Volleyball practice apparatus and methods of use

Abstract

A volleyball practice apparatus is described. Embodiments of the volleyball practice apparatus include a frame, a receptacle, and a pair of engagement structures. Generally, the receptacle and the pair of engagement structures can be attached to the frame at opposite ends. The frame can include a track adapted to guide a ball from the receptacle to a plurality of engagement members of the engagement structures. The plurality of engagement members can be adapted to hold a ball to be hit by a user of the practice apparatus. A pair of the plurality of engagement members can be adapted to stop a next ball from on the track passing through an aperture of the frame until a first ball at the bottom of the engagement structures is removed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A volleyball practice apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first end and a second end;   a receptacle coupled to the frame approximate the first end; and   a first engagement structure and a second engagement structure each movably coupled to the frame approximate the second end, wherein the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are adapted to move from a first position to a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pair of engagement members independently and rotatably coupled to the first engagement structure, wherein the first pair of engagement members extend below the frame;   a second pair of engagement members independently and rotatably coupled to the second engagement structure, wherein the second pair of engagement members extend above and below the frame.   
     
     
         3 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first pair of engagement members each include a pad. 
     
     
         4 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second pair of engagement members each include a pad. 
     
     
         5 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first position is a travel position and the second position is a deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein when the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are in the travel position, the first pair of engagement members and the second pair of engagement members are generally parallel with the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein when the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are in the deployed position, the first pair of engagement members and the second pair of engagement members are generally perpendicular with the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame slopes down from the first end of the frame to the second end of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a track and an aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a standard sized volleyball can pass through the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is coupled to a basketball rim. 
     
     
         12 . A volleyball practice apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first end and a second end;   a first engagement structure and a second engagement structure each movably coupled to the frame approximate the second end; and   a receptacle coupled to the frame approximate the first end, wherein the receptacle comprises:
 a plurality of posts, wherein each of the plurality of posts is adapted to move from a first position to a second position; and 
 a panel of fabric adapted to couple to each of the plurality of posts. 
   
     
     
         13 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first position is a travel position and the second position is a deployed position. 
     
     
         14 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of posts are folded down in the travel position. 
     
     
         15 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of posts include a first pair of posts and a second pair of posts. 
     
     
         16 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first pair of posts are diagonal to each other and the second pair of posts are diagonal to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first pair of posts fold down parallel with each other and the second pair of posts fold down parallel with each other. 
     
     
         18 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the panel of fabric couples to the plurality of posts when the plurality of posts are in the deployed position and the travel position. 
     
     
         19 . The volleyball practice apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is coupled to a basketball rim. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first end and a second end;   a receptacle coupled to the frame approximate the first end, wherein the receptacle comprises:
 a plurality of posts, wherein each of the plurality of posts is adapted to be folded down; and 
 a panel of fabric adapted to couple to each of the plurality of posts; 
   a first engagement structure and a second engagement structure each movably coupled to the frame approximate the second end, wherein the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are adapted to be folded generally parallel with the frame;   a first pair of engagement members rotatably coupled to the first engagement structure, wherein the first pair of engagement members extend below the frame; and   a second pair of engagement members rotatably coupled to the second engagement structure, wherein the second pair of engagement members extend above and below the frame.