SOCCER GOAL SECURING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20110098139A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABT Incorporated (ABT Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ABT Incorporated (ABT Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wallace, Timothy Harold, Query, William Kress JR., Tucker, Larry Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/478
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/009 Protective housings covering the working parts of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/028 Floor sockets for removable poles

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for securing a movable soccer goal to a playing surface. When in use, the apparatus functions to prevent the soccer goal from being moved, thereby, making it considerably safer and more sturdy than an unsecured soccer goal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a movable goal, the apparatus comprising:

a housing fixed to a playing surface; and

at least one securing device capable of simultaneously and removably engaging an essentially horizontal member of the movable goal and the fixed housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a lip portion, the lip portion being configured to support a ground bar of the moveable goal when the moveable goal is secured into place.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing device comprises a bracket to moveably secure the at least one securing device to an interior of the fixed housing so that the location of the at least one securing device is adjustable within the interior of the fixed housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed housing is secured to a vertical post of a football goal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 structured to secure the movable goal by clamping the essentially horizontal member of the movable goal between a portion of the at least one securing device and the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing device comprises:

at least one hook-shaped member for engaging the essentially horizontal member of the movable goal; and

at least one pulling mechanism configured to pull the hook-shaped member toward one of the playing surface and the housing to secure the essentially horizontal member between the at least one hook-shaped member and one of the playing surface and the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one pulling mechanism comprises at least one ratchet and a strap configured to attach to the at least one hook-shaped member.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one hook-shaped member comprises a plurality of hook-shaped members secured to the housing and the at least one pulling mechanism comprises a plurality of pulling mechanisms secured to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one hook-shaped member is configured to be one of removable from the at least one pulling mechanism and retractable below the playing surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one hook-shaped member comprises a plurality of hooks and wherein the at least one pulling mechanism comprises a plurality of ratchets.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the ratchets are disposed around a football goalpost.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that no tools, other than those fixed to the apparatus, are required to engage or disengage the essentially horizontal member of the movable goal and the fixed housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is secured into at least a portion of a foundation located underneath a portion of the playing surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the playing surface comprises a football field, soccer field, a lacrosse field, a hockey rink, a playground surface, a multipurpose playing field, an asphalt surface, a tennis court, an indoor surface, and a basketball court.

15. An apparatus for securing an object to a surface, the apparatus comprising:

at least one securing member capable of engaging a structural member of the object; and

at least one mechanism configured to substantially fix the at least one securing member at a location of the surface to releasably secure the structural member of the object to the particular location.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a lip portion, the lip portion being configured to support a ground bar of the moveable goal when the moveable goal is secured into place.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one fixing mechanism comprises a bracket to moveably secure the at least one fixing mechanism to an interior of the fixed housing so that the location of the at least one fixing mechanism is adjustable within the interior of the fixed housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one securing member comprising at least one hook device and the at least one fixing mechanism comprises a housing and a ratchet being securable to the at least one hook device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one fixing mechanism comprises a housing and at least one lockable ratchet secured to the housing to releasably attach to the at least one securing member.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured such as to be secured to at least a portion under the surface and at least a portion of the at least one securing member is capable of being used above the surface.