METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A GOAL POST WITH AUDIENCE DECIBEL LEVEL CONTROLLED SPACING ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE UPRIGHTS

Abstract

A goalpost for football games and the like has a pair of parallel uprights that may be moved toward and away from one another by a motor driven mechanism. A control system for driving the motor has an input signal. based on the sound level produced by spectators at a game and/or the number of Internet messages generated by TV spectators. The spectators produce a crowd roar or Internet messages when a kick through the uprights is to occur.

Claims

1. A method for constructing and employing a goalpost with audience decibel level controlled spacing established between associated uprights, said method comprising the steps of: providing a goalpost with a vertical post having its lower end fixed relative to a playing field, a horizontally supported crossbar secured to an upper end of the vertical post, and a pair of spaced apart, upwardly extending and horizontally adjustable uprights supported upon the crossbar; incorporating a decibel volume responsive drive system into the crossbar including each of a sensor and an electronic control system in communication with a motor for turning a screw extending ugh an interior of the crossbar in engagement with bottom-supported sliders associated with the uprights; and continuously monitoring a decibel level of a crowd via repetitive outputs of the sensor and electronic control system in order to continually adjust a spacing between the uprights such that an increase in decibel level results in a reciprocal decrease in spacing between the uprights.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of integrating the drive system motor, sensor and electronic control system into a housing secured to an end of the crossbar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other objectives, advantages, and applications of the present invention will be made clear by the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a goalpost assembly with adjustable distances between the uprights which may be employed with the present invention; and

[0010] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the screw drive assembly, partially broken away.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the goalpost with adjustable spacing between the uprights employs a vertical post 10 having its lower end fixed relative to the playing field. The upper end of the post 10 supports a horizontally extending crossbar 14 having a motor based drive system 16 supported on one of its ends. A pair of sliders 18 and 20 are supported on the crossbar 14 for movement along the crossbar under control of the drive system 16. The slider 18 carries a vertically upright crossbar 22 while the slider 20 carries a vertically extending crossbar 24. The drive system 16 acts through the sliders 18 and 20 to adjust the spacing of the uprights 22 and 24.

[0012] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the drive system for the uprights 22 and 24.

[0013] A sensor 30, which could be a sound volume sensor, or in the alternative embodiment a generator of a signal proportional to the number of Internet messages received, or some combination of both, provides its output to an electronic control system 32, which may constitute a programmed general purpose computer, which generates signals for driving the motor 16. The motor 16 in turn rotates a screw 34 which extends through the length of the upright 14.

[0014] As the control signal from the input element 30 increases, the screw 34 is driven in a first direction, driving the uprights toward one another, and as the control signal decreases, the screw is driven in the opposite direction to return the uprights 22 and 24 to their normal position. The sliders 18 and 20 have nuts or the like at their lower ends (not shown) which engage the screw and drive the uprights 22 and 24 to their controlled positions.