Crossbar connector for a sports goal

Abstract

A crossbar connector for a sports goal comprising at least two crossbar elements, wherein the crossbar connector comprises a first connecting portion operable to connect with a first of the at least two crossbar elements and a second connecting portion operable to connect with a second of the at least two crossbar elements, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 170° and less than 180°. The invention also extends to a corner connector for a sports goal, disassemblable sports goal kit and a sports goal.

1 . A crossbar connector for a sports goal comprising at least two crossbar elements, wherein the crossbar connector comprises a first connecting portion operable to connect with a first of the at least two crossbar elements and a second connecting portion operable to connect with a second of the at least two crossbar elements, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 170° and less than 180°. 
     
     
         2 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the crossbar connector further comprises a central portion which is integrally formed with the first and second connecting portions to form a conjoined shape. 
     
     
         3 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the central portion comprises an upper region and a lower region, wherein the length of the upper region is wider than that of the lower region. 
     
     
         4 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the central portion is of greater thickness than the first and second connecting portions. 
     
     
         5 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the central portion comprises an internal channel. 
     
     
         6 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connecting portions are hollow. 
     
     
         7 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the crossbar connector is operable to connect to the at least two crossbar elements via a friction fit. 
     
     
         8 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the crossbar connector comprises one or more securing means operable to secure the crossbar connector to the at least two crossbar elements. 
     
     
         9 . The crossbar connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of of greater than 172° and less than 179°. 
     
     
         10 . A corner connector for a sports goal comprises at least one crossbar element and at least one post element, wherein the corner connector comprises a first connecting portion operable to connect with the at least one crossbar element or at least one post element and a second connecting portion operable to connect with the at least one post element or at least one crossbar element when the first connecting portion connects to the other of the at least one crossbar element or at least one post element, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 90 and less than 100. 
     
     
         11 . The corner connector according to  claim 10 , wherein the corner connector further comprises a central portion which is integrally formed with the first and second connecting portions to form a conjoined shape. 
     
     
         12 . The corner connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion comprises a first corner portion and a second corner portion, wherein the first and second corner portions are integrally formed to form a conjoined shape. 
     
     
         13 . The corner connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion comprises a first corner portion and a second corner portion, wherein first and second corner portions are arranged so as to be perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The corner connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion is of greater thickness than the first and second connecting portions. 
     
     
         15 . The corner connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion comprises an internal channel. 
     
     
         16 . The corner connector according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second connecting portions are hollow. 
     
     
         17 . The corner connector according to  claim 10 , wherein the corner connector is operable to connect with the at least one crossbar element and the at least one post element via a friction fit. 
     
     
         18 . The corner connector according to  claim 10 , wherein the corner connector comprises one or more securing means operable to connect the corner connector to the at least one crossbar element and the at least one post element. 
     
     
         19 . The corner connector according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 90° and less than 96°. 
     
     
         20 . A disassemblable sports goal kit, the kit comprising a crossbar connector and at least two crossbar elements, wherein the crossbar connector comprises a first connecting portion operable to connect with a first of the at least two crossbar elements and a second connecting portion operable to connect with a second of the at least two crossbar elements, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 170° and less than 180°. 
     
     
         21 . A disassemblable sports goal kit, the kit comprising at least one corner connector, at least one crossbar element and at least one post element, wherein the corner connector comprises a first connecting portion operable to connect with the at least one crossbar element or at least one post element and a second connecting portion operable to connect with the at least one post element or at least one crossbar element when the first connecting portion connects to the other of the at least one crossbar element or at least one post element, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 90° and less than 100°. 
     
     
         22 . A sports goal comprising a crossbar having at least two crossbar elements, wherein the crossbar comprises a crossbar connector comprising a first connecting portion operable to connect with a first of the at least two crossbar elements and a second connecting portion operable to connect with a second of the at least two crossbar elements, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 170° and less than 180°. 
     
     
         23 . The goal according to  claim 22 , wherein the crossbar connector or a portion thereof and the at least two crossbar elements or a portion thereof are linked together by linking means. 
     
     
         24 . A sports goal, the goal comprising at least one crossbar element and at least one post element, wherein the goal comprises at least one corner connector comprising a first connecting portion operable to connect with the at least one crossbar element and a second connecting portion operable to connect with the at least one post element, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second connecting portions are arranged at an angle of greater than 90 and less than 100. 
     
     
         25 . The goal according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one corner connector or a portion thereof, the at least one crossbar element or a portion thereof and the at least one post element or a portion thereof are linked together by linking means.