Ball game fence system

Abstract

A fence system for quickly establishing an outfield fence and possibly a back stop for a ball game uses a series of bases with a post receivable within each base. A section of tarp extends between adjacent posts such that clips are attached to each corner of the tarp and two clips at an end of the tarp are attached to a post. The clips are received within slots at the top and bottom of each post with the top capped to prevent clip discharge. Bulbous ends of the clip prevent lateral discharge of the clip from the slot. Alternately, a single section of tarp is removably attachable to each end post via cooperating hook and loop material with the tarp passing through slots on interior posts. An end brace may be used to stabilize end posts of the fence as well as to act as a visual aid for determining what constitutes a foul ball.

1 . A fence system comprising:
 a first base having a first receiver and a first pair of base slots;   a first post having a first top with a pair of first top slots and a first bottom with a pair of first bottom slots;   a second base having a second receiver and a second pair of base slots;   a second post having a second top with a pair of second top slots and a second bottom with a pair of second bottom slots;   a first generally rectangular tarp having four corners;   a first clip removably attached to a respective one of the corners of the first tarp;   a second clip removably attached to another respective one of the corners of the first tarp;   a third clip removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the first tarp;   a fourth clip removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the first tarp; and   wherein, the first clip is received within a respective one of the first top slots and the second clip is received within a respective one of the first bottom slots and the first post is received within the first receiver such that the second clip is received within a respective one of the first base slots and wherein the third clip is received within a respective one of the second top slots and the fourth clip is received within a respective one of the second bottom slots and the second post is received within the second receiver and the fourth clip is received within a respective one the second base slots.   
   
   
       2 . The fence system as in  claim 1  wherein each clip comprises:
 a first arm having a first bulbous proximal end, a first distal end with a first extension, and a snap head; and   a second arm having a second bulbous proximal end, a second distal end with a second extension, and a snap opening, the first bulbous end pivotally attached to the second bulbous such that the clip is capable of pivoting between an open position wherein the first extension and the second extension are spaced apart from one another and a closed position wherein the first extension and the second extension are in apposed position and the snap head is frictionally received within the snap opening such that the clip is attached to its respective corner of the tarp by placing the clip into the closed position and sandwiching the tarp between the apposed first extension and the second extension.   
   
   
       3 . The fence system as in  claim 1  wherein the first base has a first hollow interior with a first fill spout leading thereto, and the second base has a second hollow interior with a second fill spout leading thereto. 
   
   
       4 . The fence system as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third base having a standard extending upwardly therefrom;   a cross brace extending from the standard;   a collar attached to the cross brace such that the collar is attached to the first top of the first post; and   a third post extending upwardly from the collar.   
   
   
       5 . The fence system as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third base having a third receiver and a third pair of base slots;   a third post having a third top with a pair of third top slots and a third bottom with a pair of first bottom slots;   a second generally rectangular tarp having four corners;   a fifth clip removably attached to a respective one of the corners of the second tarp;   a sixth clip removably attached to another respective one of the corners of the second tarp;   a seventh clip removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the second tarp;   a eighth clip removably attached to yet another respective one of the corners of the second tarp; and   wherein, the fifth clip is received within another respective one of the second top slots and the sixth clip is received within another respective one of the second bottom slots and within a respective another of the second base slots and wherein the seventh clip is received within a respective one of the third top slots and the eighth clip is received within a respective one of the third bottom slots and the third post is received within the third receiver and the eighth clip is received within a respective one the third base slots.   
   
   
       6 . The fence system as in  claim 5  wherein each clip comprises:
 a first arm having a first bulbous proximal end, a first distal end with a first extension, and a snap head; and   a second arm having a second bulbous proximal end, a second distal end with a second extension, and a snap opening, the first bulbous end pivotally attached with the second bulbous such that the clip is capable of pivoting between an open position wherein the first extension and the second extension are spaced apart from one another and a closed position wherein the first extension and the second extension are in apposed position and the snap head is frictionally received within the snap opening such that the clip is attached to its respective corner of the tarp by placing the clip into the closed position and sandwiching the tarp between the apposed first extension and the second extension.   
   
   
       7 . The fence system as in  claim 5  wherein the first base has a first hollow interior with a first fill spout leading thereto, the second base has a second hollow interior with a second fill spout leading thereto, and the third base has a third hollow interior with a third fill spout leading thereto. 
   
   
       8 . The fence system as in  claim 5  further comprising:
 a fourth base having a standard extending upwardly therefrom;   a cross brace extending from the standard;   a collar attached to the cross brace such that the collar is attached to the first top of the first post; and   a fourth post extending upwardly from the collar.   
   
   
       9 . A fence system comprising:
 a first base having a first receiver;   a first post having a first section of hook and loop material, the first post received within the first receiver;   a second base having a second receiver;   a second post having a second section of hook and loop material, the second post received within the second receiver;   a tarp having a first end with a third section of hook and loop material and a second end having a fourth section of hook and loop material such that the first end of the tarp is attached to the first post by cooperatively mating the first section of hook and loop material with the third section of hook and loop material and the second end of the tarp is attached to the second base by cooperatively mating the second section of hook and loop material with the fourth section of hook and loop material.   
   
   
       10 . The fence system as in  claim 9  wherein the first base has a first hollow interior with a first fill spout leading thereto, and the second base has a second hollow interior with a second fill spout leading thereto. 
   
   
       11 . The fence system as in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a third base having a standard extending upwardly therefrom;   a cross brace extending from the standard;   a collar attached to the cross brace such that the collar is attached to the first top of the first post; and   a third post extending upwardly from the collar.   
   
   
       12 . The fence system as in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a third base having a third receiver;   a third post having a pair of slots, the third post received within the third receiver such that the tarp passes through the pair of slots.   
   
   
       13 . The fence system as in  claim 12  wherein the first base has a first hollow interior with a first fill spout leading thereto, the second base has a second hollow interior with a second fill spout leading thereto, and the third base has a third hollow interior with a third fill spout leading thereto. 
   
   
       14 . The fence system as in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a fourth base having a standard extending upwardly therefrom;   a cross brace extending from the standard;   a collar attached to the cross brace such that the collar is attached to the first top of the first post; and   a fourth post extending upwardly from the collar.