Foldable Goal Structure

Abstract

A foldable hockey goal having top front and rear bars joined by a pair of side bars to a bottom rear bar, with foldable joints between the top rear bar and the side bars, and between the bottom rear bar and the side bars. In one embodiment the top rear bar swings down, the bottom rear bar swings up, and the side bars telescope to fold the goal. In another embodiment, the side bars are hinged at their middles and fold or buckle inwardly to collapse the top bars down onto the bottom bar. In all cases the net, which is attached to the top front, side, and bottom rear bars, can be left in place during folding. A generally vertical central support member extends between the centers of the upper and lower rear members to improve the rigidity.

Description

This invention relates generally to a foldable goal structure, and more particularly to a foldable goal structure of the type suitable for use as a hockey goal.

Hockey goals of the type which are portable and which can be used by children have become popular because of their portability and because they are relatively inexpensive and easily stored. However, a major problem with such goals in the past was that the net had to be attached to the goal frame each time the goal was assembled and detached each time it was collapsed. The time required for this operation has been greatly reduced by threading the net onto the goal frame, as shown in my Canadian Pat. No. 773,958 issued Dec. 19, 1967 for "Collapsible Goal Structure". However, once such a goal is assembled, it is often desired to leave it assembled for substantial periods of time, during periods when it is in frequent use, and this requires storage of the goal in its erected condition. Since the goal is quite bulky, such storage can present difficulty where storage space is limited.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a foldable goal structure which can be folded when not in use, to occupy a reduced space, without any portion of the net being detached during the folding operation. In the preferred embodiments to be described, the goal structure can be folded to a sufficiently small size that it can also be packaged and sold in folded condition, with the net fully attached thereto. Thus, when a customer purchases the goal, he can simply unfold it and use it, without being required to attach the net to the goal frame.

According to the invention, folding joints are provided between the top rear member of the goal frame and the side members of the goal frame, and between the bottom rear member and the side members of the goal frame. In one embodiment of the invention, the top and bottom rear members of the frame fold toward each other to reduce the front to rear dimension of the goal, and preferably the side members telescope to reduce the height of the goal. In another embodiment of the invention, the side members fold inwardly towards each other at their centers, at the same time folding relative to the top and bottom members of the goal, so that the top members of the goal collapse downwardly to overlie the bottom member of the goal.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a goal structure according to the invention, in the erect condition;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view along lines 1--1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view showing the FIG. 1 goal structure (without the net) in a partially collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the FIG. 1 goal structure in the partially collapsed condition of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the goal structure of FIG. 1 in a more fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a button assembly used in the vertical side members of the FIG. 1 goal structure.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along lines 7--7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is a front view of a goal frame in folded condition, the frame being modified from that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an upper corner of the FIG. 7A goal;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along lines 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9A is a sectional view showing a modification of the FIG. 9 arrangement;

FIG. 10 is a view partly in section showing a central support member for the FIG. 7A goal;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, in the erect condition;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in a partially collapsed condition;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the FIG. 11 in a fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a joint used in the vertical side members of the FIG. 11 goal structure, the joint being in the unfolded condition;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the flexible joint of FIG. 14, the joint being in a partially folded condition;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a joint between the top front and rear frame members and one of the vertical side members of the FIG. 11 goal structure, the goal being in an erect condition;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the joint shown in FIG. 16, the goal being in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view along lines 18--18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view along lines 19--19 of FIG. 11, and

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a alternative joint for the FIG. 1 goal.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which shows a simple hockey goal 20 according to the invention. The goal 20 includes a number of metal tubular members assembled together to form a frame 22, with a net 24 attached to the frame in a manner to be described.

The frame 22 consists of an upper front horizontal member 26, an upper rear horizontal member 28, a pair of side vertical members 30, and a lower rear horizontal member 32. A generally vertical central support member 34 extends between the centers of the upper and lower rear members 28, 32 to improve the rigidity of the frame. All of the frame members are typically of tubular aluminum.

The side members 30 of the frame each have a lower portion 36 and an upper portion 38 which telescopes over the lower portion 36. Telescoping of each side member is normally prevented by a button 40 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which projects through apertures 42,44 in the lower and upper portions of each side member 30. The button 40 has at its rear a pin 46 fitted into an aperture in one leg 48 of a U-shaped spring 50. The other leg 51 of the spring 50 is fastened to the lower side member portion 36, so that the spring urges the button 40 into the apertures 42, 44 to prevent telescoping of the side members until the buttons 40 are pushed in.

Each side member 30 has at its top a short inwardly projecting horizontal portion 52. The horizontal front top member 26 of the goal frame is telescopically fitted into the side members 30 at the inwardly projecting portions 52. In addition, the inwardly projecting portions 52 of the side members are connected to the top rear frame member 28, at joints 54.

At each joint 54, the forward end of the top rear frame member 28 is flattened into a slightly hooked member 56, curved to fit snugly over its associated inwardly projecting frame portion 52. A bolt 58 extends downwardly through the hooked member 56 and the frame portion 52 and is held by a wingnut 60. The frame portion 52 includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots 62, each of slightly more than 90.degree., which allow the upper rear frame member 28 to be swung downwardly through an angle of approximately 90.degree. relative to the side frame members 30 (FIG. 1A).

The bolt 58 also passes through diametrically opposed holes 63 in the ends of the upper front frame member 26 (FIG. 1A). Since the holes 63 accommodate the bolt 58 relatively snugly, the top front bar 26 rotates within the inwardly projecting portions 52 of the side members whenever the top rear frame member 28 is folded up or down.

The lower ends of the side members 30 are connected to the forward ends of the lower rear frame member 32 by bolts 64 and wingnuts 66. The forward ends of the lower rear frame member 32 are flattened as shown at 68 so that when the wingnuts 66 are loosened, the lower rear frame member 32 can be swung upwardly relative to the side members 30.

To increase the rigidity of the frame 22, a pair of bracing rods 70 may be provided at the joints between the side members 30 and the lower rear frame member 32. The bracing rods 70 are permanently pivotally connected by bolts 72 to the outside surface of the lower rear frame member 32, at positions spaced rearwardly of the side members 30. The rods 70 run diagonally forwardly and upwardly and have inwardly hooked ends 74 which fit snugly into apertures 76 near the bottom of the side members 30. The rods 70 are slightly flexible so that the hooked ends 74 can be withdrawn from the apertures 76 before the goal frame is folded.

The central support member 34 consists of upper and lower parts 78, 80 which are connected respectively to the upper and lower rear frame members 28,32 by bolts and wingnuts 82, 83, 84, 85. The upper part 78 of the support member 34 fits into a semisleeve portion 86 of the lower part 80 and is held in place therein by a bolt and wingnut 88, 90.

When it is desired to fold the goal shown in FIG. 1, the wingnuts and bolts 83, 85 at the ends of the central support member 34 are loosened, and the top and bottom parts of the central support member are disconnected by removing the wingnut 90 from the bolt 88. The upper part 78 of the central support member is then rocked forwardly, and the lower part 80 is locked rearwardly, to disconnect the two, and the upper and lower parts 78, 80 may then be rotated to the side as shown in FIG. 2. With the vertical support member 34 disconnected, the side members 30 may next be telescoped by withdrawing the ends of the bracing rods 70 from the holes 76 in the side members and then by pressing the buttons 40 in the side members. The side members are then telescoped until the bottoms of their top parts 38 rest on the top of the lower rear frame member 32, as shown in FIG. 2. The top and bottom wingnuts 60, 66 are then loosened, and the upper rear frame member 28 is swung downwardly and the lower rear frame member 32 is swung upwardly, past the position shown in FIG. 4, to a position in which the side members 30, and the upper front and rear bars 26, 28, all lie in the same plane, and the lower rear bar 32 lies almost in that plane.

To permit such compact folding, the lower rear frame member 32 is set within the side members 30. In addition, since the sides of the lower rear frame member 32 curve inwardly as they extend rearwardly, the bracing rods 70 and bolts 72, where they are attached to the lower rear frame member 32, are located inwardly of the inner surfaces of the side members 30 (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the lower rear frame member 32 can be swung upwardly almost into the plane of the side members 30, once the rods 70 are swung rearwardly. The upper rear frame member 28 is of lesser extent from side to side and from front to rear than is the lower rear frame member 32, so that the points where the two folded members interfere is well towards the rear of the lower rear frame member, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7A. (Typical dimensions for the FIG. 7A goal are listed in Table I at the end of this description.)

In FIG. 7A, the top part 38 of the side members has been made integral with the upper front member 26, and telescopes into the lower part of the side members. This is also shown in FIG. 8. This arrangement eliminates the double layer of tubing caused by the telescopic connection at joint 54. To avoid weakening of the single layer of tubing remaining, the slots 62 have been eliminated and replaced by a straight bolt hole 97 (FIG. 9). However, the hooked ends 56 of upper rear member 28 are extended so that their ends extend at least 90.degree. past the bolts 58, and slots 98 are formed in the hooked ends 56 to allow downward swinging of the upper rear bar 28 through 90.degree. (and also to allow slight upward swinging of the upper rear bar). The slots 98 do not seriously weaken the hooked ends 56, because these ends are formed from a double layer of metal.

Instead of the hooked ends 56, a complete bushing can be formed at the forward ends of the upper rear bar 26, as shown at 99 in FIG. 9A. The bolt 58 can then be replaced by a self-tapping screw 99a which penetrates only the upper surface of the tubing, since it acts merely as a stop. This arrangement enables smoother rotation of the top rear bar but is of course more difficult to manufacture.

In the FIG. 7A embodiment the connection between the parts of the central support member 34 has been replaced by the simplified arrangement shown in FIG. 10. In the FIG. 10 arrangement, the upper and lower parts 78, 80 are tubing of the same size, but the lower part 80 is squeezed or swedged so that it telescopes into the upper part 78 (the extend of the overlap is typically 11/2 inches). The two parts are held together by a spring loaded button 92 mounted in the lower part 80, exactly like the buttons 40 previously described. The upper and lower parts 78, 80 are permanently attached to their respective rear bars by nuts and bolts 94, 96. To disengage the parts 78, 80, the button 92 is depressed and the upper part 78 is pulled upwardly. There is sufficient slack in the joints 54 so that the top rear bar will pivot slightly upwardly when this is done, so that the upper part 78 is lifted by the 11/2 inches needed to disengage it from the lower part 80. This arrangement holds the upper rear bar 28 against upward or downward movement when the button 92 engages the parts 78, 80, and yet when the parts are disengaged, there is no bolt and wingnut to become lost.

It is found that when the upper side member portions 38 and the upper front bar 26 are integral, the goal is sufficiently rigid that the bracing rods 70 can usually be dispensed with. Further, the bolts used in the various joints can all be fitted with nuts adjusted to the desired thickness and the wingbolts eliminated, so that there are no bolts to tighten or loosen when folding and unfolding the frame. When the frame is then erected, there will be very little side-to-side sway, and some front to back sway which can be controlled depending on the tolerances and tightness of the bolts and which is not normally objectionable.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 11 to 19 which show another embodiment of the invention. In the FIGS. 11 to 19 embodiment, the erected goal has an appearance similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, and primed references numerals indicate parts corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 to 6. However, in the FIGS. 11 to 19 embodiment the side members 30' and the central support member 34' have central joints 100, 102 respectively which permit collapse of these members as shown in FIG. 12 so that the top frame members of the goal move downwardly to overlie the bottom rear frame member of the goal, as shown in FIG. 13. Each of the joints 100, 102 is identical and therefore only one of the joints 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

At the joint 100, the tubular members 36', 38' normally abut end to end when the joint is unfolded. The members 36', 38' are held together by a pair of diametrically opposed connecting plates 104, the plates 104 being pivotally connected to members 36', 38' by bolts 106 and nuts 107. The plates 104 are spaced slightly outwardly from members 36', 38' by washers (not shown) inserted over the bolts 106 between plates 104 and members 36', 38'. The connection allows pivoting of members 36', 38' from the extended position shown in FIG. 14 through the partly folded position shown in FIG. 15 to a position in which members 36', 38' are parallel with each other.

To lock the members 36', 38' in extended position, a sleeve 108 is provided, sliding on the upper member 38'. The sleeve 108 includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots 110 to accommodate the previously mentioned washers. When the joint 100 is to be locked in unfolded position, the sleeve 108 is slid downwardly until the upper ends of the slots 110 engage the washers over the upper bolts 106, and this prevents further downward movement of the sleeve 108. The sleeve 108 at this time overlies both the members 36', 38' to prevent folding of the joint 100.

Each side member 30' has at its top a horizontal rearwardly projecting portion 112 (FIGS. 11, 16, 17) which is connected to the upper front and rear frame members 26', 28' so as to allow inward folding of the top parts 38' of the side members 30' in the manner shown in FIG. 12. The joints between the tops of the side members and the top frame members 26', 28' are generally indicated at 114. Both joints 114 are the same, and one of the joints 114 is shown unfolded in FIG. 16 and folded in FIG. 17.

At the joint 114, the forward end of the upper rear frame member 28' is telescopically fitted into the rearwardly projecting portion 112 of the side member 30'. In addition, the ends of the upper front frame member 26' are flattened and curved at 116 to fit snugly over the tops of the rearwardly projecting portions 112 of the frame side members 30' (in the manner shown for joints 54 of FIG. 1). A bolt 118 passes through the end 116 of the upper front frame member 26' and through rearwardly projecting portion 112 and through the end of upper rear frame member 28', to hold these three members together. The bolt is held in position by a nut 120.

The upper side member part 38' is allowed to pivot inwardly by a slot 122 extending slightly more than 270.degree. around the circumference of rearwardly projecting portion 112. The slot is best shown in FIG. 16. The nut 120 is normally tightened to a degree sufficient to hold the parts snugly together, but to allow pivoting of the upper portion 38' of the side member when the joint 100 in the middle of the side member in question is loosened.

The bottoms of the side members 30' have rearwardly extending portions 124 into which the forward ends of the lower rear frame member 32' are telescoped. Bolts 126 are provided to hold the parts together. Inward pivoting of the lower portions 36' of the side members relative to the lower rear frame member 32' is permitted by a pair of slots 128 (FIG. 9) each of which extends around slightly more than 90.degree. of the circumference of rearwardly projecting portion 124 of the side frame members.

When it is desired to fold the goal shown in FIG. 11, the collars 108 at each of the joints 100, 102 are raised and the side frame members 30' are folded inwardly towards each other as shown in FIG. 12. At the same time, the central support member 34' is folded to one side of the goal as also shown in FIG. 12. The bolts at the top joints 114, and also the bolts 126 at the bottom of the goal, and the bolts 82' 84' at the top and bottom of the central support member 34', need not be loosened since they are normally adjusted during manufacture of a goal to a condition such that the goal can be folded and yet such that when the goal is erected, it will be sufficiently stable. As the members 30', 34' are folded, the upper frame members of the goal descend until they overlie the lower rear frame member 32', as shown in FIG. 13. The procedure is of course reversed to erect the goal.

During manufacture of the goal shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the net is preferably connected by threading it onto the upper front frame member 26, then assembling the frame member 26 with the side members 30 and the rear member 32, and then threading the net down over these members and lacing it to the lower rear frame member 32. The bracing rods 70 may be installed after this has been done, or before, since they are relatively short and will not interfere substantially with the threading of the net. After this has been completed, the upper rear frame member 28 and the central vertical support member 34 are installed. A similar procedure may be followed for the goal of FIGS. 11 to 19. Once assembled, the goal is then folded in the manner described and packaged for sale.

When the net is assembled to a goal of the types shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, a piece of tape 150 (FIG. 8) can be applied to each lower portion 36 of the side members, near the bottom thereof. The tape secures one or more strands of the net 24 to the lower parts of the lower portions 36 of the side members. This does not interfere with the folding of the goal, and it has the advantage that when the side members 30 are telescoped, the net cannot drop down into the joints at the bottoms of the side members to interfere with upward folding of the rear bottom member 32.

FIG. 20 shows an alternative joint between the upper rear bar 28 and the side members 30 for goals of the types shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. In the FIG. 20 arrangement, a U-shaped bracket 152 is secured to each forward end of the upper rear member 28 by a rivet 154. The forward end of the sleeve 152 is crimped over the forward end of member 28 as shown at 156, for added security. The sleeve 152 has two forwardly projecting arms 158 which extend one on each side of the side member 30 and are secured to the side member by a pin 160 which acts as a pivot. The rear member 28 can thus be folded as indicated by arrow 162. Enough clearance is provided in the joint so that the rear member 28 can be swung upwardly from its erected condition sufficiently to disengage the central support member 34, as before. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE I

size Dimension (inches) A (width of goal from side to side) 56 B (height of upper portion of side members) 23 C (height of lower portion of side members) 221/2 D (FIG. 2) (height of goal when erected) 431/2 E (depth of bottom rear bar, front to back) 22 F (depth of top rear bar, front to back) 17 G (front to rear distance from front of bottom rear bar to point of overlap of front and rear bars when goal is folded) 15 H (length of top part of side members) 23/4 I (length of top part of central support member) 221/2 J (length of bottom part of central support member) 211/2 K (tubing diameter) 1 __________________________________________________________________________

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A folding goal structure having a frame, and a net connected to said frame, said frame comprising:

a. a pair of generally upright front side members,

b. a lower horizontal rear member extending between said side members and also extending rearwardly therefrom,

c. a pair of first joints, one for each side member, each first joint connecting the bottom of its associated side member with an end of said lower rear member to permit folding of its associated side member and said lower rear member relative to each other,

d. an upper horizontal front member extending between said side members at the front of said frame, and an upper rear horizontal member extending rearwardly of said upper front member,

e. a pair of second joints, one for each side member, each second joint connecting the top of its associated side member with an end of said upper rear horizontal member to permit folding of its associated side member and said upper rear horizontal member relative to each other so that when said first and second joints are folded, said upper and lower rear horizontal members lie substantially parallel to each other,

f. a substantially vertical central support member having a top portion and a bottom portion,

g. locking means including means for connecting said top and bottom portions rigidly together and being disengageable to permit folding of said top and bottom portions, a third joint connecting the top of said top portion to said upper rear member and a fourth joint connecting the bottom of said bottom portion to said lower rear member to permit folding of said top portion relative to said upper rear member and of said bottom portion relative to said lower rear member when said means for rigidly connecting said top and bottom portions are disengaged,

h. substantially the entire periphery of said net being fastened to said upper front, lower rear and side members.

2. A goal structure according to claim 1 wherein said first and second joints permit folding of said upper rear and lower rear members toward each other relative to said side members, said upper rear member thus being foldable downwardly and said lower rear member being foldable upwardly.

3. A goal structure according to claim 1 wherein said third and fourth joints permit folding of said top and bottom portions in a side to side direction.

4. A goal structure according to claim 3 wherein each of said side members includes at its top a short inwardly extending horizontal portion, said upper rear member being connected by said second joints to said short horizontal portions, said upper front member being connected to said short horizontal portions of said side members.

5. A goal structure according to claim 4 wherein said upper rear member is of lesser side to side and front to rear extent than said lower rear member,

6. A goal structure according to claim 4 wherein each of said side members includes a pair of tubular members telescopically fitted together, and member locking means for retaining said tubular members in extended position.

7. A goal structure according to claim 6 wherein said locking means includes a pair of bracing members, and means for connecting each said bracing member diagonally between a side member adjacent the bottom thereof and said lower rear member adjacent the front thereof, each said bracing member being pivotally connected to one of its associated side member and said lower rear member and having means for detachably connecting it to the other of its associated side member and said lower rear member.

8. A goal structure according to claim 7 wherein each said bracing member is pivotally connected to said lower rear member and includes an inwardly directed end, and said side members include apertures therein adapted snugly to receive said inwardly directed ends.

9. A goal structure according to claim 8 wherein each of said upper and lower rear members is formed generally in the shape of a W, with the outer arms of said W slanting rearwardly inwardly from said side members when said goal is erected, the connection of said bracing members to said lower rear member being at the outer surfaces of said outer arms, the inward slant of said outer arms being such that the ends of said bracing members connected to said outer arms are located inwardly of said side members, so that when said lower rear member is folded upwardly, said bracing members will clear said side members, permitting said lower rear member to be folded flat between said side members.

10. A goal structure according to claim 4 wherein said upper front member is integrally connected to said short horizontal portions of said side members, and said upper rear member has curved forward ends each formed of a double metal layer and each curving over its associated short horizontal portion and extending at least 90.degree. past the top of such short horizontal portion, each said curved end having a longitudinal slot therein, each of said second joints comprising bolt means extending through a said slot and through a said short horizontal portion to releasably clamp said curved ends to said short horizontal portions.

11. A goal structure according to claim 4 wherein said top and bottom portions of said central support member are telescopically fitted together when said frame is erected, said first and second joints permitting swinging of said upper and lower rear members apart relative to each other sufficiently to disengage said top and bottom telescoped portions of said central support member when said connecting means for said top and bottom portions is disengaged.

12. A goal structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said side members includes an upper part and a lower part and a fifth joint connecting said upper and lower parts, said first, second and fifth joints permitting inward folding of the upper and lower parts of each side member towards the upper and lower parts of the other side member as well as towards each other to a position in which said side member parts are substantially entirely folded, thus to collapse said upper front and rear members downwardly to overlie said lower rear member, said locking means including means operable to maintain said fifth joints in unfolded position to lock said side member parts in erected condition.

13. A goal structure according to claim 12 wherein said top and bottom parts of said side members are tubular and said fifth joints each include a pair of opposed connecting members connecting said top and bottom parts for movement between an extended position in which said top and bottom parts substantially abut in end to end relation, and a folded position in which said top part overlies said bottom part, said means operable to maintain said fifth joints in unfolded condition including a pair of sleeves one slidable over each of said fifth joints to prevent folding thereof.