US20100184537A1 - Lightweight portable goal post - Google Patents
Lightweight portable goal post Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100184537A1 US20100184537A1 US12/321,268 US32126809A US2010184537A1 US 20100184537 A1 US20100184537 A1 US 20100184537A1 US 32126809 A US32126809 A US 32126809A US 2010184537 A1 US2010184537 A1 US 2010184537A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- post
- posts
- cross bar
- leg
- goal post
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
- A63B63/008—Goals for rugby or American football
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/02—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00 for large-room or outdoor sporting games
- A63B71/023—Supports, e.g. poles
- A63B2071/024—Supports, e.g. poles with screws or pins in the earth
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2210/00—Space saving
- A63B2210/50—Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2243/00—Specific ball sports not provided for in A63B2102/00 - A63B2102/38
- A63B2243/0066—Rugby; American football
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
Definitions
- the present invention relates to goal posts used on sport fields, in particular the invention related to improved lightweight, portable, low cost goal posts.
- Rugby Football is becoming more popular in the United States and other countries. However, with a few notable exceptions such as Stanford, U.C. Berkeley and West Point there are few permanent rugby Football Stadiums. Fields used for rugby are typically used for soccer, baseball and other sports that require the rugby goal posts to be removed after the match or tournament is concluded. Further, rugby typically is a club sport and the clubs have limited resources and need to play in different fields.
- the International rugby Board sets the specification for the size and shape of the regulation rugby goal posts.
- the goal post must be at least 3.4 meters high with the cross bar being 3.0 meters high and 5.6 meters wide (between the upright posts).
- single piece goal posts have been manufactured of rectangular or round (tubular) metal. However, these are heavy, expensive, and difficult to transport. Some versions have a removable cross bar, but are still difficult to transport because they don't fit in a passenger vehicle and are relatively difficult to breakdown and reassemble.
- the various embodiments include novel, lightweight, strong, low cost manufacture, easy to setup, easy to store, easy to transport goal posts.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a PVC pipe version of a rugby goal post.
- FIG. 2 illustrates PVC posts leaning in due to sagging PVC cross bar.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a solution with wooden reinforcements.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a solution with single piece reinforcements.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a T reinforcement
- FIG. 7A through 7E illustrates the embodiments of reinforcement legs.
- FIG. 8A illustrates the embodiment of a cap.
- FIG. 8B illustrates the embodiment of a cap with wind streamers.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an early attempt to solve the above described problems was to make portable goal posts out of commercially available PVC pipes and standard connectors ( FIG. 1 ).
- T connectors 10 a and 10 b are connected onto upper posts 3 a and 3 b, lower posts 5 a and 5 b forming posts 9 a and 9 b.
- Cross bar sections 6 a and 6 b are connected into the T connectors 10 a and 10 b respectively and into a straight connector 12 forming a cross bar 8 .
- the upper posts 3 , lower posts 5 and cross bar sections 6 are cut to different lengths, for example some are cut to nine feet while the others are cut to nine feet ten inches. This difference in size makes it difficult to quickly assemble the pipes in the right configuration.
- the PVC pipes were cut from six 2′′ by 20′ PVC pipes and assembled with 2′′ Tees, Cap, Connectors.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the PVC-only solution was improved by using wooden reinforcements inside the cross bar and inside the T connections.
- FIG. 3 illustrates the details of the wooden reinforcement comprising vertical board 22 and horizontal board 24 .
- a screw 26 is inserted through washer 28 into a vertical board screw hole 30 and tightened to hold the vertical board 22 and the horizontal board 24 together.
- the standard T connector is replaced with a T connector with screw entry 20 , which has a connector screw entry 34 , which allows access to insert the screw 26 , and a wrench (not shown).
- FIG. 4 illustrates a reinforced PVC pipe goal post.
- the vertical boards 22 a and 22 b, the horizontal boards 24 a and 24 b and the center horizontal board 36 are placed inside PVC posts ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a and 6 b ) and T connector with screw entries ( 20 a and 20 b ).
- the PVC pipes are inserted into the connectors.
- a center horizontal board 36 is also placed inside the PVC cross bar sections ( 6 a and 6 b ) and straight connector 12 to further reduce the sag in the cross bar 8 .
- the T connectors with screw entry 20 a and 20 b are connected onto the upper posts 3 a and 3 b, the lower posts 5 a and 5 b forming the posts 9 a and 9 b.
- the cross bar sections 6 a and 6 b are connected into the T connector with screw entry 20 a and 20 b respectively and into the straight connector 12 forming the cross bar 8 .
- the center horizontal board 36 is placed inside the straight connector 12 prior to it being connected to cross bar sections 6 a and 6 b.
- the screw 26 and washer 28 are inserted through the connector screw entry 34 of the T connector with screw entry 20 , into the vertical board screw hole 30 and threaded into horizontal board screw hole 32 to hold the vertical board 22 and the horizontal board 24 together.
- the outer PVC pipes are reinforced by the inner boards.
- the board are made from 2′′ ⁇ 2′′ ⁇ 2′′ redwood cut into one 5′ and one 3′ length, respectively.
- the assembled poles 9 a and 9 b and the crossbar 8 have irregular shapes because the T connectors 20 and straight connector 12 have circumferences larger than the PVC pipes (for example see outline of FIG. 2 ).
- FIG. 5 shows goal post 11 , which uses single piece reinforcements ( 1 , 2 ) that are made of lightweight but strong material such as plastic or metal.
- the single piece reinforcements are preferably manufactured through a molding process, but some embodiments may be homemade using commercially available materials.
- the pipes are standard PVC pipes cut to the same length.
- the pipes including the upper posts 3 a and 3 b, lower posts 5 a and 5 b, and cross bar sections 6 a and 6 b are connected onto the T reinforcements 1 a and 1 b.
- the upper posts 3 a and 3 b are connected onto legs 60 a (of 1 a and 1 b respectively), and the lower posts 5 a and 5 b are connected onto legs 60 c (of 1 a and 1 b respectively), forming the posts 9 a and 9 b.
- the cross bar section 6 a is connected onto leg 60 b of T reinforcements 1 a and the cross bar leg 70 a of the cross bar reinforcement 2
- the cross bar section 6 b is connected onto leg 60 b of T reinforcements la cross bar leg 70 b of the cross bar reinforcement 2 forming the cross bar 8 .
- This assembly requires no tools.
- the parts are easy to carry, hard to lose, hard to break.
- the pieces are intuitive and easy to assemble and disassemble.
- the length of the respective bodies ( 69 and 79 ) are made so that the regardless of which pipe is used, the resulting goal post 11 will be regulation size and shape.
- the goal post 11 is held up, for example, by placing the lower posts 5 a and 5 b over standard steel fence posts 7 a and 7 b that are driven into the ground.
- tops of the upper posts 3 a and 3 b are left open.
- tops of the upper posts 3 a and 3 b are closed with caps 4 a and 4 b ( FIG. 8A ) or with caps with wind streamer attachments 80 ( FIG. 8B ), respectively.
- the assembled goal post 11 is lightweight, has a smooth outer consistent diameter, and performs well despite the substantially lower cost of PVC pipe.
- the goal post 11 can be assembled and disassembled without tools or loose parts. The assembly and disassembly is intuitive and is simpler and faster.
- the disassembled goal post 11 can fit in most passenger vehicles including station wagons and sedans with fold out seats.
- each T body 69 and cross bar reinforcement body 79 preferably has the same outer diameter as the PVC pipes including the upper posts 3 a and 3 b, lower posts 5 a and 5 b and cross bar sections 6 a and 6 b.
- the reinforcement legs 60 ( a - c ) and cross bar legs 70 ( a - b ) have an outer diameter that fits tightly the inner diameter of the PVC pipes ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, & 6 b ).
- FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the T reinforcement 1 , comprising a T body 69 and three legs ( 60 a, 60 b, and 60 c ). Where the respective legs connect to the T body 69 , the T reinforcement 1 comprises a leg shoulder ( 63 a, 63 b, and 63 c, respectively).
- FIG. 7A illustrates one embodiment of the cross bar reinforcement 2 , comprising a cross bar body 79 and two cross bar legs ( 70 a, and 70 b ). Where the respective legs connect to the cross bar body 79 , the cross bar reinforcement 2 comprises a leg shoulder ( 63 d and 63 e, respectively).
- each of the legs are greater than two feet in length.
- the legs reinforce the respective pipes providing greater structural strength and help maintain the desired goal post shape enabling the use of low cost, lightweight, relatively flexible materials for the pipes, such as for example two inch PVC pipe.
- the pipes ( 3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, & 6 b ) can have identical lengths simplifying assembly and transport.
- FIG. 7A through 7E show various embodiments where the legs are formed in alternate ways. Each shows an embodiment of a leg connected at the leg shoulder 63 as shown FIG. 6 (to the T body 69 ) or FIG. 7A (to the cross bar body 79 ). These leg embodiments are exemplary and not intended to be restrictive of the invention. These embodiments are lightweight and strong.
- FIG. 7A illustrates leg reinforcement 66 ( a - e ) consisting of a cylinder with cross hair with horizontal and vertical reinforcements. This embodiment provides the best reinforcement for the respective pipes, but has more material and cost.
- FIG. 7B illustrates a first alternate leg 71 consisting of a vertical bar with thin disks set at intervals. This embodiment helps maintain the round shape of the pipes with less material than the embodiment in 7 A. This embodiment provides good linear support in one dimension, as is primarily needed with the cross bar 8 .
- FIG. 7C illustrates a second alternate leg 72 consisting of intersecting bars with thin disks set at intervals. This embodiment helps maintain the round shape of the pipes with less material than the embodiment in 7 A. This embodiment provides good linear support in two dimensions.
- FIG. 7D illustrates a third alternate leg 73 consisting of a vertical bar with circle cutouts 75 hole. This embodiment reduces the material and cost over the other embodiments shown.
- FIG. 7E illustrates a fourth alternate leg 74 comprising vertical and horizontal pieces having a cross hair cross-section.
- FIGS. 7A and 7E are examples of embodiments that could be home made.
- the bodies could be made by cutting PVC pipe and sheets of PVC plastic to form the shapes shown and then melding them into a single piece using PVC cement.
- the PVC pipe and PVC cement are available at local hardware stores.
- PVC plastic sheets can be obtained cut to size, from plastic stores or the Internet, e.g. Tap Plastics, www.tapplastics.com.
- FIG. 8A shows an embodiment of the cap 4 with the cap shoulder 84 for the present invention.
- FIG. 8B shows the embodiment of a cap with wind streamer attachment 80 for the present invention.
- the cap with wind streamer attachment 80 also has a cap shoulder 84 making both interchangeable.
- a provision for a wind streamer 81 is made and is held by a wind streamer attachment 82 .
- the wind streamer attachment 82 is made via a hole in the cap 80 or via a hole in an eye loop molded into the cap 80 .
- the invention may be manufactured as a product comprising molded T reinforcements 1 and a cross bar reinforcement 2 . Only the single piece reinforcements ( 1 , 2 ) need to be manufactured and shipped. The caps ( 4 or 80 ) could also be included. The user can then obtain the standard PVC pipe (cut to size) and fence posts at a local hardware store. This reduces manufacturing, warehousing and shipping costs, but provides an easy to use, durable, reusable, portable solution.
- the molded parts can be shipped easily, compared to having to ship the entire goal posts of convention goal posts.
- Kits can be assembled by the purchaser. Assembly does not require special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers. These improved goal posts made of parts with consistent sizes, which minimize manufacturing and make assembly and disassembly easier.
- the preferred embodiments of these goal posts are durable and are less likely to be broken.
- the improved lightweight, portable, low cost goal posts are easy to use and transport.
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Abstract
Low cost, durable, reusable, lightweight, inexpensive, simple, easy to assemble/disassemble, transportable goal posts. The goal posts may be composed of single piece T reinforcement and single piece cross bar reinforcements, as well as readily available construction materials, such as PVC pipe. The bodies of the single piece reinforcements are sized so that the pipes forming the upright posts and crossbar have the same length. Assembly, disassembly, and transportation are simplified. The disassembled components can be carried in vans and SUVs. Internal reinforcements allow flexible, low cost materials such as PVC pipe to be used while maintaining a professional, aesthetic appearance.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to goal posts used on sport fields, in particular the invention related to improved lightweight, portable, low cost goal posts.
- 2. Description of Prior Art
- Rugby Football is becoming more popular in the United States and other countries. However, with a few notable exceptions such as Stanford, U.C. Berkeley and West Point there are few permanent Rugby Football Stadiums. Fields used for Rugby are typically used for soccer, baseball and other sports that require the Rugby goal posts to be removed after the match or tournament is concluded. Further, Rugby typically is a club sport and the clubs have limited resources and need to play in different fields.
- For many years, Rugby Football has been played all over the world. However, the sport has been more popular in countries other than the United States, making Rugby Football fields scarce. American Football and Association Football (soccer) fields, on the other hand, are everywhere. Having the ability to erect a low cost, portable Rugby goal post would make it easier to play Rugby on any suitable pitch.
- In the case of Rugby Union, the International Rugby Board (IRB) sets the specification for the size and shape of the regulation Rugby goal posts. Currently the goal post must be at least 3.4 meters high with the cross bar being 3.0 meters high and 5.6 meters wide (between the upright posts).
- Previously, single piece goal posts have been manufactured of rectangular or round (tubular) metal. However, these are heavy, expensive, and difficult to transport. Some versions have a removable cross bar, but are still difficult to transport because they don't fit in a passenger vehicle and are relatively difficult to breakdown and reassemble.
- What is needed is a lightweight, low cost, portable Rugby goal post that can be broken down, placed inside commonly available vans and SUVs and reassembled.
- It is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved goal post having various advantages that make for quick and easy setup and ultimately facilitate the playing of Rugby on any suitably sized sports field. The various embodiments include novel, lightweight, strong, low cost manufacture, easy to setup, easy to store, easy to transport goal posts.
- Some objects and advantages of the present invention are:
-
- a) To provide an inexpensive goal post.
- b) To provide a simpler way of making a goal post.
- c) To provide a collapsible goal post.
- d) To provide an easy to store goal post.
- e) To provide an easy to transport goal post.
- f) To provide a lightweight goal post.
- g) To provide a simple way to manufacture goal posts.
- h) To provide an inexpensive way to manufacture goal posts.
- i) To provide a simple way to ship goal posts components.
- j) To provide an ideal goal post for people, groups of people, and organizations, such as athletic clubs, schools and churches, who prefer a low maintenance and low cost goal post.
- k) To provide a goal post that could be sold in kits to be assembled by the purchaser and doesn't require special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers.
- l) To provide a goal post made of PVC pipe and or other types of rods, pipes, and tubing that are plastic, metal etc. and which are inexpensive and readily available.
- m) To provide a goal post made of parts with consistent sizes to minimize manufacturing and make it easier to assemble.
- n) To provide a goal post having a professional and aesthetic appearance with hidden seams between the components.
- In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a PVC pipe version of a Rugby goal post. -
FIG. 2 illustrates PVC posts leaning in due to sagging PVC cross bar. -
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a solution with wooden reinforcements. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a solution with single piece reinforcements. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a T reinforcement. -
FIG. 7A through 7E illustrates the embodiments of reinforcement legs. -
FIG. 8A illustrates the embodiment of a cap. -
FIG. 8B illustrates the embodiment of a cap with wind streamers. -
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 1 (a-b) T reinforcement 2 cross bar reinforcement 3 (a-b) upper post 4 (a-b) cap 5 (a-b) lower post 6 (a-b) cross bar section 7 (a-b) fence post 8 cross bar 9 (a-b) post 10 (a-b) T connector 11 goal post 12 straight connector 20 (a-b) T connector with screw entry 22 (a-b) vertical board 24 (a-b) horizontal board 26 (a-b) screw 28 (a-b) washer 30 vertical board screw hole 32 horizontal board screw hole 34 connector screw entry 36 center horizontal board 60 (a-c) leg 63 (a-e) leg shoulder 66 (a-e) leg reinforcement 69 T body 70 (a-b) cross bar leg 71 first alternate leg 72 second alternate leg 73 third alternate leg 74 fourth alternate leg 75 cutout 79 cross bar body 80 cap with wind streamer attachment 81 wind streamer 82 wind streamer attachment 84 cap shoulder -
FIG. 1 illustrates an early attempt to solve the above described problems was to make portable goal posts out of commercially available PVC pipes and standard connectors (FIG. 1 ).T connectors upper posts lower posts b forming posts Cross bar sections T connectors straight connector 12 forming across bar 8. - Testing showed that this PVC-only goal post met some of the requirements but was not a complete solution. PVC pipe is relative flexible. As illustrated by
FIG. 2 , the weight of thecross bar 8 causedcross bar 8 to sag and theposts - To meet regulation size while using standard connectors, the upper posts 3, lower posts 5 and cross bar sections 6 are cut to different lengths, for example some are cut to nine feet while the others are cut to nine feet ten inches. This difference in size makes it difficult to quickly assemble the pipes in the right configuration.
- In one embodiment, the PVC pipes were cut from six 2″ by 20′ PVC pipes and assembled with 2″ Tees, Cap, Connectors.
- PVC Pipes with Wooden Reinforcements
-
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the PVC-only solution was improved by using wooden reinforcements inside the cross bar and inside the T connections. -
FIG. 3 illustrates the details of the wooden reinforcement comprisingvertical board 22 andhorizontal board 24. Ascrew 26 is inserted throughwasher 28 into a verticalboard screw hole 30 and tightened to hold thevertical board 22 and thehorizontal board 24 together. In order to attach the board together inside the PVC pipes, the standard T connector is replaced with a T connector withscrew entry 20, which has aconnector screw entry 34, which allows access to insert thescrew 26, and a wrench (not shown). -
FIG. 4 illustrates a reinforced PVC pipe goal post. Thevertical boards horizontal boards horizontal board 36 are placed inside PVC posts (3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a and 6 b) and T connector with screw entries (20 a and 20 b). After the boards are inside the PVC components, the PVC pipes are inserted into the connectors. Optionally, a centerhorizontal board 36 is also placed inside the PVC cross bar sections (6 a and 6 b) andstraight connector 12 to further reduce the sag in thecross bar 8. - The T connectors with
screw entry upper posts lower posts posts cross bar sections screw entry straight connector 12 forming thecross bar 8. The centerhorizontal board 36 is placed inside thestraight connector 12 prior to it being connected to crossbar sections - The
screw 26 andwasher 28 are inserted through theconnector screw entry 34 of the T connector withscrew entry 20, into the verticalboard screw hole 30 and threaded into horizontalboard screw hole 32 to hold thevertical board 22 and thehorizontal board 24 together. The outer PVC pipes are reinforced by the inner boards. - In one embodiment, the board are made from 2″×2″×2″ redwood cut into one 5′ and one 3′ length, respectively.
- Testing showed good results as far as the shape of the goal posts, but there are still problems.
- The
screw 26 joint into thehorizontal board 24 at the horizontalboard screw hole 32 is weak and doesn't hold up over a few uses. Alternative embodiments attempt to improve this by using bolts that attach to nuts embedded in thehorizontal board 24, or use different hardware, but these embodiments still have the following problems in common with the previous disclosure. - Because the details of the complex reinforcement mechanism is hidden, in testing the wooden boards (22, 24) were innocently broken by volunteers helping to take this wood reinforced goal post down.
- There are many parts and it is difficult to assemble and requires special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers. It's hard to keep track of the tools while carrying the PVC pipes and parts from the vehicle and across the fields. The screw is difficult to put in place and easy to lose on the playing field. Once lost, a large screw presents a hazard for injury.
- The assembled
poles crossbar 8 have irregular shapes because theT connectors 20 andstraight connector 12 have circumferences larger than the PVC pipes (for example see outline ofFIG. 2 ). - Portable Goal Post with Single Piece Reinforcements
-
FIG. 5 showsgoal post 11, which uses single piece reinforcements (1, 2) that are made of lightweight but strong material such as plastic or metal. The single piece reinforcements are preferably manufactured through a molding process, but some embodiments may be homemade using commercially available materials. In one embodiment the pipes are standard PVC pipes cut to the same length. The pipes including theupper posts lower posts bar sections T reinforcements 1 a and 1 b. Theupper posts legs 60 a (of 1 a and 1 b respectively), and thelower posts legs 60 c (of 1 a and 1 b respectively), forming theposts cross bar section 6 a is connected ontoleg 60 b of T reinforcements 1 a and thecross bar leg 70 a of thecross bar reinforcement 2, and thecross bar section 6 b is connected ontoleg 60 b of T reinforcements lacross bar leg 70 b of thecross bar reinforcement 2 forming thecross bar 8. - This assembly requires no tools. For each goal post, in a pair of goal posts, there are only three components (1 a, 1 b, and 2) needed to connect the pipes. The parts are easy to carry, hard to lose, hard to break. The pieces are intuitive and easy to assemble and disassemble.
- In an embodiment where the pipes (3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, and 6 b) are cut to the same length, the length of the respective bodies (69 and 79) are made so that the regardless of which pipe is used, the resulting
goal post 11 will be regulation size and shape. - Once assembled, the
goal post 11 is held up, for example, by placing thelower posts steel fence posts - In one embodiment the tops of the
upper posts - In yet other embodiments the tops of the
upper posts caps FIG. 8A ) or with caps with wind streamer attachments 80 (FIG. 8B ), respectively. - The assembled
goal post 11 is lightweight, has a smooth outer consistent diameter, and performs well despite the substantially lower cost of PVC pipe. Thegoal post 11 can be assembled and disassembled without tools or loose parts. The assembly and disassembly is intuitive and is simpler and faster. The disassembledgoal post 11 can fit in most passenger vehicles including station wagons and sedans with fold out seats. - Details of one embodiment of molded pieces are shown in
FIG. 6 , namely theT reinforcement 1, and inFIG. 7A , namely thecross bar reinforcement 2. The body of eachT body 69 and crossbar reinforcement body 79 preferably has the same outer diameter as the PVC pipes including theupper posts lower posts bar sections T body 69 and the crossbar reinforcement body 79 leg shoulders 63(a-e) that match the end of each PVC pipe (3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, & 6 b) when fully inserted (forming a hidden seam) providing the consistent outer diameter for thegoal post 11. -
FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of theT reinforcement 1, comprising aT body 69 and three legs (60 a, 60 b, and 60 c). Where the respective legs connect to theT body 69, theT reinforcement 1 comprises a leg shoulder (63 a, 63 b, and 63 c, respectively). -
FIG. 7A illustrates one embodiment of thecross bar reinforcement 2, comprising across bar body 79 and two cross bar legs (70 a, and 70 b). Where the respective legs connect to thecross bar body 79, thecross bar reinforcement 2 comprises a leg shoulder (63 d and 63 e, respectively). - Good results have been obtained where each of the legs are greater than two feet in length. The legs reinforce the respective pipes providing greater structural strength and help maintain the desired goal post shape enabling the use of low cost, lightweight, relatively flexible materials for the pipes, such as for example two inch PVC pipe.
- As discussed above, optionally, when the
T body 69 andcross bar body 79 have sufficient predetermined length the pipes (3 a, 3 b, 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, & 6 b) can have identical lengths simplifying assembly and transport. -
FIG. 7A through 7E show various embodiments where the legs are formed in alternate ways. Each shows an embodiment of a leg connected at theleg shoulder 63 as shownFIG. 6 (to the T body 69) orFIG. 7A (to the cross bar body 79). These leg embodiments are exemplary and not intended to be restrictive of the invention. These embodiments are lightweight and strong. -
FIG. 7A illustrates leg reinforcement 66(a-e) consisting of a cylinder with cross hair with horizontal and vertical reinforcements. This embodiment provides the best reinforcement for the respective pipes, but has more material and cost. -
FIG. 7B illustrates a firstalternate leg 71 consisting of a vertical bar with thin disks set at intervals. This embodiment helps maintain the round shape of the pipes with less material than the embodiment in 7A. This embodiment provides good linear support in one dimension, as is primarily needed with thecross bar 8. -
FIG. 7C illustrates a secondalternate leg 72 consisting of intersecting bars with thin disks set at intervals. This embodiment helps maintain the round shape of the pipes with less material than the embodiment in 7A. This embodiment provides good linear support in two dimensions. -
FIG. 7D illustrates a thirdalternate leg 73 consisting of a vertical bar with circle cutouts 75 hole. This embodiment reduces the material and cost over the other embodiments shown. -
FIG. 7E illustrates a fourthalternate leg 74 comprising vertical and horizontal pieces having a cross hair cross-section. -
FIGS. 7A and 7E are examples of embodiments that could be home made. The bodies could be made by cutting PVC pipe and sheets of PVC plastic to form the shapes shown and then melding them into a single piece using PVC cement. The PVC pipe and PVC cement are available at local hardware stores. PVC plastic sheets can be obtained cut to size, from plastic stores or the Internet, e.g. Tap Plastics, www.tapplastics.com. -
FIG. 8A shows an embodiment of thecap 4 with thecap shoulder 84 for the present invention.FIG. 8B shows the embodiment of a cap withwind streamer attachment 80 for the present invention. As with the embodiment ofcap 4, the cap withwind streamer attachment 80 also has acap shoulder 84 making both interchangeable. In addition, a provision for awind streamer 81 is made and is held by awind streamer attachment 82. Thewind streamer attachment 82 is made via a hole in thecap 80 or via a hole in an eye loop molded into thecap 80. - The invention may be manufactured as a product comprising molded
T reinforcements 1 and across bar reinforcement 2. Only the single piece reinforcements (1, 2) need to be manufactured and shipped. The caps (4 or 80) could also be included. The user can then obtain the standard PVC pipe (cut to size) and fence posts at a local hardware store. This reduces manufacturing, warehousing and shipping costs, but provides an easy to use, durable, reusable, portable solution. - These improved goal posts are lightweight.
- These improved goal posts are low cost. They can be made of PVC pipe and or other types of rods, pipes, and tubing that are plastic, metal etc. and which are inexpensive and readily available.
- These improved goal posts are easy to make or to manufacture, having a simpler set of parts and configuration.
- These improved goal posts are collapsible for easier handing.
- These improved goals post are easy to store.
- These improved goal posts are easy to transport. They can fit inside most vans and SUVs, which are commonly available to small sport clubs and families.
- The molded parts can be shipped easily, compared to having to ship the entire goal posts of convention goal posts.
- These improved goal posts are ideal for people, groups of people, and organizations, such as athletic clubs, schools and churches, who prefer a low maintenance and low cost goal post. Kits can be assembled by the purchaser. Assembly does not require special tools such as wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers. These improved goal posts made of parts with consistent sizes, which minimize manufacturing and make assembly and disassembly easier.
- These goal posts have a professional and aesthetic appearance with hidden seams between the components.
- The preferred embodiments of these goal posts are durable and are less likely to be broken.
- Accordingly, the reader will see that the improved lightweight, portable, low cost goal posts are easy to use and transport.
- While the above descriptions contain several specifics these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of some of the preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the legs of the single piece reinforcements can be manufactured in different ways to reduce material and simplify manufacturing. The variations could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the novel features of the present invention.
- Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the illustrated embodiments, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Claims (18)
1. A goal post comprising,
a) two T reinforcement, each having:
i) a T body,
ii) an upper leg,
iii) a horizontal leg, and
iv) a lower leg;
b) a cross bar reinforcement, having
i) a cross bar body, and
ii) two cross bar legs;
c) two upper posts, each removeably connected to the upper leg of one of the T reinforcements respectively;
d) two lower posts, each removeably connected to lower leg of one of the T reinforcements respectively;
e) two cross bar sections, each removeably connected a horizontal leg of the T reinforcements respectively, and both connected to respectively cross bar legs;
wherein each of the lower posts and cross bar sections are less than ten feet long,
whereby the goal post is disassembled and transported using a passenger vehicle.
2. The goal post of claim 2 where each of the upper posts, lower posts, and cross bar sections comprise pipes of the same length,
whereby assembly is accomplished using any of the same length pipes.
3. The goal post of claim 2 further comprising a cap connected to the end of each upper post.
4. The goal post of claim 3 wherein each cap further comprises a wind streamer attached to the cap.
5. The goal post of claim 2 wherein a shoulder is formed where each leg meets the respective body,
wherein the outer diameter of the body is the same as the outer diameter of the attached upper post, lower post, or cross bar section,
whereby the seam between the shoulder and the attached post or section is hidden.
6. The goal post of claim 2 wherein each leg has an outer diameter which connects tightly with the inner diameter of the attached upper post, lower post, or cross bar section,
wherein the shape of the attached post or section is reinforced,
whereby the goal post maintains a predetermined shape.
7. The goal post of claim 6 wherein each leg comprises hollow cylinder having said outer diameter.
8. The goal post of claim 7 where the hollow cylinder is internally reinforced with a plurality of radially intersecting, rectangular sheets of material.
9. The goal post of claim 6 wherein each leg comprises a rectangular bar having a plurality of perpendicular disks spaced at intervals along the bar.
10. The goal post of claim 9 wherein the leg further comprises an intersecting bar providing an addition dimension of support between the disks.
11. The goal post of claim 6 wherein each leg comprises a rectangular bar having a plurality of cutouts spaced at intervals along the bar,
whereby the weight is reduced.
12. The goal post of claim 6 wherein each leg comprises vertical and horizontal pieces having a cross hair cross-section.
13. A method of assembling a portable goal post comprising:
i) two T reinforcements,
ii) a cross bar reinforcement,
iii) two upper posts,
iv) two lower posts, and
v) two cross bar sections,
the method comprising the steps of:
a) removeably connecting each of the upper posts to an upper leg of one of the T reinforcements respectively,
b) removeably connecting each of the lower posts to a lower leg of one of the T reinforcements respectively,
c) removeably connecting each of the cross bar sections to a leg of the cross bar reinforcement respectively,
d) removeably connecting each of the cross bar sections to a horizontal leg of one of the T reinforcements respectively,
wherein each of the legs of the reinforcements help maintain the shape of the post or section into which the respective leg is inserted,
whereby the goal post is assembled using lightweight posts and sections.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
e) driving fence posts into the ground,
f) raising the assembled goal post over the fence posts, wherein one lower post is placed over one of the fence posts and the other lower post is placed over the other fence post, whereby the fence posts hold the goal post erect,
g) later, disassembling the goal post for compact storage or transportation.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
h) transporting the disassembled goal post using a passenger vehicle.
16. A system comprising two goal posts of claim 1 .
17. A system of reinforcements for use with PVC pipe cut to predetermined lengths, said system comprising:
i) two T reinforcements,
ii) a cross bar reinforcement,
wherein each reinforcement comprises a body and a plurality of reinforcing legs configured to be inserted into a PVC pipe and reinforce the PVC pipe,
wherein the reinforcements are configured to be combined with PVC pipe to form a lightweight, portable goal post.
18. The system of claim 17 further comprising two caps.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/321,268 US20100184537A1 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-01-16 | Lightweight portable goal post |
US13/205,555 US8602921B2 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2011-08-08 | Lightweight portable goal post |
US14/072,769 US9427644B2 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2013-11-05 | Lightweight portable goal post |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/321,268 US20100184537A1 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-01-16 | Lightweight portable goal post |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/205,555 Continuation-In-Part US8602921B2 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2011-08-08 | Lightweight portable goal post |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100184537A1 true US20100184537A1 (en) | 2010-07-22 |
Family
ID=42337410
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/321,268 Abandoned US20100184537A1 (en) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-01-16 | Lightweight portable goal post |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100184537A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090098956A1 (en) * | 2004-10-04 | 2009-04-16 | Morrow Sports, Llc | Ambidextrous pitching screen |
CN102989146A (en) * | 2012-12-18 | 2013-03-27 | 黄虎生 | Foldable frame |
CN106907451A (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2017-06-30 | 北京理工大学 | A kind of Soccer robot goalkeeper's expansion bracket based on fixed pulley cable structure |
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CN106907451A (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2017-06-30 | 北京理工大学 | A kind of Soccer robot goalkeeper's expansion bracket based on fixed pulley cable structure |
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Legal Events
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |