Patent Application
20130303313
1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to sports goals, such as those uses as goals for soccer, hockey, lacrosse and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to sports goals that are foldable or otherwise collapsible into a shape that is easier to store and carry.
2. Prior Art Description
Many sports, such as soccer, hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, and the like use goals that rest upon the ground. Such goals vary in dimensions depending upon the rules of the game being played. A great multitude of undersized goals also exist for use in practice and unofficial backyard play.
Regardless of the size of the goal, sports goals tend to be large and bulky. As such, sports goals are difficult to package, difficult to transport to a sports field, and difficult to carry onto a sports field. It is for these reasons that many collapsible sports goals are available in the marketplace. Collapsible sports goals are goals that are designed to be folded or disassembled when not in use. Such sports goals typically come in two styles. The first style uses a flexible spring wire as the frame of the net. The flexible wire enables a net to be folded upon itself and flattened. Such prior art sports goals are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,433 to Armell, entitled Flexible Sports Goal. However, the spring wire must be continuous and have curved corners in order to spring back into its unfolded shape. Accordingly, the sports net cannot have a rectangular shape that is associated with most sports goals.
Another type of collapsible sports goal is the kind designed to be quickly assembled and disassembled. These sports goals typically have straight poles and corner connectors that interconnect the various poles to form the sports goal. Such prior art sports goals are U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,351 to Raber, entitled Portable Foldable Goal Assembly. The problem associated with sports goals that are assembled on site is that it takes time and effort to erect the sports goal. Furthermore, since the sports goal comes disassembled in pieces, all the pieces must be stored and carried together. If one small piece gets misplaced, it may not be possible to properly assemble the sports goal.
A need therefore exists for a sports goal that is collapsible, yet does not disassemble. A need also exists for a sports goal that forms a goal with square corners and wherein the sports goal can be erected using very little labor and time. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.
The present invention is a collapsible sports goal that can be selectively configured between an erect configuration and a folded configuration without having to disassemble any of the sports goal. The sports goal has six frame elements. Each of the six frame elements has two opposite ends. Each ends of each frame element connects to the end of another frame element using a connector joint assembly.
Six connector joint assemblies are provided. Each of the joint assemblies receives and interconnects a different two of the six frame elements. Each of the six connector joint assemblies contains a hinge joint that enables the frame elements connected to each of the six joint assemblies to rotate about said hinge joint between a parallel configuration to a perpendicular configuration.
When all of the connector joint assemblies are in their perpendicular configuration, the sports goal is in its fully erect condition. Conversely, when all of the connector joint assemblies are in their parallel configuration, the sports goal is in its fully folded configuration.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Although the present invention sports goal can be embodied in many ways, the embodiment illustrated is configured as a practice soccer goal. This embodiment is selected in order to set forth one of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiment, however, is merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to
The six frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 include two vertical frame elements 14, 15, two horizontal frame elements 16, 17, a long top frame element 18, and a long bottom frame element 19. The long top frame element 18 and the long bottom frame element 19 have the same length. Likewise the vertical frame elements 14, 15 have the same length and the horizontal frame elements 16, 17 have the same length. The vertical frame elements 14, 15 and the horizontal frame elements 16, 17 are also equal in length.
The first vertical frame element 14 has a first end 26 and a second end 27. The first horizontal frame element 16 also has a first end 28 and a second end 29. The second end 27 of the first vertical frame 14 element and the second end 29 of the first horizontal frame element 16 are joined together by the first connector joint assembly 20. The first connector joint assembly 20 enables the first vertical frame element 14 and the first horizontal frame element 16 to be selectively positioned between an open configuration and a folded configuration. In the open configuration, illustrated in
The second vertical frame element 15 has a first end 31 and a second end 32. The second horizontal frame element 17 also has a first end 33 and a second end 34. The second end 32 of the second vertical frame element 15 and the second end 34 of the second horizontal frame element 17 are joined together by the second joint assembly 21. The second joint assembly 21 enables the second vertical frame element 15 and the second horizontal frame element 17 to be selectively positioned between an open configuration and a folded configuration. In the open configuration, illustrated in
Flexible netting 35 is provided that attaches to each of the frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and each of the six connector joint assemblies 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. The netting 35 is flexible enough not to hinder the folding and unfolding of the sports goal 10.
The long top frame element 18 extends between the first end 26 of the first vertical frame element 14 and the first end 31 of the second vertical frame element 15. The long top frame element 18 engages the first end 26 of the first vertical frame element 14 with the third connection joint assembly 22. The opposite end of the long top frame element 18 engages the first end 31 of the second vertical frame element 15 with the fourth connection joint assembly 23. When the sport goal 10 is fully erect, such as is shown in
The long bottom frame element 19 extends between the first end 28 of the first horizontal frame element 16 and the first end 33 of the second horizontal frame element 17. The long bottom frame element 19 engages the first end 28 of the first horizontal frame element 16 with the fifth connection joint assembly 24. The opposite end of the long bottom frame element 19 engages the first end 33 of the second horizontal frame element 17 with the sixth connection joint assembly 25. When the sport goal 10 is fully erect, such as is shown in
It will be understood that six separate connector joint assemblies 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 are utilized within the sports goal 10. All six of the connector joint assemblies 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 are identical in structure. Referring to
Each connection joint assembly 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, also includes the L-shaped leg 42. The L-shaped leg 42 has a shaft 51 with an open end 52 that is shaped and sized to receive one of the frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 previously described. The frame elements can be retained in the open end 52 by adhesive or by a mechanical fastener, such as a screw. A hinge plate 54 extends laterally from the bottom of the shaft 50. A hinge pin 56 extends up from the center of the hinge plate 54.
A space exists between the straight shaft 50 and the hinge plate 54. A locking pin aperture 60 is formed within this space 58. The locking pin aperture 60 extends completely through the connector joint assembly.
Each of the connector joint assemblies also includes a hook 61 for engaging and retaining a segment of the flexible net 35.
When the connector joint assembly is assembled, the annular hinge barrel 48 of the straight leg 40 passes over the hinge pin 56 of the L-shaped leg 42 to create a hinged joint 62. The hinge joint 62 enables the straight leg 40 and the L-shaped leg 42 to move relative one another from a parallel configuration shown in
A locking pin 66 is provided. The locking pin 66 extends into the locking pin aperture 60 in the L-shaped leg 42. The locking pin 66 has a keyed body 68 and an enlarged head 70 that enables the locking pin 66 to be manually raised and lowered within the locking pin aperture 60. When the locking pin 66 is lowered in the locking pin aperture 60, the keyed body 68 interlocks the straight leg 40 with the L-shaped leg 42. The locking pin 56 is lowered when the straight arm 40 and the L-shaped arm 42 of a connector joint assembly are in their perpendicular configuration. This locks the two arms 40, 42 into this configuration and prevents each connector hinge joint from inadvertently closing toward its parallel configuration.
From the above description, it will be understood that each of the connector joint assemblies 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 is capable of moving between a parallel configuration, where it holds two framing elements in parallel, to a perpendicular orientation, where it hold holds two framing elements at a right angle. Furthermore, once a connector joint assembly is in its perpendicular configuration, it can be selectively locked into that configuration.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Lastly, the second vertical framing element 15 and the second horizontal framing element 17 can rotate as a unit against the first vertical framing element 14 and the first horizontal framing element 16. The end result, shown in
It has been stated, that the sports goal 10 can be manufactured in a wide variety of dimensions. In some variations of the sports goal 10 it is possible for the netting to inhibit the folding and unfolding of the sports goal 10. To promote the smooth folding and opening of the sports goal 10, a dynamic connection system can be used to connect the netting to the framing elements.
Referring to
Each hook slide 82 also has a hooked head 86 that extends above the T-slot 80. The hooked head 86 engages the cording of the flexible netting 35. Thus, the hook slides 82 connect the flexible netting 35 to the various frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Since the hooks slides 82 connect the flexible netting 35 to the frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and the hook slides 82 are free to move along the length of the frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, it will be understood that the points where the netting attaches to the frame elements 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 can vary as the hook slides 82 move. The hook slides 82 will move in the T-slots 80 in the direction of least resistance as the sports goal 10 is opened and closed. This enables the sport goal 10 to better open and close without and resistance from the flexible netting 35.
It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention that is illustrated and described is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to that embodiment. For instance, the lengths of the various framing elements can be varied as a matter of design choice. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
