Information
-
Patent Grant
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6752729
-
Patent Number
6,752,729
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Date Filed
Friday, December 27, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 22, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Vidovich; Gregory
- Chambers; M.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 473 476
- 473 477
- 473 478
- 473 483
- 403 377
- 403 108
- 403 1093
- 403 91
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A frame includes a plurality of L-shaped elbow members and tubes. Each elbow member includes two extension tubes and each extension tube has an open end and a hole is defined through a wall proximate to the open end. Each tube includes two open ends so as to be inserted into the open ends of the extension tubes of the elbow members. Each open end of each of the tubes has a hole defined through a wall proximate to the open ends. A C-shaped connection member is biased in the open end of each tube and has a protrusion which is inserted in the aligned holes of the tubes and the extension tubes.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame assembly that includes a plurality of sections connected with each other head-to-tail. Each section has a hole and a C-shaped member is received in the overlapped part of the two connected sections and a protrusion on the C-shaped member is inserted in the aligned holes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional goal frame in sport games generally includes a frame and a net is connected to the frame. The frame is made of several metal tubes which are welded with each other so as to become a desired shape and size. Nevertheless, the frame composed of the metal tubes are bulky and heavy so that it is inconvenient to be stored and carried. Some manufacturers develop a frame assembly that can be assembled by several sections so that the users may detach the frame into sections which are convenient for storage. One of the types of the connection of the frame is to insert a narrow end of a section into a larger end of another section. Although the frame can be assembled quickly, the connection portion is often disconnected from each other because the connection portion could be separated by impact.
The present invention intends to provide a frame that is composed of several sections and a C-shaped member is received in each connection portion of two sections. The C-shaped member has a protrusion which is inserted in aligned holes of the two sections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame assembly which comprises two top elbow members, two front elbow members and two rear elbow members. Two sections are respectively connected between the two top elbow members and the two rear elbow members. Two tubes are connected between the top elbow members and the two front elbow members. Two tubes are connected between the front elbow members and the two rear elbow members. A plurality of C-shaped connection members are respectively biased in the two ends of the tubes and each connection member has a protrusion which extends through aligned holes defined through the extension tubes of the elbow members and the tubes.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a frame assembly that is composed by elbow members and tubes by several C-shaped connection members. The connection members are biased in the tubes and each have a protrusion which extends through aligned holes in the elbow members and tubes.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view to show the frame assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded view to show the frame assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a top cross sectional view to show the protrusion of a connection member extends through aligned holes of two parts of the frame assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a top cross sectional view to show the protrusion is pushed inward the aligned holes of two parts of the frame assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 5
shows a reinforcement bar is connected to the elbow member of the present invention, and
FIG. 6
is a perspective view to show a net is mounted to the frame assembly of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1
to
3
, the frame assembly of the present invention comprises two top elbow members
30
and each of which has a horizontal extension tube
31
and a vertical extension tube
310
. A first horizontal section
10
has two open ends and a first hole
11
is defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the first horizontal section
10
. Each extension tube
31
/
310
has a second hole
32
defined through a wall thereof. The two open ends of the first horizontal section
10
is inserted in the two respective horizontal extension tubes
31
of the two top elbow members
30
. The first holes
11
of the first horizontal section
10
are in alignment with the second holes
32
of the two respective horizontal extension tubes
31
. Two connection members
20
are biased in the two open ends of the first horizontal section
10
and a protrusion
21
extends from each of the connection members
20
. The protrusion
21
is inserted in the aligned first holes
11
and the second holes
32
. It is noted that the distance between the two top elbow members
30
can be increased by connecting two or three first horizontal sections
10
and the connection members
20
are used to connect the first sections
10
head to tail by extending the protrusions
21
through the aligned first holes
11
of the first horizontal sections
10
.
Two front elbow members
40
each have a horizontal extension tube
41
and a vertical extension tube
410
. Each of the extension tubes
41
,
410
has a third hole
42
defined through a wall thereof. Two first tubes
101
each have two open ends and a fourth hole
102
is defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the first tube
101
. The two open ends of each of the first tubes
101
are inserted in the two respective vertical extension tubes
310
,
410
of the top elbow member
30
and the front elbow member
40
. The fourth holes
32
of the first tubes
101
are in alignment with the second hole
32
and the third hole
42
of the two respective vertical extension tubes
310
,
410
. Two connection members
20
are biased in the two open ends of each of the first tubes
101
and a protrusion
21
extends from each of the connection member
20
. The protrusion
21
is inserted in the aligned second holes
32
, the fourth holes
102
and the third holes
42
.
Two rear elbow members
50
each have a first horizontal extension tube
51
and a second horizontal extension tube
510
. Each of the two horizontal extension tubes
51
,
510
has a fifth hole
52
defined through a wall thereof. A second horizontal section
103
has two open ends and a sixth hole
104
is defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the second horizontal section
103
. The two open ends of the second horizontal section
103
are inserted in the two respective first horizontal extension tubes
51
of the two rear elbow members
50
. The sixth holes
104
of the second horizontal section
103
are in alignment with the fifth holes
52
of the two respective first horizontal extension tubes
51
. Two connection members
20
are biased in the two open ends of the second horizontal section
103
and a protrusion
21
extends from each of the connection members
20
. The protrusion
21
is inserted in the aligned sixth holes
104
and the fifth holes
52
.
Two second tubes
105
each have two open ends and a seventh hole
106
is defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the second tube
105
. The two open ends of each of the second tubes
105
are inserted in the horizontal extension tube
41
of the front elbow member
40
and the second horizontal extension tube
510
of the rear elbow member
50
. The seventh holes
106
of the second tubes
106
are in alignment with the third hole
42
of the front elbow member
40
and the fifth hole
52
of the second horizontal extension tubes
510
. Two connection members
20
are biased in the two open ends of each of the second tubes
105
and a protrusion
21
extends from each of the connection member
20
. The protrusion
21
is inserted in the aligned third holes
42
and the seventh holes
106
, and the aligned fifth holes
52
and the seventh holes
106
. Two protrusions
107
,
1030
extend from the first horizontal section
10
and the second horizontal section
103
respectively. A central support bar
100
is connected between the two protrusions
107
,
1030
. The central support bar
100
can be a one piece member or be assembled by three sections by connection members
20
as the way that is described hereinafore. A net
60
is mounted to the frame as shown in
FIG. 6
to become a goal frame of sport game.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, the protrusions
21
can be easily pushed inward to disengage from the holes that are defined in the outer tubes such that the inner tubes can be disengaged from the outer tubes conveniently and quickly.
Further referring to
FIG. 5
, each of the vertical extension tubes
310
of the top elbow members
30
and each of the second horizontal extension tubes
510
of the rear elbow members
50
has an engaging hole defined therein. Two reinforcement bars
90
are respectively connected between the top elbow member
30
and the rear elbow member
50
by engaging with the engaging holes
80
. The length of the reinforcement bars
90
can be increased by connecting plural tubes by using the connection members mentioned above.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A frame assembly comprising:a first horizontal section (10) having two open ends and a first hole (11) defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the first horizontal section (10); two top elbow members (30) each having a horizontal extension tube (31) and a vertical extension tube (310), each of the extension tubes (31, 310) having a second hole (32) defined through a wall thereof, the two open ends of the first horizontal section (10) inserted in the two respective horizontal extension tubes (31) of the two top elbow members (30), the first holes (11) of the first horizontal section (10) being in alignment with the second holes (32) of the two respective horizontal extension tubes (31), two connection members (20) biased in the two open ends of the first horizontal section (10) and a protrusion (21) extending from each of the connection members (20), the protrusion (21) inserted in the aligned first holes (11) and the second holes (32); two front elbow members (40) each having a horizontal extension tube (41) and a vertical extension tube (410), each of the extension tubes (41, 410) having a third hole (42) defined through a wall thereof, two first tubes (101) each having two open ends and a fourth hole (102) defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the first tube (101), the two open ends of each of the first tubes (101) inserted in the two respective vertical extension tubes (310, 410) of the top elbow member (30) and the front elbow member (40), the fourth holes (32) of the first tubes (101) being in alignment with the second hole (32) and the third hole (42) of the two respective vertical extension tubes (310, 410), two connection members (20) biased in the two open ends of each of the first tubes (101) and a protrusion (21) extending from each of the connection member (20), the protrusion (21) inserted in the aligned second holes (32), the fourth holes (102) and the third holes (42); two rear elbow members (50) each having a first horizontal extension tube (51) and a second horizontal extension tube (510), each of the two horizontal extension tubes (51, 510) having a fifth hole (52) defined through a wall thereof, a second horizontal section (103) having two open ends and a sixth hole (104) defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the second horizontal section (103), the two open ends of the second horizontal section (103) inserted in the two respective first horizontal extension tubes (51) of the two rear elbow members (50), the sixth holes (104) of the second horizontal section (103) being in alignment with the fifth holes (52) of the two respective first horizontal extension tubes (51), two connection members (20) biased in the two open ends of the second horizontal section (103) and a protrusion (21) extending from each of the connection members (20), the protrusion (21) inserted in the aligned sixth holes (104) and the fifth holes (52), and two second tubes (105) each having two open ends and a seventh hole (106) defined through a wall proximate to each open end of the second tube (105), the two open ends of each of the second tubes (105) inserted in the horizontal extension tube (41) of the front elbow member (40) and the second horizontal extension tube (510) of the rear elbow member (50), the seventh holes (106) of the second tubes (106) being in alignment with the third hole (42) of the front elbow member (40) and the fifth hole (52) of the second horizontal extension tubes (510), two connection members (20) biased in the two open ends of each of the second tubes (105) and a protrusion (21) extending from each of the connection member (20), the protrusion (21) inserted in the aligned third holes (42) and the seventh holes (106), and the aligned fifth holes (52) and the seventh holes (106).
- 2. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the vertical extension tubes (310) of the top elbow members (30) and each of the second horizontal extension tubes (510) of the rear elbow members (50) have an engaging hole (80) defined therein, two reinforcement bars (90) respectively connected between the top elbow member (30) and the rear elbow member (50) by engaging with the engaging holes (80).
- 3. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a central support bar (100) connected between the first horizontal section (10) and the second horizontal section (103).
- 4. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 3 further comprising two protrusions (107, 1030) extending from first horizontal section (10) and the second horizontal section (103) respectively, the central support bar (100) connected between the two protrusions (107, 1030).
US Referenced Citations (8)