MXPA02009256A - Ground-anchored base for a portable basketball goal assembly. - Google Patents

Abstract

An anchoring assembly for a portable basketball goal assembly is disclosed. The anchoring assembly enables the basketball goal assembly to be rigidly attached to a playing surface to stabilize the basketball goal assembly during game play. Each anchoring assembly ay include an anchor fitted within an anchoring hole of the playing surface and an anchoring attachment extending through a hole in the base of the basketball goal assembly to engage the anchor. The anchoring attachment can be gripped and rotated by a user to engage or disengage the anchoring assembly. Various bracket arrangements may be used in conjunction with oversized holes in the base to permit significant variation in the positioning and orientation of the anchoring holes. Furthermore, support struts may be attached directly to such brackets to transmit force through a pathway constructed exclusively of high strength material.

Description

BASE ANCHORED TO THE GROUND FOR A PORTABLE BASKETBALL BASKET ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to basketball basket assemblies. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for anchoring a portable basketball basket assembly with respect to a playing surface. Basketball is an increasingly popular sport in the United States and abroad. There are "many cities, provinces and other associations that sponsor recreational and instructional leagues where people of all ages can participate in the sport of basketball." Today, there are organized leagues for children of five and six years of age. / It is not surprising that more and more people have a basketball hoop assembly mounted on their property Stable basketball hoop assemblies known for home use typically have a standardized hoop board attached to a support pole. fixed to a certain type of base with a comparatively long receiving area to provide stability to the basketball basket assembly.The base can extend backward from the pole.The basketball hoop assembly ring is typically disposed about ten feet above the base. playing surface, and some feet towards the front of the base.The "moment" or force tends to rotate an eto around an axis, it is generally equal to the magnitude of the force multiplied by the length of the force arm. Because the force arms involved in the use of a basketball assembly are so long, the game exerts a long moment in the basketball basket assembly which must be counteracted by the weight of the base. For example, a person hanging from the hoop, as when performing a paddle maneuver, produces a moment equivalent to its weight multiplied by the horizontal displacement between the hoop and the front edge of the base. Similarly, when a ball bounces horizontally off the board, the resulting moment is generally the impact force of the ball against the board multiplied by the vertical displacement of the board from the base. In response to these long moments, heavier and longer bases have been created. in an effort to keep the basket stable. Frequently, these bases are very heavy and require a considerable amount of space, thus penetrating the paved area that can be used for the game. Despite their weight and size, the known basic provisions are often inefficient to keep the basketball basket assembly stable during the game. Even an inch of board movement can play the game in some unpredictable way. Some known systems also provide a binding arrangement configured to hold the base in place. These fastening arrangements typically provide a certain type of flexible connection, such as a chain or rope, for attaching the base to the playing surface. Although such arrangements can prevent the base from slipping significantly in a horizontal direction, typically they can not be sufficiently stretched sufficiently by a user to prevent vertical movement in the base. In this way, such tie arrangements are typically inefficient to make the basket assembly stable during play. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method to stabilize the base of a basketball hoop assembly. Preferably, the system and method must provide a certain type of rigid attachment to the playing surface so that the basket assembly is unable to move during play. The system and method should preferably not produce large stresses in the base, so that low-weight, inexpensive, and comparatively low-strength materials can be used to form the base. The system and method is preferably operable by a user with a minimum of portable tools and effort. Additionally, the system as a whole of preference is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. The apparatus of the present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by the currently available basketball basket assemblies. Thus, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a basketball hoop assembly that can be easily anchored to a playing surface. In order to achieve the above objects, and in accordance with the invention, as widely represented and described herein in the preferred embodiment, a novel anchor assembly for a basketball hoop assembly is provided. The anchor assembly may comprise an anchor joint, which may take the form of a threaded fastener. Preferably, the anchor joint has a head configured to be held and rotated by a user without the aid of portable tools. The anchor joint can be twisted into place within an anchor positioned within an anchor hole formed in the play surface, below the base. The anchor may comprise a metal tube configured to extend when the anchor joint is inserted such that the anchor engages the sides of the anchor hole. The anchor may have a threaded inner diameter, configured to receive the anchor joint in threaded engagement. The anchoring can also simply be made of a material softer than that of the anchoring fastener so that the insertion of the anchoring joint into the anchor deforms the inner diameter of the anchor to form threads therein. The anchor may have ridges or other features disposed about its outer diameter to engage the walls of the anchor hole when the anchor extends due to the external pressure of an anchor joint. The anchor connection is preferably threaded through a hole formed in a mounting region of the base. A support strut can advantageously be fixed to the same mounting region and to the support post to keep the support pole vertical. In this way, the moment forces acting on the board and the hoop are transmitted through the post and at the base by the supporting struts. The positioning of the anchoring joint near the junction of the support strut ensures that the arm of forces of these forces with respect to the anchor assembly is small. This reduces the likelihood of bending at the anchor joint or the base material through which the anchor joint is threaded.

In certain embodiments, two or more anchor assemblies may be used. For example, a basketball hoop assembly may have two support struts, symmetrically positioned to support the support post. An anchor assembly can be positioned near the joint of each support post to the base. If desired, such an anchor assembly may also have an elastic member, such as a spring, positioned to drive the anchor link upward, away from the anchor. For example, a linear spring may be positioned within the base and the head of the anchoring joint such that the linear spring is compressed when the anchor joint engages within the anchor. Then, when the • anchor joint is unscrewed, the spring force keeps it up, away from the anchor hole. In this way, the base can move horizontally, for example, to store the basketball basket assembly for winter, without dragging the anchor joint against the playing surface. Additionally, a plug can be provided to cover the anchor hole while the basketball basket assembly does not anchor. The plug can keep moisture and debris out of the hole to prevent clogging or damage to its ice expansion. The plug can be constructed of a plastic material, and it can have a head and a threaded portion so that a user can hold the head and twist the plug within the anchor hole. In this way, the portable basketball basket assembly can be rigidly anchored in place for the game, and moved or stored, as desired to uncouple the anchor assemblies. According to some alternative embodiments, the anchor assemblies can be configured to allow significant variation in the angle and displacement of unbalance of the anchor holes. For example, according to an alternative embodiment, each anchor joint can be inserted through a clamp disposed within an upper indentation of the base. The clamp may have rounded edges that buttress a rounded surface of the upper indentation so that the clamp is able to pivot about an axis parallel to the lateral direction. The clamp may also have a rounded support with a groove through which the anchor connection extends to allow pivotal movement of the anchor connection with respect to the clamp, about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. A head of the anchoring joint can be arranged around the support, and can be rotated by hand to threadably couple the anchor connection to the corresponding anchor.

"Once the anchor joints can pass through a hole in the base to reach the anchor holes, the holes in the base may somehow be larger to allow the anchor joints to be arranged at angles that are not Therefore, the anchoring holes do not need to be precisely vertical or exactly displaced to each other to receive the anchoring joints.The base can be anchored by simply depositing the base over the anchoring holes, positioning the anchors. Anchor joints in alignment with the anchor holes, and rotating the heads to anchor the anchor joints within the anchors in the anchor holes In accordance with another alternative embodiment, the base may have a higher indentation with a portion flat A clamp can be fixed to the flat portion so that the clamp does not move with respect to the base. The anchor joint can pass through the clamp and through a larger hole in the base. Again, a head that can be rotated manually can be arranged on the clamp. However, the anchor connection may have a threaded portion that engages the internal threads of the head so that the rotation of the head does not necessarily rotate the anchor connection, but rather causes the generally vertical movement of the anchor junction ·. as the portion, threaded is received inside or ejected from the head. Additionally, the anchor joint can not be a straight bolt, but rather has a hooked shape with a curved portion at the lower end. The curved portion may engage a threaded eye in the anchor. In this way, the anchor joint can move in an anchored position by rotating the head to lower the anchor joint, inserting the curved portion into the eye, and then rotating the head in the opposite direction to raise the anchor joint until the anchor joint pulls firmly against the eye. The support struts of the portable basketball basket assembly can be attached directly to the clamps, thereby providing a force transmission assembly in which each component is constructed of a highly resistant material such as metal. Therefore, the portable basketball basket assembly can be comparatively more rigorous under play. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, and may be learned by practice of the invention as set forth in the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the way in which the advantages and objects before dictated and others of the invention are obtained will be easily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described in the following will be made as reference to the specific modalities of the invention. the same as illustrated in the attached drawings. Understanding that these drawings represent only typical embodiments of the invention and should therefore not be considered as limiting their scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable basketball basket assembly attached to a playing surface through the use of two anchoring assemblies according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation, sectional view of one of the anchoring assemblies of Figure 1, in an anchored configuration; Figure 3 is a sectional view, in lateral elevation, of an alternative embodiment of an anchor assembly, in a free configuration, with an elastic member for driving the anchor joint away from the anchor; Figure 4 is a sectional view, in side elevation of an anchor disposed within an anchor hole, which are arranged according to the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of another alternative embodiment of an anchor assembly within the scope of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of yet another alternative embodiment of an anchor assembly within the scope of the present invention. The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings, wherein similar parts are designated by like numbers throughout them. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, can be accommodated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention, as represented in Figures 1 to 6, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but it is merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. For this application, the phrases "connected to", "coupled to", and "in communication with" refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, and thermal interaction. The phrase "attached to" refers to a form of mechanical coupling that restricts the relative translation or rotation between the attached objects. The phrases "pivotally attached to" and "slidably linked to" refers to forms of mechanical coupling that allow relative rotation or relative translation, respectively, while restricting other relative movement. The phrase "rigidly attached to" refers to the mechanical coupling which comparatively constrains in relative shape the relative translation or rotation between the attached objects, to the extent that the relative motion beyond that associated with the operational vibration is substantially unable to occur. The phrase "directly attached to" refers to a form of union whereby articles attached either in direct contact, or separated only by a single fastener, adhesive, or other attachment mechanism. The term "splice" refers to articles that are in direct physical contact with each other, although articles can not be joined together. With reference to Figure 1, one embodiment of a portable basketball basket assembly 10 according to the invention is shown. The basketball basket assembly 10 has a longitudinal direction 11, a lateral direction 12, and a transverse direction 13. A basket 14 is arranged on a board 15, which is usually oriented vertically. A support post 16 supports the board 15 and is fixed to a base 18 which provides a ballast and support for the support post 16. The base 18 may extend generally backwardly of the support post 16 to more effectively balance the support post 16 against forward tilting during use. The base 18 can rest on a play surface 20, which preferably is a comparatively hard flat surface such as concrete or asphalt. The base 18 can also be suspended above the game surface 20 by various accessories (not shown) extending from the base 18, if desired. The base 18 may have one or more motion agilization members designed to facilitate movement of the base 18 along the play surface 20 so that the user can more easily set, adjust and store the basket assembly 10 portable basketball. Such movement agility members may, for example, take the form of wheels 22. Alternatively, the movement agility members may be rotating wheels, tracks, or other implements designed to selectively facilitate movement of the base 18. Basket 14 it may have a ring 30 and a network 32 each of which is preferably of a standard size. The ring 50 is generally disposed perpendicular to the board 15. The support post 16 need not be straight and round, as shown, but may have any suitable shape for supporting the board 15. Preferably, the support post 16 is constructed of a strong, rigid material such as metal or a metal alloy. Steel is a currently preferred material. The support post 16 may have a first end 34 disposed near the board 15 and a second end 36 disposed near the base 18. The first end 34 may be fixed to the board 15 by any suitable fixed or adjustable joint (not shown). Preferably, a first support strut 40 and a second support strut 42 are attached to the support post 16 to transfer the rotational loads, or moments, from the support post 16 to the base 18. More specifically, the first ends 44 of the support struts 40, 42 can be fixed to opposite sides of the support post 16, and the second ends 46 of the support struts 40,42 can be fixed to the opposite sides of the base 18. Thus, the union of the second end 36 of the support post 16 to the base 18 need not support all the force between the support post 16 and the base 18. The base 18 can be constructed of a lightweight material, such as plastic, and can be made hollow from Thus, a readily available, inexpensive material such as sand or water can be inserted into the base 18 after the assembly 10 has been properly positioned. The base 18 can be manufactured through injection molding, blow molding, or the like. The blow molding can advantageously provide the hollow configuration without requiring the injection of plastic at high pressures. The base 18 can also be constructed as two separate halves joined together through the use of fasteners, adhesives, or the like. In any case, the base 18 may have a top cover 50 and a bottom cover 52 formed either individually or in unitary form. The base may generally have a front edge 54 and a rear edge 56. In the case of the downward force applied to the hoop 30, as when a player holds the hoop during a baiting maneuver, the rear edge 56 of the base 18 will tend to rise as the portable basketball hoop assembly 10 rotates around the edge 54 frontal. When the force is applied back against the board 15, as when a basketball hits the board 15 during play, the front edge 54 will tend to rise as the portable basketball basket assembly 10 rotates around the rear edge 56. The second ends 46 of the struts 4042, can be attached to the base 18 in a first mounting region 60 and a second mounting region 62 of the base 18, respectively. Preferably, the mounting regions 60, 62 comprise thinner sections of the base 18 through which a fastener can be threaded. More specifically, each of the mounting regions 60, 62 may comprise an upper indentation 64 formed in the upper coating 50 and a lower indentation 66 formed in the lower coating 52. The indentations 64, 66 are positioned from back to back, in a splice manner, to form the mounting regions 60, 62. The mounting regions 60, 62 can also be used to anchor the base 18 to the play surface 20. More specifically, the first and second anchoring assemblies 68, 69 can be provided to fix the first and second mounting regions 60, 62, respectively, of the play surface 20. The first and second anchoring assemblies 68, 69 may have a first anchor 70 and a second anchor 72, respectively, disposed within the gaming surface 20 to receive a first anchoring joint 80 and a second anchor connection 82 connected to the anchor. base 18. When the anchor links 80, 82 engage the anchors 70,. 72, the anchor connections 80, 82 are in an anchored configuration. In the anchored configuration, the base 18 is rigidly joined to the play surface 20 so that no substantial movement of the base 18 with respect to the play surface 20 is able to occur. The forces against the basket 14 are then transmitted through the support post 16, the base 18, and the game surface 20 by the anchoring assemblies 68, 69. Conversely, when the anchor joints 80, 82 do not engage the anchors 70, 72, the anchor joints 80, 82 are in a free configuration. The base 18 can then be moved relative to the play surface 20. Therefore, a person can position the portable basketball basket assembly 10 in a desirable location for the game and move the anchor joints 80, 82 in the anchored configuration. When it is desired to store or otherwise move the portable basketball basket assembly 10, the anchor joints 80, 82 are arranged in the free configuration to allow movement of the base 18. The anchor joints 80, 82 can move between the configuration anchored and free manually, that is, without tools. Figure 2 will show the structure and operation of the anchoring assemblies 68, 69 in greater detail. With reference to Figure 2, a sectional view of the second anchor assembly 69 in the anchored configuration, ie in use for attaching the base 18 to the game surface 20, is shown. The various components of the first anchor assembly 68 can be assumed to have substantial configurations with those of the second anchor assembly 69; therefore, the following discussion also applies to the first anchor assembly 68. The hollow base 18 may have a cavity 88 filled with a ballast material, as described above. The ballast material adds weight to the base 18 to improve the stability of the portable basketball basket assembly 10 during the game. The second support strut 42 can be joined to the second mounting region 62 proximate the second anchoring assembly 69 by a joining assembly 90. The joint assembly 90 may include a fastener 92, such as a bolt 92 threaded through a flange 94 for attachment of the support post 42. The bolt 92 can also extend through a hole 95 in the second mounting region 62 and through a nut 96. A head 98 of the bolt 92 is shaped to be twisted manually or through the use of a tool, such as a key. A threaded portion 100 of the bolt 92 may be engaged within the nut 96, the inner diameter of which may have machining threads. The bolt 92 can also be threaded through the washers 102 positioned near the surface of the second mounting region 62 to protect the material of the mounting region 62 from the scraping, shear stresses and compressive stresses caused by the installation of the assembly 90. of Union. The second anchoring joint 82 can take the form of a straight pin configured to be manually coupled and uncoupled. More specifically, the second anchor link 82 of the second anchor assembly 69 may also have a head 108. However, the head 108 of the second link 82 of the second anchor assembly 69 may also have a head 108. However, the head 108 of the second anchor joint 82 is preferably configured to be easily held and rotated by a user without the aid of tools. In this way, the vertical ridges 109 or some other feature may be formed at the outer periphery of the head 108 to allow a user to hold the head 108 without slipping. The second anchor connection 82 may also have a threaded portion 110 opposite the head 108. The base 18 may have an anchoring feature that engages the second anchor connection 82. The anchoring feature can take the form of a recessed ridge, a pair of adjacent horizontal tabs, a hole, or any other feature that allows the second anchor link 82 to overlap the base 18 to restrict vertical movement of the base. In the base 18 of Figure 2, the anchoring feature takes the form of a hole 112 in the second mounting region 62. The second anchor connection S2 extends through the hole 112 to reach the play surface 20. A similar hole (not shown) may be present in the first mounting region 60. The second anchor 72 can be positioned within an anchor hole 120 in the play surface 20. A similar anchor hole (not shown) may be used in conjunction with the first anchor 70. Preferably, the second anchor 72 takes the form of a commercially suitable concrete or masonry anchor. In this way, the second anchor 72 may have a generally tubular shape, with flanges 124 or other features designed to frictionally couple the wall of the anchor hole 120. The second anchor 72 may also have a slot 126 that extends along the entire length of the second anchor 72 to allow the second anchor 72 to extend when the threaded portion 110 of the second anchor joint is inserted. The second anchor 72 can also have a threaded portion 128 disposed on the inner diameter of the second anchor 72 so that the threaded portion 110 of the second anchor link 82 can be twisted in engagement with the threaded portion 128 of the second anchor 72. The orifice Anchor 120 can be formed using a drill with a concrete drill, or some other similar tool to create holes in concrete or masonry. The anchor hole 120 may be in the order of half an inch in diameter. Preferably, the second anchor 72, in its unfolded state, is dimensioned slightly narrower than the anchor hole 120 so that the second anchor 72 can easily slide into position prior to the insertion of the threaded portion 110. Like the bolt 92, the second anchor joint 82 can be threaded through a washer 132 positioned between the head 108 and the material of the second mounting flange. In certain embodiments, the washer 132 and the washer 102 can be formed from a single piece of material, with separate holes to accommodate the bolt 92 and the second anchor joint 82. Through the use of the anchoring assemblies 68, 69, the portable basketball basket assembly 10 can be easily anchored to the game surface 20 to play and separate from the game surface 20 for repositioning or storage. The anchoring process may begin with the formation of anchoring holes 120, as described above. The anchors 70, 72 can then be inserted into the anchoring holes 120. Then, the base 18 can be positioned so that the anchoring feature of the base 18, or the holes 112, substantially aligns with the anchor holes 120. Substantially, aligning the anchoring features with the anchoring holes 120 comprises positioning the anchoring features on the anchoring holes 120 so that each anchoring feature is disposed on or near the axis of symmetry of one of the anchoring holes 120. The positioning of the base can be carried out before the assembly of the support post 16 and the basket 14 with the base 18, or after the rest of the portable basketball basket assembly 10 has been assembled. The anchor joints 80, 82 can then be inserted into the holes 112 if they are not already disposed within the holes 112. The anchor joints 80, 82 can be moved from the free configuration to the anchored configuration by pushing the joints 80, 82 anchor down to splice the anchors 70, 72 and then rotate the anchor joints 80, 82 to couple the threaded portions 110 with the anchors 70, 72. As mentioned previously, the heads 108 of the anchor joints 80, 82 they can be shaped to allow the rotation of the anchoring joints 80, 82 manually. The anchor links 80, 82 can be rotated until they rest hermetically against the upper indentations 64 of the mounting regions 60, 62. The portable basketball basket assembly 10 has then been anchored to the playing surface 20 for the game. The portable basketball basket assembly 10 can be disengaged by reversing the steps described above. Therefore, the anchoring joints 80, 82 can be rotated, for example, manually to uncouple the threaded portions 110 from the anchors 70, 72. The anchoring joints 80, 82 can then be removed from the play surface 20. If desired, the anchor joints 80, 82 can be completely removed from the holes 112 of the base 18. In any case, the anchor joints 80, 82 have been moved in the free configuration, so that the base 18 can be removed with respect to the game surface 20. When the anchoring joints 80, 82 are in the anchored configuration, the anchoring assemblies 68, 69 can transfer the tension or compression force of the post 16 to the play surface 20. For example, when a person hangs on the hoop of the basket 14, as in a paddle maneuver, the resulting moment has to rotate the portable basketball hoop assembly 10 around the front edge 54 of the base 18. The struts 40 , 42 of support are placed in tension, and in this way exert force on the base 18 tending to pull the rear edge 56 upwards. The assemblies 6869, they receive the tension of the support struts 40, 42 and transmit the tension to the play surface 20. More specifically, in the embodiment of Figure 2, the tension is transmitted through the supporting struts 40, 42 to the base 18 by the joining assemblies 90 which connect the struts 40, 42 to the base 18. The tension is further transmits to the anchoring joints 80, 82 through the base 18 as the base pulls up against the heads 108 of the anchoring joints 80, 82. The anchoring joints 80, 82 transmit tension to the anchors 70, 72 which are firmly fixed within the play surface 20. Therefore, the tension against the rim of the basket 14 dissipates without allowing substantial relative movement between the base 18 and the play surface 20. The positioning of the anchoring assemblies 68, 69 within the mounting regions 60, 62 allows the anchor assemblies 68, 69 to more directly receive the force through the support struts 40, 42. More specifically, with reference to the second mounting assembly 69 shown in Figure 2, the second support post 42 may have a longitudinal axis 134 running through the first and second ends 44, 46 of the second support post 42. The longitudinal axis 134 runs through or near the point at which the second support strut 42 joins the base 18 and the support post 16. If the second support strut 42 is a substantially straight member with a generally circular cross section, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal axis 134 is also the axis of symmetry of the second support strut 42. Because the second anchor assembly 69 is positioned so close to the attachment assembly 90 for the second support post 42, the longitudinal axis 134 runs close to the second anchor assembly 69. In this way, the force arm of a tension or compressive force 136 through the second support strut 42 is minimal. As a result, only a very small inflection moment is present in the second anchor assembly 69. Consequently, the inflection stresses in the second anchor connection 82 are reduced, and the second anchor connection 82 is less likely to bend under the repeated stress of the use of the basketball hoist. Similarly, the tension exerted by the second anchor connection 82 against the hole 112, which tends to compress or otherwise deform the softer material surrounding the hole 112, is reduced. Accordingly, the positioning of the second anchor assembly 69 near the longitudinal axis 134 provides advantage over any position in which the second anchor assembly 69 is beyond the longitudinal axis 134, such as the front or rear edges 54, 56 of the base 18.

According to an example, the longitudinal axis 134 can pass within twelve inches of the axis of the second anchoring assembly 69, or the axis of symmetry from the second anchoring joint 82. In addition, the longitudinal axis 134 can pass within six inches of the axis of the second anchor assembly 69. Still, the longitudinal axis 134 can pass within two inches of the axis of the second anchor assembly 69. With reference to Figure 3, a sectional view of the base 18 is shown with an alternative embodiment of an anchor assembly 156 according to the invention. The second anchor connection 82 and the second anchor 72 can be configured substantially as previously described, together with the first embodiment. The second anchoring connection 82 is arranged in the free configuration. In addition to the components previously described, the anchor assembly 156 may include an elastic member 158 configured to urge the second anchor link 82 upwardly away from the second anchor 72. Although the elastic member 158 may take a variety of forms, such as one or more torsion springs, spring springs, linear springs, angular springs, gas springs, or any combination thereof, a simple linear spring 158, as shown in Figure 3, is preferable. The spring 158 can be positioned between the washer 132 and the material of the second mounting region 62, around the hole 112. When the second anchor joint 82 is in the anchored configuration, the spring 158 is maintained in a compressed state. When a user twists the head 108 to uncouple the second anchor link 82 from the second anchor 72, the spring 158 presses the second anchor link 82 upwardly so that a space 160 exists between the second anchor link 82 and the surface. of game. In this way, the base 18 can move in the longitudinal direction 11 or the lateral direction 12 without pulling the second anchoring connection 82 against the play surface 20. This makes the portable basketball basket assembly 10 easier to move and lessens the likelihood that the anchor assemblies 68, 69 or the game surface 20 will be damaged during movement. With reference to Figure 4, a possible embodiment is shown of a plug 170 suitable for covering the anchor hole 120 when the portable basketball basket assembly 10 is positioned anywhere or stored. The plug 170 can be constructed, for example, from a softer material such as a polymer. The plug 170 may have a face 172 with a slot 174, key, or other feature designed to allow a user to engage the face 172 with a tool to rotate the plug 170 in or out of engagement with the second anchor 72. The plug 170 it may also have a threaded portion configured to provide threaded engagement with the threaded portion 128 of the second anchor 72. The plug 170 helps to effectively seal the anchor hole 120 from moisture or debris that may otherwise enter the orifice 120. it is especially problematic during the winter, when the frozen water can crack the play surface 20 surrounding the anchor hole 120 as it extends. The face 172 is preferably flush with, or slightly recessed from, the play surface 20 so that the play surface 20 can still be used without significant injury hazard as a result of the plug 170. The anchor assemblies 68, 69 described in the above they are simple in design and relatively easy to manufacture. However, some users may have difficulty in drilling the anchor holes 120 in the proper locations and orientations. For example, if the drill bit collides with a piece of aggregate material, the anchor holes 120 can be displaced or angled. The anchoring holes 120 can not be exactly perpendicular to the play surface 20, and can not move between them by precisely lateral displacement. Therefore, it may be advantageous to use anchoring assemblies that allow some relative movement between the anchor cies and the base, to accommodate the anchoring holes 120 that do not align directly with the holes 112 of the base 18. Exemplary anchoring assemblies that allow such relative movement will be shown and described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. With reference to Figure 5, a perspective view shows a portion of an alternative embodiment of a base 218 for a portable basketball basket assembly. The base 218 can be used with a basket 14, board 15, and support post 16 similar to that shown in Figure 1. A portion of a first support pillar 240 is also shown; a second end 246 of the first support strut 240 is fixed to the base 218 Like the base 18, the base 218 has a liner 250 superior to a lower liner 252 that can be formed integrally with each other or joined through the use of methods of Known union. The base 218 can also be constructed of a lightweight material such as a polymer. A first mounting region 260 is formed within the base 218. The first mounting region may include an upper indentation 264 and a lower indentation 266 that align so that a comparatively thin portion of the base 18 exists between the indentations 264, 266 upper and lower. The upper indentation 264 can be shaped to form a chair-shaped portion 267 with a generally arcuate shape. An anchor assembly 268 is interconnected with the first mounting region 260 for anchoring the base 218 to the play surface 20 through the use of an anchor hole 120. A first anchor 70 can be arranged within the anchor hole 120. Of course, a second anchor assembly (not shown) with a corresponding anchor (not shown) and anchor hole (not shown) may be provided on the opposite side of the base 318. The first anchor assembly 268 may include a bracket 270 with two faces 272 generally parallel. The clamp 270 can be constructed of a high strength material such as steel. For this application, a "high strength material" comprises any material with a comparatively high tensile strength, such as steel, aluminum and certain compounds. Polymers are not high strength materials. Each of the faces 272 may have a rounded edge 274 with a radius approximately equal to that of the chair-shaped portion 267 of the upper indentation 264. The faces 272 can be joined by a rounded support 276. The rounded support 276 can be rounded along an axis perpendicular to that of the round edges 274 of the faces 272. A groove 278 can be arranged in the rounded support 276. A first anchor junction 280 extends through the slot 278 and between the plates 272. A threaded portion 110 of the first anchor junction 280 can couple the first anchor 70 when the first anchor junction 280 is arranged in the anchored configuration. , as shown in Figure 5. The liners 250, 252 of the base 218 can be fitted together in such a way that a cavity 288 is formed therebetween. As with the base 18, the cavity 288 can be filled with sand, water or some other suitable ballast material. The first anchor joint 280 can extend through a portion of the cavity 288. Alternatively, the first anchor joint 280 can simply extend through the material of the base 18, outside the cavity 288. The first strut 240 of The support can be joined to a slotted portion of the upper indentation 264 by a joining assembly 290 which includes a bolt 292 inserted through a flattened attachment flange 294 of the first support post 240. The bolt 292 may have a head 298 disposed around the flattened flange 294; if desired, the head 298 and the flattened tie flange 294 can be separated from each other by a washer 302. The bolt 292 can be directly threaded into the material of the base 18. Alternatively, a nut or other fastener can be threaded onto the bolt 292 to hold bolt 292 in place. The bolt 292 may extend into the cavity 288, or may extend through the cavity 288 to exit the housing 18 through the lower liner 252. Therefore, the nut can then also be disposed within the cavity 288 or over the portion of the bolt 292 extending from the lower skin 252. The first anchor junction 280 may have a head 308 like the heads 108 of the anchoring joint 80, 82 of the previous embodiment. Thus, the head 308 may have ridges 109 that facilitate rotation of the head 308 manually. The first anchor junction 280 may have a splice 311 disposed below the head 308 to rest against the round support 276 of the clamp 270. The base 218 may have a hole 312 through which the first anchor junction 280 extends. reaching the first anchor 70. The head 308 can be formed separately from the rest of the first anchor joint 280. The head 308 may have an opening 314 with a polygonal shape that coincides with a corresponding polygonal extension (not shown) of the rod of the first anchor joint 280 so that the torque can be transmitted from the head 308 to the remainder of the head. first anchor joint 280. The hole 312 may somehow be larger so that the first anchor joint 280 is able to move in the longitudinal and lateral directions 11, 12 within the hole 312. If desired, the hole 312 may be approximately -4 / 3 of the diameter of the first anchoring joint 280. For example, the shank of the first anchor joint 280 may be approximately 3/8"in diameter, while the hole 312 is approximately 1/2" in diameter. If desired, the plastic surrounding the hole 312 may be thick enough to surround the hole 302 along its entire depth, thereby isolating the hole 312 from the cavity 288. The hole 312 may have a depth equal to approximately half its width; for example, toward hole 312 is 1/2"wide, hole 312 may also be about 1/4" deep. Of course, the dimensions provided in the above are merely examples; many different dimensional schemes can be used for the hole 312 and the first anchor joint 280. The geometry of the clamp 270 and the size of the hole 312 can operate to allow the first anchoring junction 280 to be disposed at an angle that is not precisely perpendicular to the play surface 20. More specifically, the manner in which the round edges 274 of the faces 272 of the clamp 270 interconnect with the chair-shaped portion 267 of the upper indentation 264 allows the clamp 270, and therefore, the first joint 280 of Anchor pivots around an axis parallel to the lateral direction 12. Preferably, the slot 278 and the round support 276 allow the first anchor joint 280 to pivot about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. In this way, the first anchor junction 280 may be angled somewhat closer to one of the faces 272 than the other. The clamp 270 allows the first anchor joint 280 to be sealed securely in orientations that are not completely perpendicular to the play surface 20. Therefore, some variation in the position and orientation of the anchor hole 120 will not significantly interfere with the anchor of the base 218. The user can simply angle the first anchor joint 280 as needed prior to the deposition of the first joint 280 of anchorage in the anchored configuration. The user can therefore anchor the base 218 in a manner similar to that of the base 18, except that the brackets must be positioned over the anchoring features of the base 318, and the anchor links of the base 218 must be inserted in the base. the clamps prior to insertion through the anchoring feature of the base 218. The embodiment of Figure 5 provides the transmission of a force from the basket 14 to the play surface 20 in substantially the same manner as described in FIG. above, with reference to Figure 2. The first anchor assembly 268 receives the tension or compression of the first support strut 240 and transmits it to the anchor 70. For example, the voltage is transmitted from the joint assembly 290 of the first strut 240 supporting the clamp 270 through the small region of the chair-shaped portion 267 that is disposed between the joining assembly 290 and the clamp 270. The clamp 270 transmits the tension at the first anchor junction 280, and the first anchor junction 280 transmits tension to the first anchor 70. As with the previous embodiment, the second end disposition 246 of the first support post 240 near the first anchor junction 280 it can decrease the stresses caused by the moments induced by the axial force in the first support strut 240. Of course, a second strut and second anchor assembly can be included with the base 218 and can provide a similar path for the transmission of tension from the basket 14 to the play surface 20. The tension load of the basket 14 can be substantially uniformly divided between the two trajectories. Additional support struts and additional anchor assemblies can be included to add more trajectories for voltage transmission. In this way, the base 218 does not need to be anchored at only two points, but can be anchored at three or more points to provide additional support.

All of the portions of the transmission assembly of forces defined in the foregoing are constructed of high strength materials except for the portion of the saddle portion 267 between the joint assembly 290 and the clamp 270. The chair-shaped portion 267 it can be constructed of a light weight, comparatively low strength material. Therefore, in basket systems in which vigorous games are more likely to occur, it may be desirable to provide a clamp arrangement that can directly receive a support post, so that lightweight materials can be omitted completely from the path followed by the tension forces. Such a basket system is shown in Figure 6. With reference to Figure 6, a perspective view shows a portion of another alternative embodiment of a base 318 for a portable basketball basket assembly. As the base 218, the base 318 can be used with a basket 14, board 15, and support post 16 similar to that shown in Figure 1. A second end 246 of a first support post 340 can be fixed to the base 318. As the base 18 and the base 218, the base 318 has an upper coating 350 and a lower coating 352 that can be integrally formed together or joined through the use of known joining methods. The base 318 can also be constructed from a material of little weight such as a polymer. As with the previous embodiment, a first mounting region 360 is formed within the base 318. The first mounting region may include an upper indentation 364 and a lower indentation 366 that align so that a relatively thin portion of the base 318 exists between the indentations 364, 366 upper and lower. The upper indentation 364 may be shaped to form a flat portion 367 generally parallel to the play surface 20. A first anchor assembly 368 interconnected with the first mounting region 360 for anchoring the base 318 to the play surface 20 through the use of an anchor hole 120. A first anchor 70 can be disposed within the anchor hole 120 •. Of course, a second anchor assembly (not shown) with a corresponding anchor (not shown) and the anchor hole (not shown) may be disposed on the opposite side of the base 318. The first anchor assembly 368 may include a bracket 370 with two generally parallel faces 372 joined together by a lower flange 374. Like clamp 270 of the previous embodiment, clamp 370 can be constructed of a high strength material such as steel. Parallel faces 372 can also be joined together by a top plate 376. The lower flange 374 can be fixed to the flat portion 376 of the upper indentation 364 by two or more fastening assemblies 378. Each of the fastening assemblies 378 may be a combination of nut and bolt, rivet, jaw, or the like. A first anchoring joint 380 can extend through the upper plate 376, between the faces 372, and through the flat portion 367 to reach the lower indentation 366. The coverings 350, 352 of the base 318 can be adjusted together in such a way that a cavity 388 is formed therebetween. As with bases 18 and 218, cavity 388 may be filled with sand, water, or some other suitable ballast material. The first anchoring joint 380 can extend through the material of the base 18, outside the cavity 388. The first support post 340 can be joined at the faces 372 of the clamp 370 by a joining assembly 390 that includes a bolt 392 inserted through a flattened flange 394 of the first support post 340. The flattened tie flange 394 may be disposed generally perpendicular to the lateral direction 12. Therefore, the bolt 392 may be arranged parallel to the lateral direction 12 or may extend through the faces 372 as well as the flattened tie flange 394. The bolt 392 may have a head 398 and a washer 402 disposed on one side of the clamp 370, as well as a nut (not shown) disposed on the opposite side.

The first anchor joint 380 can have a head 408 similar to the heads 108, 308 of the previous embodiments in which the head 408 has ridges 109 which facilitate the rotation of the head 408 manually. However, unlike the heads 108, 308, the head 408 may not rigidly join the rest of the first anchoring joint 380. Rather, the head 408 may have internal threads (not shown) designed to receive a threaded portion 410 in the shaft of the first anchoring joint 380. The head 408 may have an opening 314 with any shape, such as a polygonal shape visible in Figure 6. The opening 314 may communicate with the internal threaded portion (not shown) of the head 408 to allow movement of the threaded portion 410 in and out of the head 408 without the high or low air pressure resistance inside the head 408. The first anchor joint 480 may have a splice 411 disposed below the head 408 to rest against the upper plate 376 of the clamp 370. The base 318 may have a hole 412 through which the first anchor joint 380 extends to reach the lower indentation 366. Like the hole 312, the hole 412 may be somewhat larger in size so that the first anchoring joint 380 is able to move in the longitudinal and lateral directions 11, 12 within the hole 412. The hole 412 and the first joint 480 The anchor can be opened in a similar manner to the hole 312 and the first anchor joint 380 of Figure 5. The hole 412 can also be insulated from the cavity 388 like that of the previous embodiment. The first anchor joint 480 can have a shaft 414 with a substantially cylindrical shape extending through the hole 412. The first anchor joint 480 can end with a curved section 416 so that the first anchor joint 480 has a shape on hook. A retaining member may be disposed within the first anchor 70, and may be configured to engage the curved section 416 of the first anchor joint 480. As an example, the retaining member may take the form of an eye 420 with a ring portion 422 and a threaded portion 424. The threaded portion 424 may be rotated in engagement with the first anchor 70, while the ring portion 422 receives the curved section 416 of the first anchor joint 480, as shown in Figure 6. The shape in which the base 318 is anchored to the game surface 20 is in some way different from the previous modes. More specifically, the base 318 can be moved first so that the hole 412 is generally disposed over the anchor hole 120, but not necessarily in alignment with an anchor hole 120.

Of course, if the base has a second anchor assembly (not shown), the corresponding hole and the anchor hole are similarly placed in close proximity. The eye 420 can then be rotated in engagement with the first anchor 70. This can be achieved by manually holding the ring portion 422 and twisting the eye 420 in place. The first anchoring joint 380 can then be lowered to a position in which the curved section 416 of the first anchoring joint 380 is able to interlock with the first ring portion 422. The first anchor joint 380 can then be lowered by holding the curved section 416 to prevent rotation of the first anchor joint 380 and to simultaneously rotate the head 408 to eject a segment from the threaded portion 410. The base 318 can then move in the longitudinal direction 11 and / or the lateral direction 12 to generally, though not necessarily accurately, align the hole 412 with the anchoring hole 120 so that the curved section 416 is capable of entering the the ring portion 422 of the eye 420. The curved section 416 can be inserted into the eye 420, and the head 408 can be rotated to retract the threaded portion 410 until the curved section 416 pulls up tightly against the eye 420. The first anchor joint 380 has then moved in the anchored configuration. The first anchoring joint 380 can be returned to the free configuration by reversing the steps described in the above. As with the previous modality, the first anchoring joint 380 can be arranged at an angle that is not exactly perpendicular to the play surface 20. More specifically, the engagement of the ring portion 422 with the curved section 416 allows some relative pivotal movement between the eye 420 and the first anchor joint 380 around the axes parallel to the longitudinal and lateral directions 11, 12. Therefore, the hole 412 does not need to precisely align with the anchor hole 120. The splice 411 can then splice the upper plate 376 in a plurality of angles to allow pivoting movement. In the anchored configuration, the first anchor assembly 368 of Figure 6 also transmits the force of the basket 14 to the play surface 20. More specifically, a force transmission ram 426 may include the first support strut 346, the clamp 370, and the first anchor joint 380. The axial force, and more especially the tension, can be transmitted through the first support post 340 directly to the clamp 370. The tension can then be transported to the first anchor joint 380 by the head 408, and from the first joint 380 of anchoring to the eye 420. From the eye 420, the tension force is transported to the first anchor 70 and therefore to the play surface 20. Notably, the force transmission assembly 426 of Figure 6 need not include any part of the base 318. The force transmission assembly 426 can be made of high strength materials that resist deformation more effectively than lightweight materials such like plastics. Therefore, base 318 can tolerate comparatively more rigorous play. As with the previous embodiments, the arrangement of the second end 346 of the first support post 340 near the first anchoring joint 380 can also decrease the stresses caused by the moments induced by the axial force in the first support post 340. Of course, as with the previous embodiment, the force transmission assembly 426 may include a second strut and a second anchor assembly to provide a second path for the transmission of tension from the basket 14 to the play surface 20. The tension load from the basket 14 can be divided again substantially evenly between the two trajectories. Additional support struts and additional anchor assemblies may also be included in the force transmitting assembly 426 and to add more trajectories for stress transport. In this way, the base 313 can then be anchored at three or more points to provide additional support. Through the system and methods presented in the above, a portable basketball basket assembly can be effectively stabilized for a safer and more enjoyable game. The anchoring assemblies provided by the invention can couple relatively easily and uncoupled, thereby facilitating the establishment or removal of a portable basketball hoist assembly. In certain configurations, the basketball hoop assembly can be easily anchored even if the anchor holes are not precisely positioned or angled. In addition, in selected embodiments, a portable basketball basket assembly may have a force transmission assembly constructed entirely of comparatively high strength materials, thereby providing reliable operation during the most intense play. The present invention may be represented in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential features as are widely described herein and are claimed in the following. In the described modalities all respects will be considered only as illustrative, and not as restrictive. The scope of the invention, therefore, is indicated by the appended claims, instead of the previous description. All changes that may fall within the meaning and scope of equivalency of the claims will be encompassed within its scope.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1. A portable basketball basket assembly characterized in that it comprises: a basket suspended on a playing surface; a base resting on the playing surface to support the basket, the base has at least one member to facilitate movement facilitating relative movement between the base and the playing surface; and an anchor joint having an anchored configuration in which the anchor joint rigidly links the base to the playing surface to substantially restrict the movement of the base with respect to the playing surface, and a free configuration in which , the anchoring joint does not substantially restrict the relative movement between the base and the playing surface. 2. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the base · has a hollow shape and is formed substantially of a polymeric material. 3. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement agilization member comprises a wheel arranged to rotate along the playing surface. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring joint is configured to threadably couple an anchor disposed within an anchor hole of the playing surface. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the anchor joint comprises a head configured to rotate manually to move the anchor joint between the anchored configuration and the free configuration. 6. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the anchoring connection extends through a hole in the base. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchor joint is configured to engage a retaining member anchored within the anchor hole. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining member comprises an eye, the anchoring fastener comprises a hooked shape that selectively engages the eye. 9. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the retaining member is configured to threadably couple an anchor disposed within an anchor hole of the playing surface. 10. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a support post with a first end attached to the support post and a second end coupled to the base, wherein the anchor connection is arranged near a longitudinal axis of the support strut. The portable basketball hoop assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the second end is attached to a fixed bracket to the base, wherein the bracket is constructed of a high strength material. 12. The portable basketball basket assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the anchoring connection is arranged near the second end of the support post. 13. An anchoring assembly for a portable basketball basket assembly having a basket, the anchoring assembly is characterized in that it comprises: a base configured to support the basket above the playing surface; an anchor that can be anchored within an anchor hole formed in the playing surface; and an anchor joint coupled to the base, wherein the anchor joint can be manually moved between an anchored configuration, in which the anchor joint is coupled to the anchor to rigidly attach the basketball basket system to the playing surface , and a free configuration, in which the anchor joint is arranged to allow the removal of the basketball basket assembly from the playing surface. The anchoring assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the base has a hollow shape and is formed primarily of a polymeric material. 15. The anchor assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the anchor comprises • a tubular shape with internal threads. The anchor assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that the anchor joint comprises a straight bolt with a manually rotating head, the internal threads of the anchor receiving a threaded portion of the straight bolt. 17. The anchor assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises an eye with a threaded portion, the internal threads of the anchor receiving the threaded portion of the eye. 18. The anchor assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that the anchor joint comprises a J-shaped bolt coupled to a manually rotating head, the J-shaped bolt engages the eye. The anchoring assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the base comprises an anchoring feature that couples the anchor joint. The anchoring assembly according to claim 19, further characterized in that it comprises a clamp, constructed of a high strength material, fixed to the base to retain the anchor connection, the anchor connection extends through the clamp and the anchoring characteristic towards the anchorage. The anchoring assembly according to claim 19, further characterized in that it comprises a clamp, constructed of a high strength material, arranged to rotate with respect to the base along at least one axis to retain in shape movable the anchoring joint, the anchoring joint extends through the clamp, and the anchoring feature towards the anchor. The anchoring assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that the clamp comprises a round support with a groove through which the anchor connection extends to allow the pivoting movement of the anchor connection with respect to the clamp . The anchoring assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the anchoring feature comprises a hole through which the anchoring joint extends, the orifice has a selected size to allow the longitudinal and lateral movement of the anchoring feature. anchor inside the hole. 24. A force transmission assembly for a portable basketball basket assembly having a base, a basket, and a support post extending between the base and the basket to support the basket above a playing surface, the - force transmission assembly characterized in that it comprises: a support strut attached to the support post to receive a tension load from the support post to restrict the movement of the support post; a clamp constructed of a high strength material, wherein the clamp engages to support the support strut to receive the stress load of the support post; and an anchor coupling coupled to receive the tension load of the clamp, wherein the anchor connection can be anchored to the play surface to transmit the stress load to the play surface. 25. The force transmission assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that the base has a hollow shape and is substantially formed of a polymeric material. 26. The force transmission assembly according to claim 25, characterized in that the clamp is fixed to the base. 27. The force transmission assembly according to claim 24, further characterized in that it comprises a disposable anchor within an anchor hole of the play surface. 28. The force transmission assembly according to claim 27, further characterized in that it comprises a retaining member that can be engaged by the anchor. 29. The force transmission assembly according to claim 28, characterized in that the anchor connection is coupled to a manually rotating head, the anchor joint has a selected shape for engaging the retention member so that the tension load is transmitted from the anchor joint to the retention member, from the retention member to the anchor - and from the anchor to the surface of the anchor. game. 30. The force transmission assembly according to claim 29, characterized in that the anchor joint comprises a threaded portion, wherein the manually rotating head has internal threads that can be engaged with the threaded portion so that the manually rotating head it can be rotated to seal the coupling of the anchor connection with the retaining member. The force transmission assembly according to claim 24, further characterized in that it comprises: a second support post attached to the support post for receiving a second tension load from the support post to restrict the movement of the support post; a second clamp constructed of a high strength material, wherein the clamp engages the second support strut to receive the second stress load | of the support post; and a second anchor joint coupled to receive the second tension load of the second clamp, wherein the second anchor joint can be anchored to the playing surface to transmit the second stress load to the play surface. 32. A method for manufacturing an anchoring assembly for a portable basketball basket assembly, the method is characterized in that it comprises: forming a base with a post receiving feature and at least one anchoring feature; forming a support post so that the support post can be coupled with the reception characteristic; build a basket so that the basket can be attached to the support post; providing an anchorage joint dimensioned to couple the anchoring feature; and providing an anchorage dimensioned for coupling the anchor joint and for anchoring within a play surface. 33. The method of compliance with the claim 32, characterized in that forming the base comprises molding the base of a polymeric material. 3 . The method according to claim 32, characterized in that forming the base comprises forming the anchoring feature as an orifice sized to allow longitudinal and lateral movement of the anchor joint within the hole. 35. The method according to claim 32, further characterized in that it comprises providing a clamp configured to splice the base to receive the anchor joint. 36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that forming the base comprises forming an indentation of the base, wherein the indention is shato allow the clamping of the clamp to the indentation. 37. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that forming the base comprises forming an indentation of the base, wherein the indentation is shato allow the rotation of the clamp within the indentation to allow relative movement between the base and the joint. Anchor. 38. The method according to claim 32, further characterized in that it comprises providing a retaining member that can be anchored by the anchor. 39. A method for installing a portable basketball basket assembly, the method is characterized in that it comprises: forming an anchor hole in the surface of • game; positioning the base so that the anchoring feature of the base is substantially aligned with the anchor hole; and coupling the anchoring feature to the anchor hole with an anchor connection for anchoring the base to the playing surface. 40. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that moving an anchor connection so that the anchor attachment couples the anchoring feature to the anchor hole comprises rotating the anchor joint manually so that the anchor connection is You can remove manually. 41. The method according to claim 39, further characterized in that it comprises placing an anchor within the anchor hole. 42. The method of compliance with the claim 41, characterized in that moving an anchor joint e so that the anchor joint engages the anchoring feature to the anchor hole comprises moving the anchor joint in engagement with the anchor. 43. The method according to the claim 41, further characterized in that it comprises moving a retaining member in engagement with the anchor, wherein moving an anchor connection so that the anchor connection engages the anchoring feature to the anchor hole comprises moving the anchor joint in engagement with the anchor. the retention member. 44. The method according to claim 39, characterized in that moving an anchor connection so that the anchor connection engages the anchoring feature to the anchor hole comprises inserting the anchor joint through a clamp and through the base. by the anchoring feature. 45. The method according to claim 39, further characterized in that it comprises: forming a second anchor hole in the playing surface; positioning the base so that the second anchoring feature of the base is substantially aligned with the second anchoring hole; and moving a second anchoring joint so that the second anchoring joint engages the second anchoring feature and the second anchoring hole for anchoring the base to the playing surface.