Sports rebounding and goal apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first base member, a second base member, a first sliding connector slidable along the first base member, a second sliding connector slidable along the second base member, a first pivotable connector coupled to the first base member, a second pivotable connector coupled to the second base member, a first side support pivotably coupled to the first pivotable connector, a second side support pivotably coupled to the second pivotable connector, one or more cross-members extending between at least one of (a) the first pivotable connector and the second sliding connector or (b) the second pivotable connector and the first sliding connector, a first brace (a) pivotably coupled to the first side support and (b) pivotably coupled to the first sliding connector, and a second brace (a) pivotably coupled to the second side and (b) pivotably coupled to the second sliding connector.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first base member;   a second base member;   a first sliding connector slidable along the first base member;   a second sliding connector slidable along the second base member;   a first pivotable connector coupled to the first base member;   a second pivotable connector coupled to the second base member;   a first side support pivotably coupled to the first pivotable connector;   a second side support pivotably coupled to the second pivotable connector;   one or more cross-members extending between at least one of (a) the first pivotable connector and the second sliding connector or (b) the second pivotable connector and the first sliding connector;   a first brace (a) pivotably coupled to the first side support and (b) pivotably coupled to the first sliding connector; and   a second brace (a) pivotably coupled to the second side and (b) pivotably coupled to the second sliding connector.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivotable connector and the second pivotable connector are positioned at or proximate ends of the first base member and the second base member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivotable connector and the second pivotable connector are positioned at or proximate lower ends of the first side support and the second side support. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lateral support extending between the first side support and the second side support. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the lateral support is positioned at or proximate upper ends of the first side support and the second side support. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a pair of hinges pivotably coupling the lateral support to the first side support and the second side support;   a net; and   a plurality of net connectors extending between the (a) the pair of hinges and the net and (b) the first pivotable connector, the second pivotable connector, and the net.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the lateral support includes a hinge element positioned proximate a center thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the hinge element includes a locking mechanism configured to pivotably lock the lateral support in an unfolded configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cross-members include:
 a first cross-member extending between the first pivotable connector and the second sliding connector; and   a second cross-member extending between the second pivotable connector and the first sliding connector.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a cross-support locking mechanism pivotably coupled to the first cross-member and coupled to the second cross-member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second cross-member includes a first leg and a second leg. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first leg extends between the second pivotable connector and the cross-support locking mechanism, and wherein the second leg extends between the cross-support locking mechanism and the first sliding connector. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second leg is axially offset from the first leg. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cross-support locking mechanism defines an aperture, wherein the first cross-member includes a spring biased detent button positioned along a length thereof, and wherein the spring biased detent button of the first cross-member is positioned to selectively engage with the aperture of the cross-support locking mechanism to pivotably fix the first cross-member with the cross-support locking mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first brace is pivotably coupled to the first side support at a position between a lower end and an upper end thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first brace and the second brace are extendable. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a net coupled to the first side support and the second side support. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a base frame assembly including:
 a first base member; and 
 a second base member; 
   an upper frame assembly including:
 a first side support; 
 a second side support; 
 a first hinge coupled to an upper end of the first side support; 
 a second hinge coupled to an upper end of the second side support; 
 a lateral support extending between the first hinge and the second hinge, the lateral support including a third hinge positioned proximate a center thereof; 
   a first connector pivotably coupling the first side support with the first base member;   a second connector pivotably coupling the second side support with the second base member;   a net; and   a plurality of net connectors extending between (a) the net and (b) the first hinge, the second hinge, the first connector, and the second connector.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first brace extending between the first side support and the first base member;   a second brace extending between the second side support and the second base member; and   one or more cross-members extending between the first base member and the second base member.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a base frame assembly;   an upper frame assembly pivotably coupled to the base frame assembly, the upper frame assembly configured to support a net;   a sliding connector slidable along a portion of the base frame assembly; and   a brace pivotably coupled to the upper frame assembly and the sliding connector.