Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-29
2004-01-06
Chiu, Raleigh W. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof
C473S471000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06672980
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable goals, and more particularly to a portable sports goal for practicing or playing sports such as hockey or soccer having a frame that can be erected and broken down in seconds, requires no further assembly of component parts, and folds both horizontally and vertically for easy storage or transportation in a carrying case or bag.
2. Preliminary Discussion
As originally conceived, games such as hockey and soccer involving the use of a goal are played or practiced on a rather large rink or playing field. However, slightly alternate versions of such games, usually played by children, are also popular wherein any generally flat surface such as a playground, field, driveway, or street can be used as a playing surface. While professional or league players are usually not responsible for setting up and maintaining the field or equipment, less organized groups must transport all of their own equipment, including one or more goal frames or structures, to and from the playing areas. This equipment also must be stored when not in use. While most sports equipment, such as a hockey stick or soccer ball, is relatively small or light that it is easy to transport, in general regulation sized hockey and soccer goals are typically considered too large, bulky, awkward or too heavy to routinely set up and break down and store, even if they do not have to be transported a substantial distance, and therefore are rarely used.
As a result, numerous portable sports goals having a relatively light frame structure which can be fairly quickly set up and then broken down or collapsed have been developed. Typically, known portable sports goals, examples of which are provided below, are comprised of a plurality of tubular plastic or metal pieces that must be assembled and disassembled into the shape of a goal frame, to which a net is then connected. Once assembled, which typically may require the use of at least one or more tools, it is often inconvenient or difficult to disassemble the goal after one use, particularly if it is envisioned that the goal will be used again shortly wherein reassembly will be required. On the other hand, assembled goals are bulky and therefore require a significant amount of space in a garage or the like, which space is usually at a premium.
Portable goals must also have a frame that is structurally strong enough to withstand impacts incurred during regular use. Such impacts may include direct impacts from the body of a ball player running into the goal, or the force from a ball or puck propelled at the goal at high speeds. The need for a lightweight goal that is portable and easy to set up and break down must therefore be balanced against the need for a goal having sufficient structural integrity to withstand regular impacts without breaking or collapsing.
3. Description of the Related Art
As indicated above, numerous portable goals that are relatively lightweight and are foldable in some manner are known in the prior art. However, each of such goals has one or more drawbacks, such as being foldable in only a horizontal or vertical plane rather than both, requiring assembly and disassembly of component parts, or being relatively fragile or unstable and therefore unable to withstand impacts sustained over a period of regular use.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,478 issued to C. F. Kruse on Oct. 27, 1987, entitled “Collapsible Goal Frame,” discloses a goal having a frame structure comprised of a plurality of connectable telescoping members, some having an elastic cord threaded therein to hold the members together, and wherein the lower members are weighted to give the frame added stability. To collapse the frame, the telescoping members are retracted. However, the Kruse goal does not appear to be collapsible in both a horizontal and vertical plane as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,299 issued to T. C. Carey on Sep. 21, 1993, entitled “Street Hockey Apparatus,” discloses a street hockey practice goal having a tubular frame and a slanting floor panel so that a ball entering the goal will tend to roll back towards the player. The frame is essentially comprised of three U-shaped members secured together via elbow joints, which frame is not collapsible or foldable as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,381 issued to A. G. Macaluso et al. on Jun. 27, 1995, entitled “Sports Net,” discloses a sports net having a frame comprised of an elastic material such as springwire having a memory so that the frame automatically tends to move to an open position unless constrained by a plurality of straps. The Macaluso frame can also be folded into a plurality of concentric rings so that it is generally flat, but is not foldable in the same manner as in the present invention. In addition, the Macaluso goal does not have the appearance of an ordinary soccer or hockey goal, and therefore may be less desirable to some players if used with such sports.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,040 issued to J. D. Amburgey et al. on Mar. 5, 1996, entitled “Foldable Soccer and Hockey Goal and Equipment Set,” discloses a goal comprised of two right triangular side supports hingedly secured to a forwardly inclined middle section. The side supports can be folded on such hinges so that they are flat against the middle section when the goal is not in use, and in addition can be filled with sand or water to give the goal increased stability. The Amburgey goal frame is only foldable in a vertical plane and not horizontally so that it cannot be stored as compactly as the present goal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,733 issued to R. J. Dirnbeck on Jul. 9, 1996, entitled “Sports Goal,” discloses a foldable sports goal comprised of two U-shaped frames, preferably made from PVC pipe, which are held in an erect position by a removable dogleg brace. The U-shaped frames are connected at their open ends via a pivot brace so that the frame can be quickly converted between a folded and unfolded position. However, the Dirnbeck goal also is only foldable in a vertical plane, and in addition the dogleg brace must be connected and removed to the goal each time the goal is assembled or disassembled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,957 issued to T. W. Schmidt on Jul. 30, 1996, entitled “Collapsible Goal Having An Articulated Frame,” discloses a collapsible sports goal frame wherein the tubular members comprising the frame are hinged and lockable. The Schmidt goal is collapsible both vertically and horizontally. However, Schmidt does not teach the use of slidable side or rear stabilizing members as in the present invention, which members significantly increase the overall structural integrity of the present inventor's goal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,939 issued to A. Pui et al. on Dec. 1, 1998, entitled “Portable Sporting Goal Framework and Net,” discloses a portable sports goal frame wherein the goal frame is comprised of a main frame and a pair of dogleg type rear supports. The main frame is comprised of a plurality of interconnecting components, all of which are connected by an elastic cord running within the tubular frame structure, promoting proper mating of the components during assembly. The net is preferably attached to the framework via hook-and-loop type fasteners secured directly to the outer surface of the frame. Pui et al. also uses a unique twist and grip mechanism to connect the various components. However, such invention still requires assembly and disassembly of the components to convert the frame between a collapsed and erect configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,928 issued to T. E. Stewart on Jan. 12, 1999, entitled “Portable Soccer Practice Goal Net,” discloses a soccer goal frame having piston-like members embedded in the frame so that the frame will tend to better absorb an accidental impact from a player or the like, with the intent being to provide a goal that decreases the possibility of a player injury caused by running into the goal. The component parts of such goal still have to be assembled and disassembled, however, so that it take
Chambers M.
Chiu Raleigh W.
Wilkinson Charles A.
Wilkinson Clinton H.
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