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  Basketball hoop systemUSPTO Application #: 20070010356Title: Basketball hoop system Abstract: The present specification describes sporting equipment methods and apparatus that may be used for basketball, and may be particularly useful for height adjustment. One aspect of the novel basketball standard relates to a mechanism for adjusting the height of the basketball hoop. The adjustment mechanism may be cable driven, and all or most of the adjustment mechanism may be located internal to a support pole of the basketball standard. In contrast, conventional adjustable basketball standards are not cable driven and often include many exposed moving parts. (end of abstract)
Agent: L. Grant Foster Holland & Hart LLP - Denver, CO, US Inventor: Jorgen J. Moller USPTO Applicaton #: 20070010356 - Class: 473483000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Playing Field Or Court Game; Game Element Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Goal Or Target Structure For Projectile; Element Thereof, Apertured Or Pocketed Goal Or Target (e.g., For Hockey, Soccer, Polo, Lacrosse, Etc.), Goal Or Target Is Elevated And Horizontally Disposed (e.g., For Basketball, Etc.), Backboard Or Support Structure Therefor, With Height Adjustment Feature The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070010356. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to sports systems, including in particular basketball hoop systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The game of basketball is played and enjoyed by people of all ages. The popularity of the game has led many people to install basketball standards near their homes. A regulation basketball standard generally includes a hoop mounted to a backboard and elevated from a playing surface to a height of ten feet. While most adults can play comfortably with the hoop elevated to ten feet, many children do not possess the physical ability to successfully shoot a basketball through a ten foot hoop. Children playing basketball with a regulation hoop can become frustrated due to their inability to successfully shoot the basketball into the hoop. The frustration can lead to a loss of interest in the game. [0003] Therefore, various basketball standards including adjustable height rims have been developed. Adults and children alike enjoy playing on a basketball standard having a lower hoop. Depending on the physical capabilities and intents of the players, the hoop may need to be lowered a few inches or several feet. [0004] Building a basketball standard that can be adjusted to various heights involves consideration of a number of factors. One significant issue is providing a support structure that is sufficient to adequately bear the weight posed by a typical backboard assembly. In addition to the weight posed by these materials, the entire structure must be strong enough to bear the rigors of extended use, including repeated dunking of a basketball and the hanging of a player from the rim that is often associated with the adjustable height hoops. Further, the backboard of the basketball assembly must remain substantially perpendicular to the playing surface regardless of the height at which it is set. In order to address these concerns, conventional adjustable standards often include linkage assemblies capable of maintaining the perpendicular relationship between the backboard and the playing surface over a range of heights, while also supporting the weight associated with the standard. In one typical configuration, a four bar linkage is pinned to the basketball backboard at one end, pinned to a support device at an intermediate location, and extends at a distal end beyond the support device to provide a section that can be raised or lowered. An operator typically raises or lowers the hoop by applying leverage to the portion extending beyond the support device to cause the linkage assembly to pivot or rotate relative to the support device. [0005] While conventional adjustable standards have been developed, some of the resulting linkage assemblies are problematic in a number of aspects. One problem is that the linkages present pinch or crushing hazards due to the exposed linkages, braces, pivot points, etc. An operator can inadvertently place a hand or finger in these exposed areas and have the hand or finger become crushed or pinched under the weight of the backboard and linkage assemblies. This hazard is of particular concern for children. [0006] In addition to presenting safety hazards, conventional linkage assemblies provided on adjustable height standards are often too high for children and some adults to easily reach. Conventional adjustable height standards may also be equipped with elaborate, complex mechanisms which an operator uses to adjust the height of the standard. These mechanisms are often difficult to operate and include numerous moving components that are left exposed to operators. The exposed moving components can lead to even more potentially hazardous pinch or crush points. [0007] As a result, devices and methods for height adjustable basketball standards that present an aesthetically pleasing appearance, are quickly and easily adjustable through a wide range of heights, and that reduce potentially dangerous pinch or crush points to endanger operators continue to be sought. [0008] Further, conventional basketball standards can generally be categorized as portable or permanent. Portable systems are generally less robust than permanent systems. Portable systems may wobble or shift during play. To provide stabilizing support to the system, the base of many conventional portable basketball goal systems are weighted. For example, the base may include a ballast cavity, which can be filled with water or sand. The weighted base can sometimes stabilize the system during light to moderate play conditions, but typically fails to provide adequate support during heavier play conditions. Due to shifting of the base during extreme play, total failure of the system is unlikely but the shifting can be frustrating to the players during play of the game. [0009] Permanent systems are often bolted to the ground and offer more stability than portable systems. However, permanent installations can be costly and difficult to install. Therefore, permanent systems continue to be sought and developed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The principles described herein may be followed to provide a basketball standard that is easy to assemble and simple to adjust to various heights. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sporting equipment apparatus is disclosed. The sporting equipment apparatus comprises a support pole, a backboard, an adjustment assembly connected between the backboard and the support pole, a hoop attached to the backboard, and an adjustment cable attached to the adjustment assembly and extending through an interior of the support pole. A winch may be attached to the support pole and connected to the adjustment cable. The winch may be disposed inside of the support pole. The winch may comprise a cable spool having a first gear, and a worm gear meshed with the first gear of the cable spool. A hand crank may be attached to the worm gear. A motor may drive the worm gear and/or the first gear. [0011] According to some embodiments, the sporting equipment apparatus comprises a stationary anchor disposed in a ground location and extending up from the ground. The support pole may be disposed over the anchor. [0012] Some embodiments of the sporting equipment apparatus further comprise a pulley disposed at a top portion of the support pole. The adjustment cable may thus extend from the adjustment assembly, around the pulley, through the interior of the support pole, and to a winch. The adjustment assembly may comprise a four-bar mechanism capable of curvilinearly translating the backboard and the hoop. [0013] Another embodiment of the invention provides a basketball standard assembly. The basketball standard assembly may comprise a basketball backboard, a basketball hoop for attachment to the backboard, a support pole, and a basketball hoop adjustment assembly. The basketball hoop adjustment assembly comprises a cable drive mechanism. The basketball standard assembly may further comprise an anchor for at least partial subterranean insertion, the anchor being receptive of the support pole. The cable drive mechanism may comprise a cable extending internally though the support pole. The cable drive mechanism may further comprise a cable spool comprising an edge gear mounted to the support pole, a worm gear meshed with the edge gear of the cable spool, and a hand crank attached to the worm gear. The cable drive mechanism may also comprise an internal cable, an external cable spool comprising an edge gear mounted to the support pole, an external worm gear meshed with the edge gear of the cable spool, a hand crank attached to the worm gear, a first internal cable pulley attached to a top portion of the support pole, and a second internal cable pulley attached to the support pole adjacent to the external cable spool. According to some embodiments, the cable drive mechanism comprises an internal cable and a motorized cable spool mounted to the support pole. [0014] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of constructing a basketball standard. The method comprises providing a support pole, inserting an anchor pole into the ground, receiving the support pole by the anchor pole, and attaching a basketball backboard and hoop to the support pole. Receiving the support pole by the anchor pole may comprise disposing the support pole over the anchor pole concentrically. The method may further comprise providing a cable drive system for adjusting the basketball backboard and hoop relative to the support pole. Providing the cable drive system may comprise running a cable inside of the support pole. [0015] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of making a basketball standard. The method comprises providing a support pole, attaching a winch and a first pulley to the support pole, extending a cable around the first pulley, through the support pole, and to the winch, and attaching a backboard and hoop to the support pole. The method may further comprise partially burying an anchor in the ground, and concentrically attaching the support pole to the anchor. The method may include burying a flared anchor to a depth of at least two feet, leaving at least two feet of the flared anchor above grade, and disposing the support pole over the anchor. [0016] Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using a basketball standard. The method comprises adjusting a height of a basketball hoop. The adjusting comprises actuating a cable extending through a basketball hoop support pole. Actuating the cable may comprise rotating a hand crank attached to a worm gear, the worm gear driving a cable spool. Actuating a cable may also comprise turning on an electrically powered winch which is attached to the cable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. [0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a basketball standard according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 2 is a rear assembly view of basketball standard of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the basketball standard of FIG. 1 with an internal winch according to one embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Basketball hoop system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Basketball hoop system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Basketball hoop system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Rebound system Next Patent Application: Nets for sporting equipment Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Basketball hoop system patent info. 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