1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of sports goal nets, such as, for example those used for lacrosse, hockey and soccer, and more particularly to a sports goal net system having a removably provided net that is easy to attach and remove.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Sports goals are widely used in connection with a number of sports, including, in particular, lacrosse, soccer and hockey. Sports goals routinely are constructed using a frame, which may be wood or metal, with netting held on the frame. Generally, the netting openings are sized so that the sport object, such as a ball or puck, will remain contained when it is forced against the netting, such as when a player makes a shot. However, in many cases the sports are played outdoors and, as a result, the goal and netting are exposed to the elements. Sports goal frames and nets are generally cumbersome to take indoors and are left out in the open. As a result, the components including the netting often are prone to damage, including not only by the elements such as weather conditions, but also animals, vandalism and even theft.
The netting of a goal when worn may be replaced. U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,266 relates to soccer goals and provides c-shaped channels and a plurality of hanger elements that are designed to hold the net and be insertable into the c-shaped channels. Metal hooks also have been used to secure a net to a frame of a goal structure, such as the hooks disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,494. Other attempts to secure netting to a goal structure have included straps and spaced apart rings, such as those disclosed respectively in U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,889 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,167. One of the most common ways to secure netting to a goal structure is by threading a nylon string through the net to the post, which is a time-consuming effort and needs continuous care and adjustments in order to keep the net secure to the frame system without gaps and holes.
Though a net may be removed from the structure, it is generally difficult to reattach the net, especially if a plurality of clips or fastening elements need to be installed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,507 discloses a sports net that incorporates an elastic cord element into the outer perimeter of the net so that the cord will constrict the perimeter of the net so that the net perimeter may be expanded and placed over the goal frame and secured thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,011 discloses the use of a hook and loop fastening member that are closed around the frame member in order to secure the netting assembly to the frame. US patent application 2008/0108458 A1 discloses a net assembly that has a plurality of engagement sleeves and includes a detachment seam and a netting material. The '458 application also discloses a zipper but allows for gaps and loose connections at the corners.
Prior netting attempts involve the use of ties to hold the netting onto a goal structure, or even to pass the posts of a goal through openings in the edge of the netting in order to hold the netting onto the goal structure. In many cases, the stress placed on the netting must be directly handled by the netting portion that forms the opening that is placed on the post. The prior nets are often not only prone to breakage, but also are difficult to remove when they are to be replaced. Though some have attempted solutions involving the use of nets which are claimed to be designed for easy replacement, often the netting is held in a manner that the netting or other structures holding the netting may interfere with the goal and the playability of the game with such goals.
A need exists for an improved sports goal net that is easy to configure and that can improve playability of the sport and that does not suffer from the drawbacks associated with the prior goal equipment.
A sports goal net apparatus that has a removable netting component that may be installed and removed from the goal structure or frame as desired is provided. The sports goal net apparatus includes netting that has an attachment portion that is designed to attach to a goal structure, such as the frame or posts of a sports goal.
The present sports goal net apparatus provides a zipper to secure the netting component on the goal structure. The sports goal net apparatus provides a continuous attachment locus so that the netting is held along the goal structure with out gaps, seams or holes.
The sports goal net apparatus is configured with a plurality of seating portions that serve to hold the netting and the securing zipper rearward of the goal so that the goal frame remains free of obstruction from the zipper and the attachment component.
The seating portions may further serve as reinforcement zones.
The seating portions may further facilitate installation of the removable net component on the goal structure.
The seating portion may also come in colors and advertise schools, clubs, logos, and names.
Preferably, the seating portions are provided at designated locations along the sports goal net apparatus to facilitate the installation and removal of the netting component so that the zipper may be used to attach the net assembly to the goal structure, with the seating portions providing zones for permitting the further travel of the zipper at the corners of the goal frame or structure.
The seating portion may facilitate improved handling of force loads that are exerted upon the netting and attachment portion, since the netting may be attached along the seating portion as well as along other portions of the netting component.
According to a preferred embodiment, the seating portions are configured to be removable with the netting component.
According to preferred embodiments, the seating portions may provide force handling benefits, including increased resistance to the forces imparted on the assembly at those locations, including on the netting component or netting itself, when a sports implement, such as a ball or puck, is projected into the net.
The netting component and attachment component preferably are constructed from materials that can withstand exposure to sunlight, water, wind and other conditions. The ability to readily remove the netting component from the goal structure, in addition to any beneficially suitable materials from which the netting assembly may be constructed, prolongs the useful life of the apparatus, including the netting component.
According to preferred embodiments, the sports goal net assembly is constructed so that the playability of the sport is not adversely affected by the presence of the attachment component or netting component. For example, according to one preferred embodiment, the attachment component preferably is configured so that it may be secured on the goal structure without protruding into the goal area in manner that would otherwise tend to potentially interfere with balls or pucks entering the goal along the edges of the net.
According to a preferred embodiment, the netting component may include a drawstring mechanism to draw the netting rearward of the goal front to provide tension on the netting. Preferably, the drawstring mechanism may be provided at the net seams. The drawstring mechanism is designed to improve and enhance playability using the net system.
According to one embodiment, the netting component includes a zipper that is provided around the perimeter of the netting so that the zipper may be pulled closed to secure the netting along with the attachment component and the seating portions on the goal frame structure. The zipper may be pulled to close the attachment portion around the goal structure, such as, for example, a goal post, so that when the zipper is pulled from one end of the goal structure to the other, upon reaching the other end, the netting component is securely attached to the goal frame structure. In addition, a drawstring mechanism may be used to draw the net taut and away from the frame.
According to an alternate embodiment, the zipper attachment may be provided to secure the netting component along the front portions of the goal structure, and may utilize additional securing elements, such as spikes, or the like, to secure the sides and/or rear of the netting component to the goal structure portions that rest on the ground. This may be preferable for larger goals, or where the goal includes structure that is already secured to the ground and may be difficult to lift.
According to some embodiments, the netting component and goal frame may be provided together, and may, for example, be supplied in a kit with a goal frame.
According to other embodiments, the invention provides a netting assembly that may be configured to be installed on existing goal structures to replace other netting.
Preferably, the netting component is configured for installation onto standard size sports goals but also may be provided for goals of other sizes.
Referring to
According to the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in the enlarged view of
The seating portions 143, 144 further serve to facilitate the force handling from force loads that may be exerted on the netting 113, such as those forces from a ball or puck, or even from players falling into the netting 113. The seating portions 143, 144 generally are disposed in locations of the goal that traditionally are exposed to the most stress, as, accordingly, preferred scoring areas of the goal may be the goal corners. The seating portions 143, 144, on their sides facing the front of the goal, preferably may be configured with targets imprinted on the corners to provide a training net. The target area may be provided on corners, on the seating portions 143, 144, and for example, may be imprinted with target indicia. Preferably, the target remains located behind the plane of the goal post. The force distribution at the corner locations preferably is handled over the seating portion 143. The seating portions 143, 144 may comprise zones along the netting assembly 111 that serve to reinforce the netting assembly 111. The seating portions 143, 144 may be contoured to cooperate with the goal shape and the shape and layout of the netting 113 when the netting is installed on the goal frame structure as part of the netting assembly 111. The seating portions 143, 144 may be tapered toward the goal corner so as to provide a matching contour with the goal space that the netting 113 defines. The seating portions 143, 144 preferably are continuous with the attachment component 112 so that the netting 113 and other components of the netting assembly 111 form a continuous barrier at the goal frame structure 11 between the attachment component 112 and the netting 113.
According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in
According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in
Alternately, the drawstring elements 157, 158 may be continuously provided as a single length element, as shown in
The rear netting structure 115 may be constructed from a rigid material, such as plastic, or according to the preferred embodiment may be constructed from a fabric type material, such as nylon or canvas. The netting 113 preferably is secured to the rear netting structure 115. This may be done by securing the netting 113 directly to the rear structure 115 or may be accomplished with the attachment component 112 being secured to the rear structure 115 and the netting 113 secured to the attachment component 112.
According to a preferred embodiment, the zipper 121 is connected to the attachment component 112 so that the zipper first part 122 and zipper second part 123 may be continuously secured along the length of the zipper 121. The zipper 121 is provided continuously including along the seating portions 143, 144, so that the netting assembly 111 may be secured to the goal frame structure 10 from the interior of the goal space 150. The preferred embodiment shown in
The sports goal system 10 may be used by providing or assembling a goal frame structure 11. The goal frame structure 11 may be an existing structure, may be supplied in a kit form with the netting assembly 111, or may be separately provided. As a replacement net system to an existing goal system. The netting assembly 111 preferably is stored in a folded condition, and may be unfolded for installation onto the goal frame structure 11. Preferably, the netting assembly 111 is laid out on a surface near the goal frame structure 11, such as the playing surface, and the orientation of the netting assembly 111 is aligned with the position and shape of the goal frame structure 11 (
The installation of the netting assembly 111 on the goal frame structure 11 is accomplished by placing the attachment component 112 around the goal frame structure 11, and securing the attachment component 112 edges together by moving the zipper slider 127 along the zipper teeth 124, 125.
According to one preferred method of installation, the goal frame structure 11 is tilted so that the connecting portion 15 is raised from the ground 500 or playing surface a sufficient distance from the ground 500 to place the rear netting structure 115 over the far end or connecting portion 15 of the goal frame structure 11. This may be done by an individual from inside the goal frame structure 11. Once the rear netting structure 115 is placed over the far end 15 of the goal frame structure 11, then, according to a preferred installation method, the netting assembly 111 is placed under the lower goal frame corners 20, 21 and over the respective goal frame upper corners 18, 19. The zipper 121 is then pulled from the inside of the goal space 150, preferably, from one end 140 to the other end 141, along the attachment portion 112 to secure the netting assembly 111 to the goal frame structure 11. Alternately, the zipper 121 may be closed as the netting assembly 111 is positioned over one or more of the goal frame corners 18, 19, 20, 21, or other suitable order where the netting component 111 may be attached to the goal frame structure 11. The zipper 121 is then matched by placing the zipper slider 127 on both of the rows of zipper teeth 124, 125, at the starting location on the attachment component 112, which, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in
According to a preferred embodiment, the netting assembly 111 is configured so that the zipper 121 turns at the location where the attachment component 112 engages the lower left corner 21 of the goal frame structure 11. At the lower left goal corner, a seating portion 145 of the attachment component 112 is illustrated, with another seating portion 146 provided at the lower right goal corner. The attachment component 112 preferably is secured to the lower left base section 16 and the zipper slider 127 is moved forward along the base section 16, the left post 13, the cross bar 14, and the right post 12, until the slider 127 reaches the stop 136 at the other side of the, at the rear of the goal base section 17. The netting assembly 111 therefore is installed on the goal frame structure 11, and the netting assembly 111 may be additionally secured to the rear structure 15, as needed. For example, in some installations, the netting assembly 111 may be provided with a portion, such as the rear netting portion 115, that may be installed on the rear structure, while in other cases, the netting assembly 111 may be constructed with the attachment component 112 configured to meet at each end, and, optionally, though not illustrated, the attachment component 112 may be secured at its ends to itself or the goal structure, or both.
According to an alternate embodiment illustrated in
Although, the goal frame structure 11 may be provided separately from the other components, the netting assembly 111 preferably is configured to conform to the goal frame dissensions, including, for example, the goal frame part or structure diameter. The netting assembly may be provided for use with a number of frames, including standard regulation size goal frames and other sizes, such as custom or youth sized goal frames. The zipper 121, though illustrated with teeth 124, 125, may be provided as a nylon type zipper (not shown) with interlocking elements along the length of the attachment component 112, such as, for example, a groove and rib design, with a clip for fastening a rib in the groove. The netting assembly may be provided with a goal structure, or may be provided separately, so that in the event that replacement netting assemblies are desired, the goal structure may be maintained and used. In addition, the netting assembly may be provided for use with existing goal structures so that the netting assembly may replace those nets that were previously secured by other means and have ripped or become otherwise damaged and are in need of being replaced. The present invention may further provide a convenient way to replace nets, so that, for example, if a different color net is to be used (for a home or away game) or for different teams playing on the same field, then the netting assembly may be readily replaced with another. For example, team logos or team sponsors may be provided an opportunity to sponsor one game, while other sponsors may sponsor other games, and recognition of the appropriate sponsorship may be accomplished by changing the netting assembly between games. The present invention makes replacing the netting assembly an easy task. Conversely, a team may be able to take charge of securing its netting assembly so that the netting assembly may be removed and safely stored when it is not being used. The invention also affords leagues, townships and other organizations with the ability to lease, sell or rent nets to teams, and have those teams be responsible for the care of the nets, since they can readily attach and remove them.