Football goal or other similar goal

The present invention relates to a football goal or other similar goal.

More particularly, the invention relates to such a goal comprising a framework, including two opposite gable frames, each having, at the lower end thereof, a beam member which extends in the longitudinal direction of the gable frame and by means of which the gable frame can rest upon a substrate for the goal, and two wheel units mountable each on one of the two gable frames and each comprising a wheel movable between on the one hand an upper inactive position and on the other hand a lower active position in which it can support a front portion of the associated gable frame in a state in which said front portion is lifted from said substrate and rests on said wheel.

Together with one or more similar units mountable on a longitudinally extending rear beam member of the framework, said two wheel units serve to facilitate a convenient movement of the goal to or from a desired location on a playing-ground. During any movement of the goal, the entire framework may be supported resting upon the wheels of the different wheel units, while, when the goal has been placed in its intended location, it is possible by moving the wheels from their lower active positions to their upper inactive positions to bring the framework to rest firmly on the existing substrate with the different beam members in direct contact therewith.

In previously known goals of the above kind, the two wheel units belonging to the different gable frames have been mounted in stationary positions near the front end of said frames. This means that, when the goal has been placed in its desired position and the framework

has been brought to rest firmly on the substrate, it has been necessary to disconnect the wheel units and remove them from the gable frames in order hereby to prevent any players or the ball to come in contact with said units. In practice, this need for disconnecting and removing the wheel units and later on, when the goal again has to be moved, remounting them on the gable frames, has been found very unfavourable. The invention therefore has for its purpose to provide an improved goal of the kind initially specified where the abovementioned drawback is eliminated.

The goal, according to the invention proposed for said purpose, is primarily characterized in that each one of said two wheel units is arranged to be mounted on the beam member of the associated gable frame in a manner permitting it to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the beam member.

The invention eliminates the previous need for disconnecting and removing the two wheel units from the gable frames each time the goal has been placed in a desired usage position. Instead, when the goal has been placed in the desired position, said two wheel units may be moved from locations near the front ends of the gable frames to locations near the rear ends of the gable frames by displacing them along the beam members of the gable frames.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each one of the two wheel units may be arranged to be mounted on the beam member of the associated gable frame through the intermediary of a holder which is arranged to be mounted longitudinally displaceable on the beam member by means of a slide received in a longitudinal guide groove in the beam member. Said holder may suitably be arranged to be

locked in any desired displacement position in relation to the beam member.

Moreover, each wheel unit may preferably comprise a wheel carrier pivotally mounted on the associated holder for pivoting movement around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the beam member. In this case, the wheel of the wheel unit can be moved between its upper inactive position and its lower-active position by pivoting the wheel carrier around said axis.

Below, the invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a lower portion of a gable frame of a goal according to an embodi- ment of the invention, selected by way of example only, also illustrating a wheel unit mounted on a gable frame in three different positions,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of said wheel unit showing said unit mounted on a beam member of the gable frame,

Figure 3 shows a front view of the wheel unit, and

Figure A is a partial view showing the connection between the wheel unit and the beam member of the gable frame on an enlarged scale.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates one of two opposite gable frames of a framework of a football goal. Only a lower portion of the frame has been shown. Gable frame 10 comprises a beam member 11 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the frame and by means of which the gable frame may rest upon a substrate for the goal. Furthermore, the gable frame also comprises a vertical post 12, provided at the front end of the gable frame located to the right ,in Figure 1, and a member 13 located at the

rear end of the gable frame and extending in an inclined upward direction from beam member 11.

On beam member 11, by means of which gable frame 10 is intended, during use of the goal, to rest on a substrate for the goal, there is mounted a wheel unit 14 which is connected to beam member 11 in a manner permitting it to be displaced along beam member 11 in the longitudinal direction of the latter.

Wheel unit 14, which in Figure 1 has been shown in three different positions, designated 14A, 14B and 14C, respectively, has for its purpose to facilitate a movement of the goal when so desired. For this purpose, wheel unit 14 comprises a wheel 15 which, when the goal is to be moved to or from a desired location therefor, can be used to support a front portion of gable frame 10 resting thereupon in a position lifted from the substrate. In order to permit such a function of wheel unit 14, wheel 15 is movable between on the one hand an upper inactive position which it assumes when wheel unit 14 is in the positions designated 14B and 14C in Figure 1, and on the other hand a lower active position, which it assumes when wheel unit 14 is in the position designated 14A.

In order to permit such a movement of wheel 15 between an upper inactive position and a lower active position, a carrier 16 for the wheel included in wheel unit 14 is pivotally connected to a holder 17 for pivoting movement around a horizontal pivot axis 18 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of beam member 11 and defined by a bolt 19.

In order to permit a movement of wheel unit 14 from a usage position near the front end of the gable frame to a parking position near the rear end of the gable frame when wheel 15 is in its inactive position, holder 17 is mounted longitudinally displaceable along

beam member 11 by means of a slide 21 which is received in a longitudinal guide groove 20 in said bean member and to which holder 17 is connected by means of a number of bolts 22. Reference numeral 23 designates a locking plate which is pivotally mounted on wheel carrier 16 and which, when the wheel carrier is in the position shown in Figures 2, 3 and A, can be brought into engagement with a recess 24 in holder 17 in order to hold the wheel carrier in said position.

Wheel 15 is mounted in a fork 25 which by means of a-pivot pin (not shown) is pivotally connected to wheel carrier 16.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment above described and shown in the drawings. Instead, many other embodiments are feasible within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.