Patent ID: 8561362

Claim:
A mounting system for selectively fixing a soccer goal to a ground surface, comprising: a ground engaging member having a longitudinal axis, a first end adapted to guide the ground engaging member into the ground surface and a second end adapted to be positioned proximate an upper surface of the ground surface; a lock assembly that removably engages the second end of the ground engaging member, and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ground engaging member when the lock assembly is engaged with the ground engaging member, wherein the lock assembly includes a movable plunger and ball assembly, the plunger being movable in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ground engaging member and wherein the ball engages a groove formed in the ground engaging member to secure the lock assembly to the ground engaging member, and further including a key having a body and a tang, the key configured to cooperate with the lock assembly so that the body of the key is isolated from the plunger and the tang engages the plunger to manipulate the position of the ball; a clamp body having a top surface and bottom surface and configured to extend in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the ground engaging member, and further including an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface such the lock assembly is capable of engaging the ground engaging member through the opening and the clamp body is configured to be removable from the ground engaging member only when the lock assembly is disengaged from the ground engaging member; and wherein the clamp body further comprises a first portion having a substantially planar shape, and a second portion having a substantially arcuate shape, the second portion engaging a ground bar of the soccer goal to secure the ground bar under the second portion of the clamp body.