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US 5,348,289 AGranted
Breakaway basketball rim
AssigneeSchutt Manufacturing Company
InventorRussell L. Vaught
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breakaway basketball goal is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention the goal includes a rim structure which employs a shock absorber. A rim support assembly moves the rim structure from a horizontal position to a nonhorizontal position upon application of a predetermined force to the rim. The shock absorber minimizes the vibrations that the rim support assembly encounters when the rim structure is in the horizontal position and when the rim structure returns to the horizontal position.
Claims15
A basketball goal comprising:
- support structure adapted to be mounted to a backboard;
- a rim structure, including a rim, mounted to said support structure;
- and
- a rim support structure including a shaft, a clamp including a mating portion and a shock absorber, said clamp having a clamped position engaged with said shaft in said mating portion of said clamp for maintaining said rim in a horizontal position, and an unclamped position wherein said mating portion of said clamp is disengaged from said shaft enabling said rim to swing downwardly in an arcuate path;
- a coiled spring, operatively mounted to said clamp, for maintaining said clamp in said clamped position, and for permitting said clamp to assume said unclamped position and move in said arcuate path upon application of a predetermined force to said rim;
- and a rigid member, extending through said spring, having a looped end surrounding said shaft mounted for swinging movement along another arcuate path upon application of said predetermined force, thereby preventing damage to said spring when said clamp assumes said unclamped position.
3 more elements
A basketball goal comprising:
- support structure adapted to be mounted to a backboard;
- a rim structure, including a rim, mounted to said support structure;
- and
- a rim support assembly including a shaft, a clamp including a mating portion, said clamp having a clamped position engaged with said shaft in said mating portion of said clamp for maintaining said rim in a horizontal position, and an unclamped position wherein said mating portion of said clamp is disengaged from said shaft enabling said rim to swing downwardly in an arcuate path;
- a coiled spring, operatively mounted to said clamp, for maintaining said clamp in said clamped position, and for permitting said clamp to assume said unclamped position and move in said arcuate path upon application of a predetermined force to said rim;
- and a rigid member, extending through said spring, having a looped end surrounding said shaft mounted for swinging movement along another arcuate path upon application of said predetermined force, thereby preventing damage to said spring when said clamp assumes said unclamped position;
- and wherein said clamp further includes (1) a pin extending through said clamp enabling said clamp to pivot about said pin when said predetermined force is applied to the pin and (2) an engagement device to engage said pin.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.