This invention relates to goal posts for sports games.

Rugby, Soccer, American football and other ball sports use goal posts located at opposite ends of a sports pitch, with goals or points being scored by one team when the ball passes between and/or over the goal posts of the other team.

Generally, when a goal or point is scored, a referee, linesman or other official will usually provide an initial indication that a goal or point has been allowed by raising a hand in which a flag may be carried. A problem with this is that physical spectators at the game may not be able to see the indication by the official, especially if they are located at the opposite end of the sports pitch. The same problem exists for spectators viewing the game on television, for example if the camera is not zoomed on the official. Hence, one object of the present invention is to alleviate the above-mentioned problem.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the overall experience of the game for physical spectators and those spectators viewing the game on television.

With the foregoing objects in mind, I have now devised improved goal posts.

In accordance with the present invention, as seen from the first aspect, there is provided goal posts comprising an elongate post member, light emitting means extending longitudinally of the post member and means for remotely activating the light emitting means to cause the emission of light therefrom.

In use, when a goal or point is scored, the referee, linesman or other official can actuate the remote activation means to cause the light emitting means to emit light, so that physical and television spectators of the game can immediately see that a goal or point has been scored.

The effect caused by the emission of light from the light emitting means can be spectacular and can help to improve spectator's enjoyment of the game, especially if music and/or other sounds are emitted at the same time. The light emitting means may comprise one or more strips of light emitting devices which extend longitudinally of the elongate goal post member. The strips and/or the light emitting devices may be arranged to emit a variety of different colours.

Alternatively, the light emitting means may comprise an array of light emitting devices, which may be arranged to emit a variety of different colours. In the latter case, means may be provided for controlling the light emitting devices in response to video signals to cause the light emitting means to display successive images.

The goal posts may provide a plurality of goal post members, each provided with light emitting means. For example, rugby, soccer and American football goal posts may comprise light emitting means extending along both uprights and optionally the crossbar.

The light emitting means may extend fully or partially along the or each goal post member.

The light emitting means may be detachable from the goal post member, so that it can be readily installed or removed, for example when it needs to be repaired or replaced.

The light emitting means may recessed into an outer surface of the goal posts so as to protect them against damage, for example when the goal posts are raised or lowered. The light emitting may be disposed in channels which extend longitudinally of the post member.

Preferably the light emitting means comprises a substrate which can be wrapped around the goal post member and secured in-situ, for example using hook-and-pile type fastenings or by interconnecting a series of hooks, eyes or other members disposed along opposite side edges of the substrate.

Preferably the remote activation means comprises a transmitter for transmitting a wireless activation signal to a receiver of the light emitting means. In use, the transmitter may be carried by the referee, linesman or other official. The transmitter may be provided in a body portion of a flag, which the referee, linesman or other official can use to indicate when a goal or point has been scored. The transmitter may comprise a switch which cases the wireless activation signal to be transmitted. Also in accordance with the present invention, as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a sports facility comprising a pair of goal posts in accordance with the first aspect of the invention disposed at respective opposite ends of a sports pitch.

The light emitting means of each goal post member is preferably independently actuable by the same or respective different remote control means.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic prospective view of a rugby sports facility in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, incorporating an embodiment of goal posts in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a flexible LED display of the goal post of the sports facility of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front view of goal post of the sports facility of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a flexible LED display of an alternative embodiment of goal posts in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a rugby sports facility comprising a sports field 10 and a pair of goal posts 11 A, 1 1 B disposed at respective opposite ends of the sports field 10. Each goal post 11 A, 11 B comprises a wireless receiver 12 for receiving respective wireless activation signals from respective transmitters 13 disposed in handles of respective flag units 14A, 14B. Each flag unit 14A, 14B comprises a flag 15 and a switch 16, which can be actuated to transmit a wireless activation signal to the receiver 12 of the respective goal post 11 A, 11 B. Referring to Figures 2-4 of the drawings, each goal post e.g. 1 1 A comprises a pair of uprights 17 interconnected intermediate their opposite ends by a crossbar 18. An elongate flexible LED display device 19 is wrapped around each upright 17 and crossbar 18. The LED display 19 comprises an array of light emitting diodes 20 mounted on the elongate flexible substrate 21 having strips 22H, 22P of the respective portions of a hook-and-pile fastener extending down its respective longitudinal side edges. Each light emitting diode 20 is arranged to emit the colours red, green and blue in various intensities in the same manner as a television to produce a colour image. Each display device 19 is elongate and is wrapped around the respective portions 17, 18 of the goal posts 11A, 11 B and secured in-situ by inter- engaging the corresponding strips 22H, 22P of the hook-and-pile fastener.

The wireless receiver 12 is connected to a control unit 23, which is also connected to a battery 24. The receiver 12, control unit 23 and battery 24 may be mounted within a padding member 25 disposed around the base of one of the uprights 17.

In use, the flag units 14A, 14B are carried by respective linesman during a rugby game. When a point is scored, for example by the ball being kicked over the crossbar 18 of the goal post 1 1A, the linesman holding the flag unit 14A presses the button 16 whilst simultaneously raising the flag unit 14A. This then transmits an activation signal to the receiver 12 of the goal posts 11 A. The activation signal is sensed by the control unit 23 to cause the LED displays 19 of the goal post 1 1A to be activated to display a stored series of images on the goal post 1 1A. The images may comprise promotional images.

In an alternative embodiment, more than one flag unit e.g. 14A may be provided for sending wireless signals to the respective receiver 12 of each goal post 1 1A, 11 B, for example if two linesmen are monitoring play in each direction. Alternatively, a single flag unit may be provided if there is just one linesman or other official monitoring play in both directions. In this case, the flag unit may comprise a pair of switches for sending wireless activation signals to the receiver 12 of respective goal posts 11 A, 1 1 B. Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, in an alternative embodiment, the LED display 19 comprises upper and lower elongate sheets 30, 31 of a clear flexible plastics substrate material which are longitudinally interconnected at a plurality of points 32 across their width, so as to form elongate pockets therebetween. Elongate strips 33 of rigid plastic material are inserted into every other pocket across the width of the substrate. Elongate strips 34 of LEDs are inserted into the pockets disposed between the elongate strips 33 of rigid plastic material. A plurality of hooks 35 are provided along opposite side edges of the substrate. In use, each display device 19 is wrapped around the respective portions 17, 18 of the goal posts 1 1 A, 11 B and secured in-situ by interconnecting the respective opposed hooks 35 provided along opposite side edges of the substrate with an elasticated cord. The strips 34 of LEDs are thinner in thickness than the elongate strips 33 of rigid plastic material and thus effectively disposed in channels and are protected against damage, for example when the goal posts are raised or lowered.

It will be appreciated that a goal post in accordance with the present invention provides an easily visible indication to spectators that a goal or point has been scored. Furthermore, the illumination of the goal post can be visually spectacular and can enhance a spectator's enjoyment of the game especially if moving images are displayed.