SOCCER GOAL

Abstract

A sport goal particularly a soccer goal is provided. The soccer goal includes a pair of uprights for disposition in an opening in a ground surface such as a gymnasium floor. Each upright includes a backstay. A crossbar is disposed between the uprights to form a generally rectangular opening between the uprights, crossbar and ground surface. A net is retained on the uprights and crossbar and is supported by the backstays. A weighted portion is connected to the net at the bottom thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a sport goal. The embodiments disclosed find particular application in conjunction with soccer goals that are designed to set up and taken down frequently, as for example, for use in a school gymnasium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soccer goals are known. When used in a gymnasium, soccer goals typically comprise free standing soccer goals which can be moved from place to place. Often such soccer goals need to be moved to allow other uses of gymnasiums. Movement of goals across gymnasium floor surfaces may cause marring or other damage to the gymnasium floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment, there is provided a sport goal comprising a pair of uprights having a bottom portion for disposition in an opening. The sport goal further comprises a crossbar disposed between the uprights. The sport goal further comprises a backstay on each upright and a net support disposed between each backstay. The sport goal further comprises a net retained on the uprights and crossbar; and wherein the net is retained at a position above the bottom portions of the uprights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a soccer goal;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a soccer goal;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of a soccer goal; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view partially broken away of an embodiment of a soccer goal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a soccer goal generally indicated at 10. The goal 10 comprises a support structure generally indicated at 12. The support structure may include a pair of upright supports 14. A crossbar 16 may be secured to each upright support 14. The crossbar 16 may be spaced from a ground surface 18 such that a generally rectangular opening may be formed between the upright supports 14, crossbar 16 and ground surface 18. The support structure 12 may further include a pair of backstays, generally indicated at 20. In an embodiment, one backstay 20 is connected to each of the upright supports 14. The support structure 12 may comprise any suitable material such as, by way of non-limiting example, metals, plastics, composites or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the ground surface 18 may comprises a gymnasium floor. The upright support 14 may be retained by the gymnasium floor. In an embodiment, the gymnasium floor includes an opening 19 having a collar (not shown) therein for receiving each upright support 14. Such collar systems used in gymnasiums for receiving poles are known. Accordingly, the upright supports 14 have bottom portions that may be disposed in the collars in the opening 19.

The support structure 12 may be formed as a single piece. Alternatively, the support structure 12 may be formed from multiple pieces which are connected together. In one embodiment, each upright support 14 and backstay 20 is formed as a single piece. The upright support 14 may include a retainer 15 thereon for receiving the crossbar 16. The crossbar 16 may be placed in the retainer 15 and may be secured thereto by using suitable fasteners. In this embodiment, each upright support 14 having the backstay 20 thereon may be placed in the collar in opening 19. The crossbar 16 may then be disposed between the upright supports 14. This allows the components of the support structure 12 to be easily manipulated into place while reducing the change for marring the ground surface 18.

In one embodiment, the backstay 20 may comprise a generally horizontal portion 22, a generally curved portion 24, and a connector portion 26. In one embodiment, the horizontal portion 22, generally curved portion 24 and connector portion 26 are made as a single piece. The horizontal portion 22 may extend from an upper portion of the upright support 14. The connector portion 26 may be secured to the upright support 14 at a positioned spaced from the horizontal portion 22.

It will be appreciated that the backstay 20 may take any other suitable configuration. By way of non-limiting example, the backstay may comprise a first horizontal portion extending from the upright support 14, a downwardly projecting portion and a second generally horizontal portion which extends from a lower portion of the upright support 14 near the ground surface 18. This backstay configuration is not illustrated in the drawings. In this embodiment, it is preferred to orient the second generally horizontal portion such that it is disposed above the ground surface 18. Alternatively, padding may be placed between the second generally horizontal portion and the ground surface. Another backstay configuration may comprise only a horizontal portion 22. This configuration is not shown in the drawings.

The backstays 20 may be permanently attached to the upright support 14 such as by welding or adhesives. Alternatively, the backstay 20 may be secured to the upright support 14 using a receiver and/or suitable mechanical fasteners (not shown). In such an embodiment, the backstay 20 may be removed from the upright support 14 when the soccer goal 10 is dismantled.

The backstay 20 may be used to support a net 40. The net 40 may be retained on the upright supports 14 and/or the crossbar 16. In this manner, the net 40 may be secured to all or a portion of the support structure 12 and supported on the backstay 20. In one embodiment, the net 40 is releaseably retained on the upright supports 14 and crossbar 16.

In an embodiment, the upright support 14 may include a pad 42 thereover. The pad 42 may comprise a generally cylindrical padding material about the upright support 14. The pad 42 may be secured about the upright support 14 by any suitable fastener. By way of non-limiting example, suitable fasteners may include ties, hook and loop fasteners, e.g. VELCRO® (FIG. 4), snaps, buttons or the like. Similarly, the crossbar 16 may include a pad 44. The pad 44 may be secured about the crossbar in a manner similar to that of the pad 42 on the upright support 14. The upright support pad 42 and crossbar pad 44 may be secured on the upright support 14 and crossbar 16, respectively, in such a manner so as to allow the backstay 20 to extend outwardly (FIG. 4) and preferably rearwardly from the upright support 14.

The net 40 may be secured to the upright support pad 42 and crossbar support pad 44. In an embodiment, the net 40 is secured using the same mechanism used to secure the pads 42, 44 to the respective upright support 14 and crossbar 16. By way of non-limiting example, if hook and loop fasteners are used as shown best in FIG. 4, the net 40 may be placed in such a manner that it is constrained between adjacent sections of closure of the hook and loop fasteners. If ties are used (not shown) to secure the pads 42, 44, then the ties may also be secured to a portion of the net 40 to secure the net 40 to the upper supports 14 and crossbar 16. The net may also be secured in any suitable manner to the pads 42, 44 themselves. It will be appreciated that the net 40 may be secured to the upright supports 14 and crossbar 16 in any suitable manner, whether or not a pad 42, 44 is used. By way of non-limiting example, the upright support 14 and/or crossbar 16 may include suitable hooks (not shown) for receiving a portion of the net 40. In an embodiment, the hooks may be similar to those used to secure a basketball net with a basketball rim.

In the embodiment shown, the net 40 extends over top of the backstay 20. More specifically, the net 40 may extend over the horizontal portions 22 and around the generally curved portion 24 of each backstay secured to the each upright support 14. The net 40 may then drape to the ground surface 18.

In an embodiment, a net support 46 may be placed between the horizontal portions 22 or generally curved portions 24 of each backstay 20 on each upright support 14 and be secured thereto. The net support 46 may comprise any suitable mechanism that is used to support the net 40 between the respective backstays 20 connected to each of the upright supports 14. In an embodiment, the net support 46 may comprise a line, such as a rope 47 tightly secured between the spaced backstays 20. It will be appreciated that the line can be any suitable line made from any suitable material. The net support 46 may include any suitable mechanism 48 to tighten and/or secure the rope 47 in tension. By way of non-limiting example, the mechanism 48 may comprise a cleat, an eye bolt, a ratcheting tightening mechanism, or any other device that can securely hold the rope in tension and/or may be used to apply tension to the rope 47. The tensioning mechanism 48 need only be on one backstay 20, but can be on both.

The net 40 may drape to the ground surface 18, or adjacent the ground surface 18. In one embodiment, the net may further include a weighted portion 50 at the bottom thereof. The weighted portion 50 may comprise any suitable weight such as, by way of non-limiting example, a weighted pad. The weighted pad may include suitable fasteners, similar to those described above, for fastening the weighted portion 50 to the bottom of the net 40. The weighted portion 50 may keep the net 40 in tension and reduce the ability of a soccer ball to pass underneath the net 40. In an embodiment, the weighted portion 50 may include a surface 52 that can be placed on the ground surface 18 such that it will not mar the ground surface 18.

In order to assemble the soccer goal 10, each upright support 14 may be placed and retained in the collar in opening 19, or directly in the opening 19, in the gymnasium floor or other ground surface 18. The crossbar 16 may then be placed between the upright supports 14, such as by placing the crossbar 16 in the retainer 15 and securing it therein. Alternatively, the upright supports 14 and crossbar 16 may be preassembled and the preassembled support structure 12 may be erected by placing the upright supports 14 in the collars in the openings 19 or in the openings themselves. Pads 42, 44 may be placed about the upright supports 14 and crossbar 16.

The line or rope 47 may then be tensioned between the spaced backstays 20 on adjacent uprights 14. The net 40 may then be placed over the backstays 20 and rope 47. The net 40 may then be secured to the upright supports 14 and crossbar 16 or the associated pads 42, 44. In one embodiment, the net is secured to the pads 42, 44 by the pad closures. In this manner, the net is held in place on the upright supports 14 and crossbar 16 (or associated pad 42, 44) and drapes over the backstays 20 and rope 47. The bottom of the net may be secured to the weighted portion 50. With the soccer goal 10 erected in this manner, the net 40 will be disposed above the bottom edge of the upright supports 14 when the upright supports 14 are secured in the opening 19 in a gymnasium floor.

The soccer goal 10 can be disassembled using the reverse procedure. It will be appreciated that the height of the upright supports 14, length of the crossbar 16 and depth of the backstays 20 may be any dimension desired. The dimensions can be altered to optimize the size of the soccer goal. The net 40 size may also vary. Further changing the dimensions may result in a goal 10 that can be sufficiently sized to be used for other sporting endeavors such as by way of non-limiting example, a soccer training goal that has a smaller opening, a hockey goal or a lacrosse goal.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sport goal comprising:

a pair of uprights having bottom portions for disposition in an opening in a ground surface;

a crossbar disposed between the uprights;

a backstay on each upright;

a net retained on the uprights and crossbar and a net support disposed on the backstay and wherein the net is retained at a position above the bottom portions of the uprights.

2. The sport goal as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a weighted portion secured to the net, the weighted portion including a surface for disposition on the ground surface.

3. The sport goal as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pad on the uprights, the pad secured to the net.

4. The sport goal as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a pad on the crossbar, the pad secured to the net.

5. The sport goal as set forth in claim 1 wherein the backstay comprises a generally horizontal portion secured to the upright.

6. The sport goal as set forth in claim 5 wherein the backstay comprises a generally curved portion extending from the generally horizontal portion and a connector portion extending between the generally curved portion and the upright, and wherein the connector portion is secured to the upright at a position spaced from the generally horizontal portion.

7. The sport goal as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a net support disposed between the backstays on the uprights, the line supporting the net.

8. The sport goal as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a net support disposed between the generally curved portions of the backstays on the uprights, the net support comprising a line supporting the net.

9. The sport goal as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a tensioning mechanism on at least one generally curved portions to tension the line.

10. A sport goal as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sport goal is a soccer goal.

11. A soccer goal comprising:

a pair of uprights having bottom portions for disposition in an opening in a ground surface, each upright having a pad thereon;

a crossbar disposed between the uprights;

a backstay including a generally horizontal portion on each upright;

a tensioning mechanism on at least one of the backstays;

a net support disposed between the backstays and retained in tension by the tensioning mechanism

a net releasably retained on the uprights and the crossbar and supported by the backstays and the net support;

a weighted portion secured to the net and the weighted porition disposed on the ground surface wherein the net is retained at a position above the bottom portions of the uprights.

12. The soccer goal as set forth in claim 11 wherein the backstay comprises a generally curved portion extending from the generally horizontal portion and a connector portion extending between the generally curved portion and the upright, and wherein the connector portion is secured to the upright at a position spaced from the generally horizontal portion.

13. The soccer goal as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a pad on the crossbar.

14. The soccer goal as set forth in claim 13 wherein the net support comprises a line.