Abstract:
A collapsible soccer goal, comprising vertical side frame supports, each having a pair of adjacently disposed vertical section. An elongated top beam having a plurality of adjacently disposed horizontal sections including opposite end sections resting atop the pair of vertical sections; and the vertical and horizontal sections are formed as hollow tubular elements with joints, including corner joints formed by the elongated top beam with the pair of vertical sections, and the adjacently disposed sections are all joined together by a plurality of bar means. Each vertical side frame support further includes at least a plurality of adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts; and the plurality of adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts forms a truss-like structure connectable to a vertical section for supporting the vertical and horizontal sections as a unitary soccer goal in a vertical upright position orthogonal to ground.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of my earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/770,551, filed Dec. 23, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,195, granted May. 11, 1999, which in turn is a Continuation-in-Part of my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/354,477, filed Dec. 12, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,768, granted Dec. 24, 1996; which in turn is related to my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 180,282, filed Jan. 12, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,368, granted Dec. 13, 1994, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an improved collapsible or portable soccer goal that can be assembled and disassembled quickly on the field, and which is readily transportable by a person in a car or vehicle as the various components of such soccer goal “break down” into a plurality of smaller elements that can be packaged simply and/or easily handled, stored and transported or shipped. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is achieved by a collapsible/portable soccer goal, comprising vertical side frame supports, each having a pair of adjacently disposed vertical sections, with an elongated top beam having a plurality of adjacently disposed horizontal sections including opposite end sections resting atop the pair of vertical sections. The vertical and horizontal sections are formed as hollow tubular elements with joints, including corner joints formed by said elongated top beam with said pair of vertical sections, and said adjacently disposed sections joined together by a plurality of bar means. Each vertical side frame support further includes at least a plurality of adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts, and the said plurality of adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts form a truss-like structure connectable to a vertical section for supporting said vertical and horizontal sections as a unitary soccer goal in a vertical upright position orthogonal to the ground. 
     The invention is also further achieved by a collapsible/portable soccer goal comprising vertical side frame supports, each having a pair of adjacently disposed vertical sections with an elongated top beam having a plurality of horizontal sections including opposite end sections resting atop said pair of vertical sections. The vertical and horizontal sections are formed as hollow tubular elements with joints, including corner joints formed by said elongated top beam with said pair of vertical sections, and said joints adjacently disposed sections joined together by a plurality of bar means. Each vertical side frame support further includes a plurality of fixed length struts and adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts, and each of said plurality of fixed length struts and adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts forms a truss-like structure connectable to a vertical section for supporting said vertical and horizontal sections as a unitary soccer goal in a vertical upright position orthogonal to the ground. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention will be more fully apparent, understood and appreciated from the ensuing detailed description, when read with reference to the various figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of my new and improved collapsible/portable soccer goal in a set-up condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a right side supporting structure, in perspective, with the top horizontal beam shown “broken away”; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the right side-rear bottom corner connection of the rear telescoping strut to the collapsible (folded) channel-shape bottom support member; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the right side—front corner connection; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the right side—rear center connection of the rear telescoping strut to the three reinforcing struts connected to the right vertical goal post; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of the right side—rear top corner connection of the rear telescoping strut to the top right corner struts which form a right triangle with the top horizontal beam; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of the right side—front top cover connection of the right vertical goal post to the rearwardly extending top side struts; 
     FIG. 9A is an enlarged partial view of the connection of the top side (bracing) strut to the top horizontal beam; 
     FIG. 9B is an enlarged partial view of the connection of the middle reinforcing strut to the right vertical goal post; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the connection at the point where the three reinforcing struts are connected together; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of the rear connection between the two rearwardly extending top side struts (without the rear telescoping strut); 
     FIG. 12A to  12 E are perspective views of the various brackets used to make the connections described and shown in the various figures dealing with “connections”; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the corner connection between the top horizontal beam and the right side vertical goal post; 
     FIG. 14 is another enlarged fragmentary view of a typical connection between other mating parts of either the vertical goal post or the top horizontal beam; and 
     FIGS. 15A,  15 B and  16  show typical goal post and beam profiles (round, oval and square, respectively), with FIG. 16 also showing one of many clips used to secure either a soccer net or kickback-screen to the two vertical goal posts and the horizontal beam forming the soccer goal. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the attached drawings, wherein like numerals are employed for like elements, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-16, there is shown an improved collapsible/portable soccer goal  20  of the present invention. As shown therein, it comprises a pair of vertical side frame supports  22 ,  23 , each having adjacently disposed vertical sections  24 ,  24 ′,  24 ″, (for example, 4′, 3′ and 1′ long each) which together with an elongated top beam  26  having a plurality of or six (4 feet long) adjacently disposed horizontal sections  28 ,  28 ′, form a regulation 24 foot width soccer goal or a reduced, practice size goal post which has a smaller goal opening of 16 or 20 feet by the removal of one or two of the four foot horizontal sections, respectively. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 1-12, each of the vertical side frame supports  22 ,  23  include a plurality of adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  and suitably a plurality of fixed length struts  38 ,  40  and  42  (which may, if desired, also be adjustable/extendible or telescoping if one also prefers that the soccer goal be less than eight feet high, such as in a seven foot high goal used in practice by schools, colleges and/or other organizations). All of the horizontal and vertical sections have a 4 inch “face” (regulation width) whether the tubular form thereof is round, oval or square, as shown in FIGS. 15A,  15 B and  16 . Note also that while struts  32 ,  34  generally stay together when the goal post is disassembled, they may also be separated by removal of fastener  33 . 
     In FIGS. 13 and 14, typical joints are illustrated. For example, the two top corner angular joints  39  and  41  (as shown in FIGS. 1,  3 ,  8  and  13 ) form 45° angles and the mating vertical section  24 ″ and horizontal section  28 ′ preferably have a plurality of right angle flat bars  44  mounted in slots  46  formed internally in both the tubular formed horizontal and vertical sections. Two flat bars  44  are shown secured in place by suitable fasteners (not shown) passing through apertures  48  in the sections and engaging with mating threaded holes, shown as apertures  50 , in the right angle bars  44 . Four round bars may be employed together with flat bars  44  or in place thereof, as shown in FIG.  14 . The uppermost vertical end section  24 ″ is suitably shorter than the remaining vertical sections  24  and  24 ′. The two vertical goal posts may be provided with at least a single one-foot section below section  24 ″ (not shown) for enabling the goal post height to be adjustable, for example, from 8 feet to 7 feet (as is generally utilized for practice). 
     FIG. 14,  15 A,  15 B, and  16  suitably illustrate the employment of the four round apertures  52  used with four pins/bars  54  for aligning and maintaining “flush” joints between various sections of the goal post. The four pins/bars  54  with suitable tapered ends are fitted in the mating apertures  52  of both mating sections and are provided with a “snugtight” fit. Such pin/bar connectors  54  aid in holding the two mating sections together, and keep all of the vertical and horizontal sections straight “as an arrow”, while preventing any bending of the posts and beam, particularly when under sudden impact by a ball or player. A greater or lesser number of pins/bars may be utilized as may be desired for the various joints. Also, suitable fasteners, such as set screws/mat (not shown), may be used to further secure in place said pins/bars  54 , if desired. 
     All sections, vertical or horizontal, are further provided with groove means  56  at the back or rear surfaces  58  which extend inwardly toward the center axis of the tubular sections in such grooves  56  serve for holding latches as will be explained hereinafter, and are used for mounting the net and/or kick back screen by means of a plurality of J-shaped clips  60  (while both net and kick back are shown, only one is used at any one time). The groove means  56  are also further employed to mount the bracket  62  shown in FIG. 12E which is used to secure the front ends of the struts  34 ,  36  to both the vertical and horizontal sections  24 ′,  28 ′, respectively. Suitable fasteners  64  and  66  secure the brackets  62  to the vertical and horizontal sections, respectively (as best shown in FIGS.  2  and  3 ). Other suitable fasteners  68  and  70  provide the bracket to strut connection. 
     The bracket  62  is also used to mount the strut  40  to about the midpoint of the vertical (goal posts) sections  24 ,  24 ′. The bracket  68  is mounted to the extendible strut  30 , and the telescoping strut  32  is connected at its lower end to such bracket  68 . At the upper rear end of the strut  32 , inserubrackets  70 ,  72  are used to mount the three adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts  32 ,  34  and  36 , which all come together at such upper rear end of the collapsible/portable soccer goal. An enlarged detail of this upper rear end connection is clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, as are all other connections and brackets or insert/brackets in FIGS. 4-6,  8 - 10 ,  12  and  13 . The remaining insert/bracket  74  connects the strut  34  to the bracket  62  in the top front (right hand) corner of the soccer goal. The bracket  70  is also used to secure the lower rear end of strut  32  to the bracket  68  located on the extendible strut  30 , as best shown in FIG.  4 . Adjustable strut  34  is provided with a plurality of apertures  69  at both ends thereof for the adjustment of its overall length including that of its insert brackets  72 ,  74 , and strut  30  is comprised of two equally long elements hinged together at joint  86  by means of a suitable hinge (not shown) mounted inside the U-shaped channel forming such strut  30 . 
     In FIG. 6, the three fixed struts  38 ,  40  and  42  (which could also be adjustable/extendible or telescopic, as noted, should one desire to shorten the goalpost height by one foot to seven feet in lieu of a regulation eight foot height) are all simply mounted by a fastener  80  secured to a rear strut  32 . With such a shorter goalpost, another vertical section of, say, one foot would need to be provided in order to readily lower the beam from eight feet to seven feet. The adjustable/extendible or telescoping struts would be of variable lengths enabling their reaching all brackets dependent upon the different goal post heights desired for practice and tournament play. 
     FIG. 5 shows one of the front vertical sections  24  suitably connected to extendible strut  30  by hinge means  82  with the strut  38  secured by fastener  84  to base strut  30 . In this connection, it will be appreciated that the base strut is thus suitably made to hingedly fold about itself, as shown by the joint line  86 , and suitable against the lower vertical section  24  for ease of storage/packaging and compactness. 
     The adjustable/extendible or telescopic struts may be of convention construction, such as square, round or other shaped profile with the “overall length” all of the various struts enabling all elements and parts and/or sub-assemblies of the goalpost to fit into a vehicle trunk or into a rear baggage area where the rear seat is removable or folds down. This will enable no one part of the portable goal to be longer than the depth or width of a large car trunk or hatchback area of a sedan or coupe where the rear seats project forward to enable long items, such as skis or fishing poles, to be placed or stored. 
     Also, it will be appreciated that anchoring stakes or auger mounts (not shown) may be employed with the present invention in order to securely hold the soccer goal to the ground. In a like manner, latch means, such as the Southern latch, which has a keeper, is available from the Reid Tool Supply Company and may be employed in the groove means  56  about the joints between the sections to hold same tightly together. This is particularly desirable in the vertical sections wherein one can conceivable be pinched in a minute gap that may open up ever so slightly at a joint in the event of a hard kicked soccer ball or player impacting directly against or at an angle to the goal posts. Of course, while latches are also employed at all of the joints in the horizontal beam, any such “pinching” is clearly out of reach as said beam is normally eight feet above ground. In addition, the groove means  56  may be provided deeply within the tubular sections so that clamping of the latches at each joint is closer to the axis of the tubular sections. Such arrangement provides for a better joint as locking of the two adjacently disposed sections is near the axis of the sections and not near the outer peripheral wall surfaces. Also, insert bracket  70 ,  72  and  74  all enable their mating strut adjustable/extendible and is analogous to the telescoping strut  32  insofar as my invention is concerned. Moreover, while I show alternate tubular sizes (small and large) for each insert bracket, one size may be employed so that all of the apertures illustrated (four shown) may be used to provide an even greater length for the adjustment feature, in lieu of telescoping tubes. Furthermore, the angles adjustable/extendible or telescoping strut  36 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, pivots about fastener  100  as shown by arrow  102  when fastener  104  is removed for storage or transporting same to a site for assembly with strut  34  being maintained held to strut  32  by the fastener  33 . 
     While a tubular square form of section, such as shown in FIG. 16, is shown in FIGS. 1-14, both the round (FIG. 15A) and the oval (FIG. 15B) are alternative forms for use as vertical and horizontal sections as long as they meet the NCAA regulation, which specifies that all goal posts must have four 4 inch face widths. 
     It will also be appreciated in the practice of the invention that the corner joints ( 24 ″ and  28 ″), may if desired, be welded together so as to greatly reduce assembly time, and also to aid in packaging and/or storage as a few of the remaining vertical and horizontal sections may be “tied” along side with each other to minimize the size of a packed bundle of parts. 
     Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will, of course, be understood that various charges and modifications may be made with the form, details and arrangements of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.