DE20306580U1 - Lighting of frame of goal posts in soccer game has a layer of material that contains a large number of small electrical lights - Google Patents

Abstract

The frame of the goal posts used in a game of soccer has a layer of material that contains a large number of small electrical lights. The may be turned on in a variety of ways to improve interest for the spectators. This may be linked to scoring or goal mouth action.

Description

Description

In many sports, especially football, the visitor in the stadium is informed, in addition to his own perception, about the goal scored acoustically by the stadium announcer and visually via an electronic scoreboard.

My invention is characterized by the fact that the goal scored is additionally displayed for everyone to see by lighting up the entire goal frame or parts of it, which is particularly effective in floodlit games. An acoustic message can also be given over the stadium loudspeaker using the local word "GOAL".

As a result, only football goal frame lighting without accompanying acoustics will be discussed.

This new type of goal frame lighting is operated either manually by an authorized person outside the field of play or by the referee himself, preferably via a legitimate radio. The referee therefore carries a small radio in a zippered left breast pocket, which he can use to safely operate in the direction of the goal he is aiming for. Since the radio fits exactly in the pocket, cannot move, is only slightly bulky and is very light, it does not interfere with running.

To prevent accidental activation, the referee must press two buttons at the same time through the fabric of his jersey without having to open his pocket. One button should preferably be on the top of the radio with his left hand, and one button on the front with his right hand. The direction of the radio must always be in the direction of the goal frame that is to be illuminated.

An even simpler way is to wear the radio on your wrist, similar to a watch with a stopwatch function, and use it in an analogue way.

A completely different and currently most modern variant is the automatic activation of the goal frame lighting when a goal is scored.

New electronic systems in or around the goal frame or in the ball detect in a fraction of a second whether the ball has crossed the goal line correctly according to the rules of the game.

In this case, a contact is closed in a flash, the goal frame lighting is triggered automatically and the spectator is immediately informed that a goal has been scored.

If an error in the game occurred shortly before the goal, e.g. a foul, an offside position or similar, the referee, as the highest game manager, can not acknowledge the goal and therefore immediately switch off the goal frame lighting using the only limited radio device he carries on the field.

However, outside of match operations, the entire system is only switched on and off externally, i.e. in a "control room with a master switch" in the stadium, in order to prevent manipulation of the pitch by unauthorized persons or rowdy fans.

The spectators can participate very effectively in the intensity of the goal frame lighting by cheering more or less loudly, controlled by external microphones.

The goal frame lighting can be set to a freely adjustable duration after a goal is scored, after which it switches off automatically, but it can also be switched off manually to allow the game to continue afterwards.

The lighting can be done in a variety of ways, e.g. flashing, from side to side, from top to bottom, rotating and also in different colors, possibly team colors.

In foggy conditions, according to the DFB and FIFA rules, the game may only be kicked off when one can see from one goal to the other.

Although the weather conditions cannot be changed, by permanently switching on goal frame lighting in a predetermined color, both goals will be more easily seen by the players, stadium visitors and television viewers.

As long as the stadium is not yet or no longer fully lit or the football match has not yet started, both goals from the show can show "light shows" permanently or alternately and thus contribute to the good stadium atmosphere.

Preferably, light-emitting diodes with reflectors are used, which must be arranged in a way that is vibration- and impact-proof and housed in such a way that any unintentional influence on the direction of the ball when it hits the crossbar or post can be safely ruled out.

Football goals are usually made from aluminum profiles and can be dismantled, but they can also be made from plastic tubes.

Two matching half shells, in which LEDs with reflectors and the necessary power supply are housed, similar to car tail lights, are fixed all around to the round aluminum gate profile with a few screws and/or plug connections so that they fit tightly and form a stable unit with the aluminum profile.

It is also possible to divide the formwork into thirds or quarters, etc., although it is always advisable to choose a reasonable length so that in the event of a possible defect, parts that are too large and therefore costly do not have to be replaced.

The individual shells (segments) with any number of LEDs with reflectors and the involved power supply snap into each other in a modular manner and can thus cover the crossbar and the side posts almost along their entire length.

In this context, attention must be paid to the compact, weatherproof, shock-resistant and as free from play as possible design. In order to better meet these requirements, the goal frame installed with LEDs is covered with a shatter-proof, crystal-clear plastic tube with a slot on one side, which is pushed over the aluminum tube for the crossbar or the posts in the same way and fixed with a few countersunk screws, with absolutely no play.

Of course, control systems, radio receivers, etc. are housed in or on the gate frame, preferably in or on one of the posts, in such a way that they are accessible for installation and maintenance via removable and screw-on covers, but can also be located in the ground, in the immediate vicinity of the gate, in a suitably accessible housing.

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All relevant parameters such as net fastening, ground anchoring, interchangeability, stability, corresponding optics, etc. remain unaffected by the goal frame lighting. The electrical or electronic areas such as radio, system control, power supply, LEDs with reflectors, plug-in systems, etc. are to be regarded as known. Without lighting, i.e. when not activated, the goal frame is white and silver.

There is no apparent additional risk of injury due to the goal frame lighting.

In the following, the invention is explained using several embodiments.

It shows :

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a goal frame from the front with the integrated LEDs arranged in a row in segments.

Fig. 2 is a side view from the right of Fig. 1 with an indicated compartment with a lid in the post or floor for the necessary control systems and the power supply.

Fig. 3 a vertical section through the crossbar of a goal frame with schematically shown construction layers.

Fig. 4 a perspective of the football field with indicated radio equipment and control systems.

Fig. 1 and 2 show the goal frame 1 with the crossbar 2, its posts 3 and 4, as well as the individual shell segments 5, which contain the combination of LEDs/reflectors 6.

To control the lighting, there is compartment 7 in the goal frame and compartment 8 in the floor.

The power supply 21 to the goal post 4 is indicated at the bottom compartment 8.

Fig. 3 shows the layered structure of the goal frame 1 in section, here in particular the crossbar 2.

The supporting gate profile 10 made of aluminum is surrounded by the segment 5 in which the combination of light-emitting diodes/reflectors 6 is involved, whereby the power supply is not shown.

The segment 5 is detachably connected to the gate profile 10 via the screws 11.

The segment 5 is covered by the crystal-clear plastic tube 9, which is detachably screwed to the gate profile 10 via the screws 12 through the segment 5.

Fig. 4 shows the entire football pitch 18 in perspective to explain the technical relationships. The main radio 16 is housed in the stadium building 19 and has the priority that it can only activate the goal frame lighting, while the referee 14 can use the handheld radio 15 to switch the lighting of goal 1/1a on and off only on the pitch 18.

The compartment 7/7a in the goal post 3/4a and the compartment 8/8a in the ground are indicated.

Using the external microphones 20, spectators can influence the intensity of the goal frame lighting when a goal is scored, within certain limits. Loud goal celebrations result in higher light intensity and vice versa.

When a goal is scored, the stadium loudspeakers 17 provide the opportunity to provide immediate acoustic support for the goal frame lighting.

By pre-programming, a local term such as Tor, Goal, etc. can be heard at the desired volume immediately after a goal is scored.

Claims (12)

1. Lighting for goals ( 1 ) of sports, preferably football goal frames, with a crossbar ( 2 ) at the top and two posts ( 3 , 4 ) left and right, characterized in that the goals, the entire goal frame ( 1 ) or at least partial segments ( 5 ) can be illuminated with lamps ( 6 ) which are mounted in or on the goal or frame ( 1 ). 2. Lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting means ( 6 ) used are preferably light-emitting diodes with reflectors which are accommodated in sub-segments ( 5 ) with integrated power supply and are removably attached to the profile of the gate or gate frame ( 1 ). 3. Lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting means ( 6 ) can be switched on and off preferably via a portable radio device ( 15 ), but also via a stationary radio device ( 16 ), but the stationary system has priority. 4. Lighting according to claim 3, characterized in that the portable radio device ( 15 ) can be worn on the wrist like a wristwatch. 5. Lighting according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that the portable radio device ( 15 ) only functions in the direction of the gate whose lighting is to be activated. 6. Lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting means ( 6 ) are switched on directly by an electronic, photo-, acoustic- or radar-based measuring device or similar, which has determined on its own within a short period of time that the ball or similar has correctly crossed the goal line according to the rules of the game. 7. Lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting means ( 6 ) are switched via a radio receiver and the system control in a compartment ( 7 , 7a ) in or on the gate or gate frame or in a floor compartment ( 8 , 8a ) near the gate post ( 3/4 ) in such a way that , in addition to the permanent lighting process, all known variations of the light movement such as flashing, running through, rotating, intensity, different colors, etc. can run independently or by manual radio command, even next to one another, and can be switched on and off. 8. Lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the spectators can influence the intensity of the goal lighting by cheering more or less loudly via external microphones ( 20 ). 9. Lighting according to claim 1, characterized in that the duration of the lighting can be adjusted after a hit has been made, but the radio can be used as the primary control. 10. Lighting according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the lighting segments ( 5 ) of the gate or the gate frame ( 1 ) are covered with a crystal-clear plastic tube ( 9 ) and are removably attached. 11. Lighting according to claim 2, characterized in that the segments ( 5 ) for the lighting means ( 6 ) are divided in such a way that maintenance or replacement is cost-effective due to the selected size. 12. Lighting according to claim 1 and 6, characterized in that in addition to the lighting means ( 6 ), when a goal is scored, an acoustic support in the form of the local word "goal" or similar can be heard in the stadium loudspeakers ( 17 ).