Practigoal expandable goal net

• US 9,433,842 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Phillips
• Original Assignee: Brian Phillips
• Inventors: Phillips, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US14/463,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 473/478, 473/421, 135/99, 135/144, 135/145
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/026 stabilised by weight
• 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

Abstract

Improvements in an expandable goal net are disclosed. The expandable goal net is foldable and can be taken from a full size goal to a smaller size that can be easily compacted for transportation. The vertical legs telescope inside each other to essentially reduce the height of the vertical members to essentially half. The horizontal cross posts fold in half thereby to compact the expandable goal net into a vertical folded rectangle. The folding joints are on the horizontal members. Joints lock into a horizontal orientation and can be released to allow the joints to fold essentially 180 degrees. Corners use similar hinged joints that allow the horizontal members to bend to essentially 90 degrees. Vertical members have locking slides that telescope to reduce the total length of the vertical members. The expandable goal net is made from aluminum tubes and formed or molded plastic components.

Claims

1. An expandable goal net comprising:

a frame;

said frame having four extendable vertical members wherein each extendable vertical member includes a foot pad;

said foot pad includes a ring connection;

said frame supporting a net;

said net including at least one pocket extending along a lower edge of said net;

said frame having two folding horizontal members;

said frame having two folding side members, and

said net is secured to said frame and is deployable at least partially over said frame wherein said net further includes an opaque canopy and said opaque canopy further includes a net section.

2. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said folding horizontal side members have a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm.

3. The expandable goal net according to claim 2 wherein said first hinge arm and said second hinge arm connect through a knuckle.

4. The expandable goal net according to claim 3 said knuckle has a first circular guide and a second circular guide.

5. The expandable goal net according to claim 4 wherein said first circular guide connects to said first hinge arm and said second circular guide connects with said second hinge arm.

6. The expandable goal net according to claim 5 wherein said knuckle allows said first hinge arm and said second hinge arm to fold essentially parallel to each other.

7. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said four extendable vertical members connect to one of said two folding horizontal members and one of said two folding side members with an L bracket wherein said L bracket has perpendicular support extending perpendicular to said L bracket.

8. The expandable goal net according to claim 7 said four extendable vertical members connect to one of said two folding horizontal members and one of said two folding side members, each with a knuckle.

9. The expandable goal net according to claim 7 wherein said knuckle allows said folding horizontal member to fold essentially parallel to said perpendicular support.

10. The expandable goal net according to claim 9 wherein said knuckle allows said folding side member to fold essentially parallel to said perpendicular support.

11. The expandable goal net according to claim 7 wherein said one of said two folding horizontal members and one of said two folding side members fold parallel with said perpendicular extending support.

12. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said foot pad further includes at least one hole.

13. The expandable goal net according to claim 12 further includes at least one stake that fits through said at least one hole.

14. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pocket includes a stretchable cord that extends from a first front extendable vertical member to first rear extendable vertical member to a second rear extendable vertical member to a second front extendable vertical member.

15. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said foot pad is triangular.

16. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 further includes at least one removable weighted bar.

17. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said four extendable vertical members extend by telescoping members.

18. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said vertical members, horizontal members and said side members are coupled with a corner bracket.

19. The expandable goal net according to claim 1 wherein said each of said four extendable members extend with telescoping sections.