US20120100940A1

US20120100940A1 - Foldable, adjustable, fully assembled sport goal

Info

Publication number: US20120100940A1
Application number: US12/925,418
Authority: US
Inventors: Hamid Cyrus Hajarian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-21
Filing date: 2010-10-21
Publication date: 2012-04-26

Abstract

A foldable, adjustable assembly free sport goal apparatus is presented here. This goal provides complete folding of the apparatus into sticks. The goal is also adjustable in length and height without any need for disassembly/assembly or any need for any tools. The sport goal has added on features for hard floor playground to secure the goal by means of vacuum plates mounted on the back side poles, and a foot activated insertion device for soft or grass playground.

Description

The present invention relates to a completely foldable and adjustable sport goal. More particularly the sport goal apparatus requires no assembly or disassembly and is simultaneously foldable and adjustable to different length and height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are few claimed foldable or adjustable sport goal in the market or on the patent list. These goals have either a very limited “folding capability” and/or need to be disassembled to be adjusted in height and length. Another version is using strings to pull the poles together to make a goal like tent poles. Therefore, there is a need either for a large space to place the available sport goals and difficulty to place them, without disassembly, in cars or vans due to limited folding features.
However the present invention overcomes the limitations and solves the problems with the prior arts. This invention is completely assembled in factory and no need for assembly by the user and can be converted into sticks that take a very small space and can be placed in any vehicle or can be carried in its bag/encasement. Another feature of the present invention is that it is also adjustable for length and the height in the fully assembled condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a sport goal for both indoor and outdoor play that is fully collapsible into sticks. This sport goal can also be adjusted in length and height as desired for the indoor or outdoor or just a small game field. The apparatus has joints that fold at various locations rendering a collapse of the goal into sticks. These joints are designed to their specific degrees of opening and locking in that position. The joint either open to 90 degrees (for corner joints) or 180 degree for the middle joints. This is all one person operation without any need for any tools.
It is also the object of this invention to provide capability to increase the length or height of the goal as needed without any disassembly or any need for any tools. The length and height can be adjusted by pressing and releasing the telescoping rods in the horizontal or vertical poles of the goal in either side. The release will increase the length or height incrementally as desired to a specific increment and both positions are then locked into a new position by the spring loaded pins and pin holes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to have the ability to receive vacuum activated cups that snap on the back poles to secure the goal on the hard and smooth floor as in indoor soccer court or any other hard floor to secure the sport goal from being displaced by. For example, the soccer ball impact on the poles or into the back net.
It is yet another object of this invention to secure the goal in a grass field by two foot activated inserts attached to the side of the vertical poles. These inserts are also released by foot action.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the consideration of the drawings and description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includes exemplary that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sport goal in a fully opened and locked position

FIG. 2 in the view of the foot activated grass/soft field insert on the side of the vertical poles.

FIG. 3 is the view of the sport goal partially folded.

FIG. 4 is the view of the sport goal fully folded into sticks connected at joints.

FIG. 5 is the exploded view of the joint at right angle lock position with the pin and pin hole.

FIG. 6 is the exploded view of the 180 degree joints with the locked position by pin and pin hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment is provided herein. It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
FIG. 1 illustrates the foldable, adjustable sport goal in unfolded position ready for use. The joint hinge 10 which locks in at 90 degrees and joint 11, which locks in at 180 degrees are in locked position keeping the goal in its unfolded position. The sport goal in this figure is not expanded but the elements of expansions are marked. The pole part 12 houses the pole 13 in a telescope manner. There are incremental holes 14 as the integral part of pole 12 illustrated in this figure. The spring action lock pin 15, which is part of the pole 13, is shown engaged in the hole 14. The vacuum cup 16 is shown attached to the horizontal side poles as an attachable feature for hard floor playground such as wood, asphalt. In this figure the sport goal is in its shortest dimensions horizontally and vertically and not expanded. The vacuum cups are activated by gentle hand or foot pressure.
FIG. 2 illustrates the exploded view of the typical foot activated lock 17 for grass court. This lock is activated by pressing on the bar 19, which is connected to the nail 18, downward. Consequently, the nail 18 is pushed downward engaging into the grass court and is locked. To release the locked nail 18, the bar 19 is pushed again downward releasing the nail 18 which is pushed off the ground with a spring action.
FIG. 3 Illustrates the sport goal in its first fold position. Only the two of the joints 10 connecting the front vertical poles to the horizontal side poles are in complete fold. The joints 11 are illustrated in locked unfolded position. At this fold position the horizontal dimension of the goal can be adjusted by simply pressing on lock pin 15 on both horizontal poles 12 and pull both poles 13 outward to the next pinhole 14 vice versa. This can be repeated for the other side of the horizontal poles 12 and 13 simultaneously or independently.
FIG. 4 illustrates the goal in the complete folds into four sets of sticks. The goal is in its shortest dimension. Both joints 10 and 11 are in complete fold. The lock pin 15 is in the lock hole 14 at its most compressed position. In this complete folding position and well as the FIG. 3 semi fold or first fold, the vertical poles can be adjusted in height in similar manner as in the case of the horizontal poles, by pressing on the lock pin 14 that is engaged in the pin hole 15. Both poles can be expanded at the same time by simultaneous pressing on the lock pins 15.
FIG. 5 Illustrates the exploded view of the 90 degree lock joint hinge 10 in its locked position of 90 degrees. The joint hinge rod 20 is shown connecting the two poles 12 and 13. The lock pin 22 and the pin hole 21 are shown. This joint 10 is released from the locked position again with a simple pressing on the lock pin 22.
FIG. 6 illustrates the exploded view of the horizontal locked joint 11. It is locked in 180 degree position similar to the joint 10 with the same properties. This joint 11 also can be released by pressing on the spring loaded lock pin 22 out of the pin hole 21 while folding the joint. This action is done for both horizontal poles simultaneously.
while the invention is susceptible of embodiments in many forms, these specifications and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. This invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment so described; however, the scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claim.

Claims

1. A foldable, adjustable, fully assembled sport goal comprising:

Unique locking joint design that allow complete folding of the goal into connected sticks, in a series of folding maneuvers without the need to disassemble the goal.

2. A fully foldable sport goal that can also simultaneously be adjusted for height and length without any assembly/disassembly needed.

3. Fully foldable and adjustable sport goal that can be secured into place by add-on vacuum cups for the hard floor smooth playgrounds.

4. A fully foldable and adjustable sport goal that can also be secured in place on a grass field by means of foot activated/deactivated nail inserts mounted on the side of the vertical poles of the goal.