BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to goal posts used on sport fields, in particular the invention related to improved lightweight, portable, low cost goal posts.
2. Description of Prior Art
Rugby Football is becoming more popular in the United States and other countries. However, with a few notable exceptions such as Stanford, U.C. Berkeley and West Point there are few permanent Rugby Football Stadiums. Fields used for Rugby are typically used for soccer, baseball and other sports that require the Rugby goal posts to be removed after the match or tournament is concluded. Further, Rugby typically is a club sport and the clubs have limited resources and need to play in different fields.
For many years, Rugby Football has been played all over the world. However, the sport has been more popular in countries other than the United States, making Rugby Football fields scarce. American Football and Association Football (soccer) fields, on the other hand, are everywhere. Having the ability to erect a low cost, portable Rugby goal post would make it easier to play Rugby on any suitable pitch.
In the case of Rugby Union, the International Rugby Board (IRB) sets the specification for the size and shape of the regulation Rugby goal posts. Currently the goal post must be at least 3.4 meters high with the cross bar being 3.0 meters high and 5.6 meters wide (between the upright posts).
Previously, single piece goal posts have been manufactured of rectangular or round (tubular) metal. However, these are heavy, expensive, and difficult to transport. Some versions have a removable cross bar, but are still difficult to transport because they don't fit in a passenger vehicle and are relatively difficult to breakdown and reassemble.
What is needed is a lightweight, low cost, portable Rugby goal post that can be broken down, placed inside commonly available vans and SUVs and reassembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved goal post having various advantages that make for quick and easy setup and ultimately facilitate the playing of Rugby on any suitably sized sports field. The various embodiments include novel, lightweight, strong, low cost manufacture, easy to setup, easy to store, easy to transport goal posts.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Some objects and advantages of the present invention are:
- a) To provide an inexpensive goal post.
- b) To provide a simpler way of making a goal post.
- c) To provide a collapsible goal post.
- d) To provide an easy to store goal post.
- e) To provide an easy to transport goal post.
- f) To provide a lightweight goal post.
- g) To provide a simple way to manufacture goal posts.
- h) To provide an inexpensive way to manufacture goal posts.
- i) To provide a simple way to ship goal posts components.
- j) To provide an ideal goal post for people, groups of people, and organizations, such as athletic clubs, schools and churches, who prefer a low maintenance and low cost goal post.
- k) To provide a goal post that could be sold in kits to be assembled by the purchaser and doesn't require special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers.
- l) To provide a goal post made of PVC pipe and or other types of rods, pipes, and tubing that are plastic, metal etc. and which are inexpensive and readily available.
- m) To provide a goal post made of parts with consistent sizes to minimize manufacturing and make it easier to assemble.
- n) To provide a goal post having a professional and aesthetic appearance with hidden seams between the components.
DRAWING FIGURES
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
FIG. 1 illustrates a PVC pipe version of a Rugby goal post.
FIG. 2 illustrates PVC posts leaning in due to sagging PVC cross bar.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a solution with wooden reinforcements.
FIG. 5 illustrates a solution with single piece reinforcements.
FIG. 6 illustrates a T reinforcement.
FIG. 7A through 7E illustrates the embodiments of reinforcement legs.
FIG. 8A illustrates the embodiment of a cap.
FIG. 8B illustrates the embodiment of a cap with wind streamers.
FIG. 9A illustrates a single piece T reinforcement.
FIG. 9B illustrates a single piece cross bar reinforcement.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
1 (a-b) T reinforcement
2 cross bar reinforcement
3 (a-b) upper post
4 (a-b) cap
5 (a-b) lower post
6 (a-b) cross bar section
7 (a-b) fence post
8 cross bar
9 (a-b) post
10 (a-b) T connector
11 goal post
12 straight connector
20 (a-b) T connector with screw entry
22 (a-b) vertical board
24 (a-b) horizontal board
26 (a-b) screw
28 (a-b) washer
30 vertical board screw hole
32 horizontal board screw hole
34 connector screw entry
36 center horizontal board
60 (a-c) leg
63 (a-e) leg shoulder
66 (a-e) leg reinforcement
69 T body
70 (a-b) cross bar leg
71 first alternate leg
72 second alternate leg
73 third alternate leg
74 fourth alternate leg
75 cutout
79 cross bar body
80 cap with wind streamer attachment
81 wind streamer
82 wind streamer attachment
84 cap shoulder
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
PVC Pipes and Connectors Solution
FIG. 1 illustrates an early attempt to solve the above described problems was to make portable goal posts out of commercially available PVC pipes and standard connectors (FIG. 1). T connectors 10a and 10b are connected onto upper posts 3a and 3b, lower posts 5a and 5b forming posts 9a and 9b. Cross bar sections 6a and 6b are connected into the T connectors 10a and 10b respectively and into a straight connector 12 forming a cross bar 8.
Testing showed that this PVC-only goal post met some of the requirements but was not a complete solution. PVC pipe is relative flexible. As illustrated by FIG. 2, the weight of the cross bar 8 caused cross bar 8 to sag and the posts 9a and 9b to lean inward. This PVC-only solution could be challenged because did not meet regulation shape and brought ridicule to the home team.
To meet regulation size while using standard connectors, the upper posts 3, lower posts 5 and cross bar sections 6 are cut to different lengths, for example some are cut to nine feet while the others are cut to nine feet ten inches. This difference in size makes it difficult to quickly assemble the pipes in the right configuration.
In one embodiment, the PVC pipes were cut from six 2″ by 20′ PVC pipes and assembled with 2″ Tees, Cap, Connectors.
PVC Pipes with Wooden Reinforcements
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the PVC-only solution was improved by using wooden reinforcements inside the cross bar and inside the T connections.
FIG. 3 illustrates the details of the wooden reinforcement comprising vertical board 22 and horizontal board 24. A screw 26 is inserted through washer 28 into a vertical board screw hole 30 and tightened to hold the vertical board 22 and the horizontal board 24 together. In order to attach the board together inside the PVC pipes, the standard T connector is replaced with a T connector with screw entry 20, which has a connector screw entry 34, which allows access to insert the screw 26, and a wrench (not shown).
FIG. 4 illustrates a reinforced PVC pipe goal post. The vertical boards 22a and 22b, the horizontal boards 24a and 24b and the center horizontal board 36 are placed inside PVC posts (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b) and T connector with screw entries (20a and 20b). After the boards are inside the PVC components, the PVC pipes are inserted into the connectors. Optionally, a center horizontal board 36 is also placed inside the PVC cross bar sections (6a and 6b) and straight connector 12 to further reduce the sag in the cross bar 8.
The T connectors with screw entry 20a and 20b are connected onto the upper posts 3a and 3b, the lower posts 5a and 5b forming the posts 9a and 9b. The cross bar sections 6a and 6b are connected into the T connector with screw entry 20a and 20b respectively and into the straight connector 12 forming the cross bar 8. The center horizontal board 36 is placed inside the straight connector 12 prior to it being connected to cross bar sections 6a and 6b.
The screw 26 and washer 28 are inserted through the connector screw entry 34 of the T connector with screw entry 20, into the vertical board screw hole 30 and threaded into horizontal board screw hole 32 to hold the vertical board 22 and the horizontal board 24 together. The outer PVC pipes are reinforced by the inner boards.
In one embodiment, the board are made from 2″×2″×2″ redwood cut into one 5′ and one 3′ length, respectively.
Testing showed good results as far as the shape of the goal posts, but there are still problems.
The screw 26 joint into the horizontal board 24 at the horizontal board screw hole 32 is weak and doesn't hold up over a few uses. Alternative embodiments attempt to improve this by using bolts that attach to nuts embedded in the horizontal board 24, or use different hardware, but these embodiments still have the following problems in common with the previous disclosure.
Because the details of the complex reinforcement mechanism is hidden, in testing the wooden boards (22, 24) were innocently broken by volunteers helping to take this wood reinforced goal post down.
There are many parts and it is difficult to assemble and requires special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers. It's hard to keep track of the tools while carrying the PVC pipes and parts from the vehicle and across the fields. The screw is difficult to put in place and easy to lose on the playing field. Once lost, a large screw presents a hazard for injury.
The assembled poles 9a and 9b and the crossbar 8 have irregular shapes because the T connectors 20 and straight connector 12 have circumferences larger than the PVC pipes (for example see outline of FIG. 2).
Portable Goal Post with Single Piece Reinforcements
FIG. 5 shows goal post 11, which uses single piece reinforcements (1, 2) that are made of lightweight but strong material such as plastic or metal. Reinforcements are not the same as conventional connectors. Conventional connectors only connect pipes but fail to provide a substantial reinforcement function. These reinforcements while providing a connecting function also provide an important additional function of reinforcing the pipes. The reinforcement legs are a significant length compared to the lengths of the pipes that they reinforce. The single piece reinforcements are preferably manufactured through a molding process, but some embodiments may be homemade using commercially available materials. In one embodiment the pipes are standard PVC pipes cut to the same length. The pipes including the upper posts 3a and 3b, lower posts 5a and 5b, and cross bar sections 6a and 6b are connected onto the T reinforcements 1a and 1b. The upper posts 3a and 3b are connected onto legs 60a (of 1a and 1b respectively), and the lower posts 5a and 5b are connected onto legs 60c (of 1a and 1b respectively), forming the posts 9a and 9b. The cross bar section 6a is connected onto leg 60b of T reinforcements 1a and the cross bar leg 70a of the cross bar reinforcement 2, and the cross bar section 6b is connected onto leg 60b of T reinforcements 1a cross bar leg 70b of the cross bar reinforcement 2 forming the cross bar 8.
This assembly requires no tools. For each goal post, in a pair of goal posts, there are only three components (1a, 1b, and 2) needed to connect the pipes. The parts are easy to carry, hard to lose, hard to break. The pieces are intuitive and easy to assemble and disassemble.
In an embodiment where the pipes (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b) are cut to the same length, the length of the respective bodies (69 and 79) are made so that the regardless of which pipe is used, the resulting goal post 11 will be regulation size and shape (see discussion regarding preferred embodiments in reference to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B below).
Once assembled, the goal post 11 is held up, for example, by placing the lower posts 5a and 5b over standard steel fence posts 7a and 7b that are driven into the ground.
In one embodiment the tops of the upper posts 3a and 3b are left open.
In yet other embodiments the tops of the upper posts 3a and 3b are closed with caps 4a and 4b (FIG. 8A) or with caps with wind streamer attachments 80 (FIG. 8B), respectively.
The assembled goal post 11 is lightweight, has a smooth outer consistent diameter, and performs well despite the substantially lower cost of PVC pipe. The goal post 11 can be assembled and disassembled without tools or loose parts. The assembly and disassembly is intuitive and is simpler and faster. The disassembled goal post 11 can fit in most passenger vehicles including station wagons and sedans with fold out seats.
Embodiments of Single Piece Reinforcements
Details of one embodiment of molded pieces are shown in FIG. 6, namely the T reinforcement 1, and in FIG. 7A, namely the cross bar reinforcement 2. The body of each T body 69 and cross bar reinforcement body 79 preferably has the same outer diameter as the PVC pipes including the upper posts 3a and 3b, lower posts 5a and 5b and cross bar sections 6a and 6b. The reinforcement legs 60(a-c) and cross bar legs 70(a-b) have an outer diameter that fits tightly the inner diameter of the PVC pipes (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, & 6b). The T body 69 and the cross bar reinforcement body 79 leg shoulders 63(a-e) that match the end of each PVC pipe (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, & 6b) when fully inserted (forming a hidden seam) providing the consistent outer diameter for the goal post 11.
FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the T reinforcement 1, comprising a T body 69 and three legs (60a, 60b, and 60c). Where the respective legs connect to the T body 69, the T reinforcement 1 comprises a leg shoulder (63a, 63b, and 63c, respectively).
FIG. 7A illustrates one embodiment of the cross bar reinforcement 2, comprising a cross bar body 79 and two cross bar legs (70a, and 70b). Where the respective legs connect to the cross bar body 79, the cross bar reinforcement 2 comprises a leg shoulder (63d and 63e, respectively).
Good results have been obtained where each of the legs are greater than two feet in length. The legs reinforce the respective pipes providing greater structural strength and help maintain the desired goal post shape enabling the use of low cost, lightweight, relatively flexible materials for the pipes, such as for example two inch PVC pipe.
As discussed above, optionally, when the T body 69 and cross bar body 79 have sufficient predetermined length the pipes (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, & 6b) can have identical lengths simplifying assembly and transport.
FIG. 7A through 7E show various embodiments where the legs are formed in alternate ways. Each shows an embodiment of a leg connected at the leg shoulder 63 as shown FIG. 6 (to the T body 69) or FIG. 7A (to the cross bar body 79). These leg embodiments are exemplary and not intended to be restrictive of the invention. These embodiments are lightweight and strong.
FIG. 7A illustrates leg reinforcement 66(a-e) consisting of a cylinder with cross hair with horizontal and vertical reinforcements. This embodiment provides the best reinforcement for the respective pipes, but has more material and cost.
FIG. 7B illustrates a first alternate leg 71 consisting of a vertical bar with thin disks set at intervals. This embodiment helps maintain the round shape of the pipes with less material than the embodiment in 7A. This embodiment provides good linear support in one dimension, as is primarily needed with the cross bar 8.
FIG. 7C illustrates a second alternate leg 72 consisting of intersecting bars with thin disks set at intervals. This embodiment helps maintain the round shape of the pipes with less material than the embodiment in 7A. This embodiment provides good linear support in two dimensions.
FIG. 7D illustrates a third alternate leg 73 consisting of a vertical bar with circle cutouts 75 hole. This embodiment reduces the material and cost over the other embodiments shown.
FIG. 7E illustrates a fourth alternate leg 74 comprising vertical and horizontal pieces having a cross hair cross-section.
FIGS. 7A and 7E are examples of embodiments that could be home made. The bodies could be made by cutting PVC pipe and sheets of PVC plastic to form the shapes shown and then melding them into a single piece using PVC cement. The PVC pipe and PVC cement are available at local hardware stores. PVC plastic sheets can be obtained cut to size, from plastic stores or the Internet, e.g. Tap Plastics, www.tapplastics.com.
Caps
FIG. 8A shows an embodiment of the cap 4 with the cap shoulder 84 for the present invention. FIG. 8B shows the embodiment of a cap with wind streamer attachment 80 for the present invention. As with the embodiment of cap 4, the cap with wind streamer attachment 80 also has a cap shoulder 84 making both interchangeable. In addition, a provision for a wind streamer 81 is made and is held by a wind streamer attachment 82. The wind streamer attachment 82 is made via a hole in the cap 80 or via a hole in an eye loop molded into the cap 80.
Molded Reinforcements Enabling Same Sized Pipes
As discussed above, a regulation Rugby goal post requires the top of the cross bar to be 3 meters or 9′10″ above the ground and to separate the goal posts by 5.6 meters of 18′ 4″. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B illustrate a currently preferred embodiment that enables the uses of same sized pipes, for example nine feet each.
Details of the preferred embodiment of molded pieces are shown in FIG. 9A, namely the T reinforcement 1, and in FIG. 9B, namely the cross bar reinforcement 2. The body of each T body 69 and cross bar reinforcement body 79 preferably has the same outer diameter as the PVC pipes including the upper posts 3a and 3b, lower posts 5a and 5b and cross bar sections 6a and 6b. The reinforcement legs 60(a-c) and cross bar legs 70(a-b) have an outer diameter that fits tightly the inner diameter of the PVC pipes (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, & 6b), preferably 2 inches. The T body 69 and the cross bar reinforcement body 79 leg shoulders 63(a-e) that match the end of each PVC pipe (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, & 6b) when fully inserted (forming a hidden seam) providing the consistent outer diameter for the goal post 11.
FIG. 9A illustrates the preferred embodiment of the T reinforcement 1, comprising a T body 69 and three legs (60a, 60b, and 60c). Where the respective legs connect to the T body 69, the T reinforcement 1 comprises a leg shoulder (63a, 63b, and 63c, respectively). As shown, the fourth alternate leg 74 comprising vertical and horizontal pieces having a cross hair cross-section is preferred. The T body 69 preferably has a T body height of 18 inches between leg shoulders 63a and 63b and a T body width of 1 inch between leg shoulder 63b and its attachment to the T body 69.
FIG. 9B illustrates the preferred embodiment of the cross bar reinforcement 2, comprising a cross bar body 79 and two cross bar legs (70a, and 70b). Where the respective legs connect to the cross bar body 79, the cross bar reinforcement 2 comprises a leg shoulder (63d and 63e, respectively). As shown, the fourth alternate leg 74 comprising vertical and horizontal pieces having a cross hair cross-section is preferred. The cross bar body 79 preferably has a cross bar body width of 2 inches between leg shoulders 63d and 63e.
When assembled with six equal length pipes (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b) as shown in FIG. 5, these preferred reinforcements 1 and 2 result in a regulation size Rugby goal post. The lower post (5a or 5b) of nine feet when combined with the T body height of eighteen inches will result in the required 3 meter height of the top of the cross bar. In summary, eighteen inches divided by two equals nine inches, plus one inch radius makes a ten inch contribution by the T body reinforcement 1; this ten inches combined with the nine feet of the respective lower posts (5a and 5b) results in the required nine feet ten inches. Likewise, each T body reinforcement (1a and 1b) contribute one inch to the distance between the upper posts (3a and 3b). The cross bar reinforcement 2 contributes two inches to the distance between the upper posts (3a and 3b). The cross bar sections (6a and 6b) of nine feet each when combined with the two T body and cross bar body will result in the required 5.6 meter separation of the upper posts (3a and 3b). In summary, one inch from each T body reinforcement 1a and 1b, plus 2 inches from the cross bar reinforcement 2, equals 4 inches; this four inches combined with the eighteen feet of the two combined cross bar sections (6a and 6b) results in the required eighteen feet four inches. The upper posts 3a and 3b are also nine feet each, resulting in a total post height of eighteen feet, eighteen inches, which is greater than 3.4 meters, which is the required minimum height.
As discussed throughout, the reinforcements 1 and 2 are not merely convention connectors, but have a required function of reinforcing the pipes they connect, in order for the reinforcements 1 and 2, to achieve their reinforcement function, preferably each leg is significantly longer than the respective body. Preferably each leg is at least two feet in length. If, for example, the horizontal legs and cross bar legs (60b, 70a and 70b) are three feet in length, then the two thirds of each cross bar sections (6a and 6b) would be reinforced. If, for another example, the horizontal legs and cross bar legs (60b, 70a and 70b) are two and one half feet in length, then greater than half of each cross bar sections (6a and 6b) would be reinforced. If, for yet another example, the horizontal legs and cross bar legs (60b, 70a and 70b) are two feet four inches in length, then each leg would reinforce at least one fourth of each respective cross bar sections (6a and 6b), and since each cross bar sections (6a and 6b) is reinforced from each end, at least half of the overall length of the respective cross bar sections (6a and 6b) would be reinforced. In this embodiment, where all of the posts are nine feet in length the maximum length of the horizontal legs and cross bar legs (60b, 70a and 70b) is four and one half feet each which would result in reinforcement along the entire cross bar, and half of the upright posts (3a and 5a, and 3b and 5b).
While these sizes are selected to enable all six of the pipes to be nine feet, it would be within the scope of the invention for each pipe to be, for example, eight feet six inches, in which case, the T body length would have to increase six inches at leg shoulder 63c and an additional 12 inches would have to be distributed in the bodies at leg shoulders 63b, 63d and 63e. For example, five inches between leg shoulder 63b and the T body attachment, and a cross bar body width of six inches, would result in the required eighteen feet four inches. Thus, using equal sized pipes of less than nine feet would require the respective body heights and widths to be increased.
Minimal Shipping
The invention may be manufactured as a product comprising molded T reinforcements 1 and a cross bar reinforcement 2. Only the single piece reinforcements (1, 2) need to be manufactured and shipped. The caps (4 or 80) could also be included. The user can then obtain the standard PVC pipe (cut to size) and fence posts at a local hardware store. This reduces manufacturing, warehousing and shipping costs, but provides an easy to use, durable, reusable, portable solution.
ADVANTAGES
Lightweight
These improved goal posts are lightweight.
Low Cost
These improved goal posts are low cost. They can be made of PVC pipe and or other types of rods, pipes, and tubing that are plastic, metal etc. and which are inexpensive and readily available.
Simple to Make and Manufacture
These improved goal posts are easy to make or to manufacture, having a simpler set of parts and configuration.
Collapsible
These improved goal posts are collapsible for easier handing.
Easy to Store
These improved goals post are easy to store.
Easy to Transport
These improved goal posts are easy to transport. They can fit inside most vans and SUVs, which are commonly available to small sport clubs and families.
Easy to Ship
The molded parts can be shipped easily, compared to having to ship the entire goal posts of convention goal posts.
Easy to Use
These improved goal posts are ideal for people, groups of people, and organizations, such as athletic clubs, schools and churches, who prefer a low maintenance and low cost goal post. Kits can be assembled by the purchaser. Assembly does not require special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers. These improved goal posts made of parts with consistent sizes, which minimize manufacturing and make assembly and disassembly easier.
Professional Appearance
These goal posts have a professional and aesthetic appearance with hidden seams between the components.
Durable
The preferred embodiments of these goal posts are durable and are less likely to be broken.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE
Accordingly, the reader will see that the improved lightweight, portable, low cost goal posts are easy to use and transport.
While the above descriptions contain several specifics these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of some of the preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the legs of the single piece reinforcements can be manufactured in different ways to reduce material and simplify manufacturing. The variations could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the novel features of the present invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the illustrated embodiments, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Patent Application
20140066231
