BALL GAME GOAL

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to German Patent Application No. 20 2016 100 086.6, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, entitled “BALLSPIELTOR,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a ball game goal, for example a handball goal or soccer goal. These ball game goals can either be built stationary on a corresponding sports ground or in a corresponding sports hall or designed as transportable ball game goals.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to all ball game goals, i.e. stationary and transportable ball game goals. Alongside the ever-present goalposts and the crossbar connecting the goalposts at their upper ends, these ball game goals also have a base frame. This base frame usually consists of longitudinal braces and transverse braces. The base frame serves as a fixing frame for the lower edge of the goal net for fixedly anchored ball game goals. In case of transportable or free-standing ball game goals, the base frame must ensure that the ball game goal stands securely, so that it does not tip over during gameplay or in case of wind or bad weather. The base frame consequently serves as a base for transportable and free-standing ball game goals. Usually, this base in turn further serves as a ground-based attachment for the goal net. Through the ground-based attachment of the goal net it is prevented that the ball can be thrown or kicked under the net.

By using such base frames the problem ensues that the goalkeeper could injure himself or herself when falling in case of a shot at the goal or when diving for the ball. A risk of injury also arises for the field players who slip near the ball game goal and slide into the goal.

SUMMARY

On this basis, the object of the invention is to develop a ball game goal with a base frame such that the risk of injury is significantly reduced.

The combination of features in claim 1 addresses this problem in an innovative way. The dependent claims include further developments of this invention that are partially advantageous and partially innovative for themselves. The invention is based on the main consideration of affixing one or several protective pads at least in the area of the longitudinal and transverse braces, which form the base frame and are facing the goal opening of the ball game goal. The invention is particularly suited for the base frame described at the beginning with transverse braces adapted to the lower ends of the goalposts and a longitudinal brace connecting the ends of the transverse braces facing away from the goalposts.

The invention is suited for ball game goals (stadium goals) stationarily fixed to the playing field as well as for transportable and free-standing ball game goals. The ball game goals stationarily fixed to the playing field have goalposts with appendages, which are driven into the ground of the playing field like pegs of a camping tent to fix the ball game goal in a form-fitting manner. Here, the base frame serves as a fixing frame for the lower edge of the goal net. The base frame primarily serves as a base for transportable and free-standing ball game goals, and secondarily has—where applicable—the additional function of a ground-based attachment for the goal net.

In a further preferred design, the longitudinal and transverse braces are designed as hollow profiles. Aluminum hollow profiles are particularly suited for this. These profiles are stable yet light. They are also very weather-resistant and thus have excellent functional properties.

In an appropriate design of the invention, a profile channel extending in a longitudinal direction of the profile is introduced onto the outer surface of the hollow profile. This profile channel is perfectly suited as a holding groove for retaining projections on the protective pad that are locked or latched on the profile channel. In this way the edges and the profile channel form a groove-spring connection between the longitudinal braces and the transverse braces on the one hand and the protective pad on the other.

A closed profile chamber is further advantageous for the formation of an also closed hollow profile body. The closed profile chamber is advantageously completed by a half-open profile chamber. The half-open profile chamber can variedly be used as a function channel, for instance as a holding groove or holding channel for the welt of a goal net.

Any energy-absorbing, energy-consuming or energy-reducing material is suited as material for the protective pad. It is possible to use materials with plastic ductility. A protective pad with plastic ductility however has the disadvantage that it must be replaced after each deformation. For this reason, it is more suitable to use materials with elastic ductility, particularly materials that return to their original shape after the deformation, i.e. exhibiting a so-called “shape memory” effect.

A protective pad made of rubber is preferred. Due to its energy-absorbing characteristics, sponge rubber is considered particularly suited for this. In an alternative design, it also possible to produce the protective pad from suited plastic materials.

It is additionally possible to manufacture the protective pad from solid material. Such solid material has the advantage of being very stable and robust. Alternatively, it is possible to use a hollow body as a protective pad. Usually, hollow bodies have a weight advantage. This weight advantage facilitates the transport of the ball game goal above all. The use of a hollow body can be constructively improved in such a way that reinforcements or stiffeners such as stiffening ribs or similar are provided in the hollow body. For instance, hollow plastic profiles with elastic ductility are perfectly suited as hollow bodies.

Furthermore, many advantageous and practically suited methods exist to adapt the protective pad to the longitudinal and transverse braces. There is a material-fitting variant in bonding the protective pad with the longitudinal and transverse braces. Alternatively, the protective pad can be vulcanized onto the longitudinal and transverse braces. These two types of fixing guarantee a permanent fixing of the protective pad onto the longitudinal and transverse braces.

Provided that a removability of the protective pad is desired, for instance to be able to clean it better or to be able to store it separately from longitudinal and transverse braces, it is also possible to fix the protective pad to the longitudinal and transverse braces with a circulating belt. Alongside the aforementioned groove-spring adaptation, it is also possible to use a force fit for the adaptation of the protective pad.

Should already available ball game goals be equipped with a protective pad, an embodiment with flexible straps is suited alongside the use of a circulating belt. The straps and the protective pad spread over the surfaces of the longitudinal and transverse braces that are to be padded and have passage openings. The so-called pegs can be inserted through the passage openings, as they are for instance known from tents on campsites or in another outdoor area. The straps can be easily fixed with the pegs in the ground beneath the playing field on which the ball game goal is set up.

With the design examples illustrated in the drawings, the invention is clarified with other details.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a goal frame with a base frame of a ball game goal according to this invention;

FIG. 2 detail II from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a design example of a groove-spring adaptation of a protective pad made from solid material;

FIG. 4 a design example of a groove-spring adaptation of a hollow body with stiffening ribs as a protective pad;

FIG. 5 the protective pad from FIG. 4 but without ribs;

FIG. 6 a design example of an affixed protective pad;

FIG. 7 a design example of a protective pad with a circulating belt;

FIG. 8 an embodiment of a protective pad with a tube-like rubber profile, in which the longitudinal and transverse braces are inserted;

FIG. 9 a protective pad fixed in the manner of a groove-spring connection with a two-part profile channel;

FIG. 10 a form-fitting attachment of the protective pad in the profile channel;

FIG. 11 a protective pad fixed in the profile channel by means of a screw; and

FIG. 12 a protective pad fixed in the ground beneath the playing field by means of pegs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ball game goal illustrated in FIG. 1 is a stationarily fixed ball game goal, namely a typical stadium goal, which consists of a goal frame 1 and a base frame 2. The goal frame 1 comprises the two goalposts 4 extending in a vertical direction 3 and the crossbar 5 connecting the two goalposts 4 at their upper ends. At the upper ends of the goalposts 4 two other bow-shaped spacers for the goal net, not illustrated in the drawing, are attached to the side facing away from the playing field.

In the lower ends area of the goalposts 4 of the ball game goal, two transverse braces 7 and a longitudinal brace 8 connecting the transverse braces 7 to its ends facing away from the goalposts 4 are fixed with the fixing elements 9 indicated schematically in the drawing. The transverse braces 7 and the longitudinal brace 8 thus form the base frame 2 for the goal frame 1 of the ball game goal. The crossbar 5 and the longitudinal brace 8 both run parallel in a central longitudinal direction 10 of the goal frame 1 in the final assembled state of the ball game goal.

FIG. 2 shows the detail II from FIG. 1, namely the profile joint of the hollow profiles forming a transverse brace 7 and a longitudinal brace 8, respectively. These hollow profiles are preferably developed as hollow aluminum profiles. In FIG. 2, the hollow chamber opening 11 of an open profile chamber of a hollow profile forming a transverse brace 7 or a longitudinal brace 8 can be seen. The hollow chamber opening 11 is not continuous in the design example, but is periodically bridged over by profile webs 13.

In the set state, the goal frame 1 stands on the one hand with the base frame 2 on the surface of the playing field. On the other hand, the lower ends of the goalposts 4 also serve as standing surfaces, wherein the lower ends of the goalposts 4 are provided as appendages 14. These appendages 14 are bored into the grass or sand soil of the playing field in the manner of pegs of a camping tent and thus fix the ball game goal in the ground of the playing field in a form-fitting manner. These appendages 14 are missing in transportable or free-standing ball game goals, where the base frame also acts a rear base for the ball game goal.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 12 both show a profile cross-section of a hollow profile, which can be used in the final assembly state as a transverse brace 7 as well as a longitudinal brace 8 of a base frame 2. In the illustration of FIG. 3 to FIG. 12, this profile cross-section forming the transverse brace 7 or the longitudinal brace 8 exhibits the open profile chamber 12 with the profile chamber opening 11 on the right side of the cross-section illustration, whereas on the left a closed profile chamber 15 is developed near the open profile chamber 12.

In the set up final assembled state of the ball game goal, the closed side wall 16 of the closed profile chamber 15, facing away from the hollow chamber opening 11, faces the playing field and thus the opening of the ball game goal. Above the open profile chamber 12 and the area of the closed profile chamber 15 facing the open profile chamber 12, another closed flat profile chamber 17 is developed. The top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17 runs at a right angle to the closed side wall 16 of the closed profile chamber 15. The top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17 and the upper end of the closed side wall 16 are connected to one another by a curved area 19. The curved area 19 is thus attached to the top surface of the closed side wall 16 and the top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17 is attached to the curved area 19.

In the set up final assembled state of the ball game goal, the closed side wall 16 and the curved area 19 of the hollow profile face the playing field and thus the observer of FIG. 1 with regard to the longitudinal brace 8 and the transverse brace 7 illustrated in FIG. 1. Around the center of the curved area 19, an open profile channel 20 is formed extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile, i.e. in a central longitudinal direction 10 in the longitudinal brace 8 and open in the direction of the opening of the ball game goal.

The protective pad 21 rests on the top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17 and on the curved area 19. Here, the protective pad 21 is arranged on the hollow profile such that it covers the curved area 19 completely. The top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17 adjacent to the curved area covers the protective pad 21 only partially, namely only the area facing the goal opening of the ball game goal. The closed side wall 16 of the closed profile chamber 15 adjacent to the curved area 19 on the other side leaves the protective pad 21 essentially free. The protective pad 21 however protrudes with its nose 22 over the closed side wall 16 in a transverse profile direction 23. The nose 22 thus forms, as it were, a bumper-like impact cushion.

The protective pad consisting of solid material in the design example of FIG. 3 is adapted in the profile channel 20 by means of an arrow-shaped flexible profile strip 24. With its arrow edges 25 the profile strip 24 engages under the opening edges 26 of the opening of the profile channel 20 protruding into the profile channel in the manner of webs.

The design examples of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 differ from the above-described design example in FIG. 3 exclusively with regard to the arrangement of the protective pad 21, for which subsequently only the differences with the above described design example from FIG. 3 are described. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 respectively show a protective pad 21 designed as a hollow body. Such a hollow protective body can be designed reversibly as well as irreversibly ductile, in order to remove the energy working on the protective pad 21 through the deformation. In order to hinder the deformation of the protective pad 21 or to absorb a higher deformation energy, the hollow space of the protective pad 21 designed as a hollow body can have rib-like reinforcements 27 in the hollow space according to the design example in FIG. 4. The reinforcements 27 then have the effect of stiffening ribs of the protective pad 21.

The design example shown in FIG. 6 shows, as in FIG. 3, a protective pad 21 made of solid material. The hollow profile illustrated in FIG. 6 is identical to the hollow profiles illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 with regard to its structure. The protective pad 21 has no profile strip 24 in this design example. In the design example of FIG. 6, the attachment of the protective pad 21 takes place in a material-fitting manner by means of adhesive elements 28, which on the one hand are located on the top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17 and on the other hand on the curved area 19 of profile top surface, and operate on the bottom surface of the protective pad 21 with their adhesive effect.

The design example according to FIG. 7 in turn shows the hollow profile known from the previous drawings as well as the protective pad 21 made of solid material already described with FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. The adaptation of the protective pad 21 takes place by means of a lashing strap 29 adapted to the protective pad. The lashing strap 29 surrounds the closed side wall 16, the bottom surface 30 of the hollow profile as well as the side wall of the hollow profile with the hollow chamber opening 11. By means of a ratchet closure 31 operating as a tension ratchet, the lashing strap 29 is sealed and prestressed all around the hollow profile.

Instead of the lashing strap 29, also several holding straps 32 lying next to each other can include the otherwise unchanged hollow profile. Instead of holding straps 32 arranged with spacing between one another, a continuous tube can also be used that surrounds the hollow profile and at the same time takes it in. The hollow profile or the transverse brace 7 or the longitudinal brace 8 must then be respectively entered into the holding straps 32 or the holding tube in the longitudinal direction of the profile. The protective pad 21 in the design example of FIG. 8 is also produced from solid material.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention, in which the design as well as the fixing of the protective pad 21 onto the hollow profile takes place identically to the embodiment according to FIG. 3 in a form-fitting manner through a profile strip 24 located in the profile channel 20. Here the arrow edges 25 of the profile strip 24 also in turn engage under the opening edges 26 of the opening of the profile channel 20. In comparison to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the profile channel 20 has a two-part structure. For this, the closed profile chamber 15 is implemented in a minimized manner. Instead of the closed side wall 16 forming the outer wall, a connecting side wall 33 is designed, which is inserted on the right side in a transverse profile direction into the closed profile chamber 15 opposite the outer contour of the hollow profile, and running also at a right angle to the top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17. The connecting side wall 33 is designed in the manner of a mounting flange, and for this has a mounting hole equipped with an inner thread for a threaded bolt 34. In turn, a right-angled, and thus essentially parallel to the top surface 18 of the flat profile chamber 17, supporting wall 35 connects to the connecting side wall 33 below. The supporting wall 35 finally leads to a wall section 36 that is bent at a right angle, which substitutes a subsection of the closed side wall 16. A hollow profile body 37, with one of two legs 38 perpendicular to one another and with a curved area 19 connecting the free ends of these legs 38, is finally available. The threaded bolt 34 extends through this hollow profile body 37. By means of the threaded bolt 34, the hollow profile body 37 is screwed onto the connecting side wall 33 during assembly.

While the right and lower side wall of the profile channel 20 continue to be fitted to the exterior of the closed profile chamber 15 of the hollow profile, the end of the vertical leg 38 forms the left side wall of the profile channel 20 in the design example. In contrast to the design example in FIG. 3, the profile strip 24 here is not simply clipped into a single-piece profile channel 20, but simply inserted into the profile channel 20 and then, screwing the hollow profile body 37, form-fittingly secured to the connecting side wall 33 by the opening edges 26 of the two-part profile channel 20 again engaging behind the arrow edges 23 of the profile strip 24 in the final assembled state. This embodiment is suited for the use of a non-elastically ductile profile strip 24 on the protective pad 21.

FIG. 10 shows another attachment of the protective pad 21 to the profile channel 20, operative in the manner of a groove-spring connection. From the attachments shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 9, no profile strip 24 is fitted to the protective pad 21 illustrated in FIG. 10. Here, the attachment of the protective pad 21 to the hollow profile otherwise identical to the hollow profile according to FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 takes place by means of an attachment loop 39 fitted to the bottom surface of the protective pad, and a fixing element 40 inserted into the attachment loop 39, which fills out the profile channel 20 at least partially and is so big that it does not pass through the opening in the profile channel 20 flanked by the opening edges 26. The fixing element can for instance be a bar stretching in a longitudinal direction of the profile. It is also possible to use a reversibly ductile pad that is pressed through the opening left free by the opening edges 26 and is subsequently expanding in the profile channel 20.

FIG. 11 shows a particular embodiment of the hollow profile, in which the profile channel 20 is replaced by a screw channel 41 according to the embodiments of FIG. 3 to FIG. 10. A fixing screw 42 passing through the bottom surface of the protective pad 21 is screwed into the screw channel 41, so that the protective pad 21 is screwed, as it were, with the hollow profile. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the protective pad 21 is otherwise structurally identical to the protective pad 21 illustrated in FIG. 4 with a hollow space with reinforcements 27 extending through it.

In turn, FIG. 12 finally shows the hollow profile known from the design examples of FIG. 3 to FIG. 10. Outward-facing brackets 43 are fitted to the ends of the protective pad 21, namely the nose 22 and the end of the protective pad 21 facing away from the nose 22. In the final assembled state these brackets 43 are passed through by nail-like pegs 44 and engage into the soil 45 of the playing field. In the design example of FIG. 12, the protective pad 21 consisting of solid material is secured in the soil 45 by means of the pegs 44 similarly to a camping tent. This embodiment is particularly suited for a subsequent attachment of a protective pad 21 to an existing base frame 2 of an already existing ball game goal.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the above-described types of attachment of the protective pad 21 to the hollow profile do not depend on the design of the protective pad 21. Rather a protective pad 21 made of solid material, a protective pad 21 with a hollow body and a protective pad 21 with a hollow body with reinforcements 27 can be attached to the hollow profile with all the described attachment types.

Other embodiments of the invention are listed below.

Embodiment 1. A ball game goal with a with a base frame (2) comprising longitudinal braces (8) and transverse braces (7), characterized by an energy-absorbing protective pad (21) at least on the areas of the longitudinal braces (8) and of the transverse braces (7) facing the goal opening.

Embodiment 2. The ball game goal of embodiment 1, characterized by a base frame (2) formed from two transverse braces (7) adapted to the lower ends of the goalposts (4) and from a longitudinal brace (8) connecting the ends of the transverse braces (7) facing away from the goalposts.

Embodiment 3. The ball game goal of embodiments 1 or 2, characterized in that the goal net is fixed with its bottom surface to the base frame (2).

Embodiment 4. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 3, characterized by a base frame (2) as a base for a free-standing and/or transportable ball game goal.

Embodiment 5. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 4, characterized by hollow profiles, in particular aluminum hollow profiles as longitudinal braces (8) and transverse braces (7) of the base frame (2).

Embodiment 6. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 5, characterized by a profile channel (20), extending in a longitudinal direction of the profile, on the longitudinal braces (8) and/or on the transverse braces (9) as a holding groove for one or several supporting edges on the protective pad (21).

Embodiment 7. The ball game goal of embodiments 5 or 6, characterized by a closed profile chamber (15) extending in a longitudinal direction of the profile and by an open profile chamber (12) lying next to it as a holding groove for the welt of a goal net.

Embodiment 8. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 7, characterized by a protective pad (21) made of rubber.

Embodiment 9. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 7, characterized by a protective pad (21) made of sponge rubber.

Embodiment 10. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 7, characterized by a protective pad (21) made of plastic.

Embodiment 11. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 10, characterized by a protective pad (21) made of solid material.

Embodiment 12. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 10, characterized by a hollow body as a protective pad (21).

Embodiment 13. The ball game goal of embodiment 12, characterized by reinforcements (27) or stiffening in the hollow body of the protective pad (21).

Embodiment 14. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective pad (21) is affixed to the surfaces of the longitudinal braces (8) and the transverse braces (7).

Embodiment 15. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective pad (21) is vulcanized onto the surfaces of the longitudinal braces (8) and the transverse braces (7).

Embodiment 16. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective pad (21) is adapted with a surrounding belt, in particular a lashing strap (29) to the longitudinal braces (8) and the transverse braces (7).

Embodiment 17. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective pad (21) is adapted with a groove-spring connection to the surfaces of the longitudinal braces (8) and the transverse braces (7).

Embodiment 18. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective pad (21) is adapted by means of a force fit to the surfaces of the longitudinal braces (8) and the transverse braces (7).

Embodiment 19. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized in that the protective pad (21) has holding straps or holding tubes through which the transverse braces (7) and the longitudinal braces (8) extend.

Embodiment 20. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 1 to 13, characterized by a number of brackets (43) surrounding the longitudinal braces (8) and the transverse braces (7) and by the pegs (44) passing through the bracket ends of the brackets (43) as an adaptation of the protective pad (21) in the soil (45) of the playing field.

Embodiment 21. The ball game goal of any of embodiments 4 to 20, characterized by a two-part profile channel (20) with a hollow profile body (37) that can be screwed onto the hollow profile.

Embodiment 22. The ball game goal of any of the preceding embodiments, characterized by a screw channel (41) extending in a longitudinal direction of the profile for the mounting of one or several fixing screws (42) on the protective pad (21).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 Goal frame

2 Base frame

3 Vertical direction

4 Goalpost

5 Crossbar

6 Spacer

7 Transverse brace

8 Longitudinal brace

9 Fixing elements

10 Central longitudinal direction

11 Hollow chamber opening

12 Open profile chamber

13 Profile webs

14 Appendage

15 Closed profile chamber

16 Closed side wall

17 Flat profile chamber

18 Top surface

19 Curved area

20 Profile channel

21 Protective pad

22 Nose

23 Transverse profile direction

24 Profile strip

25 Arrow edge

26 Opening edge

27 Reinforcement

28 Adhesive element

29 Lashing strap

30 Bottom surface

31 Ratchet closure

32 Holding strap

33 Connecting side wall

34 Threaded bolt

35 Supporting wall

36 Wall section

37 Hollow profile body

38 Leg

39 Attachment loop

40 Fixing element

41 Screw channel

42 Fixing screw

43 Bracket

44 Peg

45 Soil

BALL GAME GOAL

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Description

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Priority Claims (1)