Breakaway basketball goal

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a basketball goal assembly. The goal assembly includes a mounting bracket having opposing side plates. A first pair of opposing pivot holes are co-axially defined in the side plates to define a pivot axis. A rim assembly has a basketball goal rim and an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket also includes opposing side plates. A second pair of opposing pivot holes is defined in the attachment bracket side plates. The second pair of pivot holes are co-axially aligned first pair of pivot holes along the pivot axis. A pivot bar extends through the first and second pairs of pivot holes. The first end of the pivot bar terminates in a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of the pivot holes, and the second end of said pivot bar terminates in a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of the pivot holes. Preferably, at least one end of the pivot bar is cold forged in place. In an alternate embodiment, both the first end and the second end are cold forged to connect the goal assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A basketball goal assembly, comprising: 
 a) a mounting bracket, wherein a first pair of opposing pivot holes is defined in said mounting bracket, wherein said first pair of pivot holes are co-axial and define a pivot axis;    b) a rim assembly having a basketball goal rim and an attachment bracket, wherein a second pair of opposing pivot holes is defined in said attachment bracket, and wherein said second pair of pivot holes are co-axial and aligned with said pivot axis;    c) a pivot bar extending through said first pair of pivot holes and said second said of pivot holes along said pivot axis, wherein said pivot bar has a first end and a second end; and,    d) wherein said first end of said pivot bar terminates in a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes, and wherein said second end of said pivot bar terminates in a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes.    
     
     
         2 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1  wherein said mounting bracket has a first pair of opposing side plates wherein said first pair of opposing pivot holes is defined in said first pair of side plates, and wherein said attachment bracket has a second pair of side plates wherein said second pair of opposing pivot holes is defined in said second pair of side plates.  
     
     
         3 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 2  wherein at least one end of said pivot bar is cold forged into a shape with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes while said pivot bar is in place through said pivot holes.  
     
     
         4 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 3  wherein said first end and said second end of said pivot bar are cold forged into a shape with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes while said pivot bar is in place through said pivot holes.  
     
     
         5 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 4  wherein said first end and said second end of said pivot bar are solid.  
     
     
         6 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a spring assembly extending between said mounting bracket and said rim attachment bracket and oriented to resist pivotal motion of said rim assembly when downward pressure is exerted on said rim.  
     
     
         7 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 6  furthering comprising: 
 a) a crossbar mounted to said rim attachment bracket;  
 b) a transverse plate rigidly mounted horizontally between said side walls of said mounting bracket and defining a vertical opening therethrough;  
 c) an eyebolt defining an eye opening encircling said crossbar and having a shaft extending through said vertical opening, wherein said shaft terminates in a threaded end;  
 d) a nut mounted on said threaded end of said shaft; and,  
 e) a spring mounted around said eyebolt between said nut and said transverse plate.  
 
     
     
         8 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 6  furthering comprising: 
 a) an attachment section defined on said rim attachment bracket;  
 b) a stationary section formed on said mounting bracket;  
 c) a pull rod defining a first end and a second end wherein said first end is attached to said attachment section; and,  
 d) a spring resiliently mounted between said stationary member and said second end of said pull rod, wherein said spring is oriented to resist pivotal motion of said rim assembly in relation to said mounting bracket.  
 
     
     
         9 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 2  wherein the side plates of said rim attachment bracket are nested between the side plates of said mounting bracket.  
     
     
         10 . A pivot point for a basketball goal assembly, consisting essentially of: 
 a) a first pair of co-axial pivot holes defined in the side walls of a mounting bracket and defining a pivot axis;    b) a second pair of pivot holes defined in the side walls of a rim attachment bracket, wherein said second pair of pivot holes are co-axial with said pivot axis, and;    c) a pivot bar extending through said first pair of pivot holes and said second pair of pivot holes, wherein said pivot bar has a first end terminating in a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes, and wherein said pivot bar has a second end terminating in a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes.    
     
     
         11 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 10  wherein at least one end of said pivot bar is cold forged.  
     
     
         12 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 11  wherein said first end and said second end of said pivot bar are cold forged.  
     
     
         13 . A method for pivotally attaching a basketball rim assembly to a mounting bracket, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a mounting bracket defining a first pair of co-axially aligned pivot holes;    b) providing a rim attachment bracket defining a second pair of pivot holes co-axially aligned with said first pair of pivot holes;    c) placing a pivot bar though said first and second pairs of pivot holes;    d) mounting said pivot bar in a press;    e) cold forging at least one end of said pivot bar with said press to shape said end into a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of cold forging the second end of said pivot bar to shape said end into a portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of said pivot holes.