WO1995021659A1

WO1995021659A1 - Adjustable basketball backboard frame

Info

Publication number: WO1995021659A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeremy Peter Gorman
Original assignee: Jeremy Peter Gorman
Priority date: 1994-02-09
Filing date: 1995-02-09
Publication date: 1995-08-17
Also published as: AUPM382094A0

Abstract

An adjustable basketball backboard frame (10) adjustable between a height which corresponds to a junior position and a height which corresponds to a senior position. The adjustable basketball backboard frame (10) has a back frame (12) for fixing to a wall and a board frame (14) which is pivotably attached to the back frame (12). Two catches (16) are used to lock the board frame (14) with respect to the back frame (12) when in the senior height position and the junior height position. The catches (16) being remotely operable by an ajustment pole (70). And the board frame (14) being adjustable between the senior height position and the junior height position by using the adjustment pole (70).

Description

TITLE

ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL BACKBOARD FRAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable basketball backboard frame particularly, although not exclusively, envisaged for use for adjustment between a height which corresponds to a junior position and a height which corresponds to a senior position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A common problem in relation to basketball frames is to accommodate the differing height requirements of junior competition and senior competition. Generally, it is known to use a winch mechanism to pivot the basketball frame between the two positions. A disadvantage of the winch system is that it is relatively difficult and time consuming to move the frame between the two positions. This has the result that the basketball backboard frame tends to be left in one of the two positions for most of its time and users tend to avoid adjusting it to the other position. Also, by the nature of the construction of such frames there is a bar which is seen behind a clear (typically glass) rebound board which the frame is in the junior position. This bar is distracting to players and so is a disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable basketball backboard frame which can quickly and easily be moved between a junior height position and a senior height position.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable basketball backboard frame comprising: a back frame mountable onto a support structure; a board frame pivotably connected to the back frame for translational movement thereupon between a first senior height position wherein the board frame is relatively high with respect to the back frame and a second junior height position wherein the board frame is relatively low with respect to the back frame; catch means attached between the back frame and the board frame for securing the board frame to the back frame in both the first senior height position and the second junior height position, the catch means being remotely actuatable between a latching mode and an unlatching mode; and, bias means coupled between the board frame and the back frame for supporting a substantial amount of the force of the weight of the board frame when adjusting between the first senior height position and the second junior height position, such that the board frame can be raised and lowered by a person between the two said positions without the need for further mechanical assistance.

In the context of the present invention a "support structure", in relation to the mounting of the back frame, could be a wall or a swing mount attached to a wall or the like.

In the context of the present invention the "senior height position" is the height of a basketball ring (attached to a board fixed onto the board frame) above the ground for players of a class referred to as the senior class, and the "junior height position" is the height of the basket ball ring above the ground for players of a class referred to as the junior class.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view seen from above of an adjustable basketball backboard frame in accordance with the present invention, shown in a position part-way between the first senior height position and the second height junior position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, seen from above, of a catch of the adjustable basketball backboard frame of Figure i; Figure 3 is a side view of the adjustable basketball backboard frame of Figure 1 shown in the first senior height position;

Figure 4 is a side view of the adjustable basketball backboard frame of Figure 1 shown in the second junior height position;

Figure 5 is a part side view of one end of the adjustable basketball backboard frame of Figure 1 showing the arrangement of the catch of Figure 2; and, Figure 6 is a side view of an adjustment pole for the adjustable basketball backboard frame of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS) In Figures 1, 3 and 4 there is shown an adjustable basketball backboard frame 10 comprising a back frame 12, a board frame 14, two latches 16, and two air rams 18 (which constitute the bias means of the present invention).

The back frame 12 has an invert "U" shape, when viewed from the front. The back frame 12 has a top brace 20 connected between one end of two legs 22. The legs 22 are disposed substantially mutually parallel. The back frame 12 also has four mounting brackets 24 for attaching the back frame 12 to a support structure, such as a wall or a set of swing mounts or the like.

In the exemplary embodiment the mounting brackets 24 are attached to the legs 22 by mounting bracket clevises 26, each of which receives a pivot pin 28. In such arrangement it is intended that the mounting brackets be attached to arms pivotably attached at their other end to a wall so that the adjustable basketball backboard frame 10 can be swung out from the wall from a storage position to an in-use position. These are referred to as swing mounts. Typically, cables are used to restrain the adjustable basketball backboard frame 10 when it is swung out from the wall into the in-use position.

The back frame 12 also has two stoppers 29 disposed proximate the lower end of each of the legs 22 of the back frame 12 and two stoppers 29 located proximate the upper end of each of the side rails 34 of the board frame 14.

The board frame 14 is substantially rectangular, when viewed from the front. The board frame 14 has a top rail 30, a bottom rail 32, and two side rails 34 attached between the top rail 30 and bottom rail 32.

Typically, the bottom rail 32 has a ledge 36 dimensioned to act as a seat for a rebound board (which is typically made of glass - not shown). The ledge 36, is intended to support the force of the weight of the rebound board and the edges of the board are attached to front faces of the side rails 34 and the top rail 30. The bottom rail 32 also has a ring assembly mount 38 disposed intermediate of its length. The ring assembly mount 38 is intended to provide a bolting mount for a basketball ring assembly. The bottom rail 32, by virtue of its larger size, also acts as a torsion bar for increasing the rigidity of the board frame 14 so as to inhibit the tendency for the board frame 14 to twist when moving between the senior height position and the junior height position.

The board frame 14 also has four pivot members 40a and 40b

(three of which are shown in Figure 1 and two of which are shown in each of Figures 3 and 4). The pivot members 40a and

40b are pivotably attached between the legs 22 of the back frame 12 and the side rails of the board frame 14. The pivot members are located proximate the upper ends of the back frame

12 and the board frame 14, whilst the pivot members 40b are located proximate the lower ends of the back frame 12 and the board frame 14. Thereby, the pivot members 40a and 40b form a parallelogram with the board frame 14 and the back frame 12.

The pivot members 40a and 40b allow pivoting of the board frame

14 with respect to the back frame 12 between the first senior height position, shown in Figure 3, and the second junior height position, shown in Figure 4. In the senior height position the board frame 14 is substantially the same height as the back frame 12, whereas in the junior height position the board frame 14 is lower than the back frame 12.

The pivot members 40a are located at the ends of the top rail 30 of the board frame 14. The pivot members 40a are attached to the ends of a relatively heavy tube which extends through the top rail 30 and which is capable of pivoting therein. The tube acts as a torsion bar to ensure that the two pivot members 40a remain parallel to each other during their pivoting and hence that the board frame 14 and the back frame 12 remain parallel to each other to inhibit twisting of the board frame 14 and/or the back frame 12 during moving between the senior height position and junior height position.

In effect the pivot members 40a act as drive members and the pivot members 40b act as slave members. Note that the pivot members 40b are typically in pairs, one on each side of each of the side rails 34 of the board frame 14 and each side of each on of the legs 22 of the back frame 12.

Particularly as shown in Figures 3 and 4 the stoppers 29 limit the pivoting of the board frame 14 about the pivot members 40 towards the back frame 12 to a minimum distance which is the height of the stoppers 29. The stoppers 29 also serve to inhibit the board frame 14 from slamming into the back frame 12. That is the stoppers 29 absorb the shock of the pivoting of the board frame 14 towards the back frame 12.

Particularly as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 5 the catch 16 comprises an elongate body 50 and an actuator 52. The elongate body 50 has a cam face 54 at one end, a lug 56 intermediate of its length and a hole 58 at the other end opposite from the cam face 54. The cam face 54 has an upper end 60 and a lower end 62. Located proximate the lower end 62 is a recess 64 which is disposed substantially transversely of the body 50. The actuator 52 is disposed substantially at right angles to a side face of the elongate body 50. The actuator 52 is substantially "C" shaped and has a semi-circular recess 66 which is broken by a cut-out 68.

In Figure 6 there is shown an adjustment pole 70 which has a handle 72 and a head 74. The head 74 has a circular flange 76 disposed substantially at right angles to the handle 72 and a nose 78 aligned with the handle 72 and disposed from the semi-circular flange 76. The head 74 is connected to the handle 72 by a tail 80. The nose 78 and the tail 80 are both dimensioned to be received in the semi-circular recess 66 of the actuator 52. The tail 80 can be passed through the cut-out 68 and into the semi-circular recess 66. Accordingly, the catch 16 can be pivoted about the hole 58 by force of the upper or lower surfaces of the circular flange 76 of the adjustment pole against the actuator 52.

The catches 16 are pivotably attached to the side rails 34 of the board frame 14. For this purpose, the side rails 34 have a pivot post 90 which passes through the hole 58 of the catch 16 and is held therein by a washer 92 and a split pin 94. A bias spring 96 is seated upon the pivot post 90 and has a first arm 98 which is secured in a hole 100 in the side rail 34. A second arm 102 of the bias spring 96 is bent over a top of the elongate body 50 of the catch 16. Accordingly, the bias spring 96 has the effect of pivoting the catch 16 in the direction of arrow 104, shown in Figure 5. Pivoting of the catch 15 with respect to the side rail 34 is limited by the lug 56 which bears against a rear face of the side rail 34 of the board frame 14.

The back frame 12 has two legs 22 each with two posts 110 located spaced apart on an inside face thereof. The posts 110 are each formed from short metal rods fitted into holes drilled through the legs 22. The rods are welded to the legs 22 on the opposite side of the legs 22 to where the rods protrude from the legs 22. This has the effect of reducing the incidence of distortion of the angle of the posts 110 due to the welding process.

The posts 110 on each leg 22 are intended to be received within the recess 64 of the catch 16. The upper most ones of the posts 110 are used to lock the board frame 14 to the back frame 12 in the senior height position, as shown in Figure 3 and the lower most posts 110 are used to lock the board frame 14 to the back frame 12 in the junior height position as shown in Figure 4.

Alternatively, the posts 110 could be located upon the side rails 34 of the board frame 14 and the catches 16 could be located upon the legs 22 of the back frame 12.

In the construction of the back frame 12 and the board frame 14 it is preferred that washers be welded about any holes which pass through the side rails 34 and the legs 22. The washers serve to provide a wear surface between, or example, the pivot members 40a and 40b and the side rails 34 and the legs 22. Typically, washers are also used about the posts 110. Particularly, as shown in Figure 4 the board frame 14 also has an actuator 120. The actuator 120 is typically in the same form as the actuators 52 of the catches 16 and is intended to be operated by the adjustment pole 70 shown in Figure 6. Accordingly, the adjustment pole 70 can be coupled into the actuator 120 for raising and lowering the board frame 14 with respect to the back frame 12, as described hereinafter.

The air rams 18 are connected between the upper ones of the pivot members 40 and the legs 22 of the back frame 1₂ adjacent lower ends of the legs 22. The air rams 18 are intended to substantially support the force of the weight of the board frame 14 so as to more readily facilitate movement of the board frame 14 between the junior height position and the senior height position. The air rams 18 are typically of such a power as to require the same amount of force to be applied to actuator 120 for raising the board frame 14 from the junior height position to the senior height position as the force required to do the reverse.

In use, the back frame 12 is fixed to a support structure and a rebound board is fixed onto the board frame 14 and resting upon the ledge 36. A basketball ring assembly is then fixed such as by bolting to the ring assembly mount 38. With the board frame 14 in the senior height position, shown in Figure 3, the basketball backboard frame 10 can be used by senior class basketball players. When it is required to move the board frame 14 from the senior height position to the junior height position, shown in Figure 4, the nose 78 of the adjustment pole 70 is inserted into the semi-circular recess 66 of each of the actuators 52 for pivoting the catches 16, in turn, upwardly opposite to the direction of the arrow 104 in Figure 5. This disengages the recesses 64 from the posts 110 and hence disengages the catches 16. This exercise unlocks the board frame 14 from the back frame 12 so that they can pivot with respect to each other. The adjustment pole 70 is then moved to the actuator 120 of the board frame 14 and the tail 80 of the adjustment pole 70 is inserted into the actuator 120 and the board frame 14 pulled downwardly from the senior height position to the junior height position. The board frame 14 pivots about the pivot members 40 against the upward biasing force of the air rams 18 until it reaches the junior height position shown in Figure 4. As the board frame 14 approaches the junior height position the upper ends 60 of the cam faces 54 of the catches 16 meet against the curved sides of the posts 110. Further downward movement of the board frame 14 causes the cam faces 54 to rise up against the posts 110 until the posts 110 reach the lower end 62 of the cam faces 54. Thereafter, the bias springs 96 cause the catches 16 to pivot in the direction of arrow 104 for catching the posts no one in each of the recesses 64. This re-locks the board frame 14 to the back frame 12. Simultaneously, the stoppers 29 of the back frame 12 bear against the side rails 34 of the board frame 14 for absorbing shock or jarring experienced when the board frame 14 reaches the junior height position.

When it is desired to return the board frame 14 to the senior height position the catches 16 are unlatched, as described hereinabove. Then the nose 78 of the adjustment pole 70 is inserted into the semi-circular recess 66 of the actuator 120 and the board frame 14 is forced upwardly. This causes the pivot members 40 to rotate upwardly with the assistance of the bias force of the air rams 18. As the board frame 14 reaches the senior height position the cam faces 54 rise up against the posts 110 and the catches 16 relatch as described previously. Again, the stoppers 29 bear against the side rails 34 of the board frame 14 to absorb shock or jarring which may occur when the board frame 14 reaches the senior position.

The adjustable basketball backboard frame 10 of the present invention has the advantage that it can readily and easily be adjusted between a first senior height position and a second height junior position. Also, by its construction the back frame 12 does not require a cross brace between lower ends of the legs 22 and hence there is no obstruction of the sight of a transparent rebound board which may be attached to the board frame 14.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skill addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, other than two catches 16 and two air rams 18 could be used. Also, the location of the termination of the air rams 18 could be varied along the length of the legs 22. In particular the lower end of the air rams 18 could be terminated closer towards the pivot member 40. Further, the heights between which the adjustable basketball backboard is adjustable may be other than junior and senior heights. Still further, the amount of the height adjustment can be varied by varying the length of the pivot members 40.

Claims

1. An adjustable basketball backboard frame comprising: a back frame mountable onto a support structure; a board frame pivotably connected to the back frame for translational movement thereupon between a first senior height position wherein the board frame is relatively high with respect to the back frame and a second junior height position wherein the board frame is relatively low with respect to the back frame; a plurality of catch means attached between the back frame and the board frame for securing the board frame to the back frame in both the first senior height position and the second junior height position, the catch means being remotely actuatable between a latching mode and an unlatching mode; and, a plurality of bias means coupled between the board frame and the back frame for supporting a substantial amount of the force of the weight of the board frame when adjusting between the first senior height position and the second junior height position, such that the board frame can be raised and lowered by a person between the two said positions without the need for further mechanical assistance.

2. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to Claim 1, in which the catch means is remotely actuatable by an adjustment pole, wherein the adjustment pole can be used to raise the catch means to unlock it.

3. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to Claim 2, in which the catch means has an actuator having a recess, and the adjustment pole has a head with a nose atop a circular flange and a tail located below the circular flange for attachment to an elongate handle, wherein the nose of the head can be received in the said recess for raising the actuator for unlocking the catch means.

4. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to Claim 2, in which the board frame is remotely actuatable by the adjustment pole for providing an upward initiating force for raising the board frame, with the assistance of the bias means, from the junior height position to the senior height position and for providing a downward initiating force for lowering the board frame from the senior height position to the junior height position.

5. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to Claim 4, in which the board frame has an actuator having a recess, and the adjustment pole has a head with a nose atop a circular flange and a tail located below the circular flange for attachment to an elongate handle, wherein the recess can receive the said nose for initiating raising of the board frame and wherein the recess can receive the said tail for initiating lowering of the board frame.

6. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the catch means has a return spring for biasing the catch means to pivot downwardly, and a cam face for bearing against a post of one of the board frame and the back frame, the post causing the catch means to pivot upwardly against the bias of the spring when the face bears against the post, and the catch means having a recess for receiving the post when the face has risen completely over the post for causing the catch means to enter into the latching mode of operation.

7. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to Claim 6, in which there are two of the posts for engaging with each of the catch means for entering into the latching mode of operation, the two posts being spaced apart so that one of the posts latches with the catch means in the senior height position and the other post latches with the catch means in the junior height position.

8. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the board frame is coupled to the back frame by a plurality of pivot members proximate upper and lower ends of the back frame and the board frame, the upper ones of the pivot members being attached to opposite ends of an elongate member which is pivotably attached to the board frame, the elongate member being resistant to torsional deflection for inhibiting twisting of the board frame during pivoting between the senior height position and the junior height position.

9. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the board frame has a bottom rail which is substantially rigid for inhibiting twisting of the board frame during pivoting between the senior height position and the junior height position.

10. An adjustable basketball backboard frame according to Claim 9, in which the bottom rail extends out from the remainder of the board frame for forming a ledge upon which a rebound board can rest and be supported.