CA1069555A - Retractable goal post - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A retractable goal post device is provided which com-prises telescoping upright sections which are retracted when not in use into a casing disposed below ground level. The cas-ing has a hinged top cover which is flush with the surface of the playing field when closed. To raise the goal posts the top cover is raised and the uprights extended to the desired height.
The top cover may then be replaced if required. Upon completion of the play the cover is raised and the goal posts retracted to a stored position into the casing. The cover is then replaced so as to be flush with playing surface.

Description

~0t;95S5 Throughout the history of athletic events such as the game of football severe player injuries have occurred as a result of players' colliding with fixed installation goal posts during the exitement and fever of play. Injuries of this nature are undesirable from two prime standpoints; first, from their crippling effect on play personnel and, secondly, in that they often change the course of a game when a star player must be removed from play because of his injuries.
The current invention provides a device that may be easily installed in the end zone of an athletic playing field that will provide the function of the required goal post, yet which will remove the hazard of goal post injuries caused by in-advertent player goal post collisions. This feature is particu-larly important to the many players of the game of football and other sports as well as to the future of the game itself in that it will greatly assis, in reducing the criticism often voiced by humanitarlan groups against games involving physical contact.
In addition to its safety features the present inven-tion material~y aids the play of the game directly by providing goal posts that can be extended to such height that the possibil-ity of a misculled field goal or extra point is reduced to a bare minimum. Specifically, the goal post of the present invention may be extended without difficulty to heights of sixty feet or greater to assure that the ball when kicked will definitely pass between two uprights, therefore eliminating any possibility of a poor judgement call on the part of the referees as to whether or not the ball did in fact pass between the uprights.
This invention relates to a new and unique telescopic goal post device that is stowed underground in a retracted posi-tion at all times during periods of game play except when needed,thereby reducing player injuries frequently caused by players' ,~

10~i9555 inadvertently colliding with fixed position goal post. Further, l¦the goal post device is so constructed that it may be extended '~at will to allow for plays in which its use as a reference for ¦Iscoring plays is required.
An important object of this invention is to provide ifor player safety by removing injury causing devices from the Iplaying area of the ath~etic field.
Another object of this invention is to provide an efficient and economical means of raising and lowering goal ¦
posts on command from remote locations.
A further object of the ~resent invention is to provide a retractible football goal post installation t'hat when retracted i8 ful~y retracted in suc'h a manner t'hat the upper surface of the retraction pit is smooth and level with the surrounding terrain and without hazards t'hat may cause players to trip, stumble or become impaled upon installation protrusions.
Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a retractible football goal post installation that will afford a weather shield for the retractible football goal post when it is in the retracted position as well as for the mechanism that effects retraction and extension of the goal post.

A still furthcr object of this invention is to provide a reliable retractible goal post device that will provide fail safe operation so as to preclude the loss of a score due to failure of the goal post to extend at critical moments.
5 1 These and other objects are accomplished according to the present invention which comprises a plurality of parallel cylindrical telescopic uprights joined by a horizontal cross bar near the terminus of their upper extremity and being firmly secured at their base by insertion into tubular receptacles.
Said receptacles and uprights being interconnected and extended and retracted by hydraulic,pneumatic, electric and mechanical means which allow complete retraction Qf th~ uprights within a recessed casing which is complete with a hinged covering device The described apparatus, in essence comprises as an I ' ~5 entity a set of telescopically retractible goal posts for use on playing fields. Other objects and many of t'he attendant ad-vantages of t'his invention will be readily appreciated as t'he same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspectivè view showing a preferred em-bodiment of the current invention installed on a football playing field.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the upper surface with the device in a retracted position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the casing which houses the device.
In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: the complete device is designated (1) . ' According to a broad aspect of the present invention a retractable goal post device comprises two parallel vertically disposed goal posts connected by a horizontal member, each vertical post consisting of a plurality of concentric tubes disposed one within another and extendible to the full height of the post;
the bottom end of each post being mounted below ground in means for raising said posts vertically to a fully extended position above ground level and withdrawing said post to a retracted position below ground level; said device further comprising a subterranean casing means for housing said goal posts and hori-zontal member in their retracted position, said housing being provided with hinged lid means at ground level, said lid means being adapted to be raised to a nearly vertical position by lift-ing means to permit entry and exit of said goal post and horizontal member from said casing and further adapted to be lowered to a position flush with the ground to provide a covering for said casing and the retracted goal posts.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention in shown in Figures 1 and 2 which comprises a pair of ground mounted hydraulically or pneumatically operated vertically disposed parallel telescopic uprights (2) and (3) which extend perpendicularly through ~ - 4 -, .. ,.... . , :, 106955s and above a concrete casing (4) exiting said casing vertically through suitable openings (5), ~6) and (7) in the casing's top cover (8) which are exposed by the raising of hinged lids (9), (10) and (11). Said uprights (2) and (3) being connected at points (12) and (27) near the upper extremities of their lower telescopic sections (13) and (14) by horizontal cross bar (15) which is perpendicular to the vertical axis of said uprights (2) and (3).
The concrete casing (4) is normally poured at the installation site in such a manner that the synthetic grass covering (16) of the casing's hinged lids (9), (10) and (11) are flush with the - 4a -terrain surface (17) and with'the synthetic grass covering (18) IO:E the casing's permanently attached end panels (19) and (20) with the bulk of the casing (4) lying completely below the jterrain surface (17).
li In Figures 1 and 2, the vertical telescopic uprights, the left vertical upright (2) and the right vertical upright (3) are each composed of base receptacles (21) and (22) respectively ¦and three telescoping tubular sections; Sections (13), (23) ¦and (24) comprise the left upright and sections (14), (25) and 1(26) comprise the right upright. The base receptacles (21) and (22) are firmly and permanentl~ mounted perpendicularly to ' and through t'he base of concrete c~sing (4) at points (28) ;md (29) near their upper ex~remities in such a manner that the flanged lips (32) and (33) of said base receptacles (21) and (22) are raised a few inches above the upper surface (34) of the floor (45) of concrete casing (4) so as to allow,space for the connection of'hydraulic return tube (35) to hydraulic return fittings (36) and (37) respectively. The base receptacles (21) and (22) are further equipped at their lower expremities (38) and ' (39) wit'h hydraulic fluid input fittings (40) and (41) to which a hydraulic fluid input tube (42) is a~tached.

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I' 1069s55 ¦~ ~eference Figures 1, 2 and 3, the casing's (4) 1:op ¦¦cover (8) comprises a plurality of hinged and camed artificial ¦¦turf (16) covered li.ds (9), (10) and (11) and two artifical turf ~I(18) covered permanen~tly attached end panels (19) and (20). The llhinged and camed arrangement of the lids (9), (10) and (11) in jcooperation with two hydraulic lifters (43) and (44) open and ',.close the hinged lids (9), (10) and (11) sequentially to allow the vertical uprights (2) and (3) to telescope without restriction j to t'heir extended positions or to fully retract within casing (4) so as to, in essence, fully remove the uprights from the play- j ing area. The artificial turf covered hinged lids (9), (10) and (11) in cooperation with the artifical turf covered permanently attac'hed end panels (19) and (20), when closed, and t'he artificial . turf (16) covered end flanges (68) and (81) of concrete casing (4) further serve to form an uninterrupted playing surface over the terrain installed concrete casing (4) providing as well a weather shield to protect the various components contained within t'he concrete casing(4).
The floor (45) on concrete casing (4), in addition to ¦serving as a mounting base for hydraulic lifters (43) and (44) and for base receptacles (21) and (22), con~ains a grated sump (46) to allow for the ree drainage of water or other liquids that might seep into t'he casing (4). To facilitate drainage, the floor (45) of said casing is angularly inclined downward approximately . ' -6-lO~9S55 from its end walls (47) and (4~) toward the grated sump (~6) whicl~ is installed at the low point of the floor's incline.
The operational sequence of extension and retraction ¦o the vertical uprights (2) and (3) and their contiguous cross !bar (1.5) is initiated by a remote operator (49) manipulating console controls (50) so as to cause a flow of pressurizea fluid through appropritae tubing (51) and connections (52) into hydraulic lifters (43) and (44), thereby causing the arms (53) and (54) of said lifters (43) and (44) to extend upward. ~pward extension of lifters arms (53) and (54) is transmitted to tl:e activating lid (10) through,approp,-iate swivel linkage (55) and .'(56), t'hus causing the activating Jid (10) which is hinged to concrete casing (4) by strap 'hinges (75), (76) and (77) to swing upward and outward in an arc in a direction toward the length of t'he playing field, t'hus creating an opening (6) in the casing (4) above the retracted cross bar (15). During t'he initial rise of t'he activating lid (10) two cams (57) and (58) which are penna-nently fixed to t~e activating lld (10) contact'hinged ids (9) ¦and (11) si~ultaneously on their lower surfaces (59) and (60) '~
Irespectively, thus causing said lids to swing upward and outward in unison with the activating lid (10), thereby creating openings (5) and (7) in casing (4) above the vertical uprights (2) and (3).

l . . .
All three lids, the activating lid (10) and its two satellite lids (9) ana (ll) continue their upward and outward swing until :they are approximately vertical witll the terrain surface where Ifurther movement is prevented by automatic stops within hydraulic Illifters (43) and (44). The remote operator (49), upon observing . ¦t'he vertical position of the activating lid (10) and its two satellite lids (9) and (ll), manipulates appropriate controls on ' t'he control console (50) so as to cause a flow of pressurized fluid t'hrough appropriate tubing 561) and connections (62) into the lifting chambers (63~ and (64) of telescopic uprights (2) and : (3), t'hus causing said uprights and their contiguous cross bar (15) to extend vertically through,opening (5), (6) and (7) created :
by the upward and outward swing of lids (9), (10) and (11) t-o t'he ~ull amount of t'heir allowable travel. Once t'he vertical uprights

(2) and (3) are fully ~xtended, the remote Operator (49) mani-pulates appropriate controls whic'h effects the removal of hy-draulic fluids fron'hydraulic lifters (43) and (44), thus effect-. ing retraction of lifter arms (53) and (54) and subsequent lower-. ing of activating lid (10) until it recontacts the edges of the upper surface of the casing (4). Upon lowering of the activating (10), the satellite lids (9) and (ll) are lowered by gravitational . pull and spring tension provided by springs (66) and (67) and follow t'he activating lid (10) downward until they rest angularly ... ~..... . . !
.. . .

~ l lupon thc outer walls (65) and (31) respectively of the extended ¦juprights (2) and (3) where they remain until the upri~hts are again retracted into casing (4). To retract the vertical uprights (2) and (3) the remote operator (49) first manipulates appro riate controls on the control console (50) to cause activating lid (10) - Ilto rise again upward and outward toward the length of the playing .Ifield. When the activating lid (10) reaches a point in its rise that is equal to the angular displacement of the inclined lids(9) and (11) activat~ng lid cams (57) and (58) contact respectively t'he lower surfaces (59) and (60) of satellite lids (9) and (11) respective~y, t'hus lifting said lids from their position of rest against t'he outer walls (65) .and (31) of vertical uprights (2) .¦
and (3) and again carrying t'hem t'hroug'hout its full swing to a point approximately eightly degrees from t'he'horizontal. O~ce t'he t'hree lids (9), (10) and (11) are at the apex of their ~wing t'he remote operator (49) 'hydraulically retracts the vertical uprights.fully within the casing (4) whereupon '~he hydraulically lowers the activating lid (10) to tis full down position. The vertical uprig'hts (2) and (3) being fully retracted within the casing (4) do not interfer with the downward movement satellite lids (9) and (11). Therefore, said lids follow the downward track of the activatiny lid fully, by gravitational pull and spring tension, until all lids (9), (10) and (11) lie flush each ~o oth and parallel to the terrain (171 to form the upper ,: , :
, . ,: ,............ .

10b9555 surface ~30) o~ ca5ing (~), thus forming a continuoUs playing surfacc over the b~lried casing (4).
Supports (71) and (72) which are permanently attached Ijto the lower surface of end panel (20) cooperate with strap I!hinges (73) and (74) to provide support for and to maintain vertical alignment of panél (11) with abutting panels of the top ¦cover (8) when said panels are in t'he down position. Similarly, l8upports (69) and (70) which are permanently attached to the ¦lower surface of end panel (19) cooperate wit'h strap hinges (78) 10 i~ and (79) to provide support for and to maintain vertical align-ment of panel (9) wit'h abutting panels of the top cover ~8).
'.t is to be understood that while t'he detailed drawings and srecific examples given describe preferred embodiments of "
the invention they are for the purposes of illustration only, that the apparatus of the invention is not limited to the pre-cise details and conditions disclosed, and that various changes may be ma~ therein without departing from the spirit of the in-vention which is defined by the following claims.

Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A retractable goal post device comprises two parallel vertically disposed goal posts connected by a horizontal member, each vertical post consisting of a plurality of concentric tubes disposed one within another and extendible to the full height of the post; the bottom end of each post being mounted below ground in means for raising said posts vertically to a fully extended position above ground level and withdrawing said post to a retracted position below ground level; said device further comprising a subterranean casing means for housing said goal posts and horizontal member in their retracted position, said housing being provided with hinged lid means at ground level, said lid means being adapted to be raised to a nearly vertical position by lifting means to permit entry and exit of said goal post and horizontal member from said casing and further adapted to be lowered to a position flush with the ground to provide a covering for said casing and the retracted goal posts.

2. An extendible and retractable goal post device comprising two parallel and spaced apart vertically disposed goal posts connected by a horizontal member, each vertical post compri-sing an elongated bottom member and at least two coaxially tele-scoping tubes telescoping within said bottom member, each vertical post being extendible to vertically adjust said horizontal member to regulation goal post cross member height; the bottom end of each bottom member being mounted below ground level in a first hydraulic or pneumatic means, said hydraulic or pneumatic means cooperating to raise said post vertically to a fully extended position above ground level and to withdraw said post to a retracted position completely below ground level; said horizontal member extending between the upper end of each bottom member and being connected thereto; said device further comprising a subterranean casing means for housing said goal posts and said horizontal member in their retracted position, said casing means being provided with hydraulically or pneumatically activatible hinged lid means at ground level, said lid means being adapted to be raised to a substantially vertical position by a second hydraulic or pneumatic lifting means to permit entry and exit of said goal posts and horizontal member into and from said casing and further being adapted to be lowered to a position flush with the ground; said lid means providing a covering for said casing when said goal posts and horizontal member are retracted or extended.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said hinged lid means comprises a relatively larger central hinged portion dis-posed between said vertical goal posts and capable of being raised to a nearly vertical position or lowered to a horizontal position by said second hydraulic or pneumatic lifting means without interfering with said vertical posts, and two relatively smaller, independently hinged lid means disposed on either side of said central hinged portion to cover said vertical posts in their retracted position, said independently hinged means being adapted to be raised to a nearly vertical position by means attached to said central portion but independently partially retractable to a position to accommodate the vertically extended posts.

4. The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said lid means is covered with artificial turf.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said hydraulic or pneumatic means are remotely operated.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said casing means is provided with drainage means.