Rebound Screen

Abstract

A rebound screen is provided that includes a frame having a base for supporting the screen on a surface and an upwardly extending portion attached to the base. The upwardly extending portion includes a lower horizontal cross member and an upper horizontal cross member joined by a pair of side members. Each of the side members is formed with a curved shape that enables a ball striking a net secured between the side members to rebound off of the net in a direction either back to the individual who threw the ball or in a random direction depending upon the portion of the net and the corresponding curve provided by the side frame members that the ball strikes.

I hereby claim: 
     
         1 . A rebound screen comprising:
 a. a frame including a base portion and a rebound portion, the rebound portion including a first curved section; and   b. a net secured to the at least one curved section of the rebound portion.   
     
     
         2 . The screen of  claim 1  wherein the rebound portion further comprises a vertical section adjacent the first curved section. 
     
     
         3 . The screen of  claim 2  wherein the rebound portion further comprises a second curved section adjacent the vertical section and opposite the first curved section. 
     
     
         4 . The screen of  claim 3  wherein the first curved section is curved at an angle of between about thirty and forty-five degrees with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The screen of  claim 4  wherein the first curved section is curved at an angle of about forty degrees with respect to the horizontal. 
     
     
         6 . The screen of  claim 3  wherein the second curved section is curved at an angle of between ten to thirty degrees with respect to the vertical. 
     
     
         7 . The screen of  claim 6  wherein the second curved section is curved at an angle of twenty degrees with respect to the vertical. 
     
     
         8 . The screen of  claim 1  further comprising a lower cross member secured to the frame and to the net. 
     
     
         9 . The screen of  claim 8  wherein the cross member is affixed to the base portion. 
     
     
         10 . The screen of  claim 8  wherein the cross member is affixed to the rebound portion. 
     
     
         11 . The screen of  claim 1  wherein the rebound portion comprises:
 a. a pair of opposed side members joined to the base portion; 
 b. a lower cross member joined between the side members; and 
 c. an upper cross member joined between the side members and spaced from the lower cross member. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of practicing throwing and catching a ball, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a rebound screen in a configuration according to  claim 1 ;   b. striking the net with a ball to cause the ball to rebound off of the net along a rebound path; and   c. retrieving the ball, wherein the screen provides an infinite number of rebound paths for the ball without the need for adjusting the configuration of the screen.