Patent ID: 6979274

Claim:
A portable goal assembly that folds in two dimensions, comprising: a goalmouth frame comprising a crossbar and two side posts rigidly connected to the crossbar, said goalmouth frame being adapted to rest generally upright upon the ground, the crossbar and two side posts defining an upright rectangular front opening, the crossbar being pivotal in a direction perpendicular to its length; a base frame comprising a rearward cross member and two side members rigidly connected to the rearward cross member and pivotally connected to the side posts of said goalmouth frame, said base frame being adapted to rest on the ground, the rearward cross member being pivotal in a direction perpendicular to its length; and at least one diagonal brace comprising two elongate members pivotally connected to each other, wherein a first elongate member pivotally connects to the crossbar, and a second elongate member pivotally connects to the rearward cross member, wherein said goalmouth frame is adapted to pivot towards said base frame to fold the goal assembly flat, and the crossbar and the rearward cross member are adapted to pivot along their lengths to fold the goal assembly in half, wherein the two elongate members pivotally connect to each other with a releasably lockable hinge, and wherein the releasably lockable hinge comprises an elbow fitting having a threaded tubular extension, a tee fitting through which the threaded tubular extension extends, and a cap threadably received on the threaded tubular extension for forcing the tee fitting towards the elbow fitting, the elbow fitting having a notch capable of receiving a protrusion of the tee fitting and locking the hinge.