Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SPRING LOADED INFINITE ADJUST BASKETBALL LIFT SYSTEM
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention concerns a lift or elevator assembly for an adjustable
basketball backboard system.
BACKGROUND ART
Basketball goal assemblies are used to provide a basketball goal and
backboard a set distance above the ground. While regulated basketball games
set
the height of the goal at 10 feet above the basketball court, basketball goal
assemblies used in informal or recreational play may be disposed at various
height
locations. For such assemblies, a lift mechanism or subassembly is used to set
the
goal to a desired height. Prior lift mechanisms include a vertical bar with
notches
set at predetermined locations that correspond to discrete heights of the
goal. A
user sets a horizontal bar into the notch corresponding to the desired height.
However, such systems allow a user to only set the goal to a few predetermined
heights based on the location of the notches.
A variable-length, locking gas strut has been used to overcome this problem
and allow for a sliding height adjustment providing an infinite number of
potential
height locations. However, the gas strut is prone to leaking over time. This
causes
two problems. First, the strut can stick and become difficult to move. Second,
the
strut may unexpectedly release during play, which may be dangerous to those
around the backboard.
What is needed, then, is a variable lift mechanism that allows for infinite
height locations and that does not require a gas strut.
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SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A basketball goal system having a base supporting a pole, a backboard
support assembly having a top arm with a proximal end coupled to a backboard
and a distal end rotatably connected to the pole, and a bottom arm with a
proximal
end coupled to a backboard and a middle section rotatably coupled to the pole,
an
elevator assembly having a lower strut having a lower end affixed to the pole,
a
spring assembly having a spring expandably coiled around the lower strut, and
a
housing containing the spring, an upper strut having an upper end rotatably
connected to a distal end of the bottom arm and a lower end coupled to the
housing,
and a handle pivotally attached to the pole and pivotally attached to the
housing,
and having a spring trigger configured to expand the spring when triggered and
contract the spring when released.
A height-adjustable basketball goal system having a vertical support, a
backboard assembly having a goal, and an elevator assembly, the elevator
assembly having a lower strut attached to the vertical support, a locking
assembly
comprising a lock adapted to grip the lower strut in a rest position and to
release
the lower strut in an activated position, an upper strut connected to the
locking
assembly and pivotally connected to the backboard assembly; and a handle
rotatably attached to the pole and comprising a trigger adapted to move the
lock
from a rest position to an activated position when gripped by a user, wherein
when
the handle is rotated upward, the goal moves from a first position to a second
position, and when the handle is rotated downward, the goal moves from the
second position to the first position.
A height-adjustable basketball goal system having a pole, a backboard
assembly supported by the pole and having a goal, and an elevator assembly,
the
elevator assembly having a lower strut having a first end attached to the
pole; a
spring assembly comprising a spring expandably coiled around the lower strut,
an
upper strut connected at a first end to the spring assembly and at a second
end to
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the backboard assembly, and a handle rotatably attached to the pole and
comprising a trigger adapted to expand the spring when gripped and contract
the
spring when released.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the lift system disclosed herein.
Figure 2 depicts a close-up perspective view of the handle and lift assembly
according to an embodiment of the lift system disclosed herein.
Figures 3A and 3B depict a spring locking mechanism according to an
embodiment of the lift system disclosed herein.
Figure 4 depicts another embodiment of the lift system disclosed herein.
Figure 5 depicts another embodiment of the lift system disclosed herein.
Figure 6 depicts another embodiment of the lift system disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Applicant discloses herein a basketball goal assembly 10, an embodiment of
which is depicted in Figure 1. Generally, a basketball goal assembly 10 has a
vertical support, such as a pole 14 as depicted in Figure 1, with a backboard
assembly 20 attached at its proximal end to the top of the pole 14. The
backboard
assembly 20 has a backboard 24 with a goal or rim 22 at the distal end of the
backboard assembly 20.
More particularly focusing on the vertical support, the pole 14 of vertical
support may be secured in-place directly in the ground, or it may be attached
to
and situated on a base 12. The pole 14 may be substantially vertical, or it
may lean
forward and be supported by additional support struts 16, as shown in Figure
1.
The pole 14 is rigid and may be formed as a single piece or have multiple
parts
that are fit into each other. Some embodiments may also include a portable
base
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12. Such a portable base 12 typically has wheels to allow the base 12 to be
moved
into a desired location. The portable base 12 may also include ballast, such
as sand
or water, to provide a counterweight for stabilizing the entire basketball
goal
assembly 10. A cover 18 may also be provided to cover the struts 16, pole 14,
and/or
base 12. In other embodiments the pole 14 may be substantially vertical and
sunk
in concrete poured into the ground. In such embodiments a base, supporting
struts,
and/or a cover may be absent.
The backboard assembly 20 is connected to the top of and extends away from
the pole 14. The backboard assembly 20 includes at least one primary arm 26
that
is attached to the pole 14 by a pin 32 in the middle portion of the primary
arm 26.
The distal end 28 of the primary arm 26 is secured to and supports the
backboard
24 by screws, bolts, welding, or other permanent or semi-permanent fasteners.
The
proximal end 30 of the arm 26 extends some distance behind the pole 14 in the
opposite direction from the backboard 24. The primary arm 26 may be a single
beam, or it may be multiple beams (e.g., one on each side of the pole 14 to
provide
a pair of beams as the arm 26) and attached to and supporting the backboard 24
at multiple points. The beams of the primary arm 26 may be curved or straight
as
desired. In some embodiments, the backboard assembly 20 may also include one
or more additional arms 34 such as that shown in Figure 1. Such additional
arms
provide further support and stability to the backboard 24. In the embodiment
depicted in Figure 1, additional arm 34 at the distal end 36 is attached to
and
secures the backboard 24 in the same manner as the primary arm 26. The
proximal
end 38 additional arm 34 is attached with a pin 32 at the top of the pole 14.
In
other embodiments, the proximal end 38 of the additional arm 34 may also
extend
backwards behind the pole 14, as does the primary arm 26. In addition, like
the
primary arm 26, the one or more additional arms 34 may be formed of one or
more
beams for securing and stabilizing the backboard 24.
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The lift or elevator assembly 40 allows a user to adjust the height of the
basketball backboard 24. In general, the elevator assembly 40 has a lower
strut
42, an upper strut 48, and a locking assembly 54. The bottom end 44 of the
lower
strut 42 is fixedly attached to the pole 14. Preferably the lower strut 42 is
secured
such that the locking assembly 54 and the handle 62 (described below) are
positioned at a comfortable height for the user. The top end 46 of the lower
strut
42 is left free. It may be left uncovered, covered by a sheath, or hidden
inside the
upper strut 52 if the upper strut 52 is hollow and situated over the lower
strut 46.
Figure 2 provides a close-up view of the lock housing 54 and other portions
of the elevator assembly 40. A lock housing 54 is slidably attached to the
lower
strut 42. The lower end 50 of the upper strut 48 is secured to the housing. As
shown
in Figure 2, the there are two upper struts 48, one on each side of the lock
housing
54, and a bar 60 intersects each upper strut 48 and the lock housing 54 to
secure
the components together. Although the embodiment shown in Figure 2 includes
two upper struts 48, other embodiments may include only one upper strut 48.
For
example, there may be an upper strut 48 on only one side of the lock housing
54.
As another example, the upper strut 48 may be hollow inside and slide over the
upper end 46 of the lower strut 42, such that it continues along the same
longitudinal axis as the lower strut 42. In such an embodiment the upper strut
48
may secure directly into the lock housing 54. The upper end 52 of the upper
strut
48 is connected by a rotatable pin 32 to the proximal end 30 of the primary
arm
26. Thus, as the upper strut 46 moves up or down, the primary arm 26 moves the
backboard assembly up or down as well. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1,
as the upper strut 48 moves up, the primary arm 26 rotates about the pin 32
pinning the primary arm 26 to the pole 14 such that the backboard 24 moves
down.
In reverse, as the upper strut moves down, the backboard 24 moves up.
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Figure 3 depicts the interior of the lock housing 54. The lock as depicted in
this embodiment is a spring 56 coiled around the lower strut 42. The spring 56
has
a resting inner diameter that is less than the diameter of the lower strut 42,
such
that when applied around the lower strut 42, the spring 56 naturally coils
tightly
around the lower strut 42. Accordingly, in the resting position the spring 56
applies
a normal force inwardly against the lower strut 42, creating a static
frictional force
that locks the spring 56 into place and prevents slipping. Because one end of
the
spring 56 is secured to the housing 54, the locked spring 56 supports the
housing
54, and by extension the upper strut 48 and other components of the basketball
goal assembly 10., locked in place during use. Accordingly, the spring 56 must
be
of a sufficient length, diameter, and number of coils to result in a strong
normal
force against the lower strut 42 to generate enough frictional force to lock
the
assembly in place. As a non-limiting example, one or more springs
approximately
1 inch (25.4 mm) long having approximately 17 coils of 0.055 inch (1.4 mm)
diameter wire, and having an outer coil diameter of approximately 0.60 inches
(15
mm) and coiled to apply around a 0.40 inch (10 mm) rod can maintain a load of
2000 lbs (900 kg). Other diameters, sizes or weight ratings may be selected
based
on particular design or performance requirements.
The locking mechanism can also include other variations. For example, as
.. shown in Fig. 4, in some embodiments the lock may be a clamp that grips the
lower
strut 42 with sufficient normal force to generate the necessary frictional
force for
holding the assembly at the desired height. A lock may also include some
combination of springs and/or clamps.
Returning to Figure 3, the second end of the spring 56 is free to be pushed
or pulled in order to expand or contract the spring 56. This end of the spring
56
may in some embodiments have an activator 58 that attaches to the spring and
coordinates with a piston 68. In other embodiments, the piston 68 may attach
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directly to the spring 56. The piston 68 engages a handle 62 that includes a
trigger
66. In some embodiments, the trigger 66 is located on the handle 62 such that
a
user can grab the handle 62 and the trigger 66 with one hand. In other
embodiments the trigger 66 may be activated by a second hand. As shown in
Figure
.. 3, the handle 62 is attached to the pole struts 16 and forms a U shape
extended
backwards away from the pole 14. In other embodiments, the handle 62 may be
attached directly to the pole 14. The handle 62 may also be a bar, rather than
a U
shape. The handle 62 extends further from the pole 14 than the lower strut 42
and
housing 54. When the handle 62 is gripped and the trigger 66 is pulled, the
trigger
66 moves the piston 68 to push the spring 56 to an open expanded position. If
a
clamp lock is used instead of a spring, the clamp is pushed to an open
position.
Once the spring 56 is in this open position, the housing 54 is free to slide
along the
lower strut 42. As the handle 62 is rotated upward, the housing 54 slides
upward
along the lower strut 42, thereby moving the upper strut 48 and the backboard
assembly 20 to a new vertical position. Similarly, as the handle 62 is rotated
downward, the housing 54 slides downward along the lower strut 42. In this
way,
the user may move the backboard 24 to any desired height permitted by the
range
of movement of the housing 54 along the lower strut 42. Once the desired
height is
reached, the user stops moving the handle 62 and releases the trigger 66. Upon
releasing the trigger, the spring 56 moves back to its original position and
coils
tightly around the lower strut 42.
The lower strut 42 may also be marked to indicate the location where the
basketball backboard 24 or goal 22 are at a specific height above the ground.
For
example, markings may be made to indicate the location to set the goal 22 at 8
feet,
8.5 feet, 9 feet, 9.5 feet, and 10 feet. However, the user may adjust the
height to
any height in the range, not simply those that are marked at preselected
intervals.
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Another embodiment is depicted in Figure 4. Here, the handle 62 is attached
directly to the pole 14, rather than supporting pole struts 64.
Another embodiment is depicted in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the
orientation of the lower strut 42 relative to the pole 14 and lock housing 54
is
.. reversed. In embodiments such as those described with reference to Figures
1 and
5, the lower strut 42 is in tension in a static state. This is because the
weight of
the backboard assembly 20, when left unbalanced by the locking force of the
spring
56, tends to pull drop downward on the front side of the pole 14. This results
in the
proximal end 30 of the primary arm 26 pulling the elevator assembly 40 upward.
In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 4, the lower strut 42 is thus pulled
upward
and placed in tension. In Figure 5, the lower strut 42 is oriented such that
the
upper end 46 is attached to the pole 14, and the lower end 44 is free. Thus,
the
balancing forces place the lower strut 42 in compression.
Figure 6 depicts another embodiment of an assembly with an elevator
mechanism. In this embodiment, the elevator assembly 140 and the backboard
assembly 120 move up and down in the same direction, rather than in opposite
directions as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5. In assembly 110, a pole 114 is
provided
as secured into the ground. Per the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the pole may
also be secured to a portable base in this embodiment in Figure 6. In Figure 6
the
backboard assembly is connected to a collar that slides up and down the pole
110.
As the upper strut 148 moves upward, it pushes the collar upward. The
backboard
124 is secured to the collar, and the goal 122 is secured to the front of the
backboard
124. The lock housing 154 attaches to the lower strut 142 and is operated by
the
handle 162. These may be any of the variations in the elevator assemblies as
described above with reference to Figures 1-5. Thus, the primary difference in
the
embodiment of Figure 6 is that the backboard assembly 120 is not pinned to the
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pole 114 and instead moves upward or downward in the same direction as the
upper strut 148 when the upper strut 148 is moved.
It is to be understood that any given elements of the disclosed embodiments
of the invention may be embodied in a single structure, a single step, a
single
substance, or the like. Similarly, a given element of the disclosed embodiment
may
be embodied in multiple structures, steps, substances, or the like.
The foregoing description illustrates and describes the processes, machines,
manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present
disclosure. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only certain
embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter,
and other teachings disclosed, but, as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that
the teachings of the present disclosure are capable of use in various other
combinations, modifications, and environments and are capable of changes or
modifications within the scope of the teachings as expressed herein,
commensurate
with the skill and/or knowledge of a person having ordinary skill in the
relevant
art. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain
certain best modes known of practicing the processes, machines, manufactures,
compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure and to
enable
others skilled in the art to utilize the teachings of the present disclosure
in such,
or other, embodiments and with the various modifications required by the
particular applications or uses. Accordingly, the processes, machines,
manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present
disclosure are not intended to limit the exact embodiments and examples
disclosed
herein. Any section headings herein are provided only for consistency to
provide
organizational queues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the
invention(s) set forth herein.
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