Basketball system

Abstract

A basketball system may include a basketball goal and a support structure that may be sized and configured to support the basketball goal. The support structure may include one or more support members. The basketball system may include an adjustment mechanism, which may be sized and configured to move at least a portion of the support members to adjust the height of the basketball goal. The basketball system may include a biasing member sized and configured to absorb energy when a force is applied to the basketball goal and to release the energy when the force is removed from the basketball goal.

1 . A basketball system comprising:
 a basketball goal including a backboard and a rim;   a support structure sized and configured to support the basketball goal, the support structure comprising:
 a support pole; and 
 at least one connecting member movably connected to the basketball goal and the support pole; 
   an adjustment mechanism comprising a first biasing member sized and configured to move between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the first biasing member including a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being secured in a generally fixed relative position when the first biasing member is in the locked configuration, the first and second portions being movable relative to each other to adjust the height of the basketball goal when the first biasing member is in the unlocked configuration; and   a second biasing member sized and configured to, when the first biasing member is in the locked configuration and a force is applied to the basketball goal, absorb energy at least partially via the support structure to permit the basketball goal to move from a first height to a second height and, when the force is removed from the basketball goal, release the energy at least partially via the support structure to return the basketball goal back to the first height.   
   
   
       2 . The basketball system as in  claim 1 , wherein the second biasing member is sized and configured to, when the first biasing member is in the locked configuration and a force is applied to the basketball goal, absorb energy at least partially via the at least one connecting member to permit the basketball goal to move from the first height to the second height and, when the force is removed from the basketball goal, release the energy at least partially via the at least one connecting member to return the basketball goal back to the first height. 
   
   
       3 . The basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises a compression spring. 
   
   
       4 . The basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises an extension spring. 
   
   
       5 . The basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises a torsion spring. 
   
   
       6 . The basketball system as in  claim 2 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises a helical spring. 
   
   
       7 . A basketball system comprising:
 a basketball goal including a backboard and a rim;   a support structure sized and configured to support the basketball goal, the support structure including a plurality of support members;   an adjustment mechanism comprising a first biasing member sized and configured to move between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the first biasing member including a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being secured in a generally fixed relative position when the first biasing member is in the locked configuration, the first and second portions being movable relative to each other to move at least one of the support members to adjust the height of the basketball goal when the first biasing member is in the unlocked configuration; and   a second biasing member sized and configured to, when the first biasing member is in the locked configuration and a force is applied to the basketball goal, absorb energy at least partially via the support structure to permit the basketball goal to move from a first height to a second height and, when the force is removed from the basketball goal, release the energy at least partially via the support structure to return the basketball goal back to the first height.   
   
   
       8 . The basketball system as in  claim 7 , wherein the second biasing member is sized and configured to, when the first biasing member is in the locked configuration and a force is applied to the basketball goal, absorb energy at least partially via the at least one of the support members to permit the basketball goal to move from the first height to the second height and, when the force is removed from the basketball goal, release the energy at least partially via the at least one of the support members to return the basketball goal back to the first height. 
   
   
       9 . The basketball system as in  claim 8 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises a compression spring. 
   
   
       10 . The basketball system as in  claim 8 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises an extension spring. 
   
   
       11 . The basketball system as in  claim 8 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises a torsion spring. 
   
   
       12 . The basketball system as in  claim 8 , wherein the first biasing member comprises a gas spring; and wherein the second biasing member comprises a helical spring. 
   
   
       13 . A basketball system comprising:
 a basketball goal including a backboard and a rim;   a support structure sized and configured to support the basketball goal, the support structure including a plurality of support members; and   an adjustment mechanism comprising
 a first adjustment member; 
 a second adjustment member, the first and second adjustment members being movable relative to each other to adjust the height of the basketball goal; and 
 a biasing member sized and configured to, when a force is applied to the basketball goal, absorb energy at least partially via the support structure to permit the basketball goal to move from a first height to a second height and, when the force is removed from the basketball goal, release the energy at least partially via the support structure to return the basketball goal back to the first height. 
   
   
   
       14 . The basketball system as in  claim 13 , wherein the biasing member is at least partially disposed within the first adjustment member. 
   
   
       15 . The basketball system as in  claim 13 , wherein the biasing member is partially disposed within the first adjustment member; and wherein the biasing member is partially disposed within the second adjustment member. 
   
   
       16 . The basketball system as in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second adjustment members are slidably coupled. 
   
   
       17 . The basketball system as in  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is partially disposed within the first adjustment member; and wherein the biasing member is partially disposed within the second adjustment member. 
   
   
       18 . The basketball system as in  claim 13 , further comprising a crank sized and configured to move the first and second adjustment members relative to each other.