SE543467C2 - A coupling device for assisting in lifting and transporting a sports goal structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a coupling device for assisting in lifting and transporting a sports goal structure, such as a soccer football goal structure (200). The goal structure is of the kind, known per se, including two vertical posts (210a, 210b) and an upper horizontal bar (220) connecting the upper ends of the posts.The coupling device according to the invention comprises a rigid coupling frame (100) which is smaller than the goal structure and is placed centrally inside and below the goal structure before initiating a lift and transport operation. The rigid coupling frame includes an upright frame part with upper hook members (130a, 130b) engaging with the horizontal bar (220) of the goal structure, and a rigidly connected horizontal frame part having rearwardly extending support arms with end portions (171a, 171b) engaging with a net carrying portion (230a, 240, 230b) of the goal structure. The coupling frame (100) also has engaging and holding portions (190a, 190b) which can be coupled to a lifting tool, such as a fork with two shanks (360a, 360b), on a transport vehicle (300). During a lifting and transport operation, the coupling frame (100), upon coupling with the lifting tool of the transport vehicle, will hold the goal structure (200) in a balanced position.

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling device for assisting in lifting and transporting a sportsgoal structure, such as a soccer football goal structure, by means of a transport vehicle, the goalstructure comprising, in use, two vertical posts, located at a distance from each other, an upper horizontal bar connected at its ends with said two vertical posts, and a rear net carrying portion for maintaining the vertical posts and the horizontal bar in a vertical plane when the goal structure rests on the ground of a sports field or some other horizontal surface.

Soccer football has become an internationally wide-spread and very popular sport, and there are avery large number of football fields in most countries of the world. The goal structures have be- come standardized, with prescribed measurements and designs.

The present lnvention provides a coupling device that is useful for handling soccer football goalstructures but also for lifting and transporting goal structures of similar kinds, such as those usedin similar sports such as bandy (outdoor or indoor), lacrosse, etc. With minor modifications, espe-cially in terms of size, the coupling device may also be useful for lifting and transporting ice-hockey goals.

BACKGROU ND OF THE INVENTION A frequently used method to move goal structures between a sports field and some storage place,e.g. while the ground is prepared or repaired, is to lift the goal structure manually or by means oftempora ry wheels being placed under the structure. lt is of course also possible to transport thegoal structure by a lifting crane or some other heavy vehicle. Another alternative is to use a car-riage of some kind, possibly in combination with one or more further carriages or by manually lift- ing another part of the structure. oBJEcr or THE |NvENT|oNAgainst this background, a main object of the invention is to provide a coupling device that facili- tates the Iifting and transporting of a goal structure by means of a relatively small and inexpensive f transport vehicle, possibly of a standard type which is commercially available on the open market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a coupling device havingthe features stated in the accompanying claim 1. Some preferred embodirnents and details are stated in the dependent claims 2-10.

Thus, according to the invention, the coupling device comprises a rigid coupling frame adapted to be positioned centrally inside the goal structure and below the horizontal bar thereof before initi- ating a lift and transport operation by means ofthe transport vehicle, which will carrythecoupling frame as well as the goal structure. The coupling frame includes The transport vehicle may be a fork truck, a lorrv provided with a fork-like lífting tool, a speciallv an upright fra me part which is provided with at least one vertically extending leg having anupper hook member configured to support and lift the horizontal bar of the goal structureduring said lift and transport operation, and also a horizontal frame part comprising at least one support arm extending rearwardly fromsaid upright frame part and being configured to support the rear net carrying portion ofthe goal structure during the lift and transport operation, the upright and horizontal frame parts ofthe lífting frame being rigidly connected to eachother, at least one of said upright and horizontal frame parts is provided with two mutuallyspaced apart interconnected legs or support arms, respectively, the coupling frame being provided with engaging and holding portions being located cen-trally between said legs or support arms and being configured to engage with a lífting toolof said transport vehicle and to hold the goal structure in a balanced position during said lift and transport operation, and Ieach said support arm of the coupling frame has an end portion configured to engagefrom below with said rear net carrving portion during said lift and transport operation,wherein said end portion of each support arm extends in a substantially horizontal planebeing lower than that of the ground when the coupling frame is positioned under the goal structure before initiating said lift and transport operation. designed vehicle or some other transport vehicle, e.g. a so called All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) with an attachable lífting tool.

Thus, in order to achieve the desired balance during transport, the rear frame part comprises twomutually spaced, rea rwardly extending, interconnected support arms, and/or the front frame partcomprises two mutually spaced, vertically extending, interconnected legs, each being provided with said upper hool< member.

The lifting frame is preferably much smaller than the goal structure, the mutual distance betweenthe spaced support arms and/or between the mutually spaced legs being substantially less thanthe distance between the two vertical posts of the goal structure, most preferabiy less than half of the latter distance, making the lifting frame easy to handle and store.

The upper hook member (one, two or more such members) may be substantially L-shaped with ahorizontal part extending rearwardly so as to facilitate positioning of the horizontal part under thehorizontal bar of the goal structure. The vertical part of the L-shaped hook member can form astop member when positioning the coupling frame before initiating a lift and transport operation.Thus, the vertical part will first abut against the horizontal bar of the goal structure, and then the coupling frame is properly positioned, provided that it is also centered sideways.

The engaging and holding portions of the lifting frame may comprise two speed apart guidingmembers, e.g. in the form of a tubular elements, which will receive two shanks or fingers of a lift-ing for|< on the transport vehicle. ln this way, provided that the coupling frame is positioned cen-trally inside the goal structure, these guiding members will hold the coupling frame and the goalstructure In a balanced position during transport. They will also prevent the coupling frame and goal structure from tilting sideways.

Although not speciflcally claimed, the coupling device according to invention may also include aspecial lifting tool which is designed to be couplecl to and engage with the engaging and holdingdevice on the coupling frame, the special lifting tool being attachable to a transport vehicle. Such alifting tool may be configured to engage with the engaging and holding device by a single liftingmember which prevents rotation or tilting ofthe coupling frame and the carried goal structure during a lifting and transport operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments of the various parts ofthe coupling device.

Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view a coupling frame according to the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the use of the coupling frame in a transport and lifting operation, where a goalstructure is carried on the coupling frame of tig. 1 by means ofa transport vehicle provided with a lífting tool being engaged with engaging and holding portions of the coupling frame; Figs.3 and 4 show, in a larger scale and in perspective views, an adjustable hook member on a ver- tical leg and an adjustable end portion of a support arm, respectively, dlsposed on the coupling frame of fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOIVIE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE COUPLING DEVlCE As will be seen from fig. 1, a coupling device according to the invention comprises a couplingframe 100, being made of galvanized iron steel members in the form oftubular proflles, havingtwo rigidly connected parts, namely an upright frame part 110 extending upwardly (in the opera-tive position shown) and a horizontally and rearwardly extending horizontal frame part 150. The upright or front frame part 110 is rigidly connected to the horizontal or rearframe part 150 by I means of two inclined members 140a, 140b which are fixed to the upright and horizontal frame parts by means of screw fasteners or by welding. Alternatively, these members may each consistof two mutually foldable parts (not shown) so as to enable folding the coupling frame into a flatpackage, there being hinges (not shown) at the interconnecting points 141a and 141b. ln theshown embodiment, the upright and horizontal frame parts are securely fixed by means of corner fittings and screw fasteners at the points 141a, 141b.

The upright and horizontal frame parts are interlinked by means of transverse connecting mem-bers 137, 180, 181 and 182, also being fixed at their ends to right and left parallel portions 120a,160a and 120b, 160b, respectively, of the lifting frame 100. Together with the inclined members140a, 140b, the structure of the lifting frame will be rigid and non-deformable during normal han- dling and operation.

Accordingly, the upright frame part comprises two upright, mutually parallel legs 120a and 120bwhich are interconnect at their lower ends by the transverse connecting member 182 and at theirupper ends by the transverse connecting member 137. At their upper ends, the tubular leg mem- bers 120a, 120b are telescopically linked to associated upper hook members 130a, 130b, respectively, provided with inner tube members being slidingly guided inside the leg members120a, 120b, so as to perm it a vertical displacement and exact adjustment of the hook members, as will be described in detail below.

The hook members 130a, 130b are each substantially L-shaped, with an upright, relatively longpart 132La, 131b, respectively, and a somewhat shorter, horizontal part 132a, 132b, respectively,the Iatter extending rearwardly (in parallel to the longitudinal direction ofthe horizontal framepart 150). At their rearmost ends, the horizontal parts ofthe hook members have a rather short,upright booking part 133a, 133b, respectively, which will hold the hool< member in place in rela-tion to the horizontal bar of the goal structure, when the latter is carried on the hook members130a, 130b during a lifting and transport operation (compare fig.2). More details will be described below.

The horizontal frame part 150 comprises two mutually parallel, rearwardly extending support arms160a, 160b being rigidly interconnected ty the transverse members 180, 181and 182. At their freeend portions, the support arms 160a, 160b are each provided with an adjustable end portion 171a,171b, respectively, which includes a tubular portion 170a, 170b, which is slidingly displaceable in-side the free end portion of the associated tubular support arm 160a, 160b. The adjustable endportion 171a, 171b forms a longitudinal extension of the respective support arm and is located ata slightly lower level. in this way, the support end portions 171a, 171b can easily be pushed under-neath a tra nsverse rear member of the net-carrying portion of the goal structure (compare tig. 2).When the support arms ï60a; 170a; 171a, 160b; 170b; 171b rest on the ground, and the wholeiifting frame 100 is pushed rearwardly, against said rear member of the goal structure, the low-ered, flat end portion 171a, 171b will easily slide underneath said rear member and be placed in a supporting position in relation to the goal structure.

When the coupling frame has been positioned in an operative position under the goal structure, itcan be lifted and transported by means of the lifting tool of a transport vehicle, as illustrated in fig. Z.

The goal structure 200, as is known per se, comprises two vertical posts 210a, 210b, which are lo-cated, in the preferred embodiment shown, at a mutual distance of7.3 meters, as is a standard measurement for a regular soccer football goal structure, and an upper horizontal bar 220 which is connected, at its ends with the vertical posts 210a, 210b. The goal structure also comprises, as islikewise known per se, a net carrying portion including upwardly extending members 230a, 230b,each with a curved upper portion 231a, 231b and a short horizontal portion 232a, 232b, con-nected to the associated ends ofthe horizontal bar 220, a rear transversal member 240 (men-tioned above) and two horizontal members 250a, 250b, connecting the lower ends ofthe verticalposts 210a, 210b and the ends of the rear transverse member 240. Adjacent to the upper ends ofthe vertical posts 210a, 210b, there are diagonally extending members 251a, 251b, which rigidlyconnect the respective end portions of the horizontal bar 220 with the upwardly extending mem-bers 230a, 230b, at a point near the curved portion of the latter. Of course, the exact configurationof the net carrying rear structure may vary, and it is only the dimensions of the vertical posts 210a,210b and the horizontal bar 220 that are standardized. The goal structure may also have smaller overall dimensions forjunior players or children, or for other sports.

As shown in fig. 2, the coupling-frame according to the invention is much smaller in size than thegoal structure 200 to be lifted. Typically, the width of the lifting frame, i.e. the length of the trans-verse members 137, 180, 181, 182, is about 1.8 m, and the rearward extension of the supportarms is about 2.2 m. However, these measures are not critical, and they may be varied considera-bly. Preferably, the spacing between the support arms 160a, and the legs 120a, 120b (the width ofthe lifting frame) is substantially less than the distance between the vertical posts of the goalstructure, most preferably less than halfthe latter distance. A preferred relation between thewidth ofthe lifting frame and the width ofthe goal structure (the distance between the vertical posts) is 10% to 40%, most preferably 20 to 30%.

The net Which is attached to the rear portion ofthe goal structure is not shown in fig. 2. Of course,the net will be relatively loose to avoid that a football, after scoring a goal, is bounced back intothe active field in front of the goal structure. lt is also fastened all along the members 220, 232a,232b, 231a, 231b, 230a, 230b, 250a, 250b and 240, so as to keep only the space in the verticalplane between the vertical posts 210a, 210b and between the ground (not shown) and the hori- zontal bar 220 open. lt will be apparent from fig. 2, that the coupling frame, when positioned in an operativa positionon the lifting tool ofthe transport vehicle 300, will be clear of the net, provided that it is stretched appropriately, however, somewhat loosely. Of course, there is a siight risk that the net will be hooked to the adjusting members adjacent to the upper hool< members 130a, 130b and possiblyalso to the adjusting members adjacent to the support arm end portions 171a, l71b. To avoid this,the vertical legs 120a, 120b and the horizontal support arms 160a, 160b of the lifting frame 100are preferably provided with smoothly curved shielding members 136a, 136b and 176a,176b, re-spectively, which will hold the net away from the respective adjustment members 135a, 135b and175a, 175b during the lifting and transport operation. Accordingly, after the transport, the goalstructure, including the net, can be unloaded onto the ground or a storage surface while avoiding that the net gets stuck by an accidental or unintentíonal engagement with the coupling frame 100. in fig. 3, one (130a) of the hook members 130a, 130b is shown in more detail. The hook member130a is L-shaped, with a relatively long upright part 131a and a relatively short horizontal, rear-vvardly extending part 132a having a short upright booking part 133a at its free end. This configu-ration will facilitate positioning of the hool< member under the horizontal bar. First, the hook ismoved rearwardly until the upright part 131a abuts the horizontal bar 220, and then the hookmember is lifted somewhat so that the horizontal bar will be located and held between the uprightparts 131a and l33a. During transport, the horizontal bar 220 will be retained in this position in relation to the hook member 130a by the weight of the goal structure 200.

The hook member 130a is attached to a tubular shank part 137a, which is dimensioned to fit slid-ingly within the upper end portion ofthe upright leg 120a so as to enable adjustment of its verticalposition. For this purpose, a number of bores 134a and 134a' are drilled in the leg 120a and theshank part 137a, so that a spring- loaded pin member 135a can be inserted into a selected pair of holes 134a, 134a'.

The other hook member 130b is configured in the same way, with its parts l31b, 132b and 133b and a shan|< part, holes and a spring-loaded pin member l35b (fig.1).

In fig. 4, there is shown one (171a)iof the end portions 171a, 171b of the horizontally and rear-wardly extending support arms 160a, 160b ofthe rearframe part 150. The end portion 171a is flatand is located at a slightly lower level than the associated displaceable free end portion 1?0a ofthe support arm 160a. The latter end portion 170a accommodates slidingly a shank portion (notvisible in fig.4 because it is retracted inside the end portion 170a), which is firmly attached to the flat end portion 171a. Just like the upper hook member 130a, the flat end portion 171a, can be adjusted into a selected position by means of registering holes (not shown) and a spring-loadedpin member 175a. The corresponding end portion 171b at the parallel support arm 160b is config- ured and arranged in the same way.

The hook members l30a, 130b and the support arm end portions 171a, 171b may thus be ad-justed So as to engage properly with the horizontal bar 220 and the rear net carrying portion ofthe goal structure, respectively, before a lifting and transport operation is initiated.

Figs.3 and 4 also show the locations of the shielding members l36a and 176a, which hold the net away from the adjustment pin members 135a and 175a, respectively.

From fig. 1 and fig. 2, it will be understood how the parallel shanks 360a, 360b (fig. 2) ofa fork-likelifting tool, which is operatively attached to the transport vehicle, will be received into tubular par-allel members 190a, 190b which are attached to the coupling frame 100 underneath the trans-verse members 181, 182. lf necessary, the spacing between these parallei members may be ad- justable.

The parallel tubular members 190a, 190b serve as engaging and holding portions ofthe couplingframe and are slightly larger, in their cross-sections, than the shanks 360a, 360b of the lifting toolon the transport vehicle. Accordingly, these shanks 360a,360b (fig. 2) can be inserted into the as-sociated tubular members 190a,190b when a lifting and transport operation is initiated. When thelifting tool shanks 360a, 360b are fully inserted into the engaging and holding portions ofthe cou-pling frame, and the latter is pushed into an engagement position in relation to the goal structureresting on the ground, the lifting tool can be raised by the driver (not shown) ofthe transport vehi-cle 300 into the position shown in fig. 2. Thereafter, the goal structure can be safely and conven- iently transported to any desired place, such as a storage place or the like.

POSSEBLE lVlODlFlCATlONS The lifting device described above may be modified by those skilled in the art, within the scope ofthe attached claims. Thus, the coupling frame may have only one upper hook member, arrangedon a single vertically extending leg, provided that the goal structure is balanced by the supportingarms and/or engaging and holding portions which are adapted to prevent sideways tilting of the goal structure during a lift and transport operation. Likewise, it may be possible to have only one rearvvardly extending support arm, provided that the upper hool< mem ber(s) and/or the engagingand holding portions prevent a sideways tilting of the goal structure during the lift and transport operation.

The material ofthe Iifting frame, and the interconnection of its various parts, may be modified,e.g. by welding instead of mechanical fasteners. Also, the lifting frame may be formed by easily de- tachable parts.

The transport vehicle, which is not a part of the invention, except possibly for a special attachable liftíng tool, may be modified, as indicated above.

Likewise, the exact dimensions and configuration of the goal structure to be carried by means of the coupling frame according to the invention may also be varied.

The engaging and holding portions of the frame may have only one femaie member in case the lift- ing tool on the transport vehicle is modified so as to secure a non-rotatable or non-tiltable cou- pling.

Claims (10)

1. 76' e:å CLÅlMS i. 'nncoupliiiig device for assisting in lifting and transportšng a sports goal structure, such as a soc-ceäfcâ-"Ébail goal structure (300) lov means of a transpor-t vehicle, the goal structure comprisiog, inLise, two vertical posts l210a, zílflh), located el; a distance from each other) an upper horizontal bar(220) connected at ite ende to said tvvo vertical posta, and a rear :lot carrying portion (230a,231a,232a, 240, Zšoo, 23lla, 232m for niaintaliiing the vertical posts and the horizontal har in a verticalplane When the goal structure reste on the ground ofa sports field or some other horizontal sur- face, the coopiing device being characterized in that - the ooupling device coinprises a rigid coopliitg frame (100) adapted to be positionod cen-trallv inside the goal structure (200) and below the liorizo ntai har thereof before šnitiatirigo lift and transport operation hv rnoans crfsaíd transport vehicle (300), - said coupling frame (100) includes an upršght frarne part (110) which ia provided with atleast one verticailv extending leg (120a,120h) having en upper hooh inemher (130a, 130kr)config-tired to stipport a nd lift the horizontal har (220) of the goal structure during said liftand transport operation, - said cooplšng frame also iriclisdes a horizontal frame part (150) coinprising at: šeast onelrearvrardly-eate-adi-ragfisupport arm (ïöüa, 160kr) extendšog rearwardiv from said Liprlghtfra-me part and being conligured to support said rear net carrving portion (230a, 23121,232a, 240, 230kr, 23%, 232b) of the goal structure during said lift and transport operation,said upright and horizontal frame parts (110, 150) of the lifting frame (100) are rigidly coo-neotedßårrllšla-f-lfilfiiarflfiiašllflozfldfitä' to each other, ~ at least one of said opright and horizontal frame parts (110, .tool is provided vvith two roo-tualiy spaced apart iriterconnected legs (120a, 12%) or support arms íldíia, šrflof 16019,får-Miri), reeoectiveiv, - the coupišng fra me (100) Es provided with engaging and .holding portions (lišáia, ILQOb) be-ing located centrally hettveen said legs or support arrns and being oonfigored to engagewith a iifting tool (šofiia, 36%) of said transport vehicle (300) and to hold the goal strof:- flmrfj oec.ri__§fi.e: frid-of va» fri, am .of 1211:91 fiera” .fi-'ifzfß-iau-vf' .or-vw trrfat-»í -ßäfrl-šf ftg1,u=~.~~' hafva »n f-woiái-ajßlture (Efiíïïlršffi a halarioedposition during said išfi: and ltrarispiort, operoiiiori, and MM* - each said support arm (lEGa, 150%) of the couplíng frarne (100) has an and portion (lilla, 171b) configured to engage from below with said rear net carrying portion (2303, 231a, 232m 240, 230b, Zälb, 232b) during said lift and transport operation, wherein said end fi? flfneetorgfïsupoort arms (160a, .i.60l:i), and/or _ 3. A ooupširag ale-visa os cieiined in ol-airn 1 orz, wherein ~(-2-30a:~â*%í%a7~23~2ia;=21if0-;"23'0i:ifi*2ï%“fl“'l2;~å5~2~%a}~of the goai structuiofírär portion (lila, lïíb) of eooii support arm (íöüaJ LLSOb, extends in a substan-iialiy horizontai gzilane bæing lower ihan that oithe associated support arm so that said endportion (171a, liïb) wili rest on the ground when the coirpiing frame (100) is posiiloned uncior the: goal structure (200) before iriitiating so irl lift and trea nsoort operation.

2. A coupling device as defined in clairn 1, wherein said horizontaâ iirarne port (150) cornprises two ynuiïoolflvfs-oofiori-F-»ifoorwa--reiiroxfoniiiiiiïåyiiišäárcoiiß cfçmxïffitå- said uprignt 'framra part (320) comoršses two ñ-iiriæra-liir-spæ-eaci; verëioaiiyrexie-rieiingfinteroonnaëfëcl legs {l20a, líiübi, each being provided With said Lipper hooi< fnernisor (1303, 13%).

3. Éfïïif é the m otual distance between said oiioocoql support arms (liåüa, iêüb) ancš/or iaeiwoen said iåiutir 'i ' ox: olio-fw;- alíymspoioori iogs (íZUo, 120kr) is snhsrafrtiaily less than iïhe ciistanoo boiweeri sairš two verricai posts(Zlüa, 210b) oisaid goal structure (200) to br: šifted and transporteol. f i~ 'ü -ßQ, 1-4 -L I: ' ti.

4. A coupiing device as defined in :my one of the prececiiiig claims, wizerein oooiigrëïiäwooriion (171a, fiïkiio) is flat so as to facilitate the (aositioning thereof iincšerßlaš-clfraarrioi :arriving-portion

5. A coiipiiiig iiovice as defined in anv one ofthe precediiig claims, whoreinsaid :sopor hooš< rrienibor (íåBOa, låübi of each verticaily extonding ieg (líâilia, 120kr) of Said uprighiïframe part (110) is substantialiy bshaporl with a liorizonitaš port (iBZa, 132m exronciing rearwarcily so as 'to facilitate oosiiioning tiioreoi under said horizontal bar (220) of the goa! oirucruro (200).

6. , A coupliiig dovice as cleiioæfl in anyone ošthe precofiliiig olaims, whereiiieach said ond porrion (fiíía, íïilb) is adjusïabie iongituclinaliy in rolaiion to said sušrporiâarmv23 rmfffiLfP-ff (160a,,1É¥0~a-;*150b, and/or each said hook member (1303, 1300) is oeljustablelrfiíïrrëiåïrioifvto Gsaid šeg (120a, íåüb). YO

7. A coupiing device as defined in claim 6, wherein a sšnelding niem ber (ifiöa, Ii.76l;i, 13621, lššöb) Es clispøsed on saiá at šeasi one support arm (ifißa,16013) and/nr en saicl ef; leesi one leg (120e, 120b), coverlng en adiesimeiit rnember (1358, 1351:),l75a, 175kr) on said suppnrt errn l160a, 16033) and on said leg (Mile, lZOb), respectiveåy, so as to hold away ”the net el* said nei: eerryíng partier: of the goal structure froin salu! acljusifment niernber.

8. A coupliiig clevíce as defined in any ene of the prececling claíms, wnerešn said engaging and holding periions ufthe co-upling frarne (100) cornprise twe epaced ariert guidingiriembers (lâüa, 1901:) cenfigurecl to receive two Shanks of a llfilng fork (åöüa, 360kr) on saidtransport vehlcie (300).

9. A coupiing device as defined in -cšelm 8, wherein each of saw giríding :members cemprlses a tuâiular element (ILBOa, 19%).

10. A coupiirig device as defined in any ene ofthe precerššng câaims, whereinsaid ar least one veriicallv iexteaidlrig leg (lZOa, lzübl is :igidly connected to an assecíaiced support arm (ïßüa, 16%) by :means of en inciinecl rnerrilaer ll-flüa, lfilüb) coenecting said leg and said arm.