Apparatus and methods for facilitating set up of portable sport goals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sports goal having a net with indicia to facilitate aligning the net with the frame of the sports goal.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A modular sports goal, comprising: 
 a tubular frame forming a sports goal;    a mesh netting removably coupled to the tubular frame; and    the mesh netting comprising a frame outline boarder, wherein    the frame outline boarder facilitates orienting the mesh netting with the tubular frame such that the mesh netting can be removably coupled to the tubular frame.    
     
     
         2 . The modular sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein the frame outline boarder outlines at least a portion of the entire frame.  
     
     
         3 . The modular sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein the frame outline boarder outlines the entire frame.  
     
     
         4 . The modular sports goal of  claim 2 , wherein the frame outline boarder outlines at least one corner portion of the frame.  
     
     
         5 . The modular sports goal of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one corner indicator.    
     
     
         6 . The modular sports goal of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one corner indicator is a plurality of corner indicators.  
     
     
         7 . The modular sports goal of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one corner indicator is at least one of a flag, a ribbon, a surface texture, a color on the frame outline boarder, and a pattern on the frame outline boarder.  
     
     
         8 . The modular sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein the frame outline boarder is at least one of a color, a texture, a pattern, a symbol, and a material.  
     
     
         9 . The modular sports goal of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh netting is releasably coupled to the tubular frame by at least one of a tie, a sleeve, and weaving the tubular frame through holes in the mesh netting.  
     
     
         10 . A method of attaching a meshing netting having an alignment indicator to a frame to form a goal, the method comprising the steps of: 
 arranging a tubular frame to form a sport goal;    orienting the mesh netting such that the alignment indicator indicates proper alignment with the tubular frame; and    releasably attaching the meshing netting to the tubular frame.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the orienting the mesh netting step further includes aligning at least one corner indicator on the mesh netting with a matching corner on the frame.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the releasably attaching step includes wrapping a tie around the frame and mesh netting to secure the mesh netting to the tubular frame.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the releasably attaching step includes the step of sliding a sleeve over the tubular frame.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the releasably attaching step includes the step of weaving the tubular frame through holes in the mesh netting.  
     
     
         15 . A sports goal, comprising: 
 a plurality of tubular members;    a mesh netting;    means for releasably coupling the mesh netting to the plurality of tubular members; and    means indicating an alignment of the mesh netting to facilitate releasably coupling the mesh netting to the plurality of tubular members.    
     
     
         16 . The sport goal according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for indicating alignment comprises a frame outline boarder on a portion of the mesh netting.  
     
     
         17 . The sport goal according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for indicating alignment comprises a plurality of corner indicators.  
     
     
         18 . The sports goal according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for indicating alignment further comprises at least one corner indicator.  
     
     
         19 . The sport goal according to  claim 17 , wherein the means for indicating alignment further comprises a frame outline boarder on at least a portion of the mesh netting.  
     
     
         20 . The sport goal according to  claim 16 , wherein the frame outline boarder comprises at least one of a color, a texture, a pattern, and a symbol.