Soccer goal retainer

• US 7,527,569 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sportsfield Intellectual, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sportsfield Specialties Incorporated
• Inventors: Rogers, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US12/031,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 473/478
• 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 method for releasably securing a soccer goal, the method comprising:

providing a movable clamp in the ground;

engaging a portion of the soccer goal with the movable clamp disposed in a first position in which a portion of the movable clamp is disposed above a surface of the ground to inhibit movement of the soccer goal;

disengaging the portion of the soccer goal from the portion of the movable clamp;

rotating the movable clamp from the first position to a second position; and

positioning the movable clamp in the second stored position wherein the movable clamp is disposed below the surface of the ground.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising covering the movable clamp in the second stored position.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising covering a portion of the movable clamp in the first position.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning comprises positioning the movable clamp in the second stored position around a support post of a football goal.

5. A method for releasably securing a soccer goal, the method comprising:

providing at least one clamp in an enclosure in the ground;

engaging a portion of the soccer goal with the at least one clamp disposed in a first position in which a portion of the at least one clamp is disposed above a surface of the ground to inhibit movement of the soccer goal;

disengaging the portion of the soccer goal from the portion of the at least one clamp;

rotating the at least one clamp from the first position to a second position; and

positioning the at least one clamp in the second stored position in the enclosure wherein the movable clamp is disposed below the surface of the ground.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising covering the at least one clamp in the second stored position.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising covering a portion of the at least one clamp in the first position.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the positioning comprises positioning the at least one clamp in the second stored position around a support post of a football goal.