GB2347477A - Frame connector - Google Patents
Frame connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2347477A GB2347477A GB0002987A GB0002987A GB2347477A GB 2347477 A GB2347477 A GB 2347477A GB 0002987 A GB0002987 A GB 0002987A GB 0002987 A GB0002987 A GB 0002987A GB 2347477 A GB2347477 A GB 2347477A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- frame parts
- frame
- formations
- accommodation
- connectors
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 49
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 49
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 238000010112 shell-mould casting Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229940084430 four-way Drugs 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920002430 Fibre-reinforced plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011151 fibre-reinforced plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003019 stabilising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005728 strengthening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
- A63B63/004—Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
- E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
- E04H15/44—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/02—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
- A63B71/023—Supports, e.g. poles
- A63B2071/026—Supports, e.g. poles stabilised by weight
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2210/00—Space saving
- A63B2210/50—Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B61/00—Tennis nets or accessories for tennis or like games, e.g. volley-ball
- A63B61/02—Posts; Revolvably-mounted posts ; Straining or adjusting devices on the posts, e.g. coin- or time operated
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
- A63B63/008—Goals for rugby or American football
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
- A63B63/08—Targets or goals for ball games with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball
- A63B63/083—Targets or goals for ball games with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball for basketball
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B7/00—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections
- F16B7/04—Clamping or clipping connections
- F16B7/044—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being in angled relationship
- F16B7/048—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being in angled relationship for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
Abstract
A frame connector (10) has a medial portion (11) which extends between two end formations (12A, 12B) which are capable of receiving frame parts. Accommodation formations (13, 17A, 17B) are provided on the medial portion (11) and are disposed transversely of the end formations, the accommodation formations (13, 17A, 17B) being capable of receiving other frame parts. In a preferred embodiment, the end formations (12A, 12B) are spigots and the accommodation formations (13, 17A, 17B) are sockets. The frame connector (10) can be used as part of a frame structure for the construction of temporary goal posts or other sports or leisure equipment.
Description
TITLE: Improvements in and relating to frame
structures
DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in and applicable to readily erectable frame structures such as find use in leisure activities of a sporting nature, including football and other ball games related goal structures, but is not limited to such applications.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
These days, outdoor and indoor sports and games-playing facilities tend to be required to serve multiple purposes i. e. for different sporting activities and games at different times, sometimes even at the same times at least for training and practice purposes. There is thus a considerable need and market for temporary football and other games-related goal structures that are readily erectable and equally readily at least partially dismantled for safe and convenient storage between uses.
Satisfactorily lightweight structures are feasible using plastics tube and connection fittings therefor generally affording spigot-end-socket style tube-to-fittings interconnections. However, for use as goal structures to be readily erected and at least partially dismantled, various difficulties and problems arise, for example additionally as to sturdiness and resistance to shocks, and as to net support.
It is an object of this invention to address these problems preferably at the same time affording greater versatility of potential application and/or combined usages.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a frame parts connector comprising a medial portion extending between frame parts end receiving formations and having other frame part accommodation formations directed transversely of the receiving formations. The frame parts can conveniently be of tubular form.
The other accommodation formations may be spaced along the medial portion, and may be as holes to take other tubes that can be of substantially same size section that may be less than of tubes to fit to the receiving formations. Such holes may be formed to obstruct through-passage of preferably close-fitting said other tubes concerned, say blind or internally ledged or stepped.
Alternatively (or additionally, see below) the accommodation formations may be substantially coincident along the medial portion, and may be as substantially coaxial holes of different sizes to take other tubes of different sizes, so that the larger size other tube meets a ledge or step medially along what is effectively a through-hole. The smaller size other tube is further preferably a sliding fit within the larger size other tube.
These alternatives are preferably combined in the same connector by way of two holes spaced along the medial portion, say one hole blind and the other an internally stepped throughhole.
In one advantageous embodiment to be specifically described and illustrated, a corner piece has three tube accommodating holes spaced along its bend portion, two preferably blind holes flanking one preferably internally stepped through-hole further preferably substantially central of the bend portion.
A twist-to-grip and twist-to-release system of tube connecting is preferred, say relying on slight sectional ovality of the tube and similar ovality and/or selective ribbing of the receiving and/or accommodating formations of the connector.
It will be appreciated that a single goal structure can conveniently comprise posts with corner pieces at each end, one end pair to connect with the cross-bar and the other end pair to connect with rearward ground level extensions themselves with a further end pair of corner pieces to connect with a ground-level rearward inter-connection, conveniently with net support stays as tube extending at each side between aforesaid holes in the one and the further corner pieces. It will be further appreciated the said other pair of corner pieces could be of simplified or plain type omitting any said holes.
Net support stays may have straight substantially horizontal first extensions from post/cross-bar corners and sloping second extensions to ground level corners. Corner pieces hereof facilitate both the first extensions and third typically short extensions substantially vertically to junctions with said second extensions. Another aspect of this invention facilitates making such junctions and an alternative omitting the first and third extensions.
According to this other inventive aspect, a connector comprises a length of resilient preferably bendable material that can be a tight fit into a tube end and another tube end or socket-type accommodation.
A tube with such resilient connector at each end can serve as said second extension of net support stay provision, i. e. fit between first and third extensions. Alternatively such tube may fit directly between the corner pieces concerned.
Such a resilient connector can afford useful shock absorption and impact resistance, as can be useful in relation to net support stays and/or attachment of other items such as side extensions to such as basketball or netball rings/net holders. Moreover, a larger size of such connectors could serve as straight connectors between ends of tubes that may be provided to allow choice of post heights and/or cross-bar lengths.
Other uses for such resilient connectors include as junctions between support legs and a tubular frame with suitable receiving holes, conveniently at corner pieces hereof and or alternative straight connectors as outlined below or in teepieces or cross-pieces if desired; and/or uprights from such a frame; and/or as supports for crossing members into or passing through a transverse slot into or through a variant resilient connector.
Reverting to corner and other connecting pieces hereof, a further inventive aspect has application to holding connection of such as nets or even trampoline sheets, and resides in captive inserts with protrusive formations via which at least such as cords may be held, say by way of a said captive insert having sufficient play relative to the corner piece concerned to allow cord to be passed about and in capturing relation with said protruding formation.
The proposed alternative straight connector is also of a configuration presenting tube-end connections to each side of a medial portion that in this case is in straight alignment with how tubes extend from its tube-end connections, the medial portion having at least one other tube connecting accommodation that is directed transversely, typically at least two such accommodations, say one a blind hole and another of through-hole type that may be internally ledged or stepped as above.
A particular constructional inventive aspect hereof resides in providing a double goal structure with corner pieces interconnected at feet of respective corresponding posts and at cross-bar level. A resulting back-to-back goal structure can be used for goal-keeping or shooting practice from opposite sides; and a suitable net provision extends at top and sides between both component goal structures and has a separation net medial of the tip and each side.
It is actually feasible to provide a four-sided goal structure comprising a rectangular substantially horizontal frame with its corner pieces traversed by post-forming tubing that could go upwards as well as downwards if required for such as rugby football kicking practice from four sides.
Connectors hereof lend themselves particularly advantageously to implementation as half-shell mouldings having preferably tube thickness reductions to half spigot end formations and registering cylindrical hole internal formations, further preferably registering edge relief for insert capture purposes. Indeed, such half-shell mouldings may differ from each other virtually only by their registering cylindrical formations being blind for one and open for the other, or both open but of different diameters to achieve above ledging or stepping at assembly. Whilst such half-shell mouldings could be secured together by adhesive or by welding, it is satisfactory, at least by reason of in-use holding together by tubes overfitting their mating spigot formations, for snap-or interference-fit provisions to be used by way of projections in one or the other of the mouldings registering with receiving holes or the other or the one of the mouldings, respectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Specific exemplary implementation will now be described with reference to accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an outline perspective view of a corner
connector;
Figures 2A, B outline various frame part receiving and
accommodation formations;
Figures 3A, B are outline plan views from opposite sides of
a corner connector;
Figure 4 shows different sizes of frame tubes and resilient
connectors;
Figures 5A, B are outline plan views from opposite sides of
a straight connector;
Figures 6A, B are outline plan views from opposite sides of
a tee connector ;
Figures 7A, B are outline plan views from opposite sides of
a cross connector;
Figures 8A, B, C, D are front and variant side views of a goal
structure ;
Figure 9 is an exploded outline of tube to resilient
connector to corner connector fitting;
Figures 10A, B are outline views for top and/or base frames ;
Figures 11A, B are scrap and detail views of a variant
resilient connector;
Figures 12A, B, C are outline perspective, side and scrap
detail views for inserts;
Figures 13A, B, C are outline detail views regarding net
connections ;
Figures 14A, B show outline for connection of attachments;
Figure 15 is an outline general perspective view for multi
level frame structures;
Figure 16 is an outline perspective view of one form of
back-to-back double goal structure;
Figures 17A, B are outline views of net provisions for the
goal structure of Figure 16;
Figures 18A, B are outline views of net provisions for a
single goal structure;
Figure 19 is an outline view for a four-way goal structure;
Figure 20 is an outline view for a four-way rugby goal
structure;
Figure 21 is an outline view of tensile bracing for such as
the double goal structure of Figure 16;
Figure 23 shows a multi-purpose set-up; and
Figures 23 and 24 show shelter or tent structures.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a corner connector 10 of generally circular section as a fitting for circular section tube, see 18 in Figure 4. The connector 10 has a medial portion 11 as a 90-degree bend extending between spigot-type receiving formations 12A, B.
Centrally of its bend the medial portion 11 has a through-hole 13 transversely of the general plane of the connector. The through-hole 13 (visible through a cutaway) has a medial collar or ledge 14 as a stop, conveniently halfway along the hole 13, see also Figure 2A. The collar or ledge 14 stops end of tube 15 for which the hole 13 constitutes an insertion accommodation provision. The stopping collar or ledge 14 could be of a sleeve or be continuous as a disc closure, see dashed at 14A, or a plug.
Such stopping could allow the tube 15 to act as a leg or support for a frame structure including the corner connector 10.
Other holes 17A, B are shown blind and flanking the throughhole 13, and can serve as other accommodation formations for the tube 15 or another tube or for any other desired insert or attachment. The holes 17A, B could, of course, be rendered blind by a cover or a plug in one end of an otherwise through-hole, see 18 in Figure 2B.
It will be appreciated that, as shown in Figures 1 and 2A, the through-hole 13 could accept another tube 15A or other insert from its other end. In practice, there is advantage in using a collar or sleeve or ledge formation, see 14B in Figure 2B, so that the tube 15 is still stopped but a smaller section tube 15A can pass straight through from through-hole entry 13A including as a sliding fit into the tube 15. Figures 3A, B again show the through-hole 13 flanked by blind holes 17A, 17B. All of the holes 13 and 17A, B are shown available at one side of the connector 10, but only the through-hole part 13A at the other side.
In Figure 3A, lines additional to overall outline and holes 13 and 17A, B are indicative of internal rib and push-or snap-fit provisions of one half-shell moulding. The other will differ only in reduction of the hole 13 to that for 13A, the holes 17A, B being blind, and the push-or snap-fit provisions being complementary.
The connector 10 as shown will serve three different diameters of tube, see Figure 4, the largest (18) to fit over the spigots 12A, B and the progressively smaller ones (15 and 15A) to fit into the accommodation holes 13,17A and 17B (15) and 13A (15A). Such tubes are preferably of oval section (see exaggerated at detail 18S in Figure 4), and the accommodation holes and receiving spigots can be likewise and/or provided with longitudinal ribbing (see exaggerated at details 17S and 17R in
Figure 3B) to give the convenience of twist-to-grip and twist-torelease.
Figure 4 also shows nominally straight connectors 21A, B, C of different diameters to fit tightly into the tubes 18,15,15A respectively. These connectors 21A, B, C are conveniently of elastomeric material and can be bent to provide angling between inter-connected lengths of the tubes 18,15,15A or for tubes directly out of a connector.
At least equally important regarding the resilient connectors 21A, B, C is their capabilities in respect of affording or improving impact resistance and absorption of shocks.
Figures 5 to 7 show straight, tee and cross connectors of like style to Figures 1 and 3, i. e. central through-holes 13 and blind holes 17A-D each towards a different one of spigot formations 12A-D.
It will be appreciated that the through-hole 13, 13A could be blind and that any of the blind holes 17A-D could be throughholes, as a matter of design choice.
Figure 8 shows a goal structure for ball games such as football, hockey or whatever, i. e. may be any size that may be desired. The goal structure 20 has posts 21A, B and a cross bar 22 interconnected by a first pair of corner connectors 10A, B; ground-level rearward extensions 23A, B connected to the lower ends of the posts 21A, B by another pair of corner connectors 10C, D; and ground-level rear interconnection 24 connected to the rearward extensions 23A, B by a further pair of corner connectors 10E, F. The connectors 10A-F can be as for Figures 1-3, thus with all-holes-showing sides of Figure 3A to the inside of the structure 20, thus not visible in Figures 8A, B, C.
Net support stays provision is also shown in Figures 8A-D.
In one version (Fig. 8B) short tube lengths go substantially horizontally (25) and vertically (26) from any of the holes 13 and 17A, B of the connectors 10A, E (and lOB, F), and they are interconnected at desired inclination by another tube length (27) by way of resilient bendable connectors 21B. In another version (Figure 8C) single inclined lengths 27A directly interconnect with any pairs of the holes 13 and 17A, B of the connectors 10A, E (and lOB, F) by connectors 21B. Figure 8D shows such direct connection at holes 17A, and further shows two tubes 27A, B interconnected end-to-end by another resilient connector 21B.
Figure 9 indicates connection of a tube 15 into the corner connector hole 17A using a resilient connector 21B by inserting the latter first into the hole 17A, then pushing the tube 15 onto it. However, connectors 21B can often equally well be installed in ends of the tubes 18,15 or 15A first. Moreover, it may sometimes be desired to provide impact resistance/shock absorption within a connector hereof. so a non-connecting resilient insert of the same sectional size as outer of the tube concerned and of suitably short length may be installed within the connector hole concerned.
Figures 10A, B show rectangular frames 30A, B made up from tube 18 and corner connectors 10. In Figure lOB, resilient connectors 21B can go into any of the holes 13 and 17A, B and may serve to fix tubes (15) as legs for the frame 30B. In Figure 10A, resilient connectors 21B can go only into holes 13A for fixing upstanding tubes (15A).
Figure 11B shows a variant resilient connector 21X having an axial slot 37 along part of its length, so as to afford fixing for cross member 38 beyond the end of a tube, indicated as 15 but could be as at 18 or 15A.
Figure 12A shows further aperturing 41A, B of the medial portion 11X of a connector lOX. This further aperturing 41A, B is only through outer skin 42 (see Figure 12C) of the medial portion between and transverse to the holes 13 and 17A, B. It serves for captive installation of inserts 43A, B (see Figures 12B, C) with enough freedom to be either protrusive (Figure 12C) or be at least mostly retracted (Figure 12B).
The inserts 43A, B have a wider capturing base 44A, B and grooves 45A, B round their protrusions to retain such a cord or wire 46A, B.
Figure 13A shows such cord or wire 46C about inserts 43A, B of one connector lOX as securement for a trampoline sheet in a frame of which the connector lOX will be a part. Figure 13C shows cord or wire 46D connected to only one of the inserts 43B, say acting as a stabilising guy. Figure 13B shows cord or wire 46E connected to both of the inserts 43A, B of connector lOX as part of a goal structure, the cord or wire 46E holding a net 48.
The holes 13 and 17A, B are not shown in Figures 13A-C, but will normally be present.
The corner connectors of Figures 14A, B could be between goal posts and crossbar, hence are referenced 10A. They are shown serving for mounting tubes 15 and 15A in the through-hole 13 with the tube 15A telescoped in the tube 15 and projecting to a basketball or netball ring and net 51 (Figure 14A) or to a slotted resilient connector 21X to present a ring 52 vertically for such as football heading practice.
Figure 15 is more generalised as to feasible frame structures including two superposed frames 55,56 each including an illustrated corner member 10 with tube 18 extending from its spigots, and an interconnect tube 15 entrant respective holes 13, and further connection from the lower layer via tube 15A that will be in hole 13A and could pass clear though the tube 15 as a"double"support if desired or required for strength.
Turning to Figure 16, a back-to-back double goal structure is shown as comprising side frames 61 and 62 having corner connectors 10, thus being of tube 18 ; and cross-bars 63,64 extending between any pairs of their holes 13 and 17A, B or 13A, thus being of tube 15 or 15A. The frames 61,62 carry individual netting 65,66; and the crossbars 63,64 also carry netting that includes a top part 67 and a medial dividing part 68.
Also shown in Figures 16 and 17B is a ground level frame part tube 69 that can usefully extend between tee-connectors 69A, B medially of the side frames.
Figures 18A, B show a similar modular fixed netting approach to a single goal structure, see generally triangular sides 71,72 with nettings 73,74 and de-mountable cross-bar 75 and rear interconnection 76 also with netting 77.
Association of nets with parts resulting from only partial disassembly and storage can be very convenient. However, any form of netting provision may be made.
Figure 19 shows yet further extension of goal structure hereof to a four-sided implementation having a square top frame 81 made up of corner connectors 10, probably also straight connectors, and posts 82A-D that will extend from any of holes 13 and 17A, B but most usually hole 13 so as to use tube 15 and allow strengthening by further tube 15A within its through hole 13A. The netting provision is shown supplied by a network of substantially inextensible cords or wires going diagonally at 84A-D from each corner to a central square 85 and from which the netting 86 depends (one only shown).
Figure 20 shows application to a four-way rugby goal structure with a frame 91 that can be similar to 81 in Figure 19, and posts 92A-D typically of tube 15 and extended uprights 93A-D typically of tube 15A that may be coextensive with the posts for added strength.
It will be appreciated that a back-to-back double goal structure could also be made as a rectangular top frame with posts dependent from it.
Figure 21 is an entirely diagrammatic simplified illustration of how rectangular structures 94,95 can have tensile bracing applied by substantially inextensible cord or wire tight along diagonals 94A, B and 95A, B as is readily afforded by end connections to connectors hereof, particularly corner connectors.
In what is shown, it will further help to have more such bracing medially between the two frames 94,95 typically by taut cross connections between points 96A-A and 96B-B. Application of such tensile bracing is also shown at 29A, B in Figures 8A-C going from top post-to-cross-bar connectors 10A, B to bottom diagonally opposite rear interconnection to rear extension connectors lOF, E respectively. It is usually convenient to associate tensile bracing with different accommodation holes than used for other purposes such as net stay support; and it may be further useful to use inserts that will come out if run into by anyone.
A multi-use set-up is shown in Figure 22 with a hand/volley ball net strung between upstands. The left upstand is shown from a two-level frame structure as foreshadowed in Figure 15, also supporting ring nets at two heights and a captive ball as for heading practice. The two-level frame structure could support a paddling pool or ball pond container. The right upstand is shown simply from a right-angle splayed floor stand that is likely to have its tubes ballasted. Suitable ballasting for this purpose is a long sock full of sand to fit into the tube concerned, and is equally applicable to any other tube parts hereof, perhaps particularly rear ground level interconnections of a goal structure.
Figure 23 shows a simple shelter or tent structure with a suitable covering provision; and Figure 24 an alternative with an awning that might even be usable as a front cover.
There are several features or aspects of what has been described that are seen as having inventive merit individually or in any combination and whether or not in conjunction with preferred tubular frame parts and/or connectors, including impact/shock absorbers of hole or tube end-entrant nature and generally elongate resilient form, tensile bracing by taut crossing substantially inextensible cord wire or the like, double-sided goal structures including whether temporary or not, net provisions of a generally tee configuration as can be used with advantage for back-to-back double goal structures, four sided goal structures including particularly for rugby with advantage for plural practising of kicking, modular net provisions whether or not as attached to frame parts of goal structures.
It will be appreciated that frame parts may be other than of plastics and/or other than tubes and/or other than of generally circular section, all specifically as described.
Indeed, particular advantages can arise if frame parts fitting into tubular parts are of greater strength such as metal or fibre reinforced plastics. Also, frame structures could be substantially different by making more use of tee-and crossconnectors.
Claims (31)
- CLAIMS 1. Frame parts connector comprising a medial portion extending between frame parts end receiving formations and having other frame part accommodation formations directed transversely of the receiving formations.
- 2. Frame parts connector according to claim 1, wherein the receiving and accommodation formations are to suit frame parts of greater and lesser sectional sizes, respectively.
- 3. Frame parts connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the receiving formations extend from the medial portion as spigot-type connections to be over-fitted by said frame part ends.
- 4. Frame parts connector according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the accommodation formations extend into the medial portion as socket and/or through-passage type connections to take said other frame parts.
- 5. Frame parts connector according to claim 4, wherein two said accommodation formations are substantially coincident in the medial portion but oppositely directed and of different sectional sizes for corresponding said other frame parts of different sectional sizes to present a through-hole with a medial step or ledge for the larger section other frame part.
- 6. Frame parts connector according to claim 5, wherein the smaller sectional size accommodation formation is for a said other frame part that can slide into the larger section other frame part.
- 7. Frame parts connector according to claim 4, wherein two said accommodation formations are spaced along the medial portion in its extent between the receiving formations.
- 8. Frame parts connector according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the accommodation formations has a medial stop or is blind at one end to serve as a socket.
- 9. Frame parts connector according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein at least one of the accommodation formations is as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6.
- 10. Frame parts connector according to claim 9, wherein one said accommodation formations as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 is substantially central of the medial portion and other said accommodation formations as claimed in claim 8 are each spaced from the central accommodation formation towards a different one of the receiving formations.
- 11. Frame parts connector according to any preceding claim, further comprising in said medial portion at least one captive insert with preferably retractable protruding formation to which attachments such as of cord or wire can be made.
- 12. Frame parts connector according to claim 11 with claim 7, the or each said captive insert is located between two spaced said accommodation formations.
- 13. Frame parts connector according to any preceding claim, comprising two mating half-shell mouldings that are similar to the extent of affording different halves of the receiving formations and substantially registering internal cylinder formations that cooperate as said accommodation formations.
- 14. Frame parts connector according to claim 13, with claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the half-shell mouldings have registering edge reliefs at which said insert (s) is/are captured and protrude.
- 15. Frame structure comprising frame parts connected and interconnected by connectors according to any preceding claim.
- 16. Frame structure according to claim 15, wherein the frame parts are of tubular form with ovality of section that affords twist-to-grip and twist-for-release actions relative to interfitting with and ovality and/or ribbing of the receiving and accommodation formations of the connectors concerned.
- 17. Frame parts connector or frame structure according to any preceding claim, in conjunction with at least one elongate resilient connector to inter-fit between at least one of said accommodation formations and end of a frame part or between ends of frame parts.
- 18. Frame parts connector or frame structure according to claim 17, wherein elongate resilient connector (s) is/are bendable.
- 19. Frame parts connector or frame structure according to claim 18, wherein elongate resilient connector (s) is/are of elastomeric material.
- 20. Frame parts connector or frame structure according to claim 17,18 or 19, wherein alternative elongate resilient connectors are of different sectional sizes to fit different tubular said frame parts.
- 21. Frame structure according to any one of claims 15 to 20, as readily erected and at least partially dismantled temporary goal structure, comprising said frame parts and said connectors making up posts, crossbar, and ground-level rearward extensions and rear interconnection, wherein said connectors include two-way corner pieces in pairs connecting the crossbar to the posts, the posts to the rearward extensions, and the rearward extensions to the rear interconnection.
- 22. Goal structure according to claim 21 with claim 18, wherein frame parts as net stays at each side include the elongate resilient connectors to afford desired inclination in extent of the stays between the post-to-crossbar corner pieces and the rearward extension-to-rear interconnection corner pieces.
- 23. Goal structure according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein tensile bracing extends from the post-to-crossbar corner pieces at each side to the rearward extension-to-rear interconnection corner pieces at the other side, respectively.
- 24. Goal structure according to claim 23 with claim 22, wherein the net stays extend between matching ones of the accommodation formations according to claim 8, and the tensile bracing extends between the other such accommodation formations.
- 25. Goal structure according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the tensile bracing comprises substantially inextensible cord or wire.
- 26. Frame structure according to any one of claims 15 to 20, as readily erected and at least partially dismantled temporary backto-back double goal structure, comprising said frame parts and said connectors making up posts, crossbars, and crossbar-level and ground-level inter-connection, wherein said connectors include two-way corner connectors connecting each crossbar to its posts and the posts to their ground-level interconnections, the crossbar-level interconnections being by insertion frame parts relative to the corner connectors concerned.
- 27. Frame structure according to any one of claims 15 to 20, as readily erected and at least partially dismantled temporary backto-back double goal structure, comprising said frame parts and said connectors making up posts, crossbars, and crossbar-level and ground-level inter-connection, wherein said connectors include two-way corner connectors to form substantially rectangular side frames affording the posts and both of crossbar level and ground-level interconnections, the crossbar-level inter connections, the crossbars being frame parts insertions into the corner connectors concerned.
- 28. Double goal structure according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein combined net provision extends between the posts at each side and between the crossbars, and also affords a division medial of extents between crossbars and posts.
- 29. Double-sided goal structure according to claim 28 with claim 27, wherein separate netting parts are associated with each of the side frames and another netting part is associated with the crossbars.
- 30. Frame structure according to any one of claims 15 to 20, comprising said frame parts and corner connectors making up a substantially rectangular frame to be substantially horizontal in use and with substantially vertical frame parts extending upwards and/or downwards from the corner connectors.
- 31. Frame structure according to claim 30, comprising a fourway goal structure with downward said substantially vertical frame parts as its posts and the substantially horizontal frame as its crossbars.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9902843.3A GB9902843D0 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Multi-sisded frame |
GBGB9902844.1A GB9902844D0 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Multi-piece retension device |
GBGB9902846.6A GB9902846D0 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Impact resistance |
GBGB9902845.8A GB9902845D0 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Leisure equipment |
GBGB9916966.6A GB9916966D0 (en) | 1999-07-21 | 1999-07-21 | Rigidity aid |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB0002987D0 GB0002987D0 (en) | 2000-03-29 |
GB2347477A true GB2347477A (en) | 2000-09-06 |
GB2347477A9 GB2347477A9 (en) | 2000-09-19 |
Family
ID=27517493
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB0002987A Withdrawn GB2347477A (en) | 1999-02-10 | 2000-02-10 | Frame connector |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2347477A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2241470A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2005-10-16 | Equipamientos Y Materiales Deportivos, S.L. | Sport square for goal, has union element and pivots or adjustable projections fixed to section of post profile |
GB2423260A (en) * | 2005-02-17 | 2006-08-23 | Inter Trading Sports Associate | Sports goal |
FR2887779A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-05 | Pro Training Sa | Sports equipment structure system for e.g. football net, has weighing elements comprising section adapted so that elements are slid inside basic elements, where weighing elements comprise handle seized by hook |
EP2062622A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2009-05-27 | Global Goal ApS | A goal for ball games |
GB2463243A (en) * | 2008-09-03 | 2010-03-10 | Stuart Jonathan Lacey | Assembly kit for sports equipment |
CN107349580A (en) * | 2017-08-10 | 2017-11-17 | 江苏金陵体育器材股份有限公司 | Football door frame |
GB2581169A (en) * | 2019-02-06 | 2020-08-12 | Harold Jonas John | Improvements in or relating to pitch or field games |
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GB2006297A (en) * | 1978-10-13 | 1979-05-02 | Kyburz H | Supporting Framework of Unit Construction for Making Small Buildings Such As Houses, Huts and Tents for Amusement Purposes |
EP0038550A2 (en) * | 1980-04-22 | 1981-10-28 | Vereinigte Metallwerke Ranshofen-Berndorf AG | Casing for units, particularly for air conditioning units |
GB2129903A (en) * | 1982-11-06 | 1984-05-23 | Marc Udo Schmoelz | Construction system |
US5249796A (en) * | 1991-08-16 | 1993-10-05 | Paul Silvi | Convertible sports goal apparatus |
GB2328617A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 1999-03-03 | Charlene Chen | Framework pieces which inter-connect to form goals etc. |
GB2330890A (en) * | 1997-11-04 | 1999-05-05 | Stewart Dunn | Flexibly connected rod connector blocks |
-
2000
- 2000-02-10 GB GB0002987A patent/GB2347477A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2006297A (en) * | 1978-10-13 | 1979-05-02 | Kyburz H | Supporting Framework of Unit Construction for Making Small Buildings Such As Houses, Huts and Tents for Amusement Purposes |
EP0038550A2 (en) * | 1980-04-22 | 1981-10-28 | Vereinigte Metallwerke Ranshofen-Berndorf AG | Casing for units, particularly for air conditioning units |
GB2129903A (en) * | 1982-11-06 | 1984-05-23 | Marc Udo Schmoelz | Construction system |
US5249796A (en) * | 1991-08-16 | 1993-10-05 | Paul Silvi | Convertible sports goal apparatus |
GB2328617A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 1999-03-03 | Charlene Chen | Framework pieces which inter-connect to form goals etc. |
GB2330890A (en) * | 1997-11-04 | 1999-05-05 | Stewart Dunn | Flexibly connected rod connector blocks |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2241470A1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2005-10-16 | Equipamientos Y Materiales Deportivos, S.L. | Sport square for goal, has union element and pivots or adjustable projections fixed to section of post profile |
GB2423260A (en) * | 2005-02-17 | 2006-08-23 | Inter Trading Sports Associate | Sports goal |
US7278935B2 (en) | 2005-02-17 | 2007-10-09 | Inter Trading Sports Associates Ltd. | Sports goal |
GB2423260B (en) * | 2005-02-17 | 2009-04-01 | Inter Trading Sports Associates Ltd | Sports goal |
FR2887779A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-05 | Pro Training Sa | Sports equipment structure system for e.g. football net, has weighing elements comprising section adapted so that elements are slid inside basic elements, where weighing elements comprise handle seized by hook |
EP2062622A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2009-05-27 | Global Goal ApS | A goal for ball games |
WO2009068580A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2009-06-04 | Global Goal A/S | A goal for ball games |
GB2463243A (en) * | 2008-09-03 | 2010-03-10 | Stuart Jonathan Lacey | Assembly kit for sports equipment |
WO2010026378A1 (en) * | 2008-09-03 | 2010-03-11 | Stuart Jonathan Lacey | A kit of parts for assembly into sports equipment and methods of making sports equipment therefrom |
CN107349580A (en) * | 2017-08-10 | 2017-11-17 | 江苏金陵体育器材股份有限公司 | Football door frame |
GB2581169A (en) * | 2019-02-06 | 2020-08-12 | Harold Jonas John | Improvements in or relating to pitch or field games |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2347477A9 (en) | 2000-09-19 |
GB0002987D0 (en) | 2000-03-29 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |