CN115040848A

CN115040848A - Basketball playing device

Info

Publication number: CN115040848A
Application number: CN202210222593.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: U·勒康夫; C·多希; J·勒加舍
Original assignee: Decathlon SE
Current assignee: Decathlon SE
Priority date: 2021-03-09
Filing date: 2022-03-09
Publication date: 2022-09-13
Also published as: US20220288475A1; FR3120543B1; EP4056241B1; FR3120543A1; EP4056241A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for playing basketball, comprising: a base (1) equipped with two lateral structures (5) between which a housing (6) is formed; a strut (2) having a lower section (2b) which can be set in a stowed storage configuration placed in the casing (6), and an upper section (2a) slidably mounted on the lower section by means of a drive system (22) comprising a box (23) fastened on a rear wall of the lower section (2b) and a movement mechanism housed in the box for moving the upper section (2a), the movement mechanism comprising a manipulation socket (24) projecting from the box (23) and provided on a rear wall (23a) of the box (23), the casing (6) being arranged to receive the lower section (2b) in the stowed storage configuration while preventing access to the socket manipulation.

Description

Basketball playing device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for playing basketball, comprising a base intended to be set up to bear on the ground, and a support with an upper section that carries a board on which a basketball rim is mounted.

It is known that such devices are foldable to facilitate mounting and storage thereof, in particular when the need for tools and/or the time required to perform such operations are limited, which may in fact create an obstacle to the use of said devices and their storage.

Documents FR-3022795 and FR-3022796 describe a device for playing basketball, in which the base is equipped with two rows of wheels forming a housing between them, and the upright of the device has a lower section rotatably mounted on said base to enable reversible arrangement of said upright between a stowed storage configuration, in which at least the lower section is disposed in the housing, and an upright use configuration.

In order to be able to increase the compactness of the device in the storage configuration, the upper section of the strut is mounted so as to be movable with respect to the lower section between a retracted position and a deployed position, so as to be able to be set in the retracted position when the device is placed in the storage configuration.

To this end, documents FR-3022795 and FR-3022796 provide for slidably mounting the upper section on the lower section, the device comprising a drive system for driving movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one extended position corresponding to the height of use, said drive system comprising a box fastened to the rear wall of the lower section and a movement mechanism housed in said box for moving the upper section, said movement mechanism comprising a manoeuvring socket extending from said box.

In these documents, the movement mechanism comprises a strip, a first end of which is fastened to the lower section, while a second end of the strip can be wound around a shaft rotatably mounted in the box according to a crown axis which projects from a lateral wall of the box to form a manoeuvring socket with which the crank handle is associated.

For reasons related to compactness, the distance between the rows of wheels is not sufficient for the housing to receive the transverse sockets, which leaves the possibility of driving the upper section in the storage configuration open.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to improve the prior art by providing a device for basketball, in which the uprights can be folded on the base in a storage configuration, while preventing the handling of the unfolding of said uprights, and therefore without any particular limitation on the dimensions of the base.

To this end, the invention provides a device for playing basketball, comprising a base intended to be set up to bear on the ground, equipped with two lateral structures between which a housing is formed, the device comprising a post having an upper section carrying a board on which a basketball rim is mounted, the post having a lower section rotatably mounted on the base to enable reversible setting of the post between a stowed storage configuration, in which at least the lower section is set in the housing, and an upright use configuration, the upper section being slidably mounted on the lower section, and a drive system for driving a movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one extended position corresponding to a use height, the drive system comprising a box secured to the rear wall of the lower section and a movement mechanism housed in the box for moving the upper section, the movement mechanism comprising a manipulation socket projecting from the box, the apparatus being characterised in that the manipulation socket is provided in the rear wall of the box, the housing being arranged to receive the lower section in a stowed storage configuration while preventing access to the manipulation socket.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention in a configuration of use, figure 1a showing a rear perspective view of the base of the same device;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the board and basketball rim mounted on the upper section of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the column of the apparatus of fig. 1, 1a and 2, centred on the drive system for driving the movement of the upper section;

FIGS. 3a and 3b show the cross-section of FIG. 3 according to two different sagittal planes;

figures 4a and 4b show the apparatus of figures 1 to 3b in a storage configuration, in a perspective view (figure 4a) and a rear view (figure 4b), respectively;

FIGS. 5 and 5a show views similar to FIGS. 1 and 1a, respectively, of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a view similar to FIG. 2 for the apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 5 a;

FIGS. 7, 7a and 7b show views similar to FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b of the apparatus of FIGS. 5, 5a and 6, respectively;

figures 8a and 8b show the apparatus of figures 5 to 7b in a storage configuration, in a rear view (figure 8a) and in a perspective view (figure 8b), respectively;

figure 9 shows a rear perspective view of a device according to a third embodiment of the invention in a configuration of use, figure 9a showing a rear perspective view of the lower section of the column and of the base of the same device;

figure 10 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the column of the apparatus of figures 9, 9a, centred on the drive system for driving the movement of the upper section;

FIGS. 10a and 10b are cross-sections of the drive system of FIG. 10 according to two different sagittal planes;

11a, 11b and 11c show the device of FIGS. 9, 9a, 10a and 10b in a storage configuration, respectively in a rear view (FIG. 11a) and in perspective views according to two different orientations (FIG. 11b, 11 c);

figures 12a, 12b and 12c show rear perspective views of the plate mounted on the upper section of the column in the device of figures 9 to 11c, respectively in the use position (figure 12a), in the storage position (figure 12b) and in an exploded view (figure 12 c);

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of FIG. 12a centered on a stop member defining a use position of the plate;

figure 14 is a partial cross-sectional view in the sagittal plane according to the mechanism for mounting the plate on the upper section of the strut in the device of figures 9 to 13.

Detailed Description

With reference to these figures, an apparatus for playing basketball is described below.

The apparatus comprises a base 1 for being arranged to bear on the ground, and a mast 2 having an upper section 2a which carries a plate 3 to which a basketball rim 4 is mounted.

The post 2 has a lower section 2b rotatably mounted on the base 1 to enable it to be reversibly arranged between a stowed storage configuration and an upright use configuration.

The base 1 is equipped with two lateral structures 5 between which a housing 6 is formed, so that in the stowed storage configuration at least the lower section 2b of the post 2 is disposed in said housing. In the embodiment shown, the base 1 comprises a frame 7 on which the lower section 2b is rotatably mounted, the lateral structures 5 carried by said frame forming between them a U-shaped housing 6.

The two lateral structures 5 form a counterweight to the post 2 for use of the apparatus in the upright configuration of use, so as to avoid tilting of the apparatus and thus to guarantee the safety of its user.

At least one lateral structure 5 may be arranged to be able to be filled with ballast material, such as water or sand. In the second and third embodiments shown (respectively in fig. 5, 5a, 8b and 9, 9a, 11b, 11c), each lateral structure 5 has three modules 5a aligned according to the sagittal direction, each of said modules comprising a tank 8 provided with an opening 9 to enable filling of the tank with a ballast substance.

In order to distribute the weight properly, in each illustrated embodiment, the lateral structure 5 has identical modules 5a on either side of the midsagittal plane containing the column 2, symmetrically distributed with respect to the modules 5a of the other lateral structure 5.

The base 1 is also equipped with wheels 10 to enable the device to be moved, in particular in its storage configuration.

In the first two embodiments shown (fig. 1 to 4b and 5 to 8b, respectively), the frame 7 forms a carriage on which the lateral structure 5 is arranged, said carriage carrying at least one pair of wheels 10.

In particular, in the first embodiment (fig. 1 to 4b), the frame 7 has a U-shaped geometry, the branches 7a of which extend backwards according to a sagittal direction, while each lifts the rear wheels 10 fastened at their respective free ends, so as to be raised when the base 1 is lying flat on the ground, which allows avoiding any accidental movement of the apparatus, in particular during its use.

Therefore, in order to be able to move the apparatus, the user should raise the base 1 slightly on the front side, in particular by manually grasping the front transverse bar 7b forming the base of the U-shaped frame 7, so that the rear wheels 10 are supported on the ground.

In a second embodiment (fig. 5 to 8b), the frame 7 has a geometrically substantially rectangular frame 7d equipped with four wheels 10 distributed at each corner thereof. In particular, each front wheel 10a is rotatably mounted on the frame 7 about a separate vertical axis 11, so that the user can easily manoeuvre the apparatus as he or she rolls it over the ground.

In the third embodiment shown (fig. 9 to 14), the base 1 is equipped with two rows of wheels 10, each row forming lateral structures 5 between which is formed a housing 6 for receiving the lower section 2b in the stowed configuration.

In particular, each wheel 10 forms a ballast module 5a for the respective lateral structure 5 and has, for this purpose, a cylindrical tank 8, on the periphery of which an opening 9 is provided to enable filling of the latter with ballast material, the axis of rotation of said cylindrical tank extending horizontally and perpendicularly to the sagittal plane of the frame 7 to enable moving the base 1 by rolling said cylindrical tanks on their periphery.

In fig. 9, 9a and 11a to 11c, the frame 7 comprises a central beam 7c on either side of which wheels 10 are mounted. In particular, each wheel 10 comprises a hub 12 fixed to the central beam 7c, said hubs being arranged so that the wheels 10 can rotate independently of each other.

With regard to the mounting of the lower section 2b, the

brackets

7a, 7b, 7d or the central beam 7c of the frame 7 have a front part on which the lower section is rotatably mounted. Thus, to set the apparatus in the use configuration, the user first moves the lower section 2b from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration by pivoting the lower section 2b relative to the front portion of the frame 7.

To facilitate its arrangement in the configuration of use, the device comprises a connecting arm 13 having a front end 13a hinged on the lower section 2b and a rear end hinged on the base 1, in particular by being provided in the housing 6 for receiving said lower section.

In the first embodiment shown (fig. 1, 1a, 4b), the connecting arm 13 has two segments 14 hinged at a central hinge 15 to be reversibly disposable in an unfolded configuration for holding the uprights 2 upright and in a folded, stored configuration.

In particular, the central hinge 15 comprises a pin 16 for locking the connecting arm 13 in the unfolded configuration, to avoid its accidental folding and thus limit the risk of the lower section 2b tilting during use of the device. The pin 13 can be manually driven to enable it to move from the locked position towards the unlocked position to free the relative rotation of the two segments 14 and enable the connecting arm 13 to tilt in the folded configuration.

In the other two illustrated embodiments, at least one of the front end 13a and the rear end of the connecting arm 13 is slidably mounted on the lower section 2b and on the base 1, respectively.

In a second embodiment (fig. 5, 5a), the connecting arm 13 comprises a front end 13a rotatably mounted on a carriage 19 sliding on vertical rails 17 mounted on the rear surface of the lower section 2b, and a rear end rotatably mounted on the frame 7.

In particular, the carriage 19 comprises a locking pin 20 arranged to be reversibly arranged in an upper and/or lower hole 21 formed on the rail 17 to lock said carriage in the top and/or bottom position and thus the lower section 2b in the stowed and/or upright configuration.

In a third embodiment (fig. 9, 9a), the connecting arm 13 comprises a front end 13a rotatably mounted on the rear surface of the lower section 2b and a rear end rotatably and slidably mounted on a horizontal track formed on the central beam 7 c.

The lower section 2b is also equipped with at least one foot 18, laterally arranged to stabilize the prop 2 in the upright configuration, in particular to prevent it from tilting in the side, in combination with the foundation 1 forming a counterweight to avoid it tilting forwards or backwards.

In the figure, the lower section 2b comprises two feet 18 arranged on either side of its lower end. In fig. 1, 1a, 4a and 4b, the foot 18 is rotatably mounted on the base 1 and the lower section 2 b. In fig. 5, 5a, 8b, 9a and 11c, when the uprights 2 are in the upright configuration, the feet 18 are fastened on the lower section 2b to bear on the ground, which also allows to prevent the base 1 from rolling when the apparatus is in the use configuration.

The upper section 2a is slidably mounted on the lower section 2b, the apparatus comprising a drive system 22 for driving this movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one extended position corresponding to the height of use.

With reference to fig. 3, 3a, 3b, 7a, 7b, 10a and 10b, the drive system 22 comprises a box 23 fastened on the rear wall of the lower section 2b and a movement mechanism housed in said box for moving the upper section 2a, said movement mechanism comprising a manoeuvring socket 24 projecting from said box.

In particular, a manipulation socket 24 is provided on the rear wall 23a of the box 23, and the housing 6 of the base 1 is arranged to receive the lower section 2b in the stowed configuration, while preventing access thereto, as shown in fig. 4b, 8a and 11 a.

Thus, when the device is in the storage configuration, the risk of accidental deployment of the upper section 2a is optimally limited, and therefore no substantial changes have to be made to the geometry of the casing 6, and therefore of the base 1.

In the shown embodiment, the upper section 2a is slidably mounted in the lower section 2 b. In particular, as shown in fig. 3, 3a, 7a, 10 and 10a, the drive system 22 comprises a vertical row of holes 25 formed on the rear surface of the upper section 2a and a drive mechanism comprising a gear 26 rotatably driven by a worm 27, said gear being arranged to successively fit into the holes 25 to slide the upper section 2a in the lower section 2 b.

The gear 26 is rotatably mounted in the box 23 according to a coronal axis a1, and the worm 27 is rotatably mounted in the box 23 according to a sagittal axis a 2. The worm 27 has a rear end 27a which projects from the rear wall 23a of the box 23 and on which the metal ring 24 is fastened, forming an operating socket for operating the drive mechanism.

Advantageously, the crank handle 28 can be reversibly coupled to the operating ring 24 of the worm 27 so as to be removed therefrom when the drive mechanism is not driven. This arrangement allows not only limiting the volume of the drive system 22 when it is arranged in the housing 6, but also limiting the risk of inadvertent actuation of the drive mechanism when the device is in the use configuration, to ensure safety for the user.

The drive mechanism comprises two

gears

26, 29 of different diameters, which are rotationally fixed. Referring to fig. 3a, 3b, 7a, 7b, 10a and 10b of the drawings, a wheel 26 having a large diameter is fitted into the hole 25, and a wheel 29 having a small diameter is driven by a worm 27.

The worm 27 may be arranged to require manipulation of the manipulation socket 24 to drive the upper section 2a in either direction of its movement. Thus, in particular when the worm 27 is not driven, rotation of the

gears

26, 29 in the retraction direction of the upper section 2a is prevented, which allows to ensure the maintenance of said upper section at a selected height to ensure the safety of the user by preventing unintentional retraction of the lower section 2b during use of the apparatus.

In order to limit the volume of the apparatus in the storage configuration, the upper section 2a of the column 2 comprises an upper section 30a of the carrying plate 3 and a lower section 30b slidably mounted on the lower section 2b, said upper section being movably mounted with respect to said lower section between a use configuration, in which it is deployed, and a storage configuration, in which it forms a compact arrangement with said lower section.

Thus, once the lower section 2b is in the upright position, the user can set the apparatus in the use configuration by: the drive system 22 is driven by means of the crank handle 28 to deploy the lower section 30b out of it one after the other and then the upper section 30a relative to it.

In the first two illustrated embodiments (fig. 1, 5), the upper section 30a is slidably mounted on the lower section 30b, the apparatus comprising a drive system 22' for driving the movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one extended position corresponding to the height of use.

In particular, the drive system 22 ' comprises a box 23 ' fastened to the rear wall of the lower segment 30b and a movement mechanism housed in said box for moving the upper segment 30a, said movement mechanism comprising a manoeuvring socket 24 ' projecting from said box.

Advantageously, the manoeuvring socket 24 ' of this drive system 22 ' is also provided on the rear wall of the box 23 ' and the housing 6 is arranged to receive the lower section 30b in the stowed configuration, while preventing access to said manoeuvring socket, as shown in fig. 4b and 8 a.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the respective drive systems 22, 22' of the lower section 30b and the upper section 30a are similar, which allows for an easy manufacturing of the device. In particular, the device may comprise a unique crank handle 28 that can be selectively and reversibly fastened on the manoeuvring socket 24, 24' of any of these drive systems, in the configuration of use, during deployment of the device.

In the third illustrated embodiment (fig. 9, 9a), the upper segment 30a is rotatably mounted on the lower segment 30b between an angled upright use configuration and an angled folded storage configuration against the lower segment 30 b.

In particular, the upper section 30a comprises at least one pair of parallel rods 31, each having a rear end rotatably mounted on the upper end of the lower section 30b and a front end on which the plate 3 is rotatably mounted according to a coronal axis. Thus, the upper segment 30a forms a deformable four-bar linkage that enables a user to angularly deploy the upper segment and deploy the panels 3 into a single pose.

The device may also comprise a locking system 32 for locking the upper section 30a in the upright configuration, to avoid any unintentional tilting of said upper section in the folded configuration, in particular during use of the device, and thus to ensure the safety of the user.

In fig. 9, the locking system 32 comprises a box 33 mounted on the upper end of the lower section 30b, and the rear ends of the upper parallel rods 31 are rotatably mounted on each side of the box, which encloses a locking mechanism that can be reversibly actuated by a toggle lever 34 mounted at the upper part of the box.

Advantageously, the plate 3 is movable with respect to the upper section 30a between a use position and a storage position, which allows to limit the bulk of the device in the storage configuration.

In the three embodiments shown, the plate 3 has a quadrangular (in particular rectangular) geometry, which, when in the storage position, is rotated by 90 ° relative to its use position on the upper subsection 30 a. In particular, the plate 3 has longitudinal and transverse dimensions substantially corresponding to the sagittal and coronal dimensions of the seat 1, respectively, and it is therefore possible to store within the volume of said seat a rectangular plate that is satisfactory for sports practice, to the extent that the seat 1 has a sagittal dimension greater than its coronal dimension so as to be able to ensure the stability of the device with respect to front-rear inclination.

In the first two embodiments shown, the plate 3 is reversibly mounted on the upper section 30a between a mounted use position and a dismounted storage position, the prop 2 in the storage configuration enabling the dismounted plate 3 to be stored on the base.

For this purpose, with reference to fig. 2 and 6, the plate 3 is equipped with a connector 35 in which the upper end of the upper section 30a is disposed, said connector having a transverse wall 35a on which said upper end bears in the position of use.

In fig. 2, the connector 35 comprises a box 59 fastened on the rear surface of the plate 3 and defining a housing for receiving the upper end of the upper section 30a, said upper end bearing below the upper wall 35a of said box when the plate is mounted in the position of use.

The connector 35 is equipped with a locking pin 36 which can be driven between a stable blocking position, in which it is fitted into a hole provided for this purpose in the upper section 30a, and a limited mounting position, in which it is retracted from the hole.

In fig. 6 and 8b, the connector 35 comprises a vertical recess 60 formed on the lower edge of the plate 3 and delimited at the top part by a transverse wall under which the upper end of the upper section 30a bears during the mounting of said plate on the post 2.

In particular, the connector 35 comprises a vertical leg 61 extending in the recess 60, said vertical leg being arranged to be provided in a complementary vertical housing 62 provided for this purpose into the upper end of the upper section 30 a.

The upper section 30a is equipped with a locking pin 36' which can be driven between a stable blocking position in which it passes through the housing 62 of the upper section 30a to fit onto a locking stop provided for this purpose on the vertical leg 61 of the connector 35, and a restrained mounting position in which it is withdrawn from the housing.

In both embodiments, the locking pin 36, 36 'comprises an inner end intended to fit into a hole of the upper section 30a or onto a locking stop of the vertical leg 61 and an outer end on which a grip portion 37, 37' is mounted, so that the user can move the locking pin towards its constrained mounting position by pulling on the grip portion.

Furthermore, the locking pins 36, 36 'are equipped with resilient biasing means, for example in the form of springs, which are arranged to be spring loaded when pulling the grip portions 37, 37', in order to resiliently urge said locking pins towards their stable blocking position when the user releases said grip portions.

In a first embodiment (fig. 4a and 4b), at least one lateral structure 5 has a housing 38 for receiving a box 59 when the plate 3 is in the storage configuration on the base 1, to ensure the retention of said plate on said base.

Advantageously, each lateral structure 5 has a housing 38 that enables a user to place the detached plate 3 on the base 1 by placing the connector 35 indifferently on one of said lateral structures.

In the third embodiment shown (fig. 9 to 14), the plate 3 is rotatably mounted on the upper section 30a between an angled use position (fig. 9, 12a, 12c) and an angled storage position (fig. 11a to 11c and 12b), in particular by means of a rotating mechanism 39 between these two positions.

Referring to fig. 12a to 14, the rotation mechanism 39 comprises a sub-plate 40 for coupling together the upper ends of the upper sections 30a, said sub-plate comprising an extension 41 joined to the plate by a friction pivot. As shown in fig. 12a, the extension 41 is arranged above the upper section 30a when the plate 3 is in the use position.

The extension 41 of the sub-plate 40 comprises a U-shaped structure, the two branches 42 of which carry means for joining together the upper ends of the upper sections, the base 42a of said U-shaped structure engaging into the pivotal connection.

Specifically, each branch 42 has a pair of vertical side plates 43 between which the upper end portions of one parallel rod 31 are rotatably mounted, respectively.

The extension 41 is clamped against the plate 3 by at least one friction insert 45 interposed therebetween, the apparatus further comprising a clamping adjustment means 46 to optimize the rotational friction torque.

For this purpose, the rotating mechanism 39 comprises a rear cup 47 and a front cup 48 fastened to the rear surface of the plate 3, the extension 41 being arranged between the rear cup 47 and the front cup 48, said cups being equipped with clamping means 46 for clamping said extension therebetween, at least one

cup

47, 48 housing the friction insert 45.

In fig. 12a, 12b, 12c and 14, each

cup

47, 48 houses a friction insert 45, between which the extension 41 is clamped and fastened at the rear of the plate 3 by four screws 46.

Each insert 45 is rotationally fixed between the

cups

47, 48 and comprises a friction bushing 45a clamped on the rear surface 41b and the front surface 41a of the extension 41, respectively, by means of a clamping

bushing

47a, 48a formed on the

adjacent cup

47, 48.

The extension 41 has a square section, as shown in particular in fig. 14, or a rectangular section, against the front surface 41a and the rear surface 41b of which the friction bush 45a is clamped respectively.

Each clamping

sleeve

47a, 48a has an indentation 49, in particular two indentations 49 of the same angular dimension, which are diametrically opposite one another along the clamping sleeve.

After the lower section 2b has been arranged in the upright configuration, the user may arrange the plate 3 in the use position by pivoting the plate with the turning mechanism 39. The user can then pivot the upper section 30a to place it in the upright configuration and then erect the lower section 30b from the lower section 2b by driving its drive system 22 until the desired height of the panel 3 is reached.

The position of use of the board 3 is defined by the abutment of the sub-board 40 on the member 50 fixed to said board. Advantageously, the stop member 50 of the plate 3 comprises locking means 51 for locking the use position, which allow to protect said use position, in particular by avoiding any unintentional rotation of said plate during use of the device.

Referring to fig. 13, the locking means is a latch 51 reversibly fitted on a shaft 52 fixed to the daughter board 40, in particular the shaft 52 is fixedly secured on the lower end of one of the branches 43 of the U-shaped extension 41, the latch 51 comprising a hook 51a and a leg 51b, which engages on said shaft in the locked position and can be grasped by the hand of the user to pivot the latch 51 and disengage the hook 51a from said shaft when the user wishes to pivot the board 3 towards its storage position.

As shown in fig. 12c, the basketball rim 4 is secured to the board 3 so as not to interact with the daughter board 40 when the board is rotated. To this end, the basketball rim 4 includes a support member 53 that is mechanically fastened to the backboard 3 independently of the daughter board 40.

Advantageously, the basketball rim 4 has an extension 4a that is rotatably mounted about an axis 54 and fixed to its support 53 for fastening to the board 3 so that it can be stowed from its horizontal use position towards a vertical storage position against the board 3 in order to limit the volume of the basketball rim in the storage configuration of the device.

For this purpose, the support 53 has two vertical lateral walls 53a extending in the sagittal direction from the front face of the plate 3, the extension 4a being rotatably mounted on a coronal axis 54 secured between said lateral walls.

In particular, in the third embodiment shown, the support 53 further comprises:

a bottom 53b, which extends along the coronal plane at the rear of its vertical side wall 53a and is fastened to the plate 3 by screws; and

a second crown axis 55 fixed between its vertical side walls 53a, against which the extension 4a of the basketball rim 4 abuts when the basketball rim is placed in the use position.

In the first and second embodiments shown, the basketball rim 4 is equipped with a retaining arch 56 having two arms 56a and a base 56b, the two arms 56a being rotatably mounted beneath the basketball rim, the base 56b being reversibly fitted into stops formed on the support member 53 to define the use position.

Referring to fig. 2, 4a, and 4b, the support member 53 includes two slots 57 formed in each of the vertical side walls 53a, and the base portion 56b slides within the slots as the basketball rim 4 is rotated, while defining the use position by abutting the base portion against the lower edges of the slots (fig. 2). In particular, as shown in figures 4a and 4b, the base 56b also abuts against the upper edge of the slot 57 in the storage position of the basketball rim 4.

In figure 6, the base 56b abuts a lower portion of the support member 53 to define the use position of the basketball rim 4, and the apparatus includes a latch 58 for locking the base to the stop.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing basketball, comprising a base (1) intended to be set up to bear on the ground, equipped with two lateral structures (5) between which a shell (6) is formed, comprising a post (2) having an upper section (2a) carrying a board (3) on which a basketball rim (4) is mounted, a lower section (2b) rotatably mounted on the base to enable reversible setting of the post between a stowed storage configuration, in which at least the lower section (2b) is set in the shell (6), and an upright use configuration, on which the upper section is slidably mounted, and a drive system (22) for driving a row comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one extended position corresponding to the use height -a movement on the stroke, the drive system comprising a box (23) fastened on the rear wall of the lower section (2b) and a movement mechanism housed in the box for moving the upper section (2a), the movement mechanism comprising a manoeuvring socket (24) projecting from the box (23), characterized in that the manoeuvring socket is provided on the rear wall of the box (23), the housing (6) being arranged to receive the lower section (2b) in the stowed storage configuration while preventing access to the manoeuvring socket.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the two lateral structures (5) form counterweights for a stanchion (2) in an upright use configuration for use by the apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base (1) comprises a frame (7) on which the lower section (2b) is rotatably mounted, the lateral structures (5) being carried by the frame while forming a U-shaped housing (6) between them.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a connecting arm (13) having a front end (13a) hinged on the lower section (2b) and a rear end hinged on the base (1), said rear end being provided in the casing (6).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting arm (13) has two segments (14) hinged so as to be reversibly disposable in an unfolded configuration for holding the stanchion (2) and in a folded storage configuration.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lower section (2b) of the post (2) is equipped with at least one foot (18) laterally arranged so as to stabilize the post (2) in an upright configuration of use.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said upper section (2a) is slidably mounted in said lower section (2b), said drive system (22) comprising a vertical row of holes (25) formed on a rear surface of said upper section (2a) and a drive mechanism comprising a gear wheel (26) rotatably driven by a worm (27) arranged to successively fit into said holes (25) to slide said upper section (2a) in said lower section (2 b).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said gear (26) is rotatably mounted in said box (23) according to a coronal axis (A1), said worm (27) being rotatably mounted in said box (23) according to a sagittal axis (A2).

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said drive means comprise two gears (26, 29) of different diameter, said gears being rotationally fixed, a gear (26) of large diameter fitting into said hole (25), a gear (29) of small diameter being driven by said worm screw (27).

10. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a crank handle (28) can be reversibly associated on said manoeuvring socket (24) for rotatably manoeuvring said worm screw (27).

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 7-10, characterized in that the worm screw (27) is arranged to require manipulation of the manipulation socket (24) to drive the upper section (2a) in either of its directions of movement.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the upper section (2a) of the upright (2) comprises an upper section (30a) carrying the plate (3) and a lower section (30b) slidably mounted on the lower section (2b), the upper section being slidably mounted on the lower section, the apparatus comprising a drive system (22 ') for driving movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one extended position corresponding to a height of use, the drive system (22 ') comprising a box (23 ') fastened on a rear wall of the lower section (30b) and a movement mechanism housed in the box for moving the upper section (30a), the movement mechanism comprising a manoeuvring socket (24 ') extending from the box (23 '), the manipulation socket is provided on a rear wall of the cassette (23'), the housing (6) being arranged to receive the lower section (30b) in a stowed storage configuration while preventing access to the manipulation socket.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the plate (3) is rotatably mounted on the upper section (2a) between an angled use position and an angled storage position.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the plate (3) is reversibly mounted on the upper section (2a) between a mounted use position and a dismounted storage position, the post (2) in the stowed storage configuration being capable of storing the dismounted plate (3) on the base (1).

15. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the basketball rim (4) has a lateral extension (4a) rotatably mounted about an axis (54) fixed to a support (53) fastened to the plate (3), so that it can be stowed from a horizontal use position into a vertical storage position against the plate.