Patent ID: 7520826

Claim:
An apparatus for use as a goal in a game using a game ball, the apparatus comprising: a frame arranged to be supported on the ground to define: a perimeter boundary surrounding a goal area spanning an interior of the perimeter boundary substantially at ground level; and a goal mouth extending at least partway about the perimeter boundary substantially at ground level and arranged to provide access of the game ball therethrough to the goal area; and a retaining mechanism spanning the goal mouth and being arranged to both allow entry of the game ball into the goal area through the goal mouth and prevent exit of the game ball from the goal area through the goal mouth; the retaining mechanism comprising a plurality of gates; each gate being supported for movement between a first position in which the gate spans across a respective portion of the goal mouth to prevent access of the game ball into the goal area and a second position in which said portion of the goal mouth is substantially unobstructed by the gate member to allow access of the game ball through said portion of the goal mouth; and each gate comprising a bottom member and two side members joined with the bottom member in a generally U-shaped configuration with the bottom member in which the two side members are pivotally coupled to the frame for pivotal movement of the gate between the first and second positions; and the frame comprising an upper portion and a central portion which supports the upper portion spaced above the goal area at the perimeter boundary; and the gates being suspended from the upper portion of the frame at the perimeter boundary so as to be arranged for pivotal movement between the first and second positions.