Abstract:
A removable wheel device which slides onto the base of a sports field goal. The wheel device allows one person to move a goal across a field without using excessive force by sliding one wheel device onto the base of each goalpost and using leverage to tilt the goal and push or pull it for a distance. When inserted onto the base of the goal, the wheel device does not require any type of fastening to remain in place, but rather uses its own unique shape to hold onto the goal. Because field goals vary in structure, so too do each of the embodiments of the removable wheel device. Some of these variances include the angle of the axle, the location and structure of the notch, and the use of a protrusion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/950,255 filed on Nov. 19, 2010 entitled “System and Method for a Removable Wheel Device” and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/395,287 filed on May 10, 2010 entitled “Lacrosse Goal Carrier ‘Goal Caddie”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is generally in the field of detachable wheeled supporting devices for the goal frame in a field game. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Goals for a field game, such as soccer, lacrosse, or hockey, are not readily moveable, especially by a single person. Traditionally, wheels or caster assemblies are attached by welding or screwing to the bottom of a heavy object to make the object movable. However, welding or screwing wheels or caster assemblies to a goal frame would damage the body of the goal. Mounting the wheels or caster assemblies to the goal frame may also change the measure of the goal, making the dimension incompliant to the official measure for that game, if the goal is not designed to accommodate the wheels or caster assemblies. 
     So as to reduce the complexity and length of the Detailed Specification, and to fully establish the state of the art in certain areas of technology, Applicant herein expressly incorporates by reference all of the following materials identified in each numbered paragraph below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,292 (1993) describes a portable soccer goal assembly that comprises a plurality of rollers or wheels mounted on the outrigger to facilitate the movement of the goal frame. The milers or wheels may be retractable when the goal is in use. However, these rollers or wheels are part of the design of the portable soccer goal, rather than detachable devices accommodated to goals made by different manufactures. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,678 (1989) describes a caster pad that is attachable to the bottom of a receptacle and adapted to receive and hold a replaceable caster assembly. The caster pad comprises a rectangular base with a flange at each of its four edges and a U-shaped rod. The rectangular base is attached to the bottom of the receptacle with screws, bolts or rivets. With the U-shaped rod entering the holes of one flange and extending out of the holes of the opposite flange, the plate of the replaceable caster assembly is captured between the rectangular base and the arms of the U-shaped rod. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,584 (1998) describes a releasable caster holder that is welded to a heavy, unwieldy object with a frame and is mounted to a removable caster. The frame of the caster holder comprises two end walls and two side walls. The caster holder does not have a pad portion in order to reduce its weight. 
     Applicant believes that the material incorporated above is “non-essential” in accordance with 37 CFR 1.57, because it is referred to for purposes of indicating the background of the invention or illustrating the state of the art. However, if the Examiner believes that any of the above-incorporated material constitutes “essential material” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.57(c)(1)-(3), applicant will amend the specification to expressly recite the essential material that is incorporated by reference as allowed by the applicable rules. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides among other things a system and a method of a removable wheel device. It is an objective of this invention to make a goal for a field game movable over a flat surface or a rough terrain of a sports field by attaching one or more removable wheel devices to the bottom of the goal. The above objective may be achieved using a removable wheel device comprising a sleeve with at least a base, one or more support(s), and at least one cantilevered member, as well as a wheel with an axle, and a bracket connecting the axle of the wheel and the base of the sleeve. This objective may also be achieved using methods involving assembling the removable wheel device aforementioned. 
     In one example of this invention, the support of the sleeve comprises at least one sidewall. In another embodiment, the sleeve has an opening at the back of the device so that the device can slide over a bottom corner of the goal frame. With the opening, the space inside the sleeve, formed by the base, the support, and the cantilevered member, is designed to be sufficient to hold the bottom of the goal frame. Moreover, the cantilevered member may be U-shaped with an arced portion in the front of the sleeve to prevent the goal frame from passing through in certain embodiments. And the width between the opposite arms of the U-shaped cantilevered member is sufficient to allow the device to slide around the substantially vertical pipe of the goal frame, but is not wide enough for the bottom of the goal frame to pass. However, the widths of the two arms of the U-shaped cantilevered member may be different to accommodate goal frames that have a vertical pipe offset from the center position of the bottom. 
     In addition, the sleeve and/or the bracket may be made of any material, such as steel or any composite material, which is able to support the stress and weight of the goal. The bracket may be attached to the bottom of the sleeve permanently, or it can be removable from the sleeve by any methods known to any person skilled in the relevant art, including using screws or bolts. The bracket can also be rotatable in some embodiments, so that the wheel can face any direction. For the rotating bracket, there can be a locking mechanism to maintain the position of the bracket and the wheel. 
     Alternatively, the objective may be achieved using a removable wheel device, comprising a wheel with an axle, a bracket coupled to the axle of the wheel, and a sleeve which has at least one base and one or more member(s) extending from a portion of a perimeter of the base in a direction away from the wheel. The base of the sleeve is coupled to the bracket while substantially perpendicular to the bracket. The cross section of the base and the at least one member is substantially U-shaped. In one embodiment, the sleeve has an opening at the back of the device so that the device can slide over a bottom corner of the goal frame. In another embodiment to be used with a lacrosse goal, the bracket is coupled to the sleeve at an angle such that the wheel is perpendicular to the upper crossbar of the lacrosse goal. An alternative embodiment includes a detachable latch extending from the member of the sleeve and located substantially parallel to the base to prevent the goalpost from moving freely on the wheel device. 
     In some embodiments, a removable wheel device for a field game goal may comprise a wheel with an axle therethrough, a bracket extending substantially parallel to a radius of the wheel and coupled to the axle of the wheel and a sleeve. The sleeve may comprise a substantially U-shaped base that is substantially perpendicular to and coupled to the bracket, at least one support extending from a portion of a perimeter of the base in a direction away from the wheel, at least one substantially planar top plate coupled substantially perpendicularly to the at least one support and at least partially overhanging the base, the substantially planar top plate comprising a notch extending from a first edge of the substantially planar top plate toward a second, curved edge of the substantially planar top plate and located proximal to a first side edge of the substantially planar top plate, the notch comprising at least a first notch portion having a greater width than a second notch portion, and at least one protrusion extending from and coupled substantially parallel to the at least one support and extending toward an interior of the sleeve. 
     Particular aspects may comprise one or more of the following features. The substantially U-shaped base may comprise a first substantially straight edge. The bracket may be positioned such that the axle is substantially parallel to the first substantially straight edge of the base. The bracket may be positioned such that the axle is non-parallel to the first substantially straight edge of the base. The bracket may be detachable from the substantially U-shaped base. The bracket may be rotatable relative to the sleeve. The device may further comprise a locking mechanism coupled to the rotatable bracket. The at least one protrusion may spans less than a length of the at least one support. The second notch portion may comprise a first edge proximal to the first side of the top plate and the protrusion has a width that is less than or equal to a distance between the first edge of the second notch portion and the first side of the top plate. The sleeve may further comprise at least two supports extending from a portion of a perimeter of the base in a direction away from the wheel. The substantially U-shaped base may further comprise a second, curved edge wherein a front opening is formed by the second, curved edge of the substantially U-shaped base, and the second, curved edge of the substantially planar top plate. The first substantially straight edge of the substantially U-shaped base and the first edge of the substantially planar top plate may form a rear opening. 
     Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventor is fully aware that he can be his own lexicographer if desired. The inventor expressly elects, as his own lexicographer, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventor&#39;s intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
     The inventor is also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
     Further, the inventor is fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6 are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for, and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of [insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . ” or “step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventor not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6 are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the figures, like reference numbers refer to like elements or acts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable wheel device from the top. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the removable wheel device as in  FIG. 1  from the bottom. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an implementation of a pair of the removable wheel devices mounted to a lacrosse goal frame. 
         FIG. 4  represents an embodiment of the removable wheel device that has two sidewalls leaning inwards. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a removable wheel device having curved sidewalls. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of a removable wheel device having a sleeve that has a curved base, a continuous sidewall, and a latch across the sidewall. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a method for making a removable wheel device. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a removable wheel device with an axle parallel with a first straight edge of the base and a notch located equidistant from the sides of the sleeve. 
         FIGS. 9-10  show bottom and top views of the device of  FIG. 8 , respectively. 
         FIG. 11-12  depict embodiments of a removable wheel device comprising a notch located proximal to a side edge of the sleeve. 
         FIGS. 13-14  shows the underside of a removable wheel device comprising an axle that is non-parallel to a straight edge of the base. 
         FIG. 15  depicts an embodiment of a removable wheel device having a protrusion within the sleeve. 
     
    
    
     Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, the device has a wheel  103  with an axle  109  therethrough, a bracket  102 , and a sleeve  101 . The bracket  102  may extend in a direction parallel to a radius of the wheel  103 . The bracket  102  may be detachable from the base  105 . The sleeve  101  has a front portion  108  and a rear portion  110 . The sleeve  101  has a base  105 , two supports  107 , wherein the supports may be sidewalls, and a U-shaped cantilevered member  106  with a first arm  111 , a second arm  112 , and an arced portion  113  connecting the two. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the arced portion  104  need not be arced, and any shape that connects the two arms  111 ,  112  would suffice. As one non-limiting example of a removable wheel device, the space surrounded by the cantilevered member  106  is 2″ wide and has a 1″ radius arced portion  104  at the front end of the U-shaped cantilevered member  106 , although one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that any appropriate dimensions may be used. 
     In another implementation, the bracket  102  may rotate relative to the sleeve  101  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . This feature makes a goal attached to the removable wheel device easier to steer. The bracket  102  may also comprise or be coupled to a locking mechanism to hold the bracket  102  at a specific angle relative to the sleeve  101 . Moreover, in this embodiment, the sleeve  101  has an opening  205  at the front end to leave room for the bottom corner of the goal. For example, the bottom flat iron of a lacrosse goal frame can be of different size due to the different manufacturing techniques adopted. This opening  205  makes a removable wheel device for the lacrosse goal suitable to goals made by different manufactures. 
     In one embodiment, two removable wheel devices  100  are used with a lacrosse goal as shown in  FIG. 3 . To attach the removable wheel devices  100  to the goal, a person may lift the appropriate side of the goal at  307  or  308  and slide the devices  100  over a flat iron  303  and snugly around the goalpost  302  at location  304 . When both devices  100  are in place, the person can tilt the goal face side down, while facing the goal, by pulling the cross bar  305  and pivoting the goal over the removable wheel devices  100 . When the goal is balanced over the removable wheel devices  100 , a person can pull or push the goal to a different place. Another alternative is to slide the devices  100  on the goal and lift the goal from the triangular point of the flat iron  306 . This pivots the goal over the devices  100  at location  304 . The goal is now ready to move to another place. 
     In some embodiments, the distance between the arms  111 ,  112  of the U-shaped cantilevered member  106  of the sleeve  101  is 2 inches because the vertical goalposts  302  of a lacrosse goal have a diameter of less than 2 inches, and the flat irons  303  attached to the posts  302  at the bottom generally have a width of more than 2 inches. However, if this device  100  were to be used for a different type of goal, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that any appropriate dimensions are applicable. The bracket  102  may be coupled to the sleeve  101  at an angle such that the wheel  103  is perpendicular to a plane comprising two goalposts  302  and a crossbar  305  of a lacrosse goal. 
     Some embodiments may have a member  401  of the sleeve leaning inwards so that the goal may slide into the space formed by the member  401  of the sleeve  101  and the base  105 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the member  401  of such a device has an opening  205  in the front and the rest is bent inwards. The cross section of the member  401  and the base  105  may be substantially U-shaped. Another embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  has a curved sidewall  501  with an opening  205  in the front. The cross section of the sidewall  501  and the base  105  may also be generally U-shaped. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the device may have a sleeve with a curved base  601 , a continuous sidewall  602 , and a detachable latch  603  that traverses the space in between sidewalls  602 . The latch  603  may be detached when the bottom of the goal slides in the sleeve  101  and is attached after the goalpost is in position. With this latch  603 , the goalpost cannot slide backward or move freely from the wheel device when the goal is being moved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a method for making a removable wheel device is disclosed. A wheel with an axle therethrough is provided  701 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that many different types of wheels and axles would be possible. A bracket is coupled to the axle with the bracket extending substantially parallel to a radius of the wheel  702 . A base of a sleeve is coupled to the bracket. The base may be substantially perpendicular to the wheel. The sleeve may comprise at least one support extending from a portion of a perimeter of the base in a direction away from the wheel. The sleeve may further comprise at least one cantilevered member extending from the at least on support, the cantilevered member located substantially parallel to the base, and extending such that the cantilevered member overhangs the base  703 . A person of ordinary skill in the art would know that no specific order of coupling is required, and that a variety of materials, including metal, may be used. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a removable wheel device may comprise a sleeve  101  having a base  105  which may be substantially U-shaped or formed into any other shape that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize as appropriate. The sleeve  101  may further comprise at least two supports  107  that extend from a portion of a perimeter and that is coupled substantially perpendicularly to a top plate  1505  which may in some embodiments be substantially planar and at least partially overhang the base  105  such that the top plate  1505  is located at least partially above the base  105 . In some implementations, the removable wheel device may be configured such that the axle  109  is parallel to a first straight edge  805  of the base  105 . This feature makes a goal with goal posts already square to the field more easily moved. Goals may have any number of different designs. Goals including those used for high school, club, and NCAA can be built with slight variations. The notch  820  depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 10  may be used to accommodate those goals with posts  302  that are substantially centered on the flatiron  303 . The notch  820  may extend from the first edge of the substantially planar top plate  1510  toward a second curved edge of the substantially planar top plate  1515 . This notch  820  may be equidistant from the first side edge  815  and the second side edge  810  of the substantially planar top plate  1505 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  depict an implementation of a removable wheel device configured to fit the left and right side of a field game goal, respectively, when the goal posts  302  are not substantially centered on the flat iron  303 . A notch  820  may be comprised of a first notch portion  1105  and a second notch portion  1110  and may extend from a first edge of the top plate  1510  toward a second, curved edge of the top plate  1515 . The first notch portion  1105  may have a greater width than a second notch portion  1110 . In this particular embodiment the axle  109  is non-parallel to the first straight edge of the base  805  but the axle  109  could very well be parallel as the angle of the goal posts  302  dictates the angle of the wheel  103 . Additionally, the bracket  102  may be rotatable relative to the sleeve  101  and the device may further comprise a locking mechanism coupled to the rotatable bracket. A front  1205  and rear  1210  opening allow the goal post  302  and flat iron  303  to be inserted into the sleeve  101 . The front opening  1205  does not prevent stylistically different flat irons  303  from resting inside the sleeve  101 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  depict a bottom view of the removable wheel device for both the left and right side of a field game goal showing the axle  109  that is not parallel to the first edge of the base  805 . 
       FIG. 15  depicts a notch  820  that may be proximal to a first side edge  815  of the substantially planar top plate  1505  because some field goal&#39;s goal posts  302  at location  304  are closer to the center of the crossbar  305  in relation to the flat iron  303 . The top plate  1505  also includes a second side edge  810 . The notch  820  may be comprised of a first notch portion  1105  and a second notch portion  1110  and may extend from a first edge  1510  of the top plate  1505  toward a second curved edge  1515  of the top plate  1505 . The first notch portion  1105  may have a greater width than the second notch portion  1110 . A protrusion  1520  may extend from the at least one support  107  toward the interior of the sleeve  101 . In some embodiments, the protrusion  1520  may span less than the full length of the at least one support  107 . In other embodiments, the protrusion  1520  may span the entire length of the at least one support  107 . The protrusion  1520  may have a width  1522  that is less than or equal to a distance between the first edge of the second notch portion  1521  and the first side edge of the top plate  815 . As shown, the substantially planar top plate  1505 , the base  105 , and the at least one support  107  form a front opening  1205  and a rear opening  1210 . In some embodiments, the sleeve may have additional openings along either side which may be formed by the substantially planar top plate  1505 , the base  105  and one or more supports  107 . The base  105  may be comprised of a first substantially straight edge  805  and a second curved edge  1525 . The front opening  1205  may be formed between the second, curved edge of the substantially U-shaped base  1525 , and the second, curved edge of the planar top plate  1515 . The rear opening  1210  may be formed between the first substantially straight edge of the base  805  and the first edge of the substantially planar top plate  1510 .