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Light for a basketball systemRelated 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 ThereforLight for a basketball system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070225092, Light for a basketball system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/760,720, entitled Light for a Basketball System, which was filed on Jan. 20, 2006, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to basketball systems and, in particular, to a light for a basketball system. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Basketball has become a very popular sport and it is frequently played indoors and outdoors. Indoor basketball courts, however, are often relatively expensive to construct and may not be readily available. Accordingly, basketball is often played outdoors. Unfortunately, many people have jobs, school, family and/or other commitments during the day that prevents them from playing basketball during the day. Thus, basketball is often played outdoors in the evening or at night. Disadvantageously, it is often difficult to play basketball in the evening because there is not sufficient light. [0006] It is known to use a lighting system to allow basketball to be played at night. Many conventional outdoor lighting systems, however, do not provide sufficient light for playing basketball. For example, some conventional lighting systems may fail to adequately illuminate the playing surface, the basketball backboard or the basketball rim. In addition, many conventional lighting systems can be expensive to purchase and time consuming to install. Further, many such lighting systems require large and complex support structures. These known lighting systems may also be difficult to repair and maintain. For example, many conventional lighting systems require a very tall ladder, such as twelve to fifteen feet in height, to replace the light bulbs. [0007] Some conventional outdoor lighting systems include lights that are positioned four to five feet above and four to five feet in front of the basketball backboard. This is an area, however, where players often look while playing basketball. For example, many players attempting to rebound a basketball will look directly into the lights, which can substantially impair their vision and may be distracting. [0008] These known lighting systems with the lights four to five feet above and four to five feet in front of the basketball backboard may also interfere with playing or practicing basketball because the basketball may strike the lights while the ball is in play. For example, the ball may strike the lights or the support structure for the lights while shooting a high arcing shot, when attempting a shot from the sides of the court or when trying a desperation shot. When the lights are struck by the basketball, they can be broken or damaged. In addition, because these known lighting systems may intrude into the court or area of play, this may disrupt or stop the game. If play is stopped or disrupted, the game or practice may have to be reset or restarted. Disadvantageously, this may have a negative impact on the game or practice. BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0009] A need therefore exists for a basketball system that reduces or eliminates the above-described disadvantages and problems. [0010] One aspect is a basketball system that may include a basketball goal, which may include a backboard, a rim and a net connected to the rim. The basketball system may also include a support structure that is sized and configured to support the basketball goal at a desired height above a playing surface. The support structure may consist of a support pole and the support pole may consist of a single segment or it may consist of multiple segments that are interconnected. [0011] Another aspect is a basketball system that may include a basketball goal that is adjustable in height. For example, the basketball goal may be disposed so that the rim is located ten feet above the playing surface, which is the conventional height for a basketball goal. The basketball goal may also be disposed in other positions so that the rim is located at other heights. In particular, the rim may be located at lower heights, such as nine feet, eight feet, seven feet, six feet, or other desired heights. The rim may also be located at a greater height, if desired. Advantageously, this may allow a wide range of people with different abilities and skills to use the basketball system. [0012] Yet another aspect is a basketball system that may be capable of being disposed in a fixed or permanent location. For example, the basketball system may be an in-ground basketball system. The basketball system may also be a portable basketball system that is sized and configured to be moved from one location to another location. For instance, the basketball system may be connected to a base that is sized and configured to be filled with ballast such as water or sand. The portable basketball system may include wheels to facilitate movement of the basketball system. The portable basketball system may also include a handle that may be used to help move the basketball system from one location to another location. [0013] Still another aspect is a basketball system that may include a rim that can be moved or pivoted. For example, the rim may be a break-away type rim in which the rim may move or pivot downwardly when a large force or impact is applied to the rim, such as when a player dunks a basketball or grabs the rim. [0014] A further aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system. The lighting system may include one or more lights and the lighting system may facilitate playing basketball in various lighting conditions. Preferably, the lighting system amply illuminates at least a portion of the playing surface, backboard, rim and net to allow playing basketball at night or in low lighting conditions. [0015] A still further aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system which does not interfere with playing basketball. For example, the lighting system may include lights that are positioned behind the basketball goal. In particular, the lights may be positioned behind the basketball backboard. With the lights positioned behind the basketball backboard, players are not likely to hit the lights while shooting and the ball is unlikely to hit the lights when bouncing off the rim or backboard. Thus, the lighting system is unlikely to interfere with playing or practicing basketball. Also, positioning the lights behind the basketball backboard may significantly decrease the chances that the lights will be struck by a basketball, which may decrease the risk that the lights could damaged or broken. Furthermore, with the lights positioned behind the basketball backboard, players are less likely to look directly into the lights when rebounding, which may help players from being temporarily distracted or blinded. [0016] Yet another further aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system with one or more lights that may face in one or more desired directions. For example, the lights may face downwardly, sideways, upwardly or at various angles. Preferably, the lights are movable or adjustable so that the lights can be positioned in any desired direction or location. [0017] Another aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system and a basketball goal. The basketball goal may include a basketball backboard and the backboard may be constructed from a material through which at least some light may be transmitted. Thus, light from the lighting system may pass through the backboard to illuminate, for example, the rim and net. Advantageously, this may create a lighting system with fewer shadows and improved visibility. [0018] Still another aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system with a support structure that is sized and configured to support the lights. The lighting support structure is preferably sized and configured to hold the lights in a generally fixed position behind the basketball goal. For example, the lighting support structure may have a generally T-shaped configuration with a first light attached to one end of an elongated support member and a second light attached to the other end of the support member. The lights are preferably spaced apart to help provide a wider breadth of illumination. The lighting system is preferably constructed of metal tubing, such as one inch by three inch rectangular tubing or two inch by three inch rectangular tubing. Of course, the lighting system may be constructed from other suitable materials and may have other appropriate shapes, sizes, configurations and arrangements depending, for example, upon the intended use of the lighting system or basketball system. [0019] Yet another aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system that may move between a first position in which the lights are positioned for use and a second position in which the lights are positioned for maintenance. For example, in the first position, the lights may be positioned behind the basketball goal and the basketball backboard, which may allow the basketball system to be used for playing or practicing. In the second position, the lights may be positioned for maintenance, such as changing the light bulbs. [0020] Still yet another aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system which may be secured in a first position and/or second position. For example, the lighting system may include an elongated support member that is pivotally connected to a support structure, such as a support pole. In particular, the elongated support member may include a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion that is pivotally connected to a top portion of the support pole. When the lighting support structure is in the first position, the first end of the elongated support member may be connected to the support pole by a fastener, such as a bolt, bracket, clip, strap and the like. To move the lighting support structure from the first position to the second position, the first end of the elongated support member may be disconnected from the support pole. [0021] A further aspect is a basketball system that may include a lighting system with a biasing member. The biasing member may be sized and configured to bias the lighting system into a desired position. The biasing member could also be sized and configured to facilitate moving the lighting system between the positions. The biasing member may be a dampener, spring, shock, elastic member and the like. The lighting system, however, does not require a biasing member. Continue reading about Light for a basketball system... Full patent description for Light for a basketball system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Light for a basketball 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. 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