Sports goal including a rebounder for returning a scoring object to a player

Abstract

A rebounder for use with a sport goal that receives a scoring object. The sport goal includes a goal frame having a left upright member, a right upright member and a crossbar extending between the left upright member and the right upright member. The goal frame further includes an open area for receiving a scoring object. The rebounder includes a rebound member for returning a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts the rebound member. The rebound member has a tension member. The tension member is configured to return a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts the tension member. The rebound member further includes at least one connector for connecting the rebound member to the sports goal such that the position of the rebound member relative to the sports goal can be adjusted while the rebound member is attached to the sports goal. Preferably, the rebounder can be readily collapsed and moved to a storage position while connected to the sport goal. In the storage position, the rebounder does not obstruct the sport goal. Preferably, the rebounder is configured to be removably attached to a sport goal with little or no alteration to the sport goal.

1 . A sport goal for receiving a scoring object, said sport goal comprising:
 (a) a goal frame including a left upright member, a right upright member and a crossbar extending between said left upright member and said right upright member, said goal frame further including an open area for receiving a scoring object; and,   (b) a rebound member removably connected to said goal frame for returning a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts said rebound member, said rebound member further including a rebound frame and a tension member operably associated with said rebound frame, said tension member being configured to return a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts said tension member.   
     
     
         2 . A sport goal, as set forth in  claim 1 , further including:
 (a) goal netting operably associated with said goal frame, said goal netting and said goal frame defining a goal area; and,   (b) said rebound member being pivotally connected to said goal frame such that the position of said rebound member relative to said open area of said sports goal can be readily varied.   
     
     
         3 . A sport goal, as set forth in  claim 1 , further including:
 (a) means for varying the position of said rebound member relative to said goal frame to vary the return path of the scoring object back to the player.   
     
     
         4 . A sport goal, as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 (a) said means for varying includes at least one adjustable leg.   
     
     
         5 . A sport goal, as set forth in  claim 1 , further including:
 (a) means for permitting said rebound member to be moved from a storage position in which the open area of said sport goal is unobstructed by said rebound member and an operational position in which said rebound member is positioned adjacent said open area to permit a scoring object to be returned to a player when the scoring object impacts said rebound member, said rebound member being connected to said sport goal in both said storage position and said operational position.   
     
     
         6 . A sport goal, as set forth in  claim 5 , further including:
 (a) means for holding said rebound member in said storage position.   
     
     
         7 . A sport goal, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein:
 (a) said sport goal is a lacrosse goal; and,   (b) a first portion of said rebound member is tapered such that said first portion when in said storage position conforms to the shape of an adjacent portion of said lacrosse goal.   
     
     
         8 . A rebounder for use with a sport goal which receives a scoring object, the sport goal includes a goal frame having a left upright member, a right upright member and a crossbar extending between the left upright member and the right upright member, the goal frame further including an open area for receiving a scoring object, said rebounder comprising:
 (a) a rebound member for returning a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts said rebound member, said rebound member having a tension member, said tension member being configured to return a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts said tension member, said rebound member further including at least one connector for connecting said rebound member to the sports goal such that the position of the rebound member relative to the sports goal can be adjusted while said rebound member is attached to the sports goal.   
     
     
         9 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 8 , further including:
 (a) a rebound frame operably associated with said tension member, said rebound frame includes a first section and a second section section, said first section being connected to said second section such that said first section can move relative to said second section.   
     
     
         10 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 (a) said first section is pivotally connected to said second section such that said first section and said second section can be folded onto each other when said rebound member is not in use.   
     
     
         11 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 (a) said first section and said second section each include a tension member configured to return a scoring object back to a player.   
     
     
         12 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) said second section includes at least one support leg that engages a playing surface when said rebound member is in use.   
     
     
         13 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 (a) the length of said at least one support leg is adjustable to permit the angle the rebound member forms with the playing surface to be varied.   
     
     
         14 . A rebounder for use with a sport goal which receives a scoring object, the sport goal includes a goal frame having a left upright member, a right upright member and a crossbar extending between the left upright member and the right upright member, the goal frame further including an open area for receiving a scoring object, said rebounder comprising:
 (a) a rebound member for returning a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts said rebound member, said rebound member having a tension member, said tension member being configured to return a scoring object to a player when the scoring object impacts said tension member, said rebound member further including at least first and second sections, said first section being connected to said second section such that said first section can move relative to said second section, said second section having at least one leg for supporting said rebound member.   
     
     
         15 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 14 , further including:
 (a) a substantially rigid frame for supporting said tension member; and,   (b) a connector for removably connecting said rebound member to the sport goal.   
     
     
         16 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 (a) said second section includes at least two support legs, each of said support legs includes a first segment and a second segment, said first segment is movable relative to said second segment to vary the length of each of said two support legs.   
     
     
         17 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 (a) said second section includes a rod that extends between said two support legs and maintains said two support legs at a desired length.   
     
     
         18 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein:
 (a) each of said first segment and said second segment of said two support legs includes a plurality of openings; and,   (b) said rod includes first and second ends, said first end of said rod extends into one opening in said first segment and one opening in said second segment of one of said two support legs, said second end of said rod extends into one opening in said first segment and one opening in said second segment of the other of said two support legs.   
     
     
         19 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein:
 (a) at least one of said two support legs includes means for preventing said rebound member from moving along the playing surface when in use.   
     
     
         20 . A rebound member, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 (a) said first section is pivotally connected to said second section such that said first section and said second section can be folded onto each other when not in use; and,   (b) a stop member fixed to said first section, said second section being disposed relative to said stop member such that said second section can move approximately 180 degrees between a storage position and an operational position.