RELATED APPLICATIONS
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Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/576,172, filed Jun. 1, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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1. Field of the Invention
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The present invention relates to a portable basketball assembly cooperative with standard, square 1¼″ and 2″ trailer hitches. The assembly supports a hand-telescoping basketball pole, and a foldable backboard and foldable rim in an upright, diagonal plane. It will also act as a compacted assembly that may remain attached to the trailer hitch when driving the vehicle to a desired location.
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2. Description of the Prior Art
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Within the United States, the game of basketball has enjoyed a steady increase in popularity within the last few decades. On an international level, basketball also has a well documented interest and has steadily gained acceptance in taking part within many organizations and clubs around the world. The problem, however, is that the general public experiences the fact that the game of basketball cannot always be enjoyed at their convenience. Besides membership and association fees, YMCA's, gyms, and other health club facilities, are not easily available or openly accessible for the general public. In addition, public parks feature backboard and rim combinations in fixed positions, however, at an increasing rate, such parks are closed at various times because of gang violence or drug trafficking. As a result, portable basketball units, which can usually be seen on driveways and curbsides of residential housing developments have become commonplace. Such portable basketball systems feature a backboard assembly and a basketball pole, which are both attached to a base that is mounted in concrete, or a base that can either be filled with water or sand in order to keep the assembly in an upright position, henceforth making it questionable to label such basketball units as “portable.” The problem with such units is that CCR's (Codes, Covenants, and Restrictions) and homeowner associations are adopting bylaws that greatly reduce and even at times restrict the use of portable basketball equipment on driveways.
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Another problem exists for small children that would love to play basketball on a unit as described above, which usually cannot be lowered to their body height, e.g. a basketball rim that is positioned four feet above ground level for better accessibility. Two other significant problems exist with such portable basketball units. For one, they do not always provide for adjustments to account for an uneven playing surface, while maintaining the basketball backboard and goal assembly at the appropriate height.
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Prior basketball backboard and goal assemblies cannot be adjusted to offset a slanted or uneven playing surface. Personal injuries also present another possible problem with such portable units. Oftentimes, the distance between the basketball rim and the basketball pole is not an adequate distance in order to avoid bodily contact with the basketball pole. Prior art also depicts a portable basketball system which connects to a standard trailer hitch. However, the distance between the pole and the backboard and rim assembly on this system is not sufficient enough to avoid bodily injury. Because of the proximity of the pole to the vehicle, this presents a danger for both the basketball player and the safety of the vehicle. A player could easily collide with both the pole and the vehicle when trying to make a score. In addition, the above system also uses an attached hand crank, located on its pole, for raising and lowering of the pole. In addition, the above system is in need of an external anti rattle device, which is not attached or part of the said system. Such devices usually try to eliminate the shaking and rattling of a unit which is attached to the trailer hitch, when driving to a location.
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Accordingly, the applicant's assembly utilizes a trailer hitch on a vehicle to transport and erect a truly portable, moveable basketball system, with the option of changing the angle of the telescoping pole on a diagonal plane, creating sufficient space between the rim and the vehicle (up to seven feet). Also, this system allows quick transport to whatever location desired, quick and easy setup based on a hand-telescoping pole, and a fully foldable backboard and rim, with an attached tightening device towards the trailer hitch, providing safe transport.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
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An object of the present invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the hand-telescoping of a basketball pole, a foldable-backboard and foldable rim assembly adjustable for height, further providing hand-adjustment of the angle on the backboard to various degrees to accommodate for uneven terrain.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the hand-telescoping of a basketball pole and adjustment on a diagonal plane in order to create sufficient space between the vehicle and the backboard to avoid bodily injuries or vehicular damages.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the hand-telescoping of a basketball pole, a foldable-backboard and rim assembly, which can be adjusted for a rim height that is easily accessible for small children, i.e. children of age's three to five.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the hand-telescoping of a basketball pole, a foldable-backboard and rim assembly, in order to greatly reduce the time involved in searching for an opportunity to play basketball.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for leaving the assembly attached to the trailer hitch in order to drive the vehicle to a desired location.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the hand-telescoping of a basketball pole, a foldable-backboard and rim assembly, for two teams of basketball players to setup a basketball court, using two vehicles positioned on opposite ends from each other, to create the effect of a full-size basketball court.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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This invention relates to significant differences in terms of functionality over existing devices and systems.
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The intention of this invention is to provide a unique support assembly, cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the temporary telescoping of a basketball pole, a foldable backboard and net assembly.
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Extending out of the trailer hitch is a support member that is attached to the bottom section of the pole. Located at the end of this first support member is a gear that allows for altering the position, namely the angle of the pole on a diagonal plane. The basketball pole consists of four sections. These sections slide completely into each other, so that when the pole is compacted, essentially only the bottom section of the pole is visible, with a small part of each section extending out of each subsequent section. Located at the top of each of these pole sections are rings that feature a device for loosening and tightening each section. If such a ring is opened by this device, the section can then be extended or compacted, sliding it up or down by hand to a desired height, and locking each section to the desired position.
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Located at the top section of the pole, are the backboard-, rim-, and net assembly. This assembly is attached by a set of braces that extends from the furthest end part of the pole, and is connected to a gear that allows the backboard to fold towards the pole for storage, or extending it away from the pole for setup as a basketball goal. In addition, the basketball rim is hinged to the backboard, so that it can be folded towards the backboard for storage, or away from the backboard to a maximum of ninety degrees for setup of a horizontal rim level.
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In its preferred upright position that allows for a game of basketball, the pole is extended on a thirty-to forty five degree angle, away from the vehicle. The object and purpose of such a design is for the safety of the basketball player, so that he or she cannot easily come in contact with the basketball pole, or the vehicle, and possibly incur injury when throwing the ball into the rim.
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These aspects and other details of functionality will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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The following and other objects of this present invention will become comprehensible, especially when viewing the following illustrations, wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a side view of the fully telescoped basketball pole and the unfolded backboard and rim support assembly, allowing for the play of basketball at standard height.
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FIG. 2 is a side view of a fully compacted basketball pole, and the unfolded backboard and rim support assembly, enabling small children's play.
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FIG. 3 is a side view of a fully compacted basketball pole, and a folded backboard and rim assembly in the storage position, and the transport position in connection with a vehicular trailer hitch.
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FIG. 4 is a side view of the square support member (left), and the trailer hitch member (right).
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FIG. 5 is a front view of the tightening device, located at the end of the square support member.
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FIG. 6 is a side view of the bottom gear device, the brace arm, and a partial view of the attached bottom section of the telescoping pole.
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FIG. 7 is a side view of the top gear device, and the top brace arm, with a partial view of the top section of the attached telescoping pole and backboard.
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FIG. 8 is a side view of a ring device for tightening and loosening each telescoping pole section, and a spring loaded pin device, which prevents the pole sections to completely slide out of each other.
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FIG. 9 is a side view of a hinge device which allows for the folding or unfolding of the basketball rim, which is attached to the backboard and the rim.
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FIG. 10 is a side view of a measuring device for determining regulation height of ten feet, or official youth height of eight- and a half feet.
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FIG. 11 is a side view of a unique version of a basketball net, called net cords.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the preferred embodiment of this portable basketball system. The complete assembly is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the rim and backboard unfolded, and the telescoping pole extended and compacted respectively, for the purpose of playing basketball at various heights. FIG. 3 shows the completely compacted unit for the purpose of storage, when not connected to the trailer hitch; or for the purpose of leaving the assembly attached to the trailer hitch for transport with a vehicle. FIGS. 4-11 illustrate each supportive components of this invention that allow for the setup and compacting of this portable basketball system.
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In FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment, the assembly is attached to a vehicular trailer hitch, and such a hitch is attached to the underside of a chassis of a vehicle. Furthermore, in FIG. 4, the square support member 8 is secured to the trailer hitch 30, (which can be 1¼″ or 2″ inches square in cross section), by means of a trailer locking pin 32 or a conventional pin called “silent hitch pin.” Such pins are used in order to eliminate rattling and loose hardware of whatever object being attached to a trailer hitch. There are also hitch adapters available that convert an opening on a trailer hitch of 1¼″ in square cross section, to accommodate a 2″ standard hitch. Within this invention, eliminating a loose connection between the square support member 8 and the trailer hitch 30 is solved by a tightening device 36 (see FIG. 5), which essentially is a screw attached to the end or furthest extension, positioned outside on the square support member 8. This tightening device 36 can be engaged by using a wrench, turning the screw clockwise or counterclockwise. When that screw is turned, an enclosed threaded rod 44, which is attached to the screw and a square tightening device 46 (also enclosed), will then move on a horizontal plane either to the right or the left, depending on whether the screw 36 is turned clockwise or counterclockwise. This inner tightening device 46 pulls against the hitch pin 32, until the locking band 42 locks by creating tension against the face on the trailer hitch 30.
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In order for the extended embodiment, with a fully telescoped pole and unfolded backboard and rim assembly, as shown in FIG. 1, the square support member 8 has to be firmly secured to trailer hitch 30. Referring to FIG. 6, the bottom section of pole 14 is hinged to a bottom gear bracket 10 on one side, and a bottom brace 12 on the other side of this bottom section of the pole 14. Both the brace 12, and the bracket 10, are attached to the square support member 8. The angle of the telescoping pole 14, as shown in FIG. 1, is determined by a bottom gear lock 37, which can be placed by hand into three different groves within the bottom gear bracket 12. Each of the three groves is separated by fifteen degrees, resulting in altering the angle of the telescoping pole 14, by fifteen degrees. The playing angle of the telescoping pole can thus be altered accordingly for accommodating uneven terrain.
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The telescoping pole 14 consists of a total of four pole sections. Each section can be fully extended, in order to reach maximum height, regulation height of ten feet (the clearance from the ground to the trailer hitch 30 is factored into this height adjustment). In FIG. 10, a string 40 is attached by means of a magnet 50, to the underside of the rim 26. This string serves the purpose of indicating height adjustment of telescoping pole 14. Regulation height or official youth height can be measured by means of an attached piece of metal, located at its opposite end of string 40. If the string is fully extended at its vertical height of ten feet, and if it the metal touches the ground, then regulation height of ten feet is achieved. If the piece of metal is tied around an indicator mark 52, (official youth height of eight- and a half feet), and the metal touches the ground, then official youth height is achieved.
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The bottom pole section of telescoping pole 14 features the largest diameter in size. Each subsequent pole section decreases in diameter, to the smallest, top pole section with the smallest diameter of all. In addition, all four sections are oblong in shape. In comparison to a conventional round shaped pole, this oblong shape prevents the twisting of each pole section, especially when each section is telescoped or compacted to a desired height. Furthermore, located at each pole section end is a clamp ring 16, which allows for the sliding of a pole section by hand. As shown in FIG. 8, located at the center of each clamp ring 16 is a clamp handle 17, which allows for the tightening and loosing of a clamp ring 16. As a clamp handle 17 is loosed, a subsequent pole section can then be moved by hand, sliding the pole section in an upward or downward motion to a desired height.
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Another component located on the clamp ring 16 is a device called spring loaded pin 18. The purpose for this device is to avoid the possibility of sliding each pole section completely out of another one. On each of the three top pole sections, located near the bottom on each section (not shown) is a hole. At the time when a pole section is extended by hand, and the hole aligns with the spring loaded pin 18, at that exact moment of alignment, the tension of the pin will snap into the hole, creating a locking mechanism to hold two pole sections together.
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As best shown in FIG. 7, located between the top pole section and the back of the backboard are three components. First, as the side view depicts on FIG. 7, a top brace 20 connects the top pole section to the backboard. Second, a top gear bracket 22 also connects the top pole section to the backboard. Both top brace 20, and top gear bracket 22 are hinged to the backboard. The vertical angle of the backboard 24 can be determined by a top gear lock 38, located on the top gear bracket 22. This top gear lock 38 can be moved by hand into four different groves, which are part of the top gear bracket 22. There are five groves on the top gear bracket 22, each separated by ten degrees. Moving the gear lock 38 into any of these groves, results in altering the vertical angle of the backboard. The purpose for such an adjustment is to accommodate a sloped terrain, so that the backboard is in a ninety degree position.
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As shown in FIG. 1, the backboard and rim are unfolded, in the preferred position for playing. As more clearly depicted in FIG. 9, the rim is hinged to the backboard. This rim hinge 40, which is connected to the front of the backboard and the rim itself, allows a movement of ninety degrees. Either the rim is folded against the backboard 24, as shown in FIG. 3, or the rim is in the playing position as shown in FIG. 1, on a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the backboard.
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FIG. 2 shows the invention as an attached unit to a trailer hitch, with the telescoping pole fully compacted. Within this embodiment, the backboard and rim are unfolded, and in correct playing position. The height of the rim is about four feet off the ground, taking into consideration the distance between the ground and the horizontal position of the trailer hitch. This embodiment also presents an ideal set up for small children, who will have a greater possibility to score.
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FIG. 3 shows the invention as an attached unit to a trailer hitch, with the telescoping pole fully compacted tilted towards the vehicle in a typical storage position, and a folded backboard and rim assembly. This position further embodies the preferred position for disengaging the unit from the trailer hitch by sliding the square support member 8, out of the trailer hitch 30. FIG. 3 also depicts a fully compacted unit, in a position for storage apart from the vehicle and a trailer hitch.
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FIG. 12 shows a side view of the net cords 46 attached to the underside of the rim 26. Such cords are intended for the safety of small children, for not being caught in a basketball net (compared to a conventional basketball net).
