Collapsible sports goal

Abstract

A sports goal comprised of a frame formed by a base and an upright portion. The upright portion is pivotally connected to the base and extends upwardly therefrom. The base has parallel legs with a cross member positioned therebetween. The parallel legs of the base are releasably secured to the cross member of the base. The upright portion has parallel legs with a cross member positioned therebetween. The parallel legs of the upright portion are releasably secured to the cross member of the upright portion. The upright portion is pivoted onto the base member and the base legs and upright legs are disengaged from each respective cross member and folded towards the cross members to collapse the sports goal for storage.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A sports goal comprising: 
 a base having parallel legs with a cross member therebetween, the parallel legs of the base being releasably secured to the cross member of the base; and    an upright portion pivotally connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the upright portion having parallel legs with a cross member therebetween, the parallel legs of the upright portion being releasably secured to the cross member of the upright portion;    whereby the upright portion is pivoted onto the base member and the base legs and upright legs are disengaged from the cross members and folded towards the cross members to collapse the sports goal for storage.    
     
     
         2 . The sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein one end of each leg has a tab and an opening and each end of the cross members have a recess and a protrusion, whereby the tabs of the legs engage the recess in the cross members and the openings in the legs house the protrusions of the cross members to releasably secure the legs to the cross members.  
     
     
         3 . The sports goal of  claim 2 , further comprising a cover for protecting the connection between each tab and recess and each opening and protrusion.  
     
     
         4 . The sports goal of  claim 1 , further comprising a brace support pivotally connected to each leg of the base.  
     
     
         5 . The sports goal of  claim 4 , wherein the legs of the base include a pocket for housing the brace support when the goal is collapsed for storage.  
     
     
         6 . The sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein one end of the base legs has a channel and one end of the upright portion legs has a rod, whereby the rods of the upright portion legs pivot within the channels of the base legs.  
     
     
         7 . The sports goal of  claim 1 , further comprising a net secured to an inner surface of the base and the upright portion.  
     
     
         8 . The sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein the base cross member and the upright portion cross member have handles for moving the sports goal.  
     
     
         9 . The sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein the upright portion rests flat on the base when collapsed to a storage position.  
     
     
         10 . A sports goal comprising: 
 a base having parallel legs with a cross member positioned therebetween;    an upright portion pivotally connected to the base, the upright portion having parallel legs with a cross member positioned therebetween;    each end of the base cross member and each end of the upright cross member having a recess and an outwardly extending protrusion; and    the base legs and the upright legs having an upwardly extending tab for engaging the recess of the cross members and an opening for housing the protrusions of the cross members;    whereby, the outwardly extending protrusions of the cross members are disposed within the openings of the legs and the tabs of the legs are disposed within the recesses of the cross members thereby releasably securing the legs to the cross members.    
     
     
         11 . The sports goal of  claim 10 , further comprising a cover for protecting the connection between each tab and recess and each opening and protrusion.  
     
     
         12 . The sports goal of  claim 10 , further comprising a brace support pivotally connected to each leg of the base.  
     
     
         13 . The sports goal of  claim 12 , wherein the legs of the base include a pocket for housing the brace support when the goal is collapsed for storage.  
     
     
         14 . The sports goal of  claim 10 , wherein one end of the base legs has a channel and one end of the upright portion legs has a rod, whereby the rods of the upright portion legs pivot within the channels of the base legs.  
     
     
         15 . The sports goal of  claim 10 , further comprising a net secured to an inner surface of the base and the upright portion.  
     
     
         16 . The sports goal of  claim 10 , wherein the base cross member and the upright portion cross member have handles for moving the sports goal.  
     
     
         17 . The sports goal of  claim 10 , wherein the upright portion rests flat on the base when collapsed to a storage position.  
     
     
         18 . A method of collapsing a sports goal comprising: 
 providing a sports goal having a base with parallel legs pivotally locked with a cross member positioned therebetween and a pivotally connected upright portion with parallel legs pivotally locked with a cross member positioned therebetween;    disengaging a brace member from a locked position between the base and upright portion;    pivoting the upright portion towards the base until the upright portion rests on top of the base;    unlocking the legs of the upright portion and the base; and    folding the legs toward the cross members thereby placing the sports goal in a collapsed storage position.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of unlocking the legs further comprising: 
 pulling the legs to release tabs on the legs from recesses in the cross members so that the legs slide away from the cross members.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of unlocking the legs further comprising: 
 pulling the legs to release tabs on the cross members from recesses in the legs so that the legs slide away from the cross members.