GB2543580A

GB2543580A - Portable sports post

Info

Publication number: GB2543580A
Application number: GB1518855.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miles Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-10-23
Filing date: 2015-10-23
Publication date: 2017-04-26
Also published as: GB201518855D0; WO2017212207A3; WO2017212207A2

Abstract

A portable sports post 10 has a hollow base 14 with an opening 18 for receiving ballast, such as sand or water, together with an inflatable upright 12 attached to the base 14. The arrangement of components leads to a lightweight post which can readily be transported and rapidly set up on a range of surfaces. The post may comprise at least one strap (32 fig.2) attached to the base in order to increase the stability of the device when in use. The post may additionally comprise means to secure at least one peg to the base. The bottom face of the base may comprise a channel (38 fig. 2) to secure the one or more pegs (39 fig.2). The post may also comprise means to attach to an anchor, with the post being suitable for use in water-based activities.

Description

Portable sports post

The present invention relates to a portable sports post, such as a portable football post. A number of sports, such as football (also known as soccer), use at least one post in order to demarcate a playing area or an area in which points are scored, for example a goal. Often when such sports are played informally, such as in a park or on a beach, these areas are indicated by small items temporarily placed on the ground, however this can lead to disputes between the players as to whether, for example, a goal has been scored or a ball has gone out of the allowed playing area. The problem of demarcating an area of play can be even more difficult when sports are played in shallow water, for example in a swimming pool or close to a beach.

Portable posts and goals are known, however these are typically rigid structures and are therefore are either smaller than an optimal size for playing the sport or are not easily transported. Such portable posts and goals are also typically not suitable for use for both land- and water-based sporting activities.

There remains a need for the provision of a sports post which can be easily carried, for example by children, and rapidly set up on a range of surfaces.

Accordingly, there is provided in a first aspect of the invention a portable sports post comprising a hollow base with an opening for receiving ballast, and an inflatable upright attached to the base. In use during a sporting activity based on land, the base is filled with ballast, such as sand or water, and the upright is inflated. This arrangement of components provides a lightweight post which is easily transported, including by children, and which can be rapidly set up on a range of surfaces, using ballast materials which are readily available in areas of play, such as gardens, parks and beaches.

The base may be formed from rigid moulded plastic or may, for example, may be flexible. Preferably, the base has a collapsible wall portion. This enables the base to be moved from a collapsed to an extended configuration prior to adding ballast.

In one embodiment of the invention, the base comprises a rigid bottom section, a rigid top section and a collapsible wall section, the collapsible wall section extending between the top and bottom sections, and wherein the collapsible wall section comprises alternating rigid and flexible portions configured to fold between extended and collapsed configurations. The collapsible wall sections may be made of a silicone rubber.

The upright may be formed from an inflatable bladder which can be encased in an outer skin. The outer skin, or the bladder itself when an outer skin is not used, provides a space which may be decorated, for example, using colours associated with sports clubs and / or club logos.

The base may additionally comprise at least one strap attached to the base which, in use, may be used to increase the stability of the post. Preferably, one end of the strap is attached to the base and the other end is provided with means to secure the strap to the ground, for example the strap may define a hole for receiving a peg, which may be in the form of a reinforced eyelet. The one or more straps may be used to provide additional stability to the post, for example during high winds. The base may typically comprise at least two straps which secure the base to the ground on opposite sides of the base, for example the base may comprise four straps.

The base may also comprise means for securing the ends of the one or more straps to the base when the straps are not in use. Preferably, the ends of the one or more straps are secured on the bottom face of the base. This enables the straps to be concealed and in addition ensures that the straps are out of the way when they are not in use. In the case that each strap defines a hole, the base may be provided with an attachment means that passes through the hole, such as a short projecting pin or hook.

The base may also comprise means to secure at least one peg, for example a peg for each strap that is attached to the base. This enables the user to rapidly access a peg if it is required by the conditions to secure the base. Preferably the one or more pegs are secured on the bottom face of the base. This enables the pegs to be concealed and in addition ensures that the pegs are out of the way when not in use. In one embodiment of the invention the one or more pegs are secured in at least one channel defined by the bottom face of the base.

The sports post of the invention may also have utility for water-based sports activities. In this embodiment of the invention, the above described post is additionally provided with means to attach the post to an anchor. Preferably, the bottom face of the base comprises an attachment point which may be used for attaching the base to an anchor.

In order to use the base for water-based activities, the base is not filled with a ballast material but is filled with air, and therefore floats on the surface of the water supporting the inflated upright. The base is attached to an anchor which stops the post from moving far from a defined location. The base of the post may be connected to the anchor via an adjustable line to enable the length to be adjusted according to the depth of water.

In one embodiment of the invention the anchor is a hollow receptacle with an opening for receiving ballast, such as sand. This enables the anchor to be easily transported with the post.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for assembly into a portable sports post for water-based activities comprising a post as defined herein and an anchor.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the sports post.

Figure 2 shows an underneath view of the sports post of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows side view of the sports post of Figure 1 attached to an anchor.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a portable sports post 10. The post 10 includes an inflatable upright 12 and a hollow base 14. The inflatable upright 12 is a tubular structure which may have, for example a height of 1.5m (5ft) once inflated. The inflatable upright 12 includes an outer skin, which may be formed from plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride, and an inflatable bladder, which may be formed from a synthetic rubber which is a durable material resistant to puncture. The inflatable bladder may be inflated using valve 16 which passes through the outer skin.

The base 14 is formed from moulded plastic which provides a lightweight structure. The base 14 is provided with an opening 18 through which ballast may be added or removed. The base 14 may be provided with a cap (not shown in Figure 1) to close the opening 18, for example a screw cap engaging with a screw thread on the rim of the opening 18. It will be understood that the opening 18 will be of sufficient size such that ballast may be easily added or removed, for example an opening 18 with a diameter of 75mm (3 inches).

The hollow base 14 is attached to the inflatable upright 12 by a flange 20 which has an internal screw thread which engages with a plastic ring with an external screw thread (not shown on figure 1) which is attached to the bottom of the outer skin of the inflatable upright 12. It will be understood that the flange 20 may be an integral part of the moulded base 14 or may be a separate component which is attached to the base 14 for example by a silicone adhesive.

In an alternative embodiment of the hollow base 14, the base 14 has a rigid bottom section which is a moulded plastic disk, a rigid top section which is a plastic flange with an internal screw thread. The walls of the base 14 between the disk and the flange are collapsible and alternate between rigid and flexible portions, which may be formed from silicone rubber. The walls of the base 14 can therefore move between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, enabling a reduction in the size of the base 14 when not in use. Techniques to form such collapsible wall sections are known, for example see USD633266 (Mulberry Imports Limited) or US20150251795A1 (Sam Tsui).

In use, the post 10 is transported by the user to a park, beach, garden or other leisure area. The base 14 is then filled with ballast, such as sand or water, and the user then inflates the upright 12 by blowing air through the valve 16 or by using a pump. When the user has finished using the post 10, the air is removed from the upright 12 and the ballast poured out of the base 14. The upright 12 may then be rolled up for easy transportation.

Figure 2 shows an underneath view of the portable sports post 10 showing the bottom face 30 of the base 14, i.e. the face of the base 14 at least part of which is in contact with the ground during use. Four straps 32 are connected to the base 14 by attachment points which are in the form of metal bars 34 which pass through a loop formed in the straps 34. The ends of the metal bars 34 may be embedded in the moulded plastic of the bottom face 30 or the metal bars 34 may be releasably attached to the bottom face 30. The straps 34 may be used to provide additional stability to the post 10, for example when the post 10 is used in windy conditions. The end of the straps 32 which are remote from the attachment points 34 are releasably connected to the base 14 by short projecting pins 36 which pass through reinforced eyelets 37 formed in the straps 32.

The bottom face 30 of the base 14 also defines a number of grooves 28 which enable the releasable attachment of pegs 39 (only one of which is shown in Figure 2) to the base 14. When the use of the straps 32 is required by the conditions, the straps 32 are folded outwards and the pegs 39 are removed from the grooves 38 and may are used to secure the base 14 to the ground by passing the pegs 39 through the eyelets in the straps 32.

The rim 40 of the bottom face 30 extends beyond the bottom face, and it is therefore the rim 40 which is contact with the ground when the post is in use.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, for example the inflatable upright 12 may be provided without an inner tube, the outer skin being inflated directly using valve 16. The base 14 may be provided without the grooves 38 and the pegs 39 carried separately by the user when required. The base may alternatively or additionally be provided without the straps 32 (and attachment means 34 and short projecting pins 36). The base may be secured to the ground if required in other ways, for example with the base 14 itself defining holes through which pegs 39 may pass.

In one embodiment of the invention, the bottom face 30 of the base 14 also is provided with attachment point, such as a metal bar 42, suitable for attaching the post 10 to an anchor 50. The ends of the metal bar 42 may be embedded into the moulded plastic of the bottom face 30 or may be releasably attached. Figure 3 shows a sports post 10 attached to an anchor 50. The anchor 50 is a hollow structure with an opening 52 for receiving ballast. The anchor 50 may be made from moulded plastic and is provided with a loop 54 suitable for connection to a line 56. The loop 54 may be defined by the structure of the anchor 50 or may be a separate component, such as a screw eye that is connected to the anchor 50. A line 56 is used to connect the anchor 50 to the post 10 and is adjustable in length, for example using a line tensioner 58.

In use, for example when the post 10 is used in shallow water close to a beach, the base 14 of the post 10, is not filled with ballast and therefore floats on the water. The anchor 30 is filled with ballast, such sand, via the opening 52 and is lowered to the sea floor. The line 56 is adjusted in length using the line tensioner 58 which maintains the post 10 in one location.

Other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features that are already known and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features described herein. Features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, the term “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality, a single feature may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims and reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. It should also be noted that the Figures are not necessarily to scale; emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Claims

1. A portable sports post comprising a hollow base with an opening for receiving ballast, and an inflatable upright attached to the base.

2. A post according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises a collapsible wall section.

3. A post according to claim 2 wherein the base comprises a rigid bottom section, a rigid top section and a collapsible wall section, the collapsible wall section extending between the top and bottom sections, and wherein the collapsible wall section comprises alternating rigid and flexible portions configured to fold between extended and collapsed configurations.

4. A post according to any one of claims 1 to 3 additionally comprising at least one strap attached to the base which, in use, may be used to increase the stability of the post.

5. A post according to claim 4 wherein the base comprises means for securing the ends of the one or more straps to the base when the straps are not in use.

6. A post according to any preceding claim wherein the base additionally comprises means to secure at least one peg.

7. A post according to claim 6 wherein the bottom face of the base defines at least one channel for securing the one or more pegs.

8. A post according to any preceding claim wherein the bottom face of the base comprises an attachment point suitable for attaching the post to an anchor.

9. A kit of parts for assembly into a portable sports post for water-based activities comprising a post according to claim 8 and an anchor.

10. A portable post substantially as described herein and with reference to Figures 1-3.