Abstract:
The present invention relates to a sports goal having tubular members connected by a connector joint. The connector joint is reinforced to increase joint strength and fracture resistance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to sport goals and, more particularly, to portable sport goals useful for soccer, football, lacrosse, hockey, field hockey, and the like.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Sports using goals, such as hockey, soccer, football, lacrosse, and many others are becoming more popular. With the increase in popularity, a need is developing for portable goals to allow individual to the flexibility to play these sports in, for example, backyards and fields.  
           [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable goal  10  useful for hockey. The goal comprises a frame  12  and a mesh  14 . The frame  12  generally comprises a plurality of tubular members  18 , such as plastic, steel, or aluminum tubing connected by a plurality of joints  20 . While shown as oval or circular tubing, other shapes are possible. Also, tubular members  18  could be solid pieces that fit into joints  20 . The mesh  14  generally comprises webbing made out of cloth, nylon or the like. As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, however, the frame and mesh can be made out of multiple materials.  
           [0004]    To attach mesh  14  to frame  12 , a sleeve  16  is attached to the mesh  14 . The sleeves can be stitched or otherwise attached to mesh  14  and generally has a diameter sufficient to encircle the corresponding portion of tubular member  18  and allow the parts to slide within the sleeve.  
           [0005]    It has been found, however, that a singular blow, or repeated blows, to the goal  10  can cause conventional joints to fracture and fail. Thus, it would be desirous to provide joints with increased strength to resist fracture.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a modular sports goal having a plurality of tubular members and at least one joint is provided. The at least one joint includes a reinforced member to increase the strength of the joint.  
           [0007]    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. Further, the advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    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.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a prior art modular sport goal;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a joint consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another joint consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Some embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. While the present invention is described in relation to a conventional portable hockey goal, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the present invention could be used in any type of modular sports goal, such as a soccer goal and a lacrosse goal.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a tubular, curved joint  22 , which would be used to replace conventional joints  20  shown in FIG. 1. While shown with a single curve, joint  22  could be straight to connect two straight sections of tubes. Further, joint  22  could have combinations of straight and curved sections. Also, joint  22  could be a T shaped joint to connect  3  tubular members, a quad shaped joint to connect  4  tubular members, etc. Joint  22  includes first receptacle  24  and a second receptacle  26 . First receptacle  24  and second receptacle  26  are designed to mate with tubular members  18  of portable goal  10  in a conventional manner. Joint  22  includes a sidewall  28  having a first side  30  internal to joint  22  and a second side  32  external to joint  22 .  
         [0014]    As shown in FIG. 2, reinforcing sheet  34  is coupled to first side  30  of sidewall  28 . Alternatively, reinforcing sheet  34  could be coupled to second side  32  of sidewall  28 . Reinforcing sheet  34  could be a fracture resistant plastic or metal, such as steel.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 shows another joint  36 . Unlike joint  22 , joint  36  is straight. Instead of reinforcing sheet  34  (as shown in FIG. 2), joint  36  contains a plurality of reinforcing ribs  38 , but is otherwise identical to joint  22 .  
         [0016]    Reinforcing sheet  34  or reinforcing ribs  38  can be attached to joint  22  or joint  36 , respectfully, using adhesives, fusion or thermal bonding, glues, tapes, solders, injection molding or the like.  
         [0017]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to some 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.