Soccer goal securing apparatus and method

Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for securing a movable soccer goal to a fixed football goal or other vertical post. When in use, the apparatus functions to prevent the soccer goal from being overturned, thereby, making it considerably safer than an unsecured soccer goal.

FIELD

The invention generally relates to the field of sporting goal structures, and more particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for improving the safety of a movable soccer goal used on a football field by securing the movable soccer goal to a fixed football goal.

BACKGROUND

American-style football fields are often used to play soccer. For example, a high school may have a football field that is surrounded by stands and other spectator facilities, but the school may not have such facilities for soccer. Building a separate soccer field having its own spectator facilities might not be considered an efficient use of a school's limited real estate and financial resources. Therefore, the high school may instead choose to use the football field for both football and soccer games. To temporarily transition a football field into a soccer field, movable soccer goals are placed at each end of the football field near the football goals. Such movable soccer goals, however, are often prone to tip over, sometimes causing injury to players or others. This may be especially true when young children are playing on the field, as young children may be more pone to climb on, jump on, bump, or otherwise attempt to disturb the soccer goal.

Accordingly, there is a long-felt but unmet need to provide a system that enables facility personnel to quickly and easily anchor a movable soccer goal on a football field. Previous attempts at securing movable soccer goals on football fields involve piercing or puncturing the surface of the playing field with a stake or screw-type device. These devices, however, can cause damage to a playing field when the field consists of natural turf, and these devices cannot be used at all on artificial playing surfaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention address the need for a relatively simple and effective device to increase the safety of portable soccer goals without causing damage to playing fields. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention can be used on any type of playing surface, either natural turf or an artificial playing surface, which can be indoors or outdoors, since at least some embodiments of the present invention do not need to interact with the playing surface to function properly.

More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus that can secure a movable soccer goal to an essentially vertical member already fixed relative to a playing field or surface. Such a vertical member could be the post of a football goal or other essentially vertical post already in existence proximate to the playing surface. For example, embodiments of the present invention provide a secure means of attaching the lower ground bar of the soccer goal to the football goal vertical member or “gooseneck,” as it is sometimes referred to.

For example, embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for securing a movable soccer goal to a football goal, where the apparatus comprises a securing device capable of simultaneously and removably engaging an essentially horizontal member of a movable soccer goal and a fixed, essentially vertical, member extending from the playing surface. In one embodiment, the fixed essentially vertical member comprises a vertical post of a football goal.

In one embodiment, the securing device includes a hook-shaped member for engaging the essentially horizontal member of the movable soccer goal. In such an embodiment, the securing device may further include a pulling mechanism configured to pull the hook-shaped member toward the fixed essentially vertical member to secure the essentially horizontal member between the hook-shaped member and the fixed essentially vertical member.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured such that no tools, other than those fixed to the apparatus, are required to engage or disengage the essentially horizontal member of the movable soccer goal and the fixed, essentially vertical, member extending from the playing surface. In some embodiments, the apparatus is structured to secure the soccer goal by clamping the essentially horizontal member of the movable soccer goal between a portion of the securing device and the outside surface of the vertical post of the football goal.

Embodiments of the invention further provide an apparatus for securing a movable goal to a post of a football goal fixed in the playing surface, where the apparatus includes a post engaging member and a pulling mechanism. The post engaging member includes a hook or hooks formed at one or both ends of the post engaging member. The post engaging member is capable of being placed at least substantially around the post with the end of the hook or hooks capable of engaging a structural member of the movable goal. The pulling mechanism is configured to pull the hook or hooks toward the post to secure the structural member of the movable goal between the hook or hooks and the post.

In some embodiments the pulling mechanism further includes a threaded portion fixed to, or part of, the post engaging member and a bolt extending through the threaded portion. The pulling mechanism is configured such that turning the bolt in one direction applies pressure to a side of the post generally opposite the side of the post where the hook or hooks are located in order to pull the hook or hooks toward the post.

In some embodiments the post engaging member comprises a generally U-shaped member capable of being placed at least substantially around the post. The U-shaped member generally has a first arm and a second arm extending from each end of a curved portion. A hook extends from an end of each of the first and second arms.

Embodiments of the invention further provide an apparatus structured to secure a movable soccer goal to a vertical post of a football goal, said movable soccer goal having a horizontal bar. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a football goalpost engaging portion, a soccer goal holding portion, and a user-actuable mechanism for coupling the soccer goal holding portion to the football goalpost engaging portion. The football goalpost engaging portion is generally configured to contact a first side of the vertical post. The soccer goal holding portion is coupled to the football goalpost engaging portion and extends away from the football goalpost engaging portion. The apparatus is generally structured such that when the football goalpost engaging portion is in contact with the first side of the vertical post the soccer goal holding portion extends beyond a second side of the vertical post generally opposite said first side and is structured to releasably engage the horizontal bar of the soccer goal. The user-actuable mechanism is structured such that actuation of the mechanism pulls the soccer goal holding portion toward the football goalpost engaging portion.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, the soccer goal holding portion comprises a hook or a pair of hooks. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a generally U-shaped member comprising a first arm, a second arm, and a rear connecting member joining the first and second arms. In general, the U-shaped member is configured to substantially surround the vertical post. In such embodiments, the soccer goal holding portion comprises a first hook and a second hook, where the first hook extends from the end of the first arm, the second hook extends from the end of the second arm, and the first and second hooks are coupled to the user-actuable mechanism via the generally U-shaped member. In one embodiment, the user-actuable mechanism comprises a threaded aperture through the rear connecting member and a bolt disposed in the threaded aperture. In such an embodiment, the user-actuable mechanism is structured such that, when the apparatus is installed around the vertical post, turning the bolt in a first direction exerts a force against the first side of the vertical post and draws the first and second hooks toward the vertical post.

In one embodiment of the apparatus the soccer goal holding portion comprises a generally hook-shaped member for holding the horizontal bar of the soccer goal. The hook-shaped member has an opening that, when the apparatus is engaged with the football goalpost, faces the football goalpost. In such an embodiment, the apparatus is configured such actuation of the mechanism pulls the soccer hook-shaped member toward the football goalpost and secures the horizontal bar between the hook-shaped member and the second side of the vertical post. In such embodiments the apparatus may further include a protective plate located between the horizontal bar and vertical post, where protective plate has protective padding.

In some embodiments, the user-actuatable mechanism comprises a bolt and the apparatus is structured such that turning the bolt in a first direction exerts a force against the first side of the vertical post and draws the soccer goal engaging portion toward the vertical post. In some embodiments, the football goalpost engaging portion comprises a plate coupled to the bolt and located between the tip of the bolt and the first side of the vertical post. Such a plate has a radius of curvature and is padded on the side of the plate that is configured to be adjacent to the surface of the vertical post. In other embodiments, the football goalpost engaging section comprises the tip of a bolt. In some embodiments, the bolt of the football engaging section has an oversized head that has handgrips to facilitate manual turning of the bolt.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method comprising: (1) positioning a movable soccer goal such that a structural member of the soccer goal is located proximate to a vertical post secured in the ground; (2) positioning a soccer goal securing apparatus around the vertical post; (3) positioning a hook-shaped member of the soccer goal securing apparatus around the structural member of the soccer goal; and (4) actuating a user-actuable mechanism of the soccer goal securing apparatus to pull the hook-shaped member of the soccer goal securing apparatus toward the vertical post until the structural member of the soccer goal is secured against the vertical post. In one embodiment, the structural member of the soccer goal comprises a horizontal ground bar of the soccer goal and the vertical post comprises a post of a football goalpost. In some embodiments, the method further comprises positioning a padded member between the structural member of the soccer goal and the vertical post. In some embodiments, actuating the user-actuable mechanism comprises tightening a bolt that is part of the user-actuable mechanism in order to draw the hook-shaped member toward the vertical post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of a soccer goal1anchored to a football goal10using a soccer goal securing apparatus20, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the soccer goal securing apparatus20is configured to engage a lower portion of the vertical post12or gooseneck that supports the football crossbar and uprights14. The soccer goal securing apparatus20is further configured to securely hold the horizontal ground bar3of the soccer goal1at the same time that the soccer goal securing apparatus20is engaged with the lower portion of the vertical post12of the football goal10.

As also illustrated inFIG. 1, the soccer goal securing apparatus20is positioned at the base of the vertical post12, just above or on the ground5or other playing surface. In this way, the soccer goal securing apparatus20anchors the soccer goal's ground bar3to the football goal10at ground level, while remaining easily accessible to facility personnel who are charged with moving the soccer goal1on and off of the football field. It should be noted that, although the embodiments of the present invention generally describe securing the ground bar of the soccer goal to the vertical member of a football goal, in other embodiments a similar apparatus and similar techniques may be applied to securing any soccer like goal to any vertical post. For example, in one embodiment, an indoor soccer goal or floor hockey goal may be secured to the vertical post of a basketball hoop.

FIGS. 2-4illustrate a front perspective view, a rear perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of a soccer goal securing apparatus20positioned around a vertical member20of a football goal10and securing the ground bar3of a soccer goal1to the football goal10, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As such, the soccer goal securing apparatus20generally comprises a soccer goal ground bar holding system for releasably holding the ground bar3of a soccer goal1, and a vertical post engaging system for releasably engaging the vertical post12of a football goal10. The soccer goal securing apparatus20also generally comprises one or more releasing mechanisms for releasing the soccer goal's ground bar3and the football goal's vertical post12from engagement with each other and with the soccer goal securing apparatus20. In one exemplary embodiment, the soccer goal securing apparatus20is configured such that a user can engage and/or disengage the soccer goal's ground bar3and the football goal's vertical post12without the use of any tools not already coupled to some portion of the soccer goal securing apparatus20.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2-4, the soccer goal securing apparatus20comprises a generally “U”-shaped member22that is configured to be positioned around the vertical post12to removably engage the vertical post12. More specifically, the U-shaped member22includes a first arm23aand a second arm23b. The two arms are connected to each other at one end by a rear connecting member24that extends from the rear end of the first arm23ato the rear end of the second arm23b. In this way, the first arm23a, the second arm23b, and the rear connecting member24combine to approximately form a “U” shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm23a, the second arm23b, and the rear connecting member24are all integrally formed with each other or are at least welded together to form a single unit. However, in other embodiments, the first arm23a, the second arm23b, and the rear connecting member24may be joined together using fasteners or other methods or devices that will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

The U-shaped member22is configured such that the distance between the first arm23aand the second arm23bis at least as great as, and preferably slightly greater than, the diameter of the vertical post12. In this way, the U-shaped member22can be positioned around the vertical post12with the vertical post12passing between the two arms23aand23b.

Each arm of the U-shaped member22further comprises a mechanism for grasping the generally horizontal ground bar3of a soccer goal. In the illustrated embodiment, the ends of the first arm23aand the second arm23bopposite the rear connecting member24have generally hook-shaped members25aand25b, respectively, extending therefrom. The generally hook-shaped members25aand25bcan be used to engage the ground bar3by positioning the hook shaped members25aand25baround the ground bar3. In one embodiment, the hook-shaped members25aand25bare formed from two generally horizontal plates26aand26bthat extend from the first arm23aand the second arm23b, respectively. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the generally horizontal plates26aand26b, which are integrally formed with, welded to, or otherwise coupled to the arms of the U-shaped member22, extend from the arms of the U-shaped member22generally in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the U-shaped member22(i.e., a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertical post12when the soccer goal securing apparatus20is installed around the vertical post12) and curve downward in the direction of the ground to form two hook-shaped half-cylinders25aand25b. The longitudinal axis defined by the first half-cylinder25aaligns with the longitudinal axis defined by the second half-cylinder25b. In this way, the two hook-shaped half cylinders25aand25bcan simultaneously grasp two areas of a soccer goal's ground bar3. In one embodiment, the ground bar3is generally cylindrical. In such an embodiment, the hook-shaped half cylinders25aand25bmay be configured to have an inside diameter that is only just slightly greater than the diameter of the ground bar3.

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, the hook-shaped members25aand25bcurve downwards toward the ground. Such a configuration may be preferable since it allows the ground bar3to be held close to the ground, as is generally desirable, while the remainder of the soccer goal securing apparatus20remains slightly above the ground where it can be more easily adjusted and manipulated by a user without significant interference from the ground. Furthermore, configuring the hook-shaped members25aand25bto curve downwards makes it possible for a user to place the hook-shaped members over the ground bar3as opposed to requiring the user to lift the ground bar over the hooks, which would be more difficult for a single person to accomplish. However, despite these potential advantages, in other embodiments of the present invention, the hook-shaped members25aand25bmay curve upwards towards the sky.

By positioning the hook-shaped members25aand25baround the ground bar3, the open end of the U-shaped member22is blocked by the ground bar3. As such, the vertical post12is captured between the arms of the U-shaped member22. In order to secure the ground bar3within the hook-shaped members25aand25band in order to secure the soccer goal securing apparatus20with respect to the vertical post12, the soccer goal securing apparatus20further includes a mechanism to draw the hook-shaped members25aand25btoward the vertical post12so that the ground bar3is secured between the hook-shaped members and the vertical post12(or some other member positioned between the ground bar3and the vertical post12, as described below with regard to an exemplary embodiment of the invention).

In the illustrated embodiment, the rear connecting member24has a nut25welded or otherwise coupled thereto. In other embodiments, however, the rear connecting member24may be threaded and the nut25may not be required. Where a nut is used, the nut25is preferably welded approximately halfway between the two arms of the U-shaped member22. The interior of the nut25is threaded so that a bolt30can be screwed through the nut towards the interior of the “U” defined by the U-shaped member22. The head of the bolt30is located outside of the “U,” i.e., to the rear of the rear connecting member24. As illustrated inFIGS. 2-4, the head of the bolt30may include an enlarged knob31designed so that the bolt30can be more easily turned by hand.

The illustrated embodiment further includes a clamping plate37which is held in place in front of the bolt30by a second U-shaped member35welded or otherwise coupled thereto. As illustrated inFIG. 3, when the clamping plate37is welded to the second U-shaped member35, the two define a generally rectangular-shaped tube. The rear connecting member24passes through this tube and the second U-shaped member35has a hole therein to allow for the bolt30to pass therethrough uninhibited to the nut25in the rear connecting member24. Configured as such, the bolt30can be turned in a clockwise direction to advance the bolt30through the nut25and toward the clamping plate37. When the bolt30intersects the clamping plate37, further turning of the bolt30pushes the clamping plate37and the rear connecting member24apart from each other. When the soccer goal securing apparatus is positioned around the vertical post12and when the clamping plate37is positioned adjacent to the outside surface of the vertical post12, further turning of the screw in the clockwise direction causes the U-shaped member, including the arms23a/23band the hooks25a/25bto move toward the rear, thereby drawing the ground bar3of the soccer goal closer and closer to the vertical post12until the portion of the ground bar3between the two hook-shaped members25aand25bis secured against the vertical post12.

In one embodiment of the invention, the clamping plate37has a curvature that at least approximately matches the curvature of the post12or of a standard vertical post of a football goal. In other embodiments, however, the clamping plate37may be flat or take other forms. In some embodiments, at least the portion of the clamping plate37that interacts with the post12is made of, lined with, or coated with a soft and/or resilient material that functions to help protect the post12from being scratched or otherwise damaged from the clamping plate37.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2-4, the soccer goal securing apparatus20further comprises a protecting plate or pad39for positioning between the ground bar3and the post12when the ground bar3is pulled rearward against the post12. The plate or pad39may have a curvature, at least on the side that interacts with the post12, that at least approximately matches the curvature of the post12. One or both of the sides of the plate or pad39may be lined with, covered with, or made of a soft and/or resilient material that functions to help protect the post12and/or the ground bar3from being scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged when the ground bar3and the post12are pulled together. For example, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the plate39is made up of a curved metal plate having foam or rubber lining the inside of the curvature.

In some embodiments, the protecting plate or pad39is not attached to the U-shaped member22or other members of the soccer goal securing apparatus20. In other embodiments, however, the protecting plate or pad39is attached to the U-shaped member22. For example, in the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2-4, the protecting plate39is attached to the rear clamping plate37via a tether40. The tether40may comprise, for example, a flexible metal cable.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second U-shaped member35and the rear clamping plate37are not present. In such an embodiment, the bolt30, threaded through the rear connecting member24and/or a nut25welded thereto, may be used to bear directly against the surface of the post12and push the rear connecting member24away from the post12when the bolt30is turned in a predefined direction. In still other embodiments, a clamping plate37is rotatably coupled, such as by a ball-and-socket-type hinge, to the tip of the bolt30, but the second U-shaped member35is not present.

In yet another embodiment, other mechanisms for drawing the hook members25aand25btoward the vertical post12may be provided. For example, each arm23aand23bmay be coupled to the rear connecting member24via a first bolt and a second bolt, respectively. Turning each of these two bolts in a predetermined direction may pull the corresponding arm rearward toward the rear connecting member24. When the rear connecting member24is resting against the rear of the vertical post12, turning of the bolts in this predetermined direction pulls the hook-shaped members25aand25b, and any horizontal bar3held thereby, towards the post12.

In some embodiments, the soccer goal securing apparatus20is made primarily of metal. However, in other embodiments, the soccer goal securing apparatus20may be made of any suitable polymeric or metallic material or any combination of these or other materials. As described above, in some embodiments, portions of the soccer goal securing apparatus20are made of, lined with, or coated with relatively soft, flexible, and/or resilient material to protect the post12and/or the ground bar3from damage. For example, in one embodiment, the hook-shaped members25aand25bare coated with a rubber-like material or lined on the inside of the curvature with a foam or rubber-like material.

Embodiments of the present invention further provide a method of anchoring a movable soccer goal. For example,FIG. 5illustrates a method of anchoring a moveable soccer goal to the ground, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, as illustrated by block110, the method may involve positioning a movable soccer goal such that a structural member of the soccer goal, such as the ground bar, is located proximate to a vertical post secured in the ground, such as the vertical post of a football goal. As illustrated by block120, the method may further involve positioning a soccer goal securing apparatus around the vertical post and, as illustrated by block130, positioning one or more hook-shaped members of the soccer goal securing apparatus around the horizontal ground bar or other structural member of the soccer goal. As illustrated by block140, the method may further involve positioning a padding member between the ground bar and the vertical post. As illustrated by block150, the method may then further involve tightening a bolt of the soccer goal securing apparatus to draw the one or more hook-shaped members toward the vertical post until the soccer goal's ground bar is secured against the vertical post or against the padding member sandwiched between the ground bar and the post.