Portable anchoring device for a sports goal

An anchoring device for a sports goal, such as a soccer goal, is provided as a portable bag having a pair of laterally spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments interconnected by at least one central strip of material. The central strip defines at least one opening extending between the weight-carrying compartments, and the portable bag is of a size capable of straddling a base rail of a sports goal frame such that the weight-carrying compartments are located on opposite sides of the base rail while the strip extends over the base rail. When the portable bag straddles the base rail, the opening permits a goal net to be fastened to the base rail of the goal frame between the weight-carrying compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to anchoring sports goals and the like to underlying indoor or outdoor surfaces, and more particularly, to a portable anchoring device, a sports goal assembly that includes an anchoring device, and a method for anchoring a sports goal.

Various structures, such as sport goal frames, benches, and the like require anchoring to an underlying ground surface for safety and other reasons. For example, the frames of soccer goals require anchoring to an underlying playing surface to prevent accidental tilting over of the goals which may cause injury to players or other persons located nearby. This is true for goals located on outdoor playing surfaces as well as goals located indoors.

Although the above referenced anchor devices, sports goal assemblies, and methods of anchoring sports goals disclosed in the above referenced patents may be satisfactory for their intended purposes, there is a need for a portable anchoring device, goal assembly utilizing the portable anchoring device, and method of anchoring a sports goal that can be used on both indoor and outdoor playing surfaces. The anchoring device should be capable of being readily attached to and removed from various goals supported on various indoor and outdoor playing surfaces in a manner requiring a minimum of time, effort, skill and labor. In addition, the anchoring device should be portable and capable of ready transport and storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an anchoring device for a sports goal, such as a soccer goal, and is in the form of a portable bag having a pair of laterally spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments that are interconnected by at least one central strip of material extending therebetween. The central strip defines at least one opening extending between the weight-carrying compartments, and the portable bag is of a size capable of straddling a base rail of a sports goal frame such that the weight-carrying compartments are located on opposite sides of the base rail while the strip extends over the base rail. When the portable bag straddles the base rail, the opening permits a goal net to be fastened to the base rail of the goal frame between the weight-carrying compartments.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a sports goal assembly is provided. The assembly includes a rigid goal frame defining an upright goal mouth and having at least one base rail extending behind the goal mouth along and parallel to an underlying playing surface. A perimeter portion of a goal net is secured to the goal frame, and a portable weighted bag is positioned on the base rail for anchoring the goal frame to the underlying playing surface. The portable bag has a pair of laterally spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments and is capable of straddling the base rail such that the compartments are positioned on the underlying playing surface on opposite sides of the base rail. At least one opening extends through the portable weighted bag between the compartments, and a portion of the goal net extends through the opening and is fastened to the base rail.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling a sports goal is provided. A goal frame is supported on an underlying ground surface. The goal frame defines an upright goal mouth and has at least one base rail. A portable weighted bag is straddled across the base rail of the goal frame. A perimeter portion of a goal net is secured to the base rail through an opening extending through the portable weighted bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The anchoring device of the present invention is useful in securing sport goal frames, park benches, picnic tables, and like structures to underlying ground surfaces. Preferably, the anchoring device is provided in the form of a portable weight bag that can be used on both outdoor and indoor surfaces. For example, as best illustrated inFIG. 1, one or more weight bags10according to the present invention can be used with a soccer goal12to prevent accidental tipping of the goal. The underlying surface14on which goal12is supported can be an outdoor natural grass or artificial playing field or any type of indoor playing surface.

A typical soccer goal12has a frame16including a pair of goal posts18and a crossbar20that together define a goal mouth22extending upright from the playing surface14. The soccer goal12may also include other framing elements needed to support a goal net24a spaced distance behind the goal mouth22. For example, the illustrated frame16includes a pair of arm assemblies26that extend rearward from the goal posts18and that each includes a lower horizontal base rail28. An additional cross base rail30may be used to interconnect the base rails28.

Each of the base rails,28and30, extends along and substantially parallel to the underlying surface14and is freely supported thereon. The perimeter rope, or edge,32of the goal net24is fastened to the frame16so that a soccer ball (not shown) passing through the goal mouth22remains captured within the goal12and cannot pass beyond the net24. Typically, the perimeter rope32of the net24is connected at spaced intervals to the rear sides of the goal posts18and crossbar20and to the top surfaces of base rails28and30and is draped over arm assemblies26. The spaced intervals must be sufficiently small to prevent a ball from passing between the net24and the frame16.

The anchoring device according to the present invention is in the form of a bag10having a handle34which enables the bag10to be carried by hand to a goal and be positioned on a base rail,28or30, thereof. As an example, the bag10can be made of canvas or like material and by itself may only weigh about a pound. Preferably, an additional substance36is added into, or carried by, the bag10to provide the requisite weight. For instance, the substance36can be sand, stone, gravel, solid weights in the form of bars, discs, or the like, containers filled with a fluid substance, or any like substance capable of adding weight to the bag10. In one contemplated embodiment, the bag10is designed to support approximately forty pounds of weights, such as forty pounds of sand. Of course, the bag10can be designed to carrying more or less weight, as desired.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bag10has a spaced-apart pair of weight-carrying compartments38and40interconnected by a central strip of material42. As an alternative, each compartment,38and40, could each be comprised of several separate weight-carrying compartments and/or the central strip can be comprised of several separate straps. Preferably, the handle34extends above the central strip42so that, when the bag is carried, the central strip42forms a top wall of the bag10with the compartments,38and40, depending from opposite lateral sides thereof. This ensures that the handle34extends above the center of gravity of the bag10for ease of carrying.

When the bag10is positioned on a base rail,28or30, of a goal12, the bag10is positioned such that it straddles the rail,28or30. The weight-carrying compartments38and40are located on opposite sides of the rail and are supported on the underlying surface14. The central strip42extends across and is supported on the rail,28or30. For an example of the straddled position, seeFIG. 4.

When laid flat, the illustrated embodiment of the bag10has a relatively rectangular perimeter in plan view. Each of the compartments,38and40, is provided as a relatively elongate pocket that extends substantially parallel to the other pocket. A fastening device44, such as a zipper, extends transversely across the bag10adjacent an end thereof and provides openings46through which the substance36can be placed or removed from the compartments,38and40. The fastening device44also permits the openings46of the compartments,38and40, to be sealed closed after the compartments,38and40, are filled. As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, one or more closure flaps or the like can be used to seal the compartments closed and the fastening device can be a hook and loop fastener, a snap fastener, straps, buckles, buttons, or the like.

The central strip42defines at least one opening48extending through the bag10at a location between the compartments,38and40. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 2, the central strip42defines a pair of spaced-apart openings48. The purpose of the openings48is to permit the goal net24to be fastened to the base rail,28or30, at the location of the bag10. For example, the perimeter rope32of the net24can be secured with clips50to the base rail,28or30, through each opening48thereby ensuring that the interval between such connections is relatively small. Of course, the goal net24can also be fastened to the base rail,28or30, adjacent the opposite ends of the bag10. Thus, the openings48ensure that the bag10does not interfere with the connection of the net24to the base rail,28or30, at required intervals.

According to one contemplated embodiment, the bag10is made from two substantially rectangular panels of material, such as canvas. As best illustrated inFIG. 4, an upper wall panel52extends continuously across the upper face of the bag10and a lower wall panel54extends continuously across the lower face of the bag10. The outer peripheral edges56of panels52and54are stitched together, and the panels52and54are stitched together at intermediate locations,58and60to define the inner peripheral edges of the compartments,38and40. The central strip of material42extends between stitched intermediate locations58and60. Preferably, a sheet of plastic or like reinforcement material62is embedded between panels52and54in the central strip42to reinforce this area of the bag10. Preferably, the openings48in the central strip42are defined by aligned apertures extending through the reinforcement sheet62and the panels52and54.

Preferably, the handle34is provided as two separate strips,64and66, of webbing material, such as strips of nylon. Each strip,64and66, encircles and is stitched to one of the compartments,38and40, at two spaced apart locations,68and70. The portion of the strips,64and66, that bridges from location68to location70is provided with some slack and provides a handle gripping location. As illustrated inFIG. 2, another strip of webbing72extends transversely from one end of the bag10and enables the bag10to be connected to an adjacent framing element or an adjacent bag10. This prevents unintended movement of the bag10relative to the goal frame16.

In use, the fastening device44of an empty bag10is utilized to open the compartments,38and40, and the compartments are filled with sand or like substance36. The handle34is gripped, and the portable bag10is carried to a goal location. One or more bags10are placed on a base rail,28or30, of a goal frame16such that the bags10straddle the base rail. The weighted compartments,38and40, are located on opposite sides of the rail and prevent the goal frame16from tipping over or from any other unintended movement relative to the underlying playing surface14.

The goal net24is secured to the base rail,28or30, with clips50or the like through the openings48in the central strip42of the bag10. This enables the attachment points of the net to the frame to be at close intervals thereby preventing a ball from escaping under the net at the location of the bag10. In the illustrated embodiment, the rail30has a channel into which clips50are secured. Other means of attaching the net to the frame can also be utilized.

While a preferred anchor, sports goal assembly, and method have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the anchor, assembly, and method according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims.