EP1614452A1

EP1614452A1 - Target apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1614452A1
Application number: EP05254311A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Charles Steven Lane; Alan Brodrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-10
Filing date: 2005-07-08
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Also published as: GB0415476D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a goal or target apparatus including a frame which defines a plurality of target areas spaced around the apparatus and may also, in one embodiment include a centrally mounted target with an opening at a different orientation to the other target openings which typically depend down towards a supporting base. In a preferred embodiment a lip portion is provided at the bottom of said goal target openings which depend downwardly and the lip acts as a barrier for the ball from leaving the goal target once it has entered.

Description

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus for use in entertainment and developing skills in the use of a an article such as a ball, such as, for example, when the ball is kicked towards the apparatus or the ball is thrown towards the apparatus.
The provision of apparatus in the form of a target or goal is known and typically the goal comprises a frame with a net suspended between the same and with the frame depicting a target area through which the ball is to pass in order for a goal to be scored. Conventionally, the frame depicts one opening in one plane and therefore provides one target for the ball to be aimed at.
It is known that the International patent application No. WO03/028812 Discloses further apparatus which comprises a series of members in the form of a first base ring and a second ring spaced upwardly from the base with the spacing maintained by a series of members which lie vertically and join the rings together. Suspended between this framework are a series of nets which define a series of goals in that a number of cavities are provided, each representing a goal target, with the goal targets spaced around 360°.
While this known apparatus may improve the ability to develop, control skills and, furthermore, allows persons of varying skill levels to participate in a game using the apparatus, it is found that the apparatus as disclosed in this patent, can be time consuming to erect and store and furthermore, the arrangement of the netting with the frame means that the ball, on many occasions, rebounds from the target area quickly with it being unclear as to whether or not a goal has been scored.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved form of apparatus which allows an increased level of entertainment and development of skills and an increase in the possibility of utilisation of the apparatus in different environments.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for use with a ball which can be selectively aimed into the apparatus by one or more players, said apparatus including a plurality of defined goal targets into which the ball is to be aimed, each of said goal targets having an opening and an area depending inwardly from said opening for receipt of the ball and, if the ball is retained therein, this indicates the scoring of a goal, and wherein, at least the opening of each goal target is defined by a frame, and wherein the goal targets are spaced around 360° thereby providing apparatus which presents at least one goal target into which the ball can be directed from any position around the apparatus.
In one embodiment said frame is movable between a substantially flattened storage condition, and an erect, upstanding position by the inflation of at least some of said frame members.
In one embodiment, the frame members are common to more than one goal target, each upstanding frame member typically being used to define a frame member of adjacent goal targets.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus includes either alone, or in combination with others, a goal target positioned to lie centrally of the apparatus. In one embodiment the apparatus includes at least one goal target presenting a vertically orientated opening into which the ball can be directed and at least one further goal target which presents a substantially horizontally orientated opening into which the ball is to be directed.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a series of goal targets, said goal targets having an opening into which a ball can be selectively directed by a player and, at the base of said opening in at least one of said goal targets, there is provided a lip portion.
Typically, each lip portion is raised from the base on which the apparatus is placed or supported by and is raised to a height to provide a barrier to a ball from leaving the goal target area at a height below the level of the lip. The lip also acts to rebound the ball back into the target area should the ball impact on the same. This lip also acts as a deterrent against hitting the ball with too much power as if the ball rebounds from the goal target with a particular force or speed which causes the ball to bounce or roll over the lip and out of the goal target area a goal is deemed not to have been scored.
The lip portion is typically provided at the base of the entry into each goal target with each goal target having a substantially vertical opening. The lip therefore provides a means for retaining the ball within a goal target once the same has been successfully directed into the same and also provides a means for ensuring that the player has to have an additional level of skill in that in addition to successfully directing the ball through the goal target opening, the player has to put the ball into the goal target area with a level of speed below a certain level such that the lip will act to retain the ball in the goal target and only then will a goal be deemed to have been scored.
In one embodiment, the lip portion is shaped such that the outwardly facing edge of the lip portion is sloped upwardly towards the goal target and the face of the lip portion which faces inwardly of the goal target is substantially vertical thereby providing the retaining effect on a ball which is directed into the goal target area.
In one arrangement the lip portion has a highest point from the base of at least one third of the diameter of the ball used with the apparatus.
Preferably, the inflatable members include inflatable lip portions and in a preferred embodiment all of the members of the apparatus are inflatable. This has the advantage of firstly, allowing the easy storage and transport of the apparatus and, more importantly, allows the apparatus to be usable in different environments such as on playing fields, in a garden or by floating on the surface of a body of water thereby allowing the apparatus to be used for the reception of a ball which is thrown or headed by persons in the body of water.
In one embodiment the apparatus is provided with anchoring means to allow the same to be anchored in position on a surface.
Typically the apparatus is provided positioned on a play surface and the ball is any of a football, basketball or netball so that a children can run round the apparatus and attempt to kick or throw the ball into the goal targets. Alternatively the apparatus is of a scale to be used as a table top game.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figures 1a to c illustrate a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; and
Figures 3a-b illustrate a further embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 1a to c, there is illustrated apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, said apparatus comprising a base 2, which is typically formed of a membrane sheet material and joined to an inflatable lip portion 4 which passes around the periphery of the base and protrudes upwardly from the said base 2 and which is shown in section in Figure 1c. Typically, the area 6 defined by the lip portion on the base, can be used firstly as a means for retaining a ball as will be described subsequently but also acts as an area for receiving material for weighing down the apparatus in use, such as for example sand, water, or indeed any material which provides sufficient weight so as to prevent the apparatus from moving to any significant extent in play. Depending upwardly from the lip portion are a series of vertical members 8 which are also inflatable and preferably are connected by air passages to the lip portion 4 to allow the lip portion and members to be inflatable via a common air supply via a valve 10. The vertical members define the upstanding members of each of the goal targets 12 which are spaced around 360° of the apparatus, as shown. These upstanding members are joined at their top edges by further members 14 which are also inflatable. Attached to or attachable to the members 10, 12, 14 is a net configuration 16 which can be in the form of a series of separate nets or integral net arrangement. The nets are used to define the rear surfaces of the goal targets 12 as shown such that each goal target 12 has the rear surfaces defined by the net and a portion 18 of the area 6 as illustrated. In this arrangement, there is also provided a further goal target 20 which lies substantially at the centre of the apparatus and provides a horizontally orientated goal target opening 22, for the reception of a ball in a similar manner to that of a basketball net.
Thus, in accordance with the invention in this embodiment, there is provided apparatus which has a series of vertically orientated goal targets and a horizontally orientated goal target.
The apparatus of Figure 2, is similar to that of Figures 1a to c but, in this case, the members and lip portion are not inflatable but rather are formed of a suitable material such as rubber, plastics or the like and is designed to provide a more robust device for use in training regimes such as sports centres, football clubs or the like.
For ease of reference, the same reference numerals have been used in Figures 1a to c and 2.
In Figures 3a and b a yet further embodiment of the invention is described where the same reference numerals are again used for the same features. In this arrangement the lip portions 6 have a rounded form and are inflatable along with the remainder of the frame members of the apparatus.
The players using the apparatus can, if on their own, use the apparatus as a training aid by trying to, firstly, direct the ball successfully towards the desired goal target 12,20 and, secondly, to propel the ball with the required force such that the ball, if it passes into the goal target, is retained within the goal target area and does not return past the lip. Thus, for example, although a player may be successful in directing the ball into the target, if they kick the ball too hard, then the ball may simply bounce back out of the goal target. Typically, the ball which is used can be suited for the particular player but it is envisaged that a regulation size 3 football may be an appropriate size for use with the apparatus.
If a series of players are playing with the apparatus then the players can take one of two play options, either choosing to defend the goal, i.e to prevent others from successfully getting the ball into the goal targets or, be one of the players who is trying to get the ball into the goal targets.
It should therefore be emphasised that the apparatus has a further advantage in that it can be used for entertainment and skills improvement by persons who may not be the most athletically gifted as there is no need for long runs or athletic prowess, rather, the apparatus is designed for use in relation to skills.

Claims

Apparatus for use with a ball which can be selectively aimed into the apparatus by one or more players, said apparatus including a plurality of defined goal targets into which the ball is to be aimed, each of said goal targets having an opening and an area depending inwardly from said opening for receipt of the ball and, if the ball is retained therein, this indicates the scoring of a goal, and wherein, at least the opening of each goal target is defined by a frame, and wherein the goal targets are spaced around 360° thereby providing apparatus which presents at least one goal target into which the ball can be directed from any position around the apparatus.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame is movable between a substantially flat storage condition, and an erected condition by the inflation of at least some of said frame members.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frame members are common to more than one goal target, each up standing frame member being used as a common frame member of adjacent goal targets.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes either alone, or in combination with others, a goal target positioned to lie centrally of the apparatus.
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the apparatus includes one goal target presenting a vertically orientated opening into which the ball can be directed and at least one further goal target which presents a substantially horizontally orientated opening into which the ball is to be directed.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a series of goal targets, said goal targets having openings into which a ball can be selectively directed by a player and, at the base of said opening in at least one of said goal targets, there is provided a lip portion.
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each lip portion is raised from the base on which the apparatus is placed or supported and is raised to a height to provide a barrier to a ball from leaving the goal target area.
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a lip portion is provided at each goal target which has an opening depending from the base.
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the lip portion is shaped such that the outwardly facing edge of the lip portion is sloped upwardly towards the goal target and the face of the lip portion which faces inwardly of the goal target is substantially vertical.
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the lip portion has a highest point from the base of at least one third of the diameter of the ball used with the apparatus.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lip portion is inflatable.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein all of the members of the frame are inflatable.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is provided with anchoring means to allow the same to be anchored in position on a surface.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is for use when positioned on a play surface and the ball is any of a football, basketball or netball.
Apparatus according to any of claims 1-14 wherein the apparatus is of a scale to be used as a table top game.