Portable basketball system

Abstract

A portable basketball system may include a basketball goal and a support structure that is sized and configured to support the basketball goal above a support surface. The basketball system may also include one or more feet that are sized and configured to engage a support surface. The feet may be movable among a plurality of positions to facilitate, for example, leveling the basketball system, adjusting the height of the basketball system and/or holding the basketball system in a generally fixed location. In addition, the basketball system may include a support structure and the support structure may include a rear support member including a lower end connected to a rear portion of the base, a first front support member including a lower end connected to a front portion of the base and a second front support member including a lower end connected to the front portion of the base. If desired, the rear support member, the first front support member and the second front support member of the support structure may be disposed in a generally tripod-shaped configuration.

1 . A portable basketball system comprising: 
 a basketball goal including a backboard and a rim;    a base;    a support structure connected to the base, the support structure being sized and configured to support the basketball goal above a playing surface, the support structure comprising: 
 a rear support member including a lower end connected to a rear portion of the base and an upper end connected to the basketball goal;  
 a first front support member including a lower end connected to a front portion of the base and an upper end connected to the rear support member; and  
 a second front support member including a lower end connected to the front portion of the base and an upper end connected to the rear support member;  
   a height adjustment mechanism connected to the support structure, the height adjustment mechanism sized and configured to adjust the height of the basketball goal between a plurality of generally fixed heights above a support surface; and    an adjustment assembly connected to the basketball goal and the height adjustment mechanism, the adjustment assembly being sized and configured to tilt the basketball in a plurality of directions to adjust the orientation of the basketball goal while the basketball goal is at any of the plurality of generally fixed heights.    
   
   
       2 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment assembly comprises: 
 a first bracket connected to the basketball goal; and    a second bracket connected to the first bracket and the support structure, the second bracket being sized and configured to be connected to the first bracket in a plurality of relative positions.    
   
   
       3 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment assembly comprises: 
 a third bracket connected to the basketball goal; and    a fourth bracket connected to the third bracket and the support structure, the fourth bracket being sized and configured to be connected to the third bracket in a plurality of relative positions.    
   
   
       4 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the second bracket includes an opening sized and configured to receive a fastener in a plurality of positions to connect the second bracket to the first bracket in a plurality of relative positions.  
   
   
       5 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the first bracket includes an opening sized and configured to receive a fastener in a plurality of positions to connect the second bracket to the first bracket in a plurality of relative positions.  
   
   
       6 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the backboard comprises a frame portion and a rebound portion connected to the frame portion; and wherein the first bracket is connected to the frame portion of the backboard.  
   
   
       7 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the backboard comprises a frame portion and a rebound portion connected to the frame portion; and wherein the first bracket includes a receiving portion sized and configured to receive at least a part of the frame portion of the backboard.  
   
   
       8 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 7 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a notch.  
   
   
       9 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 1 , wherein the rear support member, the first front support member and the second front support member of the support structure are disposed in a generally tripod-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first front support member and the second front support member have generally the same length, and the rear support member has a length that is greater than the length of the first front support member and the second front support member.  
   
   
       11 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first front support member and the second front support member are connected to the rear support member at a location above a midpoint of the rear support member.  
   
   
       12 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment assembly is sized and configured to tilt the basketball goal forward and backwards while the basketball goal is any of a plurality of generally fixed heights.  
   
   
       13 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more feet movably connected to the support structure, the feet being sized and configured to be moved between a first position in which the basketball goal is in a first orientation and a second position in which the basketball goal is in a second orientation.  
   
   
       14 . A portable basketball system comprising: 
 a basketball goal including a backboard and a rim;    a base;    a support structure connected to the base, the support structure being sized and configured to support the basketball goal above a playing surface, the support structure comprising: 
 a rear support member including a lower end connected to a rear portion of the base and an upper end connected to the basketball goal;  
 a first front support member including a lower end connected to a front portion of the base and an upper end connected to the rear support member; and  
 a second front support member including a lower end connected to the front portion of the base and an upper end connected to the rear support member;  
   a first foot connected to the first front support member, the first foot being sized and configured to be moved between a first position in which the basketball goal is in a first orientation and a second position in which the basketball goal is in a second orientation; and    a second foot connected to the second front support member, the second foot being sized and configured to be moved between a first position in which the basketball goal is in a first orientation and a second position in which the basketball goal is in a second orientation.    
   
   
       15 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 14 , wherein the rear support member, the first front support member and the second front support member of the support structure are disposed in a generally tripod-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The portable basketball system as in  claim 14 , further comprising an adjustment assembly connected to the basketball goal and the support structure, the adjustment assembly sized and configured to adjust the orientation of the basketball goal.