U.S. patent application number 09/494464 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for sports pole support assembly.
Invention is credited to Bertrand, Phillip M..
Application Number | 20020065153 09/494464 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23964586 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020065153 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertrand, Phillip M. |
May 30, 2002 |
Sports pole support assembly
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention a sports equipment
support assembly is provided comprising a joint including a first
hollow member; a second hollow member having a hollow extension of
greater cross section than the first support member whereby the
first support member fits within said extension and abuts said
second hollow member. In one embodiment fasteners hold the second
hollow member extension in place. In another embodiment the first
hollow member is a lower or bottom pole support member and the
second member is a top pole support member. In another embodiment
the lower or bottom pole member engages a base member to support
and maintain the assembly in an upright position. In another
embodiment the base member is hollow and includes a lug which the
lower or bottom pole engages in operative position. In another
embodiment one or more fasteners are located on the first hollow
member and or the second hollow member to support sports equipment
such as a net or basket ball goal. In another embodiment the second
hollow member includes at least one second fastener to receive a
sports equipment support. All of the materials are commercially
available at reasonable prices. Thus the assembly can be
manufactured quickly and inexpensively and sold with a reasonable
profit, inexpensively. A particular advantage is that the assembly
and disassembly process is simple and takes very little time.
Inventors: |
Bertrand, Phillip M.; (St.
Chareles, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Henry w. Cummings
3313 W. Adams St.
St. Charles
MO
63301
US
|
Family ID: |
23964586 |
Appl. No.: |
09/494464 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/492 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 61/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/492 |
International
Class: |
A63B 067/00; A63B
061/02 |
Claims
1. A sports equipment support assembly comprising: a joint
including a first hollow member; a second hollow member having a
hollow extension of greater cross section than the first hollow
support member whereby said first support member fits within said
extension and abuts said second hollow member.
2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein mechanical fasteners
hold said extension in place surrounding said first hollow
member.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first hollow
member is a lower pole support member and the second member is a
top pole support member.
4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first hollow
member is a bottom pole support member and the second member is a
top pole support member.
5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said bottom pole member
engages a base member to support and maintain the assembly in an
upright position.
6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said base member is
hollow and includes a lug which the bottom pole engages in
operative position.
7. An assembly according to claim 1 including fasteners located on
at least one of said first support member and said second support
member which support sports equipment in operative position.
8. An assembly according to claim 8 including at least one second
fastener located on at least one of said first support member and
said second support member which support sports equipment in
operative position.
9. An assembly according to claim 8 including at least one fastener
located on said first support member and at least one fastener
located on said second support member which support sports
equipment in operative position.
10. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said fasteners support
a sport s game net.
11. A sports equipment support assembly comprising: a pair of
laterally spaced joints, each joint including a first hollow
member; a second hollow member having a hollow extension of greater
cross section than the first hollow support member whereby said
first support member fits within said extension and abuts said
second hollow member.
12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein mechanical fasteners
hold both of said extensions in place surrounding said respective
first hollow members.
13. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein each of said first
hollow members is a lower pole support member and each of said
second members is a top pole support member.
14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein each of said first
hollow members is a bottom pole support member and each of said
second members is a top pole support member.
15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein each of said bottom
pole members engage a base member to support and maintain the
assembly in an upright position.
16. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein each of said base
member is hollow and includes a lug which the respective bottom
pole engages in operative position.
17. An assembly according to claim 11 including fasteners located
on at least one of said first support member and said second
support member which support sports equipment in operative
position.
18. An assembly according to claim 17 including at least one second
fastener located on at least one of said first support member and
said second support member which support sports equipment in
operative position.
19. An assembly according to claim 17 including at least one
fastener located on said first support member and at least one
fastener located on said second support member which support sports
equipment in operative position.
20. An assembly according to claim 19 wherein said fasteners
support a sports game net.
Description
I FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to pole assemblies for supporting
sports equipment, including, but not limited to volley ball nets,
tennis nets, basket ball goals, and sports training devices.
II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many sports equipment devices utilize telescoping support
members with openings in the support members and transverse
fasteners extending through the openings to support the device at a
selected height, which can be varied, depending on the location of
the openings and transverse fasteners. See for example U.S. Pat.
No. 4,022,471.
[0003] Another arrangement show in FIG. 1 utilizes a polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) joint 10 including hollow support members 12 and 14,
with tab stops 16 inside to hold the support members in place.
[0004] Another arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is a pipe coupling 20
where abutting hollow support members 22 and 24 are held in place
with a collar 26 and set screws 28 and 29 extending through
vertically spaced openings in the collar.
III SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One object of the invention is to provide a sports equipment
support assembly which can be manufactured quickly and
inexpensively, and sold inexpensively.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports
equipment support assembly which is simple in design and easy to
assemble.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports
equipment support assembly of high quality construction. which
rugged and durable.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports
equipment support assembly which is easy to install.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a sports
equipment support assembly which is easily disassembled for
storage.
[0011] B. SUMMARY
[0012] In accordance with the present invention a sports equipment
support assembly is provided comprising a joint including a first
hollow member; a second hollow member having a hollow extension of
greater cross section than the first support member whereby the
first support member fits within said extension and abuts said
second hollow member. In one embodiment fasteners hold the second
hollow member extension in place. In another embodiment the first
hollow member is a lower or bottom pole support member and the
second member is a top pole support member. In another embodiment
the lower or bottom pole member engages a base member to support
and maintain the assembly in an upright position. In another
embodiment the base member is hollow and includes a lug which the
lower or bottom pole engages in operative position. In another
embodiment one or more fasteners are located on the first hollow
member and or the second hollow member to support sports equipment
such as a net or basket ball goal. In another embodiment the second
hollow member includes at least one second fastener to receive a
net support. In another embodiment the second hollow member
includes a safety cap at the top.
IV THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical section view illustrating a
prior art fastening joint.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical section view illustrating
another prior art fastening joint.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a horizontal side elevation view of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the upper portion of FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 6.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrows
along the line 8-8 in FIG. 6 illustrating fastener location.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the present invention
illustrating its application to a volley ball game assembly.
V DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In accordance with the present invention a sports equipment
support assembly 30 is provided comprising a joint 32 including a
first hollow member 40 having a first cross section 41. A second
hollow member 50 has a hollow extension 52 of greater cross section
53 than the first support member cross section 41. Thus the first
support member includes a portion 42 which fits within the
extension 52 and abuts said second hollow member at 54. In one
embodiment fasteners 56 hold the extension in place on hollow
member 50 and surrounding hollow member 40, although welding could
also be used. When assembled, the extension 52 holds the first
hollow member portion 42 in place within the extension 52 and in
substantial abutting relationship with the end 55 of second hollow
member 50. In another embodiment the second hollow member includes
a safety cap 58 at the top.
[0023] In one embodiment the first hollow member 40 is a lower or
bottom pole support member and the second member 50 is a top pole
support member. In another embodiment the lower or bottom pole
member 40 engages a base member 60 to support and maintain the
assembly in an upright position. In one embodiment the base member
60 is hollow and includes a lug 62 which the lower or bottom pole
40 engages in operative position.
[0024] In another embodiment fastening means 70 including one
fastener 72 or more fasteners 74 are located on the first hollow
member 40 and/or the second hollow member 50 to support sports
equipment such as a net or basket ball goal. In another embodiment
the fasteners 72, 74 receive a chord C to support a net N. In
another embodiment the fasteners support a basket ball bank board
with a goal (not shown).
[0025] As an example, hollow members 40 and 50 may be made of
pre-anodized schedule 40 aluminum pipe, (6063-T6). Hollow extension
member 52 may be made of pre-anodized schedule 80 aluminum pipe,
(6063-T6). Fasteners 56 may be stainless steel rivets. Fasteners 72
and 74 may be stainless steel rivets with eyebolts.
[0026] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment directed to volley ball including
the ball B, the net chord C and the net N.
[0027] The bases 60 are first located in formed openings 90
including surrounding cement 92 and gravel 94 in the ground G. Then
the lower members 40 are placed within bases 60 with end 45 located
on lug 62. Hollow members 50 are then installed with extensions 52
located surrounding lower member portion 42. If not already in
place caps 58 are then installed. The chord C is then connected to
eyelets in fasteners 72 and 74. It will be apparent that this
assembly process takes very little time, assuming that the openings
90 are already formed in ground G.
[0028] To disassemble the reverse process is used with the net
chord C removed from eyelets in fasteners 72, 74, and the net is
stored. Upper members 50 are moved vertically to remove them from
lower members 40, with extensions 52 moving vertically relative to
member portions 42. Lower members 40 are then removed vertically
from bases 60. Bases 60 may or may not be removed from openings 90
depending on wether or not the bases are part of the ground
installation. This again takes very little time. It makes the
assembly of the present invention very portable.
[0029] For other sports applications fasteners 70 may comprise a
wide variety of fastener applications depending on the equipment to
be supported such as flanges with bolts, nuts, etc. The specific
materials described above are given as examples only. Other
materials may be used including other metallic material and high
strength plastic. All of the materials are commercially available
at reasonable prices. Thus the assembly can be manufactured quickly
and inexpensively and sold with a reasonable profit,
inexpensively.
VII What is claimed is:
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