Patent ID: 7371195
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A collapsible sports goal comprising: a) left and right upright goal posts, each respectively having a post upper end portion and a lower base portion; b) supporting members comprising: c) a rear folding means, engaging said lower supporting member in secure relation and engaging said upper supporting member in secure pivotable relation, for selective pivoting of said lower supporting member between an erect configuration and a collapsed configuration; in said erect configuration, each of said left and right support bars extends rearwardly of and substantially normal to each of said upright goal posts; and in said collapsed configuration, each of said left and right support bars extends substantially parallel to each of said upright goal posts in a substantially vertical direction; said rear folding means comprises an elongate rear post member having opposed rear post end portions, with a first one of said rear post end portions engaging said upper supporting member in said secure pivotable relation, and with a respective other one of said rear post end portions pivotably engaging said lower supporting member in said secure relation; and wherein in said erect configuration, said rear post member extends substantially vertically; wherein said rear interposed member is a substantially horizontal elongate member having left and right interposed end portions and an interposed central portion, with each of said interposed end portions securely engaging a respective one said rearward end portion, and with said respective other one of said rear post end portions pivotably engaging said interposed central portion in said secure relation; said upper supporting member further comprises a rear upper bar member having left and right upper bar end portions and a substantially horizontal upper bar central portion, with each of said upper bar end portions securely and pivotably extending from substantially adjacent to a respective one of said post upper end portions, and with said first one of said rear post end portions engaging said rear upper bar member in said secure pivotable relation; said upper bar central portion is substantially parallel to said front crossbar, and wherein each of said upper bar end portions extends in a substantially normal direction relative to said front crossbar; wherein in said erect configuration, each of said upper bar end portions extends in a substantially horizontal direction; and in said collapsed configuration, each of said upper bar end portions extends in a substantially vertical direction; said rear post member comprises an elongate upper folding bar member and an elongate lower folding bar member, said upper folding bar member having a first hinged end portion and an opposed upward end portion that is substantially coterminous with said first one of said rear post end portions, said lower folding bar member having a second hinged end portion and an opposed downward end portion that is substantially coterminous with said respective other one of said rear post end portions; with said first hinged end portion engaging said second hinged end portion in hingedly secured relation; wherein in said erect configuration, said upper folding bar member extends in substantially collinear relation with said lower folding bar member; and in said collapsed configuration, said upper folding bar member is removed from said substantially collinear relation with said lower folding bar member; said rear post member further comprises a locking means for selective movement of said upper folding bar member and said lower folding bar member between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration; in said locked configuration, said upper folding bar member is securely maintained in said substantially collinear relation with said lower folding bar member, with said upper supporting member and said lower supporting member in said erect configuration; in said unlocked configuration, said upper folding bar member and said lower folding bar member are each permitted to move from said substantially collinear relation, and said upper supporting member and said lower supporting member are permitted to move between said erect configuration and said collapsed configuration; a first folding bar member of said upper folding bar member and said lower folding bar member is shaped to define a locking aperture extending therethrough in a first substantially transverse direction; wherein said locking means comprises a locking pin member engaging a respective other folding bar member of said upper folding bar member and said lower folding bar member; wherein in said locked configuration, said locking pin member securely engages said locking aperture in removable through-passing relation; and wherein in said unlocked configuration, said locking pin member is removed from said secure engagement with said locking aperture; wherein said locking pin member comprises a selectively depressable locking pushbutton member that is biased towards said locked configuration such that, when said upper folding bar member is in said substantially collinear relation with said lower folding bar member as aforesaid, said locking pushbutton member extends into secure depressably removable through-passing engagement with said locking aperture.