of the first piece of lightweight tubing 210 may include a U-shaped slot 212 to accommodate the top cable 112 of the tennis net 110 and maintain the tennis net 110 at a regulation height of forty-two inches. The second piece of lightweight tubing 220 may include a top end 220 a and a bottom end 220 b. The third piece of lightweight tubing 230 may include a top end 230 a and a bottom end 230 b. The pair of hollow couplers 240 may lock the first piece of lightweight tubing 210, the second piece of lightweight tubing 220 and the third piece of lightweight tubing 230 in place when the collapsible tennis net support 200 may be erected in a fully extended position. The bottom end 220 b of the second piece of lightweight tubing 220 may be coupled to the top end 230 a of the third piece of lightweight tubing 230 by one of the pair of hollow couplers 240 and an elastic cord 224. The top end 220 a of the second piece of lightweight tubing 220 may be coupled to the bottom end 210 b of the first piece of lightweight tubing 210 by one of the pair of hollow couplers 240 and the elastic cord 224. The top anchor 250 may be coupled to a first end 224 a of the elastic cord 224 that may be extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing 210, the second piece of lightweight tubing 220 and the third piece of lightweight tubing 230. The bottom anchor 260 may be coupled to the second end of the elastic cord 224 that may be disposed on the bottom end 230 b of the third piece of lightweight tubing 230. The height indication indicia 270 may be disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing 210. More specifically, the height indication indicia 270 may be a line 272 disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing 210 to indicate a three foot measurement to verify the tennis net 110 proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support 200.
Use of the collapsible tennis net support is straightforward. The collapsible tennis net support easily deploys from a folded position to a fully erect position with a simple, one-handed motion. The collapsible tennis net support when collapsed conveniently fits into any tennis bag or other suitable container for easy transport and storage. The height indication indicia may be utilized to measure the proper height of the center of the net and the placement of the collapsible tennis net support. The collapsible tennis net support complies with the United States Tennis Association or USTA and International Tennis Federation or ITF rules for singles play on a doubles court.
While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible tennis net support, comprising:

a first piece of tubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the first piece of tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate a top cable of a tennis net;

a second piece of tubing including a top end and a bottom end;

a third piece of tubing including a top end and a bottom end;

a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece of tubing, the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece of tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece of tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elastic cord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of tubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord;

a top anchor coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of tubing, the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing; and

a bottom anchor coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of tubing.

2. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the pair of hollow couplers lock the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing in place when the collapsible tennis net support is erected in a fully extended position.

3. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is lifted to a regulation height of forty-two inches.

4. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a one-handed movement.

5. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the first piece of tubing, the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing are lightweight.

6. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, further comprising a height indication indicia.

7. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 6, wherein the height indication indicia is disposed on the first piece of tubing.

8. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 7, wherein the height indication indicia is a line disposed on the first piece of tubing.

9. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 8, wherein the line indicates a measurement to verify the tennis net proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.

10. A collapsible tennis net support, comprising:

a first piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the first piece of lightweight tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate a top cable of a tennis net;

a second piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end;

a third piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end;

a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elastic cord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord;

a top anchor coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing; and

a bottom anchor coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of lightweight tubing.

11. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, wherein the pair of hollow couplers lock the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing in place when the collapsible tennis net support is erected in a fully extended position.

12. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, further comprising a height indication indicia.

13. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 12, wherein the height indication indicia indicates a measurement to verify the tennis net proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.

14. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is lifted to a regulation height of forty-two inches.

15. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a one-handed movement.

16. A collapsible tennis net support, comprising:

a second piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end;

a third piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end;

a top anchor coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing;

a bottom anchor coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of lightweight tubing; and

height indication indicia disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the height indication indicia is a line disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing.

17. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the pair of hollow couplers lock the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing in place when the collapsible tennis net support is erected in a fully extended position.

18. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the line indicates a measurement to verify the tennis net proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.

19. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is lifted to a regulation height of forty-two inches.

20. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a one-handed movement.