Portable Self-Erecting Sports Goal

Abstract

A portable, self-erecting sports goal has a frame sufficiently flexible to be re-positioned between a goal configuration and a storage configuration without requiring disassembly of the frame. The frame includes first and second goal posts interconnected at upper ends thereof by a crossbar, a first base bar extending rearward from a lower end of a first goal post, a second base bar extending rearward from a lower end of a second goal post, and a base rail interconnecting the ends of the first and second base bars opposite the goal posts. In the goal configuration, the base bars and base rail support the sports goal on an underlying ground surface and the goal posts and crossbar cooperate to define a substantially rectangular goal mouth extending upright from the underlying ground surface. In the storage configuration, the frame is twisted and folded upon itself into a substantially flat and compact position enabling the sports goal to be readily carried and stored.

1 . A portable, self-erecting sports goal, comprising:
 a frame sufficiently flexible to be re-positioned between a goal configuration and a storage configuration without requiring disassembly of said frame;   said frame including first and second goal posts interconnected at upper ends thereof by a crossbar, a first base bar extending rearward from a lower end of said first goal post, a second base bar extending rearward from a lower end of said second goal post, and a base rail interconnecting ends of said first and second base bars opposite said first and second goal posts, thereby providing an endless frame;   in said goal configuration, said base bars and base rail support said sports goal on an underlying ground surface and said goal posts and crossbar cooperate to define a substantially rectangular goal mouth extending upright from the underlying ground surface; and   in said storage configuration, said frame is twisted and folded upon itself into a substantially flat and compact position enabling said sports goal to be readily carried and stored.   
   
   
       2 . A sports goal according to  claim 1 , wherein, in said storage configuration, said goal posts and base bars overlap to form a V-shaped section and said crossbar and base rail overlap to form an arcuate section, said V-shaped and arcuate sections providing said frame with a substantially flat pie-shape. 
   
   
       3 . A sports goal according to  claim 2 , wherein, in said storage configuration, said first goal post extends adjacent said second base bar to form one leg of said V-shaped section, said second goal post extends adjacent said first base bar to form the other leg of said V-shaped section, and said crossbar extends adjacent said base rail to form said arcuate section. 
   
   
       4 . A sports goal according to  claim 3 , further comprising a fastener to releasably secure said frame in said storage configuration. 
   
   
       5 . A sports goal according to  claim 3 , wherein, in said storage configuration, said frame is in a pre-tensioned condition enabling an amount of energy required to position said frame in said storage configuration to be used to permit said frame to resiliently self-erect into said goal configuration. 
   
   
       6 . A sports goal according to  claim 1 , wherein, in said goal configuration, said crossbar extends at substantially right angles from said goal posts, said base rail extends at substantially right angles from said base bars, and said base bars extend at substantially right angles from said goal posts. 
   
   
       7 . A sports goal according to  claim 6 , wherein said frame consists of said goal posts, said crossbar, said base bars, and said base rail, and wherein said frame retains itself in said goal configuration. 
   
   
       8 . A sports goal according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said goal posts and base bars is of an identical first pre-determined length. 
   
   
       9 . A sports goal according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said crossbar and base rail is of an identical second pre-determined length, and wherein said second pre-determined length is greater than said first pre-determined length. 
   
   
       10 . A sports goal according to  claim 9 , wherein said second pre-determined length is equal to about (π/2) multiplied by the first predetermined length. 
   
   
       11 . A sports goal according to  claim 9 , further comprising a first elbow connector interconnecting said first goal post to said first base bar and a second elbow connector interconnecting said second goal post to said second base bar. 
   
   
       12 . A sports goal according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said goal posts and base bars is elongate, extends along a straight line path, and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said connectors. 
   
   
       13 . A sports goal according to  claim 12 , further comprising locking fasteners for securing ends of said goal posts and base bars to said connectors while enabling said goal posts and base bars to be rotatable about their longitudinal axis relative to said connectors. 
   
   
       14 . A sports goal according to  claim 9 , further comprising six elbow connectors, separate ones of said connectors interconnecting said first goal post to said first base bar, said second goal post to said second base bar, said crossbar to said first goal post, said crossbar to said second goal post, said first base bar to said base rail, and said base rail to said second base bar. 
   
   
       15 . A sports goal according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said goal posts, base bars, crossbar, and base rail is elongate, extends along a straight line path, and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said connectors. 
   
   
       16 . A sports goal according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of locking fasteners for securing ends of said goal posts, base bars, cross bar, and base rail to said connectors. 
   
   
       17 . A sports goal according to  claim 1 , further comprising a net securable to said goal posts, crossbar, base bars and base rail of said frame behind said goal mouth. 
   
   
       18 . A portable, self-erecting sports goal, comprising:
 a frame sufficiently flexible to be re-positioned between a goal configuration and a storage configuration without requiring disassembly of said frame; and   a net secured to said frame and extending behind a goal mouth provided by said frame in said goal configuration;   said frame including first and second elongate goal posts interconnected at upper ends thereof by right angle connectors to an elongate crossbar, a first elongate base bar interconnected by a right angle connector to a lower end of said first goal post, a second base bar interconnected by a right angle connector to a lower end of said second goal post, and an elongate base rail interconnected to ends of said first and second base bars opposite said first and second goal posts by right angle connectors, thereby providing an endless frame;   in said goal configuration, said base bars and base rail support said sports goal on an underlying ground surface and said goal posts and crossbar cooperate to define a substantially rectangular goal mouth extending upright from the underlying ground surface; and   in said storage configuration, said frame is twisted and folded upon itself into a substantially flat and compact position enabling said sports goal to be readily carried and stored.   
   
   
       19 . A sports goal according to  claim 18 , wherein said frame consists of said goal posts, said crossbar, said base bars, said base rail, and said right angle connectors, and wherein said frame by itself retains itself in said goal configuration. 
   
   
       20 . A sports goal according to  claim 19 , wherein, in said storage configuration, said first goal post overlaps with said second base bar and said second goal post overlaps with first base bar to form a V-shaped section, said crossbar and base rail overlap to form an arcuate section, and said V-shaped and arcuate sections provide said frame in a substantially flat pie-shape. 
   
   
       21 . A sports goal according to  claim 20 , wherein, in said storage configuration, said frame is in a pre-tensioned condition enabling an amount of energy required to position said frame in said storage configuration to be used to permit said frame to resiliently self-erect into said goal configuration. 
   
   
       22 . A sports goal according to  claim 21 , wherein each of said goal posts and base bars is of an identical first pre-determined length, wherein each of said crossbar and base rail is of an identical second pre-determined length, and wherein said second pre-determined length is greater than said first pre-determined length. 
   
   
       23 . A sports goal according to  claim 22 , wherein said second pre-determined length is equal to about the first predetermined length multiplied by (π/2). 
   
   
       24 . A sports goal according to  claim 22 , wherein each of said goal posts, base bars, crossbar, and base rail is elongate, extends along a straight line path, and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said connectors. 
   
   
       25 . A sports goal according to  claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of locking fasteners for securing ends of said goal posts, base bars, cross bar, and base rail to said connectors. 
   
   
       26 . A sports goal according to  claim 25 , further comprising a fastener to releasably secure said frame in said storage configuration.