Goal Hoop Support Assembly

Abstract

A goal hoop that attaches to a trampoline frame structure having upright poles. The goal hoop can be used with a shade cover supported by the upright poles. The goal hoop has a backboard supporting the goal hoop and is connected to one of the uprights pole by a support arm.

1 . A goal hoop support assembly for a trampoline having a shade cover, the assembly comprising:
 a backboard; and   a goal hoop supported on the front surface of the backboard; and   support arm(s) for connecting the goal hoop to the trampoline;   wherein the goal hoop is supported by the support arm(s) under the cover provided by the shade cover.   
     
     
         2 . The goal hoop support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the backboard is formed by the surface of a safety net of the trampoline. 
     
     
         3 . A goal hoop support assembly for a trampoline having a shade cover, the assembly comprising:
 a backboard having a top, a bottom, a front surface and an opposing rear surface; and   a goal hoop supported at or near the bottom of the front surface of the backboard;   a support arm for supporting the backboard, the support arm having at least one substantially horizontal portion terminating at a first end positioned proximal the rear surface of the backboard and an opposing second end distal the backboard which connects the support arm to an upright pole of the trampoline,   the support arm and backboard together configured to have:   (i) a first mounting position in which the support arm is arranged towards the top of the backboard; and   (ii) a second mounting position in which the support arm is arranged towards the bottom of the backboard;   wherein, when in the first mounting position, the support arm is configured such that the top of the backboard is at approximately the same height or is lower than at least one of the substantially horizontal portion of the support arm so that the backboard and goal hoop are supported by the support arm under the cover provided by the shade cover.   
     
     
         4 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein in the first mounting position the first end of the support arm is towards the top of the backboard; and in the second mounting position the first end of the support arm is towards the bottom of the backboard. 
     
     
         5 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the support arms comprise bracing arms which engage with the rear face of the backboard. 
     
     
         6 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the goal hoop assembly is configured to move from the first mounting assembly to the second mounting assembly without disengaging the bracing arms from the rear surface of the backboard. 
     
     
         7 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the goal hoop assembly is configured to move from the first mounting assembly to the second mounting assembly by disengaging the bracing arms from the rear surface of the backboard and repositioning the bracing arms. 
     
     
         8 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the backboard has a first socket for receiving a proximal end of the support arm in the first mounting position; and a second socked for receiving a proximal end of the support arm in the second mounting position. 
     
     
         9 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the backboard is formed from a mesh material. 
     
     
         10 . The goal hoop assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the rear face of the backboard has a support structure for coupling with the support arms and or bracing arms if present. 
     
     
         11 . The goal hoop support assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein there is one substantially horizontal portion of the support arm and the top of the backboard is at approximately the same height or is lower than said substantially horizontal portion of the support arm. 
     
     
         12 . A trampoline comprising a frame including a plurality of upright poles, the trampoline comprising:
 a shade cover,   a goal hoop support assembly comprising:   a backboard having a top, a bottom, a front surface and an opposing rear surface; and   a goal hoop supported at or near the bottom of the front surface of the backboard;   a support arm for supporting the backboard, the support arm having at least one substantially horizontal portion terminating at a first end positioned proximal the rear surface of the backboard and an opposing second end distal the backboard which connects the support arm to one of the upright poles of the trampoline,   the support arm and backboard together configured to have:   (i) a first mounting position in which the support arm is arranged towards the top of the backboard; and   (ii) a second mounting position in which the support arm is arranged towards the bottom of the backboard;   wherein, when in the first mounting position, the support arm is configured such that the top of the backboard is at approximately the same height or is lower than at least one of the substantially horizontal portion of the support arm so that the backboard and goal hoop are supported by the support arm under the cover provided by the shade cover.   
     
     
         13 . The trampoline of  claim 12 , wherein in the first mounting position the first end of the support arm is towards the top of the backboard; and in the second mounting position the first end of the support arm is towards the bottom of the backboard. 
     
     
         14 . A trampoline, the trampoline comprising:
 a shade cover,   a goal hoop support assembly comprising:
 a backboard; and 
 a goal hoop supported on the front surface of the backboard; and 
 support arm(s) for connecting the goal hoop to the trampoline; 
   wherein the goal hoop is supported by the support arm(s) under the cover provided by the shade cover.   
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising the component of  claim 12  along with instructions for assembly.