Football goal post and net display apparatus

A display for a football goal post comprises a net spanning the space between the uprights of the goal post, the net bearing a message. The message may be advertising, spirit booster information, team identification or the like, and it may be illuminated. Trip wires laced through and attached to the net detect contact with the net by a football, indicating successful penetration of the plane formed by the uprights and therefore a score. A trip signal from switches attached to the trip wires triggers for a predetermined period a flashing, illuminated display attached to the net, such as the illuminated message or separate chase lights around the perimeter of the net.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to improvements to football goalposts, and in 
particular, to an apparatus for detecting penetration of the plane between 
goalpost uprights by a football, indicating a score. Additionally, this 
invention relates to a means by which goal kicks may be conveniently 
prevented from flying outside the playing area and out of reach, such as 
into the stands behind a goalpost. Finally, this invention relates to a 
means by which schools may supplement revenues by leasing highly visible 
advertising space. 
2. Description of Related Art 
In judging the success of football goal kicks, such as 
point-after-touchdown (PAT) kicks and field goals, the football must be 
kicked high enough to cross the goalpost crossbar, and it must do so 
between two vertical uprights, to qualify as a score. Due to the 
relatively small size of the football and the crossbar and uprights in 
contrast to the usual observation distance, fans and officials alike often 
have difficulty detecting whether the football actually passed within the 
prescribed area. Even when two referees are posted directly beneath or 
near the crossbar, the speed of travel of the ball and its appearance 
against the background sky can result in divergence of opinion between 
them as to whether or not the kick scored. The problem is usually solved 
by relying upon the call, right or wrong, of one official. 
Numerous devices exist to circumvent the problem. McKenna, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,586,325, provides cloth panels attached around the perimeter and 
extending perpendicular to the plane of the uprights and crossbars to 
widen the apparent background against which the ball can be viewed. Though 
helpful, this method still depends upon careful visual observation to 
assure an accurate call. Karkoska, U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,554, provides a 
photocell field coincident with the target plane and associated 
electronics to detect penetration thereof and trigger a vertical message 
matrix to announce the successful score. Though more reliable, Karkoska 
bears the disadvantage of being expensive and complex, removing it from 
the budgetary reach of many schools. A need therefore exists for a 
reliable and inexpensive means of detecting successful scores through the 
goal post. 
Professional football franchises having better funding than most schools 
have adopted a practice of raising a net between the goalpost and the 
grandstands to catch a football kicked for a PAT or field goal and to 
prevent it from entering the grandstands. Though footballs are expensive 
and unwary fans can be injured if struck by a kicked football, such nets 
are uncommon at high schools and colleges at least partly because of the 
cost to install them. A need therefore exists for a practical and 
inexpensive means for capturing goal kicked footballs to prevent them from 
entering the grandstands. 
Baseball fans are accustomed to seeing advertising on outfield fences at 
school stadiums, but such advertising is less common in football fields, 
though it sometimes appears along the low perimeter wall of the 
grandstands. Schools derive significant revenues and advertisers derive 
significant exposure from such advertising even though the viewing time 
usually is limited to sporting events. Advertisers likely would be 
attracted to significantly higher visibility message media at such events, 
but few exist, the notable exception being electronic scoreboards at 
better funded institutions. Schools of lesser means have little more to 
offer than billboards standing around the premises. A need therefore 
exists for an inexpensive means of providing highly visible advertising, 
creating an attractive exposure medium for advertisers and a welcome 
revenue source for budget-conscious schools. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a reliable and 
inexpensive score detection apparatus for detecting PAT's and field goals. 
It is another object of this invention to provide an inexpensive means for 
preventing kicked footballs from entering the grandstands at football 
stadiums. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a highly visible 
message medium within the budget constraints of most institutions for 
advertising or spirit booster purposes. 
The foregoing and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing 
a display for a football goalpost comprising a net spanning the space 
between the uprights of the goalpost, the net bearing a message. The 
message may be advertising, spirit booster information, team 
identification or the like, and it may be illuminated. Trip wires laced 
through and attached to the net detect contact with the net by a football, 
indicating successful penetration of the plane formed by the uprights and 
therefore a score. A trip signal from switches attached to the trip wires 
triggers for a predetermined period a flashing, illuminated display 
attached to the net, such as the illuminated message or separate chase 
lights around the perimeter of the net.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, 
display 10 of the present invention is shown installed on conventional 
goalpost 12 having two uprights 16 extending vertically at opposite ends 
of crossbar 14. Display 10 comprises net 20 suspended from cable 30 
extending between top ends 18 of uprights 16. Net 20 extends substantially 
the full width and height of the space between uprights 16, thereby 
covering the normal target area of a PAT or field goal, omitting, of 
course, the unlimited projection of the plane above cable 30, which, 
though considered within the target area, seldom is penetrated due to its 
height above ground. Net 20 bears advertising message 70 and score 
indicator 40 further discussed below. 
Net 20 preferably comprises a four (4") inch nylon mesh 22 enclosed on all 
sides by border 24 having grommets 26 preferably spaced at approximately 
two (2) foot intervals. Cable 30 attaches to net 20 by threading through 
grommets 26, and net 20 is secured to uprights 16 and crossbar 14 using 
commonly available vinyl, locking tie wraps 28 looped through grommets 26, 
or by other suitable means. One having ordinary skill in the art will 
recognize that grommet 26 spacing and mesh 22 size may be varied 
significantly, and other suitable means such as tie wraps (not shown) 
could be employed to attach net 20 to cable 30, without departing from the 
scope and spirit of the present invention. 
Two caps 32 secure cable 30 to the top ends 18 of uprights 16. Cable 30 is 
secured to caps 32 by bolts 34, and turnbuckle 36 may be provided near one 
cap 32 for adjusting tension in cable 30. Cable 30 is preferably one 
quarter (1/4") inch plastic coated, stranded, stainless steel cable 
resistant to weathering. One having ordinary skill in the art will 
recognize that other cable materials and attachment means may serve the 
purpose without departing from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Caps 32 preferably comprise nominally four (4") inch inside diameter (i.d.) 
Schedule 80 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe closed at one end by suitable 
means such as a plug end fitting. A sleeve 38 may surround bolt 34 inside 
cap 32 to reinforce cap 32 against collapse under tightening pressure of 
bolt 34. Alternately, cable 30 simply may extend through or around cap 32 
or naked top end 18 (without using cap 32) and be secured by a crimp (not 
shown) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
According to football goalpost standards, uprights 16 are three and 
one-half (31/2") inch diameter pipes, so the above specified caps 32 
should fit satisfactorily. One having ordinary skill in the relevant art 
will recognize that caps 32 can be of varying diameter or cross section to 
optimize the fit between the interior of caps 32 and upper ends 18 of 
uprights 16 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present 
invention. In fact, caps 32 may be dispensed with altogether if desired 
and cable 30 attached directly to top ends 18 of uprights 16. Caps 32 
provide, however, a significant convenience while installing and replacing 
net 20 for maintenance and changing of message 70, as discussed further 
below. Being closed on their upper end, caps 32 also serve to shed rain 
from the end of uprights 16, enhancing their expected life. 
Net 20 also bears score indicator 40 comprising a string of chase lights 
following the perimeter of net 20 and attached thereto by suitable 
attachment devices 42 such as vinyl tie wraps. A string of chase lights 
comprises a flexible, translucent plastic tube containing individual 
lights spaced along its length; wiring within the tube provides power to 
the lights. Indicator controller 92 (FIGS. 5A and 5B) regulates electric 
power to the lights to cause them to flash on and off in a sequence that 
gives the impression of motion propagating along the length of the light 
string. Suitable chase lights are available as Catalog No. SL-410 and 
accessories, including controller SL-110-02, from National Specialty 
Lighting, Inc., of Arlington, Tex, or available from Bend-A-Lite Company 
of Boynton Beach, Fla. 
The exact location of indicator 40 and its pattern when installed is a 
matter of the user's preference. Indicator 40 may be a simple border 
supplement, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or it may form characters of a 
message, such as "SCORE", or may comprise message 70 itself Indicator 40 
preferably is not illuminated continuously, but comprises an active 
message means that flashes for a user-predetermined duration when 
stimulated to do so by controller 92 receiving a signal from a detection 
system indicating that a football has contacted net 20. As discussed 
further below, indicator 40 may alternately shine continuously and flash 
only in response to such contact. One having ordinary skill in the art 
will recognize that all such variations are within the spirit and scope of 
the present invention. 
Detection of football contact with net 20 is achieved through a plurality 
of trip wires 50 spanning the target area between uprights 16. Horizontal 
trip wires 50 are spaced along the length of one upright 16 and anchored 
thereto at a fixed position by suitable means such as a wire crimp 54. In 
like fashion, vertical trip wires 50 are fixedly anchored to cable 30 and 
spaced between uprights 16. Trip wires 50 are preferably sixteen (16 ga.) 
gauge, monofilament, stainless steel wire commonly available. One having 
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other trip wire 50 materials 
and attachment means may serve the purpose without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the present invention. 
As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the ends of trip wires 50 opposite their 
anchored ends are attached to momentary spring return switches 58 mounted 
to the opposite upright 16 and to crossbar 14. Each such switch 58 
contains internally a spring (not shown) which biases switch 58 into a 
normally open position, closing only when pressure on arm 66, such as from 
trip wire 50, overcomes the spring to close switch 58's contacts, 
completing a circuit as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. When the pressure is 
released, the spring returns arm 66 to its normal position, reopening the 
contacts and breaking the circuit. U-bolt 60 mounts switch 58 at an angle 
appropriate to permit movement of trip wire 50 through eyelet 56 in 
response to contact by a football with net 20. Switches 58 are preferably 
all mounted on one upright 16 and along crossbar 14 to facilitate access 
thereto for maintenance and adjustment. Switches 58 are mounted on the 
sides of upright 16 and crossbar 14 opposite the playing field to prevent 
direct impact to switches 58 by a football, possibly causing a false trip 
indication. 
Optimally, three horizontal and three vertical trip wires 50 divide net 20 
into sixteen (16) smaller target areas. More trip wires 50 will provide 
greater assurance of a trip signal upon contact with net 20 by a football, 
but at the expense of greater cost and complexity. Fewer trip wires 50, by 
contrast, may be employed to save cost at greater risk of undetected 
contact. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such 
variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Both horizontal and vertical trip wires 50 are laced through net 20 such 
that a substantial portion of their length is on the side of net 20 
opposite the playing field. Arranged in such fashion, should a football 
strike net 20 between trip wires 50, net 20 will push against one or more 
trip wires 50, causing a trip signal even though a trip wire 50 was not 
hit directly. At their intersection points, horizontal and vertical trip 
wires 50 may be bound together using suitable means such as crimp 54, and 
trip wires 50 may be crimped or tied to net 20 at selected spacing using 
suitable attachment means 42 to increase the likelihood of detection. 
Should a football not contact a trip wire 50 directly, net 20 will tug on, 
rather that slide over, the nearest trip wire 50, thereby preventing a 
glancing contact from a severely angled or weakly kicked football from 
going undetected. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, message 70 comprises a passive message 
means that may be illuminated continuously. Two rows of translucent 
letters 72 assembled in series spell out an advertising message. 
Obviously, message 70 could vary, and need not be advertising, instead 
comprising a team or institution identification or spirit booster message. 
Message 70 need not comprise merely letters, but may be symbols, logos or 
pictures as desired. Components are selected for their weight economy to 
avoid inducing sag into net 20 and to minimize disruption of the view of 
the playing field from end zone grandstands. 
Each letter 72 comprises two translucent or transparent, colored, plastic 
sheets 82 cut to form the shape of letter 72, sheets 82 sandwiching rope 
light 80 tracing the shape of letter 72. Sheets 82 preferably are sixteen 
(16) mil polyethylene and are heat treated to fuse together and enclose 
rope light 80, promoting diffusion of light from rope light 80 into letter 
72 and enhancing visibility. Message 70 is assembled by stringing rope 
light 80 through all successive letters 72 of a given row prior to such 
heat treatment and stubbing out power cord 78 for connection to power 
supply 84 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Where punctuation or letter separation is 
required, individual lights within rope light 80 may be extinguished 
without compromising operation. Rope light 80 preferably is three-eights 
(3/8") inch plastic tubing having six (6 v.) volt lights evenly spaced 
along its length; wiring contained within the tube provides power to the 
lights. Suitable rope lights 80 are available from Bend-A-Lite Company of 
Boynton Beach, Fla., and as Catalog No. TL-24-01, including accessories 
and power supply TL-24-150, available from National Specialty Lighting, 
Inc., of Arlington, Tex. Message 70 is attached to net 20 using hook and 
loop attachment devices 74, commonly known by the trade name VELCRO, glued 
to the back thereof, or by other suitable means. 
Referring now to FIG. 5A, a preferred circuit diagram of the detection 
system of the present invention is shown. Any one of a plurality of 
normally open trip wire switches 58 may trigger time delay off relay 90. 
Relay 90 is selected, from a number of such time delay off relays commonly 
available, for the desired duration of operation of indicator 40 when a 
football contacts net 20. Enabling switch 94 controls power to the 
detection system, providing control to an operator, such as a scorekeeper, 
who may turn the system on and off as needed. For example, to suppress 
inappropriate trips due to wind currents, thrown footballs, or kick-offs, 
the scorekeeper may enable the system only when a PAT or field goal 
attempt is expected. When triggered, time delay relay 90 closes contact T, 
providing power to indicator controller 92, which operates indicator 40 
until time delay relay 90 interrupts the power again by opening contact T. 
Power supply 84 remains energized, maintaining low voltage power to 
message 70, unless the scorekeeper opens message switch 98 to 
extinguinguish message 70 if required by officials to avoid distracting 
the kicker. 
In FIG. 5B, means for switching message 70 to become part of the score 
detection system is shown. When relay 90 becomes energized in response to 
a score, contact T.sub.3 closes, supplying power to message relay 88, 
opening low voltage contact X' and closing contact X to divert low voltage 
power through message controller 86 which flashes message 70 while 
indicator relay 90 times out. When relay 90 opens contacts T.sub.1 through 
T.sub.3, low voltage power is restored through contact X' to illuminate 
message 70 for normal operation. If officials require that message 70 be 
extinguished during the kick attempt, the scorekeeper can close message 
switch 98, bypassing contact T.sub.3 to energize message relay 88, 
extinguishing message 70 immediately and diverting low voltage power to 
message controller 86 pending indicator relay 90 closing contact T.sub.2, 
thereby permitting message 70 to flash in response to a score. 
The foregoing structural embodiment facilitates installation of display 10 
which proceeds as follows. Net 20 is spread out on a convenient horizontal 
surface, such as the ground near goalpost 12 or a remote manufacturing 
site. Cable 30 is threaded through grommets 26 at the top of net 20 and 
secured to caps 32 to separate caps 32 approximately the measured 
separation of uprights 16, within the adjustment tolerance of turnbuckle 
36 if it is utilized. As discussed below, turnbuckle 36 provides the 
advantage of convenient adjustability to cable 30 once net 20 is lifted 
into place. Trip wires 50 are laced through net 20 at appropriate 
intervals, crimped together at their intersection points and crimped or 
tied to net 20 at a selected, preferably one (1 ft.) foot, spacing between 
crossing trip wires 50. Enough horizontal trip wire 50 is left extending 
beyond side borders 24 to permit anchoring one end to one upright 16 and 
coupling the other end to switch 58 at opposite upright 16. Vertical trip 
wires 50 are anchored by suitable means to cable 30 and excess wire 50 is 
left extending beyond bottom border 24 to couple to switches 58 installed 
on crossbar 14. Indicator 40 is arranged on net 20 and secured using 
attachment devices 42 and leads 76 are run to and down the nearest border 
24 to a point on bottom border 24 convenient for coupling to leads from 
control box 96 (not shown, but indicated in FIGS. 5A and 5B) containing 
controller 92 through leads extending therefrom (not shown). Message 70 is 
assembled and secured to net 20 and power cords 78 run to and down the 
nearest border 24 to a point on bottom border 24 convenient for coupling 
to leads from control box 96 (not shown) containing power supply 84 using 
cords extended therefrom (not shown). Display 10 is then ready for 
installation onto goalpost 12. 
At goalpost 12, display 10 is lifted into place, caps 32 are placed over 
top ends 18 of uprights 16 and necessary adjustments to tension in cable 
30 are made, using turnbuckle 36 if provided. Tie wraps 28 are installed 
to secure net 20 to uprights 16 and crossbar 14. Switches 58 are mounted 
to one upright 16 and crossbar 14 to match the spacing of trip wires 50. 
Trip wires 50 are anchored to one upright 16 and then coupled to switches 
58, adjusting tension in wires 50 as needed. Adjustment may be 
accomplished by slidably shifting switch 58 on plate 62 using slots 68 
(FIG. 3C) and by rotating plate 62 by loosening and re-tightening U-bolt 
60. Leads 64 and power cords 78 are coupled to corresponding wiring (not 
shown) from control box 96 containing controller 92 and a power supply 84. 
Control box 96 preferably is installed on the side of crossbar 14 opposite 
the playing field near one leg supporting crossbar 14. Power and control 
circuits (not shown) supplying control box 96 from off the playing field 
may then be run underground and in conduit up the leg from appropriate 
sources within the stadium. At this juncture, testing may proceed to 
verify proper tension in trip wires 50 by causing a football to contact 
net 20 at various angles and locations on its surface. 
In foregoing fashion, display 10 may be installed simply using one or more 
ladders or manlifts without the need for scaffolding, thereby minimizing 
labor to install. To change message 70 for different advertising 
arrangements, the foregoing procedure may be reversed (except for removal 
of switches 58) to put net 20 within reach on the ground while message 70 
is replaced. Then, re-installation proceeds as above, with testing 
minimized since tensions and trip wire 50 length already will have been 
established. Alternately, message 70 could be replaced using scaffolding 
or manlifts to access the middle of net 20 without removing net 20 from 
goalpost 12 or requiring retesting. 
In operation, the scorekeeper closes enabling switch 94 when a PAT or field 
goal attempt is to be made. Message 70 illumination may be extinguished by 
opening message switch 98 (FIG. 5A; by closing it as in FIG. 5B) to avoid 
distracting the kicker. When the football is kicked, if it strikes the 
target area, net 20 deflects in response, stopping forward progress of the 
football and causing it to drop to the ground at the base of goalpost 12 
instead of continuing into the stands. Such contact pushes net 20 against 
a trip wire 50, causing it to deflect as well. During such deflection, a 
length of trip wire 50 pulls through eyelet 56, pulling arm 66 of switch 
58, thereby closing the trip circuit (FIGS. 5A and 5B) and triggering 
relay 90. Relay 90 closes contact T (T.sub.1 through T.sub.3 in FIG. 5B), 
causing indicator controller 92 to operate indicator 40 (and message 
controller 98 to flash message 70 as in FIG. 5B) until relay 90 times out. 
By this time, the spring return of switch 58 has returned arm 66 to its 
normal position, pulling trip wire 50 back through eyelet 56 and opening 
switch 58. The scorekeeper may open enabling switch 94 thereafter and 
restore power to message 70 if necessary. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with 
reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those 
skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made 
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For 
example, message 70, discussed above as being illuminated using 
encapsulated rope lights 80, could simply be translucent symbols without 
internal illumination. Likewise, indicator 70 could be attached to 
goalpost 12 instead of net 20, or it could be supplemented or replaced by 
indicators located elsewhere in the stadium, such alternate indicator(s) 
70 still dependent upon contact detection from display 10. Indicator 70 
could be an audible as well as, or instead of, a visible display as 
discussed herein.