Portable basketball goal assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a basketball backboard system and methods of assembly. The backboard system reduces and simplifies the number of steps for a user to take in assembling the system for play. The basketball system comprises a base, a vertical support assembly including a pole, a backboard extension arm, a backboard, and a rim. In some embodiments, the user only has to complete five attachments to fully assemble the system, including securing the vertical support assembly to the base, securing the backboard extension arm to the pole, mounting the backboard to the extension arm, and mounting the rim to the backboard. It is further contemplated that the system will be convenient to package, as the vertical support assembly may be designed to fully nest within the base to reduce product volume.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A backboard system for assembly comprising:
 a base having a top surface and at least one indentation in the top surface;   a vertical support assembly nested within the at least one indentation, the vertical support assembly comprising
 a hinge assembly, 
 two front legs, each having an upper end secured to the hinge assembly and a lower end securable to the base, 
 two back legs, each having an upper end secured to the hinge assembly and a lower end secured to the base, and 
 a pole having a bottom end secured to the hinge assembly and a top end; 
   an extension arm securable to the top end of the pole;   a backboard securable to the extension arm; and   a rim securable to the backboard.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a strut having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is secured to a first of the two front legs and the second end is secured to a second of the two front legs. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes at least two wheels. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is telescoping. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical assembly is fully nested within the at least one indentation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is disposed between the back legs in the at least one indentation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one indentation comprises a centrally disposed indentation and two side indentations flanking the centrally disposed indentation, and wherein the back legs and the pole are nested with the centrally disposed indentation, and the front legs are separately nested into the two side indentations. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the pole includes an attachment plate, wherein the extension arm is securable to the attachment plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extension arm comprises a first and second end, the first end being securable to the pole and the second end including a backboard attachment plate for securing the backboard. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises
 a U-shaped hinge bracket having a top and two sides defining an opening oriented front-to-back and each side having an arc-shaped slot;   a rotation-limiting pin secured to the upper end of each back leg and passing through the arc-shaped slot, such that the hinge bracket is rotatable through the angle defined by the arc length of the arc-shaped slot; and   a first spacer secured between the two sides of the bracket and capable of receiving a detent pin insertable through the upper ends of each back leg when the top of the hinge bracket is horizontally oriented.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a second spacer secured between the two sides of the bracket and capable of receiving a locking bolt insertable through the upper ends of each back leg when the top of the hinge bracket is horizontally oriented. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the top end of the pole is secured to the top side of the U-shaped hinge bracket. 
     
     
         13 . A method for assembling a basketball backboard system, the method comprising:
 providing a base having a top surface and at least one indentation on the top surface, wherein a vertical support assembly is nested in the at least indentation, the vertical support assembly comprising a hinge assembly, two front legs, each having an upper end rotatably secured to the hinge assembly and a lower end securable to the base, two back legs, each having an upper end rotatably secured to the hinge assembly and a lower end secured to the base, and a pole having a bottom end secured to the hinge assembly and a top end;   mounting a backboard to the top end of the pole;   mounting a rim to the backboard;   rotating the front legs to a position wherein the lower end of each front leg is securable to the base, and the upper ends of the front legs and of the back legs and the hinge assembly is raised above the base;   securing the front legs to the base;   rotating the hinge assembly until the pole is in a vertical position; and   locking the pole in a vertical position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pole is telescoping, and wherein the method further comprises extending the telescoping pole to a desired rim height. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises
 a U-shaped hinge bracket having a top and two sides defining an opening oriented front-to-back and each side having an arc-shaped slot;   a rotation-limiting pin secured to the upper end of each back leg and passing through the arc-shaped slot, such that the hinge bracket is rotatable through the angle defined by the arc length of the arc-shaped slot; and   a first sleeve secured between the two sides of the bracket and capable of receiving a detent pin insertable through the upper ends of each back leg when the top of the hinge bracket is horizontally oriented.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a second sleeve secured between the two sides of the bracket and capable of receiving a locking bolt insertable through the upper ends of each back leg when the top of the hinge bracket is horizontally oriented. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the top end of the pole is secured to the top side of the U-shaped hinge bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of rotating the hinge assembly comprises moving the rotation-limiting pin through the arc-shaped slot on the hinge assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of locking the pole in a vertical position comprises inserting the detent pin into the first sleeve on the hinge assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of locking the pole in a vertical position comprises inserting the locking bolt into the second sleeve on the hinge assembly.