US20060068946A1

US20060068946A1 - Soccer practice cage

Info

Publication number: US20060068946A1
Application number: US11/282,370
Authority: US
Inventors: Bobby Harrell; John Jenkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-02
Filing date: 2005-11-18
Publication date: 2006-03-30

Abstract

A soccer practice cage is disclosed. The soccer practice cage includes a cage frame having at least two frame goal openings; a cover having at least two cover goal openings communicating with the at least two frame goal openings, respectively, of the cage frame; and at least two goals carried by at least one of the cage frame and the cover and communicating with the at least two frame goal openings and the at least two cover goal openings, respectively.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/315,381, filed Dec. 10, 2002, which claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/343,924, filed Jan. 2, 2002.

FIELD

This invention relates to apparatus for sports training and more particularly, to a soccer practice cage which is suitable for honing soccer skills through practice.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, soccer has become the world's most popular sport. In a soccer game, 11 players on each of two teams attempt to kick or hit a ball with their heads into the other team's goal, and the team that scores more goals wins the game. A goalkeeper, or “goalie”, stands guard in front of the team's goal area in an attempt to prevent the other team from kicking the ball into the goal and scoring.
Kicking, the most important skill in soccer, is used to put the ball into play, to “pass” the ball from one player to another, to “shoot” the ball at the goal, to propel the ball into a particular area of the field in order to achieve a desired field position, and to block a ball from entering a goal. A skilled soccer player can kick the ball accurately for short or long distances with either foot. Accordingly, those players who have acquired advanced kicking skills in the game of soccer enjoy a considerable competitive advantage over less skilled players.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a soccer practice cage including a cage frame having at least two frame goal openings; a cover having at least two cover goal openings communicating with the at least two frame goal openings, respectively, of the cage frame; and at least two goals carried by at least one of the cage frame and the cover and communicating with the at least two frame goal openings and the at least two cover goal openings, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an enclosure frame and a canopy frame of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage of this invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 4 is a top schematic view of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage, more particularly illustrating multiple player positions in typical application of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 5 is a top schematic view of another illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage, illustrating multiple player positions in typical application of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 6 is a top view of a canopy panel frame element of the soccer practice cage; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cylindrical embodiment of the soccer practice cage of this invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage, more particularly illustrating multiple layers inside the cage in typical application of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage, illustrating a door slit provided in the cover component of the soccer practice cage and multiple hook-and-loop fasteners attaching the cover to a frame component of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage, illustrating a door slit provided in the cover component of the soccer practice cage and multiple straps attaching the cover to a frame component of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 13 is a top view of a square-shaped illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage;
FIG. 14 is a top view of an elliptical-shaped illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage; and
FIG. 15 is a top view of a rectangular-shaped illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The soccer practice cage 1 includes a multi-sided enclosure 2, constructed of multiple support panels 3 and connecting panels 4 of selected height and width and provided in alternating relationship with respect to each other to define an enclosure interior 6 (FIG. 4). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the enclosure 2 may be provided with a canopy 9 constructed of multiple canopy panels 10, as hereinafter further described. Each support panel 3 is disposed at an angle with respect to the adjacent or flanking pair of connecting panels 4 of the enclosure 2. The support panels 3 are typically longer than the intervening connecting panels 4 and rest on a supporting surface (not illustrated), such that the bottom edges of the connecting panels 4 are disposed in a raised position with respect to the supporting surface to define a ball opening 5 of selected height and width between each pair of adjacent support panels 3. While the soccer practice cage 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 has four support panels 3 and four connecting panels 4 to define an eight-sided enclosure 2, it is understood that the soccer practice cage 1 may have any desired number of support panels 3 and connecting panels 4 to define an enclosure 2 having any number of sides, such as the soccer practice cage 20 having the three support panels 3 and three connecting panels 4 which define the six-sided enclosure 2 illustrated in FIG. 5, in non-exclusive particular.
Referring next to FIG. 2 and again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the enclosure 2 typically includes an enclosure frame 2 a, having multiple, generally rectangular support panel frames 11 which alternate with generally rectangular connecting panel frames 12. The support panel frames 11 and the connecting panel frames 12 of the enclosure frame 2 a define the supporting elements of the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4, respectively, of the enclosure 2. Each of the support panel frames 11 typically includes a pair of parallel vertical segments 11 a, a bottom segment 11 b and a parallel top segment 11 c. Each of the connecting panel frames 12 likewise typically includes a pair of parallel vertical segments 12 a, a bottom segment 12 b and a parallel top segment 12 c. The vertical segments 11 a of each support panel frame 11 are welded, bolted or otherwise attached to the vertical segments 12 a of the respective adjacent connecting panel frames 12. The bottom segments 11 b of the support panel frames 11 and the bottom segments 12 b of the connecting panel frames 12 collectively define a lower edge of the enclosure 2, whereas the top segments 11 c of the support panel frames 11 and the top segments 12 c of the connecting panel frames 12 collectively define an upper edge of the enclosure 2. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the top segments 12 c of the respective connecting panel frames 12 may be flush with, or disposed at substantially the same height as, the top segments 11 c of the respective support panel frames 11, to impart a substantially uniform height to the upper edge of the enclosure 2. The bottom segments 12 b of the respective connecting panel frames 12 may be disposed at a higher position with respect to the bottom segments 11 b of the respective support panel frames 11. Accordingly, when the bottom segments 11 b of the respective support panel frames 11 rest on a supporting surface (not illustrated), the bottom segments 12 b of the respective connecting panel frames 12 are spaced from the supporting surface to define the generally rectangular ball openings 5 in the lower edge of the enclosure 2, between the adjacent support panel frames 11, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Referring next to FIG. 6 and again to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the canopy 9 of the soccer practice cage 1 typically includes a canopy frame 9 a, provided on the enclosure frame 2 a. Accordingly, the canopy frame 9 a typically includes multiple, generally triangular canopy panel frames 15 which define the supporting elements for the respective canopy panels 10 of the canopy 9. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 6, each canopy panel frame 15 may include a pair of side segments 15 a joined to each other at an apex 15 c and the diverging ends of which define a pair of inwardly-curved, facing bottom segments 15 b. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom segments 15 b of each canopy panel frame 15 are welded, bolted or otherwise attached to the top segment 11 c of each corresponding support panel frame 11 or to the top segment 12 c of each connecting panel frame 12. Each side segment 15 a of each canopy panel frame 15 is welded, bolted or otherwise attached to the corresponding side segment 15 a of the adjacent canopy panel frame 15, and the apices 15 c of the respective canopy panel frames 15 join each other at the center of the canopy frame 9 a. While the canopy panel frames 15 illustrated in FIG. 2 angle upwardly from the respective support panel frames 11 and connecting panel frames 12, respectively, it is understood that the canopy panel frames 15 may extend horizontally from the support panel frames 11 and connecting panel frames 12 to define a generally planar canopy frame 9 a. As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a door frame 7 of selected size and configuration may be provided in the support panel frame 11 of one of the support panels 3, as illustrated, or in the connecting panel frame 12 of one of the connecting panels 4 of the enclosure 2, and a door 8, typically provided with multiple door bars 8 a or a mesh, net, screen (not illustrated) or other covering, is hingedly mounted in the door frame 7 for the purpose of entering and exiting the enclosure interior 6 as hereinafter described.
Referring next to FIG. 3 and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an enclosure net 13, typically constructed of nylon or other material, spans the frame elements of each support panel frame 11 and the frame elements of each connecting panel frame 12 of the enclosure frame 2 a to define the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4, respectively, of the enclosure 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In like manner, a canopy net 14 of selected material spans the frame elements of each of the canopy panel frames 15 of the canopy frame 9 a to define the respective canopy panels 10 of the canopy 9, as further illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, it is understood that the support panel frames 11 and the connecting panel frames 12 of the enclosure frame 2 a, as well as the canopy panel frames 15 of the canopy frame 9 a, may be fitted with a metal screen or meshwork (not illustrated) to define the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4 of the enclosure 2 and the canopy panels 10 of the canopy 9, respectively. Still further in the alternative, in still another embodiment of the soccer practice cage generally indicated by reference numeral 16 in FIG. 3, the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4 each includes multiple, parallel, closely-spaced enclosure bars 17 which may span the bottom segment 11 b and top segment 11 c of each support panel frame 11 and the bottom segment 12 b and top segment 12 c of each connecting panel frame 12 in a vertical orientation as illustrated in FIG. 3. The canopy panel frames 15 (FIG. 2) of the soccer practice cage 16 may be fitted with the canopy net 14 (FIG. 1) or a metal canopy mesh (not illustrated), or with multiple canopy bars 18, as further illustrated in FIG. 3, to define the respective canopy panels 10 of the canopy 9. While the enclosure bars 17 are shown disposed in a vertical, parallel orientation in the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4 of the soccer practice cage 16 illustrated in FIG. 3, it is understood that either or both of the enclosure bars 17 and the canopy bars 18 may have other orientations in the support panel frames 11, the connecting panel frames 12 or the canopy panel frames 15, respectively, and may intersect each other in the respective support panel frames 11, connecting panel frames 12 and/or canopy panel frames 15 to define a grate or grid (not illustrated) of the enclosure bars 17 and/or canopy bars 18.
Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, in typical application of the soccer practice cage 1, 16, 20, multiple players 23 enter the enclosure interior 6 typically through the door 8 (FIG. 1) of the enclosure 2. In the case of the eight-sided soccer practice cage 1 heretofore described with respect to FIG. 1, each of the players 23 stands in the enclosure interior 6 and guards a ball opening 5, as illustrated in FIG. 4, with two of the players 23 standing directly opposite each other. A soccer ball 24 is placed in the center of the enclosure interior 6, and each of the players 23 attempts to kick the ball 24 through one of the other players' ball opening 5 as each of the players 23 guards his or her ball opening 5 to prevent the other players 23 from kicking the ball 24 through his or her ball opening 5. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that as few as two of the players 23 can stand in the enclosure interior 6 as each attempts to kick the ball 24 through the other's ball opening 5. Similarly, with regard to the six-sided enclosure 2 of the soccer practice cage 20 shown in FIG. 5, three of the players 23 typically stand in the enclosure interior 6 and guard the respective ball openings 5 to prevent the other players from kicking the ball 24 through each player's guarded ball opening 5. The canopy 9 (FIG. 1) prevents the ball 24 from being kicked over the upper edge of the enclosure 2.
Referring next to FIG. 7 of the drawings, in another embodiment of the soccer practice cage 30, the enclosure 2 has a cylindrical rather than a multi-sided configuration. The enclosure 2 includes a support frame 31 having a selected design and configuration and which supports a cover 32, which may be an enclosure net 13 (FIG. 1, a mesh or a plurality of enclosure bars 17 (FIG. 3). The enclosure 2 further includes an upper edge 33 and a lower edge 34, in which ball openings 5 are provided in the cover 32 along the lower edge 34 of the enclosure 2 at selected spacings with respect to each other. A door 35 is provided in the cover 32 for entering and exiting the enclosure interior 36 of the enclosure 2. A canopy 37 may be provided on the support frame 31 for closing the enclosure interior 36.
Referring again to FIGS. 1-3 and 5 of the drawings, it is understood that the soccer practice cage 1, 16, 20 may be constructed without the canopy 9 on the enclosure 2 under circumstances in which the support panels 3 and connecting panels 4 have a height substantial enough to prevent the ball 24 (FIG. 4) from being kicked over the sides of the enclosure 2 during use as heretofore described. It is further understood that the enclosure 2 can be constructed with any desired number and size of the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4, other than the eight-paneled enclosure 2 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 or the six-paneled enclosure of FIG. 5. The enclosure frame 2 a and the canopy frame 9 a may be constructed of any durable material including polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other plastics, aluminum or steel, in non-exclusive particular. An enclosure bottom (not illustrated) may also be provided on the bottom edge of the enclosure 2, in which case the ball openings 5 are disposed between the upper surface of the enclosure bottom and the bottom edge of each connecting panel 4, defined by the bottom segment 12 b (FIG. 2) of each connecting panel frame 12.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various alternative designs for the enclosure frame 2, other than the discrete support panel frames 11 and connecting panel frames 12 heretofore described with respect to FIG. 2, are possible. For example, the enclosure frame 2 may include multiple vertical support posts (not illustrated) spaced from each other around the perimeter of the enclosure frame 2 a, with an enclosure net 13, mesh (not illustrated), parallel enclosure bars 17 or network or grate of the enclosure bars 17 spanning the support posts to define the alternating support panels 3 and connecting panels 4 of the enclosure 2. In that case, the enclosure frame 2 may be portable or alternatively, the support posts may be permanently fixed in the ground such as by concrete. It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the canopy frame 9 a of the canopy 9 may have numerous alternative configurations other than that heretofore described with respect to FIG. 2, and that the canopy frame 9 a may be omitted from the enclosure frame 2 a, in which case a single canopy net 14, a canopy mesh (not illustrated) or the multiple canopy bars 18 or a network or grate of canopy bars 18 may extend over the enclosure to close the enclosure interior 6. Referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it is understood that the enclosure 2, the canopy 9 or both the enclosure 2 and the canopy 9 may be covered by a single large net instead of the discrete enclosure nets 13 for each of the support panels 3 and the connecting panels 4 and the discrete canopy nets 14 for each of the canopy panel frames 15. It will also be understood that the various features described above with respect to any of the embodiments of the soccer practice cage may be combined with the features of any other embodiment, where applicable.
Referring next to FIGS. 8-12 of the drawings, another illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 50. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the soccer practice cage 50 includes a cage frame 51 and a cover 70 which is supported by the cage frame 51. The cage frame 51 may be a metal such as aluminum or steel, for example, or may be PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or other plastic material. The cage frame 51 may include a bottom frame member 52 and a top frame member 64. The bottom frame member 52 and the top frame member 64 may generally have the same size and shape. The bottom frame member 52 and the top frame member 64 may have a generally circular configuration, as shown in FIG. 10. However, it is to be understood that the bottom frame member 52 and the top frame member 64 may have any shape which is consistent with the functional requirements of the soccer practice cage 51. For example, the bottom frame member 52 and the top frame member 64 may each have a generally triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or other shape. The bottom frame member 52 typically defines a bottom frame opening 53, whereas the top frame member 64 typically defines a top frame opening 65. The bottom frame opening 53 and the top frame opening 65 may remain open in the cage frame 51. Alternatively, the bottom frame opening 53 and top frame opening 65 may accommodate additional stabilizing or other frame elements (not illustrated).
At least two goal frames 56 are provided between the bottom frame member 52 and the top frame member 64, in spaced-apart relationship to each other around the cage frame 51. As shown in FIG. 10, each goal frame 56 may include, for example, a pair of supporting frame members 57 which extend in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship to each other between the bottom frame member 52 and the top frame member 64. A cross frame member 58 may extend between the supporting frame members 57. A frame goal opening 59 is framed by the bottom frame member 52, the lower segments of the supporting frame members 57, and the cross frame member 58. An upper clearance 60 may be framed by the top frame member 64, the upper segments of the supporting frame members 57, and the cross frame member 58. The upper clearance 60 may remain open in the cage frame 51 or may be closed with additional stabilizing or other frame elements (not illustrated). A side clearance 61 may be framed by the bottom frame member 52, the top frame member 64 and the supporting frame members 57, between the goal frames 56. Like the upper clearances 60, each side clearance 61 may remain open in the cage frame 51 or may be closed with additional stabilizing or other frame elements (not shown). It is to be recognized and understood that the foregoing description of the cage frame 51 is illustrative only and that the cage frame 51 may have any shape, design or configuration which is capable of supporting the cover 70 and includes at least two frame goal openings 59.
As further illustrated in FIG. 10, safety pads 62, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, may be provided on the various elements of the cage frame 51. For example, a safety pad 62 may be provided on each of the supporting frame members 57 and the cross frame member 58 of each goal frame 56. Each safety pad 62 may have a generally elongated, cylindrical or other configuration and is a resilient material such as rubber or foam rubber, for example.
The cover 70 of the soccer practice cage 50 is supported by the cage frame 51. The cover 70 may be a flexible net or meshwork material, as illustrated, or alternatively, may be multiple rods, bars or other elements which generally close the upper clearances 60 and side clearances 61 of the cage frame 51. Still further in the alternative, the cover 70 may be a solid, semi-solid, flexible, rigid or semi-rigid material which generally closes the upper clearances 60 and side clearances 61 of the cage frame 51. The cover 50 may be continuous around the perimeter or circumference of the cage frame 51. The cover 50 may include a canopy 92 and may be configured to slip over the cage frame 51, as illustrated in FIG. 10.
In the illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage 50 in which the cover 70 is a flexible net or meshwork material, as illustrated, the cover 70 includes a cover side 71 which extends around the cage frame 51 when the cover 70 is mounted thereon, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. A reinforcing strip 71 a, which is typically a flexible, resilient and durable material, may be provided along the lower edge of the cover side 71. At least two cover goal openings 72 are provided in the cover side 71 and generally correspond in number and position to, and communicate with, the respective frame goal openings 59 of the cage frame 51 when the cover 70 is supported on the cage frame 51.
At least two goals 86 are attached to at least one of the cover side 71 of the cover 70 and the cage frame 51 and generally correspond in number and position to, and communicate with, the frame goal openings 59 and cover goal openings 72. Each goal 86 may be the same or a different material as that of the cover side 71; for example, each goal 86 may be a flexible net or meshwork, or multiple rods, bars or other material. Each goal 86 may include, for example, a rear portion 87 which is continuous with, sewn or otherwise attached to the cover side 71 or cage frame 51 and extends downwardly behind the cover goal opening 72; a bottom portion 88 which is continuous with, sewn or otherwise attached to the cover side 71 or cage frame 51 and the bottom edge portion of the rear portion 87 and extends outwardly behind the cover goal opening 72 and beneath the rear portion 87; and side portions 89 which are continuous with, sewn or otherwise attached to the side edge portions of the rear portion 87 and bottom portion 88. At least one stake strap 90 may be provided on each goal 86 to facilitate deployment of each goal 86 in a ball-catching configuration in use of the soccer practice cage 50, as will be hereinafter described. When the cover 70 is supported by the cage frame 51, the goals 86 communicate with the respective frame goal openings 59 of the cage frame 51 and cover goal openings 72 of the cover 70. Furthermore, the goals 86 typically are located generally at a common horizontal level or plane, which is ground level or the level or plane of a supporting surface on which the cage frame 51 rests. It is to be understood that the foregoing description of the goals 86 is descriptive only and that each goal 86 may have any suitable alternative configuration which facilitates the catching of a ball (not illustrated) as it is kicked or otherwise moved from inside the soccer practice cage 50 and through the frame goal openings 59 of the cage frame 51 and the cover goal openings 72 of the cover side 71.
The cover 70 may be attached to the cage frame 51. The cover 70 may be attached to any element or elements of the cage frame 51 using any of a variety of suitable techniques known by those skilled in the art. For example, the lower edge of the cover side 71 of the cover 70 may be attached to the bottom frame member 52 of the cage frame 51 using any of a variety of techniques known by those skilled in the art. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, a cord 84, which may be nylon or other suitable material, may be sequentially extended through multiple cord openings (not illustrated) provided in spaced-apart relationship to each other in the lower edge portion of the cover 70, typically in or above the reinforcing strip 71 a, and wound around the bottom frame member 52 between each adjacent pair of cord openings. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the cover 71 may be attached to the bottom frame member 52 using multiple hook-and-loop fasteners 76 which are provided on and around the cover 71 in spaced-apart relationship to each other. Still further in the alternative, as illustrated in FIG. 12, multiple cover straps 80 may be provided on the cover 71, in spaced-apart relationship to each other. Multiple frame straps 81, which generally correspond in number and position to the cover straps 80, may be provided on the bottom frame member 52. The cover straps 80 are attached to the respective frame straps 81 using multiple buckles 82, as illustrated, or alternatively, using snaps (not illustrated), buttons (not illustrated), zippers (not illustrated), hook-and-loop fasteners (not illustrated) or any other suitable fastening technique known by those skilled in the art. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), cover straps are sewn or otherwise attached to the cover 71 and buckles are attached to the cover 71. The cover straps are extended around the bottom frame member 52 and attached to the respective buckles to fasten the cover 71 to the bottom frame member 52.
A door slit 73 may be provided in the cover side 71 of the cover 70 to facilitate ingress and egress of persons into and from the soccer practice cage 50. The door slit 73 may be reversibly closed by, for example, a zipper 75 having zipper tracks 74 on opposite sides of the door slit 73, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Alternatively, the door slit 73 may be reversibly closed using snaps (not illustrated), buttons (not illustrated), hook-and-loop fasteners (not illustrated), magnets (not illustrated) or any other suitable fastening technique known by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is to be understood that a door (not illustrated) of selected design may be provided in the cover side 71 of the cover 70 to facilitate ingress and egress of persons into and out of the soccer practice cage 50. When it is supported by the cage frame 51, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cover 70 encloses a cage interior 50 a of the soccer practice cage 50. The cage interior 50 a communicates with each goal 86 through each frame goal opening 59 and cover goal opening 72.
As illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, the soccer practice cage 50 may include a canopy 92. The canopy 92 may be provided on the cover 70. Alternatively, the cover 70 and the canopy 92 may be separate elements, in which case the canopy 92 may be separately supported by the cage frame 51. In the illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage 50 in which the canopy 92 and the cover 70 are attached to each other, the canopy 92 may be of a material which is the same as or different than the material of the cover 70. In the illustrative embodiment of the soccer practice cage 50 in which the canopy 92 and the cover 70 are separate elements, the canopy 92 may be of the same material as that of the cover 70, or alternatively, or may be a solid, semi-solid, flexible, semi-rigid or rigid material such as a panel, rods or bars, for example.
Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, in typical use of the soccer practice cage 50, the cover 70 is deployed on the cage frame 51 to enclose the cage interior 50 a. Stakes (not illustrated) may be extended through the stake straps 90 and into the ground (not illustrated) to secure the goals 86 in an extended, ball-receiving configuration. Players 94 enter the cage interior 50 a, typically through the door slit 73, and each player 94 stands in front of a cover goal opening 72 and goal 86. Accordingly, each player 94 attempts to kick or strike a ball 95, such as a soccer ball, through the cover goal opening 72 and into the goal 86 of another player 94 while simultaneously attempting to block the ball 95 from entering his or her goal 86. The safety pads 62 provided on each goal frame 56 protect the players 94 from striking the goal frames 56 and risking injury.
Referring next to FIGS. 13-15 of the drawings, the soccer practice cage 50 may be any of a variety of shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the soccer practice cage 50 a may have a generally square-shaped configuration, with at least one goal 86 provided along one side or edge of the soccer practice cage 50 a. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, the soccer practice cage 50 b may have a generally elongated, elliptical configuration, with a goal 86 typically provided at each end of the soccer practice cage 50 b and at least one goal 86 provided between the ends. Still further in the alternative, as shown in FIG. 15, the soccer practice cage 50 c may have a rectangular configuration, with at least one goal 86 provided at each end of the soccer practice cage 50 c and at least one goal 86 provided between the ends. The soccer practice cages 50 a, 50 b and 50 c may have a construction which is the same as that which was heretofore described with respect to the soccer practice cage 50 in FIGS. 8-12. It is to be understood that the shapes of the soccer practice cage which are shown in FIGS. 8-15 of the drawings are merely illustrative and that the soccer practice cage 50 may have alternative shapes, including but not limited to triangular, pentagonal and hexagonal, etc.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above,

Claims

1. A soccer practice cage, comprising:

a cage frame having at least two frame goal openings;

a cover having at least two cover goal openings communicating with said at least two frame goal openings, respectively, of said cage frame; and

at least two goals carried by at least one of said cage frame and said cover and communicating with said at least two frame goal openings and said at least two cover goal openings, respectively, said at least two goals located at generally a common horizontal level.

2. The soccer practice cage of claim 1 wherein said cage frame comprises at least two goal frames provided in spaced-apart relationship to each other in said cage frame.

3. The soccer practice cage of claim 1 wherein said cover is a net, a mesh, a plurality of rods or a plurality of bars.

4. The soccer practice cage of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of goals comprises a net, a mesh, a plurality of rods or a plurality of bars.

5. The soccer practice cage of claim 1 further comprising a canopy carried by said cage frame.

6. The soccer practice cage of claim 5 wherein said canopy comprises a net, a mesh, a plurality of rods or a plurality of bars.

7. The soccer practice cage of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of safety pads carried by said cage frame.

8. The soccer practice cage of claim 1 further comprising a door slit provided in said cover.

9. A soccer practice cage, comprising:

a cage frame having at least two frame goal openings;

a cover having a cover side inserted over said cage frame and at least two cover goal openings provided in said cover side, with said at least two cover goal openings communicating with said at least two frame goal openings, respectively, of said cage frame; and

at least two goals carried by at least one of said cage frame and said cover and communicating with said at least two frame goal openings and said at least two cover goal openings, respectively.

10. The soccer practice cage of claim 9 wherein said cage frame comprises a bottom frame member, a top frame member and at least two goal frames extending between said bottom frame member and said top frame member.

11. The soccer practice cage of claim 10 wherein each of said at least two goal frames comprises a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart supporting frame members extending between said bottom frame member and said top frame member and a cross frame member extending between said supporting frame members, and wherein each of said at least two frame goal openings is framed by said bottom frame member, said supporting frame members and said cross frame member of each of said at least two goal frames.

12. The soccer practice cage of claim 9 further comprising a canopy carried by said cage frame.

13. The soccer practice cage of claim 9 wherein each of said at least two goals comprises a rear portion, a bottom portion carried by said rear portion and side portions carried by said rear portion and said bottom portion.

14. The soccer practice cage of claim 9 wherein said cover comprises a net, a mesh, a plurality of rods or a plurality of bars.

15. The soccer practice cage of claim 9 further comprising at least one stake strap carried by each of said at least two goals.

16. A soccer practice cage, comprising:

a cage frame having at least two frame goal openings;

a cover having a cover side and a canopy carried by said cover side inserted over said cage frame and at least two cover goal openings provided in said cover side, with said at least two cover goal openings communicating with said at least two frame goal openings, respectively, of said cage frame; and

17. The soccer practice cage of claim 16 wherein said cage frame comprises a bottom frame member, a top frame member and at least two goal frames extending between said bottom frame member and said top frame member, wherein each of said at least two goal frames comprises a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart supporting frame members extending between said bottom frame member and said top frame member and a cross frame member extending between said supporting frame members, and wherein each of said at least two frame goal openings is framed by said bottom frame member, said supporting frame members and said cross frame member of each of said at least two goal frames.

18. The soccer practice cage of claim 17 further comprising a cord attached to said cover side of said cover and wound around said bottom frame member of said cage frame.

19. The soccer practice cage of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners carried by said cover side of said cover and engaging said bottom frame member of said cage frame.

20. The soccer practice cage of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of cover straps carried by said cover side of said cover and a plurality of frame straps carried by said bottom frame member of said cage frame and attached to said plurality of cover straps, respectively.