USRE39402EExpiredUtility

Inflatable hoop/basket/goal

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 22, 2001Filed: Dec 12, 2003Granted: Nov 14, 2006

Est. expiryJan 22, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:Philip G. Chauvet Rod L Blair

A63B 63/08A63B 67/002A63B 2225/62

PatentIndex Score

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References

Claims

Abstract

A free standing, upright sports goal structure ( 10 ) having a plurality of inflatable bladders to form the framework ( 19 ) of a standing goal structure, together with an outer casing ( 25 ) of non-elastic material which encloses the inflatable framework ( 19 ) and serves to form a strong rigid goal structure ( 10 ) which is useful in a plurality of sports, yet which can quickly and easily be erected or collapsed for convenient transportation and storage.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

What is claimed is:

1. A sports goal comprising:
an inflatable goal structure comprising an annular member having a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball, and a plurality of leg members supporting said annular member in a horizontal position;
wherein said goal is substantially void of structure in between at least two adjacent leg members;
wherein said goal structure comprises a plurality of tubes formed of non-elastic material with at least one valve means for facilitating inflation and deflation of said structure;
wherein said goal is approximately eight feet tall.

2. The sports goal of claim 1 wherein: said goal is capable of standing on water.

3. The sports goal of claim 1 , further comprising: a net encircling the interior of said annular member and extending downwardly therefrom.

4. The sports goal of claim 1 further comprising: ballast means attached to said leg members to aid in maintaining said goal in an upright position.

5. The sports goal of claim 4 further comprising: said ballast member means comprises a bag filled with material at least as heavy as water.

6. The sports goal of claim 1 further comprising: a plurally plurality of flaps projecting from said leg members to receive means for anchoring said goal in a desired position.

7. The sports goal of claim 1 further comprising four leg members.

8. The sports goal of claim 1 further comprising an inflatable bladder.

9. A sports goal comprising:
an inflatable goal structure comprising an annular member having a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball, and a plurality of leg members supporting said annular member in a horizontal position;
wherein said goal is substantially void of structure in between at least two adjacent leg members;
wherein said goal structure comprises a plurality of tubes formed of non-elastic material with at least one valve means for facilitating inflation and deflation of said structure;
wherein said goal is approximately six feet tall.

10. The sports goal of claim 9 wherein: said goal is capable of standing on water.

11. The sports goal of claim 9 further comprising: a net encircleing encircling the interior of said annular member and extending downwardly therefrom.

12. The sports goal of claim 9 further comprising: ballast means attached to said leg members to aid in maintaining said goal in an upright position.

13. The sports goal of claim 12 further comprising: said ballast member means comprises a bag filled with material at least as heavy as water.

14. The sports goal of claim 9 further comprising: a plurally plurality of flaps projecting from said leg members to receive means for anchoring said goal in a desired position.

15. The sports goal of claim 9 further comprising four leg members.

16. The sports goal of claim 9 further comprising an inflatable bladder.

17. A sports game comprising:
a ball in combination with an inflatable goal structure comprising an annular member having a central opening to allow passage through of said ball and a plurality of spaced apart leg members supporting said annular member in a horizontal position; wherein said goal structure comprises a plurality of tubes with at least one valve for facilitating inflation and deflation of said structure; wherein said goal structure is substantially void of structure in between at least two adjacent leg members; a stability mechanism secured to at least one of said plurality of legs at one point and engaging a playing surface at another point.

18. A sports goal comprising:
an inflatable goal structure comprising an annular member having a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball, and a plurality of leg members supporting said annular member in a horizontal position; an open interior area within said inflatable goal structure between said plurality of leg members and beneath said annular member to allow a ball to travel from said central opening at least along a full length of said plurality of legs; wherein said goal structure comprises a plurality of tubes with at least one valve for facilitating inflation and deflation of said goal structure; wherein said goal is substantially void of structure in between at least two adjacent leg members; wherein said goal structure has a height of at least six feet tall.

19. The sports goal of claim 18 wherein said goal is capable of standing on water.

20. The sports goal of claim 18 further comprising:
a net encircling the interior of said annular member and extending downwardly therefrom.

21. The sports goal of claim 18 further comprising:
a ballast member attached to said plurality of leg members to aid in maintaining the goal in an upright position.

22. The sports goal of claim 21 wherein said ballast member comprises a bag filled with material at least as heavy as water.

23. The sports goal of claim 18 further comprising:
a plurality of flaps projecting from said plurality of leg members to receive means for anchoring the goal in a desired position.

24. The sports goal of claim 18 further comprising:
four leg members.

25. The sports goal of claim 18 further comprising:
an inflatable bladder.

26. A sports goal comprising:
an air inflatable goal structure comprising an annular member having a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball; a plurality of leg members supporting said annular member in a horizontal position; wherein said goal structure includes a plurality of tubes with at least one valve for facilitating inflation and deflation of said goal structure; wherein said goal structure has a height of at least six feet tall; wherein said plurality of legs are spaced apart from one another and are open to allow said ball to be readily removed from an interior of said goal structure.

27. A sports goal comprising:
an inflatable goal structure comprising an inflated annular member having a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball; a plurality of leg members in contact with a playing surface and supporting said horizontally positioned annular member; wherein said goal structure including a plurality of tubes with at least one valve for facilitating inflation and deflation of said goal structure; wherein said playing surface is separate from said goal.

28. The sports goal of claim 27 wherein said goal is capable of standing on water.

29. The sports goal of claim 28 further comprising:
a net encircling the interior of said annular member and extending downwardly therefrom.

30. The sports goal of claim 28 further comprising:
a ballast member attached to said plurality of leg members to aid in maintaining said goal in an upright position.

31. The sports goal of claim 30 wherein said ballast member comprises a bag filled with material at least as heavy as water.

32. The sports goal of claim 28 further comprising:
a plurality of flaps projecting from said plurality of leg members to receive means for anchoring said goal in a desired position.

33. The sports goal of claim 28 further comprising four leg members.

34. The sports goal of claim 28 further comprising an inflatable bladder.

35. An inflatable sports goal structure comprising:
an air inflatable annular member housing a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball, said inflatable annular member being oriented horizontal with respect to a playing surface; and a plurality of inflatable leg members attached to and supporting said annular member; said leg members extending from said annular member and in communication with said playing surface to support the sports goal structure in an upright position; wherein said playing surface is separate from said goal.

36. The inflatable sports goal structure as set forth in claim 35 further comprising a net member attached to said annular member and positioned in said central opening.

37. The inflatable sports goal structure as set forth in claim 36 wherein said net member allows passage therethrough of a ball.

38. A sports goal comprising:
an inflatable goal structure having an inflatable annular member with a central opening to allow passage therethrough of a ball said inflatable annular; a plurality of inflatable leg members having a predetermined length and supporting said horizontally positioned annular member; said goal structure comprising a plurality of inflatable tubes and at least one valve member for facilitating inflation and deflation of said goal structure; and a goal net positioned in said central opening; wherein a ball passing through said central opening can fall a distance at least as far as said predetermined length of said leg members.

39. The sports goal of claim 17 , wherein a net is secured to said annular member such that it encompasses said central opening.

40. The sports goal of claim 17 , wherein said goal structure has a height of at least six feet tall.

41. The sports goal of claim 39 , wherein a central passageway exists in said inflatable goal structure between said annular member and between said plurality of leg members to allow said ball to pass through the net and come to rest adjacent a playing surface.

42. The sports goal of claim 26 , wherein a net is secured to said annular member such that it encompasses said central opening.

43. The sports goal of claim 26 , further comprising:
a stability mechanism secured to at least one of said plurality of legs at one point and engaging a playing surface at another point.

44. The sports goal of claim 42 , wherein a central passageway exists in said inflatable goal structure between said annular member and between said plurality of legs members to allow said ball to pass through the net and come to rest adjacent a playing surface.

45. The sports goal of claim 26 , wherein said plurality of leg members have a generally arched configuration.

46. The sports goal of claim 27 , wherein said plurality of leg members have a generally arched configuration.

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