Adaptive Sports Goal Backstop Systems for Specialized Environments
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
A novel backstop system designed for specific, high-demand environments, such as high-security facilities, disaster relief areas, extreme weather conditions, and remote or rural areas, providing enhanced functionality and performance tailored to these unique settings.
Background and Problem Solved
The original sports goal backstop system patent addressed the issue of retrieving missed sport projectiles, but it lacked adaptability to accommodate diverse operational environments. This new inventive concept solves the problem of limited applicability by introducing specialized backstop systems that cater to specific, high-demand environments, ensuring optimal performance and safety in these settings.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The adaptive sports goal backstop systems comprise a material implement with a reinforced edge, having embedded sensors for detecting projectile velocity and direction in high-security facilities, a waterproof and wind-resistant design for disaster relief areas, a temperature-resistant and UV-resistant design for extreme weather conditions, and a portable and lightweight design for remote or rural areas. The material implement includes at least one of a single and a multi-piece system of fabric or fabric sections, with attachment mechanisms tailored to each environment.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce novel features such as embedded sensors, waterproof and wind-resistant designs, temperature-resistant and UV-resistant materials, and portable and lightweight constructions, which are non-obvious and provide a significant improvement over the original patent.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments could include adjustable material implements for accommodating different goal sizes, modular designs for easy assembly and disassembly, and integration with other safety features such as impact-absorbing materials or projectile-tracking systems.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The adaptive sports goal backstop systems have significant commercial potential in various industries, including sports equipment manufacturing, disaster relief and emergency response, high-security facility management, and rural or remote community development.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A63 | A63B63/004 |
| A | A63 | A63B71/022 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Sports equipment design, specifically goal backstop systems for sports projectile containment, requiring knowledge of materials engineering, structural design, and sports equipment fabrication
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A mechanical engineer or sports equipment designer with expertise in fabric materials, structural attachments, and goal containment systems, familiar with adapting equipment for different environmental conditions
Obviousness Rationale
A person having ordinary skill would recognize that the source patent's basic backstop design provides a foundational framework that can be readily modified for specialized environments. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the original backstop concept, using known engineering techniques to adapt the material implement for specific use cases. These modifications involve standard design approaches such as adding sensors, changing material properties, and adjusting structural configurations that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,856 |
|---|---|
| Title | Sports goal backstop system |