Collapsible backstop

Abstract

A collapsible backstop for stopping and collecting balls is provided that includes a rigid, collapsible, peripheral structure having a plurality of frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other to form the peripheral structure. Frame members may be interconnected with a cord to facilitate reassembly. Also included is a web formed of flexible material. A plurality of engagement members are provided for removably mounting the web to the structure to form the backstop. Finally, a rigid base to which the structure is removably mounted is also included. The base may include a plurality of base components that may be removably connected to each other, but interconnected with one or more additional cords, again, to facilitate reassembly. A method of assembling and disassembling such a collapsible backstop may also be provided.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A collapsible backstop for stopping balls, comprising:
 a rigid, collapsible, peripheral structure including a plurality of frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other and thereby form the structure, at least some of the frame members being interconnected with at least one flexible cord so that when the frame members are disassembled from one another, those frame members that are interconnected remain so in order to facilitate reassembly;   a web formed of flexible material;   a plurality of engagement members for removably mounting the web to the structure at a plurality of points to form the backstop; and   a rigid base to which the structure is removably mounted, the base including a plurality of components, at least some of which may be rigidly and removably connected to each other, at least some of the components being interconnected to each other by at least one additional flexible cord so that those components that are interconnected remain so in order to facilitate reassembly.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein none of the frame members and the components are longer than 4 feet. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein the peripheral structure is substantially rectangular and the frame members are relatively straight. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 3  wherein the components are substantially straight. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein when the frame members are mounted to one another they form three legs of a rectangle, and the base forms the fourth side of the rectangle when the structure is mounted to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein the cord that interconnects at least some of the frame members is resilient. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein all of the frame members are interconnected with the at least one cord. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional cord to interconnect at least some of the components comprises at least one resilient cord. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 1  wherein the web includes additional flexible material at a lower portion thereof to collect balls that hit the net and fall into the lower portion. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible backstop of  claim 9  wherein the additional flexible material is formed of the same material as the rest of the web. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible backstop for stopping and collecting balls, comprising:
 a rigid, collapsible, substantially rectangular structure including a plurality of substantially straight frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other and thereby form the structure;   a net formed of flexible netting;   a plurality of engagement members for removably mounting the net to the structure at a plurality of points to form the backstop;   a rigid base to which the structure is removably mounted, the base including a plurality of substantially straight, rigid components that may be rigidly and removably connected to each other;   at least one flexible cord that extends through at least some of the frame members and at least some of the components so that when the at least some of the members and components are disassembled, they remain interconnected to facilitate reassembly; and   wherein when the net is mounted to the structure, the net includes additional netting so that the net is not taut between the structure at all points and the additional netting absorbs the force from a ball being thrown or hit into the net, and permits the additional netting to collect balls that are hit into the net.   
     
     
         12 . A method for assembling a backstop for stopping and collecting balls, comprising the following steps, not necessarily in the order recited:
 selecting a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members that are interconnected with one another with at least one cord;   snugly and removably mounting the frame members to one another to form a rigid peripheral structure;   selecting a plurality of rigid base components that are interconnected to one another with at least one additional cord;   snugly and removably mounting the base components to one another to form a rigid base;   snugly and removably mounting at least two of the frame members to at least two of the base components;   selecting a web formed of flexible material; and   removably mounting the web to the peripheral structure and to the base using a plurality of engagement members, thereby forming the backstop.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the steps of selecting frame members and base components comprises selecting frame members and base components that are no longer than four feet long. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a method of disassembling the backstop and packing it into a container, comprising the following steps, not necessarily in the order recited:
 removing the web from the peripheral structure and the base by disconnecting the engagement members;   removing the frame members from the base components;   disconnecting the frame members from one another and folding the frame members against each other with the frame members being interconnected only by the at least one cord; and   disconnecting the base components from one another and folding the base components against each other with the base components being interconnected only by the at least one cord; and   fitting the web, frame members and base components into the container.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the steps of selecting frame members and base components comprises selecting frame members and base components that are no longer than four feet long so that the container into which the web, frame members and base components are fitted needs to be no longer than four feet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of folding the frame members against each other comprises folding the frame members against each other such that the frame members are substantially parallel to each other and the step of folding the base components against each other comprises folding the base components against each other such that the base components are substantially parallel to each other, whereby the container into which the frame members and base components are fitted can be compact. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of selecting a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members that are interconnected with one another with at least one cord comprises selecting a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members that are interconnected with one another with at least one flexible cord.