Convertible practice system for field goal kicking

• US 5,513,843 A
• Filed: 04/09/1993
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank A. Russell
• Original Assignee: Frank A. Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/045,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 273/55 D, 273/26 A, 273/26 A, 273/127 B, 273/165, 273/410
• US Class Current: 473/416
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/008 Goals for rugby or American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0075 Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like golf tees A63B57/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles

Abstract

A system is disclosed comprising a goal and kicking pad for practicing kicking for football and soccer. The goal portion provides a yoke through which a football is kicked, the yoke being selectively elevated on a post connected to a base. The goal is configurable as a soccer goal by turning the yoke downward and angling the post as a diagonal support between the base and the yoke. For field goal kicking, the kicking pad securely holds a football in a desired position above a surface, and is quickly adjustable to any desired position without tools. The kicking pad operates equally well for kicking with a right foot or a left foot.

Claims

1. A goal comprising:

a base for supporting said goal on a surface;

a post having one end thereof pivotally secured to said base;

a substantially U-shaped, member having an open side defining a mouth and an opposite closed side, said U-shaped member being pivotally attached at said closed side thereof to the other end of said post for being selectively positionable between a first position with said open side extending upwardly and above said closed side to form an American football goal, and a second position, wherein said post is inclined upwardly from said base to closed side and said open side extending downwardly from said second end to a location proximate said base, to form a soccer goal.

2. The goal of claim 1, further comprising means for folding said U-shaped member said base and said post to lie substantially on a single surface.

3. The goal of claim 1, wherein said post comprises:

a first section having said one end pivotally attached to said base;

a second section slidable attached to said first section for lengthening and shortening, said second section being a pivotally connecting to said U-shaped member at said other end of said post.

4. The goal of claim 3, wherein said post further comprises means for locking said second section relative to said first section.

6. The goal of claim 1, wherein said base, said U-shaped member and said post are tubular structures.

7. The goal of claim 1, further comprising a net attachable to said goal when in said soccer goal form.

8. The goal claim 1 wherein said post is selectively positionable to extend upwardly at an acute angle from said base to said U-shaped member when said U-shaped member is said second position.

9. The goal of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped number has a portion thereof directly attached to said base when said U-shaped member is in said second position.

5. A goal comprising:

a base for supporting said goal on a surface;

a post having one end pivotally attached to said base;

a york defining a mouth, said yoke being adjustable attached to a second end of said post to be selectively positionable between a first position with said mouth oriented upwardly and a second position with said mouth oriented downwardly, said york comprising a first end and a second end, and said base comprising socket to receive said first and second ends of said yoke.

10. A goal for use in soccer and American football, said goal comprising:

a base for supporting said goal on a surface, said base comprising

a lateral arm having a first end and a second end,

a first extension connected to said first end and extending substantially perpendicular from said lateral arm along the surface,

a second extension connected to said second end and extending substantially perpendicular from said lateral arm along the surface,

a post pivotally secured at one end thereof between said first and second ends of said lateral arm to be selectively positionable while remaining connected to said base between a first upright position above said base and a second, inclined, position extending directly between said base and said substantially U-shaped member;

said U-shaped member pivotally connected to said second end of said post, said U-shaped member being selectively positionable as an American football goal and a soccer goal while said U-shaped member, and said base remain continually attached to said post, said U-shaped member having an open end and an opposite closed end, said open being selectively positionable between an upward position extending upwardly above said closed end and a downward position extending from the post in said second pivoted position downwardly below said closed end to a location proximate the surface.

11. The goal of claim 10 wherein said post is comprised of first and second linear sections, said sections being longitudinally slidable for extending said post between a first length and a second length.

12. The goal of claim 11 further comprising locking means for selectively locking said first and second section at a length between said first length and said second length.

13. A goal convertible between an American football goal and a soccer goal, said goal comprising:

a base for supporting said goal on a surface;

a post having one end pivotally attached at one end thereof to said base, said post being pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to said base;

a U-shaped member pivotally attached to the other end of said post, said U-shaped member being selectively positionable between a first position, to form an American football goal with said U-shaped member opening upwardly from said post when pivoted in said first position and a second position, to form a soccer goal with said U-shaped member opening downwardly from said post when pivoted in said second position, said U-shaped member extending substantially vertically downward to a position proximate said base.

14. The goal of claim 13, wherein said post comprises:

a first linear section having a first end pivotally attached to said base;

a second linear section telescopically connected to said first section for selectively extending and retracting said post, said second section having a second end pivotally attached to said U-shaped member.

15. The goal of claim 13 wherein said post extends upwardly at an acute angle from said base when in said second position and when said U-shaped member opens downwardly towards said base.

16. A goal convertible between an American football goal and a soccer goal, said goal comprising:

a base for supporting said goal on a surface;

a post having one end pivotally attached to said base, said post being pivotable between a first post position and a second post position;

a U-shaped member attached the other end of said post to be selectively positionable between a first position opening upwardly and a second position opening downwardly, said U-shaped member comprising a first leg and a second leg spaced from said first leg, and said base further comprising sockets to receive an end of said first and second legs when said U-shaped member is in said second position.