초록 ▼

A soccer goal pad comprises an integrally formed foam body for overlying the playing surface of a goal post. The pad is self retained on the post. The goal pad provides impact-cushioning along the playing surface so as to reduce the risk of injury, while minimizing its affect on the trajectory and s

A soccer goal pad comprises an integrally formed foam body for overlying the playing surface of a goal post. The pad is self retained on the post. The goal pad provides impact-cushioning along the playing surface so as to reduce the risk of injury, while minimizing its affect on the trajectory and speed of a soccer goal bouncing off of the padded post. A method of making the goal pad is disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A soccer goal assembly comprising: a soccer goal including a post having a generally orthogonal cross-sectional post shape to present a front section and generally perpendicular side sections, with the front and side sections cooperatively defining a longitudinally exte

The invention claimed is: 1. A soccer goal assembly comprising: a soccer goal including a post having a generally orthogonal cross-sectional post shape to present a front section and generally perpendicular side sections, with the front and side sections cooperatively defining a longitudinally extending, generally forward and sideward facing playing surface; and a goal pad removably wrapped at least partly around the post to overlie the playing surface, said goal pad including an elongated body comprising a wall that presents a generally tubular cross-sectional pad shape with a central opening in which the goal post is received, said wall presenting an inner surface that defines the central opening, said wall including at least three longitudinally extending, generally straight wall portions, with a pair of the wall portions being spaced apart and projecting from a first one of the wall portions, said body presenting a longitudinally extending slot defined between opposed longitudinal edges, said body being formed of a compressible and resilient material that provides impact-cushioning along the playing surface and permits resilient flexing thereof so that the edges are resiliently separable to receive the post within the slot as the goal pad is installed or removed, said body being in a resiliently flexed condition when received on the post and in a relatively unflexed condition when located off of the post, said pair of wall portions converging toward the slot when the body is in the unflexed condition and being less convergent when the body is in the flexed conditions said wall portions assuming a generally orthogonal shape and the inner surface contacting and closely conforming to the post shape when the body is received on the post. 2. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said post presenting a rear section opposite the front section, with the side sections extending therebetween, said slot being positioned along the rear section of the post, said pair of the wall portions converging rearwardly toward the slot. 3. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 2, said first one of the wall portions overlying the front section of the post, and said pair of wall portions each overlying a respective one of the side sections of the post, said wall including a rear wall portion opposite the first one of the wall portions, with the pair of wall portions extending therebetween, said wall having a orthogonal cross-sectional shape, with the first and rear portions being generally parallel to one another and the pair of wall portions being generally parallel to one another, when the body is received on the post. 4. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said wall having a maximum thickness of about ⅝ of an inch. 5. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said body being formed of a foam material, said foam material having a Bashore Resiliency Test value of at least about 35. 6. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said edges being spaced apart when the body is in the flexed condition, such that the slot is open when the body is in the flexed condition. 7. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said opposite portions being generally parallel when the body is in the flexed condition. 8. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 5, said wall having a maximum thickness of about ⅝ of an inch. 9. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 5, said foam material having a Bashore Resiliency Test value of between about 40 and about 52. 10. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 9, said foam material comprising an integral skin urethane foam. 11. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said goal including a pair of spaced apart upright posts and a cross post extending between the uprights posts, with the first-mentioned post being one of the upright or cross posts, said posts being similarly shaped and dimensioned. 12. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 11; and at least one additional goal pad on one of the other posts, said at least one additional goal pad being similar in construction and function to the first-mentioned goal pad. 13. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 12, each of said goal pads being received on a respective one of the upright posts. 14. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said post presenting a maximum cross-sectional width dimension and an outer periphery about which the goal pad is wrapped, said wall extending at least about 75% around the outer periphery of the post, said wall having a maximum thickness that is less than about 50% of the maximum cross-sectional width dimension of the at least one post. 15. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 14, said maximum thickness of the wall being about ⅝ of an inch. 16. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 14, said body being formed of a foam material, said foam material having a Bashore Resiliency Test value of at least about 35. 17. The soccer goal assembly as claimed in claim 1, said first one of the wall portions overlying the front section of the post, and said pair of wall portions each overlying a respective one of the side sections of the post.