Forms for forming gate supports for throwing cages

Abstract

Forms for constructing a first gate foundation and a second gate foundation in a support structure for positioning and supporting rotatable gates of throwing cages such as for discus, hammer, or discus/hammer throwing cages. The forms may include a first form and a second form. The forms may include an enclosure defining a cavity having an open upper end. The forms are installable in the support structure so that the enclosure is operable to form a horizontal pad for supporting a wheel of the rotatable gates of the throwing cage. In some embodiments, the forms may include an arcuate enclosure and/or a gate post support attached to the enclosure operable for supporting a gate post of a rotatable gate. In other embodiments, the forms may include a net pole support attached to the enclosure operable for supporting a net pole.

1 . A pair of forms for constructing a first gate foundation and a second gate foundation in a support structure of a throwing cage, the pair of forms comprising:
 a first form comprising:
 an enclosure defining a cavity having an open upper end; 
 a gate post support attached to the enclosure; 
 wherein the first form is installable in the support structure so that the enclosure is operable for forming a horizontal pad for supporting a wheel of a first rotatable gate of the throwing cage; and 
 wherein the gate post support is operable for supporting a first gate post of the first rotatable gate of the throwing cage; and 
   a second form comprising:
 an enclosure defining a cavity having an open upper end; 
 a gate post support attached to the enclosure; and 
 wherein the second form is installable in the support structure so that the enclosure is operable for forming a horizontal pad for supporting a wheel of a second rotatable gate of the throwing cage; and 
 wherein the gate post support is operable for supporting a second gate post of the second rotatable gate of the throwing cage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the open upper end of the enclosure of the first form comprises an arcuate open upper end; and 
 the open upper end of the enclosure of the second form comprises an arcuate open upper end. 
 
     
     
         3 . The pair of forms of  claim 2  wherein:
 the enclosure of the first form comprises:
 an outer curved wall; 
 an inner curved wall; 
 wherein the inner curved wall and outer curved wall has a height of 2 feet; and 
 the outer wall is spaced 16 inches from the inner wall; and 
 
 the enclosure of the second form comprises:
 an outer curved wall; 
 an inner curved wall; 
 wherein the inner curved wall and outer curved wall has a height of 2 feet; and 
 the outer wall is spaced 16 inches from the inner wall. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 at least one cross-member for attaching the gate post support to the enclosure; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 at least one cross-member for attaching the gate post support to the enclosure. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 a prefabricated first enclosure portion; 
 a prefabricated second enclosure portion; and 
 wherein the first enclosure portion is attachable to the second enclosure portion; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 a prefabricated first enclosure portion; 
 a prefabricated second enclosure portion; and 
 wherein the first enclosure portion is attachable to the second enclosure portion. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 an alignment bracket for attaching an end of the first cross-member to the gate post support of the first form; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 an alignment bracket for attaching an end of the second cross-member to the gate post support of the second form. 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first form further comprises:
 a net pole support for supporting an end of a net pole for supporting a netting of the throwing cage; and 
 
 the second form further comprises:
 a net pole support for supporting an end of a net pole for supporting the netting of the throwing cage. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The pair of forms of  claim 7  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 the gate post support comprising a sleeve; and 
 the net pole support comprising a sleeve; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 the gate post support comprising a sleeve; and 
 the net pole support comprising a sleeve. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 a first wheel chock; 
 a second wheel chock; 
 a first gate locking rod plate; and 
 a second locking rod plate; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 a first wheel chock; 
 a second wheel chock; 
 a first gate locking rod plate; and 
 a second locking rod plate. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  wherein:
 the enclosure and the gate post support of the first form comprise metal; and 
 the enclosure and the gate post support of the second form comprise metal. 
 
     
     
         11 . The pair of forms of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of net poles; 
 a plurality of net pole supports; 
 a net; 
 the first rotatable gate; and 
 the second rotatable gate. 
 
     
     
         12 . The pair of forms of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a form for forming a throwing circle. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 installing the pair of forms of  claim 1  in the support structure relative to a location for a throwing circle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the installing the pair of forms comprises:
 excavating the support structure; 
 placing the pair of forms in the excavated support structure; and 
 placing uncured cement in the cavities of the pair of forms to form the horizontal pads. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 installing a plurality of net pole supports in the support structure for receiving a plurality of net poles around the location of the throwing circle; and 
 installing a throwing circle. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing the pair of forms of  claim 1  fixedly disposed in the support structure having the horizontal pads; and   providing a throwing cage attached to the support structure so that the wheels of the rotatable gates are supported by the horizontal pads.   
     
     
         17 . A pair of forms for constructing a first gate foundation and a second gate foundation in a support structure of a throwing cage, the pair of forms comprising:
 a first prefabricated form comprising:
 an enclosure defining a cavity having an open upper end; and 
 wherein the first form is installable in the support structure so that the enclosure is operable for forming a horizontal pad to support a wheel of a first rotatable gate of the throwing cage; and 
   a second prefabricated form comprising:
 an enclosure defining a cavity having an open upper end; and 
 wherein the second form is installable in the support structure so that the enclosure is operable for forming a horizontal pad to support a wheel of a second rotatable gate of the throwing cage. 
   
     
     
         18 . The pair of forms of  claim 17  wherein:
 the open upper end of the enclosure of the first form comprises an arcuate open upper end; and 
 the open upper end of the enclosure of the second form comprises an arcuate open upper end. 
 
     
     
         19 . The pair of forms of  claim 17  wherein:
 the enclosure of the first form comprises:
 an outer curved wall; 
 an inner curved wall; 
 wherein the inner curved wall and outer curved wall has a height of 2 feet; and 
 the outer wall is spaced 16 inches from the inner wall; and 
 
 the enclosure of the second form comprises:
 an outer curved wall; 
 an inner curved wall; 
 wherein the inner curved wall and outer curved wall has a height of 2 feet; and 
 the outer wall is spaced 16 inches from the inner wall. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The pair of forms of  claim 17  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 a prefabricated first enclosure portion; 
 a prefabricated second enclosure portion; and 
 wherein the first enclosure portion is attachable to the second enclosure portion; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 a prefabricated first enclosure portion; 
 a prefabricated second enclosure portion; and 
 wherein the first enclosure portion is attachable to the second enclosure portion. 
 
 
     
     
         21 . The pair of forms of  claim 17  wherein:
 the first form comprises:
 a first wheel chock; 
 a second wheel chock; 
 a first gate locking rod plate; and 
 a second locking rod plate; and 
 
 the second form comprises:
 a first wheel chock; 
 a second wheel chock; 
 a first gate locking rod plate; and 
 a second locking rod plate. 
 
 
     
     
         22 . The pair of forms of  claim 17  wherein:
 the enclosure comprises metal; and 
 the enclosure comprises metal. 
 
     
     
         23 . The pair of forms of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a plurality of net poles; 
 a plurality of net pole supports, 
 a net; 
 the first rotatable gate; and 
 the second rotatable gate. 
 
     
     
         24 . The pair of forms of  claim 23  further comprising:
 a form for forming a throwing circle. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 installing the pair of forms of  claim 17  in the support structure relative of a location for a throwing circle.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the installing the pair of forms comprises:
 excavating the support structure; 
 placing the pair of forms in the excavated support structure; and 
 placing uncured cement in the cavities of the pair of forms to form the horizontal pads. 
 
     
     
         27 . A method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 installing a plurality of gate post supports in the support structure for receiving a plurality of rotatable gates; 
 installing a plurality of net pole supports in the support structure for receiving a plurality of net poles around the location of the throwing circle; and 
 installing a throwing circle. 
 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 providing the pair of forms of  claim 17  fixedly disposed in the support structure having the horizontal pads; and   providing a throwing cage attached to the support structure so that the wheels of the rotatable gates are supported by the horizontal pads.   
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 excavating a first portion of a support structure;   placing a first prefabricated gate form in the excavated first portion of the support structure, the second prefabricated form comprising an enclosure;   excavating a second portion of the support structure;   placing a second prefabricated gate form in the excavated second portion of the support structure, the second prefabricated form comprising an enclosure;   placing uncured cement in the enclosure of the first prefabricated form with a top surface even with a top edge of the enclosure of the first prefabricated form;   placing uncured cement in the enclosure of the second prefabricated form with a top surface even with a top edge of the enclosure of the second prefabricated form; and   allowing the cement to cure.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein:
 the first prefabricated form comprises the enclosure having sides defining a planar opening, and the enclosure connected to a gate post support defining a vertical passageway having a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to the planar opening; and 
 the second prefabricated form comprises the enclosure having sides defining a planar opening, and the enclosure connected to a gate post support defining a vertical passageway having a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to the to the planar opening. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising:
 installing a plurality of net pole supports for receiving a plurality of net poles around the location of the throwing circle; and 
 installing a throwing circle. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 installing a plurality of net poles in the plurality of net pole supports; 
 supporting a netting from the plurality of net poles; 
 installing a post of a first rotatable gate of a throwing cage in the gate post supports of the first prefabricated form with at least one wheel of the first gate supported on the cured cement in the first prefabricated form; and 
 installing a post of a second rotatable gate of the throwing cage in the gate post support of the second prefabricated form with at least one wheel of the second gate supported on the cured cement in the second prefabricated form. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein:
 the first prefabricated form comprises an enclosure connected to a gate post support and to a net pole support for receiving a net pole for supporting a net; and 
 the second prefabricated form comprises an enclosure connected to a gate post support and to a net pole support for receiving a net pole for supporting the net. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the enclosures of the first and second forms are formed from a metallic sheet material and the gate post supports of the first and second forms are formed from a tubular metallic material.