Indoor basketball backboard height adjustable mount

Abstract

A basketball backboard, mount assembly and mounting system is described that is capable of raising and lowering to alter a height of a mounted basketball backboard. The variable height backboard is further capable of raising and lowering without requiring significant spacing between the wall and backboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for coupling a basketball backboard with a wall, the apparatus comprising:
 a basketball backboard frame having opposing vertical side supports defining outer sides of the frame, a top horizontal support defining a top of the frame and a bottom horizontal support defining a bottom of the frame, wherein said frame is void of supports extending through a mid-portion of the frame;   tabs extending outward from each said side support;   a base bracket fixed to the bottom horizontal support, wherein said base bracket is suitable to mount a basketball hoop thereto without contacting the basketball backboard;   a wall mount having two longitudinal members and upper and lower spacer members extending between and interconnecting the longitudinal members;   at least two top braces having a first end of each top brace fixed to a spacer that is pivotally connected to corresponding longitudinal members of said wall mount and having a second end of each top brace pivotally connectable to corresponding tabs of said side supports of said frame;   at least two bottom braces having a first end of each bottom brace pivotally connected to corresponding longitudinal members of said wall mount and having a second end of each bottom brace pivotally coupled to said base bracket;   a scissor hinge having upper and lower arms coupled together at a mid-pivot hinge, wherein free ends of the upper arms couple to the upper spacer member of the wall mount and free ends of the lower arms couple to the bottom braces;   an actuator having an extendable portion and a base portion, wherein an outer end of said extendable portion couples to said top braces and said base portion is coupled to the mid pivot of said scissor hinge.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the free ends of the upper and lower arms of the scissor hinge are offset from a center line of the wall mount. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tabs are positioned on an upper half of each vertical side support. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further including a stabilizer connecting said at least two top braces approximately midway between first and second ends of said top braces. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the outer end of the extendable portion of the actuator is pivotally connected to the stabilizer. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic jack. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further including a backboard having a cutout suitable for receiving the bracket extending from the frame. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for coupling a basketball backboard with a wall, the apparatus comprising:
 a basketball backboard frame having opposing vertical side supports defining outer sides of the frame, a top horizontal support defining a top of the frame and a bottom horizontal support defining a bottom of the frame, wherein said frame is void of supports extending through a mid-portion of the frame;   tabs extending outward from each said side support;   a base bracket fixed to the bottom horizontal support, wherein said base bracket is suitable to mount a basketball hoop thereto without contacting the basketball backboard;   a wall mount having two longitudinal members and upper and lower spacer members extending between and interconnecting the longitudinal members;   at least two top braces having a first end of each top brace pivotally connected to corresponding longitudinal members of said wall mount and having a second end of each top brace pivotally connectable to corresponding tabs of said side supports of said frame;   at least two bottom braces having a first end of each bottom brace pivotally connected to corresponding longitudinal members of said wall mount and having a second end of each bottom brace pivotally coupled to said base bracket;   a scissor hinge having upper and lower arms coupled together at a mid-pivot hinge, wherein free ends of the upper arms couple to the upper spacer member of the wall mount and free ends of the lower arms couple to the bottom braces, wherein the free ends of the upper and lower arms of the scissor hinge are offset from a center line of the wall mount;   an actuator having an extendable portion and a base portion, wherein an outer end of said extendable portion couples to said top braces and said base portion is coupled to the mid pivot of said scissor hinge, wherein a longitudinal axis of said actuator remains approximately parallel with the center line of the wall mount as the extendable portion of the actuator is extended.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said tabs are positioned on an upper half of each vertical side support. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , further including a stabilizer connecting said at least two top braces approximately midway between first and second ends of said top braces. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the outer end of the extendable portion of the actuator is pivotally connected to the stabilizer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic jack. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , further including a backboard having a cutout suitable for receiving the bracket extending from the frame. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for coupling a basketball backboard with a wall, the apparatus comprising:
 a basketball backboard frame having opposing vertical side supports defining outer sides of the frame, a top horizontal support defining a top of the frame and a bottom horizontal support defining a bottom of the frame, wherein said frame is void of supports extending through a mid-portion of the frame;   tabs extending outward from each said side support and adaptable for receiving pivot pins;   a base bracket fixed to the bottom horizontal support, wherein said base bracket is suitable to mount a basketball hoop thereto without contacting the basketball backboard;   a wall mount having two longitudinal members and upper and lower spacer members extending between and interconnecting the longitudinal members;   at least two top braces having a first end of each top brace pivotally connected to corresponding longitudinal members of said wall mount and having a second end of each top brace pivotally connected with said pivot pins to corresponding tabs of said side supports of said frame;   at least two bottom braces having a first end of each bottom brace pivotally connected to corresponding longitudinal members of said wall mount and having a second end of each bottom brace spaced apart and pivotally coupled to said base bracket;   a scissor hinge having upper and lower arms coupled together at a mid-pivot hinge, wherein free ends of the upper arms couple to the upper spacer member of the wall mount and free ends of the lower arms couple to the bottom braces, wherein the free ends of the upper and lower arms of the scissor hinge are offset from a center line of the wall mount;   an actuator having an extendable portion and a base portion, wherein an outer end of said extendable portion couples to said top braces and said base portion is coupled to the mid pivot of said scissor hinge, wherein a longitudinal axis of said actuator remains approximately parallel with the center line of the wall mount as the extendable portion of the actuator is extended.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said tabs are positioned on an upper half of each vertical side support. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , further including a stabilizer connecting said at least two top braces approximately midway between first and second ends of said top braces. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the outer end of the extendable portion of the actuator is pivotally connected to the stabilizer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic jack. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , further including a backboard having a cutout suitable for receiving the bracket extending from the frame.