Foldable goal frame for soccer or other sports

Abstract

A foldable goal frame includes first to third support bars forming a base, first and second vertical bars joined to the base, and a top bar joined to the vertical bars. The third support bar is joined to the first and second support bars by first and second folding joints. The first and second vertical bars are respectively joined to the first and second support bars by third and fourth folding joints. The first and second vertical bars are joined to the top bar by fifth and sixth folding joints. Two inclined support bars are each joined between a vertical bar and a corresponding support bar; each inclined support bar has two sections joined together by a folding joint. The top bar and third support bar each has a telescoping structure. The folding joints allow the entire goal frame to be folded into a bundle of parallel bars.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable goal frame, comprising:
 a base, a first vertical bar, a second vertical bar, and a top bar;   wherein the base includes a first support bar, a second support bar, and a third support bar,   wherein a first end of the third support bar is joined to a first end of the first support bar by a first folding joint, a second end of the third support bar is joined to a first end of the second support bar by a second folding joint, a first end of the first vertical bar is joined to a second end of the first support bar by a third folding joint, a first end of the second vertical bar is joined to a second end of the second support bar by a fourth folding joint, a second end of the first vertical bar is joined to a first end of the top bar by a fifth folding joint, and a second end of the second vertical bar is joined to a second end of the top bar by a sixth folding joint.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first to sixth folding joints has a pivotal axis, wherein the pivotal axes of the first and second foldable joints are parallel to each other, the pivotal axes of the third and first foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the fourth and second foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the fifth and third foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, the pivotal axes of the sixth and fourth foldable joints are perpendicular to each other, and the pivotal axes of the fifth and sixth foldable joints are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an inclined support bar having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first end pivotally connected to a point along the first vertical bar, the second section having a second end pivotally connected to a point along the first support bar, wherein the first section and the second section are joined by a seventh folding joint, wherein the seventh folding joint has a pivotal axis which is parallel to the pivotal axis of the third folding joint.   
     
     
         4 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the top bar and the third support bar is formed of a plurality of telescoping tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 4 , wherein an end of one of the telescoping tubes and an end of another one of the telescoping tubes have non-round cross-sectional shapes. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 4 , wherein the each of the top bar and the third support bar further includes one or more releasable locking structures configured to lock the plurality of telescoping tubes to predefined relative positions. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first to sixed foldable joints includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a releasable locking structure configured to lock relative rotations of the first and second connecting members. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first to sixed foldable joints includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a shaft passing through the connecting member and the second connecting member, and a turn knob engaged with the shaft, the shaft and the turn knob being configured to press the first and second connecting members against each other. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 8 , wherein faces of the first connecting member and second connecting member that contact each other include radially extending teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first to sixed foldable joints includes a hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable goal frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first to sixth folding joints are configured to fold the base, the first vertical bar, the second vertical bar, and the top bar into a bundle of parallel bars.