GB2429172A - Rebound wall - Google Patents

Abstract

A rebound wall 10 comprises a peripheral frame 12 and a net 22, the net 22 being attached to and stretched between different points on the frame 12 to form a taut netted surface, against which a ball can be struck to rebound from the netted surface. Strengthening members extend between points on the peripheral frame 12, on a rear side of the net 22, which prevent the frame 12 from bending due to the tension in the net 22. The frame can be hinged (see Fig 2) or curved (see Fig 3).

Description

I

REBOUND WALL

The present invention relates to a rebound wall for use in practicing ball sports, such as football, tennis, cricket or golf.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a rebound wall, for example, built from masonry, against which a person can hit a ball to practice ball control skills. It is also known to provide practice nets, for example, cricket nets, which are retained on a frame or inflatable structure and are used to prevent escape of a ball from a practice environment. However, these facilities are not widely available, in particular to children in town or city environments, where open spaces for playing ball sports are limited in number and size.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rebound wall, which can be used on any surface, for example, grass, concrete or tarmac, and is adaptable for use in a town environment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a rebound wall adapted to be disposed vertically comprising a peripheral frame and a net, the net being attached to and stretched between different points on the frame to form a taut netted surface, against which a ball can be struck to rebound from the netted surface.

The rebound wall of the invention is advantageous because it is light in structure, allowing the rebound wall to be moved to different positions on a pitch or playing field, or other surface, such as a car park.

Preferably, the peripheral frame is substantially rectangular and is constructed from a plurality of connected members.

Preferably the members are made from aluminium, but may be made from any suitable metal or metal alloy.

The members may be straight so that the taut netted surface is substantially planar.

Alternatively, the members disposed laterally at the top and bottom of the peripheral frame may be curved so that the taut netted surface is substantially curved.

Preferably strengthening members extend between points on the peripheral frame, on a rear side of the net.

The strengthening members are preferably made from aluminium, but may be made from any suitable metal, metal alloy, plastics or composite material.

At least two of the members may be telescopic.

It is an advantage of providing telescopic members, that the rebound wall can be substantially reduced in size for storage, by retracting the telescopic members.

Preferably hinges are provided in the peripheral frame, enabling the taut netted surface to be folded to provide at least two netted surfaces at an angle to one-another.

Preferably three netted surfaces are provided.

Preferably support members are provided which extend substantially perpendicularly to the netted surface, and are adapted to hold the peripheral frame in a substantially vertical position on the ground.

At least one wheel may be provided on the peripheral frame facilitating movement of the rebound wall.

Preferably a plurality of wheels are provided on the peripheral frame.

Preferably the net is made from nylon or rubber, although the net may be made from any suitable material.

Preferably the net is formed as a mat. The mat may substantially retain its shape when not under tension.

The net may comprise a plurality of smaller nets.

Preferably net supports may be provided within the peripheral frame to support the peripheral edges of each of the smaller nets.

Preferably the peripheral frame can be disposed at an angle to the vertical. This enables the rebound direction of a ball hitting the wall to be altered and thus provides for a greater range of shots to be practiced. For example, throwing and catching of cricket balls can be practiced by throwing a ball at the wall and catching the rebound.

The ball will tend to pitch upwards if the net is disposed with its face at an angle to the vertical, the top of the net being angled away from the person throwing the ball.

Preferably tensioning means for tensioning the net is provided on the peripheral frame.

Preferably the tensioning means is one or a plurality of ratchets.

Preferably at least part of the net is supported from the peripheral frame by rings.

The peripheral frame may be up to 4m high and up to 11 m wide, although larger rebound walls may be constructed if desired. Rebound walls may be made 2.5m high and 3m wide, typically for garden or other domestic use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig I shows a schematic perspective view of first embodiment of a rebound wall in accordance with the invention; in which the net is planar; Fig 2 shows a schematic perspective view of second embodiment of a rebound wall in accordance with the invention, in which the net forms three planar surfaces; and Fig 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of a rebound wall in accordance with the invention in which the net forms a curved surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Fig 1, a rebound wall is indicated generally at 10. The rebound wall comprises a substantially rectangular peripheral frame 12, made from inter-engaged structural members 14,16,18,20, and a net 22.

Two of the structural members 14, 16 are disposed vertically at either end of the wall 10, and the other two of the structural members 18, 20 are disposed horizontally at the top and bottom of the peripheral frame 12, respectively. The structural members are tubular, and are preferably made from aluminium, but may be made from any other suitable member or metal alloy.

The net 22 is made from nylon, rubber or any suitable material and is stretched between the structural members 14, 16, 18, 20 of the peripheral frame 12 to form a taut planar netted surface. In order to prevent the peripheral frame bending under the tensile load of the net, strengthening members, two of which are shown 24, 26, extend between the upper and lower members 18, 20 of the peripheral frame 12. The strengthening members are curved, and extend to the rear surface of the net 22, so that they do not impede use of the wall.

Support members 28, 30 are attached to the vertical structural members 14, 16 at either end of the peripheral frame 12 to form a tri-angulated structure, and support the peripheral frame and planer surface of the net substantially vertically from the ground.

If necessary, the support members can be weighted or pegged to the ground to prevent the rebound wall from falling over when it is struck by a ball.

Referring now to Fig 2, a second embodiment of rebound wall is indicated generally at 40. The features of the rebound wall are substantially the same as those of the rebound wall 10, save that hinges 42, 44 are provided in the upper and lower structural members 218, 220, which enable the rebound wall to be folded into three planar sections 46, 48, 50. This improves the stability of the rebound wall, and provides for a larger number of ball strokes to be practiced.

A further rebound wall 60 is indicated in Fig 3, which includes curved upper and lower structural members 318, 320. The net 322, which is stretched between the structural members 318, 320 has a curved surface, and is particularly suitable for use where space is restricted.

In a further arrangement of the rebound wall, not shown, one or more wheels may be attached to the lower members 20, 220, 320 which facilitate movement of the wall around a playing area. The structural members 14,16, 18 20 can also be made telescopic, and can be retracted after play. This provides the advantage of removing the tension from the net, and also reducing the size of the rebound wall when not in use. Furthermore, because the rebound wall is formed from a frame and a net, it is substantially unaffected by light winds.

The rebound walls, 10, 40, 60 can be provided in different sizes depending on their intended use, but may be made as large as 4 metres high and 11 metres wide.

Smaller rebound walls, may be made typically 2.5 metres high and 3 metres wide, for garden or other domestic use. A plurality of structural members connected together may make up each side of the peripheral frame, if required. Markings, for example, tramlines, may be marked on the net, to give the impression of, for example, goal posts, or a tennis net. The net 22, 222, 322 is preferably green, but may be made in any other colour, as desired. The markings are in a contrasting colour.

In each embodiment of the rebound wall, suitable net tensioning means is provided, for example, one or a plurality of ratchets. The net may be retained, at least in part on the structural members by rings. If required, the net can be provided by a plurality of nets, each formed as a mat, which does not tend to loose its shape when not under tension.

Extra loose nets may be supported above the rebound wall, to catch stray balls as required.

In one embodiment, not shown, part or all of the rebound wall can be disposed at an angle to the vertical, to enable a greater variety of ball strokes to be practiced. A pivoting arrangement can be provided between the peripheral frame and the support members to enable limited angular movement of the net from the vertical.

It is intended that the rebound walls 10,40,60 disclosed are used in parks and open spaces, both in the country and in towns and cities. The mobility of the walls enables them to be used, for example, in car parks and streets, where sports facilities are otherwise unavailable.

Claims (22)

CLAI MS

1. A rebound wall adapted to be disposed vertically comprising a peripheral frame and a net, the net being attached to and stretched between different points on the frame to form a taut netted surface, against which a ball can be struck to rebound from the netted surface.

2. A rebound wall as claimed in claim I in which the peripheral frame is substantially rectangular and is constructed from a plurality of connected members.

3. A rebound wall as claimed in claim 2 in which the members are made from aluminium, metal or metal alloy.

4. A rebound wall as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the members are straight and the taut netted surface is substantially planar.

5. A rebound wall as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the members disposed laterally at the top and bottom of the peripheral frame are curved and the taut netted surface is substantially curved.

6. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which strengthening members extend between points on the peripheral frame, on a rear side of the net.

7. A rebound wall as claimed in claim 6 in which the strengthening members are made from aluminium, metal, metal alloy, plastics or composite material.

8. A rebound wall as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 in which at least two of the members are telescopic.

9. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which hinges are provided in the peripheral frame, enabling the taut netted surface to be folded to provide at least two netted surfaces at an angle to one-another.

10. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which support members are provided which extend substantially perpendicularly to the netted surface, and are adapted to hold the peripheral frame in a substantially vertical position on the ground.

11. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one wheel is provided on the peripheral frame.

12. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which a plurality of wheels are provided on the peripheral frame.

13. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which the net is made from nylon or rubber.

14. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which the net is formed as a mat.

15. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which a tensioning means is provided on the peripheral frame.

16. A rebound wall as claimed in claim 15 in which the tensioning means is one or a plurality of ratchets.

17. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least part of the net is supported from the peripheral frame by rings.

18. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which the net comprises a plurality of smaller nets.

19. A rebound wall as claimed in claim 18 in which net supports may be provided within the peripheral frame to support the peripheral edges of each of the smaller nets.

20. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which the peripheral frame can be disposed at an angle to the vertical.

21. A rebound wall as claimed in any preceding claim in which the peripheral frame is up to 4m high and up to urn wide.

22. A rebound wall substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.