Net Attachment System

Abstract

A net securing system, kit and method including a blow molded part with a plurality of holes and clips, the clips configured to secure a flexible elongate member which is part of a net when the flexible elongate member is formed into a loop, inserted through the hole and around the clip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for securing a net comprising:
 a first member having a plurality of holes therein, each hole having a first and second side spaced apart at a first distance, wherein the first member is a blow molded polymeric part;   a clip molded in the first member adjacent to each of the plurality of holes, each clip spaced from its corresponding one of the plurality of holes in a first direction;   said clip including an extension which extends towards and end of the extension a second distance in a second direction;   a channel formed between said extension and said hole, the channel having a depth at least 10% of the first distance measured from the end of the extension to a base of the extension, the base positioned between said extension and said hole;   wherein the clip is configured to secure a flexible elongate material to said first member when said flexible elongate material is inserted into one of the plurality of holes as a loop such that the loop fits over the extension and into said channel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a backboard element, a bottom element and an elongate member which when assembled together with the first member form a basketball goal and the flexible elongate member is part of a basketball net. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the end aligns with the first side of the hole such that the first and second distances are approximately equal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the depth is at least 55% of the second distance, the second distance measured along a side of the extension opposite the base. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein an area of the first side is smaller than an area of the second side. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of holes are tapered outwardly from the first side towards the second side. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the channel tapers outwardly from the base. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a spacing between the extension and the first member is greater at the end of the extension than at the base such that the loop extends outwardly with respect to the base towards the hole past a narrowing opening. 
     
     
         9 . A kit for holding a net comprising:
 a net made of a flexible elongate material and having a plurality of loops;   a first member defining a perimeter and having a plurality of holes therein, each hole configured to receive one of said plurality of loops and each hole having a first and second side spaced apart at a first distance, wherein the first member is a blow molded polymeric part;   a plurality of clips, each one of said plurality of clips located adjacent to one of the plurality of holes and molded in the first member;   each clip including an extension which extends a second distance in a second direction, the second distance at least 25% of the first distance;   a channel having a depth at least 10% of the first distance and formed between each of said plurality of extensions and each of said plurality of holes;   each of the plurality of loops configured to insert through one of said plurality of holes from the first side and out the second side and to extend around a corresponding one of the plurality of clips such that at least part of the loop is positioned in the channel.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to and opposite an axial direction of the corresponding one of the plurality of holes, the axial direction being directed from the first side towards the second side. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein the second direction is transverse to an axial direction of the corresponding one of the plurality of holes, the axial direction being directed from the first side towards the second side. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10  wherein the second direction forms an acute angle less than 20 degrees relative to the axial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a backboard element, a bottom element and an elongate member which when assembled together with the first member form a basketball goal and the flexible elongate member is part of a basketball net. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the end aligns with the first side of the hole such that the first and second distances are approximately equal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the depth is at least 55% of the second distance, the second distance measured from the end to the second side. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein an area of the first side is smaller than an area of the second side. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of holes are tapered outwardly from the first side towards the second side. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the channel tapers outwardly from the base. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10  wherein a spacing between the extension and the first member is greater at the end of the extension than at the base such that the loop extends outwardly with respect to the base, around the clip and into a narrowing opening. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the second distance is greater than a thickness of the flexible elongate material. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the second distance is at least twice the thickness of the flexible elongate material. 
     
     
         22 . A method of assembling a goal comprising:
 providing a first element defining a perimeter and a plurality of holes located along the perimeter, the first element being a blow molded polymeric part;   providing a net formed from a flexible member, the net including a plurality of loops;   inserting one or more of the plurality of loops into the plurality of holes from a first side of the holes such that the plurality of loops extend out a second side of the holes;   extending the loop out its corresponding one of the plurality of holes and hooking the loop over an extension which extends adjacent to the one of the plurality of holes, the extension having an end and a base and two side openings wherein the side openings narrow from the end towards the base and the base is positioned between the extension and the corresponding one of the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 pulling the net from the first side such that the loop is held in a channel defined at least in part by the base. 
 
     
     
         24 . A system for securing a net comprising:
 a first member having a plurality of holes, each of the plurality of holes having a clip adjacent thereto;   a channel defined between an inner surface of the clip and a surface of the first member which faces the inner surface of the clip, the channel having a base;   wherein the plurality of holes has first and second sides spaced apart and the base is located at a height measured from the first side less than a distance between the first and second sides such that when a flexible elongate member is formed into a loop and inserted from the first side and out the second side, the flexible elongate member is secured to the first member by inserting the loop over the clip and into contact with the base.