Goal securement system and method

• US 10,371,316 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Barenbrugge, Joel, Dempsey, Gregory, Fuchs, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US16/034,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20180320816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 248542, 248545, 248500, 248530, 248534, 52155, 52157, 52173, 116200, 473407, 473476, 473478
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 5/80 Ground anchors for galleries, tunnels or shafts E21D21/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 5/801 driven by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

A goal securement device includes a ground engagement system, a ground securement system, a goal securement system, and a goal securement monitoring system. In an embodiment, the systems work cooperatively to secure a goal to the ground and monitor the status of such securement. Embodiments of each system and embodiments of various components, aspects, or features of each system are described.

Claims

1. A ground engagement system, comprising:

a ground securement element;

an anchor wherein the anchor further includes;

a lock pin receiver attached to a proximate end of the anchor,

a central rod, wherein the central rod further includes threads on a longitudinal axis of the central rod,

a spreading nut configured to be screwed onto and held onto the central rod, and

at least two spreading arms configured to hold the anchor in the ground,

wherein the spreading nut is further configured to advance upwards or downwards on the central rod when the central rod is turned,

wherein the spreading arms are configured to hold the anchor in the ground when the central rod turns in one direction expanding the spreading arms outwardly into the ground securing the anchor in the ground,

wherein the anchor is configured to secure the ground securement element to the ground, and

a pressure pad assembly,

wherein the pressure pad assembly is operably connected to the ground securement element, wherein the pressure pad assembly is configure to indicate whether the ground securement element is secured to the ground by the anchor, the pressure pad assembly having an indicator, and

wherein the ground securement element and the anchor are operably connected and configured to secure a ground bar of a goal to the ground.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the spreading nut further includes a body and a spreading cone.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the spreading cone is located at an upper portion of the body of the spreading nut.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the spreading nut is flat shaped, and wherein the spreading nut is configured not to rotate when the central rod is turned.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the spreading cone is configured to spread the spreading arms when the spreading cone is engaged with the spreading arms.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the spreading arms are located on the central rod.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the spreading arms are configured to extract outward into the ground, and wherein the shape of the spreading arms hold the anchor in the ground when the central rod turns.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the spreading arms expand outwardly into the ground when the central rod turns in one direction, and wherein the spreading arms contract when the central rod turns in an opposite direction.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the central rod is further configured to turn but does not move downwardly or upwardly in relation to the earth.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the spreading nut is configured above the spreading arms, and wherein the spreading arms expand outwardly in the ground as the central rod turns downwardly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is held in the ground with the spreading arms in a substantially horizontal position.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is an indicator arm system comprising a first indicator arm and a second indicator arm.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is configured to provide at least one of a visual indication or an audible indication.

14. A method of securing a ground bar of a goal to the ground comprising:

configuring a ground anchor to secure a ground bar of a goal to the ground, providing the anchor a lock pin receiver to attach to a proximate end of the anchor;

providing the anchor a central rod, wherein the central rod further includes threads on a longitudinal axis of the central rod;

providing the anchor a spreading nut configured to be screwed onto and held onto the central rod;

providing the anchor at least two spreading arms configured to hold the anchor in the ground, and wherein the spreading nut is further configured to advance upwards or downwards on the central rod when the central rod is turned, wherein the spreading arms are configured to hold the anchor in the ground when the central rod turns in one direction expanding the spreading arms outwardly into the ground securing the anchor in the ground, wherein the anchor and a ground securement element are operably connected and configured to secure a ground bar of a goal to the ground, and

providing a pressure pad assembly wherein the pressure pad assembly is operably connected to the ground securement element and wherein the pressure pad assembly is configured to indicate whether the ground securement element is secured to the ground by the anchor, the pressure pad assembly having an indicator.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

configuring the pressure pad assembly to move from a set position when the ground securement element is secure to the ground, to an extended position when the ground securement element is not secure to the ground.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

configuring the indicator to provide at least one of a visual indication or an audible indication.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

configuring the spreading arms to expand outwardly into the ground when the central rod turns in one direction, and wherein the spreading arms contract when the central rod turns in an opposite direction; and

configuring the anchor to be held in the ground with the spreading arms expanded outwardly in a substantially horizontal position.

18. A ground engagement system, comprising:

an anchor;

a ground securement element; and

a pressure pad assembly;

wherein the anchor further includes a lock pin receiver attached to a proximate end of the anchor, a central rod, a spreading nut configured to be screwed onto and held onto the central rod, and at least two spreading arms configured to expand outwardly into the ground when the central rod turns in one direction securing the anchor in the ground;

wherein the pressure pad assembly is operably connected to the ground securement element, wherein the pressure pad assembly is configured to indicate whether the ground securement element is secured to the ground by the anchor, the pressure pad assembly having an indicator; and

wherein the ground securement element and the anchor are operably connected and configured to secure a ground bar of a goal to the ground.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pressure pad assembly is further configured to move from a set position when the ground securement element is secured to the ground, to an extended position when the ground securement element is not secured to the ground.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the indicator is configured to provide at least one of a visual indication or an audible indication.