Illuminating goal structure and method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure

Abstract

An illuminating goal structure is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention the illuminating goal structure, adapted for connection to a power source, includes a back plate, a face plate having at least one lighting aperture defined therein, viewable signal means (VSM) housed within the at least one lighting aperture, connection means for operably connecting the VSM to the power source, and VSM control means for controlling the distribution of power from the power source to the VSM, wherein the back plate is attached to the face plate such that the connection means are enclosed therein. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the illuminating goal structure adapted for connection to a power source includes an illumination tube including at least one lighting channel therein, VSM housed within the at least one lighting channel, connection means for operably connecting the VSM to the power source, and VSM control means for controlling the distribution of power from the power source to the VSM. A method for manufacturing illuminating goal structures is also disclosed. The goal structure and methodology described herein allows one to illuminate a goal structure in such a manner that the lighting arrangement therein is easily modifiable.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure adapted for connection to a power source comprising the steps of: 
 a. forming a back plate;    b. forming a face plate, wherein said face plate has at least one lighting aperture defined therein;    c. housing viewable signal means within said at least one lighting aperture;    d. operably connecting said viewable signal means to said power source via connection means wherein power distributed to said viewable signal means via said connection means is controlled by viewable signal means control means; and    e. attaching said face plate to said back plate such that said connection means are enclosed therein.    
     
     
         2 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  further including the step of attaching non-illuminating goal structure thereto.  
     
     
         3 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said viewable signal means include at least one light emitting diode.  
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said viewable signal means include a message matrix board.  
     
     
         5 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 2  further including the step of defining a storage compartment within said illuminating or non-illuminating goal structure wherein said compartment is adapted to house said power source and said viewable signal means control means.  
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said viewable signal means are housed within a lens.  
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of attaching includes attaching said face plate to said back plate via at least one independent bulk head ring.  
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of attaching includes attaching said face plate to said back plate via at least one bulk head ring formed into said face plate or said back plate.  
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the step of attaching non-illuminating goal structure includes attaching via at least one bushing.  
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing an ωilluminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said viewable signal means control means includes a controller.  
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of forming back plate further includes defining at least one lighting aperture in said back plate and housing viewable signal means therein, wherein said viewable signal means are operably connected to said power source.  
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one aperture is oriented perpendicular its surface tangent on said face plate.  
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one aperture is oriented in a direction other than perpendicular to its surface tangent on said face plate.  
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure adapted for connection to a power source comprising the steps of: 
 a. forming an illumination tube wherein said tube includes at least one lighting channel therein;    b. housing viewable signal means within said at least one lighting channel; and    c. operably connecting said viewable signal means to said power source via connection means wherein power distributed to said viewable signal means via said connection means is controlled by viewable signal means control means.    
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 14  further including the step of attaching non-illuminating goal structure thereto.  
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said viewable signal means include at least one light emitting diode.  
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said viewable signal means include a message matrix board.  
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 15  further including the step of defining a storage compartment within said illuminating or non-illuminating goal structure wherein said compartment is adapted to house said power source and said viewable signal means control means.  
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said viewable signal means are housed within at least one viewable signal means shield.  
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the step of attaching non-illuminating goal structure includes attaching via at least one bushing.  
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing an illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said viewable signal means control means includes a controller.  
     
     
         22 . An illuminating goal structure adapted for connection to a power source comprising: 
 a back plate;    a face plate having at least one lighting aperture defined therein;    viewable signal means housed within said at least one lighting aperture;    connection means for operably connecting said viewable signal means to said power source; and    viewable signal means control means for controlling the distribution of power from said power source to said viewable signal means;    wherein said back plate is attached to said face plate such that said connection means are enclosed therein.    
     
     
         23 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  further including non-illuminating goal structure attached thereto.  
     
     
         24 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said viewable signal means include at least one light emitting diode.  
     
     
         25 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said viewable signal means include a message matrix board.  
     
     
         26 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 23  including a storage compartment housed within said illuminating or non-illuminating goal structure wherein said compartment is adapted to house said power source and said viewable signal means control means.  
     
     
         27 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said viewable signal means are housed within a lens.  
     
     
         28 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said face plate is attached to said back plate via at least one independent bulk head ring.  
     
     
         29 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said face plate is attached to said back plate via at least one bulk head rink formed into said face plate or said back plate.  
     
     
         30 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said non-illuminating goal structure is attached via at least one bushing.  
     
     
         31 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in claims  22  wherein viewable signal means control means includes a controller.  
     
     
         32 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said back plate further includes at least one lighting aperture housing viewable signal means therein, wherein said viewable signal means are operably connected to said power source  
     
     
         33 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said at least one lighting aperture is oriented perpendicular to its surface tangent on said face plate.  
     
     
         34 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in claims  22  wherein said at least one lighting aperture is oriented in a direction other than perpendicular to its surface tangent on said face plate.  
     
     
         35 . An illuminating goal structure adapted for connection to a power source comprising: 
 an illumination tube including at least one lighting channel therein;    viewable signal means housed within said at least one lighting channel;    connection means for operably connecting said viewable signal means to said power source; and    viewable signal means control means for controlling the distribution of power from said power source to said viewable signal means.    
     
     
         36 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 35  further including non-illuminating goal structure attached thereto.  
     
     
         37 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said viewable signal means include at least one light emitting diode.  
     
     
         38 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said viewable signal means include a message matrix board.  
     
     
         39 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 36  including a storage compartment housed within said illuminating or non-illuminating goal structure wherein said compartment is adapted to house said power source and said viewable signal means control means.  
     
     
         40 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said viewable signal means are housed within at least one viewable signal means shield.  
     
     
         41 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said non-illuminating goal structure is attached via at least one bushing.  
     
     
         42 . An illuminating goal structure as claimed in claims  35  wherein viewable signal means control means includes a controller.