A collapsible, portable sport goal, comprising:
- first and second frame members that are attached at both ends of the first and second frame members to hinging elbow connectors that allow the first and second frame members to remain generally perpendicular to the other frame members connected to the same hinging elbow connectors in an open configuration and then fold in and remain generally parallel and disposed of closely adjacent to the other frame members connected to the same hinging elbow connectors in a collapsed configuration;
- and including third, fourth, fifth, and sixth frame members that are attached at one end of each of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth frame members to hinging elbow connectors that allow the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth frame members to remain generally perpendicular to the other frame member connected to the same hinging elbow connector in an open configuration and then fold in and remain generally parallel and disposed of closely adjacent to the other frame member connected to the same hinging elbow connector in a collapsed configuration, and that are attached at the other end of each of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth frame members respectively to hinging elbow connectors that allow the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth frame members to remain generally perpendicular to the other frame member connected to the same hinging elbow connector in an open configuration and then fold in and remain generally parallel and disposed of offset and separated from the other frame member connected to the same hinging elbow connector to allow the first and second frame members that are being folded and collapsed in from the opposite end of the other frame member connected to the same hinging elbow to occupy the space closely adjacent to the other frame member connected to the same hinging elbow in a collapsed configuration;
- wherein the internal mechanisms of the hinging elbow connectors have pivot points which are offset from the elbow as described above to accommodate frame members that would otherwise be having to occupy the same space (as in the case of longer uprights and back members) thereby allowing a more parallel orientation with the other frame members when in a collapsed orientation;
- wherein the internal mechanisms of the hinging elbow connectors have a cylindrical male insert which fits into a complimentary cylindrical female cavity so that axis holes within both the insert and cavity align allowing a bolt and nut inserted through the axis holes to create the pivot axis of the joint, spring washers are used between the outer surface of the cylindrical insert and cavity and the inner surfaces of the nut and bolt head respectively to apply inward force on the joint, from the “top” and adjacent but flush to the cylindrical cavity on the surface where the two complimentary sides of the hinge come together four semi-circular discs (<180° arc) that follow the arc of the circle forming the cylindrical cavity protrude above the surface with each successive semi-circular disc centered at 90° intervals from each adjacent semi-circular disc around the circle with two of the semi-circular discs being centered at those points on the circle that are on the axis of the goalpost upon which it rests and the other two semi-circular discs being centered on those points that are perpendicular to the axis of the goalpost upon which it rests, mirroring those semi-circular discs at the base of the cylindrical insert are four semi-circular cavities for the semi-circular discs to rest in when aligned in an open or collapsed configuration, when the cylindrical male insert is engaged with complimentary cylindrical female cavity with the axis holes aligned, the goalposts are either in the open or collapsed configuration of the collapsible portable sport goal, the four semi-circular discs align with and are inserted into the four semi-circular cavities, thereby causing the goal and goalposts to tend to remain in an open or collapsed position, as the case may be when the spring washers are engaged and applying inward force;
- wherein the collapsible portable sport goal has an open configuration in which the frame members define a goal mouth that rests generally upright upon the ground to receive a ball or puck into the net and a collapsed configuration in which all of the frame members are generally parallel and disposed adjacently;
- and wherein the collapsible portable sport goal is adapted to be folded from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration, and unfolded from the collapsed configuration to the open configuration, while the plurality of frame members remain connected and intact.