Support Structure For Basketball Board And Hoop Combinations

Abstract

Basketball hoop and board support structure constructed for mounting to an upright standard. The support structure basically comprises a three dimensional parallelogram having nominally parallel but adjustable parallelogram bars and also vertical, forward and rearward elemental frame structures. The aforementioned bars are pivoted to the frame structures, and an extensible, telescoping brace structure is positioned between opposite ends, at top and bottom, and centrally of the composite frame structure presented, so as to hold the parallelogram structure in a pre-selected position, the brace comprises inner and outer tubes. A bolt is screw threaded to the outer tube and engages the inner tube to lock to two against relative movement. A spring is fitted around the bolt between the inner and outer tubes to help hold them in position when the bolt is loosened. The brace structure is adjustable at the length so that the interior angles of the parallelogram may be adjusted, thereby automatically adjusting the height disposition, relative to standard attachment, of the forward elemental frame structure as well as the basket, or hoop, and basketball board attached thereto. The interior bracing structure is preferably supplied with a detent that can be selected and positively engaged, whereby to secure the basketball hoop in a predetermined vertical position.

Description

The present invention relates to support structure for supporting basketball hoops, or baskets, and also basketball boards and, more particularly, to a new and improved support structure, attachable or attached to an upright standard, wherein the vertical disposition of the basketball hoop can be selectively adjusted for proper height.

It is well known that small boys and girls who wish to practice at a basketball-stand much prefer a hoop that can be adjusted as to height. When larger boys come the hoop can be erected to a higher position whereas for the small boys both hoop and board may be lowered.

The present invention accomplishes this objective by providing structure in the form of a three dimensional parallelogram, having corner apices which are pivoted for desired condition. Accordingly, the pivot structures provided provide that the forward elemental frame structure of the invention may be raised or lowered relative to the rearward elemental frame structure, the latter being attached to the standard. An interior brace provided whereby during or after basketball hoop selection for height, the brace may be tightened conveniently so as to assure that the parallelograms structure will remain rigid.

The bracing structure itself is a telescoping structure having adjustable beams for accomplishing a detent, to thereby pre-select or regulate the degree or length of extension of the interior member of the telescoping brace relative to its exterior portion. Stop and spring means are also provided, together with adjustable handle and appropriate means cooperative therewith.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide new and approved structure useable in or with or supplementing current basketball standards, the same being opperative to lower a basketball hoop and board combination or, alternatively, raise the same as desired.

A further object is to provide, as structure useable for tying a basketball board to an upright standard in unique structure taking the form of an adjustable parallelogram, and means for fixing the interior angles and hence the degree of orientation of the parallelogram structure.

An additional object is to provide a three dimensional parallelogram structure for basketball boards, hoops, and the like, which structure is pivoted at its apices so that relative vertical adjustment can be had betwwen the forward elemental frame and the rearward elemental frame thereof.

An additional object is to provide a telescoping brace structure basketball standards, this preferably having locking means, and the same being useful for selective adjusting basketball apparatus for and manner placement.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization andmanner of operation, together with further object and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken ;in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the structure of the present invention incorporating the brace structure provided; for convenience of illustration the basket and board, themselves forming no part of the invention, are disclosed in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in reduced scale of the structure in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but illustrates the structure FIG. 1 as having been pulled downwardly relative to the front elemental frame, the same also incorporating the brace structure, this time elongated.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, portions of which are in section, of the central extensible brace structure of the invention.

For convenience of illustration, cross-bracing is shown solely in FIG. 1. The essence of the invention is the presentation of support structure for supporting a basketball hoop and board from an upright standard wall or the like. The structure comprises of a three dimensional parallelogram pivot means for which are provided at respective apices.

A vertical post or a standard 10 has secured to it a frame 11. Frame 11 includes rear elemental frame 12 made up of angle iron braces 13, 14, 15 and 16. These may be all welded together, if desired. Additionally, straps 17 and 18 are welded to standard 10 at W1 and W2 and are likewise secured at their ends by welding or other means to elemental frame 12.

Corespondingly, a front elemental frame 18 comprises frame member 19, 20, 21 and 22, all comprising angle iron members being welded at the respective corners as shown. Each of the elemental frames 12 and 18 include respective pivots 23, 24, 25 and 26, as to the front elemental frame 18, and also pivots 27-30 which are provided the rear elemental frame 12. These pivots secure opposite ends of equal-length parallelogram bars 31-34, as seen, the latter having cross-braces J, K, L, M secured thereto. The pivot means may comprise bolt and nut attachments, pin and clevis attachments, and so forth.

In any event, the rearward elemental frame 12 is provided a forwardly facing clevis 35, whereas the forward elemental frame 18 is provided with a rearwardly facing clevis 36. Pivot means 37 and 38 coact with the opposite ends 39 and 40 of brace structure 41.

A detail of brace structure 41 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The same is shown to comprise a tubular channel member 42 of rectangular cross section, the same having an aperture or aperture 43. A not 44 may be welded at 45 to member 42. An aperture 46 receives the threaded shank 47 of turndown bolt 48. The latter is provided with handle 49. Shank 47 may be threaded into a boss 50 of the structure, as in 51.

Extension member 52 is provided with an aperture or apertures 53 and also with an upstanding member 54 serving as a stop device. Member 52 includes upper friction surface 55 which cooperates with end 56 of shank 47 to effect a friction or set-screw type lock upon the turning of handle 49. Spring 58 is disposed over the shank between extension member 52 and the inner-wall 59 of member 42 and its friction effect so that spring end will tend to retain member 52 in place when handle 49 is loosened.

In operation, the extension member 52 may be extended in and out of member 42. Accordingly, if the basket B and its board A are to be lowered, then the user would simply pull vertically downwardly upon the board or frame structure, this prior to loosening the detent handle bolt 48.

Once the correct position is reached, then the handle may be turned down within nut 44, the latter being affixed at 45 to member 42, so that a friction lock as between the bolt shank 47 and surface 55 is maintained. The board A itself may be secured as by attachments T to the elemental frame structure at 18. The basket, of course, may be attached by any suitable means such as bolt means D to the forward elemental frame 18.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. Basketball hoop and board support structure including, in combination: front and rear, vertical elemental frames; plural spaced pivot means disposed on opposite sides of said frames; a pair of sets of parallelogram bars respectively disposed on opposite sides of said frames and pivotally attached to said pivot means; and extensible brace means for fixing the vertical disposition of said front elemental frame relative to said rear elemental frame upon the pivotal repositioning of said bars, wherein said brace means comprises an outer tubular member receiving an inner telescoping member, and means connected to said outer tubular member for adjustably fixing the disposition of said inner telescoping member relative to said outer tubular member, wherein said outer tubular member includes means for threadedly and thereby adjustably engaging said inner tubular member, said support structure including compression spring means disposed transversely within said outer tubular member and circumscribing said adjustably engaging means.