Abstract:
A target device is positionable in an infinite number of positions within a sports goal having left and right upright members and a crossbar connecting the upright members. The device includes a main body generally comprised of a sheet material. A pair of spaced apart adjustable straps engaging an upper portion of the main body and are used for suspending the main body from the crossbar of the goal. An elastic cord extends through a lower portion of the main body and has first and second ends for attaching to the left and right upright members, respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     Applicant claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/158,264 filed on Oct. 7, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to targets for use in sporting goals such as soccer goals and hockey goals. 
     In the absence of a goal tender, a target that is suitable for shooting at by players is needed. Typical targets that have been used in the past are often quite large and are mounted as either a permanent or removable fixture within the goal. For example, in hockey, a board is attached to the goal posts or crossbar, the board having openings in the upper left and right and lower left and right corners and along the bottom center of the goal. 
     Some other targets of the prior art are discussed in the patents listed below: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Griggs 
                 4,245,843 
               
               
                   
                 LeBel et al. 
                 4,842,283 
               
               
                   
                 McCarrel 
                 5,634,640 
               
               
                   
                 Barry 
                 5,800,290 
               
               
                   
                 McNamara 
                 5,993,334 
               
               
                   
                 Henrickson 
                 Des. 377,673 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a target device positionable in an infinite number of positions within a sports goal having left and right upright members and a crossbar connecting the upright members. The device includes a main body generally comprised of a sheet material. A pair of spaced apart adjustable straps engaging an upper portion of the main body and are used for suspending the main body from the crossbar of the goal. An elastic cord extends through a lower portion of the main body and has first and second ends for attaching to the left and right upright members, respectively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the target of the present invention centrally located in a hockey goal. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the target of the present invention positioned in an upper lefthand comer of the hockey goal. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the target of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention generally indicated at  10  in FIG. 1 acts as a shooting target that is suspended within a goal generally indicated at  12  such as a ice hockey goal specifically illustrated in FIG.  1 . The target  10  is suspended along a plane that is defined by left and right uprights  14  and  16  and a crossbar  18  that connects the left and right uprights  14  and  16 . Although an ice hockey goal is specifically illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that other goals such as for example, a soccer goal, a roller hockey goal or a lacrosse goal is also within the scope of the present invention along with other goals used in similar games. 
     The target  10  includes a target member  20  at which a puck is shot. The target  10  is used in the absence of a goal tender or can be used to develop specific shooting skills. The target member  20  is constructed of a material that can withstand the impact of a hockey puck. Preferably, the material is polymeric such as polyethylene sheeting having a thickness in the range of ¼ inch to one inch. The thickness given is exemplary and the use of other materials may result in different thicknesses being used. The important factor is that the target member should withstand the impact of the object being propelled such as a hockey puck hitting the member repeatedly over time. 
     One other purpose of the target  10  is to improve the shooting ability of the player at a particular spot in the goal. Therefore, the target member  18  must be movable and is of a size sufficiently small so that it challenges the player, but sufficiently large so it does not discourage the player from shooting at the target. In one preferred embodiment, the target as illustrated in the photographs is approximately 8½×11″, positioned in a goal having an opening that is 4′×6′ such as a hockey goal. 
     The target member  20  is suspended from the crossbar  18  by a pair of vertically disposed straps  22  that are attached to the target  20  at an upper end  24 . The straps  22  are spaced apart and extend through slots  26  in the target member  20 , as best illustrated in FIG.  3 . The straps  22  are sufficiently spaced apart so that the target member remains along the plane defined by the uprights  14  and  16  and crossbar  18  and does not turn from a hit by a hockey puck. Preferably, the straps are made of a non-stretchable and flexible material. 
     The straps  22  are attached to the crossbar  18  through the use of buckles  28 . Each of the buckles has an adjusting member  30  through which the length of the straps  22  may be adjusted so as to position the target member  20  at a selected vertical height. Such adjusting members are commonly used to adjust strap lengths. The type of strap used in the present invention is not important nor how the strap is attached to the target. What is important is that the straps are adjustable so that the target may be moved upwardly or downwardly as indicated by arrows  22  in FIG.  1 . 
     For positioning the target  18  in a horizontal direction in the goal area that is between the uprights  14  and  16 , an elastic cord  32  sometimes known as a bungee cord or shock cord is secured to a lower end  34  of the target member  20 . The elastic cord extends through an aperture located proximate one lower corner  38  and a second aperture  40  located proximate an opposing lower corner  42  of the members. Between the apertures  36  and  40 , the elastic cord  32  is disposed within a slot  44  formed in the target member  20 . The slot  44  is sufficiently wide to accept the elastic cord  32  and sufficiently narrow to secure the cord  32  therewithin and sufficiently deep such that the elastic cord  32  does not extend beyond the surface of the target member  20  that is being hit by the hockey puck or other objects. 
     The elastic cord further includes hook ends  46  and  48  secured at opposing ends. Such hook ends are commonly used with elastic cords. Of course, other types of ends for attaching the cord to the uprights  14  and  16  are includable within the present invention. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the elastic cord is hooked at one end to one upright  14  and at the other end to the upright  16  using the hook ends  46  and  48 . To move the target member  20  in a horizontal direction as indicated by arrows  50 , the elastic cord  32  is moved through the slot  44  in either the left or the right direction as desired, thereby moving the target member. The straps  22  are then hooked about the crossbar  18  in the selected horizontal position and adjusted in length to position the target member at a selected height. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the target  10  in an upper left corner position in the hockey goal  12 . As illustrated, the cord  32  has been moved through the apertures  36  and  40  and slot  44  of the target member  20  to position the target member  20  proximate the left upright  14 . The straps  22  have been shortened and positioned to extend over the crossbar  18  in the position proximate the upright  14 . As illustrated, the target  20  is now in a position for players to shoot at the target in the upper lefthand corner of the goal  12 . 
     In a similar fashion, the target member  20  is moved horizontally toward the upright  16  as illustrated in broken lines in FIG.  2 . The straps  22  are lengthened to permit the target member to be moved downwardly away from the crossbar  18  while also being positioned near the upright  16 . Now the players can shoot pucks in the lower right hand comer of the goal  12 . 
     As is easily understood, the target member  20  is moveable to any position within the goal opening as defined by the uprights  14  and  16  and cross member  18 . 
     The combination of the elastic cord  32  and the straps  22  results in the hockey puck falling directly to the ground within the goal  12  after the puck hits the member  20  primarily due to the elastic nature of the cord  32  and inelastic nature of the straps  22 . The hockey puck does not rebound back to the player, but falls within the goal so that the hockey pucks are easily retrieved. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the polyethylene sheeting resounds with a clear and loud “clack” as the puck hits the target member  20  indicating that the target member  20  has been hit, providing a sense of accomplishment to the hockey player. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.