Soccer goal retainer

• US 7,331,880 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anabio Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Sportsfield Specialties Incorporated
• Inventors: Rogers, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/135,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 473/478, 473/477, 473/476, 473/415, 273/400, 403/290, 403/23, 403/187, 403/266
• US Class Current: 473/478
• 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 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles

Abstract

A Soccer Goal Retainer including an enclosure buried in the ground. A bar is mounted in the enclosure and rotates about its longitudinal axis. The bar is located toward the front wall and base of the enclosure. A clamp plate is mounted on the bar by hand bolts which engage threaded openings on the bar. The clamp plate includes a lower member which is secured to the bar. A vertical member extends at right angles from the lower member and an upper member extends from the vertical member generally at right angles remote from the lower member and away from the lower member. A lip extends generally at right angles from the upper member remote from the vertical member toward the lower member. With the vertical member generally positioned vertically, the lip, the upper member and vertical member are placed over the rear rail of a soccer goal and the clamp plate is secured to the bar. The clamp plate is released from the rear rail by loosening the clamp plate from the bar. The clamp plate and the bar are then rotated in a forward manner and downwardly into the enclosure. A cover is placed over the enclosure both when the clamp plate is in use and when it is being stored.

Claims

1. A Soccer Goal Retainer for securing a soccer goal comprising:

an enclosure;

a bar having a longitudinal axis and mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis within the enclosure;

a clamp plate for releasably engaging the soccer goal;

means for removably securing the clamp plate to the bar;

the clamp plate and the bar being rotatable to a position with a portion of the clamp plate extending outside the enclosure generally in a vertical position; and

a cover for the enclosure.

2. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 wherein the bar has a rectangular cross section.

3. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 wherein the bar includes a pair of threaded openings.

4. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 wherein the bar has a rectangular cross section and includes a pair of threaded openings, the threaded openings being located substantially symmetrically on the bar.

5. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 wherein the clamp plate includes a lower member, a vertical member extending generally at right angles to the lower member, an upper member which extends generally at right angles from the vertical member remote from the lower member and away from the lower member and a lip extending generally at right angles from the upper member remote from the vertical member and extending toward the lower member.

6. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 further including legs extending from the enclosure.

7. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 wherein the clamp plate comprises a cutout to allow the clamp plate to rotate downwardly and around a support post of a football goal.

8. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a cutout to allow the cover fit around a support post of a football goal.

9. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a generally solid cover.

10. A Soccer Goal Retainer for securing a soccer goal comprising:

An an enclosure having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, and a base;

a bar mounted to rotate within the enclosure;

a clamp plate including a lower member, a vertical member extending generally at right angles to the lower member, an upper member which extends generally at right angles form from the vertical member remote from the lower member and away from the lower member and a lip extending generally at right angles from the upper member remote from the vertical member and extending toward the lower member;

means for securing the lower member to the bar;

a cover for the enclosure; and

means for supporting the cover.

11. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the bar is located toward the front wall and the base.

12. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the bar has a pair of openings in it, each of the openings in the bar being threaded.

13. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein:

the bar has a pair of openings in it, each of the openings in the bar being threaded; and

the lower member has a pair of openings extending through it, aligned with the pair of openings in the bar.

14. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the means for supporting the cover with a pair of bolts to secure the lower member to the bar, is a ledge mounted on the side walls and rear wall.

15. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the vertical member of the clamp plate is larger than the lower member and the upper member.

16. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 including legs extending from the base.

17. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the bar has a rectangular cross section.

18. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the cover includes a board with a plate on one side and with artificial turf covering the opposite side of the board from the plate, the artificial turf being secured between the plate and the board.

19. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the clamp plate comprises a cutout to allow the clamp plate to rotate downwardly and around a support post of a football goal.

20. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 19 wherein the cover comprises a cutout to allow the cover fit around a support post of a football goal.

21. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 10 wherein the cover comprises a generally solid cover.

22. A Soccer Goal Retainer for securing a soccer goal comprising:

an enclosure having a rectangular configuration and having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls and a base, the two side walls, and the front and rear wall each having a top edge remote from the base;

a journal mounted on each side wall adjacent to the base and front wall;

the base having four corners;

a bar having a rectangular cross section and having a shaft extending from each end of the bar, each shaft being mounted to rotate in one of the journals, the bar having a pair of openings in it, each opening of the pair of openings being threaded;

a clamp plate including a lower member, a vertical member extending generally at right angles to the lower member, an upper member which extends generally at right angles from the vertical member remote from the lower member and away from the lower member and a lip extending generally at right angles from the upper member remote from the vertical member and extending through it and aligned with the pair of openings in the bar;

a pair of bolts to secure the lower member to the bar, the clamp plate and bar being rotatable to a stored position within the enclosure and to an operational position with the vertical member being generally substantially parallel to the front wall and extending outside the enclosure;

a cover; and

means to support the cover.

23. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 22 further including legs extending from the enclosure.

24. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 22 wherein the means to support the cover includes a ledge mounted on the side walls and the rear wall slightly below the top edge of the two side walls and the rear walls.

25. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 22 wherein the cover includes a board with two sides and with a sheet on one side and with artificial turf covering the board on the side remote from the sheet.

26. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 22 wherein the clamp plate comprises a cutout to allow the clamp plate to rotate downwardly and around a support post of a football goal.

27. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 26 wherein the cover comprises a cutout to allow the cover fit around a support post of a football goal.

28. A Soccer Goal Retainer according to claim 22 wherein the cover comprises a generally solid cover.