It is also desirous to have a small, portable golf ball target for receiving and retaining a golf ball for practicing of the game of golf.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a ball target satisfying the aforementioned needs. The ball target has a base for receiving a rolling game ball thereover and an upwardly extending side assembly having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of the side assembly is flexibly attached to the base, and the upper end forms a target opening. When the rolling game ball rolls over the base and contacts the side assembly, pressure from the ball on one portion of the side assembly, causes contraction of the remaining side assembly to retain the game ball within the target opening.

In a preferred embodiment, the ball target is sized for play with a soccer ball such that a player can aim and kick the soccer ball toward the goal assembly, and if accurate, the soccer ball will roll over the base of the goal assembly and exert force on one side of the side assembly forcing that side of the side assembly inwardly and downwardly, thereby causing the remaining portion of the side assembly to contract and stop the game ball from proceeding out the opposite end of the goal. The side assembly is biased to the upwardly extending position such that the game ball is thereby trapped in the goal assembly.

Various games can be played with the ball target of the present invention, including practicing the game of soccer or golf. One skilled in the art will recognize that the ball target of the present invention can be constructed to accommodate any size game ball.

Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description taken together with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of the ball target of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the ball target of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a ball target, or goal assembly 10 for receiving and retaining a game ball 12. Ball target 10 has a base 14 having a substantially planar bottom side 16 for placement on a playing surface 18. Ball target 10 has an upwardly extending side assembly 20 having an upper end 22 and a lower end 24. The lower end 24 is flexibly attached to base 14 and the upper end forms a target opening 26, as best shown in Fig. 2.

In a preferred embodiment, side assembly 20 is formed from a plurality of upwardly extending side elements 28 that are biased outwardly to normally remain in the upward direction. The side elements 28 have an eyelet 30 at their upper ends 22. The side assembly 20 of ball target 10 also has a flexible cord 32 threaded through the eyelets 30 of side elements 28. However, the eyelets may be replaced with any other form of retention, such as hooks. The base 14 of ball target 10 has a ramped upper side 34 extending downwardly from the side assembly 20 to the playing surface 18 for receiving a rolling game ball 12 thereover.

Although ball target 10 is shown and described with a circular base 14, various other configurations are contemplated and within the scope of the appended claims. Base 14 can have a hollowed center 36, Fig. 2, and an inner diameter 38 sized to accommodate the desired game ball 12 therein. Similarly, an outer diameter 40 is sized according to the inner diameter 38, the size of the desired game ball 12, and the degree of inclination of the ramped upper side 34 of base 14.

In the preferred embodiment, the desired game ball 12 is a soccer ball, and the ball target 10 acts as a goal for receiving and retaining the soccer ball therein. In play, the base 14 of goal 10 is placed on a playing surface 18, Fig. 1 , and is capable of receiving a rolling soccer ball 12 thereover, as shown in Fig. 3. The incoming rolling soccer ball 12 then forces a number of side elements 28 inwardly as shown by arrow 42. Since side elements 28 are connected with the threaded flexible cord 32, the action of several side elements 28 compressing inwardly, causes the remaining side elements to contract in a direction opposite of the incoming game ball, thereby stopping the game ball from exiting the opposite side of the goal assembly. Once the game ball 12 rolls over and past the side elements 28, the side elements return to their biased upwardly extending position, which traps the game ball within the goal assembly.

The lengths of side elements 28 are chosen according to the diameter of the game ball, such that as the incoming rolling game ball compresses a number of side elements inwardly and proceeds into the target opening, or receiving area

26, the compressed side elements 28 are only released once the game ball 12 is within striking distance of the opposite side elements. This ensures that the opposite side elements are contracted, or taught, in a direction opposite of the incoming game ball to stop the ball from exiting the opposite end from the incoming direction. The ball then bounces off the taught side elements as the compressed side elements 28 return to their original biased upwardly extending position, and the game ball is trapped within the goal assembly.

In one preferred soccer embodiment, the length of side elements 28 are 6 inches, and the diameter of the target area 26 is 16 inches. The inner diameter

38 measures 20 inches, and the outer diameter 40 is 26 inches. As will be readily discernible from anyone skilled in this art, the ball target of the present invention can be made to accommodate any type of game ball by varying these dimensions. It is contemplated, that the invention is readily adaptable to golf balls, and all the aforementioned specifications would be downsized accordingly.

Further, the soccer goal assembly of the present invention may be made larger for outdoor use, than for indoor use. Also, the goal assembly may be made larger or smaller for various games and/or the number of players in a game, besides the type and size of a game ball. It is recognized that these and other equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appending claims.