US20170282035A1

US20170282035A1 - Adjustable basketball system and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: US20170282035A1
Application number: US15/627,978
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Lamascus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-31
Filing date: 2017-06-20
Publication date: 2017-10-05

Abstract

An adjustable basketball system is provided. The system includes a sleeve positioned in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to a surface upon which the system rests. The system further includes a post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve. The system further includes a basketball backboard coupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, the basketball backboard further including the basketball rim. The system also includes an actuator that is functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, wherein actuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect to the sleeve to reposition the backboard with respect to the surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application entitled “ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 14/577,864, filed Dec. 19, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 61/922,506, filed Dec. 31, 2013, now pending, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to sports equipment and in particular to an adjustable basketball system and method of using the same.

State of the Art

Basketball systems are utilized to hold a basketball backboard and rim at a predetermined height to allow players to play the game of basketball. Some basketball systems may be set up on opposing sides of a basketball court to allow opposing teams or players to play full-court basketball. Some recreational, and even residential, basketball systems may be set up on any flat surface to allow basketball players to play a game of half-court basketball. Basketball systems may be fixed in the ground or may alternatively be portable.
Some basketball systems allow for the backboard and rim to be adjusted for height. A standard, regulation basketball backboard and rim system is set at 10 feet above the ground surface. However, some recreational and residential backboards may be adjustable in a step-wise manner so that the rim is positioned between 7 feet and 10 feet from the ground. These adjustable basketball backboard systems appeal to recreational players, players of relatively average size, players with limited vertical leap, or young basketball players, many of whom wish to execute shots and slam dunks on the lower rim like they see from professional basketball players on a regulation rim.
However, these adjustable basketball systems can pose problems. They can be cumbersome to operate, in that they may require a certain amount of strength to adjust the backboard and rim. These systems may also become inoperative if the specific tool needed to perform the desired adjustment is lost or broken. These systems can be impossible to operate for those that do not have the requisite strength or cannot reach the mechanism to adjust the system, such as children or disabled persons, such as wheelchair basketball players. These systems can bend and break over time due to exposure and use.
In addition, conventional adjustable basketball systems typically have height adjustments that range from 7- to 10-feet in predetermined increments of six inches. As a result, these predetermined height increments limit the basketball system to a certain number of preset height positions during play. These preset positions confine, or otherwise restrict, the playing height of the system and/or the resulting vertical jump of the player to these preset positions. This limits children and other athlete's development from being able to set the basketball system exactly to their athletic physical abilities. In addition, it limits athletes recovering from injury experience related abilities to achieve complex physical acts related to knowing precisely to what speed and height they can push their athletic abilities in order to grade the activity/recovery of their athletic skills. This limits injured recreational athletes, professional athletes as a group and high-level amateur athlete's recovery time by restricting physical-cognitive proficiency to the predetermined heights.
Furthermore, although video recording devices can be attached to adjustable basketball system backboards for video playback they are limited to the predetermined height positions. This limits athletes recovering from injury experience related abilities to process complex dynamic visual scenes in order to grade the activity of their athletic skills, such as, vertical jump. This limits injured recreational athletes, professional athletes as a group and high-level amateur athlete's recovery time by restricting perceptual-cognitive expertise when reviewing recorded training sessions.
In view of the foregoing, there is thus a need in the industry for an improved adjustable basketball system that addresses the concerns and difficulties described above.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to sports equipment and in particular to an adjustable basketball system and method of using the same.
An aspect of the present disclosure includes a basketball system comprising a sleeve, a post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve, a basketball backboard coupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, and an actuator functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, wherein actuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect to the sleeve to reposition the backboard.
Another aspect of the present disclosure includes the basketball system transitioning between an operational position and a stored position.
Another aspect of the present disclosure includes the basketball system being electrically operated via a control and a control unit.
Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of adjusting a basketball system, the method comprising providing a sleeve secured relative to a surface upon which the system rests, functionally engaging a portion of a post within the sleeve, coupling a basketball backboard to a portion of the post outside the sleeve, and axially transitioning the post with respect to the sleeve by a linear actuator coupled to each of the post and the sleeve to reposition the backboard.
The foregoing and other features, advantages, and construction of the present disclosure will be more readily apparent and fully appreciated from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of an embodiment of a sleeve and base of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of an embodiment of a sleeve and base of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a section view of an embodiment of a sleeve and a post of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a zoomed in view of a portion of the section view of the sleeve and the post of the adjustable basketball system depicted in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a side view of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8B is another side view of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures listed above. Although certain embodiments are shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present disclosure will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present disclosure.
As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 depict an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system 10. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise various structural and functional components that complement one another to provide the unique functionality and performance of the system 10, the structure and function of which will be described in greater detail herein. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise, among other components, a sleeve 20, a post 30, an actuator 40, and a backboard assembly 50.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 may comprise a first end 22 and a second end 24. The sleeve 20 may comprise a through bore 25 running from the first end 22 to the second end 24. The sleeve 20 may be rectilinear in its cross-sectional shape, so as to form a square tube. The through bore 25 may have an interior surface 26. The sleeve 20 may comprise a connection member 28 coupled to the second end 24 of the sleeve 20. The connection member 28 may be configured to have coupled thereto and rigidly support the actuator 40. The sleeve 20 and the connection member 28 may be comprised of one or more metals or alloys, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a post 30. The post 30 may comprise a first end 32 and a second end 34. The post 30 may be rectilinear in its cross-sectional shape, so as to form a square tube member. The post 30 may be a hollow tube member having a through bore 35 therein. The post 30 may have a cross-sectional shape that communicates with the cross-sectional shape of the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. The post 30 may be configured to be inserted within the through bore 25, such that at least a portion of the post 30 is encased by the sleeve 20. Indeed, the post 30 may have an exterior surface 36 that may be configured to functionally communicate with the interior surface 26 of the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. Also, the post 30 may comprise a connection member 38 that may be coupled to the post 30. The connection member 38 may be configured to be able to couple to the post 30 and yet permit the second end 34 of the post 30 having the connection member 38 coupled thereto to be inserted within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. The connection member 38 may be configured to have coupled thereto and rigidly support the actuator 40 extending within the through bore 35 and coupling to the connection member 38. The post 30 may further comprise a cap 51 positioned on the first end 32. The post 30 and the connection member 38 may be comprised of one or more metals or alloys, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the post 30 and the sleeve 20 being configured to structurally engage and functionally communicate with one another to permit the post 30 to axially advance in and out of the sleeve 20 or to at least axially transition within the sleeve 20 with respect to the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 may be configured to support, embrace, retain, hold, or otherwise secure the portion of the post 30 that has been inserted therein so as to hold the entire post 30 in a position that is substantially axially aligned with the axis of the sleeve 20. Thus, if the sleeve 20 is positioned in a substantially vertical and upright position, then the sleeve 20 may be configured to likewise hold and secure the post 30 in a substantially upright and rigid position, such that the post 30 is prohibited from pivoting or tilting with respect to or dislodging from the sleeve 20, without the application of undue force. Further, the sleeve 20 and the post 30 may be configured to prohibit the post 30 to rotate or spin within the sleeve 20. The rectilinear cross-section of the sleeve 20 and the post 30 sliding within the sleeve 20 operate to prohibit the post 30 from rotating or spinning within the sleeve 20. The engagement of the sleeve 20 and the post 30 may be a friction fit, but the friction fit may be forgiving enough to permit the post 30 to axially transition in and out of the sleeve 20 with the application of predetermined force.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise an actuator 40. The actuator 40 may be any device capable of moving or controlling the movement of the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20. The actuator 40 may be operated by a source of energy, such as electrical current from a DC and/or an AC power source, hydraulic fluid pressure, pneumatic pressure, or other like energy source. The actuator 40 may be configured to receive the energy and convert the energy into mechanical motion. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being a linear actuator, powered by electric current, having a stroke length and speed suitable to transition the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20 a predetermined distance within a predetermined time frame. The electric current may be provided by a battery, a rechargeable battery, solar panels, a generator, electrolytic cells, an utility AC power outlet, or any combination thereof.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 having opposing ends, a first end 42 on actuator rod 41 and a second end 44 on actuator cylinder 43. The first end 42 may be releasably coupled to the connection member 38 of the post 30. The first end 42 may alternatively be fixedly coupled to the connection member 38 of the post 30. Further in the alternative, the first end 42 may be coupled to a bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member that is positioned on and coupled to the connection member 38, such that the first end 42 may be coupled to the connection member 38 via the bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member. The second end 44 may be releasably coupled to the connection member 28 of the sleeve 20. The second end 44 may alternatively be fixedly coupled to the connection member 28 of the sleeve 20. Further in the alternative, the second end 44 may be coupled to a bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member that is positioned on and coupled to the connection member 28, such that the second end 44 may be coupled to the connection member 28 via the bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member. With the first end 42 of the actuator 40 being coupled to the connection member 38 and the second end 44 of the actuator 40 being coupled to the connection member 28, upon activation of the actuator 40 the actuator 40 exerts force on each of the connection members 38 and 28. Due to the fact that the connection member 28 is coupled to the sleeve 20, which does not move, the force exerted by the actuator pushes on the connection member 38 to axially transition the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20. In other words, upon activation of the actuator 40, the actuator 40 functions to push against the connection members 28 and 38 to distance the connection members 28 and 38 from one another. However, because the connection member 28 does not move due to its relative position with the sleeve 20, the operation of the actuator 40 functions to displace the connection member 38 within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20, which displacement axially transitions the post 30 within the through bore 25 along the length of the axis of the sleeve 20. In this way, the actuator 40 may be configured to raise and lower the post 30 in and out of the sleeve 20. Additionally, the system 10 a bushing 49 coupled to first end 22 of sleeve 20. The bushing 49 may have an inner dimension of sides that engage and outer surface of post 30.
Additionally, each side of the post 30 may include four apertures 80 formed in each side of the post 30 located at the second end 34. The post 30 further includes a roller 82 operationally coupled within each aperture 80. This allows for four rollers 82 to be located on each side of the post 30 for a total of sixteen rollers 82. The rollers operate to have fours rollers 82 on each side of the post 30 to engage an inner surface of the sleeve 20 that corresponds with or is adjacent to the side of the post with the rollers 82. The bushing 49 and the rollers 82 cooperate with each other to assist in maintaining post 30 and sleeve 20 in a coaxial relationship as the post 30 is raised and lowered in and out of sleeve 20. Further, the rollers operate to reduce friction, wear and damage to the post 30 as it slides out of and into the sleeve 20 during raising and lowering of the hoop. This further prevents binding of the components and damage to the actuator 40.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being configured to be housed within the sleeve 20 so as to be out of sight. The actuator 40 may be positioned within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20 and at a position between the connection member 28 and the post 30. In particular, the actuator 40 may be configured within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20 and at a position between the connection member 28 and the connection member 38 of the post 30.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being configured to have a stroke length that is sufficient enough to transition the post 30 a desired displacement distance within the sleeve 20, but not sufficient enough to eject the post 30 completely out of the sleeve 20. The desired displacement distance may be a distance between 1 and 4 feet in certain embodiments. The desired displacement distance may be 2 to 3 feet in certain embodiments. The desired displacement distance may be 3 feet in certain embodiments. The actuator 40 may be configured to be operated and/or controlled via a control. The control may be a rocker switch box with various operational controls thereon. For example, the control may be configured to have an on/off switch, an up or down switch, and/or a standby mode. The control may be configured to have preprogrammed height adjustments that correspond to a predetermined desired displacement distance. The control may be configured to be programmable to set one or more of the predetermined desired displacement distances to a specific switch on the control. The control may be configured to operate the actuator 40 to transition the actuator 40 in predetermined step-wise displacements. The control may be configured to transition the actuator 40 to any displacement distance within the stroke length of the actuator 40. Once transitioned to the desired distance, the actuator 40 may be configured to hold or otherwise maintain the displacement distance until the control is again operated. In this way, the operator of the system 10 may set the desired height of the basketball backboard system 10 by operation of the control that directs the function of the actuator 40. The post 30 may be further configured with a height indicator that visibly displays to the user the height of the rim 56 at any given displacement distance.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a backboard assembly 50. The assembly 50 may further comprise an arm 52, a backboard 54 and a rim 56. The arm 52 may be configured to be releasably coupled to a portion of the post 30 that is not functionally engaged by the sleeve 20. The arm 52 may be configured to have coupled thereto the backboard 54. The backboard 54 may have coupled thereto the rim 56.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the system 10 being fixed relative to the ground by use of a base 70. The base 70 may be configured to be anchored in the ground and/or anchored in concrete.
Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the repositioning of the backboard assembly 50 continuously at any point along a range between the maximum and minimum height achievable by the system 10, per the configuration of the sleeve 20, the post, and the actuator 40, as described above.
A method of operating the system 10 may comprise coupling a sleeve adjacent a surface used as a basketball court, functionally engaging a portion of a post within the sleeve, coupling a basketball backboard to a portion of the post outside the sleeve, and axially transitioning the post with respect to the sleeve by a linear actuator coupled to each of the post and the sleeve to reposition the backboard.
The method may further comprise providing electric power to the system, activating the actuator via a control, operating a camera, operating speakers to play music, pivoting the basketball backboard between an operational position and a stored position, and transporting the system from one location to another.
Referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, a portable adjustable basketball system 100 is depicted in accordance with an embodiment. The system 100 includes a portable base 102, a post 103, a lower adjustable support 106, an upper adjustable support 108, a backboard assembly 50 and a linear actuator 40.
In embodiments, the post 103 may be coupled to the portable base 102. The post 103 may be coupled at an acute angle with respect to the portable base 102. A post support 112 maybe be coupled between the post 103 and the portable base 102 to provide additional support to the post 103 and to hold in an operable, playable position.
The upper adjustable support 108 is pivotally coupled to the backboard 54 with a pivot pin at a first end 109 of the upper adjustable support 108 and pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the post 103 with a pivot pin at a second end 110 of the upper adjustable support 108. The lower adjustable support 106 is pivotally coupled to the backboard 54 with a pivot pin at a first end 105 of the lower adjustable support 106 and pivotally coupled to the post 103 below the upper adjustable support 108 with a pivot pin 113 at a location between a second end 107 and the first end 105 of the lower adjustable support 106. The adjustable supports 106 and 108 operate to adjust the height of the backboard assembly 50 and more particularly the height of the hoop 56 between a highest height H2 and the lowest height H1.
The linear actuator 40 is pivotally coupled on a first end to the post with a bracket 104 and pivot pin and pivotally coupled on a second end to the second end 107 of the lower adjustable support 108 with a pivot pin. The linear actuator 40 moves the backboard assembly 50 to the highest height H2 when the linear actuator 40 is in a fully retracted position. The linear actuator 40 moves the backboard assembly 50 to the lowest height H1 when the linear actuator 40 is in a fully extended position. The linear actuator 40 may be operated and stopped at any position between the fully retracted and fully extend positions, thereby setting the height the backboard assembly 50 at any height between the highest height H2 and the lowest height H1.
The components defining the above-described system 10 may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a basketball system of the type disclosed herein. For example, and not limited thereto, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof
Furthermore, the components defining the above-described system 10 may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand blasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or painting the components for example.
While this disclosure has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as required by the following claims. The claims provide the scope of the coverage of the present disclosure and should not be limited to the specific examples provided herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A basketball system comprising:

a rectilinear sleeve with a through bore having first end and a second end a rectilinear cross-section and a first end and a second end;

a rectilinear post with a through bore having a first end and a second end, the post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve and to functionally engage the sleeve, wherein the post comprises four rollers on each side of the post located at the second end of the power and the sleeve comprises a bushing coupled to the first end of the sleeve such that the rollers engage the inner surfaces of sides of the sleeve and the bushing engages outer surfaces of the sides of the post;

a basketball backboard assembly coupled to a first end of the post; and

an electric linear actuator comprising an actuator rod and an actuator cylinder, the electric linear actuator located within the sleeve and the actuator cylinder is coupled directly to the sleeve with a connection member and the actuator rod is coupled directly to the post with a connection member, wherein actuation of the electric linear actuator axially transitions the post in and out of the sleeve to reposition a height of the backboard assembly, and wherein the bushing and the rollers cooperate with each to maintain the post and the sleeve in a coaxial relationship as the post is raised and lowered in and out of sleeve during operation of the electric linear actuator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the post comprises four apertures formed in each side of the post, the apertures located at the second end of the post.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the post further includes a roller operationally coupled within each aperture.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the rollers operate to reduce friction, wear and damage to the post during transition of the post in and out of the sleeve.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a control electrically coupled between the actuator and a power source, wherein the control comprises a switch, wherein the actuator operates in response to operation of the switch.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control for operating the actuator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a removable memory coupled to the input/output port for storing photos and video captured by the camera.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control comprises a power source.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the power source is one of AC power, a battery, a solar panel or combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the backboard assembly comprises a backboard and a rim.

11. A portable basketball system comprising:

a post coupled to a portable base at an acute angle with respect to a front of the portable base;

a post support coupled between the post and the portable base to provide additional support to the post and to hold in an operable, playable position;

an upper adjustable support is pivotally coupled to a backboard with a pivot pin at a first end of the upper adjustable support and pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the post with a pivot pin at a second end of the upper adjustable support;

a lower adjustable support is pivotally coupled to the backboard with a pivot pin at a first end of the lower adjustable support and pivotally coupled to the post below the upper adjustable support with a pivot pin at a location between a second end and the first end of the lower adjustable support, wherein the upper and lower adjustable supports operate to adjust a height of the backboard assembly;

a linear actuator pivotally coupled on a first end to the post with a bracket and pivot pin and pivotally coupled on a second end to the second end of the lower adjustable support with a pivot pin, wherein the linear actuator moves the backboard assembly to a highest height when the linear actuator is in a fully retracted position and to a lowest height when the linear actuator is in a fully extended position.

12. The portable basketball system of claim 11, wherein the linear actuator is operated and stopped at any position between the fully retracted and fully extend positions, thereby setting the height the backboard assembly at any height between the highest height and the lowest height.