Portable anchoring device for a sports goal

• US 20070194534A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kwik Goal Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kwik Goal Ltd.
• Inventors: Caruso, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,341,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/407
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/026 stabilised by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles

Abstract

An anchoring device for a sports goal, such as a soccer goal, is provided as a portable bag having a pair of laterally spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments interconnected by at least one central strip of material. The central strip defines at least one opening extending between the weight-carrying compartments, and the portable bag is of a size capable of straddling a base rail of a sports goal frame such that the weight-carrying compartments are located on opposite sides of the base rail while the strip extends over the base rail. When the portable bag straddles the base rail, the opening permits a goal net to be fastened to the base rail of the goal frame between the weight-carrying compartments.

Claims

1. An anchoring device for sports goals, comprising:

a portable bag having a pair of laterally spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments that are interconnected by at least one strip of material extending between said compartments;

said at least one strip of material defining at least one opening extending between said weight-carrying compartments; and

said portable bag being of a size capable of straddling a base rail of a sports goal frame such that said weight-carrying compartments are located on opposite sides of the base rail while said at least one strip extends over the base rail with said opening permitting a goal net to be fastened to the base rail of the goal frame between said weight-carrying compartments.

2. An anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein said portable bag has an integral handle permitting ready gripping and carrying of the bag and ready positioning of the bag on the base rail.

3. An anchoring device according to claim 2, wherein each of said weight-carrying compartments is provided as an elongate pocket into which a substance functioning as a weight is removably receivable.

4. An anchoring device according to claim 3, wherein said elongate pockets extend substantially parallel to each other and wherein said at least one strip of material extends transversely between said pockets, whereby, when positioned on the base rail, said pockets extend substantially parallel to the base rail on opposite sides thereof and said at least one strip of material extends transversely across said base rail.

5. An anchoring device according to claim 4, wherein said at least one strip of material defines at least a pair of separate, spaced-apart openings through which the goal net is securable to the base rail.

6. An anchoring device according to claim 4, wherein said at least one strip of material includes a central reinforcing strip of plastic having said openings formed therethrough.

7. An anchoring device according to claim 4, wherein each of said elongate pockets has an open end through which the substance functioning as the weight is insertable and a fastening means for securing said open end closed to capture the substance functioning as the weight within said pocket.

8. An anchoring device according to claim 7, wherein the substance functioning as the weight is sand, stone or the like and wherein said bag is capable of containing up to about 40 lbs. of the substance.

9. A sports goal assembly, comprising:

a rigid goal frame defining an upright goal mouth and having at least one base rail extending behind said goal mouth and along and parallel to an underlying support surface;

a goal net having a perimeter which is secured to said goal frame; and

a portable bag positioned on said base rail for anchoring said goal frame to underlying support surface.

10. A sports goal assembly according to claim 9, wherein said portable bag has a pair of laterally spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments capable of straddling said base rail such that said compartments are positioned on said underlying support surface on opposite sides of said base rail.

11. A sports goal assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one opening extends through said portable bag between said compartments, and wherein said goal net is fastened to said base rail through said opening.

12. A sports goal assembly according to claim 11, wherein said bag has a central strip of material interconnecting said compartments and defining said at least one opening, said central strip of material extending over said base rail between said compartments.

13. A sports goal assembly according to claim 12, wherein said bag has a grippable handle permitting said bag to be readily carried to and from said assembly and readily positioned on said base rail.

14. A sports goal assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a fastener for securing said perimeter of said goal net to said base rail through said opening of said bag.

15. A sports goal assembly according to claim 13, wherein said bag is filled with up to about 40 lbs. of sand or stone and wherein said central strip has a least two-spaced apart openings through which said goal net can be fastened to said base rail.

16. A method of assembling a sports goal, comprising the steps of:

supporting a goal frame on an underlying ground surface, the frame defining an upright goal mouth and having at least one base rail;

positioning a portable weighted bag on the base rail of the goal frame; and

securing a perimeter portion of a goal net to the base rail through an opening extending through said portable weighted bag.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said positioning step includes carrying and manipulating placement of the portable weighted bag by gripping a handle extending integrally from the portable weighted bag.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the portable weighted bag includes a pair of spaced-apart weight-carrying compartments and a central strip of material extending therebetween and defining the opening, and wherein said positioning step includes positioning the bag such that it straddles the base rail with the compartments being located on opposite sides of the base rail and the central strip of material extending over the base rail.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of filling each of the compartments with up to 20 lbs. of sand or stone through an open end of the compartment and securing the open end of the compartments closed with a fastener.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the central strip of material defines a pair of openings and wherein said securing step includes fastening the goal net to the base rail through both openings.