GB2513159A

GB2513159A - Football net

Info

Publication number: GB2513159A
Application number: GB1306991.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Cowan
Original assignee: OPEN GOAAAL INVEST Ltd
Current assignee: OPEN GOAAAL INVEST Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-17
Filing date: 2013-04-17
Publication date: 2014-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-17
Also published as: GB2513159B; GB201306991D0

Abstract

A goal for use in a ball game, wherein the mouth of the goal is defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal cross bar 12, wherein the posts and the cross bar are formed of flexible collapsible rope lines 10 tensioned by taut runs of rope or string connected to the ends of the cross bar. Optionally, the taut ropes are two parts of a single common line. The posts may be tensioned by having weights attached at their lower ends, tethering 20 the posts to the ground or attaching the posts to a lower taut rope at ground level. The goal may be formed with a net of mesh or webbing forming a pocket for catching the ball. There may be an upper taut line above the height of the goal from which the goal is slidably suspended to allow the goal to be collapsed when not in use. A method claim is also included.

Description

Foothall Net

Background

This invention relates to football goals for use in domestic gardens or open areas, and more particularly to collapsible football goals and netting. It helps to avoid some of the frustrations associated with conventional goal structures.

Many parents talk of the irritation of having a large football goal structure in their garden. Their child desires an ever larger goal to shoot at, whereas the parent sees it as unsightly, in the way, and ever more expensive as tho sizc incrcascs.

Tt would therefore be advantageous to provide a football goal that could be quickly and easily collapsed when not in use.

rith these considerations in mind, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a football goal as set forth in claim 1 of the appended claims.

Acoording to a seoond aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of erecting a football goal as set forth in claim 15 of the appended claims.

The present invention provides an easily collapsible football goal without requiring the use of structural poles in the goalmouth.

The invention is not limited to use on a football pitch, but may be applicable to any game involving a projectile and a goal, such as hockey.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an un-tensioned view of the goal prior to erection; Figure 2 shows a front view with the crossbar tensioned; Figure 3s and 4 show alternative methods of tensioning the gcalposts and base of the goal; Figure 5 shows in practice where the taut lines may be fixcd; Figure 6 shows example methods of tethering the lines to side supports; Figure 7 shows the front view of a simpler 2 dimensional goal; Figures Ba and Bb show the frcnt view of alternative embodiments with mesh surround; Figures 9 and 10 show a front view of the goal portion connected to an upper cable; Figures ha and llb show a frcnt view of the goal portion illustrating two stages of tension release within the taut line; Figure 12 shows the front view of an alternative embodiment in the form of a continental shaped box goal; and Figure 13 shows a front view cf the goal portion and taut lines stored to one side.

Turning first to figure 1, a collection of loose ropes and mesh fastened together define a goalmouth (14) and pocket elements (16) of a goal which when appropriately tensioned will create a 3-dimensional football goal structure without any rigid elements.

Lines of tethering rope (10) are attached to either end of the crossbar (12) ; or alternatively one line of rope extends continuously from beyond one end of the crossbar, alongside or instead of the crossbar, and out beyond the other end.

The crossbar will either be permanently attached to the tethering rope(s) such that it cannot move in relation to them, or detachable such that it can be released from them; either being completely released or able to slide relative to thom.

The distal ends of the tethering rope(s) (18) are secured to fixed supports at either side of the desired location of the goal, and then tensioned. This causes the shape of the crossbar to be defined and allows it to be a point of rigidicy from which the rest of the goal can be structured.

The goalposts are then tethered at ground level (20) for example by weights, pegs inserted into the ground, other devices, or to a tensioned lateral tethering rope (22) that extends from fixed supports at either side of the location of the goal. This tethering rope may be secured onto a post or pole, or other, or alternatively ground anchors. Again a vertical component in the tension of the rope when attached to the goalposts contributes to straightening the goalpost.

Preferably the goal may be fully formed by a mesh pocket (24) extending backwards frcm the goal mouth being pulled backwards and tethered to the ground (26) to ensure that balls cannot escape from the goal by passing under the lower perimeter of the pocket. Again this could be by weights, ground pegs or a further ground level tensioned tethering rope (28) It is of course possible to provide a simple two dimensional goal in the form of a goal mouth only, defined by two posts and a crossbar (see Fig. 7) As with the crossbar rope (10 & 12), the rear tethering rope (28) is eirher one rope attached to or in place of the rear base of the goal, or 2 ropes attached at each of the back corners. When this is tensioned, it is highly offcctivo at prcvcnting balls cocaping from undor thc goal.

Tf both of the ground level tethering ropes are used instead of anchors or weights etc, it can be seen that the goal is effectively tethered to the ground for the purposes of the game, wiThout actually having any tethers interacting with the ground in the vicinity of the goal. It could almost be described as fixed yet floating.

In practice, the distal ends cf the crossbar tethering rope will be secured at a height (30) that is greater than the height of the straightened goalpost ropes above the point at which They will be secured at their base. As a result of having to pull the cross bar down, a vertical component of the tension in the tethering rope serves to tension the verrical ropes, therein imparting a degree of rigidity or structure to the goal posts.

In the embodiment shown in figure 4, the whole goal is positioned, shaped and funotional on the basis of up to three laterally tensioned ropes.

The tension in each of the three lateral ropes may be provided and released by looking ratchets (32), cambuckles (34), pulleys, manual stretching of the rope (36) or other.

Although the preferred embodiment performs all the required functions of a goal without the need for rigid posts to be inserted as a framework, it may still be desirable to provide such a frame work in order to provide a more robust poso and/or crossbar. The framework may consist of interlocking plastic or metal tubes or may be inflatable.

Tho framowork is typically inscrtod into slocvcs providod at the edges of the line, mesh or web defining the goal mouth.

This enables players of the game tc determine without ambiguity if a ball has hit the post' such as may occur when playing wich a permanent goal structure. What is essential is that the goal mouth may be erected and clearly defined without the need for such support members, and their use should be deemed as optional.

It may be chat the edges of the goal mouth are marked or have some form of material attached so as to give the appearance of goalposts and crossbar.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention (Figs. 8a and Sb), there is a mesh curtain surrounding and attached to the perimeter of the goal mouth in order to prevent the ball from flying pasc the goal as a result of a missed shot. The mesh curtain might extend laterally from the goalposts (38) vertically from and above the crossbar, or both (40) When the mesh extends vertically above the crossbar, it is hung from a permanent or retractable cable (42) suspended above the goalmouth. If present, the mesh extending laterally from uhe goalposts is hung from the crossbar tethering rope (10), or the optional top cable (42), or attached between the goalposts and side support. It may also be anchored to the ground with weights, ground anchors, or be connected to the ground level tethering ropes by looping through it or by curtain hooks/loops to prevent ball escape underneach it.

A significant benefit of this invention is that the goal is easily collapsible after use without the need for the dismantling or folding away of the frame of a convontional goal. Simply by rclcasing thc tonsion in tho tethering rope (10) and ropes (22, 28) or anchors (20, 26), perhaps by unlocking the ratchet(s) (32), cambuckle or other, the tethering ropes can be un-hooked and carried across to be hung at the fixed support at the opposite side (as shown in fig. 13) or stored in some other fashion.

Alternatively the tension in the crossbar may be decoupled from the crossbar tethering rope and slid along it to the other side, or similarly slid along an upper cable (eg. 42, 44) that is permanently hanging above the goal.

Figure 9 provides an example of how the goal portion can be loosely attached to an upper cable (44), for example with 2 loops (46), so that when the crossbar rope is released from ins support at one side, the goal portion can be easily slid across to the other instead of having to be carried across as described earlier.

Figure 10 shows the goal or goal mouth hanging below a horizontal tensioned line. In this embodiment connecting loops or lines (48) oonnect the lateral cods of the cross bar, or upper ends of the posts to the tensioned line. By securing the connecting loops or lines at their upper ends to the tensioned line and preventing relative axial movement, the cross bar is indirectly tensioned through the loops/lines. The loops or lines may be releasably secured to the tensioned line by suitable means such as cable ties, knots, clothes pegs or the like. When releasing the tensioned coupling between the tensioned line and the loops/lines, they remain supported by the tensioned line but no longer tension the cross bar. This allows the goal to be slide relative no the tensioned line in the same way as a curtain to allow it to be easily moved into a collapsed position so than it no longer restricts movement within the gardon.

Tn any of nine above embodiments, when the goal is of a size that the crossbar tethering rope is secured at a height that makes it difficult to release its tension without the use of steps or a ladder, it is possible to simplify the procedure by dividing one of the tensioned runs of line into two separable components (see fig ha) , or to detach it from the cross bar. This may be achieved for example by utilising two interconnecning carbine loops (50) By releasing the tension in the ratchet (52) kept at a lower position for accessibility, the higher rope will sag, dropping the coupling within reach (fig hib) . This can then be separated allowing the goal to be moved away to be stored.

An alternanive method of retractinc the goal portion uses a pulley system to lower the whole crossbar or cable by dropping the atnachment loop or other (54) before either un-coupling the two parts, or unhooking the crossbar rope completely.

Tn an alternative embodiment, a further method of retracting the goal portion is achieved whereby one of the supporting posts at either side of the goal is lifted from its position and taken to be stowed at the opposite side.

The invencion applies equally well to a continental box-shaped goal (56) . An additional tethering rope would be either attached to or form part of the additional upper edge of the now box-shaped goal portion, and would operate in an identical manner to the tensioned lines described above.

Claims

Claims 1. A goal for use in a ball game, wherein the mouth of the goal is defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal cross bar, wherein the posts and the cross bar are formed of flexible collapsible lines tensioned by taut runs of line connected to the ends of the cross bar.
2. A goal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the taut runs are common to a single line.
3. A goal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising weights attached to the posts to increase the vertical tension within the posts.
4. A goal as claimed in claim 1 to 3, further comprising attaching a tether to a lower edge of the posts to secure them relative to the ground.
5. A goal as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a lower taut line, wherein the crossbar is tensioned at each of its lateral ends by attachment to the upper taut line and the posts are connected between the upper line and The lower taut line.
6. A goal as claimed in 5, wherein the lower taut line is at ground level.
7. A goal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the goal is formed from a mesh or web in the shape of a pocket for catching a ball, the pocket having a rear edge in a different plane from the goal mouth.

-10 -
8. A goal as claimed in any claim depending frnm claim 5, wherein the rear edge of the goal is attached to a second lower taut line.
9. A goal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second lower taut line is at ground level.
10. A goal as claimed in any preceding claim, further including additional mesh or netting extending around the goal mouth to catch balls that do not enter the goal mouth.
11. A goal as claimed in any claim depending from claim 2, further comprising means for decoipling at least the cross bar from at least the single taut line to release the tcnsion in thc cross bar in ordcr to slidc thc goal along the single taut line between an erected and a collapsed position.
12. A goal as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an additional line above the height of the goal from which the goal is suspended to allow the goal tc slide along the line between an erected and collapsed position when not laterally tensioned by the taut line.
13. A goal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one taut line includes a releasable cambuckle ratchet or locking pulley for altering the tension in the line to enable at least the goal to be moved between an erected and a collapsed position.
14. A goal as claimed in claim 13, wherein a taut run of line extending from one side of the cross bar includes a coupling for selectively dividing the line into two sections or separating the cross bar from the tart run of line.

-11 -
15. A method of constructing and erecting a goal for use in a ball game, wherein the mouth of the goal is defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal cross bar, wherein the posts and the cross bar are formed of flexibly collapsible lines and are maintained in tension by being suspended by taut runs of line connected to the ends of the cross bar.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the taut runs are common to a single line.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, further comprising the step of applying weights to the posts to inoroaso tho vortioal tonsion within thom.
13. A method as claimed in claims 15 to 17, further comprising the step of tethering a lower edge of the posts relative to the ground.
19. A method as claimed in claim 1$, further comprising the step of attaching a lower edge of the posts to a lower taut line.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lower taut line is arranged at ground level.
21. A method as claimed in claims 15 to 20, wherein the goal is formed from a mesh or web and is in the form of a pocket for catching a ball, the pocket having a rear edge in a different plane from the goal mouth, further comprising the step of tethering the rear edge of the goal to the ground.

-12 -
22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of attaching the rear edge of the goal to a further ground level taut line extending in a different plane from the goal mouth.
23. A method as claimed in claims 15 to 22, further comprising the step of providing additional mesh or netting extending around the goal mouth to catch balls that do not enter the goal mouth.
24. A method as claimed in claims 15 to 23, further comprising the step of decoupling at least the cross bar from at least the single taut line and sliding the goal along tho taut line from an erected to a collapsed position.
25. A method as claimed in claims 15 to 24, further comprising the step of releasing the tension in the taut line(s) and moving the taut line(s) and goal between an erected to a collapsed position.
26. A method as claimed in claims 15 to 25, wherein tension in the taut line(s) is altered by means of a releasable ratchet or locking pulley.