WO2015155457A1

WO2015155457A1 - Item of sports equipment and kit comprising such an item of sports equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2015155457A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/050891
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boob FLORENCE; Jehanno YOUEN
Original assignee: Decathlon
Priority date: 2014-04-11
Filing date: 2015-04-07
Publication date: 2015-10-15
Also published as: FR3019751A1; EP3129107A1; FR3019751B1; CN106413830A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an item of sports equipment (1) intended to be used on a playing area, comprising a rectilinear body (2) having a central portion (3) and two end portions (4). The rectilinear body (2) extends in a longitudinal direction and has, in cross section, a section of elongate shape of which the length (L) defines, with the longitudinal direction, a main plane (P). In particular, at least one of the portions (3, 4) of said item of sports equipment (1) comprises a connecting means (5, 11) configured to keep said item of sports equipment (1) on a second item of sports equipment comprising a rectilinear body extending in a longitudinal direction and having: - a central portion and, - at least one end portion that has, in cross section, a section of elongate shape of which the length defines, with the longitudinal direction, an end portion plane, such that the main plane of said item of sports equipment is transverse to the end portion plane of said second item of sports equipment. The invention also relates to a kit comprising such an item of sports equipment (1).

Description

SPORT EQUIPMENT AND KIT COMPRISING SUCH

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of sports equipment, including collective sports equipment intended to be deployed on a playground or training.

It is known to use cones, particularly road signs, and cylindrical stakes to delimit crossing zones and areas to be reached during sports training for example. Such accessories are described in particular in documents US 5,205,799, US 4,232,862 or even WO 99/33526.

It is also known to use interlocking elements to adjust a sports accessory to the desired height. Such elements are described in particular in documents FR 2 499 or else US 2 191 253.

However, the geometries or sizes delimited areas obtained by such equipment are reduced, or require a kit with a number of important elements which leads to increase the weight and bulk of the kit. In particular, the combination of different accessories together to form closed areas is either impossible or requires the use of specific fittings difficult to install and can be easily lost.

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention aims to solve the various technical problems mentioned above. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a sports equipment for easily associating accessories between them.

Thus, according to one aspect, there is provided a sports equipment for use on a playground, comprising a rectilinear body with a central portion and two end portions. The rectilinear body extends in a longitudinal direction and has, in cross section, an elongated section whose length defines, with the longitudinal direction, a main plane. In particular, at least one of the portions of said sports equipment comprises a connection means configured to hold said sports equipment to a second sports equipment comprising a rectilinear body extending in a longitudinal direction with:

- a central portion and,

at least one end portion having, in cross-section, an elongated section whose length defines, with the longitudinal direction, a plane of the end portion;

so that the main plane of said sports equipment is transverse to the plane of the end portion of said second sports equipment.

Thus, thanks to the end portions or through the central portion, the sports equipment can cooperate with other sports equipment transversely. For example, in the case of sports equipment comprising a central portion with a connecting means, it may cooperate with the end portion of another sports equipment which will be positioned perpendicular to the first, so as to form for example, a vertical line and a horizontal line.

Alternatively, when the two sports equipment comprise means of connection at the ends, they can then cooperate edge to edge so as to align in the same direction which is the common longitudinal direction of the two sports equipment, but turned one compared to each other. We then obtain a line whose length corresponds substantially to the sum of the lengths of the two sports equipment.

In both cases, it is found that it is possible to associate either axially or perpendicularly the longitudinal directions of the two sports equipment, without requiring connections or additional parts of connection.

The second sports equipment may be identical to the first sports equipment.

According to one embodiment, the central portion comprises at least one transverse opening, possibly through, configured to receive the end portion of the second sports equipment.

The transverse opening may be configured to receive the end portion of the second sport equipment to maintain the first and second sports equipment perpendicular to each other. Preferably, the transverse opening has an elongated shape with a length greater than or equal to the length of the section of the end portion of the second sports equipment.

In this embodiment, the sports equipment is mounted together so as to obtain their longitudinal directions perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, such an assembly of the two sports equipment does not require a fitting or additional piece.

According to another embodiment, at least one of the end portions is configured to cooperate with the end portion of the second sports equipment, so that the two sports equipment extend end to end according to a same direction.

At least one of the end portions may be configured to cooperate with an end portion of a second identical sports equipment, such that the two sports equipment extend axially in the same direction and rotated between they have a determined angle in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, at least one of the end portions comprises two parallel fingers spaced from one another and extending in the longitudinal direction of the sports equipment, and is configured to cooperate with the end portion second sports equipment. At least one of the end portions may be configured to cooperate with an end portion of a second identical sports equipment so that the two sports equipment extend axially in the same direction and rotated between them. at an angle of 90 ° in the longitudinal direction.

The central portion may be formed by the extension of the two fingers of at least one end portion and by a connecting element located between the extension of the two fingers and connecting them.

The end portion may comprise a connecting element set back from the two fingers and connecting them, and the connecting element is configured to be gripped by the fingers of the end portion of the second sports equipment.

Preferably, the fingers are cylindrical, and have for example a circular cross section, hexagonal, octagonal, oval or rhombus. Preferably, at least one of the end portions comprises locking means for locking two sports equipment arranged end to end in the same direction.

The locking means may be mounted on the fingers and on the connecting element of the end portion, and comprise for example a lug and a cavity adapted to cooperate together in the locked position, by elastic deformation.

Preferably, the end portions are identical.

In this embodiment, the sports equipment is mounted together to align their longitudinal directions. Moreover, such an assembly of the two sports equipment does not require a fitting or additional part, and may even include locking elements to secure the axial connection between the two devices.

The locking means may in particular be configured to require an unlocking force greater than the weight of sports equipment. In this case, the movement of the sports equipment mounted together axially does not cause them to be disconnected under the effect of gravity.

The invention also relates, in another aspect, a kit comprising a sports equipment as described above.

Preferably, the kit comprises a second sports equipment as described above.

The invention also relates, in another aspect, to a kit comprising:

a first sports equipment intended to be used on a playground, comprising a rectilinear body with a central portion and two end portions, the rectilinear body extending in a longitudinal direction, and

at least one second sports equipment comprising a rectilinear body with a central portion and two end portions, the rectilinear body extending in a longitudinal direction,

wherein the central portion of said first and said second sports equipment comprises at least one transverse opening, possibly through, configured to receive at least one end portion of the other sports equipment, to maintain the first and second sports equipment perpendicular to each other.

Preferably, the rectilinear body of said first and said second sports equipment extends in a longitudinal direction and has, in cross section, an elongated section whose length defines, with the longitudinal direction, a main plane.

Preferably, at least one end portion of said first and said second sports equipment has, in cross-section, an elongated section whose length defines, with the longitudinal direction, a plane of the end portion, and both sports equipment is maintained so that the main plane of one of the two sports equipment is transverse to the plane of the end portion of the other sports equipment.

Preferably, the transverse opening of said first and said second sports equipment has an elongate shape with a length greater than or equal to the length of the section of the end portion of the other sports equipment.

Preferably, at least one of the end portions of said first and said second sports equipment is configured to cooperate with the end portion of the other sports equipment, so that the two sports equipment extend. end to end in the same direction.

Preferably, at least one of the end portions of said first and said second sports equipment comprises two parallel fingers spaced from one another and extending in the longitudinal direction of the sports equipment, and is configured to cooperate with the end portion of the other sports equipment.

Preferably, the central portion of said first and said second sports equipment is formed by the extension of the two fingers of at least one end portion of said first and said second sports equipment and by a connecting element located between the extension of the two fingers and linking them together.

Preferably, an end portion of said first and said second sports equipment comprises a connecting element set back from the two fingers and connecting them, and the connecting element of the end portion of one of the equipment of sport is set to be caught by the fingers of the end portion of the other sports equipment.

Preferably, the fingers are cylindrical, and have for example a circular cross section, hexagonal, octagonal, diamond or oval.

Preferably, at least one of the end portions of said first and said second sports equipment comprises locking means for locking said two sports equipment arranged end to end in the same direction.

Preferably, the locking means of said first and said second sports equipment are mounted on the fingers and on the connecting element of the end portion, and comprise for example a lug and a cavity able to cooperate together in the locked position, by elastic deformation.

Preferably, the two end portions of at least one of the sports equipment are identical.

Preferably, said second sports equipment is identical to said first sports equipment.

Preferably, the kit also comprises at least one stud having at least one orifice configured to receive an end portion of the sports equipment.

The stud may have a truncated cone shape with a lateral surface and an upper surface, and said orifice is a transverse orifice disposed on the side wall or an axial orifice disposed on the upper surface.

The upper surface may include at least one transverse groove configured to receive the horizontally disposed sports equipment.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description of a particular embodiment, taken by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sports equipment according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the sports equipment of FIG. 1 along its longitudinal direction;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a stud configured to cooperate with the sports equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of two sports equipment according to the invention cooperating axially, and

- Figure 5 is a schematic view of three sports equipment according to the invention cooperating perpendicularly.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 illustrates a sports equipment 1 according to the invention. Sports equipment 1, which can also be designated by the term "milestone", comprises a rectilinear body 2 formed by a central portion 3 and two end portions 4. The end portions 4 and the central portion 3 are aligned with the central portion 3 positioned between the two end portions 4. The alignment of the portions 3 and 4 thus defines a main direction which will be designated in the following description by longitudinal direction of the sports equipment 1.

Figure 2 shows a view of the sports equipment 1, viewed in the longitudinal direction.

As can be seen, the contour of the section, in cross-section, of the end portion 4 is identical to that of the section of the central portion 3. In particular, it can be seen that the section, in cross section, of the central portion 3 has an elongated shape whose length L defines, with the longitudinal direction, a main plane P (see Figure 1).

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the sports equipment 1 is identical to that of its end portions 4.

Furthermore, the end portions 4 being identical on the sports equipment 1 of Figure 1, only an end portion 4 is described in the following description.

The end portion 4 comprises a first connecting means formed by two fingers 5. The two fingers 5 are parallel and distant from each other. They are positioned at one end of the sports equipment 1 and can thus cooperate with the fingers 5 of another sports equipment, for example identical to sports equipment 1 illustrated in Figure 1.

The fingers 5 are preferably cylindrical, and have a circular cross-section as shown in the example of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the fingers 5 may have a hexagonal, octagonal, oval or diamond-shaped cross section, which also allows cooperation with fingers of another identical equipment.

The two fingers 5 may extend along the entire length of the end portion 4, or even, as described below, along the entire length of the sports equipment 1.

The end portion 4 also comprises a connecting element 6. The connecting element 6 is set back from the two fingers 5, and connects the two fingers 5 between them. The connecting element 6 is configured to be sandwiched between two fingers 5 of other sports equipment, for example identical.

Thus, when two identical sports equipment 1 are made to cooperate according to their main direction (see FIG. 4), the two end portions 4 which come to cooperate together each see their connecting element 6 being clamped between the two fingers 5 of the another end portion, the maximum engagement of the two end portions 4 being obtained when the two connecting elements 6 abut against each other.

It is understood in particular that for such a nesting, the end portions 4 are rotated relative to each other in the longitudinal direction, to cooperate together. In particular, in the example illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the end portions 4 comprise only two fingers 5, the angle between the two end portions 4 is 90 °.

Furthermore, in order to keep the two sports equipment together, the end portions 4 may also include locking means. The locking means may in particular require an unlocking force greater than the weight of a sports equipment, so as to prevent the separation of two sports equipment 1 arranged end to end, under the effect of gravity.

The locking means may thus comprise lugs 7 mounted on the fingers 5, and cavities 8 mounted on the connecting element 6, the lugs 7 and the cavities 8 being able to cooperate together in the locked position, by elastic deformation of the fingers 5. In particular, the lugs 7 and the cavities 8 are positioned so as to cooperate together when the connecting elements 6 of two sports equipment arranged end to end are in abutment against each other.

Preferably, the end portions 4 comprise, at the level of the connection with the central portion 3, in cross section, a section identical to that of the central portion 3. In other words, the section of the end portion formed by the fingers 5 and the connecting element 6 may be identical to the section of the central portion 3.

Thus, the central portion 3 may include extensions 9 of the fingers 5 and a connecting element 10 interconnecting the extensions 9. The connecting element 10 of the central portion 3 is also arranged in the extension of the connecting element 6 end portions 4 with which it can have the same section, in cross section.

The sports equipment 1 may also comprise a second connecting means in the form of a transverse opening 11 disposed in the central portion 3. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the sports equipment 1 thus comprises four openings transverse 11 which are through.

The transverse openings 11 are configured to receive the end portion 4 of other sports equipment, for example identical to the equipment 1. Thus, the transverse openings 11 have a surface greater than or equal to the surface of the section, in cross section, an end portion 4. It is then possible to fit an end portion 4 in one of the transverse openings 11 of the central portion 3, so as to obtain two sports equipment associated together with their directions perpendicular to each other (see Figure 5).

FIG. 3 represents a stud 12 that can cooperate with sports equipment 1.

The stud 12 has the general shape of a truncated cone with, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, six lateral faces 13 and an upper surface 14. The stud 12 may comprise at least one orifice configured to receive an end portion 4 of a sports equipment 1.

The orifice may thus be a transverse orifice 15, having a shape substantially identical to that of a transverse opening 11 of a sports equipment 1 described above. The transverse orifice 15 allows to accommodate an end portion 4 of a sports equipment 1, and to maintain said sports equipment 1 with its longitudinal direction extending horizontally. In particular, sports equipment 1 can be held horizontally between two studs 12 as shown in FIG.

The stud 12 may thus comprise transverse orifices 15 on each of its lateral faces 13, and at different heights on each of the lateral faces 13.

The orifice may also be an axial orifice 16, having a shape substantially identical to that of a transverse opening 11 of a sports equipment 1 described above. The axial orifice 16 allows to accommodate an end portion 4 of a sports equipment 1, and to maintain said sports equipment 1 with its longitudinal direction extending vertically.

Finally, the upper surface 14 of the stud 12 may comprise a transverse groove 17 configured to receive the sports equipment 1. In Figure 3, the stud 12 comprises in particular two transverse grooves 17 perpendicular to each other.

The transverse groove 17 accommodates, and possibly maintain by elastic deformation, a sports equipment 1 described above, with its longitudinal direction disposed horizontally.

The stud 12 may be associated with one or more sports equipment 1, identical or not, to form a kit for delineating areas on a playing surface.

Figure 4 shows two sports equipment 1, the nested axially (that is to say according to their main directions) by cooperation of the fingers 5 of the sports equipment 1 with the fingers 5 'of the sports equipment. It is found in particular that the main plane P of the sports equipment 1 is perpendicular to the main plane P 'of the sports equipment 1'. 5 shows three sports equipment 1, 1 ', 1 "assembled so as to form a horizontal hedge or form a goal cage, More particularly, the sports equipment 1 is fitted into a transverse opening 11' of the sports equipment. the end of one of its ends, and nested in a transverse opening 11 "of the other sports equipment 1" by the other end thereof It is noted in particular that the main plane P of the sports equipment 1 is perpendicular to the plane main P 'sports equipment and the main plane P "sports equipment 1".

In particular, thanks to the connecting means (the openings 11 or fingers 5) of the sports equipment 1, it is possible to associate either axially or perpendicularly the longitudinal directions of the two sports equipment 1, without requiring connections or additional parts of connection.

Claims

Sports equipment (1) for use on a playing field, comprising a rectilinear body (2) with a central portion (3) and two end portions (4), the straight body (2) is extending in a longitudinal direction and having, in cross-section, an elongate section whose length (L) defines, in the longitudinal direction, a principal plane (P),

characterized in that at least one of the portions (3, 4) of said sports equipment (1) comprises a connecting means (5, 11) configured to hold said sports equipment (1) to a second sports equipment comprising a rectilinear body extending in a longitudinal direction with a central portion and at least one end portion having, in cross-section, an elongate section whose length defines, with the longitudinal direction, a plane of the end portion ,

so that the main plane (P) of said sports equipment is transverse to the plane of the end portion of said second sports equipment.

2. Sports equipment (1) according to claim 1 wherein the central portion (3) comprises at least one transverse opening (11), possibly through, configured to receive the end portion of the second sports equipment.

Sports equipment (1) according to claim 2, wherein the transverse opening (11) is configured to receive the end portion of the second sports equipment, in order to keep the first and second sports equipment perpendicular to each other. .

Sports equipment (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the transverse opening (11) has an elongate shape with a length (L) greater than or equal to the length of the section of the end portion of the second sports equipment.

Sports equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the end portions (4) is configured to cooperate with the end portion of the second sports equipment, such that so that the two sports equipment extend end to end in the same direction.

6. Sports equipment (1) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the end portions (4) comprises two parallel fingers (5) spaced from each other and extending in the direction longitudinal of the sports equipment (1), and is configured to cooperate with the end portion of the second sports equipment.

7. Sports equipment (1) according to claim 6 wherein the central portion (3) is formed by the extension (9) of the two fingers (5) of at least one end portion (4) and by an element. link (10) between the extension (9) of the two fingers and connecting them.

8. Sports equipment (1) according to claim 7, wherein an end portion (4) comprises a connecting element (6) set back from the two fingers (5) and connecting them, and wherein connecting element (6) is configured to be gripped by the fingers of the end portion of the second sports equipment.

9. Sports equipment (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the fingers (5) are cylindrical, and have for example a circular cross section, hexagonal, octagonal, rhombus or oval.

Sports equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 9, wherein at least one of the end portions (4) comprises locking means (7, 8) for locking two pieces of equipment. sport arranged end to end in the same direction.

11. Sports equipment (1) according to claim 10, wherein the locking means are mounted on the fingers (5) and on the connecting element (6) of the end portion (4), and comprise by example a pin (7) and a cavity (8) able to cooperate together in the locked position, by elastic deformation.

12. Sports equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portions (4) are identical.

13. Kit comprising sports equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Kit according to claim 13 comprising a second sports equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. Kit according to claim 13 or 14 also comprising at least one stud (12) having at least one orifice (15, 16) configured to receive an end portion (4) of the sports equipment (1).

The kit of claim 15 wherein the stud (12) has a frustoconical shape with a lateral surface (13) and an upper surface (14), and wherein said orifice is a transverse orifice (15) disposed on the side wall (13) or an axial orifice (16) disposed on the upper surface (14).

17. Kit according to claim 16 wherein the upper surface (14) comprises at least one transverse groove (17) configured to receive the sport equipment (1) arranged horizontally.

18. Kit comprising:

a first sports equipment (1) intended to be used on a playground, comprising a rectilinear body (2) with a central portion (3) and two end portions (4), the rectilinear body (2) extending in a longitudinal direction, and

at least one second sports equipment (10 comprising a rectilinear body (2 with a central portion (30 and two end portions (40), the rectilinear body (20 extending in a longitudinal direction, characterized in that the central portion (3, 3 ') of said first and said second sports equipment (1,) comprises at least one transverse opening (11, 11 ⁷ ), possibly through, configured to receive at least a portion of end of the other sports equipment, to maintain the first and second sports equipment perpendicular to each other.