Water level indicator for a fillable sports base

Abstract

A water level indicator for use with a fillable base for supporting a basketball goal is disclosed. The water level indicator may be attached to the fillable base and may alert a user when the level of water contained in the base drops below a predetermined level. In one embodiment, a mechanical device having a rotatable lever arm with a floating portion attached to one end and a display attached to the other end may be utilized. The floating portion may be configured to float on top of water contained in the base and the display may be configured to indicate to a user when the base should be refilled with water. In another embodiment, an electrical device having two metal probes, an alert and a power source may be utilized. When water in the base is in contact with the metal probes, a circuit may be completed between the metal probes, the alert and the power source. When water does not contact the metal probes, the circuit may be broken and the alert may be configured to indicate to a user when the base should be refilled with water. In yet another embodiment, a combination of mechanical and electrical devices may be used to indicate the level of water in the base. This may include a lever arm attached to a buoyant portion which is connected to a resistor. The movement of the arm may cause the resistor to adjust the voltage passing through a circuit to move an indicator which may indicate the level of water in the base.

1 . A base for attachment to a support pole for a basketball goal, the basketball goal being attached to a first end of the support pole and the base being attached to the second end of the support pole, the base comprising:
 a ballast tank configured to hold water; and   a water level indicator attached to said ballast tank, said water level indicator including a body, a lever arm having a first end and a second end, a buoyant portion attached to the first end of the lever arm and a display portion attached to the second end of the lever arm;   wherein the lever arm is pivotally attached to the body and, when water is contained in said ballast tank, the display portion is configured to indicate the level of the water in said ballast tank.   
   
   
       2 . The base according to  claim 1 , wherein said ballast tank includes an opening for filling said ballast tank with water and said water level indicator is configured to threadably engage with the opening. 
   
   
       3 . The base according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant portion is configured to float on the surface of the water contained in said ballast tank 
   
   
       4 . The base according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant portion is made of cork, rubber or foam. 
   
   
       5 . The base according to  claim 1 , wherein the display portion indicates when the level of the water contained in said ballast tank drops below a predetermined level. 
   
   
       6 . The base according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined level is a level at which said ballast tank should be filled with water before the basketball goal is used for game play. 
   
   
       7 . A base for attachment to a support pole for a basketball goal, the basketball goal being attached to a first end of the support pole and the base being attached to the second end of the support pole, the base comprising:
 a ballast tank configured to hold water; and   a water level indicator attached to said ballast tank, said water level indicator including a first metal probe, a second metal probe, an alerting device having a first state and a second state and a power source, the first and second metal probes being electrically coupled to the alerting device and the power source;   wherein, when the level of water contained in said ballast tank is sufficient to contact the first metal probe and the second metal probe, current flows between the first and second metal probes and the alerting device is in the first state.   
   
   
       8 . The base according to  claim 7 , wherein when water does not contact the first metal probe and the second metal probe, current is prohibited from flowing between the first and second metal probes and the alerting device is in the second state. 
   
   
       9 . The base according to  claim 7 , wherein the alerting device is an LED. 
   
   
       10 . The base according to  claim 7 , wherein the alerting device is an audible alarm. 
   
   
       11 . The base according to  claim 7 , wherein said ballast tank includes an opening for filling said ballast tank with water and said water level indicator is configured to threadably engage with the opening. 
   
   
       12 . The base according to  claim 7 , wherein the water level indicator is configured to indicate when the level of the water contained in said ballast tank drops below a predetermined level. 
   
   
       13 . The base according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined level is a level at which said ballast tank should be filled with water before the basketball goal is used for game play. 
   
   
       14 . The base according to  claim 7  wherein the power source is a battery. 
   
   
       15 . A base for attachment to a support pole for a basketball goal, the basketball goal being attached to a first end of the support pole and the base being attached to the second end of the support pole, the base comprising:
 a ballast tank configured to hold water; and   a water level indicator attached to said ballast tank, said water level indicator including a body, a lever arm having a first end and a second end, a buoyant portion attached to the first end of the lever arm, a resistor attached to the second end of the lever arm and an indicator portion electrically connected to the lever arm and the resistor;   wherein the lever arm is pivotally attached to the body and, when water is contained in said ballast tank, the indicator portion is configured to indicate the level of water in said ballast tank.   
   
   
       16 . The base according to  claim 15 , wherein the buoyant portion is configured to float on the surface of the water contained in said ballast tank and, when the level of water contained in said ballast tank changes, the buoyant portion causes the lever arm to pivot, thereby changing the resistance provided by the resistor. 
   
   
       17 . The base according to  claim 16 , wherein the indicator portion includes:
 a heating coil electrically connected to the resistor;   a bimetallic strip; and   a visual indicator connected to the bimetallic strip;   wherein when the resistance provided by the resistor changes, the heating coil alters the shape of the bimetallic strip, thereby causing the visual indicator to indicate the change in the level of water in said ballast tank.   
   
   
       18 . The base according to  claim 16 , wherein the indicator portion includes:
 a microprocessor electrically connected to the resistor; and   a visual indicator connected to the microprocessor;   wherein when the resistance provided by the resistor changes, the microprocessor causes the visual indicator to indicate the change in the level of water in said ballast tank.   
   
   
       19 . A base for attachment to a support pole for a basketball goal, the basketball goal being attached to a first end of the support pole and the base being attached to the second end of the support pole, the base comprising:
 a ballast tank configured to hold water; and   a water level indicator attached to said ballast tank, said water level indicator including a body, an arm having a first end and a second end, a buoyant portion attached to the first end of the arm and a display portion attached to the second end of the arm;   wherein the arm is movably attached to the body and, when water is contained in said ballast tank, the display portion is configured to indicate the level of the water in said ballast tank.