Goal post pad with flat sides and removable display plates

Abstract

A pad is designed to be easily attachable about the lower portion of a football goal post by virtue of a longitudinal split extending throughout its entire length allowing the pad to be flexed apart at the split to be installed over the goal post. The pad has internal padding that may consist of closed-cell foam or any flexible batting to provide suitable padding to cushion the post so that collisions by football players and referees do not result in injury. In the preferred embodiment, the periphery of the inventive pad has a square cross-section including four flat sides, each extending the entire vertical length of the pad. Each flat surface includes an attachment device such as VELCRO® fastener allowing releasable attachment of an elongated plate that may bear advertising indicia.

1 . A resilient pad comprising: 
 a) an elongated body having an axis of elongation and a passageway extending along said axis an entire length of said pad;    b) said body having an outer surface with at least one flat area thereon;    c) said body being filled with a resilient material extending between said outer surface and an outer periphery of said passageway.    
     
     
         2 . The pad of  claim 1 , said body having an elongated split extending said entire length and from said outer surface of said body to said outer periphery of said passageway.  
     
     
         3 . The pad of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one flat area comprises a plurality of flat areas.  
     
     
         4 . The pad of  claim 3 , wherein said body has a square cross-section with four flat sides.  
     
     
         5 . The pad of  claim 1 , further including a flat plate removably mounted over said at least one flat area.  
     
     
         6 . The pad of  claim 5 , further including attachment means for removably attaching said flat plate to said flat area.  
     
     
         7 . The pad of  claim 6 , wherein said attachment means comprises hook and pile fastening means.  
     
     
         8 . The pad of  claim 5 , further including advertising indicia on a face of said plate.  
     
     
         9 . The pad of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient material comprises closed-cell foam.  
     
     
         10 . The pad of  claim 7 , wherein one-half of said hook and pile fastening means is mounted on said body and another half thereof is mounted on said plate.  
     
     
         11 . The pad of  claim 5 , wherein said plate is made of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The pad of  claim 5 , wherein said plate is made of plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The pad of  claim 4 , further including a flat plate mounted over each of said flat sides.  
     
     
         14 . A resilient pad comprising: 
 a) an elongated body having a square cross-section, an axis of elongation and a passageway extending along said axis an entire length of said pad;    b) said body having an outer surface with four flat areas thereon;    c) said body being filled with a resilient material extending between said outer surface and an outer periphery of said passageway;    d) said body having an elongated split extending said entire length and from said outer surface of said body to said outer periphery of said passageway; and    e) a flat plate removably mounted over each of said flat areas.    
     
     
         15 . The pad of  claim 14 , further including attachment means for removably attaching said flat plates to said flat areas.  
     
     
         16 . The pad of  claim 15 , wherein said attachment means comprises hook and pile fastening means.  
     
     
         17 . The pad of  claim 14 , further including advertising indicia on a face of at least one of said plates.  
     
     
         18 . The pad of  claim 14 , wherein said resilient material comprises closed-cell foam.  
     
     
         19 . The pad of  claim 14 , wherein one-half of said hook and pile fastening means is mounted on said body and another half thereof is mounted on a said plate.  
     
     
         20 . The pad of  claim 14 , wherein said plates are made of a material chosen from the group consisting of metal and plastic.