Telescopic Basketball Goal Pole With Internal Screw Height Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable basketball goal assemblies face issues with support arms causing front-heavy assemblies, pinch hazards, and weather susceptibility, requiring large bases for stability and complex, expensive adjustment mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic pole assembly with a height adjustment mechanism using a threaded shaft, gearbox, and turnbuckle frame, operated by a crank handle, which is weather-resistant and safe, eliminating the need for support arms and reducing manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If support arms are used to attach the backboard to the pole, then height adjustment is enabled, but the assembly becomes front-heavy requiring larger bases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidassembly balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the support arms entirely from the system. Instead of using support arms to attach and adjust the backboard, the patent integrates the height adjustment mechanism directly into the pole assembly, extracting the problematic support arm component that caused the front-heavy balance issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanism is nested within the pole assembly itself. The threaded shaft, gearbox, and turnbuckle frame are all contained within the pole structure, with the backboard attaching directly to the pole at variable heights without requiring external support arms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If lever systems with linkages are used for height adjustment, then height change is achieved, but pinch hazards are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustabilityVSAvoidpinch hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the traditional lever and linkage mechanical system with a threaded shaft and gearbox mechanism. This substitution eliminates the moving linkages that create pinch points, as the threaded shaft rotates within a protected gearbox housing without exposing moving joints to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If crank adjustment systems with exposed threaded rods are used, then height adjustment is possible, but weather susceptibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual height controlVSAvoidweather resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The threaded shaft is nested within the gearbox housing, which is itself integrated into the pole assembly. This nested configuration protects the threaded shaft from direct exposure to weather elements, preventing corrosion and maintaining operational reliability in outdoor environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Adaptability or versatility

If lever systems and linkages are used for adjustment, then height change is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment functionalityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the complex lever and linkage system, retaining only the essential height adjustment functionality through a simpler threaded shaft and gearbox mechanism. This extraction of unnecessary components reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the core height adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides stable, weather-resistant, and cost-effective height adjustment without pinch hazards, allowing for a compact base and safe operation.

Implementation Method 1

The height adjustment mechanism has a threaded shaft, a gearbox for turning the threaded shaft, and a turnbuckle frame that engages the threaded shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

a gearbox for turning the threaded shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentUS20260041977A1Portable Basketball Goal System with Improved Height Adjustment Mechanism

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 A-WORLD INTL INC

AI summary

A portable basketball goal assembly and the height adjustment mechanism used within that assembly. The portable basketball goal has a base and a pole assembly that extends upwardly from the base. The pole assembly includes a first pole section and a second pole section in a telescopic arrangement. A height adjustment mechanism is positioned inside the pole assembly. The height adjustment mechanism has a threaded shaft, a gearbox for turning said threaded shaft, and a turnbuckle frame that engages said threaded shaft, wherein the turnbuckle frame moves in relation to the gearbox as the threaded shaft turns. The gearbox is affixed to the first pole section inside of the first pole section. The turnbuckle frame is affixed to the second pole section inside of the second pole section. As the gearbox turns the threaded shaft, the second pole section moves relative to the first pole section. As such, the pole assembly can be selectively lengthened and shortened.