Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-02-13
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to basketball goals. In particular, the invention relates to resilient basketball goals with flexible hoops and the assembly thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
It has become commonplace in the sport of basketball for players to attempt to dunk the ball in the rim. Many players, whether intentionally or not, tend to place a great deal of force on the rim such that the backboard to which the rim is attached is damaged or fractured. Proposals have been made in the past to provide a resilient connection between the rim and the backboard. Such proposals have recognized that while a rigid connection is desirable, flexibility of the assembly is essential to prevent damage to the backboard.
Flexible basketball goal assemblies that have been developed are complex and require a great deal of effort to assemble. Such assemblies are assembled by the manufacturer due to their complexity. The cost of these goals is high due to the nature of the components involved as well as the cost of assembling the components. Moreover, the manufacturer is able to produce fewer goals because of the time requirement to assemble each unit. Additionally, once assembled, the basketball goal takes up more shipping space than if the components of the goal were being shipped unassembled. This not only results in increased shipping costs, but also presents the manufacturer or retailer with storage concerns.
Consumers cannot, however, be expected to assemble complex items such as conventional flexible goal assemblies. The notion of consumer assembly of the complex goals described above is contrary to most business practices. Such assemblies comprise numerous complex components which, if assembled improperly, could cause a complete failure of the goal and possible injury to the user as assembled. Such systems are better left to be assembled by the manufacturer to guarantee proper use and prevent injury by the consumer.
There are resilient basketball goals that have flexible support structures such as springs or hydraulic cylinders which are effective, but extremely complex as noted above. Several of these goals require the flexible support to be placed behind the backboard. Although these goals may be effective, their use is limited. For example, if such a goal was desired by a user, but that user did not have an existing backboard, they would need to purchase a backboard suitable to accommodate such a goal. If the flexible support were located entirely in front of the backboard, the goal could alternatively be attached to a vertical surface such as the wall of a house or the like.
Another concern with certain proposed resilient basketball goals is that they have fixed spring rates. The basketball goals are typically constructed such that the spring or other dampening device is set at a particular spring rate and cannot be adjusted. This could pose a problem after prolonged usage or for different levels of play. For example, if a player continuously “dunks” the ball in the goal, the spring rate will decrease over time. This problem could be solved, or at least delayed, by continuously tightening the spring and increasing the spring rate. Similarly, the spring rate could be decreased to allow for greater flexibility during periods of continuous “dunking.” With goals that do not provide an adjustable spring, however, such adjustment is not possible.
Yet another concern with proposed resilient basketball goals is that the dampening assembly in the rim often tends to position the rim in such a manner that it is not parallel with the playing surface. This could be problematic for the user since the complexity of the basketball goal prevents the user from being able to make adjustments to the goal which would rectify the problem.
The foregoing demonstrates that there is a need for a resilient basketball goal assembly that is easily assembled by the consumer and adjusted by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the apparatus particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the invention consists of a resilient basketball goal having a substantially unshaped back plate, having side elements, an inside back surface, and an outside back surface adapted to attach to a vertical surface. The side elements extend outwardly perpendicular to the vertical surface and terminate in a front edge.
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 edge 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. There is an annular connecting member connecting a basketball hoop and the front edge of the top 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, proximate the back plate, through the inwardly extending portion of the angle bracket.
A retention nut threadedly engages the carriage bolt and abuts the bottom surface of the top plate. 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 for positioning the basketball hoop relative to the playing surface such that the hoop is substantially parallel to the playing surface.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of preparing a resilient basketball goal for assembly is described. The method comprises manufacturing the goal components, packaging the goal components for shipment and providing the unassembled goal components to a consumer for assembly.
In operation, when a force is placed on the basketball rim the top plate will be displaced from its resting position, pivoting around the pivot point near the front of the back plate. The carriage bolt/elasticity accelerating member assembly, while allowing a small displacement of the top plate and rim, ensure that the top plate returns to its resting position. The flexibility of the rim and top plate prevent large forces from being imparted on the connection between the back plate and backboard. The amount of flexibility of the rim can be adjusted by changing the position of the two adjustment elements relative to the angle bracket and elasticity accelerating member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a resilient basketball goal.
It is another object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a resilient basketball goal with adjustable flexibility.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a basketball goal that can be adjusted by the consumer to position the basketball hoop relative to the playing surface.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a resilient basketball goal that is easily assembled by a consumer.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a resilient basketball goal that is easily adjusted by a consumer.
These and other objects of the present invention will become r
Bell Michael J.
Graham Mark S.
Howrey Simon Arnold & White
Huffy Corporation
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