Portable anchoring device for a sports goal

• US 7,341,531 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kwik Goal Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kwik Goal Ltd.
• Inventors: Caruso, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US11/356,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 273398-402, 473476-478, 473481-488, 405/172
• US Class Current: 473/478
• 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. 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 the underlying support surface;

said portable bag having 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; and

at least one opening extends through said portable bag between said compartments such that said goal net is fastened to said base rail through said opening.

2. A sports goal assembly according to claim 1 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.

3. A sports goal assembly according to claim 2, 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.

4. A sports goal assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a fastener for securing said perimeter of said goal net to said base rail through said opening of said bag.

5. A sports goal assembly according to claim 3, 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.

6. A sports goal assembly according to claim 2, wherein said central strip defines at least a pair of separate, spaced-apart openings through which the goal net is securable to the base rail.

7. A sports goal assembly according to claim 6, wherein said central strip includes a central reinforcing strip of plastic having said openings formed therethrough.

8. A sports goal assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bag has a grippable handle.

9. A sports goal assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener for securing said perimeter of said goal net to said base rail through said opening of said bag.

10. A sports goal assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said weight-carrying compartments is provided as an elongate pocket into which a substance functioning as a weight is removably receivable.

11. A sports goal assembly according to claim 10, wherein said elongate pockets extend substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to said base rail.

12. A sports goal assembly according to claim 11, 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.