Abstract:
An inflatable device that takes the general shape of a soccer field and includes goals. More specifically, the device is comprised of inflatable tubing, wherein two long side tubes and two short side tubes create a rectangular field of play and wherein a first and a second goal are made of the inflatable tubing and are connected to the field via the short side tubes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/078,578, filed on Nov. 12, 2014, titled INFLATABLE AND ADJUSTABLE SOCCER FIELD. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The disclosed invention relates to a modular, inflatable device that, when inflated, can take the shape of a soccer field or other athletic playing field. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Currently, fields, courts, and rinks have been adapted to fit in a backyard. For example, “sport courts” are an outdoor playing surface that is a variation on the traditional gym basketball court. Further, people create outdoor hockey rinks by placing panels on grass or ice and flooding the surface between the panels to create smooth ice. In another example, some people use specialized pools that produce a current and enable a swimmer to swim against the current without requiring the space of a full sized swimming pool. While soccer fields exist that are built indoors and have walls, similar to a hockey rink, no currently adapted soccer field exists for backyards, wherein the ball is contained in a designated field. This makes any type of scrimmage or game play difficult to play in a backyard because players must keep track of the field of play without the use of painted lines and the soccer ball can easily roll out of play. Therefore, players may end up spending excess time keeping track of when the play is out of bounds and retrieving the ball instead of playing a game. 
         [0004]    Additionally, while other types of backyard soccer equipment exist, they are usually targeted toward improving one type of skill. For example, flat soccer nets are easy to set up and allow a player to improve shooting skills by shooting on a full sized net, but are not usable for other types of skills, such as passing. Therefore, while training equipment does exist for soccer players, a soccer field is needed that is easy to set up, is able to contain the ball within a designated area, and is small enough to fit in a backyard. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The disclosed invention is an inflatable device that, when filled with air, takes the general shape of a soccer field and includes goals. More specifically, in one embodiment, the device has a rectangular shape and includes: inflatable tubs, a blower opening, and a built in goal on each of the short ends. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inflatable soccer field according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a goal of the disclosed inflatable soccer field of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the inflatable soccer field of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the inflatable soccer field of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a straight connector piece of an inflatable soccer field according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a corner connector piece of an inflatable soccer field according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a goal connector piece of an inflatable soccer field according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover application or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims attached hereto. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0014]    The disclosed device is inflatable, can be placed on the ground, can be roughly rectangular in shape having sides comprised of a left, inflatable long tube  102 , a right, inflatable long tube  104 , a front, inflatable short tube  106 , and a back, inflatable short tube  108 , and can have an inflatable goal  110  made of tubes and incorporated into gaps in each of the two short tubes  106 ,  108 , thereby representing a soccer field. 
         [0015]    In essence, the inflatable device creates a soccer field contained by walls made of inflatable tubes and, therefore, the device encapsulates the field of play. The tubes, in addition to keeping the ball in play, can act as a surface for players to sit on if they are not part of the current game. The tubes can be made of a flexible plastic, can be lightweight and easily packable, and can be of various sizes and diameters. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes making up the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  and the goals  110  are cylindrical and have a diameter of between 12 and 18 inches. In other embodiments, the diameter is approximately 32 inches. In some embodiments, however, the tubes may be cuboidal, prisms, rectangular prisms, hexagonal prisms, or any other three-dimensional shape. In addition to the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  and goals  110  of the inflatable field, the disclosed device includes a blower opening  112  that can attach to a blower and originate from an opening in one or both of the short tubes  106 ,  108 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or an opening in one or both of the long tubes  102 ,  104 . 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the device can be one uniform piece of tubing that is inflated and deflated from at least one blower opening  112 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, one or more of the areas of the inflatable field may be sealed off from the others so that each sealed-off area requires its own blower opening  112  from which it can be inflated. For example, the four side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  may be one continuous tube and the goals  110  may each be sealed off from the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 . The four side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  may have one shared blower opening  112  from where they can all be inflated and the goals  110  may each have their own blower opening  112  from where they can be inflated. In another example, the short tubes  106 ,  108  and the goals  110  may all be one inflatable piece and the long tubes  102 ,  104  may each be sealed off so that a blower opening  112  is required for each long tube  102 ,  104  and each short tube  106 ,  108  and goal  110  combination. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, parts of the field may be inflatable while other parts of the field may be made of a more solid material, such as foam or solid plastic. For example, the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  may be inflatable while the goals  110  may be solid. This will enable a user to quickly inflate the field for use since significant portions of the field will not require inflation. As described above, if any of the portions of the field are sealed off from other portions, multiple blower openings  112  would be needed. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, all of the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  that create the sides of the field are of a uniform size. However, some embodiments of the field may have an opening or break in the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  on at least one side to create an entrance so that a user does not have to crawl over a tube to enter the field of play. The entrance may be a complete break in the material, wherein the tube ends and is sealed off at two points and creates a gap in one of the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  for a user to walk through to get in and out of the field of play. This gap can include a door or can be a small opening that remains unblocked. Alternatively, the entrance may be comprised of a side tube  102 ,  104 ,  106 , or  108  that has a portion cut out of it or that is diminished in diameter so that the portion of the tube containing the entrance is easier to use as an access point than the remaining portion of the tube. This entrance portion can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, the entrance portion can be a half cylinder or portion of a cylinder, wherein the ends of the part-cylinder are connected to the tube, the round portion of the part-cylinder is facing the ground and is continuous from the tube containing the entrance, and the flat portion of the part-cylinder is parallel to the ground and facing upward away from the ground. In another example, the entrance portion can maintain the cylindrical shape from the tube but can have a smaller diameter. In other embodiments, the entrance is a variety of other shapes and sizes. 
         [0019]    The two goals  110  can also be of various sizes and shapes. In one embodiment, each goal  110  can be one meter long and one meter high and therefore be square. In another embodiment, the dimensions of each goal  110  can be three meters wide and two meters high or ten feet wide and seven feet high and therefore be rectangular, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 7 . The depth of the goal  110  can vary. In some embodiments, the depth of the goal  110  may be shallow. In some embodiments, the depth of the goal  110  may be deep. In some embodiments, the goal  110  may merely be small or large compared to the field of play. In some embodiments, the size and shape of the goal  110  may be adjustable, depending on what the user desires. For example, to work on shooting accuracy, a user may diminish the size of the goal  110  so that the target is small. If a user then wants to scrimmage in the field of play, the user may make the size of the goal larger  110  to create a more realistic situation. 
         [0020]    Each goal  110  can closely resemble the frame of a soccer goal, wherein the goal  110  is centered on, and connected to, a short tube side  106 ,  108  and has a top horizontal tube  202 , a left vertical side tube  204 , a right vertical side tube  206 , a left horizontal side tube  208 , a right horizontal side tube  210 , a left diagonal tube  212 , a right diagonal tube  214 , and a bottom, back horizontal tube  216 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . However, in some embodiments, the goal  110  may be centered on a long tube side  102 ,  104 . In other embodiments, the goal  110  may not be centered, but may be located closer to one of the ends of the short tube side  106 ,  108  or long tube side  102 ,  104 . In further embodiments, only one side tube may have an opening for a goal  110  and the other three side tubes may not contain an opening for a goal  110 . 
         [0021]    The top horizontal tube  202  creates the top bar of the goal  110 . The left vertical side tube  204  connects, on its top end, to the left end of the top horizontal tube  202  and the top end of the left diagonal tube  212  and, on its bottom end, to the front end of the left horizontal side tube  208  and to the right end of short tube&#39;s left side  218 . The right vertical side tube  206  connects, on its top end, to the right end of the top horizontal tube  202  and the top of the right diagonal tube  214  and, on its bottom end, to the front end of the right horizontal side tube  210  and to the left end of the short tube&#39;s right side  220 . Therefore, the top horizontal tube and two vertical side tubes make up the opening of the goal. 
         [0022]    The left horizontal side tube  208  and the right horizontal side tube  210  run along the ground perpendicular to the top horizontal tube  202  and the short tube  106 ,  108 . The left horizontal side tube  208  connects, on its back end, to the left end of the bottom, back horizontal tube  216  and the bottom end of the left diagonal tube  212 . The right horizontal side tube  210  connects, on its back end, to the right end of the bottom, back horizontal tube  216  and the bottom end of the right diagonal tube  214 . Therefore, the left horizontal side tube  208  and the right horizontal side tube  210  create the depth of the goal  110 . 
         [0023]    As describe above, the left diagonal tube  212  and the right diagonal tube  214  connect, on one end, to the ends of the top horizontal tube  202  and the top ends of the left and right vertical side tubes  204 ,  206  and, on their other ends, to the ends of the bottom, back horizontal tube  216  and the back ends of the left and right horizontal side tubes  208 ,  210 . The bottom, back horizontal tube  216  connects, on each of its ends, to the left and right horizontal side tubes  208 ,  210  to create the bottom bar of the back of the goal  210 . Therefore, the diagonal tubes  212 ,  214 , in combination with the bottom, back horizontal tube  216  and the top horizontal tube  202 , create the back of the goal  222 . The back of the goal  222  can be comprised of a rectangular net  222  attached on each of its sides to each of the four tubes. The net  222  can be made of netting material, plastic, or any other material or fabric. Alternatively, the space between the four tubes can be left empty. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, a left triangular gap  302  between the left vertical side tube  204 , left horizontal side tube  208 , and left diagonal tube  212  can be formed, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Similarly, a right triangular gap  304  can be formed between the right vertical side tube  206 , right horizontal side tube  210 , and right diagonal tube  214 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The left and right triangular gaps  302 ,  304  can be empty so that an object can pass from inside the goal to outside of the goal freely. In another embodiment, the left and right triangular gaps  302 ,  304  can be filled in with a solid material, such as a plastic similar to that used on the tubes that make up the field or any other kind of plastic. In a further embodiment, the left and right triangular gaps  302 ,  304  can be made of netting, similar to a regular soccer goal. 
         [0025]    The goal  110  can be a continuous piece of the inflatable material so that the entire device is one piece and can be inflated with one blower attached to one blower opening  112 . In some embodiments, however, the goal  110  can be sealed off at certain areas so that at least two blower openings  112  are required to inflate the goal. The goal  110  can be a traditional soccer goal shape, wherein it has a width, a height, and a length, and the height is smaller than the length. Alternatively, it can have a square opening, an arched opening, or ay other shape of an opening. In one embodiment, the front of the goal  110  lines up with the short tubes  106 ,  108 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . In another embodiment, the back of the goal  110  lines up with the short tubes  106 ,  108  so that the goal  110  is protruding into the field of play. 
         [0026]    The typical shape of one embodiment of the disclosed inflatable soccer field is rectangular, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, because the side tubes  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  are inflated with air and made of plastic, the shape can be reasonably flexible regardless of the manufactured design. Additionally, in some embodiments, the inflatable field can be designed to take a shape other than a rectangle, such as, but not limited to, an oval, circle, triangle, square, or any other polygon. For example, the inflatable field may be comprised of several pieces that attach together, such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 , thereby permitting the user to design any shaped field the user desires. The pieces may be combined together using attachments at the end points of each piece such as, but not limited to, zippers, buttons, hook and loop components, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the inflatable field may be comprised of long, tubular pieces  500  that are 10 to 30 feet in length, of corner pieces  600 , and of goal pieces  700 . The diameter of the inflatable field pieces may be between 12 and 36 inches. 
         [0027]    The pieces can be used to create variations in field shapes and sizes. For example, a user can create a field that has three continuous sides and one side with a goal piece  700  by using four corner pieces  600  to attach two tubular pieces  500  to the goal piece  700  and to a third, tubular piece  500 . In other examples, a user can create a field with a goal piece  700  on every side or a field with no goal pieces  700 . There are an unlimited number of field shapes that can be created using these field pieces. 
         [0028]    The goal piece  700  may have a rectangular opening that is approximately 7 feet high by 10 feet wide, although the dimensions and shape of the opening can vary. Additionally, the goal piece  700  can be constructed similarly to the goal  110  in the continuous form of the inflatable field. For example, the goal piece  700  can have a top horizontal tube  202 , a left vertical side tube  204 , a right vertical side tube  206 , a left horizontal side tube  208 , a right horizontal side tube  210 , a left diagonal tube  212 , a right diagonal tube  214 , a bottom, back horizontal tube  216 , a short left side  218 , a short right side  220 , a back of the goal  222  formed by the diagonal tubes  212 ,  214 , the bottom, back horizontal tube  216  and the top horizontal tube  202 , a left triangular gap  302  between the left vertical side tube  204 , left horizontal side tube  208 , and left diagonal tube  212 , and a right triangular gap  304  between the right vertical side tube  206 , right horizontal side tube  210 , and right diagonal tube  214 . 
         [0029]    The inflatable field pieces are, in one embodiment, each hollow from end to end. However, in some embodiments, the pieces may be sealed off at one point, therein requiring inflation from at least two entry points. For example, the goal piece  700  can be sealed at the intersection of the left vertical side tube  204 , the left horizontal side tube  208 , and the short left side  218 , and it can be sealed at the intersection of the right vertical side tube  206 , the right horizontal side tube  210 , and the short right side  220 , therefore requiring inflation for each of the short left side  218 , the short right side  220 , and the remainder of the goal piece  700 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the inner portion of the field can be eleven meters long, from goal-front to goal-front, and six meters wide. In another embodiment, the inner portion of the field can be  17  meters long, from goal-front to goal-front, and seven meters wide. The full length of the field, from end to end, can be approximately  21  to  22  meters long. In one embodiment, at least two opposing sides of the tubing can have an expandable section, resembling an accordion, to enable elongation of the field. Before putting air into the inflatable device, a user can shorten the sides that have an expandable section. The expandable sides can hold their shorter shape through the use of a clasping, locking, snapping, hook and loop, or rope mechanism. For example, one end of the expandable portion may have a several female halves of a snap fastener while the other end may have several male halves of a snap fastener. Therefore, when the device is not inflated, a user can easily snap the female and male halves together and, when the device is inflated, it will maintain its shorter length. 
         [0031]    If the user wishes to make the field bigger, he or she can un-lock, un-clasp, un-snap, pull apart, or untie the mechanism when the field is either inflated or not inflated. The user can then use the blower to blow more air into the field and the field will expand in length due to the extra material available to lengthen the sides.