US-20260124512-A1 - TARGET ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A SPORTS GOAL

US20260124512A1US 20260124512 A1US20260124512 A1US 20260124512A1US-20260124512-A1

Abstract

A target assembly for use on a sports goal is provided. The target assembly comprises a target board. The target board also includes a channel that is formed around at least part of the at least one perimeter side surface. The channel is sized for releasably receiving and holding at least some of the plurality of frame elements. When the target board is oriented along a plane defined by one or more of the plurality of frame elements, the channel can be placed into substantial alignment with at least some of the frame elements, and the target board can then be slid along the at least some of the frame elements such that the at least some of the frame elements are releasably received within the channel and the target board is held in an opening between at least some of the plurality of frame elements.

Inventors

Brad MCGITCHIE
Kelly MCGITCHIE

Assignees

16231799 Canada inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A target assembly for use on a sports goal having a frame with a plurality of frame elements, the target assembly comprising: a target board that has a pair of opposing faces and at least one perimeter side surface extending between the pair of opposing faces; and at least one target element that is connected to the target board; wherein the target board includes a channel that is formed around at least part of the at least one perimeter side surface, the channel being sized for releasably receiving and holding at least some of the plurality of frame elements; and wherein the target board is sized such that when the target board is oriented along a plane defined by one or more of the plurality of frame elements, the channel on the at least one perimeter side surface can be placed into substantial alignment with at least some of the plurality of frame elements, and the target board can then be slid along the at least some of the plurality of frame elements such that the at least some of the plurality of frame elements are releasably received within the channel and the target board is held in an opening defined between at least some of the plurality of frame elements.
2 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least target element is at least one of: coupled with the target board; removable from the target board; and integrated with the target board.
3 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one target element is connected to the target board such that the at least one target element is exposed on a first face of the pair of opposing faces.
4 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing faces of the target board each include a plurality of perimeter edges such that the at least one perimeter side surface includes a plurality of perimeter side surfaces corresponding to the plurality of perimeter edges.
5 . The target assembly of claim 4 , wherein the channel is formed along at least part of the length of at least some of the plurality of perimeter side surfaces.
6 . The target assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of perimeter edges of the target board include at least a bottom edge and an upper edge.
7 . The target assembly of claim 6 , wherein the upper edge is a continuous edge that includes a pair of opposing lateral edge sections and a top edge section between the pair of opposing lateral edge sections.
8 . The target assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of perimeter side surfaces include a bottom side surface and an upper side surface corresponding, respectively, to the bottom edge and the upper edge; and wherein the upper side surface is a continuous surface that includes at least a pair of lateral surfaces sections and a top surface section between the pair of pair of lateral surfaces sections.
9 . The target assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of perimeter edges of the target board include a pair of substantially parallel, lateral edges and a top edge; and wherein the plurality of perimeter side surfaces include a pair of opposing lateral side surfaces and a top side surface corresponding, respectively, to the pair of substantially parallel, lateral edges and the top edge.
10 . The target assembly of claim 9 , wherein the channel is formed along at least part of the length of at least two of the pair of opposing lateral side surfaces and the top side surface.
11 . The target assembly of claim 9 , wherein the channel is formed along each of the pair of opposing lateral side surfaces and the top side surface.
12 . The target assembly of claim 9 , wherein the channel includes a first channel portion that is formed along one lateral side surface of the pair of opposing lateral side surfaces, a second channel portion that is formed along the other lateral side surface of the pair of opposing lateral side surfaces, and a third channel portion that is formed on the top side surface.
13 . The target assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of frame elements of the sports goal include a pair of side posts and a crossbar extending between the pair of side posts.
14 . The target assembly of claim 12 , wherein the target board is sized such that that when the target board is oriented along the plane defined by the one or more of the plurality of frame elements, each of the first and second channel portions can be aligned with and slid along a unique side post of the pair of side posts until the pair of side posts are releasably received within the first and second channel portions and the crossbar is releasably received within the third channel portion.
15 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a substantially uniform cross-section along the length thereof.
16 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel is a concave channel.
17 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel is a rounded channel.
18 . The target assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one target element is a plurality of target elements.
19 . The target assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one controller; and a contact sensor element that is communicatively connected to the at least one controller and operatively coupled to the at least one target element, the contact sensor element being configured for detecting an external object hitting the at least one target element and for providing a signal to the at least one controller in response to the external object hitting the at least one target element.
20 . A sports target system, comprising: a sports goal that includes a frame with a plurality of frame elements; and a target assembly, the target assembly including: a target board that has a pair of opposing faces and at least one perimeter side surface extending between the pair of opposing faces; and at least one target element that is connected to the target board; wherein the target board includes a channel that is formed around at least part of the at least one perimeter side surface, the channel being sized for releasably receiving and holding at least some of the plurality of frame elements; and wherein the target board is sized such that when the target board is oriented along a plane defined by one or more of the plurality of frame elements, the channel on the at least one perimeter side surface can be placed into substantial alignment with at least some of the plurality of frame elements, and the target board can then be slid along the at least some of the plurality of frame elements such that the at least some of the plurality of frame elements are releasably received within the channel and the target board is held in an opening defined between at least some of the plurality of frame elements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/347,380 filed on Oct. 1, 2025, which claims the benefit of, and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/701,842 filed on Oct. 1, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to sport-training devices. In particular, the disclosure relates to a target assembly for use with a sports goal. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Shooting into a goal with a playing object is an essential skill in many sports, such as in hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. These goals generally comprise a framework of two vertical uprights connected at their top by a horizontal crossbar to define the goal opening. A loose-fitting net may be connected along the upright's crossbar to define a goal space. Additional diagonal frame members may be connected to the upright's crossbar to better define the goal space. Practicing shooting is typically done with players shooting on a goalie. In practicing the sport, players are trained not only to shoot the external object into the goal, but also to accurately shoot the external object to selected target areas of the goal opening. A player or coach may desire that a player practice shooting on his or her own because a goalie may not be available. In one example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,786 discloses a soccer training goal in which an inclined plate is connected to the goal frame at the bottom and is inclined downwardly toward the goal opening, whereby a soccer ball kicked into the goal space will initially be retained within the goal space by hitting the net. The net absorbs the impact of the ball, and the ball then rolls down the inclined plate back to the practicing kicker. Other sports, such as baseball and golf, make use of practice devices, which involve the delivery of the ball to a target area on the practice device. Examples of these devices are also shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,059,365; 2,628,097; 3,195,898; 3,197,208; and 3,711,092. While these training systems allow for a training on a goal without a goalie, they are often attached to the frame of the goal with cords or other attachments. These cords or attachments tend to be cumbersome and finnicky to attach to the frame of the goal. Thus, there is a need for a training device for a goal that can be more quickly and simply attached to and removed from the frame of a goal. The background herein is included solely to explain the context of the disclosure. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known, or part of the common general knowledge as of the priority date. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to an aspect, there is provided a target assembly for use on a sports goal having a frame with a plurality of frame elements. The target assembly comprises a target board that has a pair of opposing faces and at least one perimeter side surface extending between the pair of opposing faces, and at least one target element that is connected to the target board, wherein the target board includes a channel that is formed around at least part of the at least one perimeter side surface, the channel being sized for releasably receiving and holding at least some of the plurality of frame elements, and wherein the target board is sized such that when the target board is oriented along a plane defined by one or more of the plurality of frame elements, the channel on the at least one perimeter side surface can be placed into substantial alignment with at least some of the plurality of frame elements, and the target board can then be slid along the at least some of the plurality of frame elements such that the at least some of the plurality of frame elements are releasably received within the channel and the target board is held in an opening defined between the plurality of frame elements. According to another aspect, there is provided a sports target system, comprising: a sports goal that includes a frame with a plurality of frame elements, and a target assembly. The target assembly includes a target board that has a pair of opposing faces and at least one perimeter side surface extending between the pair of opposing faces, and at least one target element that is connected to the target board, wherein the target board includes a channel that is formed around at least part of the at least one perimeter side surface, the channel being sized for releasably receiving and holding at least some of the plurality of frame elements, and wherein the target board is sized such that when the target board is oriented along a plane defined by one or more of the plurality of frame elements, the channel on the at least one perimeter side surface can be placed into substantial alignment with at least some of the plurality of frame elements, and the target board can then be slid along the at least some of