Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Means for dividing field or court into compartments; element...
Patent
1998-10-22
2000-11-07
Harrison, Jessica J.
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Means for dividing field or court into compartments; element...
473491, 473477, 248 743, A63B 6100, F16L 308
Patent
active
061428922
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a connector and in particular to a net fixing device for goalposts and other structures used in games.
There are major safety problems with goalposts used in football, hurling, hockey, soccer and other ball games in that in many instances nets have been attached to the posts by the use of metal hooks or some other form of permanent fixtures. Injuries to players have been commonplace on coming into contact with such fixing devices. Because of the increased emphasis on safety, the ruling authorities in many games have banned many of these fixing devices.
Various net fixing devices are known. For example, French Patent Application No. 2707507 discloses goalposts and a cross-bar which are made from an aluminium section having a groove of predetermined depth which allows the introduction of an aluminium T-piece for fixing the netting on the posts and the bar with concealed hooks. Unfortunately such a device is extremely expensive to make as, it requires extremely expensive posts and cross-members and generally is not very efficient in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,266 discloses a net fastener device for securing a net to a soccer goal frame. Essentially a plurality of spaced-apart clips and hangers are provided around an edge of the net, the clips and hangers being engagable in associated channels or tracks fixed along a rear face of the goal upright and the crossbar respectively.
European Patent Publication No. 502279 discloses another construction of post which are made in light metal and oval in section provided with internal stiffening members. A central groove on one wall of the post holds a nut into which a threaded rod is put to secure a hook to fix the net to the hook. Unfortunately such a hook provides a hazard for the players. Other proposals, for example, have been the use of VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) Straps as disclosed for example in PCT patent publication no. WO95/00214. Undoubtedly VELCRO Straps superficially appears to be a good way to provide such fixing since VELCRO is easily removed and refitted. Unfortunately, as everybody is aware, nets are not stored in perfect conditions, nets get contaminated and dirty and the VELCRO quickly loses its effectiveness.
There is indeed a need to provide a more efficient way of fixing nets to goalposts which obviates the need of tapes, wire wraps, straps, cord, etc. It is vital that any such fixing device should not alone be easy to use, but should be easily removed, because if not they will be torn off by those taking the nets down at the end of a match.
Essentially what is required is a safe, simple, time-saving, durable and economic net fixture. Such a safe fixture must ensure that there are no sharp projections to catch clothing or body and that all external surfaces and edges are smooth. Secondly, it must be simple in that any complicated attachments or complicated pieces of equipment of their nature are difficult to use. It must be time-saving in that the attachment and the removal of the net must be simple and easy. The devices must be durable because if not, they are of little use and they must be both weatherproof and vandal-proof. Finally, the components of the particular device must be capable of mass production and be maintenance-free so that they can be cheaply and easily produced and will last sufficient time to make the purchase economic.
According to the invention there is provided a net fixing device for goalposts and other structures used in games comprising a male member and a cooperating female member, one member for permanent fixing to the goalpost and the other for fixing to the net. Preferably, the female member is for fixing to the goalpost and the male member is for fixing to the net.
Such a device overcomes the major problems of all heretofore known net fixing devices in that what is provided are two easily cooperating pieces of equipment that can be engaged and disengaged relatively easily.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the male member and the female member are interengagable to form a ball and soc
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Collins Dolores R.
Harrison Jessica J.
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