The present invention relates to a base for an elongate supporting element, comprising a vessel-like body which can be filled with a bulk or liquid ballast material, the said vessel-like body being provided with a reclosable aperture for the introduction of the said ballast material and with connecting means for connection to the said elongate supporting element in such a way as to fix it to the said vessel-like body.

The use of such ballastable bases is known for holding erect parasols and sports apparatus, such as baskets for basketball or poles for volleyball nets, in cases where it is desired to use such articles without having to use holes or other permanent fixing systems in the ground.

Document NL A 9401555 discloses a base having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is to provide a base for a supporting pole which can be used for different applications, and which can be adapted to different requirements for use.

Accordingly, the invention proposes a base for a supporting pole of the type defined above, characterized in that the said vessel-like body comprises a main vessel-like body and a secondary vessel-like body which are separate from each other and which can both be filled with the said ballast material, in which the said main vessel-like body has a filling volume and a bearing surface greater than the filling volume and bearing surface, respectively, of the secondary vessel-like body, and the said connecting means are formed on the said secondary vessel-like body, the said main vessel-like body having a seat for the mounting of the said secondary vessel-like body.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention also proposes a volleyball net comprising a base according to the invention, and a soccer goal comprising a base according to the invention.

A preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ballastable base according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a plan view of the ballastable base of Fig. 1;
• Figure 3 is a view in lateral elevation of the ballastable base of Fig. 1;
• Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of a volleyball or tennis net provided with the ballastable base of Fig. 1;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a soccer or field handball goal provided with the ballastable base of Fig. 1;
• Figures 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d show details of the assembly of the goal of Fig. 5; and
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a basketball basket provided with the ballastable base of Fig. 1.

Figure 1 shows a ballastable base 10 according to the invention. This base 10 comprises a plurality of vessel-like bodies assembled in a separable way. In particular, the base 10 comprises a main vessel-like body 20, which can be filled with a bulk or liquid ballast material, for example water, sand or the like. The main vessel-like body 20 has a substantially parallelepipedal overall shape with rounded corners, and is preferably made from plastics. It has an aperture with a cap or plug 21, shown in Figures 2 and 3, enabling the main body 20 to be filled with the ballast material.

A pair of wheels 22 is mounted on one end of the main vessel-like body 20, these wheels being positioned and designed in such a way that, when the main body 20 bears on the ground with its bearing surface 23, the lower peripheral portion of the wheels 22 is at the same height as, or higher than, the bearing surface 23. On the other hand, when the main vessel-like body 20, and consequently the bearing surface 23, are inclined with respect to the ground, the wheels 22 are the only part of the base 10 in contact with the ground. This arrangement makes it possible, on the one hand, to move the base 10 easily when it is not in use, and, on the other hand, to prevent this movement when the base 10 is in its condition for use, in other words with the bearing surface 23 bearing on the ground.

The base 10 also comprises a plurality of secondary vessel-like bodies 30 which can be mounted on the main vessel-like body 20. Each secondary vessel-like body 30 can be filled with a bulk or liquid ballast material, for example water, sand, or the like. Each secondary vessel-like body 30 is substantially C-shaped, when viewed from the side (as shown in Fig. 3), and is preferably made from plastics. Each secondary body 30 has an aperture with a cap or plug 31, enabling the secondary body 30 to be filled with the ballast material.

Each secondary body 30 comprises a substantially vertical main portion 32 and upper and lower horizontally projecting bracket portions 33 and 34 at its ends. Through holes 35 and 36 are formed in the bracket portions 33 and 34 respectively, and are positioned in alignment with each other.

Each secondary body 30 is coupled to a corresponding lateral face 24 of the main body 20. The secondary vessel-like body 30 also has a filling volume which is smaller than the filling volume of the main vessel-like body 20, and a ground bearing surface 38 which is smaller than the bearing surface 23 of the main vessel-like body 20.

Figures 2 and 3 show the main body 20 of the base 10 with only one of the secondary bodies 30, detached from the main body 20. As shown in these drawings, each lateral face 24 of the main body 20 has a vertical channel 25 with a cross section shaped, for example, in the form of a dovetail. This channel 25 is engaged by a corresponding coupling surface 37 of the corresponding secondary body 30, shaped in a complementary way, so as to provide a positive coupling between the channel 25 of the main body 20 and the coupling surface 37 of the secondary body 30. Thus each of the channels 25 provides a seat for the corresponding secondary body 30, into which the coupling surface 37 of the secondary body 30 is inserted by sliding it in the longitudinal direction of the channel 25.

Figure 4 shows a volleyball or tennis net R provided with the ballastable base 10 according to the invention. As shown in this drawing, the base 10 comprises the main body 20 and a secondary body 30 fitted on to it. A pole 40 for supporting the net R is inserted into the aligned through holes 35 and 36 of the secondary body 30, in such a way that it is fixed to the ballastable base 10. The net R is connected to the supporting pole 40 by means of ties T, which in turn are connected to the pole 40 by means of clamps 41.

Figure 5 shows a soccer or handball goal G provided with the ballastable base 10 according to the invention. As shown in this drawing, the base 10 comprises the main body 20 and a secondary body 30 fitted on to it. This goal G comprises a cross-piece G1 and a pair of poles G2 and G3, which are connected to the cross-piece G1 in a conventional way. Each of the poles G2 and G3 is connected at its opposite end to the ballastable base 10, by means of upper and lower supporting elements 50 and 60. In use, the lower supporting elements 60 are positioned so that they bear on the ground, and connect the lower ends of the poles G2 and G3 rigidly to the lower bracket portion 34 of the secondary body 30. In particular, as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, the lower supporting elements 60 are connected to the poles G2, G3 by means of L-shaped push-in connecting elements 61, and are connected to the lower bracket portion 34 of the secondary body 30 by means of a push-in connecting element 62 with three branches, one branch of which is inserted into the hole 36 of the bracket portion 34. In use, the upper supporting elements 50 are positioned so that they are inclined with respect to the ground, and connect the upper ends of the poles G2 and G3 rigidly to the upper bracket portion 33 of the secondary body 30. In particular, as shown in Figs. 5c and 5d, the upper supporting elements 50 are connected to the poles G2, G3 and to the cross-piece G1 by means of push-in connecting elements 64 with three branches each, and are connected to the upper bracket portion 33 of the secondary body 30 by means of a push-in connecting element 65 with three branches, one branch of which is inserted into the hole 35 of the bracket portion 33.

Figure 6 shows a basketball basket B provided with the ballastable base 10 according to the invention. As shown in this drawing, the base 10 comprises the main body 20 and a secondary body 30 fitted on it. A column 70 for the basket B is inserted into the aligned through holes 35 and 36 of the secondary body 30, in such a way that it is fixed to the ballastable base 10.

Clearly, with a ballastable base according to the invention it is possible to modify the weight of the base as required, simply by varying the number of secondary bodies 30 mounted on the main body 20, or by varying the level of filling of each body.

Moreover, since the secondary body is provided with the connecting means for mounting a corresponding supporting element, it is possible to connect a plurality of poles and/or supporting elements to the base simultaneously, if a plurality of secondary bodies is provided for mounting on the main body.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and forms of embodiment can be varied as defined in dependent claims without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.