ROTATABLE GOAL POSTS

Abstract

Rotatable and hinged goal posts are operably rotatable so that the goal post may rotated to a first position with the uprights being disposed toward a playing field such as for use when playing football, and to second position where the uprights being disposed away from the playing field such as for use when playing soccer. In addition, the rotatable and hinged goal posts are operably pivotable from a raised orientation and a lowered orientation, and vice versa.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A rotatable goal post comprising; a cross member; a pair of spaced-apart uprights attachable to said cross member; a support member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion attachable to said cross member; and a bearing comprising a plurality of rolling elements operably attachable to said lower portion of said support member and to a fixed support in the ground, said bearing operable for rotating said rotatable goal post about said lower portion of said support member about 180-degrees from a first position with said uprights disposed toward a playing field to a second position with said uprights being disposed away from the playing field.

27. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 wherein said plurality of rolling elements comprises a plurality of balls.

28. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 further comprising a locking pin for inhibiting rotation of said bearing.

29. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 further comprising a first plate attachable to said lower portion of said support, and a second plate attachable to said bearing and to the fixed support in the ground.

30. The rotatable goal post of claim 29 further comprising a plurality of gusset plates operably attached to said first plate and to said lower portion of said support.

31. The rotatable goal post of claim 29 further comprising a connecting member connectable to said first plate to inhibit rotation of said bearing.

32. The rotatable goal post of claim 31 wherein said connecting member comprises an eyebolt.

33. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 wherein said bearing is positionable in an enclosure disposed below a surface of the playing field.

34. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 wherein said bearing is operable for rotating said goal post about 360-degrees about said lower portion of said support member.

35. A method for moving a goal post, the method comprising: rotating the goal post of claim 26 from the first position with the uprights disposed toward the playing field to the second position with the uprights disposed away from the playing field; and rotating the goal post from the second position with the uprights disposed away from the playing field to the first position with the uprights disposed toward the playing field.

36-48. (canceled)

49. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 wherein said bearing comprises a ball bearing turntable assembly having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between said outer ring and said inner ring.

50. The rotatable goal post of claim 26 further comprising said enclosure, and wherein said bearing is positionable in said enclosure disposed below a surface of the playing field.

51. The rotatable goal post of claim 29 wherein said first plate comprises a tab extending from an edge of said first plate, said tab having a slot, and further comprising a connecting member operably attachable to said tab to inhibit rotation of said bearing.

52. A method for moving a goal post, the method comprising: positioning the goal post of claim 26 in the first position with uprights of the goal post disposed toward a playing field; and rotating the goal post on the bearing from the first position to a second position so that the uprights are disposed away from the playing field.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the rotating comprises an operator operably attaching a first end of a tool to the goal post and holding a second end of the tool while walking around the lower end portion of the goal post.

54. A rotatable goal post comprising; a cross member; a pair of spaced-apart uprights attachable to said cross member; a support member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion attachable to said cross member; a first plate attachable to an end of said lower portion of said support member; a second plate fixedly attachable to the ground; a rotatable device operably attachable to said lower portion of said support member and to a fixed support in the ground, said rotatable device operable for rotating said rotatable goal post about said lower portion of said support member about 180-degrees from a first position with said uprights disposed toward a playing field to a second position with said uprights being disposed away from the playing field; and wherein said first plate, said second plate, a portion of said lower portion of said support member, and said rotatable device are positionable in an enclosure disposed below a surface of a playing field.

55. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 wherein said rotatable device comprises a bearing having a plurality of rolling elements.

56. The rotatable goal post of claim 55 wherein said plurality of rolling elements comprises a plurality of balls.

57. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 wherein said rotatable device comprises a ball bearing turntable assembly having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between said outer ring and said inner ring.

58. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 further comprising a plurality of gusset plates operably attached to said first plate and to said lower portion of said support.

59. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 further comprising said enclosure, and wherein said first plate, said second plate, said end of said lower portion, and said rotatable device are positionable in said enclosure disposed below the surface of the playing field.

60. The rotatable goal post of claim 59 further comprising a plurality of gusset plates operably attached to said first plate and to said lower portion of said support, and wherein said gusset plates are positionable in said enclosure disposed below the surface of the playing field.

61. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 further comprising a locking pin for inhibiting rotation of said rotatable device.

62. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 further comprising a connecting member connectable to said first plate to inhibit rotation of said rotatable device.

63. The rotatable goal post of claim 62 wherein said connecting member comprises an eyebolt.

64. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 wherein said first plate comprises a tab extending from an edge of said first plate, said tab having a slot, and further comprising a connecting member operably attachable to said tab to inhibit rotation of said bearing.

65. The rotatable goal post of claim 54 wherein said rotatable device is operable for rotating said goal post about 360-degrees about said lower portion of said support member.

66. A method for moving a goal post, the method comprising: rotating the goal post of claim 54 from the first position with the uprights disposed toward the playing field to the second position with the uprights disposed away from the playing field; and rotating the goal post from the second position with the uprights disposed away from the playing field to the first position with the uprights disposed toward the playing field.

67. A method for moving a goal post, the method comprising: positioning the goal post of claim 54 in the first position with uprights of the goal post disposed toward a playing field; and rotating the goal post on the bearing from the first position to a second position so that the uprights are disposed away from the playing field.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the rotating comprises an operator operably attaching a first end of a tool to the goal post and holding a second end of the tool while walking around the lower end portion of the goal post.

69. A method for moving a football goal post, the method comprising: positioning the football goal post supported at a lower end portion of the football goal post on a rotatable device in a first position with uprights of the football goal post disposed toward a playing field; and rotating the football goal post on the rotatable device from the first position to a second position so that the uprights are disposed away from the playing field.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the rotating comprises an operator operably attaching a tool to the football goal post and holding a distal end of the tool while walking around the lower end of the football goal post.

71. The method of claim 69 further comprising disconnecting a connecting member to allow rotation of the rotatable device.

72. The method of claim 69 wherein the rotatable device is positioned in an enclosure in the ground.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the rotatable device comprises a bearing having a plurality of rolling elements.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the rotatable device comprises a ball bearing turntable assembly having an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring.

75. The method of claim 69 wherein the rotatable device is disposed between a first plate and a second plate, the first plate comprises a tab extending from an edge of the first plate, the tab having a slot, and further comprising a connecting member operably attachable to the tab to inhibit rotation of the rotatable device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rotatable and hinged goal post in accordance with the present invention disposed in a first vertical position such as for use in playing football;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotatable and hinged goal post of FIG. 1 disposed in a second vertical position such as for use in playing soccer;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the rotatable and hinged goal post shown in FIG. 1 with the goal post disposed in an upright orientation;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the rotatable and hinged goal post shown in FIG. 1 with the goal post disposed in a lowered orientation;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the rotatable and hinged goal post of FIG. 1 illustrating the rotatable and hinged assembly;

[0019] FIGS. 6 and 7 are side elevational views of the lower portion of the rotatable hinged goal post of FIG. 1 illustrating the rotatable and hinged assembly;

[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation view of the rotatable device of the rotatable and hinged assembly of FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the rotatable hinged goal post of FIG. 1 illustrating the rotatable and hinged assembly being rotated;

[0022] FIG. 10 is perspective view of the base of the goal post and the rotatable and hinged assembly disposed in a lowered orientation;

[0023] FIGS. 11-13 are diagrammatic illustrations of the hydraulic cylinder and pump corresponding to the goal post of FIG. 1 being in an upright position prior to being lowered, being lowered to a lowered position, and being raised to an upright position, respectfully; and

[0024] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration the pump shown in FIGS. 11-13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention in one or more aspects is directed to goal posts that may be operably rotated about a vertical portion of the gooseneck. For example, the goal post may be positionable in a first vertical position with the uprights being disposed toward a playing field such as for use when playing football, and rotatable 180-degrees to a second vertical position with the uprights being disposed away from the playing field such as for use when playing soccer. The goal post may be returned to the first position by rotating the goal post back 180-degrees, or continuing to rotate the goal post another 180-degrees (e.g., a total of 360-degrees) for use when playing football. In addition, the present invention in other aspects is directed goal posts that may be capable of being operably pivoted from a raised or upright orientation to a lowered orientation, and vice versa. In further aspects, the present invention includes a combination of these two capabilities into one design allows for rotating and/or raising and lowering the goal posts.

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a rotatable and hingable football goal post 10 in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. Goal post 10 may include a pair of spaced-apart vertical uprights 12 attachable to a horizontal cross member 14, and a support member 16, such as a curved support member or a gooseneck having an upper portion 17, a lower portion 18, and a curved portion 11 disposed therebetween. Upper portion 17 is attachable to cross member 14.

[0027] For example, goal post 10 may be typically positioned for use on a ground such as a natural or artificial or synthetic turf playing field for playing football as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, goal post 10, as described in greater detail below, may be operably rotated about the lower portion of support member 16, in either of the directions of the curved double arrow R shown in FIG. 1, to move the cross member 14 and the uprights 12 to a location where they may not significantly interfere with a soccer goal 19 or a field as shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, goal post 10 may be operable configured, as described in greater detail below, and pivotable adjacent to the lower portion of the support member. For example, goal post 10 may be lowered from an upright orientation where the cross member is spaced-apart from the ground, in the direction of curved arrow L as shown in FIG. 3, to a lowered orientation with the cross member resting and in contact with the ground as shown in FIG. 4. Goal post 10 may be raised from a lowered orientation, in the direction of arrow R as shown in FIG. 4, to the upright orientation as shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 5, goal post 10 (FIG. 1) may include a rotatable and hinged assembly 20, which allows the goal post to be rotatable about a vertical axis Y of the goal post, and pivotable about a hinge having an axis H at the base of the goal post. Rotatable and hinged assembly 20 may generally include a hinge assembly 30, a bottom plate 60, and a rotatable device 70 disposed therebetween.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, bottom plate 60 may be secured in and to the ground in an enclosure 62 via a concrete footing 64 and support bolts 66, two of which are shown disposed in the concrete. Rotatable device 70, as shown in FIG. 8, in one embodiment may include a bearing, for example, a ball bearing turntable assembly having an upper portion 72 having an inner downwardly-depending ring 73, and a lower portion 74 having an outer upwardly-extending ring 75. A plurality of rolling elements such as ball bearings may be disposed and/or sealed between the outer ring and the inner ring. With reference again to FIG. 6, the lower portion of the rotatable device may be fixedly attached to the bottom plate with bolts or by welding. The rotatable device may be operable to axially and radially support the weight of the goal post. A suitable rotatable device is available from RWM Casters, of Gastonia, N.C., model no. 114-6640K5-RWM. For example, the rotatable device may be a sealed bearing assembly which may provide easier rotation, and a simpler design which may result in a longer life than bearings having an interference fit even if an insert is provided to reduce friction. The bearings may be load bearing and enclosed in a hardened steel housing which can be bolted to the adjacent plates. It will be appreciated that other types of bearings may be suitably employed.

[0031] With reference still to FIG. 6, hinge assembly 30 may include an upper plate 40 and a lower plate 50 hingedly connected via a hinge 32 (best shown in FIG. 7) disposed along one side of the plates, which allows the goal post to be pivoted or lowered to the ground. Upper plate 40 may be operably connected to lower portion 18 of support member 16, e.g., the lower portion of the gooseneck. For example, upper plate 40 may be suitably bolted to a plate 13 which is attached, e.g., bolted to support member 16 with a plurality of gusset plates 15. It will be appreciated that other types of hinges may be suitably employed. From the present description, it will be appreciated by those in the art that it may be possible to hingedly attach the bottom of the gusseted base of the support member to the top of the bearing assembly, for example, where the hinge is disposed below the rotatable device. Lower plate 50 may be fixedly attached, e.g., bolted, to the upper portion of the rotatable device.

[0032] The hinge assembly 30 is rotatable relative to bottom plate 60. In addition, the rotatable and hinged assembly 20 may be locked to prevent rotation of the goal post relative to bottom plate 60 and the ground with a pull pin 80 fixedly operably attached to lower portion 74 (FIG. 8) and/or bottom plate 60. The pull pin may be a horizontally movable spring loaded pin positionable in locking holes 62 (best shown in FIG. 7) located at 90-degree intervals around the outer ring of the rotatable device. The pin once pulled from its normal locking position can be either locked by rotating the pin so that the pin does not engage the outer ring, or remains biased against the outer ring while the gooseneck rotates so that the spring loaded pin automatically locks into the next locking position at the 90-degree intervals.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7, an eyebolt 90 includes a first end 92 pivotally attached to an edge of bottom plate 60 and a second threaded end 94 attachable with a nut and washer to at least one tab 44 having a slot which tab extends from an edge of upper plate 40 of the hinge assembly to lock the hinge assembly (and also aid in preventing rotation of the goal post). Additional tabs may be disposed along side edges of the upper plate of the hinge assembly.

[0034] With reference again to FIG. 6, a controlled descent or lowering of the goal post, as well as a controlled raising of the goal post, is accomplished using an actuator 100 such as, for example, a cylinder 110 such as a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder may be mounted integrally with and inside the gooseneck of the goal post. For example, the cylinder may have an end 112 pivotally attached via a pin 120 to support member 16. As best shown in FIG. 10, a distal end 162 of a piston rod 160 may extend through an opening 45 in upper plate 40 and operably pivotally attach to lower plate 50. A suitable hydraulic cylinder is available from HydroAir Hughes, of Clarence, N.Y.

[0035] With reference again to FIG. 6, a pump 150 may be a manually operated pump for operating the cylinder to raise and lower the goal post. The manual pump may be mounted to lower plate 50 of the hinge assembly, and attached to the cylinder via a suitable line 130, such as a single hydraulic line. A pressure compensated flow regulator 140 may be fluidly coupled between the pump and the hydraulic line. This configuration reduces the complexity of piping the pump to the cylinder. A bar or tube attachable to the pump may be mounted on the inside of the enclosure during storage and operably attachable to the pump when in use. A jacking motion, similar to operating a car jack, may be used to operate the pump to raise the goal post.

[0036] FIGS. 11-13 diagrammatic illustrate the cylinder and pump in an upright orientation prior to being lowered, being lowered to a lowered orientation, and being raised to an upright orientation, respectfully. As shown in FIG. 11, cylinder 110 includes a vent 115, pump cylinder 150 having a handle 152 and a release lever/handle 154, and pressure compensated flow regulator 140. The cylinder may also have a hose break valve utilized as a safety stop, located at the bottom of the cylinder in the gooseneck. For example, if the line, such as a hydraulic line, is ruptured and the flow exceeds a predetermined flow rate, the hose break valve will close. The release lever/handle located on the side of the pump assembly is used to lower the system and the pump handle is used to raise the goal post back up. A suitable pump is available from Hydro Air Hughes, of Clarence, New York, model no. HP61 DAH65. A suitable pressure compensated flow regulator is available from HydraForce of Lincolnshire, Illinois, model number FR10-33. A suitable hose break valve may be integrated into a hydraulic cylinder, and is available from Hydro Air Hughes, of Clarence, New York, as a custom design.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 12, when the release lever/handle is opened the fluid pressure in the cylinder is transferred into pump cylinder 150 allowing piston rod 160 of the cylinder to extend the piston rod from the cylinder, thereby lowering the goal post in the directed of arrow L. The pressure compensated flow regulator provides a constant flow rate through the fluid line when lowering the goal post.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, with a single hose system with a bypass built into the pump, when cylinder 110 is pressurized by pumping pump 150, the pressure forces piston rod to retract into cylinder 110 disposed in the gooseneck to raise the goal post in the direction of arrow R. In addition, the pump may include a double-acting piston so that the piston pumps fluid when the handle is pushed and pulled.

[0039] In another embodiment, a pump may be an electrically powered drive pump. For example, the electrically powered drive pump may be disposed on the gooseneck portion of the goal post and operably connected to the cylinder via fluid lines. For example, an operator may operably connect a portable power supply such as a battery to the electric drive pump for activating the electric pump, and thus raise and lower the goal post. Alternatively, the enclosure may include an outlet for supplying power to the electrically powered drive pump for raising and lowering the goal post. In addition, a pneumatically actuated cylinder and pump may be suitably employed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the pump may be disposed in the gooseneck portion of the goal post. From the present description, it will be appreciated that the actuator may be any device that takes energy, and converts that into motion for pivoting of the goal post.

[0040] In operation to rotate the goal post, an operator disengages the pull pin, and disengages the eyebolt. Thereafter, the operator can use and hold onto a distal end of the handle of the pump to apply leverage to rotate the goal post as the operator walks around the gooseneck as shown in FIG. 9. The rotatable device allows the gooseneck, crossbar, and upright assembly to be rotated by hand with minimal force. An operator may also use and hold onto a distal end of a tool such as a bar suitably attached to the gooseneck to apply leverage in rotating the goal post as the operator walks around the gooseneck. The bar may include the bar used to raise and lower the goal post.

[0041] With reference to FIG. 10, in operation to lower the goal post, the operator pumps the handle on the hydraulic pump to ensure pressure in cylinder then disengages the eyebolt. Thereafter the operator utilizes the release lever/handle at the side of pump to actuate the valve to allow transfer of fluid to travel back into the pump (FIG. 12) which extends the cylinder and hence lowers the goal.

[0042] In operation to raise the goal post, as shown in FIG. 13, the operator reengages the release lever/handle which closes the valve allowing the operator to raise the goal by pumping the handle located on top of the pump. Once the goal post is orientated upright, the operator reengages the eyebolt securing the goal post.

[0043] Combining the above capabilities into one design for rotation about a vertical axis of the lower portion of the gooseneck of the goal post, and pivoting about a hinge disposed adjacent the bottom of the gooseneck of the goal post, allows either rotating or lowering, and to some degree providing additional flexibility if the operator or groundskeeper desires to lower the goal post in tighter venues, i.e. where there is limited space to drop the goal post to the rear, or to a side.

[0044] The rotational capability not only moves the crossbar away from the field of play when soccer is underway, but also solves a problem related to the lowering of the goal post to the ground. By combining rotation with the hinge mechanism, the goal post may first be rotated 90-degrees or 180-degrees then lowered onto the ground away from the playing field. This may be important because many times the reason to lower or drop down the goal post is to ward off fans and spectators from climbing the goal post at the end of a game.

[0045] The present invention provides a controlled lowering of the goal post by employing, for example, a cylinder and pump configuration which, allows for a controlled lowering of the goal post, typically between about 12 seconds to 14 seconds. The raising of the goal post may be about 80 seconds to about 120 seconds. The rotation and the pivoting of the goal post may be performed by one person.

[0046] From the present description, the placement of the rotatable device such as a ball bearing, and the hinge assembly may be switched, i.e., the rotatable device disposed above the hinge assembly to operably rotate and raise and lower the goal post. From the present description, it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conventionally fixed goal post may be retrofitted with a rotatable and hingable gooseneck or gooseneck portion incorporating the features of the present invention to which an existing goal post may be operably attached.

[0047] Thus, while various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.