Sports pole support assembly

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention a sports equipment support assembly is provided comprising a joint including a first hollow member;

Description

I FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to pole assemblies for supporting sports equipment, including, but not limited to volley ball nets, tennis nets, basket ball goals, and sports training devices.

II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many sports equipment devices utilize telescoping support members with openings in the support members and transverse fasteners extending through the openings to support the device at a selected height, which can be varied, depending on the location of the openings and transverse fasteners. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,471.

[0003] Another arrangement show in FIG. 1 utilizes a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) joint 10 including hollow support members 12 and 14, with tab stops 16 inside to hold the support members in place.

[0004] Another arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is a pipe coupling 20 where abutting hollow support members 22 and 24 are held in place with a collar 26 and set screws 28 and 29 extending through vertically spaced openings in the collar.

III SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] One object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment support assembly which can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively, and sold inexpensively.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment support assembly which is simple in design and easy to assemble.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment support assembly of high quality construction. which rugged and durable.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment support assembly which is easy to install.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment support assembly which is easily disassembled for storage.

[0011] B. SUMMARY

[0012] In accordance with the present invention a sports equipment support assembly is provided comprising a joint including a first hollow member; a second hollow member having a hollow extension of greater cross section than the first support member whereby the first support member fits within said extension and abuts said second hollow member. In one embodiment fasteners hold the second hollow member extension in place. In another embodiment the first hollow member is a lower or bottom pole support member and the second member is a top pole support member. In another embodiment the lower or bottom pole member engages a base member to support and maintain the assembly in an upright position. In another embodiment the base member is hollow and includes a lug which the lower or bottom pole engages in operative position. In another embodiment one or more fasteners are located on the first hollow member and or the second hollow member to support sports equipment such as a net or basket ball goal. In another embodiment the second hollow member includes at least one second fastener to receive a net support. In another embodiment the second hollow member includes a safety cap at the top.

IV THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical section view illustrating a prior art fastening joint.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical section view illustrating another prior art fastening joint.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a horizontal side elevation view of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the upper portion of FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 6.

[0020] FIG. 8 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrows along the line 8-8 in FIG. 6 illustrating fastener location.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the present invention illustrating its application to a volley ball game assembly.

V DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] In accordance with the present invention a sports equipment support assembly 30 is provided comprising a joint 32 including a first hollow member 40 having a first cross section 41. A second hollow member 50 has a hollow extension 52 of greater cross section 53 than the first support member cross section 41. Thus the first support member includes a portion 42 which fits within the extension 52 and abuts said second hollow member at 54. In one embodiment fasteners 56 hold the extension in place on hollow member 50 and surrounding hollow member 40, although welding could also be used. When assembled, the extension 52 holds the first hollow member portion 42 in place within the extension 52 and in substantial abutting relationship with the end 55 of second hollow member 50. In another embodiment the second hollow member includes a safety cap 58 at the top.

[0023] In one embodiment the first hollow member 40 is a lower or bottom pole support member and the second member 50 is a top pole support member. In another embodiment the lower or bottom pole member 40 engages a base member 60 to support and maintain the assembly in an upright position. In one embodiment the base member 60 is hollow and includes a lug 62 which the lower or bottom pole 40 engages in operative position.

[0024] In another embodiment fastening means 70 including one fastener 72 or more fasteners 74 are located on the first hollow member 40 and/or the second hollow member 50 to support sports equipment such as a net or basket ball goal. In another embodiment the fasteners 72, 74 receive a chord C to support a net N. In another embodiment the fasteners support a basket ball bank board with a goal (not shown).

[0025] As an example, hollow members 40 and 50 may be made of pre-anodized schedule 40 aluminum pipe, (6063-T6). Hollow extension member 52 may be made of pre-anodized schedule 80 aluminum pipe, (6063-T6). Fasteners 56 may be stainless steel rivets. Fasteners 72 and 74 may be stainless steel rivets with eyebolts.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment directed to volley ball including the ball B, the net chord C and the net N.

[0027] The bases 60 are first located in formed openings 90 including surrounding cement 92 and gravel 94 in the ground G. Then the lower members 40 are placed within bases 60 with end 45 located on lug 62. Hollow members 50 are then installed with extensions 52 located surrounding lower member portion 42. If not already in place caps 58 are then installed. The chord C is then connected to eyelets in fasteners 72 and 74. It will be apparent that this assembly process takes very little time, assuming that the openings 90 are already formed in ground G.

[0028] To disassemble the reverse process is used with the net chord C removed from eyelets in fasteners 72, 74, and the net is stored. Upper members 50 are moved vertically to remove them from lower members 40, with extensions 52 moving vertically relative to member portions 42. Lower members 40 are then removed vertically from bases 60. Bases 60 may or may not be removed from openings 90 depending on wether or not the bases are part of the ground installation. This again takes very little time. It makes the assembly of the present invention very portable.

[0029] For other sports applications fasteners 70 may comprise a wide variety of fastener applications depending on the equipment to be supported such as flanges with bolts, nuts, etc. The specific materials described above are given as examples only. Other materials may be used including other metallic material and high strength plastic. All of the materials are commercially available at reasonable prices. Thus the assembly can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively and sold with a reasonable profit, inexpensively.

VII What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A sports equipment support assembly comprising:

a joint including a first hollow member;

a second hollow member having a hollow extension of greater cross section than the first hollow support member whereby said first support member fits within said extension and abuts said second hollow member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein mechanical fasteners hold said extension in place surrounding said first hollow member.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first hollow member is a lower pole support member and the second member is a top pole support member.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first hollow member is a bottom pole support member and the second member is a top pole support member.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said bottom pole member engages a base member to support and maintain the assembly in an upright position.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said base member is hollow and includes a lug which the bottom pole engages in operative position.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 including fasteners located on at least one of said first support member and said second support member which support sports equipment in operative position.

8. An assembly according to claim 8 including at least one second fastener located on at least one of said first support member and said second support member which support sports equipment in operative position.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 including at least one fastener located on said first support member and at least one fastener located on said second support member which support sports equipment in operative position.

10. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said fasteners support a sport s game net.

11. A sports equipment support assembly comprising:

a pair of laterally spaced joints, each joint including a first hollow member;

a second hollow member having a hollow extension of greater cross section than the first hollow support member whereby said first support member fits within said extension and abuts said second hollow member.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein mechanical fasteners hold both of said extensions in place surrounding said respective first hollow members.

13. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein each of said first hollow members is a lower pole support member and each of said second members is a top pole support member.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein each of said first hollow members is a bottom pole support member and each of said second members is a top pole support member.

15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein each of said bottom pole members engage a base member to support and maintain the assembly in an upright position.

16. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein each of said base member is hollow and includes a lug which the respective bottom pole engages in operative position.

17. An assembly according to claim 11 including fasteners located on at least one of said first support member and said second support member which support sports equipment in operative position.

18. An assembly according to claim 17 including at least one second fastener located on at least one of said first support member and said second support member which support sports equipment in operative position.

19. An assembly according to claim 17 including at least one fastener located on said first support member and at least one fastener located on said second support member which support sports equipment in operative position.

20. An assembly according to claim 19 wherein said fasteners support a sports game net.