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The present invention relates to sports goals and, more particularly, to a sport goal that converts from a first type of goal to a second type of goal.
Many back yard athletes today play a variety of sports. For example, soccer may be the sport of choice one day, and football the next. Frequently, the athletes will switch between sports in the same day or afternoon (such as at a company picnic). Packing, storing, and transporting the various sport goals for the different sports is time consuming, bulky, and difficult. Therefore, it would be beneficial if a single goal could be converted between two or more sports.
To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a convertible sport goal is provided. The sport goal is formed of tubular members of which at least one tubular member is extendible. Extending and retracting the tubular extensions allows a sport goal to be converted from one type of sport goal to another.
The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference.
FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a sports goal illustrative of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the convertible sport goal of FIG. 1.
The present invention will be further explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a sport goal 100. While other goals are possible, sport goal 100 will be explained as if sport goal 100 was a soccer goal convertible to a football goal. Sport goal 100 is formed of a plurality of tubular members 102 connected by connectors 104. Tubular members 102 define a goalmouth 106. A back of the goal can be covered with netting (not shown). Construction and assembly of sports goals using tubular members and connectors is well known in the art and will not be further explained herein.
Also shown by FIG. 1 is an exploded view of tubular members 102s forming the left and right sides of goalmouth 106 (referred to sometimes as goalmouth side tubular members and sometimes just tubular members) and associated tubular extensions 102e. During use of sport goal 100 for soccer, tubular extensions 102e are in a first position substantially within tubular members 102s. However, sport goal 100 can be converted to a football type goal by extending tubular extensions 102e to a second position substantially external to tubular members 102s. In other words, tubular extensions 102e are slibably coupled to tubular members 102s so that they can move relative to each other. A locking device is employed to lock the tubular extensions 102e in the extended position. As shown, the lock could be a spring loaded pin 106 on tubular extensions 102e and a corresponding hole 108 on tubular members 102s (typically referred to in the industry as a push-button). Alternatively, the locking device could be a clamp, a friction fitting, or the like. Further, to inhibit over extending tubular extensions, a retaining device may be used. For example, one end of tubular extensions 102e may have a lip 110 and one end of tubular members 102s may have a shoulder 112 to inhibit removal of tubular extension 102e from tubular member 102s. Alternatively, shoulder 112 may reside on connectors 104. A lip 110 (not specifically labeled) may also exist on the other end of tubular extensions 102e to inhibit extensions 102e from retracting completely into tubular members 102s.
Although sport goal 100 has been explained with reference to converting a goal between a soccer and a football style goal, other conversions are possible. For example, sport goal 100 has crossbar tubular members 102c. These members could be extendible tubular members having tubular extensions 102e (not specifically shown) allowing the width of sport goal 100 to be increased or decreased, which would allow for conversion between a soccer and lacrosse goal, for example. Of course, various combinations are possible allowing a sport goal to be convertible from a small lacrosse style goal, to a soccer goal, and to a football goal, or the like. Also, while explained as a tubular extension, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the tubular extensions both extend and retract.
FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of convertible sport goal 100. FIG. 2 shows sport goal 100 with tubular extensions 102e extended to make a football goal. Suspended between extensions 102e is a net 202. Optionally (as shown but not labeled), extensions 102e could be connected along the top by a cross bar tubular member 102c. Net 202 could have one or more targets 204, in which five targets 204 are shown. Targets 204 could be used for kicking or throwing accuracy practice. One or more target blocks 206 could be removably connected to one or more targets 204. Target blocks 206 could be netting as shown, but could also be canvass, plastic, or other material as a matter of design choice.
Goalmouth 106 is shown with a canvass 208 suspended over goalmouth 106. Net 202 and canvass 208 could be many different materials. For example they could both be nets, they could both be canvass, one or both could be plastics, one or both could be cloth, or the like. Canvass 208 has goal targets 204 as well, which also may have target blocks 206. Target blocks could be many different materials (the same or different than net 202 and canvass 208). Canvass 208 could have a representative goalie 210 depicted on the surface or another type of design, whimsical or not.
Target blocks 206 can be connected to targets 204 using various conventional connectors. For example, target blocks could be connected using snaps or hook and loop material, such as, for example, VELCRO® strips. Finally, target blocks 206 could be connected using a tie, such as, for example, an elastic cord or twist tie.
Instead of having crossbar tubular members 102 be extendible (or retractable) tubular members, goalmouth blocks 212 could be inserted substantially adjacent side tubular members 102s. Goalmouth blocks 212 reduce the size of goalmouth 106 and convert goal 100 from, for example, a soccer goal to a smaller hockey goal or the like. Goalmouth blocks 212 are formed by vertical tubular member 214 and, optionally, horizontal tubular member 216. Vertical tubular member 214 extends downward from crossbar tubular member 102c. Horizontal tubular member 216 connects to goalmouth side tubular member 102s and extends horizontally to vertical member 214. Horizontal tubular member 216 is not a necessary component but increases the rigidity of block 212. Blocks 212 could be net or canvas material, or stiffer material such as plastic or plywood as desired.
Net 202 and/or canvass 208 can be attached to tubular members 102 using a plurality of elastic or spring like members 220. Using elastic or spring like members 220 causes net 202 and/or canvass 208 to act as a rebounder such that when balls missing targets 204 (or hitting target blocks 206) will rebound from goal 100 back towards the user.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.