GB2294405A

GB2294405A - Sports or athletics frame

Info

Publication number: GB2294405A
Application number: GB9421533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gareth Davies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-26
Filing date: 1994-10-26
Publication date: 1996-05-01
Also published as: GB9421533D0

Abstract

A sports or athletics frame e.g. a goal for football or mini-rugby comprises a base member (1) which has a tubular extension (17) which can either extend downwardly into the ground or can be inverted so as to extend upwardly (e.g. when the frame is set up indoors). In either case an upright tube (12) is supported by an internal clamp (2) which engages the bore of the extension and is optionally connected to the clamp by a close coil spring (4) which provides some flexibility in the event of a collision by a player. The arrangement includes small diameter tubes (11, 11a) telescoped within larger diameter tubes (12, 12a) and located by rubber rings (6) and tubular T brackets 20 (Fig. 1B) or alternatively flexible connections (Fig 1A) e.g. comprising rubber bands (8) between the uprights and cross-pieces. <IMAGE>

Description

Sports or athletics frame and kit of parts The present invention relates to a sports or athletics frame which can be repeatedly disassembled and reassembled and also relates to a kit of parts for such a frame. The frame may be a goal for rugby or football for example, or may be a support for a net for another ball game such as tennis or badminton for example or may be a high jump bar arrangement for example.

The invention provides a sports or athletics frame comprising at least one base member, a plurality of elongate members including at least one elongate member supported upright on said base member and at least one tubular elongate member having a further elongate member extending from and engaged with its bore, and means for connecting at least two elongate members of the frame in a configuration in which they are transverse to each other, the frame being capable of being repeatedly disassembled and reassembled.

Such a frame is useful for sports and athletics events in which the necessary equipment is not set up permanently. Preferably the elongate members are of light weight tubular construction and may for example be made of fibreglass.

Preferably there is a flexible connection between at least one of said elongate members and at least one other of the frame components which is capable of reducing the impact of a sports player or athlete who collides with the frame.

Preferably the flexible connection is formed between said base member and the elongate member supported upright on the base member. The flexible connection may for example comprise a spring engaging an upright extension of or attachment to said base member and the lower end of said upright elongate member.

Preferably the base member has a flat base and an upright extension extending from the flat base, the base member having a first possible orientation for use outdoors in which the extension extends downwardly into the ground supporting the frame and the upright elongate member extends from the opposite side of the base and a second possible orientation for use indoors in which the base lies flat on the floor supporting the frame and the extension extends upwardly and supports the upright elongate member.

Preferably said further elongate member can be telescoped within the bore of said tubular elongate member and is provided with means for locating it at a fixed longitudinal position with respect to the tubular elongate member, said locating means being adjustable by the user.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for the sports or athletics frame, which is preferably capable of being assembled into a variety of frames for different sports.

Preferably the parts are sufficiently small and lightweight for the kit to be portable.

It will be apparent that the invention provides a versatile sports or athletics frame which can be produced at low cost and used in a variety of situations. Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, by way of example only, with reference to to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:: Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of part of a mini-rugby goal in accordance with the invention, Figure lA is an expanded view of a flexible connection between two of the elongate members in Figure 1, Figure 1B is an exanded view of an alternative to the connection shown in Figure lA, Figure 2 is a sketch perspective view of a football goal arrangement in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a front elevation of a high jump arrangement in accordance with the invention, and Figure 4 is a front elevation of a badminton net arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and lA, one goalpost is shown and comprises a 44 mm outside diameter fibreglass tube 12 into which is telescoped a 38 mm outside diameter fibreglass tube 11. A crossbar comprising similarly telescoped tubes 1 lea and 12a is supported by a flexible connection from upright tube l l which comprises two strong rubber bands 8 extending round tube 11 into respective apertures 9 in tube 1 la. As shown in Figure lA, a wire loop 10 within tube 1 la is threaded through the rubber bands and secures their ends. A similar wire loop and aperture arrangement (not shown) opposite that shown in Figure 1A secures the other ends of bands 8.There is no other connection between tubes 11 and 1 la and hence the arrangement has sufficient flexibility to absorb the impact of a collision from a player.

In an alternative construction shown in Figure 1B, a tubular fibreglass bracket 20 is supported on upright tube 11 by a rubber ring 6 which grips the upright tube. A horizontal tube 11 fits within a horizontal extension 22 of the bracket, being located by a further rubber ring 6 on the horizontal tube.

Further flexibility is provided by a close coil spring 4 which grips the lower region of tube 12 and the upper region of a short 44 mm outside diameter steel tube 3, which in turn is connected by an internal clamp 2 to a steel base member 1. A padded flexible cover 16 surrounds the exposed portion of the base member 1, clamp 2, spring 4 and tube 3 and prevents injury in the event of a collision with the goalpost.

Base member 1 is in the form of a flat circular base having a tubular extension 17 which extends downwardly into the ground and anchors the goalpost. Clamp 2 is a standard pipe extender comprising a threaded bolt 15 which engages a thread in part 14 and bears against a recess in part 13. In an alternative configuration for use indoors, the base member 1 is inverted so that its base lies flat on the floor and clamp 2 engages the bore of upwardly extending extension 17. Otherwise the configuration is identical to that shown.

In a variant (not shown) coil spring 4 is dispensed with and clamp 2 is directly connected between the bore of tube 12 and the bore of extension 17.

Each 38 mm tube l l can be pushed through the entire length of a 44 mm tube 12 and is located at a fixed longitudinal position by a rubber ring 6 which grips the periphery of tube 11. Each ring 6 can however be slid along a 38 mm tube 11 to enable this position to be adjusted. Preferably each ring 6 has a cross-section (e.g. a triangular cross-section as shown) in which at least one end face is at an acute angle to the inner cylindrical surface in contact with tile tube 11, so that the end face can be wedged inside the mouth of the abutting 44 mm diameter tube 12 as shown in Figure 1B.

Figure 2 shows a football goal which utilises the same parts 1, 4, 11 and 12 as are used in the arrangement of Figure 1. However the base members 1 are inverted as discussed above and the clamps 2 , tubes 3 and rings 6 are not shown, for ease of illustration. It will be seen that the frame comprises a front crossbar and a rear crossbar, each comprising a central 44 mm diameter tube attached at each end to 38 mm diameter tubes 11.At each corner , the tubes 11 are removably attached to fibreglass corner brackets 18 which fit around the ends of the tubes 11. It will be seen that the corner brackets 18 are of tubular construction, having offset orthogonal horizontal tubular extensions. Alternatively, flexible connections of the type shown in Figure 1A may be employed.

Figure 3 shows a high jump frame in accordance with the invention and is set up on a hard surface with the base members 1 inverted relative to the arrangement shown in Figure 1. Each spring 4 is a push fit around lower and upper lengths of 44 mm diameter steel and fibreglass tubing 3 and 5 respectively and a length of 38 mm fibreglass tubing is fitted within the bore of each length of tubing 5 and secured in position by a rubber ring 6. A tubular T bracket 20 is slid over each length of tubing 11 and located by a rubber ring 6 which can be slid to adjust the vertical position of the bracket. Each bracket 20 comprises a horizontal extension 22 of 44 mm outside diameter tubing into which is fitted a support member 19 on which is supported a horizontal high jump bar 21.

Finally Figure 4 shows a badminton net arrangement which is of similar construction to the arrangement of Figure 4, but includes a net 31 having ties at its corners which are looped round upright tubes 11 and located by rubber rings 6.

It will be appreciated that these and many other sports and athletics frames can be assembled from a single kit, since many of the parts required are common to all of the frames.

Claims

1. A sports or athletics frame comprising at least one base member, a plurality of elongate members including at least one elongate member supported upright on said base member and at least one tubular elongate member having a further elongate member extending from and engaged with its bore, and means for connecting at least two elongate members of the frame in a configuration in which they are transverse to each other, the frame being capable of being repeatedly disassembled and reassembled.

2. A sports or athletics frame according to claim 1 wherein there is a flexible connection between at least one of said elongate members and at least one other of the frame components which is capable of reducing the impact of a sports player or athlete who collides with the frame.

3.A sports or athletics frame according to claim 2 wherein said flexible connection is formed between said base member and the elongate member supported upright on the base member.

4.A sports or athletics frame according to claim 3 wherein said flexible connection comprises a spring engaging an upright extension of or attachment to said base member and the lower end of said upright elongate member.

5.A sports or athletics frame according to claim 2 wherein said flexible connection is formed between two mutually transverse elongate members.

6.A sports or athletics frame according to claim 5 wherein said flexible connection comprises a loop of elastic material attached to an end of one elongate member and extending around another elongate member.

7.A sports or athletics frame according to any preceding claim wherein said base member has a flat base and an upright extension extending from the flat base, the base member having a first possible orientation for use outdoors in which the extension extends downwardly into the ground supporting the frame and the upright elongate member extends from the opposite side of the base and a second possible orientation for use indoors in which the base lies flat on the floor supporting the frame and the extension extends upwardly and supports the upright elongate member.

8. A sports or athletics frame according to claim 7 wherein said upright extension is tubular and an attachment to the base member is coupled between the bore of said extension and the lower end of said upright elongate member when the base member is in said first orientation.

9. A sports or athletics frame according to claim 8 wherein said attachment comprises an interior clamp which is clamped to the bore of said extension and to the bore of an upwardly extending tube which is attached to said upright elongate member.

10. A sports or athletics frame according to any preceding claim wherein said further elongate member can be telescoped within the bore of said tubular elongate member and is provided with means for locating it at a fixed longitudinal position with respect to the tubular elongate member, said locating means being adjustable by the user.

1 1.A sports or athletics frame according to claim 10 comprising a plurality of such tubular elongate members and further elongate members and a plurality of such locating means.

12. A sports or athletics frame according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said locating means comprises a band of resilient material which frictionally engages the periphery of a further elongate member.

13. A sports or athletics frame according to any preceding claim which is a goal for rugby or football, a support for a net for another ball game or a high jump bar arrangement.

14.A sports or athletics frame substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A kit of parts for a sports or athletics frame as claimed in any preceding claim.

16. A kit as claimed in claim 15 which is capable of being assembled into a plurality of frames for different sports.

17. A kit as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 whose parts are sufficiently small and lightweight for the kit to be portable.