WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 1 Container and sporting equipment assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container that includes a sporting device comprising at least one upwardly extending member. In one particular form the 5 invention relates to an insulated cooler for housing a food or beverage including a handle, which in an upright position forms at least part of a sporting target, namely a set of cricket stumps. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coolers or ice chests are insulated boxes used to keep food or drink cold. 10 Typically the cooler includes an interior and exterior shell made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with a hard foam polystyrene layer placed between the shells. This means that the cooler is relatively light and therefore easy to transport. Coolers are produced in various sizes and are popular at picnics, barbeques and at the beach. Typically the cooler needs to be carried or moved a distance from a 15 person's vehicle to where the event, such as the barbeque, is taking place. Accordingly larger coolers, especially those used to transport beverages, include wheels and a handle to assist in movement. A popular design includes a pair of wheels at one end of the cooler and a pivotable handle at the opposing end. The user simply takes hold of the handle 20 thereby lifting one end of the cooler and pulling it over the ground surface with the assistance of the wheels. The advantage with this type of design is that it enables users of varying height to haul the cooler. Sporting activities are a popular pastime at events such as barbeques and at the beach. Typically these activities can occur spontaneously and are usually not 25 planned. However sporting activities such as cricket requires some forward planning since a set of stumps is needed. Many people either do not own a set of stumps or do not carry them because they are carrying a number of other items and metal stumps WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 2 are bulky heavy items, which in the end may not be used. On the other hand wooden stumps cannot always be used if the ground surface is hard. This means that people usually need to improvise and end up using rubbish bins, trees or other items near at hand. These items are normally not satisfactory and 5 may not even be unavailable if for instance the game is being played on the beach. It should be appreciated that any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification is included solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention and should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art was widely known or formed part of the common general knowledge in the field as it 10 existed before the priority date of the application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention, but not necessarily the broadest or only aspect there is proposed an assembly including a container and an upwardly extendable member attached thereto, the upwardly extendable member 15 adapted to be extended above an uppermost part of said container wherein it forms at least a portion of a target. In one form an outer face of the container includes markings adapted to form a second portion of said target. The upwardly extendable member and markings cooperate to form the target when the upwardly extendable member is in an upright 20 position. Preferably the upwardly extendable member comprises three parallel shafts that are located in a spaced apart relationship along a common plane, each shaft includes a first end pivotably attached to the container and a second end, wherein the second ends of the shafts are joined by way of a crossbar. In this way the upwardly 25 extendable member forms the upper portion of a set of cricket stumps and bails. The markings on the container comprise three parallel and vertically extending bands. The bands are adapted to form the lower portion of a set of cricket stumps. In this way when the upwardly extendable member is located in an upright position each WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 3 of the parallel markings on the container align a respective shaft, thereby forming the visual representation of a set of cricket stumps. In preference the upwardly extendable member is adapted to pivot when force is applied to it, such as when it is struck by a bat or a ball. The container may include 5 a register means for maintaining the upwardly extendable member in an upright position. The register means may be biased to provide adsorptive accommodation of contact when struck. For instance a cam arrangement or elastomer block may be used. 10 Alternatively, the register means may include a slot into which the upwardly extendable member engages. In this arrangement when force is applied the upwardly extendable member is adapted to simply fall back over the top of the container. In yet a further alternate form the upwardly extendable member includes an absorptive capacity. For instance the upwardly extendable member may be constructed from a 15 flexible material or include a biased hinged portion. This means that the upwardly extendable member will not pose a safety risk if a person were to fall upon it because it is configured to flex or move when a force is applied. The movement upwardly extendable member also provides a visible response, wherein in is moved from its upright position, when it is struck by a ball. 20 In one form the container is supported at a first end by a pair of coaxially rotatable wheels and the upwardly extendable member is attached to a second end, of the container. The upwardly extendable member is pivotable in an arc extending forwardly of the container. This configuration facilitates the upwardly extendable member being used as a handle, in that the handle can be held in front of the container 25 at an angle so that on hauling the container the user does not strike their leg with the container. More preferably in this form the extendable member is freely pivoted until it is swung to the upright position and contacts the register means. It may also be desirable to provide capture means at a lowermost extent of traverse of the arc to WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 4 capture the extendable member against the front of the container to prevent unwanted pivoting. Alternatively the upwardly extendable member may be slidable upwardly within a guide comprise two or more parts and forming a so-called telescopic 5 member. Preferably in a fully extending position the upwardly extendable member pivotably engages a register means. In this way the upwardly extendable member in a fully extended position is able to pivot in an arc extending forwardly of the container and can therefore be used as both a handle and a target. The register means is preferably biased to maintain the upwardly extendable member in an upright position. 10 In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is proposed an insulated container arrangement, including a body having a base connected to upwardly extending walls configured to form a chamber, and a lid adapted to releasably seal said chamber, a handle attached to the body and adapted to pivot at least between a freely pivotal position, wherein the handle is used to haul the 15 container over a surface, and an upright position, wherein the handle is biased upwardly and adapted to form at least an upper portion of a set of cricket stumps for use in the playing of a game of cricket. In preference the insulated container includes a first end having a pair of coaxially rotatable wheels used to facilitate haulage of the container and a second end 20 to which said handle is pivotably attached. The second end may include markings adapted to form the lower portion of a set of cricket stumps. Wherein the handle and markings cooperate to form the set of cricket stumps. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is proposed a container 25 and sporting equipment assembly including a container and an upwardly extendable member attached thereto, the upwardly extendable member being extendable above an uppermost part of said container wherein it forms a support for a ball.
WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 5 In one form the assembly could be used in playing a game of softball. In such a configuration the upwardly extendable member includes a single post having a curved upper surface adapted to support a softball thereon. The post is adapted to absorb an impact and pivot when struck by the softball bat. This therefore protects 5 the upwardly extendable member from damage during use. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is proposed a container and sporting equipment assembly including a container and an upwardly extendable member attached thereto, the upwardly extendable member being extendable above an uppermost part of said container wherein it forms a margin of a sporting goal. 10 In one form an assembly is positioned on each side of a goal zone to define the edge of the goal. A cord or rope may be strung between the upwardly extendable members of respective assemblies to form the upper margin of the goal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part 15 of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and sporting equipment assembly of the present invention illustrating the handle in an upright position; 20 Figure 2a is front view of the assembly of figure 1 illustrating the handle in the upright position; Figure 2b is a side view of the assembly of figure 1; Figure 3a is a front view of the assembly of figure 1 illustrating the handle in a lowered position; 25 Figure 3b is a side view of the assembly of figure 1 illustrating movement of the handle; WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 6 Figure 4 is a side view of the assembly of figure 1 illustrating the handle in a position for haulage of the container over a surface; Figure 5 is a side view of the assembly of figure 1 illustrating the handle in a folded back over the top of the container; 5 Figure 6 is a rear view of the assembly of figure 1 illustrating the rear handle used to lift the container and the path of travel of the lid when being opened; and Figure 7 is a side view of the assembly of figure 1 in use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED 10 EMBODIMENTS Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration. Referring to the figures for a more detailed description, an assembly 10 is 15 illustrated, demonstrating by way of example one arrangement in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. It is envisaged that the assembly 10 will be in the form of an insulated cooler however it should be appreciated that other types of containers, both closed and open, could be used and fall within the scope of the invention. 20 The assembly 10 includes a body 12 having a base 14 attached to upwardly extending walls 16, 18, 20, 22, and a lid 24. The body 12 is constructed from PVC or some similar type of material, which is both durable and lightweight. It is envisaged that the lid 24 will be hinged to one of the walls, however the lid 24 may also be completely removable as is known in the art. A pair of wheels 26 adapted to rotate 25 around axle 28, are located at one end of the body 12. An upwardly extendable member 30 is attached at the opposing end and configured to pivot about axis 32. The upwardly extendable member 30 can be used as both a handle for assisting in WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 7 transportation of the assembly 10 and in the present embodiment as a portion of a set of cricket stumps. The upwardly extendable member 30 comprises three parallel shafts 34, 36, 38 each joined at an upper end by way of a crossbar 40 and held in a spaced apart 5 relationship. The crossbar 40 acts as both a handle grip for a user and as a set of non removable bails. The exterior surface of wall 20 includes a pattern in the form of three parallel bands 42, 44,46. The parallel bands are preferably of a colour that contrasts the body 12. The shafts 34, 36, 38 and contrasting parallel bands 42, 44, 46 are preferably the same 10 colour such that when the upwardly extendable member 30 is selectively positioned in an upright arrangement, as illustrated in figure 2a, the shafts and bands align thereby forming what appears to be a set of regulation height cricket stumps. The three parallel shafts 34, 36,38 are attached to an upwardly and outwardly projecting shoulder 48. As the reader will now appreciate the upwardly extendable member 30 15 can be used as both a set of cricket stumps and as a handle for transport. As illustrated in figures 3a and 3b the upwardly extendable member 30 is pivotable between a first position 50 wherein it abuts wall 20 of the cooler, a second position 52 wherein it extends forwardly from the cooler body 12 and a third position 54 wherein it extends upwardly from the top of the cooler body 12. 20 This pivoting action, as illustrated by arrow 56, enables the user to position the member 30 in an orientation whereby it can be used as a target, as illustrated in figure 36. The member 30 can also be positioned in an orientation, as illustrated in figure 4, that facilitates haulage of the assembly 10 over the ground 58. In use when the assembly is being transported in the boot of a vehicle the 25 upwardly extendable member 30 can be located in the first position 50 wherein it abuts wall 20 of the cooler body 12. The configuration of the upwardly extendable member 30 therefore means that it can be easily stored in the boot of a vehicle during transport since there are no outwardly extending parts as is known in the art. The user WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 8 can then lift the assembly 10 out of the boot when they have arrived at the desired location by grasping handle 60 and the shoulder 48. As illustrated in figure 4, the upwardly extendable member 30 can be located in a position for use as a handle to assist in haulage of the assembly 10 over surface 5 58. The crossbar 40 is grasped by the hand of a user and lifted so that it is at an angle to the front of the assembly 10. This has the effect of raising the base 14 off the ground such that the assembly 10 is supported on wheels 26. The assembly 10 can then be pulled across the surface 58 with the assistance of the wheels 26 as is known in the art. 10 The upwardly extendable member 30 may be pivotable rearwardly as illustrated in figure 5. This means that when the assembly is placed in the boot of a vehicle the member 30 can be laid on top of the lid it there is insufficient room form it to be located in position 50 as discussed above. Furthermore it is envisage that when in position 54, wherein the parallel shafts 15 34, 36, 38 act as a target, the upwardly extendable member 30 is biased to an upright position and adapted to absorb an impact. For instance member 30 may be configured to pivot when force is applied to it, such as when it is struck by a bat or a ball. The biasing also means that the sporting apparatus would not pose a safety risk if a person were to fall upon the assembly because it would give way under a persons weight and 20 would therefore not cause injury or itself be broken. The rearward movement of member 30, wherein it can fall back over the top of the container when it is impacted by a ball, provides a visual effect when the stumps are hit by a delivery. It also ensures accuracy where there is a question over whether the stumps were in fact contacted by the ball. 25 The assembly 10 may include a stop (not shown) that inhibits the parallel shafts 34, 36, 38 from contacting lid 24. This reduces the chance of damage caused by the member violently coming into contact with the lid. It should however be appreciated that biasing may be used rather than a stop or alternatively the member 30 WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 9 may simply be allow the contact the lid. A rubberised material may be positioned on the rear of parallel shafts 34, 36,38 to act as a buffer. As illustrated in figure 6 the lid 24 is attached to the body 12 of the coola uy way of hinge 62. The lid 24 is configured to open to the side, which means that when 5 member 30 is in an upright positioned the internal cavity of the cooler can still be accessed. This means that when the assembly 10 is being used in a game of cricket the contents of the cooler such as drinks and food are still accessible. The hinge 62 may be a rod that is mounted through the lid 24 and extends outwardly on either side. The ends of the rod are then adapted to engage with slots or 10 opening in the body 12 of the cooler. Alternatively the hinge 62 may be in the form of male and female members that are adapted to cooperated, for instance male projections on the lid 24 that are adapted to cooperate with female members in the body 12. Figure 7 illustrates the assembly 10 in use during a game of cricket wherein a 15 player 64 is located in front of side 20 and using the assembly 10 as a set of stumps. A person acting as a wicket keeper can be positioned behind side 16. As the reader will now appreciate, at any stage the contents of the cooler can be accessed by a person or persons without having to move or displace member 30. In an alternate embodiment the upwardly extendable member 30 can be 20 configured to support a ball for use in playing a game of softball. In such a configuration the upwardly extendable member 30 includes a single post having a curved upper surface adapted to accommodate a softball thereon. The post is adapted to absorb an impact and pivot when struck by the softball bat. This therefore protects the upwardly extendable member 30 from damage during use. 25 In yet a further alternate embodiment the upwardly extendable member 30 is adapted to form a sporting target such as a goal post. For instance a cooler can be positioned at either sides of a goal target and a cord can be extended therein between to forms the margins of a soccer goal.
WO 2009/055877 PCT/AU2008/001635 10 The skilled addressee will now appreciate the many advantages of the illustrated invention. The assembly 10 provides a means for transporting food and beverage that can also be utilised for a sporting activity. The use of a pivotable handle that can be used as a sporting target such as a set of cricket stumps means that 5 it is always on hand in the event that a spontaneous game is initiated. As the reader would appreciate, in one form of the invention a set of cricket stumps do not need to be carried because the handle has the duel function of assisting in the haulage of the cooler and for use as a set of stumps. Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described 10 in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For the purpose of the specification and claims the word "comprise" or "comprising" means "including but 15 not limited to".