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Title:
SOCCER GOAL POST ASSEMBLY
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/003159
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A goal post assembly which includes a plurality of tubular members which define an entrance to the assembly and wherein each tubular member is rotatable about a respective central support to which the respective tubular member is mounted.

Inventors:
PERETZ LEON (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/ZA2008/000055
Publication Date:
January 07, 2010
Filing Date:
July 02, 2008
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
PERETZ LEON (ZA)
International Classes:
A63B71/00; A63B63/00
Foreign References:
US3104875A1963-09-24
US4083561A1978-04-11
US3416484A1968-12-17
EP0525369A11993-02-03
US3711092A1973-01-16
US3782724A1974-01-01
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MCCALLUM, RADEMEYER & FREIMOND et al. (7 June AvenueMaclyn House Bordeaux, 2125 Randburg, ZA)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A goal post assembly which includes first and second vertically extending posts, each post having a respective outer surface and including a central support, a tubular member which is mounted to the support for rotatable movement about i the support, and a cover of a resiliently deformable material on each tubular member, and wherein the respective tubular member of a respective post is caused to be rotated when an oblique force is applied to the outer surface of the post.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein each tubular member includes a first D bearing at a first end and a second bearing at an opposed second end so that the tubular member is mounted to the respective support through the first and second bearings.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cover is manufactured from a material which is selected from one of the following: rubber and foam.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 , 2 or 3 which includes a net, a support structure which is covered with the net, and a plurality of clips each of which has a retaining formation at one end which is engageable with one of the central supports, and wherein a side of the net which is adjacent the first and second posts is braced to the respective posts with the clips.

5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each post includes a plurality of tubular members which are rotatably mounted to the respective central support so that the tubular members align longitudinally.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the tubular members are spaced apart along the length of the respective central support using the clips.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein two adjacent tubular members are spaced apart with one clip.

8. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein each retaining formation includes a shoulder which abuts part of the first or second bearing so that the respective covers of adjacent tubular members are spaced apart.

9. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 which includes a third post which extends horizontally between the first and second posts.

10. A goal post assembly which includes a support structure, first and second vertically extending posts and a third post which extends horizontally between the first and second posts, a net which is mounted to and which is supported by the support structure, each post including a central support and at least a first tubular member through which the central support extends, each tubular member including a first bearing at a first end and a second bearing at an opposed second end so that the tubular member is rotatable about the central support through the respective bearings, and a layer of resiliently deformable material which covers each tubular member, and wherein the respective tubular member is caused to rotate when an oblique force is applied to the respective post.

Description:
SOCCER GOAL POST ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a goal post assembly.

[0002] A conventional goal post assembly can present a danger to players and officials such as a referee on the field. A typical goal post in the assembly is manufactured from a metal such as steel. The assembly can be anchored to the ground, for example, by planting one ore more posts of the assembly in the ground. Alternatively the weight of the assembly reduces the likelihood of it being readily moved when a ball is kicked into the assembly or if a player contacts the assembly.

[0003] Normally the posts of the assembly pose the greatest risk to the players and to the referee. If a player were to crash into one of the posts, severe injury can be caused to the player if the player fails to take remedial steps, for example by using his hands or arms to shield his body, to reduce the force with which the player impacts with the post.

[0004] Attempts have been made in the past to shield the posts of the assembly from the players and officials. An example of one such an attempt is United States patent

No. 7,150,690, entitled "Soccer Goal Padding", which describes a soccer goal pad which is secured to a playing surface of a goal post. In the abstract it is stated that the pad is designed to minimize the effect which the pad will have on the trajectory and speed of a soccer ball bouncing off the padded post. Although the use of the pad on the post will reduce the likelihood of injury which may be caused to a player, logically it follows that the pad should still be relatively hard to not affect the way in which the ball moves from the post. The required hardness of the pad in this invention, at least to some extent, will reduce the benefit of the pad and will increase the risk of injury to the player.

[0005] The invention aims to provide a goal post assembly which at least partly overcomes the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a goal post assembly which includes first and second vertically extending posts, each post having a respective outer surface and including a central support, a tubular member which is mounted to the support for rotatable movement about the support, and a cover of a resiliently deformable material on each tubular member, and wherein the respective tubular member of a respective post is caused to be rotated when an oblique force is applied to the outer surface of the post.

[0007] Any suitable technique known in the art may be used to facilitate the rotation of each tubular member about the respective central supports. Preferably each tubular member includes a first bearing at a first end and a second bearing at an opposed second end so that the tubular member is mounted to the respective support through the first and second bearings. [0008] The cover may be manufactured from any suitable material such as rubber and foam which will impart to the cover, on the one hand, a required level of firmness and, on the other hand, a fair amount of impact absorption.

[0009] The assembly may include a net, a support structure which is covered with the net, and a plurality of clips each of which has a retaining formation at one end which is engageable with one of the central supports, and wherein a side of the net which is adjacent the first and second posts is braced to the respective posts with the clips.

[0010] Each post may include a plurality of tubular members which are rotatably mounted to the respective central support so that the tubular members align longitudinally. The tubular members may be spaced apart along the length of the respective central support using the clips. Preferably two adjacent tubular members are spaced apart with one clip. The respective retaining formations of the clips may include a shoulder which abuts part of the first or second bearings so that the respective covers of adjacent tubular members are spaced apart.

[0011] The assembly may include a third post which extends horizontally between the first and second posts.

[0012] The invention further extends to a goal post assembly which includes a support structure, first and second vertically extending posts and a third post which extends horizontally between the first and second posts, a net which is mounted to and which is supported by the support structure, each post including a central support and at least a first tubular member through which the central support extends, each tubular member including a first bearing at a first end and a second bearing at an opposed second end so that the tubular member is rotatable about the central support through the respective bearings, and a layer of resiliently deformable material which covers each tubular member, and wherein the respective tubular member is caused to rotate when an oblique force is applied to the respective post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a goal post assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tubular member of the assembly;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the tubular member;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tubular member which is mounted to a central support of the assembly;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clip; Figure 6 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the clip;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the assembly, in which a net of the assembly has been removed, in an exploded configuration;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 of a different embodiment of the assembly; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Figure 1 of the accompanying representations illustrates a goal post assembly 10 according to the invention which includes first and second vertical extending posts 12 and 14, a third post 16 which extends horizontally between the first and second posts, a net 18, and a support structure 20 which is covered with the net.

[0015] The first, second and third posts 12, 14 and 16 are substantially identical and for this reason only the first post is further described hereinafter.

[0016] The first post 12 has an outer surface 22 and includes a central support 24 (see Figure 4) and a plurality of tubular members 26 which are mounted to the central support for rotatable movement about the support. Each tubular member has a cover 28 of resiliently deformable material. It should be noted that each post can include only one or two tubular members if required. The number of tubular members is not an essential part of the invention and the example used should not be seen as limiting.

[0017] Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the tubular member 26 in greater detail. The tubular member has a first bearing 30 at a first end 32 and a second bearing 34 at an opposed second end 36. The cover 28 has a passage 40 which extends longitudinally therethrough and the tubular member is located inside the passage so that the cover extends between the first and second ends. The cover can be secured to the tubular member in any appropriate way such as by using glue or silicone to attach the cover to an outer surface 42 of the tubular member. Alternatively the passage can have an inner diameter 44 which is slightly less that an outer diameter 46 of the tubular member so that the tubular member is located inside the passage with a tight frictional fit. It is preferred that the cover is securely attached to the tubular member so that the likelihood of the cover rotating about the tubular member is reduced. [0018] The first and second bearings 30 and 34 are substantially conventional in construction and have an inner racer or sleeve 48 and an outer racer or sleeve 50 with a number of ball bearings 52 contained between the inner and outer sleeves using techniques known in the art. Each bearing is attached to the tubular member in a conventional way inside a passage 54 which extends longitudinally through the tubular member between the first and second ends 32 and 36. For example the tubular member can be crimped onto a respective bearing or use can be made of a cap, not shown, which can be clipped onto an end of the tubular member with a frictional fit or screwed onto the end using complementary screw thread formations respectively on the cap and on the tubular member. The invention is not limited in this regard.

[0019] The tubular members 26 are manufactured from materials which allow the tubular member to be relatively light in weight once fully assembled. Suitable plastics materials are used in the manufacture of the tubular member and bearings. The materials used in the manufacture of the cover 28 are selected from a plastics and a rubber and are chosen so that the cover, on the one hand, is not too soft and, on the other hand, is not too hard. A balance must therefore be struck between the firmness and the level of shock absorption of the chosen material.

[0020] In Figure 4 the tubular member 26 is mounted to the central support 24 so that the support extends through the passage 54. The inner sleeve 48 has an inner diameter 56 which is suitably chosen so that the central support extends through the inner sleeve with little lateral play. Each cover has an outer surface 58 which defines the outer surface 22 of the first post 12. [0021] Referring to Figure 5, a clip 62 is used to space a tubular member 26, once mounted to the central support 24, from an adjacent tubular member. The clip has a securing formation 64 at one end and a retaining formation 66 at an opposed end. The retaining formation has a first arm 68 and an opposed second arm 70 which are movable relative to each other. An access opening 72 allows the securing formation to be clipped onto the respective central support 24. The opening is defined at opposed sides by respective free ends 74 and 76 of the first and second arms. A cavity 78 is defined by the first and second arms. An upper shoulder 80 extends around an upper periphery 82 of the cavity and a lower shoulder 84 extends around a lower periphery 86. An inner wall 88 of the cavity extends substantially continuously from an upper end 90 of the upper shoulder to a lower end 92 of the lower shoulder so that the contact area between the clip 62 and the central support 24 is increased. Each shoulder is suitably dimensioned so that only the respective inner sleeve 48 of the respective adjacent bearing is contacted once the clip is engaged with the central support. This will increase the likelihood that the respective cover 28 will rotate substantially freely about the central support. The retaining formation 68 has an eyelet 94 which extends therethrough.

[0022] The clip 62 is manufactured from any suitable material such as a metal or a plastic. The clip should not be detachable too easily from the respective central support and the material used in the manufacture of the clip should be chosen in light of this requirement.

[0023] Figure 6 shows a variation 96 of the clip. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components. The access opening 72 is positioned at a position in the securing formation 64 so that the cavity 78 is accessible through the access opening from a side of the securing formation. The clip 96 is therefore hooked onto the central support 24 which reduces the likelihood of the clip being inadvertently detached from the central support. The first arm 68 can be strengthened by increasing the thickness of the arm so that a greater force is required to detach the clip from the central support.

[0024] In Figure 7 the components of the goal post assembly 10 are shown in an exploded configuration. The net 18 has been removed to simplify the drawing. The support structure 20 includes first and second ground plates 100 and 102, first and second side members 104 and 106, and upper and lower brace members 108 and 110 which extend between the first and second side members. A first comer member 112 is used to connect the first post 12 to the third post 16, and a second corner member 114 is used to connect the second post 14 to the third post. Techniques known in the art are used to secure the components of the support structure 20 to each other and to secure the first and second posts as well as the first and second corner members to the support structure.

[0025] In this example an arrangement 116 is used to connect the first side member 104 at one end to the first ground plate 100, and at an opposed end to the first corner member 112. The arrangement 116 is used to secure the upper and lower brace members 108 and 110 to the first and second side members 104 and 106 as well as the first and second side members to the respective ground plates 100 and 102 and to the respective corner members 112 and 114. For this reason only the connection between the first side member and the first ground plate is described hereinafter. The arrangement has a tongue formation 118 which is registrable with a slot formation 120. The tongue formation has a pin 122 which is movable relatively to the tongue and which is beatable inside a hole 124 once the tongue formation has been inserted into the slot formation. The pin prevents the tongue formation from being readily pulled from the slot formation without having first disengaged the pin from the hole typically by pushing the pin into the tongue formation.

[0026] The respective central supports 24 of the first, second and third posts 12, 14 and 16 are substantially identical and for this reason only the central support of the first post 12 is described in greater detail hereinafter. The central support has a first thread formation 126 at a first end 128 and a second thread formation 130 at an opposed second end 132. The first ground plate 100 and the first comer member 112 have a respective socket formation 134 which allows the first end 128 of the central support to be screwed into the ground plate and the second end 132 into the corner member. The second thread formation 130 is formed counter clockwise into the second end so that, as the first end is screwed into the first ground plate, the second end is screwed into the first corner member. The first post 12 has a slot 136 which extends therethrough and with which a tool 138 is engageable so that the first post can be rotated about the central support. Thus the tool is used to screw the first thread into the socket formation of the first ground plate and to screw the second thread formation into the socket formation of the first corner member. In a similar way the second post is secured at one end to the second ground plate 102 and at an opposed end to the second corner member 114, and opposing ends of the third post 16 are secured to respectively the first and second corner members. [0027] Once the first, second and third posts 12, 14 and 16 have been secured to each other in the manner described hereinbefore, the first and second side members 104 and 106, which have been connected to each other using the upper and lower brace members 108 and 110, are secured to the first and second ground plates 100 and 102 and to the first and second corner members 112 and 114.

[0028] The net 18 is thereafter used to cover the support structure 20. The first and second ground plates 100 and 102 have a plurality of hook formations 142 each of which is recessed into an upper surface 144 thereby reducing the likelihood of one of the hook formations injuring a player. Similarly an upper surface 146 of the lower brace member 110 has a plurality of recessed hooked formations 142. Referring to Figure 1 , a first side 150 of the net is secured using the hook formations to the first ground plate. In a similar fashion an opposed second side 152 of the net is secured to the second ground plate 102 and a first end 154 is secured to the lower brace 110.

[0029] An elastic member 156 is weaved through an opposed second end 158 of the net and is secured at opposed ends to the first ground plate and to the second ground plate respectively. Each end of the elastic member has an eyelet 162 which is engageable with a respective hook formation 164 of the first and second ground plates.

The second end 158 of the net is secured to the first, second and third posts 12, 14 and

16 by threading the elastic member 156 through the respective eyelets 94 of each clip 62. The net is now secured to the first, second and third posts, the first and second ground plates, and the lower brace member. [0030] A plurality of spikes 166 project from a respective underside 168 of the first and second ground plates which are pushed into the ground, not shown, of a playing field on which the goal post assembly 10 is used. The spikes increase the stability of the goal post assembly and prevent, at least to some extent, the goal post assembly from being readily moved by a player, for example when a player bumps into the goal post assembly.

[0031] In use the respective tubular members 26 of the first, second and third posts 12, 14 and 16 rotate substantially freely about the respective central supports 24. When a force is applied at an oblique angle to the outer surface 22 of the respective post, the respective tubular member to which force is being applied will be caused to rotate about the respective central support. Thus part of the energy of the force will be used to rotate the respective tubular member and as a result some of the energy of the force will be dissipated.

[0032] Figure 8 shows a variation 10A of the goal post assembly. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components. The elastic member 156 is replaced with first, second and third strut members 170, 172 and 174 which respectively extend between the first ground plate 100 and the first side member 104, the first side member and the second side member 106, and the second side member and the second ground plate 102. The strut members are secured substantially in the same way to the support structure 20 and for this reason only the connection of the first strut member 170 is described in greater detail hereinafter. [0033] The hook 164 of the first ground plate 100 is replaced with a slot formation 176 to which a first end 178 of the strut member 170 is secured. The first side member 104 has a second slot arrangement 180 to which an opposed second end 182 is secured. Techniques known in the art are used to retain the respective ends of the first strut member inside the respective first and second slot arrangements. For example, each end of the strut member has a depressible pin, not shown, which is registrable with a respective hole formed through a side wall of the receptive slot arrangement. After the respective pin has been engaged with the respective hole, the strut member 170 is secured at one end to the ground plate and at an opposed end to the first side member. The strut members are weaved through the second end 158 of the net 18 before being engaged with the respective first and second slot arrangements. The need for the clips is therefore done away with so that adjacent tubular members 26 are in contact. However, it is preferred that the tubular members are rotatable as freely as possible about the respective central support 24. With this in mind, the respective inner sleeves 48 of the bearings 30 and 34 can be formed with a shoulder so that the respective covers 28 of adjacent tubular members 26 are spaced a predetermined distance from each other. This will reduce the likelihood of friction being generated between adjacent tubular members.

[0034] Similarly, the socket formation 134 can be suitably shaped so that the cover of the tubular member 26 immediately above the socket formation is spaced, for example from the first ground plate 100, by a predetermined distance thereby reducing the likelihood of the cover contacting the plate. [0035] Figure 9 shows a variation 1OB of the goal post assembly. Like reference numerals are used to designate like components. The first, second and third posts 12, 14 and 16 are secured to an existing goal box 186. The clip 96 (see Figure 6) has a slit 188 which extends through the section 190 of the clip which surrounds the eyelet 94 so that the section is divided into a first part 192 and a second part 194 which are movable relative to each other. The slit allows the clip to be secured to a section 196 of a frame 198 of the goal box 186 which extends around a mouth 200 of the goal box. The respective first ends 202 of the central support 24 of the first and second posts are engaged with a cap 204 which prevents the lowermost tubular member 26 from sliding off the respective central support. A respective lock arrangement, not shown, can be used to secure the first and second parts of each clip 96 to each other.

[0036] The rotation of the tubular members 26 is of particular importance in the invention. It is preferred that the tubular members can rotate as freely as possible about the respective central supports 24. The respective clip formations 62 therefore contain shoulder formations which space adjacent tubular members and the respective socket formations 134 are shaped to reduce possible contact between the tubular member or the cover with the respective ground plate or the respective comer member. When the clips are done away with, the bearings of adjacent tubular members should be spaced apart using any suitable technique known in the art such as by using a spacer which may be integrally formed with the respective inner sleeves of the bearings. In addition, making each tubular member as light as possible will decrease the amount of energy needed to cause the tubular member to rotate. [0037] The front posts of the goal post assembly are covered with a resiliently deformable material so that, if a player were to impact one of the posts, some of the energy with which the player impacts the post is absorbed by the resiliently deformable material. Additionally some of energy with which the player impacts the post is used to

> cause the tubular member which is impacted to be rotated so that part of the energy of the impact is consumed thereby. Thus the rotation of the impacted tubular member reduces the counterforce which the tubular member may exert on the player and as a result the possible injury which may be caused to the player. When a ball strikes one of the tubular members, some of the kinetic energy of the ball will be transferred to the

) tubular member which will in return cause the tubular member to rotate about the respective central support. This feature will increase the visual effect which the goal post assembly may have in that the spectators would be able to judge how hard the ball has contacted the tubular member by how quickly the tubular member is caused to spin after the ball has struck the tubular member. Additionally the outer surface of the

5 tubular member can contain an advertisement message or can contain a pattern of some sort so that it is easier for a spectator to visually determine the speed with which the tubular member rotates.