Basketball system

Abstract

A basketball system may include a basketball goal and a support structure that may be sized and configured to support the basketball goal. The support structure may include one or more support members. The basketball system may include an adjustment mechanism, which may be sized and configured to move at least a portion of the support members to adjust the height of the basketball goal. The basketball system may include a biasing member sized and configured to absorb energy when a force is applied to the basketball goal and to release the energy when the force is removed from the basketball goal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 836,270, which was filed on Aug. 8, 2006 and entitled BASKETBALL SYSTEM, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to basketball systems and, in particular, to basketball goals and support structures.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]The game of basketball is frequently played by many people throughout the world. Briefly, the game of basketball typically includes a flat and level playing surface with a basketball goal at each end of the court. The basketball goal, which may include a backboard and a rim or hoop, is typically attached to the top of a support pole. The rim or hoop is normally located ten feet above the playing surface and the backboard may be constructed from materials such as wood, plastic or tempered gl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]A still further aspect is a basketball system that may include one or more biasing members that are sized and configured to help absorb forces or impacts on the basketball system. For example, if a force is applied to the rim and / or basketball goal, then the biasing member may help absorb at least a portion of the force applied to the rim or goal. Advantageously, this may help prevent the rim and / or basketball goal from being bent or damaged. It may also help prevent other portions of the basketball system from being damaged. The biasing member may also be sized and configured to support at least a portion of the weight of the basketball goal. For instance, the biasing member may be positioned so that it helps support at least a portion of the weight of the basketball goal, which may help reduce the amount of weight that other portions of the basketball goal may have to support.

[0016]Yet another further aspect is a basketball system that may include an adjustment mechanism which includes a tension adjustment mechanism. The tension adjustment mechanism may be used to increase and / or decrease the tension in the biasing member, which may facilitate movement of the adjustment mechanism and / or assist in adjusting the height of the basketball goal. For example, the tension adjustment mechanism may include a crank and the crank may be rotated in a first direction to help compress the biasing member, and that may move the adjustment mechanism and raise the basketball goal. In addition, the crank may be rotated in a second direction to help decompress the biasing member, and that may move the adjustment mechanism and lower the basketball goal. It will be appreciated that the tension adjustment mechanism is not required and it is not necessary to raise or lower the basketball goal. It will also be appreciated that the tension adjustment mechanism may include other components and may be disposed in other suitable configurations and arrangements.

[0018]Yet another aspect is basketball system that may include a biasing mechanism as and a support structure that is sized and configured to transfer energy to the biasing mechanism when a force is applied to the basketball goal. The support structure may also be sized and configured to transfer energy from the biasing mechanism to the basketball goal to return the basketball goal to a desired position when the force is removed from the basketball goal. In addition, the biasing member may be sized and configured to help support the basketball goal in a desired position. For example, the biasing member may be sized and configured to help retain the basketball goal in a desired position and, when a force exceeds a certain amount, the biasing member may allow the basketball goal to move into a different position. The biasing member may then be sized and configured to return the basketball goal to the desired position.

[0021]A still further aspect is basketball system that may include a basketball goal and a support structure connected to the basketball goal. The support structure may include an elongated support member and three pairs of connecting members that are sized and configured to connect the basketball goal to the elongated support member. The three pairs of connecting members are preferably pivotally connected to the support member and the basketball goal to allow the basketball goal to be positioned among a plurality of heights. The support structure may include a first pair of connecting members pivotally connected to the backboard, a second pair of connecting members pivotally connected to the backboard and / or the rim support structure, and a third pair of connecting members pivotally connected to the rim support structure. This may allow forces or stresses on the rim, for example, to be applied more directly to the support structure and less to the backboard frame and / or the rebound portion of the backboard, which may help avoid damage to the backboard.

[0030]Yet another aspect is a basketball system that may include an adjustment mechanism with a biasing member and an enclosure. Desirably, the biasing member may be removable from the enclosure, which may allow the biasing member to be replaced when worn or damaged. The adjustment mechanism may also be sized and configured to use different types of springs or biasing members having different properties (such as, compressibility, extendibility, resilience, etc.) and that may allow the adjustment mechanism to be used with basketball systems having different sizes and configurations.

[0031]Still another aspect is a basketball system that may include a height adjustment mechanism and a biasing member that may be sized and configured to at least help absorb forces applied to the basketball goal. For example, the height adjustment mechanism may include an adjustment mechanism, such as a crank, that allows the height of the basketball goal to be changed. In particular, the height adjustment mechanism may include two telescoping members and the crank may be used to vary the length of the telescoping members. In addition, a biasing member is preferably connected to the height adjustment mechanism and that may allow the telescoping members and / or the crank to move if a force greater than a certain amount is applied to the basketball goal. Advantageously, this may help prevent damage to the basketball system.

Problems solved by technology

Many conventional basketball systems experience significant stresses and forces while being used.

For example, a significant amount of stress and force may be applied to the basketball system when a player dunks the basketball or hangs onto the rim.

Over time, these stresses and forces may damage the rim, backboard and / or other portions of the basketball system.

It may be very difficult, time consuming and costly to repair or replace the damaged portions of the basketball system.

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