Protective shock absorbing device for goalposts

Claim 1

Shock absorbing device for a post comprising a. an inflatable inner tube including flexible inner and outer walls, said inner wall extending longitudinally of said post and being of a sufficient width to closely encircle said post, said inner wall being of a sufficient length to extend between upper and lower ends of said shock absorbing device, said outer wall being of the same length as said inner wall and of a sufficient width to be equally spaced from said inner wall when said tube is inflated, a pair of end walls being positioned at the upper and lower ends of said shock absorbing device and being connected to and forming closures at opposed ends of said inner and outer walls, and a pair of side walls being connected to and extending radially from said inner wall to said outer wall, and said pair of side walls being connected to and extending from one of said end walls to the other whereby said inner tube may be removed from and placed in position to surround said post, said inner and outer walls and said pair of end walls defining a single cavity of uniform size surrounding said post, b. a protective outer shell surrounding and covering said outer wall of said inflatable inner tube and having a longitudinally extending opening defined by adjacent side edges of said outer shell, c. closure means extending along said side edges of said outer shell for releasably connecting together said side edges of said outer shell, and d. valve means connected to said inner tube for effecting inflation and deflation of said inner tube when surrounding said post.