US 6,186,911 B1Granted

Resilient basketball goal and method of preparing for assembly

AssigneeHuffy Corporation

InventorBrian Manthey

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Abstract

A resilient basketball goal assembly having a substantially u-shaped back plate, having side elements, an inside back surface, and an outside back surface adapted to attach to a vertical surface such as a basketball backboard. There is a top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge, a back edge, and downwardly extending sidewalls pivotally connected to the back plate. In a resting position, the top surface of the top plate is essentially even with the top edge of the back plate and is substantially perpendicular to the vertical surface. The top plate pivots about a pivot point proximate the front edge of the side elements of the back plate. An angle bracket is coupled to the inside back surface of the back plate such that a portion of the angle bracket extends inwardly perpendicular from the back plate and is parallel to the top plate in the resting position. A carriage bolt extends from the top surface of the top plate through the inwardly extending portion of the angle bracket. An elasticity accelerating member is disposed beneath the angle bracket and is adapted to receive the carriage bolt. A first adjustment element is disposed above the angle bracket and is threadedly engaged with the carriage bolt. A second adjustment element is disposed below the elasticity accelerating member and is threadedly engaged with the carriage bolt for adjusting the spring rate of the elasticity accelerating member and the position of the basketball hoop relative to the playing surface.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A consumer assembleable resilient basketball goal comprising:

a substantially unshaped back plate, having side elements, an inside back surface, and an outside back surface adapted to attach to a vertical surface, with the side elements extending outwardly perpendicular to the vertical surface and terminating in a front edge;
a top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge, a back edge, and downwardly extending sidewalls pivotally connected to the back plate such that in a resting position, the top surface of said top plate is essentially even with a top edge of said back plate and is substantially perpendicular to the vertical surface;
a pivot point proximate the front edge of the side elements of said back plate;
an annular connecting member fixedly connected between a basketball hoop and the front edge of said top plate;
an angle bracket coupled to the inside back surface of said back plate such that a portion of said angle bracket extends inwardly perpendicular from said back plate and is parallel to said top plate in the resting position;
a carriage bolt extending from the top surface of said top plate, proximate said back plate, through the inwardly extending portion of said angle bracket;
a retention nut threadedly engaging the carriage bolt and abutting the bottom surface of said top plate;
an elasticity accelerating member disposed beneath the inwardly extending portion of said angle bracket and adapted to receive the carriage bolt;
a first adjustment element disposed above the inwardly extending portion of said angle bracket and threadedly engaged with the carriage bolt;
and
a second adjustment element disposed below said elasticity accelerating member and threadedly engaged with the carriage bolt for adjusting the spring rate of the elasticity accelerating member and the position of the basketball hoop relative to a playing surface;
wherein said basketball goal is configured to allow compact shipment of the disassembled basketball goal and to be readily assembled by a consumer.

9 more elements

A method of preparing a resilient basketball goal for assembly comprising:

manufacturing goal components;
packaging the goal components for shipment;
and
providing the goal components unassembled to a consumer for assembly;
wherein the coal components comprise:
a substantially u-shaped back plate, having side elements and an inside back surface and an outside back surface, adapted to attach to a vertical surface with the side elements extending outwardly perpendicular to the vertical surface and terminating in a front edge,
a top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge, a back edge, and downwardly extending sidewalls for pivotally connecting to the back plate such that in a resting position, the top surface of said top plate is essentially even with a top edge of said back plate and is substantially perpendicular to the vertical surface;
a pivot point proximate the front edge of the side elements of said back plate, said pivot point comprising a bolt disposed between, and extending through the side elements of said back plate and the sidewalls of said top plate;
an annular connecting member fixedly connected between a basketball hoop and the front edge of said top plate;
an angle bracket for coupling to the inside back surface of said back plate such that a portion of said angle bracket extends inwardly perpendicular from said back plate and is parallel to said top plate in the resting position, said angle bracket is coupled by a nut and bolt assembly;
a carriage bolt extending from the top surface of said top plate, proximate said back plate, through the inwardly extending portion of said angle bracket;
a retention nut threadedly engaging the carriage bolt and abutting the bottom surface of said top plate;
an elasticity accelerating member disposed beneath the inwardly extending portion of said angle bracket and adapted to receive the carriage bolt;
a first adjustment nut disposed above the inwardly extending portion of said angle bracket and threadedly engaged with the carriage bolt;
and
a second adjustment nut disposed below said elasticity accelerating member and threadedly engaged with the carriage bolt for adjusting the spring rate of the elasticity accelerating member and position of the basketball hoop relative to a playing surface.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.