AU2397799A - A support system and method - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original), APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: JEREMY PETER GORMAN

APPLICANT

LORD COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 4 Douro Place West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

AUSTRALIA.

"A SUPPORT SYSTEM AND METHOD" S. INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number PP3134 filed on April 23, 1998.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

TITLE

"A SUPPORT SYSTEM AND METHOD" The present invention relates to a support system for a basketball pole and to a method of supporting a basketball pole.

Various systems and methods are known for supporting a basketball pole. One such system includes a base portion rigidly attached to a lower end of the basketball pole, the base being rigidly fixed to the ground. Other systems involve locating a lower portion of a basketball pole in an underground recess and filling the recess with restraining material, for example, concrete.

While these systems are satisfactory for restraining movement of the basketball pole relative to the ground, they do not include safety measures for protecting and warning users in the event of failure of the basketball pole.

The present invention seeks, among other things, to provide a support system and method which includes such safety measures.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a support system for a basketball pole, the support system including a substantially rigid elongate member fixed to the ground and extending upwardly to a location beyond ground level, the said elongate member being receivable in a lower aperture of a basketball pole, external transverse dimensions of the elongate member being sufficiently less than corresponding internal dimensions of the basketball pole so that, in use, a gap is defined between an external surface of the said elongate member and an internal surface of the basketball pole, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the basketball pole fractures intermediate ground level and a location on the basketball pole corresponding to an upper 3 edge of the tube, the basketball pole is maintained in a substantially upright orientation by the elongate member and the basketball pole is inclined at an acute angle to the elongate member.

Also in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supporting a basketball pole including the steps of providing a substantially rigid elongate member receivable in a lower aperture of a basketball pole, external transverse dimensions of the elongate member being sufficiently less than corresponding internal dimensions of the basketball pole so that, in use, a gap is defined between an external surface of the said elongate member and an internal surface of the basketball pole, fixing 0 the said elongate member to the ground such that the elongate member extends upwardly to a location beyond ground level, and receiving the elongate member in a lower aperture of the basketball pole, the arrangement being such that when, in use, the basketball pole fractures intermediate ground level and a location on the basketball pole corresponding to an upper edge of the elongate member, the basketball pole is maintained in a substantially upright orientation by the elongate member and the basketball pole is inclined at an acute angle to the elongate member.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a support system for a basketball pole in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the support system shown in Figure 1 when the basketball pole includes a fracture.

4 Referring to the drawings, there is shown a support system 10 for a basketball pole 12 carrying at an upper end thereof a basketball ring (not shown), the support system including a substantially rigid elongate member, in this example a tube 14.

The basketball pole 12 includes a lower pole end 16 having a lower aperture 17 and the tube 14 includes a lower tube end 18 rigidly attached to a base 20 in a known manner, for example by means of a nut and bolt arrangement (not shown). The base 20 is attached in a known manner to a lower surface 22 of a recess 24 extending below ground level The tube 14 also includes an upper tube end 26 having an upper edge 28.

In use, the tube 14 is received in the basketball pole 12 and the tube 14 and the pole 12 10 are fixed together by fixing means, in this example an externally screw threaded bolt the bolt 30 acting against an outer circumferential surface 32 of the tube 14 so as to restrain movement of the pole 12 relative to the tube 14. Additionally, a bracket 33 may °be provided intermediate the bolt 30 and the pole 12. To further restrain movement of the pole 12, concrete 34 is poured into a cavity between the pole 12 and the recess 24.

The concrete 34 is poured into the cavity such that upper portions 36 of the concrete 34 extend beyond ground level 25, the upper portions 36 acting to restrict corrosion of the S* S basketball pole 12 at the intersection between the pole 12 and the ground.

Figure 2 shows the support system 10 when the basketball pole 12 is in a fractured condition, a fracture 38 being present intermediate the ground level 25 and a location on the basketball pole 12 corresponding to the upper edge 28 of the tube 14. As a result of the fracture 38, an upper portion 40 of the basketball pole 12 is separated from the remainder of the basketball pole. The upper portion 40 of the basketball pole 12 is maintained in an upright inclined orientation by the tube 14, thereby preventing the pole from falling and potentially injuring a user.

It will be appreciated that the internal transverse dimensions of the basketball pole 12 are greater than the external transverse dimensions of the tube 14 to such an extent that a gap is defined between the tube 14 and the basketball pole. In this way, when the basketball pole has fractured, a visible indication that the pole is damaged is provided to a user in that the basketball pole is inclined at an acute angle to the tube.

The support system 10 is constructed in accordance with the following steps.

The recess 24 below ground level 25 is formed and the base 20 of the tube 14 is attached 10 to the lower surface 22 of the recess 24. The tube 14 is then received in the lower aperture 17 of the basketball pole 12, the pole 12 is adjusted so that the basketball ring at the upper end of the pole 12 is at the correct height relative to the ground level 25, and the tube 14 is fixed to the basketball pole 12 by means of the bolt 30. Finally, concrete 34 is poured into the cavity between the basketball pole and the recess 24 so that upper portions 36 of the concrete 34 protrude beyond ground level Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A support system for a basketball pole, the support system including a substantially rigid elongate member fixed to the ground and extending upwardly to a location beyond ground level, the said elongate member being receivable in a lower aperture of a basketball pole, external transverse dimensions of the elongate member being sufficiently less than corresponding internal dimensions of the basketball pole so that, in use, a gap is defined between an external surface of the said elongate member and an internal surface of the basketball pole, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the basketball pole fractures intermediate ground level and a location on the basketball pole corresponding to an upper edge of the tube, the basketball pole is maintained in a substantially upright orientation by the elongate member and the basketball pole is inclined at an acute angle to the elongate member.

2. A support system as claimed in claim 1, further including fixing means for fixing the basketball pole relative to said the elongate member.

3. A support system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixing means includes an externally screw threaded bolt engaged with the basketball pole and acting against an outer surface of the said elongate member so as to thereby restrain movement of the basketbal!l.ole relative to the said elongate member. 7

4. A support system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the said elongate member is fixed to a lower surface of a ground recess and the fixing means are located between the lower surface and ground level.

5. A support system as claimed in claim 4, further including concrete intermediate the basketball pole and surfaces of the recess.

6. A support system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the concrete extends beyond :'.goe ground level so as to resist corrosion of the basketball pole at an intersection between the 9* .o99 basketball pole and the ground. .00.

7. A support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said elongate member is a tube of annular transverse cross section. oo•

8. A support system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. sooo .9

9. A method of supporting a basketball pole including the steps of providing a substantially rigid elongate member receivable in a lower aperture of a basketball pole, external transverse dimensions of the elongate member being sufficiently less than corresponding internal dimensions of the basketball pole so that, in use, a gap is defined between an external surface of the said elongate member and an internal surface of the basketball pole, fixing the said elongate member to the ground such that the elongate 8 member extends upwardly to a location beyond ground level, and receiving the elongate member in a lower aperture of the basketball pole, the arrangement being such that when, in use, the basketball pole fractures intermediate ground level and a location on the basketball pole corresponding to an upper edge of the elongate member, the basketball pole is maintained in a substantially upright orientation by the elongate member and the basketball pole is inclined at an acute angle to the elongate member.

A method as claimed in claim 9, further including the step of fixing the basketball ,pole relative to the elongate member. 0 o i"

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of fixing the basketball pole relative to the elongate member includes the steps of engaging an externally screw threaded bolt with the basketball pole and causing the said bolt to act against an outer o surface of the elongate member.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, further including the step of fixing S: the elongate member to a lower surface of a ground recess between the lower surface and ground level.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further including the step of pouring concrete into the recess. 0 1 9

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further including the step of pouring concrete into the recess so that the concrete extends beyond ground level. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 2 2 ND DAY OF APRIL 1999. JEREMY PETER GORMAN ]0 By his Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 0* G 00 *0 0