GB2620972A

GB2620972A - Sports goal and net retainer for a sports goal

Info

Publication number: GB2620972A
Application number: GB2211039.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harrod Mark; Harrod Matthew; Somers Jack
Original assignee: Mh Goals Ltd
Current assignee: Mh Goals Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-28
Filing date: 2022-07-28
Publication date: 2024-01-31
Also published as: GB202211039D0

Abstract

A sports goal comprises an upper element 24, a coarse height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the upper element 24, and a fine height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper element 24 with a greater precision than the coarse height adjustment mechanism. The coarse height adjustment mechanism includes a protrusion or pin 66 configured to be removably received in one of a plurality of holes 64. The fine height adjustment mechanism includes a nut 76 mounted on a lead screw 74; wherein the nut (76, figure 7) is attached to the protrusion 66. The screw 74 as turn via a knob (78, figure 7); turning of the screw 74 causing movement of the protrusion 66 along a longitudinal axis. Also disclosed is a net retainer (see figure 2) for a sports goal, the net-retainer comprising a rod (38) for weaving into a net (12), and a hollow extrusion (30) defining: an elongate chamber (34) extending along a length of the hollow extrusion (30) and configured to receive the rod (38) when woven into the net (12), and a selvedge (16) of the net, and a net-receiving slot (36) in a wall of the chamber (34), the slot (36) extending through an outer wall of the hollow extrusion (30) and having a width that is less than a diameter of the rod (38).

Description

SPORTS GOAL AND NET RETAINER FOR A SPORTS GOAL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to sports goals, for example football goals Back ground Goals are an essential element to sports, such as football. There are strict regulations as to the dimensions that a sports goal must comply with, especially in high-level sport. The particular configuration of a sports pitch may mean that tailoring of the dimensions of a sports goal is required to meet the regulations.

High-level sports pitches often have sockets to receive respective elements of a sports goal, to retain the goal in the correct position on the pitch. Such sockets may have different depths to one another, or to sockets of other sports pitches.

Summaty According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports goal comprising: an upper element, a coarse height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the upper element, and a fine height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper element with a greater precision than the coarse height adjustment mechanism.

Such a sports goal may permit ease and speed of assembly and installation on a sports pitch to meet required regulations. The upper element may be a cross bar (such as for a football or hockey goal) or a net holder (such as for a netball goal). A height of the upper element may first be coarsely adjusted using the coarse height adjustment mechanism to approximately the required height, and subsequently finely adjusted using the fine height adjustment mechanism to the required height. The claimed sports goal may permit more accurate set-up of the sports goal than a sports goal that does not have a fine height adjustment mechanism. The claimed sports goal may permit faster set-up of the sports goal than a sports goal that does not have a coarse height adjustment mechanism.

The sports goal may be configured such that the coarse height adjustment mechanism is adjusted during assembly of the sports goal, and the fine height adjustment mechanism is adjusted once the sports goal is in position on a sports pitch.

The height of the upper element may be relative to the sports pitch, for example relative to a playing surface of the sports pitch, so that the upper element is at a correct height relative to the playing surface.

The sports goal may comprise an upright having an upper portion and a foot, and the coarse and fine adjustment mechanisms may be configured to cause relative movement of the upper portion and the foot along an axial direction of the upright. Both adjustment mechanisms being configured to cause relative movement of the same two components allows a relatively simple and space-efficient arrangement to be employed compared to the adjustment mechanisms being configured to act on different components to one another.

The foot may be configured to be received in a socket in a sports pitch on which the sports goal is installed. Such sockets can be at different depths and/or a depth of the socket may change over time, for example due to degradation or re-laying of the sports pitch. By permitting adjustment of the length of the upright, the height of the sports upper element can be adjusted to the required height regardless of a depth of the socket relative to the sports pitch.

The upright may directly support the upper element at an opposite end of the upright to the foot. The sports goal may comprise a pair of uprights supporting a crossbar at an opposite end of the uprights to the foot. Adjustment of the coarse and fine adjustment mechanisms may therefore alter a distance between the crossbar and the foot, to change a height of the crossbar relative to the sports pitch. The sports goal may comprise a pair of uprights supporting the upper element.

The coarse adjustment mechanism may define a plurality of discrete positions of the upper portion relative to the foot along the axial direction of the upright. Each of the discrete positions thereby correspond to a respective length of the upright. By defining discrete positions along the axial direction, a person setting-up with sports goal has more certainty as to the approximate length of the upright, and thus height of the upper element, at each of the discrete positions.

Each of the plurality of discrete positions may be defined by a respective hole in the foot, and the coarse adjustment mechanism may comprise a protrusion configured to be removably received in one of the plurality of holes. Inserting the protrusion into one of the plurality of holes secures the upright in one of the plurality of discrete positions. This may provide a simple and intuitive way of coarsely adjusting a height of the sports goal.

The protrusion may have such a shape that relative movement of the foot and the protrusion along the axial direction is substantially inhibited when the protrusion is received in the one of the plurality of holes. This may help to hold the upright more securely in the respective one of the discrete positions.

In use, a person setting-up the sports goal may insert the protrusion into the required one of the plurality of holes before lifting the upright into an upright position. This may permit easier coarse adjustment of a length of the upright because no, or at least reduced, load would be acting in the axial direction at the time of adjustment. Once the protrusion is inserted, the upright can be placed in the upright position without unwanted relative axial movement of the upper portion and the foot under gravity. The fine height adjustment mechanism may comprise a lead screw. A lead screw may permit fine height adjustment by a person setting up the sports goal. The lead screw may be turned by the person applying a rotational force to an end of the lead screw to adjust the height of the upper element. This provides a simple, intuitive and space-efficient arrangement.

A screw shaft of the lead screw may be aligned parallel to the axial direction, which may provide direct translation from rotation of the lead screw to height adjustment of the sports goal.

The fine height adjustment mechanism may be arranged to be self-securing, in the sense that the fine height adjustment mechanism will hold the upper portion and the foot in the required position without any additional latching or detent arrangement. Accordingly, the height of the sports goal can be easily, quickly and accurately adjusted to conform to regulations with the sports goal in a use position.

The lead screw may be fixedly attached to the upper portion and a nut of the lead screw may be fixedly attached to the protrusion. Rotation of the lead screw therefore causes movement of the nut, and thus the protrusion, along a length of the lead screw. The movement of the protrusion causes the relative movement between the upper portion and the foot by the fine adjustment mechanism to adjust the length of the upright.

The upper portion may comprise a hollow extrusion, the foot may be slidably received within the hollow extrusion, and the protrusion may extend through an axially extending slot in the upper portion and into one of the plurality of holes. This may aid in assembly of the sports goal, with the protrusion being insertable into the one of the plurality of holes in a radial direction of the upright. The slot may act as a stop for the fine adjustment mechanism. That is, the slot may define the limits of relative movement of the upper portion and the foot by the fine adjustment mechanism about any one of the plurality of discrete positions.

The lead screw may be positioned outside of the upper portion, which may make access to the end of the lead screw easier for a user, to rotate the lead screw. This may also free-up space within the upper portion, for example to receive the foot and/or provide reinforcement within the upper portion to enhance the structural integrity of the upright.

The upper portion may further comprise a mount for supporting the lead screw at opposing ends of the lead screw, and a securing plate located within the hollow extrusion and fixed to the hollow extrusion and the mount. The securing plate may aid in assembly of the components of the upper portion.

The axially extending slot may be defined in the securing plate. This may permit the slot and the plurality of holes to be positioned closed to one another in a radial direction of the upright, which may reduce tensile loads on the projection in use.

The hollow extrusion may comprise an aperture in an outer wall, the aperture configured to receive the mount to permit fixing of the mount to the securing plate. The axially extending slot may be aligned with the aperture to permit the protrusion to extend through the outer wall, the axially extending slot and the one of the plurality of holes.

The sports goal may comprise a net retainer. The net retainer may comprise: a rod for weaving into a net, and a hollow extrusion defining: an elongate chamber extending along a length of the hollow extrusion and configured to receive the rod when woven into the net, and a selvedge of the net; and a net-receiving slot in a wall of the chamber, the slot extending through an outer wall of the hollow extrusion and having a width that is less than a diameter of the rod. The net retainer may provide simple and quick installation of the net before, during or after height adjustment of the crossbar. In use, the rod is woven into the net near a selvedge of the net. Subsequently, the rod and the selvedge are slid into the chamber along an axial direction of the hollow extrusion, with twine of the net passing through the net-receiving slot. Since the width of the net-receiving slot is less than a diameter, or minimum diameter for a non-circular rod, of the rod, the selvedge of the net cannot be pulled out of the chamber. The rod is sufficiently incompressible and the hollow extrusion sufficiently rigid such that the rod cannot be forced through the net-receiving slot The hollow extrusion may be the hollow extrusion of the upper portion of the upright. By combining the height adjustment mechanisms and the net retainer in the upright, a space-efficient height-adjustable sports goal is provided.

The net-receiving slot may be aligned with the axially extending slot in the upper portion of the upright, and longitudinally spaced apart from the axially extending slot. The net retainer and the fine height adjustment mechanism may therefore not impede one another, due to the longitudinal spacing of the net-receiving slot and the axially extending slot.

Further, the fine height adjustment mechanism and the net-receiving slot are aligned on the same side of the hollow-extrusion such that a space-efficient arrangement is provided. The net-receiving and axially extending slots may be disposed in a rearwardly facing wall of the hollow extrusion, with the sports goal in a use position. Accordingly, the slots face away from the sports pitch may therefore not affect gamepl ay.

The hollow extrusion may comprise an internal reinforcement extending in an axial direction of the upright, adjacent the axially extending slot. The structural integrity of the hollow extrusion is enhanced by the internal reinforcement, to counteract a loss in structural integrity caused by the presence of the net-receiving slot and the axially extending slot. Providing an internal reinforcement allows enhancement of structural integrity without increasing the overall size of the hollow extrusion. The internal reinforcement may extend along substantially all of the length of the hollow extrusion.

The net retainer may comprise a rod-receiving slot having a width that is greater than a diameter of the rod, the rod-receiving slot located at an end of the hollow extrusion that is opposite to the foot and integrally formed with the net-receiving slot. The increased width of the rod-receiving slot at the end portion of the hollow extrusion permits insertion of the rod and net selvedge into the chamber even when the sports goal is assembled. For example, the end portion of the hollow extrusion may be at an end of the hollow extrusion that interfaces with a crossbar of the sports goal such that the rod cannot be slid into the chamber axially.

Providing the rod-retaining slot at the opposite end of the hollow extrusion to the foot allows the fine height adjustment mechanism and the net-retainer to be positioned on the same side of the hollow extrusion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a net retainer for a sports goal, the net-retainer comprising a rod for weaving into a net, and a hollow extrusion defining: an elongate chamber extending along a length of the hollow extrusion and configured to receive the rod when woven into the net, and a selvedge of the net; and a net-receiving slot in a wall of the chamber, the slot extending through an outer wall of the hollow extrusion and having a width that is less than a diameter of the rod.

The net retainer permits secure retention of a net for a sports goal without any components or fixings positioned outside of the hollow extrusion. This may provide safety benefits during assembly of the sports goal with the net and during gameplay using the sports goal. The net retainer al so provides a more uniform distribution of force along the length of the net, compared to net retainers that spot-fix a net to a sports goal, which may reduce a chance of damage to the net during use.

The rod is sufficiently incompressible and the hollow extrusion sufficiently rigid such that the rod cannot be forced through the net-receiving slot.

In use, the rod is woven into the net near a selvedge of the net. Subsequently, the rod and the selvedge are slid into the chamber along an axial direction of the hollow extrusion, with twine of the net passing through the net-receiving slot. Since the width of the net-receiving slot is less than a diameter, or minimum diameter for a non-circular rod, of the rod, the selvedge of the net cannot be pulled out of the chamber.

The width of the slot may be in the region of 2mm-8mm, such as about 4mm. Such widths may be small enough to prevent trapping of a person's finger in the slot, but large enough to permit the twine of the net to pass through the slot.

The net retainer may comprise a rod-receiving slot at an end portion of the hollow extrusion, the rod-receiving slot having a width that is greater than a diameter of the rod and integrally formed, contiguous or conjoined with the net-receiving slot. The increased width of the rod-receiving slot at the end portion of the hollow extrusion permits insertion of the rod and net selvedge into the chamber even when the sports goal is assembled with an end of the hollow extrusion abutting another component. For example, the end portion of the hollow extrusion may be at an end of the hollow extrusion that interfaces with a crossbar of the sports goal such that the rod cannot be slid into the chamber axially.

The width of the slot at the end portion of the hollow extrusion may be in the region of 10-15mm. Such widths may be sufficient to receive the rod and selvedge, but small enough so as not to affect gameplay during use of the sports goal or to significantly reduce the structural integrity of the hollow extrusion.

The hollow extrusion may comprise an internal reinforcement.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an illustrative example of a sports goal on a sports pitch, Figure 2 shows a cross section of an upright of the sports goal of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear view of an upper corner of the sports goal of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an end view of the sports goal of Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a lower end of an upright of the sports goal of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a rear view of a foot of the upright of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view of the lower end of the upright of Figure Figure 8 shows a front view of a reinforcement plate of the upright of Figure 5; Figure 9 shows a front perspective view of a fine height adjustment mechanism of the sports goal of Figure 1; and Figures 10A and 10B each show a front view of the fine height adjustment mechanism of Figure 9 in an uppermost and lowermost position of the mechanism, respectively.

Detailed Description

The sports goal 10 shown in Figure 1 is a football goal 10 on a sports pitch 1, on which is painted a goal line 2. The goal 10 comprises a net 12, rear net supports 14 and a frame 20. The rear net supports 14 exert tension on rear upper corners of the net 12 to give the net 12 a box-like shape, as required in high-level football.

The frame 20 comprises a crossbar 22, uprights 24 and a net rail 26. The crossbar 22 is substantially horizontal, and parallel with the sports pitch 1. The crossbar 22 is supported at either end by the uprights 24, which are substantially vertical. In this example, the sports pitch 1 comprises two sockets 3 (see Figure 4) located on the goal line 2, each configured to receive a lower end of a respective one of the uprights 24.

The net rail 26 extends in a rearward direction, relative to the sports pitch 1, from a lower end of each of the uprights 24 and across a rear of the goal 10. The net rail 26 is configured to hold the net 12 in a taut position. The net rail 26 is substantially horizontal and flush to the sports pitch 1 when in a use position i.e., when the goal 10 is configured for use in gamepl ay.

The net rail 26 is foldable relative to the uprights 24 and the crossbar 22 about the lower end of each of the uprights 24, as will be discussed in more detail later.

Folding the net rail 26 brings the net rail 26 to a stowed position, in which the net rail 26 is substantially parallel to the uprights 24. In the stowed position, the goal 10 is more easily manoeuvrable, and strain in the net 12 is reduced, which can help prevent damage to the net 12 when the goal 10 is not in use. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the net rail 26 may be fixed in position relative to the uprights 24 and the cross bar 22.

Each of the crossbar 22, the uprights 24 and the net rail 26 comprise a respective hollow extrusion which, in this example, are formed of aluminium. A cross-section of the hollow extrusion 30 of one of the uprights 24 is shown in Figure 2, and is taken approximately halfway up the uprights 24, as denoted by point B in Figure 1. The other of the uprights 24 has an identical cross-section.

The hollow extrusion 30 comprises an outer wall 32 that defines an outer perimeter of the upright 24. The hollow extrusion 30 defines an elongate chamber 34 extending along a length of the hollow extrusion 30. The hollow extnasion 30 also defines a net-receiving slot 36 in a rearward-facing wall, relative to the sports pitch, of the elongate chamber 34 and extending through the outer wall 32. The net-receiving slot 36 extends along a length of the hollow extrusion 30 and has a width of approximately 4mm.

The elongate chamber 34 is configured to receive a rod 38 that is woven into the net 12 near a selvedge 16 of the net 12, and the selvedge 16 of the net 12. The rod 38 in this example is substantially cylindrical and has a greater diameter than the width of the net-receiving slot 36, in this example approximately 8mm. The rod 38 is substantially incompressible such that the rod 38 cannot be pulled through the net-receiving slot 36. When the rod 38 and the selvedge 16 are received in the elongate chamber 34, twine 18 of the net 12 passes through the net-receiving slot 36. Accordingly, the net 12 is attached to the frame 20 without the need for external hardware, such as net hooks that are commonly used with sports goals.

In this example, hollow extmsions 30 of the crossbar 22 and the net rail 26 also define an elongate chamber 34 and net-receiving slot 36, as described above with reference to Figure 2.

During assembly of the goal 10, the rod 38 is woven through the twine 18 of the net, and the selvedge 16 and the rod 38 are subsequently slid into the chamber 34 along an axial direction of the hollow extrusion 30. Typically, the net 12 is attached to the frame 20 once the frame 20 has been assembled. In this example, the ends of the crossbar 22 abut upper ends of the respective uprights 24 once the frame 20 is assembled, as best shown in Figure 3 which is a rear view of the upper corner within circle A of Figure 1. Additionally, ends of the net rail 26 abut lower ends of the respective uprights 24. Accordingly, when the frame 20 is assembled, no end-on access to the chamber 34 is available such that it is not possible to slide the rod 38 and selvedge 16 into the elongate chamber 34 in a solely axial direction.

The hollow extrusion 30 of each of the crossbar 22, uprights 24 and net rail 26 therefore defines a rod-receiving slot 40, which is integrally formed with the net-receiving slot 36 in the rearward-facing wall of the elongate chamber 34. As with the net-receiving slot 36, the rod-receiving slot 40 extends through the outer wall 32 at a rear side of the hollow extrusion 30. The rod-receiving slot 40 is located at an end of the respective hollow extrusion 30 and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hollow extrusion 30. The rod-receiving slot 40 has a width that is greater than the diameter of the rod 38, in this example approximately 12mm. Essentially, the net-receiving slot 36 increases in width towards one end of the hollow extrusions 30 to form the rod-receiving slot 40. Accordingly, the rod 38 can pass through the rod-receiving slot 40 and into the elongate chamber 34 from radially outward of the outer wall 32. The width of the rod-receiving slot 40 is sufficiently small that the rod 38 and selvedge 16 cannot be manually removed from the elongate chamber 34 without dismantling the frame 20.

The rod-receiving slot 40 has chamfered edges 42 to assist insertion of the rod 38 into the rod-receiving slot 40 and, for example, to avoid the net 12 contacting sharp edges that may damage the twine 18 during insertion into the elongate chamber 34. The width of the rod-receiving slot 40 decreases linearly to conjoin with the net-receiving slot 36, to avoid sharp edges or corners that may impede sliding of the rod 38 and selvedge 16 into the elongate chamber 34 via the rod-receiving slot 40.

Presence of the net-receiving slot 36 and the rod-receiving slot 40 can reduce the structural integrity of the hollow extrusion 30. Accordingly, the uprights 24 each comprise front and rear reinforcement plates 44,46 and a cuboid tube 48. The hollow extrusion 30 comprises slots for receiving the respective front and rear reinforcement plates 44, 46 and the cuboid tube 48. This can increase the structural integrity of the upright 24 without unduly increasing a weight of the upright 24.

Attention is now drawn to Figure 4, which shows an end view of the goal 10, including a below-ground view of a socket 3 in the sports pitch 1. The rear net supports 14 are omitted for clarity. A depth of the socket 3 below an upper surface 4 of the sports pitch 1 may vary due to a number of different factors, for example, the turf of the sports pitch 1 being re-laid, or a build-up of residue in the socket 3. Accordingly, the height of the crossbar 22 may change relative to the upper surface 4, for the same length of the uprights 24. This may be unacceptable in high-level football.

The length of each upright 24 can be adjusted coarsely and finely via respective coarse and fine height adjustments. In adjusting the length of each upright 24, the height of the crossbar 22 can be accurately adjusted to conform to requirements, irrespective of the depth of the sockets 3 in which the uprights 24 are located.

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a lower end of one of the uprights 24. The upright 24 comprises an upper portion 50, which in this example comprises the hollow extrusion 30, and a foot 60 slidably received in the upper portion 50. The foot 60 comprises an axially extending bar 61 and a base 62 at a lower end of the bar 61. The base 62 of the foot 60 is configured to rest on a support surface 5 of the socket 3. In this example, the support surface 5 is a base of the socket 3 and is configured to support substantially all of the weight of the upright 24.

A lower end of the upper portion 50 is slidably received in the socket 3 and comprises adjustable socket wedges (not shown) configurable to exert a lateral force on a wall 6 of the socket 3 to align an axis of the upright 24 vertically and to ensure a secure fit between the socket 2 and the upright 24.

The bar 61 is substantially rectangular and substantially corresponds in shape to the cuboid tube 48 of the upright 24. In the uprights 24, the bar 61 and the cuboid tube 48 are positioned co-axially and longitudinally adjacent to one another within the hollow extmsion 30. The non-circular shape of the bar 61 prevents rotation of the foot 60 relative to the upper portion 50 about an axis parallel to the upright.

As can best be seen in Figure 7, the outer wall 32 of the upper portion 50 defines or delimits an aperture 52 configured to receive a mounting bracket 70. The aperture 52 is positioned in a rearward facing side of the upper portion 50, with respect to the sports pitch 1. The aperture 52 is disposed at a position along a length of the upper portion 50 such that a base of the mounting bracket 70 is flush with the upper surface 4 of the sports pitch 1 when the crossbar 22 is at the correct height, as best shown in Figures 5 and 7 The mounting bracket 70 is fixed to the upper portion 50 via screws 72 that attach to the mounting bracket 70 to the rear reinforcement plate 46 via mounting holes 47 in the reinforcement plate 46. The reinforcement plate is, in turn, fixed in place within the hollow extrusion 30 via mounting holes 49 and screws (now shown). The rear reinforcement plate 46 has an axially extending slot 54 extending therethrough (as best shown in Figure 8). The rear reinforcement plate 46 extends along the upright 24 at a position adjacent to the aperture 52, as shown in Figure 5, and is located such that the slot 54 is aligned with the aperture 52.

A front perspective view of the mounting bracket 70 in shown in Figure 9 and front views of the mounting bracket 70 are shown in Figures 10A and 10B. The mounting bracket 70 supports a lead screw 74 that extends parallel to the upright 24, so that an axis of the lead screw 74 is parallel to an axis of the upright 24. The lead screw 74 has an outer thread that engages with an inner thread of a nut 76. Rotation of a hex head 78 at an upper end of the lead screw 74 by a user, for example with a spanner or ratchet, causes rotation of the lead screw 74 relative to the mounting bracket 70.

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the foot 60. The bar 61 defines or delimits a plurality of apertures or holes 64 defined therein. The holes 64 are substantially equally spaced apart in a direction along the length of the bar 61. In use, and before the upright 24 is placed in the socket 3, a depth of the socket 3 below the upper surface 4 of the sports pitch 1 is measured. The foot 60 is then slid axially relative to the upper portion until the correct hole 64, based on the depth of the socket 3, is aligned with the slot 54. A pin 66, which is fixed to the nut 76, is then inserted through the aperture 52 and the slot 54 and into the correct hole 64. The foot 60 includes indi ci a next to each of the respective holes 64 which indicate a range of depths achievable from that hole 64. For example, if the depth was 540mm, the uppermost hole would be used for the pin.

The pin 66 has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the holes 64 such that a relatively tight fit is achieved between the pin 66 and the hole 64 in which it is inserted. This secures the foot 60 relative to the upper portion 50 such that, when the upright 24 is subsequently placed in the socket 3, the crossbar 22 is at approximately the correct height above the upper surface 4 of the sports pitch I. The plurality of holes 64 and the pin 66 together provide a way to coarsely adjust the height of the crossbar 22 The pin 66 is fixedly attached to the nut 76. Since the pin 66 is inserted in one of the holes 64 in the foot 60 when the upright 24 is assembled, rotation of the lead screw 74 causes the nut 76, and thus the pin 66 and the foot 60 to move in an axial direction of the upright 24 relative to the upper portion 50. This then causes relatively small or fine adjustment of the length of the upright 24 about the hole 64 to permit fine adjustment of the height of the crossbar 22 to meet requirements. Since the plurality of holes 64 permit a relatively large range of adjustment of the length of the upright 24, the length of the lead screw 74 can be relatively small compared to the total range of lengths of the upright 24 that can be achieved by the goal 10. This can reduce the required diameter of the lead screw 74 since the risk of buckling of the lead screw 74 is reduced compared to a longer lead screw 74 and/or allow a more robust construction. This can also reduce an amount of time taken to get the crossbar 22 to the required height.

The axially extending slot 54 in the rear reinforcement plate 46 acts as a stop for fine height adjustment achieved by rotating the lead screw 74. When the nut 76 is at an uppermost position on the lead screw 74, as shown in Figure 10A, the pin 66 contacts the upper end of the slot 54 such that further relative movement of the foot 60 into the upper portion 50 is prevented. When the nut 76 is at a lowermost position on the lead screw, as shown in Figure 10B, the pin 66 contacts the lower end of the slot 54 such that further relative movement of the foot 60 out of the upper portion 50 is prevented.

The mounting bracket 70 comprises mounting points 78 to which the net rail 26 is rotatably fixed. In this example, the net-receiving slot 36 is conjoined with the aperture 54 in the hollow extrusion 30. This permits the net 12 to extend close to the mounting bracket 70 and thus close to the net rail 26.

The mounting bracket 70 comprises a housing 80 substantially surrounding the lead screw 74 and the nut 76 when the mounting bracket 70 is located in the aperture 54 and fixed to the upper portion 50. This helps to prevent ingress of dirt to the lead screw 74 and may help to prevent injury to a user of the sports goal 10 such as by preventing access to the lead screw and bolt when the mounting bracket is assembled on a upright.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, the goal 10 may be for a sport other than football, for example hockey. For example, the goal 10 may not have a crossbar, such as a netball post, but may in any event have coarse and fine height adjustment mechanisms. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims

Claims

CLAIMSI. A sports goal comprising: an upper element; a coarse height adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the upper element; and a fine height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper element with a greater precision than the coarse height adjustment mechanism.
2. A sports goal according to claim I, wherein the sports goal comprises an upright having an upper portion and a foot, and wherein the coarse and fine adjustment mechanisms are configured to cause relative movement of the upper portion and the foot along an axial direction of the upright.
3 A sports goal according to claim 2, wherein the coarse adjustment mechanism defines a plurality of discrete positions of the upper portion relative to the foot along the axial direction of the upright.
4 A sports goal according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of discrete positions is defined by a respective hole in the foot, and the coarse adjustment mechanism comprises a protrusion configured to be removably received in one of the plurality of holes
5. A sports goal according to any preceding claim, wherein the fine height adjustment mechanism comprises a lead screw.
6 A sports goal according to claim 4 and claim 5, wherein the lead screw is fixedly attached to the upper portion and a nut of the lead screw is fixedly attached to the protrusion.
7 A sports goal according to claim 6, wherein the upper portion comprises a hollow extrusion, the foot is slidably received within the hollow extrusion, and the protrusion extends through an axially extending slot in the upper portion and into one of the plurality of holes.
8. A sports goal according to any preceding claim, comprising a net retainer, the net retainer comprising: a rod for weaving into a net; and a hollow extrusion defining: an elongate chamber extending along a length of the hollow extrusion and configured to receive the rod when woven into the net, and a selvedge of the net; and a net-receiving slot in a wall of the chamber, the slot extending through an outer wall of the hollow extrusion and having a width that is less than a diameter of the rod.
9. A sports goal according to claim 8 and claim 7, wherein the hollow extrusion is the hollow extrusion of the upper portion of the upright.
10. A sports goal according to claim 9, wherein the net-receiving slot is aligned with the axially extending slot in the upper portion of the upright, and longitudinally spaced apart from the axially extending slot.
1 1. A sports goal according to claim 10, wherein the hollow extrusion comprises an internal reinforcement extending in an axial direction of the upright, adjacent the axially extending slot.
12. A sports goal according to any one of claims 9 to II, wherein the net retainer comprises a rod-receiving slot having a width that is greater than a diameter of the rod, the rod-receiving slot located at an end of the hollow extrusion that is opposite to the foot and integrally formed with the net-receiving slot.
13. A net retainer for a sports goal, the net-retainer comprising: a rod for weaving into a net; and a hollow extrusion defining: an elongate chamber extending along a length of the hollow extrusion and configured to receive the rod when woven into the net, and a selvedge of the net; and a net-receiving slot in a wall of the chamber, the slot extending through an outer wall of the hollow extrusion and having a width that is less than a diameter of the rod.
14. A net retainer according to claim 13, comprising a rod-receiving slot at an end portion of the hollow extrusion, the rod-receiving slot having a width that is greater than a diameter of the rod and conjoined with the net-receiving slot.
15. A net retainer according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the hollow extrusion comprises an internal reinforcement