The present invention generally relates to entrapment devices for entrapping projectile or flying objects in games or sports, and more particularly, to a 360 degree entrapment device, such as employed to entrap flying discs, such as flying discs used in the sport of disc golf.
The sport of disc golf has become increasing more popular in recent years. Disc golf is typically played on courses laid out in parks, other recreational areas, or on areas specifically constructed as disc golf courses. Disc golf courses typically include a certain number of holes similar to a golf course, such as a 9-hole or 18-hole course. Each hole on the disc golf course typically includes a tee from which a player throws a flying disc toward a 360 degree entrapment device. Similar to the game of golf, on properly laid out disc golf courses, the flying disc is not typically entrapped in the entrapment device on the first throw. Thus, the disc is picked up and thrown again from where it lands toward the entrapment device for the particular hole. The player keeps on throwing from the landing place towards the entrapment device until the disc is entrapped by the entrapment device. Typically, the number of throws taken by a given player to land the disc in the entrapment device are added to provide the total score for that player for the given hole. Similar to golf, the winning player is typically the player with the lowest total score for all holes.
One type of conventional disc 360 degree entrapment device includes a center pole, a lower basket, and an upper support structure from which a plurality of loosely hanging chains are disposed above the basket. The chains are typically functionally arranged to effectively catch a flying disc by absorbing the disc""s kinetic energy and dropping the disc into the basket.
The increasing popularity of disc golf in recent years has spurred improvements to discs and the disc entrapment devices. Players can select from numerous types of flying discs varying in design, size, and weight. Many types of complex disc entrapment devices have been designed in the attempt to more effectively absorb the kinetic energy of the wide variety of flying discs and the wide variety of throwing techniques. The majority of the disc entrapment devices employ chains as the entrapment apparatus to absorb the kinetic energy from the flying disc.
The tolerance for an occasional rejection of a well thrown disc by the disc entrapment device has diminished as the skill of the professional or serious amateur disc golfer has increased. In addition, in recent years there are many more social and recreational disc golf players who use light flying discs which are easier for the recreational player to control. Many times, a lighter disc does not have sufficient mass to overcome the mass of the chains and is consequently rejected by the entrapment device.
Most conventional flying disc entrapment devices are permanently mounted into the ground. Moreover, the chains of the entrapment device are typically heavy and make the device more cumbersome.
As a result, most conventional chain entrapment devices are not suitable as a portable entrapment device. Furthermore, flying discs can be damaged over time from repeated striking of the disc into the chains of the entrapment device. The flying discs striking the chains can also be quite noisy.
For reasons stated above and for other reasons presented in the Description of the Preferred Embodiment section of the present specification, there is a desire for an improved 360 degree entrapment device for sports, such as disc golf. There is particularly, a desire for a flying disc entrapment device which is less costly and is more portable yet still has a high degree of catchability desired by the serious amateur or professional disc golfer. An improved portable disc entrapment device is desired which would be better suited for use in areas other than specifically constructed disc golf courses.
One aspect of the present invention provides an entrapment device for entrapping projectile or flying objects employed in a game. The entrapment device comprises an entrapment frame assembly and a net. The entrapment frame assembly includes a top basket support and a bottom basket support. The net is attachable to the top basket support. The net has an entrapment zone portion adapted to absorb kinetic energy from the projectile or flying object to cause the projectile or flying object to drop into and be entrapped in the bottom basket support.