Retractable sports activity device

Abstract

An retractable sports activity device preferably includes a left rail bracket, a right rail bracket, a media reel and a bottom media support. The left and right rail brackets are attached to left and right garage door roller rails, or a wall or a ceiling. The media reel preferably includes a reel tube, a sheet media and a retractable shield unit. Opposing ends of the reel tube are rotatably retained by the left and right rail brackets. A top of the sheet media is secured to the reel tube. The retractable shield unit preferably includes a left shield unit, a right shield unit and a top shield. The left shield unit is retained on a left end of the reel tube and the right shield unit is retained on a right end of the reel tube. A bottom of the sheet media is support by the bottom media support.

Claims

1. A retractable sports activity device configured for retention on a left rail and a right rail of a garage door system, the garage door system further comprising a plurality of left and right rollers extending from opposing ends of a garage door, the plurality of left and right rollers are retained in the left and right rails, comprising: a left rail bracket is attached to the left rail, said left rail bracket includes a left bearing; a right rail bracket is attached to the right rail, said right rail bracket includes a right bearing, wherein said garage door is capable of opening and closing with said left and right brackets secured to the left and right rails; a media reel includes a reel tube and a sheet media, a top of said sheet media is secured to said reel tube, a left end of said reel tube is retained in said left bearing, a right end of said reel tube is retained in said right bearing; and a bottom media support rests on a support surface, a bottom of said sheet media is secured to said bottom media support, wherein said retractable sports activity device is operational during a period when a garage door is being opened, being closed, or when the garage door is in an open position.

2. The retractable sports activity device of claim 1 wherein: each said rail bracket includes a rail retention member and a reel plate, a top portion of said rail retention member includes a hook end and a clamp screw, said clamp screw is threadably engaged with said rail retention member, said reel plate is attached to a side portion of said rail retention member.

3. The retractable sports activity device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of attachment clamps are attached along a length of said reel tube to retain said sheet media.

4. The retractable sports activity device of claim 3, further comprising: a spacer pad is attached to said reel tube between two of said plurality of attachment clamps.

5. The retractable sports activity device of claim 1 wherein: said bottom media support includes a left support, a right support and a pole, one end of said pole is supported by said left support, an opposing end of said pole is supported by said right pole.

6. The retractable sports activity device of claim 5 wherein: each said support includes a support base and an upright member, a plurality of holes are formed through said upright member to receive opposing ends of said pole.

7. The retractable sports activity device of claim 1 wherein: an image projector for projecting an image on said sheet media which is a projector screen.

8. A retractable sports activity device configured for retention on a left rail and a right rail of a garage door system, the garage door system further comprising a plurality of left and right rollers extending from opposing ends of a garage door, the plurality of left and right rollers are retained in the left and right rails, comprising: a left rail bracket includes a left hook end, said left hook end is sized to receive and retain a thickness of a left top rail of the left rail; a right rail bracket includes a right hook end, said right hook end is sized to receive and retain a thickness of a right top rail of the right rail; a media reel includes a reel tube and a sheet media, a top of said sheet media is secured to said reel tube, a left end of said reel tube is retained in said left rail bracket, a right end of said reel tube is retained in said right rail bracket; and a bottom media support rests on a support surface, a bottom of said sheet media is secured to said bottom media support, wherein the garage door may be opened or closed when said retractable sports activity device is installed and operational.

9. The retractable sports activity device of claim 8 wherein: each said rail bracket includes a rail retention member and a reel plate, a top portion of said rail retention member includes a hook end and a clamp screw, said clamp screw is threadably engaged with said rail retention member, said reel plate is attached to a side portion of said rail retention member.

10. The retractable sports activity device of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of attachment clamps are attached along a length of said reel tube to retain said sheet media.

11. The retractable sports activity device of claim 10, further comprising: a spacer pad is attached to said reel tube between two of said plurality of attachment clamps.

12. The retractable sports activity device of claim 8 wherein: said bottom media support includes a left support, a right support and a pole, one end of said pole is supported by said left support, an opposing end of said pole is supported by said right pole.

13. The retractable sports activity device of claim 12 wherein: each said support includes a support base and an upright member, a plurality of holes are formed through said upright member to receive opposing ends of said pole.

14. The retractable sports activity device of claim 8 wherein: an image projector for projecting an image on said sheet media which is a projector screen.

15. A retractable sports activity device configured for retention on a left rail and a right rail of a garage door system, the garage door system further comprising a plurality of left and right rollers extending from opposing ends of a garage door, the plurality of left and right rollers are retained in the left and right rails, comprising: a left rail bracket includes a left hook end and a left clamp screw, said left hook end is sized to receive and retain a thickness of a left top rail of the left rail, wherein rotation of said left clamp screw forces the left top rail into the left hook end; a right rail bracket includes a right hook end, said right end is sized to receive and retain a thickness of a right top rail of the right rail, wherein rotation of said right clamp screw forces the right top rail into the right hook end; a media reel includes a reel tube and a sheet media, a top of said sheet media is secured to said reel tube, a left end of said reel tube is retained in said left rail bracket, a right end of said reel tube is retained in said right rail bracket; and a bottom media support rests on a support surface, a bottom of said sheet media is secured to said bottom media support, wherein the garage door may be opened or closed when said retractable sports activity device is installed and operational.

16. The retractable sports activity device of claim 15 wherein: each said rail bracket includes a rail retention member and a reel plate, a top portion of said rail retention member includes a hook end and a clamp screw, said clamp screw is threadably engaged with said rail retention member, said reel plate is attached to a side portion of said rail retention member.

17. The retractable sports activity device of claim 15 further comprising: a plurality of attachment clamps are attached along a length of said reel tube to retain said sheet media.

18. The retractable sports activity device of claim 17, further comprising: a spacer pad is attached to said reel tube between two of said plurality of attachment clamps.

19. The retractable sports activity device of claim 15 wherein: said bottom media support includes a left support, a right support and a pole, one end of said pole is supported by said left support, an opposing end of said pole is supported by said right pole.

20. The retractable sports activity device of claim 19 wherein: each said support includes a support base and an upright member, a plurality of holes are formed through said upright member to receive opposing ends of said pole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable sports activity device mounted to garage door roller rails in a garage, before unrolling in accordance with the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right rail bracket of a retractable sports activity device mounted to garage door roller rail in accordance with the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2a is a bottom perspective view of a right rail bracket of a retractable sports activity device mounted to a right garage door roller rail in accordance with the present invention.

(4) FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a left rail bracket of a retractable sports activity device mounted to a left garage door roller rail in accordance with the present invention.

(5) FIG. 2c is an end view of a left rail bracket mounted to a left garage door roller rail with a garage door roller retained therein of a retractable sports activity device in accordance with the present invention.

(6) FIG. 2d is an end view of left and rail brackets mounted to left and right garage door roller rails; a garage door retained in the left and right garage door roller rails; and a rolled-up sports activity device rotatably retained in the left and right rail brackets in accordance with the present invention.

(7) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a retractable sports activity device in a garage, which is partially unrolled in accordance with the present invention.

(8) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a retractable sports activity device in a garage, which is fully unrolled in accordance with the present invention.

(9) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a retractable sports activity device in a garage, which is fully unrolled and a retractable shield unit fully stretched in accordance with the present invention.

(10) FIG. 6 is a close-up perspective view of a portion of a left shield unit of a fully deployed retractable shield unit of a retractable sports activity device in accordance with the present invention.

(11) FIG. 7 is a close-up perspective view of a media reel with a sheet media attached thereto of a retractable sports activity device without a retractable shield unit in accordance with the present invention.

(12) FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective view of a media reel with a sheet media attached thereto and a styrene wrap removed to reveal a reel tube of a retractable sports activity device without a retractable shield unit in accordance with the present invention.

(13) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a retractable sports activity device installed on display device without a retractable shield unit in accordance with the present invention.

(14) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a retractable sports activity device with a projector screen and an image projected on the projector screen for practicing golf in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(15) With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a retractable sports activity device 1. With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 9, the retractable sports activity device 1 preferably includes a left rail bracket 10, a right rail bracket 12, a media reel 14, a bottom media support 16 and an image projector 18. With reference to FIGS. 2-2b and 9, the left rail bracket 10 and the right rail bracket 12 are preferably mirror images of each other. Each rail bracket 10, 12 preferably includes a rail retention member 20, a reel plate 23 and a media shaft bearing 28. A top portion 22 of the rail retention member 20 includes a hook end (or U-shaped end) 24 and a clamp screw 26. The hook end 24 is sized to receive a thickness of a left top rail 102 of a left garage door roller rail 101. The clamp screw 26 is threadably engaged with a side portion 25 of the rail retention member 20 to retain the left and right rail brackets 10, 12 on the garage door roller rails 101, 112. The reel plate 23 is attached to the side portion 25 of the rail retention member 20 with a plurality of spacers 27 and fasteners 29. The reel plate 23 includes the media tube bearing 28 for retaining one end of the media reel 14. However, the left and right rail brackets 10, 12 could also be mounted to wall or a ceiling.

(16) With reference to FIG. 2c, an end view of the left rail bracket 10 is shown. The left bracket 10 is retained on the left roller rail 101 with the clamp screw 26. With reference to FIG. 2d, a garage door system 100 includes a left roller rail 101, a right roller rail 110 and a garage door 108. The left roller 106 extends from one end of the garage door 108 and is retained in the left roller rail 101. A right roller 110 extends from an opposing end of the garage door 108. The right roller 110 is retained in the right roller rail 112. The right roller rail 112 includes a right top rail 114. Opposing ends of a reel tube 30 of a media reel 14 are rotatably retained in the media tube bearings 28 of the left and right rail brackets 10, 12. The garage door 108 is free to be opened or closed when the media reel 14 is retained in the left and right rail brackets 10, 12. The media reel 14 may be rolled-up or rolled down when the garage door 108 is closed or open.

(17) With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, the media reel 14 preferably includes the reel tube 30, a plurality of attachment clamps 32, a sheet media 34 and a retractable shield unit 36. The sheet media 34 may be a projection screen, a net or any other suitable sheet. Opposing ends of the reel tube 30 are rotatably retained by the left and right rail brackets 10, 12. With reference to FIG. 2b, an electric motor 40 may be used to roll and unroll the media reel 14. However, the media reel 14 may be rolled and unrolled manually. The plurality of attachment clamps 32 are attached along a length of the reel tube 30 to retain the sheet media 34. With reference to FIG. 7, a plurality of spacer pads 35 may be used to equalize a perimeter of the plurality of attachment clamps 32 relative to the reel tube 30. The sheet media 34 includes a top plurality of loops 38 and a plurality of bottom loops 42. The top of the sheet media 34 is secured to the plurality of attachment clamps 32 with the plurality of top loops 38. The sheet media 34 may also be secured to the media reel 14 with Velcro strip 39 or the like. The sheet media 34 may be a net or a projector screen.

(18) With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the retractable shield unit 36 preferably includes a left shield unit 44, a right shield unit 46 and a top shield 48. The left shield unit 44 is retained on a left end of the reel tube 30 and the right shield unit 46 is retained on a right end of the reel tube 30. Each shield unit 44, 46 includes a base member 50, a retraction arm 52, 53 and a screen sheet 56, 58. The base member 50 is attached to the reel tube 30. One end of the retraction arm 52 is pivotally engaged with an end of the base member 50. One end of the opener device 54 is attached to the base member 50 and an opposing end of the opener device 54 is attached to an opposing end of the retraction arm 52. The opener device 54 may be an extension spring, a screen door closer, torque hinge, tension hinge or actuator. A rear of the top shield 48 is secured to a top of the sheet media 34. A left end of the top shield 48 is attached to a top of a left screen sheet 56. A right end of the top shield 48 is attached to a top of a right screen sheet 58. A top of the left screen sheet 56 is attached to a left retraction arm 52. A length of the left screen sheet 56 is attached to a left end of the sheet media 34. A top of a right screen sheet 58 is attached to a right retraction arm 53. A length of the right screen sheet 58 is attached to a right end of the sheet media 34.

(19) With reference to FIG. 9, the bottom media support 16 includes a left support 60, a right support 62 and a pole 64. The left support 60 and the right support 62 each preferably include a support base 66 and an upright member 68. A plurality of holes 70 are formed through the upright member 68 to receive opposing ends of the pole 64. The plurality of holes 70 have different vertical heights to position the pole 64 at different heights from a support surface 104. The pole 64 preferably includes a plurality of rings 72 for attachment of a bottom the sheet media 34. With reference to FIG. 5, a bungie cord 75 or the like is used to pull the sheet media 34 back. With reference to FIG. 5, one end of the bungie cord 75 is attached to a bracket on the outside of the garage door roller rails 101, 112 and the other end thereof to the left screen sheet 56 or the right screen sheet 58.

(20) With reference to FIG. 10, an image projector 74 is used to project an image 106 on to the sheet media 34, if the sheet media 34 is a projector screen.

(21) While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.