Stowable basketball rim

Abstract

A basketball hoop assembly can include a rim bracket pivotally coupled with a base bracket. An arcuate slot can be defined in the rim bracket and have an upper seat and a lower seat. A biasing member may be arranged to bias the rim bracket upward. A latch member may be positionable in the lower seat of the arcuate slot to prevent upward rotation of the rim bracket. This may position the rim in a play position. The rim bracket may be rotatable downward to move the upper seat of the slot toward the latch member (e.g., which may correspond to movement toward a break-away position, such as in response to a slam-dunk). The latch member can be retractable from the slot to permit upward rotation of the rim bracket (e.g., which may correspond to the biasing member moving the rim to a stowed position).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A basketball hoop assembly, comprising:
 a backboard;   a base bracket coupled with or incorporated into the backboard;   a rim;   a rim bracket coupled with the rim and rotatable relative to the base bracket for moving the rim among an upwardly-extending stowed position, a forwardly-extending play position, and a downwardly-tilted break-away position, wherein the rim bracket comprises a side plate having an arcuate slot defined therein, wherein the arcuate slot comprises a lower end and an upper end, and wherein the side plate further comprises an access passage extending into the arcuate slot;   a torsional spring biasing the rim bracket toward the stowed position; and   a latch pin adapted to move rearwardly through the access passage for engagement with the lower end of the arcuate slot to retain the rim in the play position, the arcuate slot adapted to move along the latch pin during movement of the rim from the play position to the break-away position until the upper end of the arcuate slot engages the latch pin, the latch pin adapted to move forwardly through the access passage to disengage from the arcuate slot and permit rotation of the rim toward the stowed position in response to force applied by the torsional spring.   
     
     
         2 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base bracket comprises a latch guide track adapted to limit the latch pin to movement forwardly and rearwardly along a single axis. 
     
     
         3 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the base bracket comprises:
 a first side plate in which the latch guide track is arranged; and   a second side plate comprising a latch mount in which the latch pin is received and adapted to assume different angled orientations relative to the latch mount.   
     
     
         4 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch-biasing member biasing the latch pin rearwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the torsional spring comprises:
 a tab portion arranged to bear against the rim bracket; and   at least one rod arranged to bear against the base bracket.   
     
     
         6 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the base bracket comprises at least one arm defining an underside along which the at least one rod is arranged to bear. 
     
     
         7 . A basketball hoop assembly, comprising:
 a base bracket configured for coupling with or incorporation into a backboard;   a rim bracket rotatable relative to the base bracket for moving a rim among a stowed position, a play position, and a break-away position, wherein the rim bracket comprises a side plate having an arcuate slot defined therein, wherein the arcuate slot comprises a lower seat and an upper seat, and wherein the side plate further comprises an access passage extending into the arcuate slot;   a biasing member arranged to bias the rim bracket toward the stowed position; and   a latch member adapted to move through the access passage and into engagement with the lower seat of the arcuate slot to retain the rim in the play position, the arcuate slot adapted to move along the latch member during movement of the rim from the play position to the break-away position until the upper seat of the arcuate slot engages the latch member, the latch member adapted to move through the access passage to disengage from the arcuate slot and permit rotation of the rim toward the stowed position in response to force applied by the biasing member.   
     
     
         8 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a backboard supporting the base bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the base bracket comprises a guide track in which the latch member is received. 
     
     
         10 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a latch-biasing member biasing the latch member toward the base bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the base bracket comprises:
 a main plate;   a first side plate extending from the main plate; and   a second side plate extending from the main plate.   
     
     
         12 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the latch member is received in the first side plate and the second side plate. 
     
     
         13 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side plate comprises a latch guide track in which one side of the latch member is adapted to translate; and
 wherein the second side plate comprises a latch mount in which a second side of the latch member is adapted to pivot.   
     
     
         14 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the rim bracket comprises a camming surface arranged for contact with the latch member during rotation of the rim between the stowed position and the play position. 
     
     
         15 . A basketball hoop assembly, comprising:
 a base bracket;   a rim bracket pivotally coupled with the base bracket;   a slot defined in the rim bracket and having an upper seat and a lower seat;   a biasing member arranged to bias the rim bracket upward; and   a latch member positionable in the lower seat of the slot to prevent upward rotation of the rim bracket, wherein the rim bracket is rotatable downward to move the upper seat of the slot toward the latch member, and wherein the latch member is retractable from the slot to permit upward rotation of the rim bracket.   
     
     
         16 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a backboard supporting the base bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the slot is arcuate. 
     
     
         18 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a latch-biasing member biasing the latch member toward the base bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a pivot pin extending through the base bracket and the rim bracket so that the rim bracket is pivotally coupled with the base bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The basketball hoop assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the biasing member is arranged about the pivot pin.