GB2349342A

GB2349342A - Inflatable goal posts

Info

Publication number: GB2349342A
Application number: GB9909660A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren John Goff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-28
Filing date: 1999-04-28
Publication date: 2000-11-01
Also published as: GB9909660D0

Abstract

Sports equipmennt such as goal posts and handball net supports are constituted at least in part by a hollow inflatable member. The equipment has means to be anchored to the ground.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SPORTS EQUIPMENT This invention concerns improvements in or relating to sports equipment, particularly of the kind which is installed on a temporary basis for the playing of a game where normally such permanent equipment is not available to visitors.

For example, in a normal park or recreational area sports equipment such as goal posts, or net supports, netball posts or the like are not necessarily available and in the case of goal posts, it has long been the practice of children or indeed adults wishing to play a game of football to makeshift mark the goal mouth with articles of clothing laid on the ground. Clearly, the disposition of makeshift markers of this kind is not realistic since the markers do not accurately represent the dimensional extent of a standard goal mouth.

In the alternative, the provision of actual goal posts even on a temporary basis is impractical in view of their sheer size and weight.

Children, particularly, wishing to go to the park for a game of football would find it impossible to transport sports equipment of this nature.

An object of the invention is to provide sports equipment which is easily transportable in terms of weight and size, and can be erected and dismantled without difficulty.

According to the invention sports equipment for playing a game includes at least one hollow inflatable member which forms the principal element of the game, and at least one ground fixture adapted to retain the member in an appropriate position for playing the game.

The hollow inflatable member is conveniently made of a material which is suitably flexible when in a deflated state to be foldable into a mangeable and easily transportable size.

The sports equipment may be in the form or shape of a goal with inflatable posts and cross bar, the posts being provided with ground fixtures to enable the user (s) to secure the posts in the earth. For example each ground fixture for a respective post may include a flange provided with pegs for penetrating the earth to provide stability for the posts. Stabilising means may be provided and may be in the form of guy ropes or strings which can be secured by retaining pegs, for example tent pegs.

The goal may also be provided with a relatively light weight net for securement to the posts and any other rigging which may form part of the inflatable member.

The sports equipment may also be provided with a carrier into which the deflated member may be folded and emplaced for transport.

In an alternative expression of the invention, the sports equipment may be in the form of handball net supports which are inflatable and which are provided with a net or suitable barrier to be strung between the installed equipment.

In a further alternative, the sports equipment is in the form of a rugby goal with side inflatable side posts and a cross member for conventional disposition between the posts.

The or each element of the sports equipment is provided with a suitable air or gas entry which may be for inflating the element by mouth. In the alternative, the entry may be of the conventional kind with a oneway valve such that a pump may be employed for the purpose of inflating the element.

The sports equipment may include a pump of suitably small weight and size as to be reasonably portable for a child or an adult. For example a bicycle pump may be employed for this purpose.

By way of example only one embodiment of sports equipment according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic perspective view.

With reference to the drawing, there is shown sports equipment in the form of a goal 1 formed of hollow flexible material which may be a plastics or a rubber material which in its deflated state is foldable into sufficiently small dimensions as to render it containable within a carrier (not shown) of reasonable and portable size and overall weight.

The goal 1 is formed of an inflatable element 2 provided with two posts 4 and cross beam 6 interconnecting the tops of the posts 4. At the foot of each post 4 is a foot or flange 8 provided with holes 10 through which in situ in an inflated erect position of the goal 1 pegs (not shown) are driven manually to secure in temporary fashion the goal 1 to the ground. The flange 8 may be of any convenient shape and may of a stiffer material than the other features of the goal.

The inflatable element 2 is provided with an air aperture 11 for the injection and release of air and is provided in a stem 13. A stopper 15 to prevent involuntary escape of the trapped air after inflation is provided for the aperture 11. In an alternative embodiment, the stem 13 is provided with a one-way valve such as is used in tyres and in this event, a pump may also be provided.

At the top margins of the cross beam 6 are hooks 16 or other suitable fixing locations to which in use guy ropes (not shown) are attached and extend to securing pegs (not shown) driven into the ground. A net (not shown) is or may be suitably and releasable secured around the goal 1, but is not essential.

In practice, the inflatable element 2 of the goal 1 is folded into a sufficiently small size as to fit into a light weight carrier or case (not shown) and is of an overall weight that is portable for a child. Upon arrival at the place where a game is to be played, the inflatable element 2 is withdrawn from its carrier and is inflated by human effort, the stopper 15 being used to plug the aperture 11 when full inflation is achieved. The goal 1 is then erected in place and pegs are driven through the holes 10 to secure the goal posts 4, and guy ropes are suitably connected to the hooks 16 and then when taut fastened by tent pegs driven into the ground to provide stability to the goal.

When the game is concluded, the inflatable element is deflated by release of the stopper 15 to allow exhaust of the trapped air which renders the element 2 foldable for storage and carriage in its carrier.

The invention thus provides a simple and yet effective means of constructing a goal or other game equipment in a manner which allows ease of transport manually by a child particularly although its usage is not confined to child use. It will be appreciated that the invention may be used for a range of games which require equipment to define at least part of their essential playing character, be it a goal or a net strung between two posts or indeed a basket ball post with net carrier.

It will further be appreciated that the inflatable member may be suitably reinforced in certain key areas with stiffening elements which may be in the form of spaced ribs. It will be understood that the degree of stiffness afforded by such ribs would not be such as to affect adversely the foldability of the member.

It will also be understood that the material from which the sports equipment is made is a matter of choice, but should be relatively light in weight and be produced from non-toxic or inflammable material.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Sports equipment for playing a game including at least one hollow inflatable member which forms the principal element of the game, and at least one ground fixture adapted to retain the member in an appropriate position for playing the game.
2. Sports equipment according to Claim 1 in which the hollow inflatable member is made of a material which is suitably flexible when in a deflated state to be foldable into a manageable and easily transportable size.
3. Sports equipment according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the sports equipment is in the form of a goal with inflatable posts and cross bar, the posts being provided with ground fixtures to enable securement of the posts in the earth.
4. Sports equipment according to Claim 3 in which each ground fixture for a respective post includes a flange provided with pegs for penetrating the earth to provide stability for the posts.
5. Sports equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which stabilising means are provided in the form of guy ropes or strings which can be secured by retaining pegs.
6. Sports equipment according to Claim 3 in which the goal is provided with a relatively light weight net for securement to the posts.
7. Sports equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which a carrier is provided for the deflated member which is folded and emplaced therein for transport.
8. Sports equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the or each element of the sports equipment is provided with a temporarily sealable air or gas entry.
9. Sports equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sports equipment includes a pump.
10. Sports equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.