[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Utility Patent Application having Serial No. 1 5/823,679, which was filed November 28, 2017 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Serial No. 62/458,054, which was filed February 13, 2017. The aforementioned patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application to the extent consistent with the present application.

[0002] Basketball goals are frequently used in areas outside of professional basketball arenas. These basketball goals are typically mounted to a pole or wall, and may include a mechanism to adjust the height of the goal. While such basketball goals are functional, the mounting system for wall mounted goals typically runs through the middle of the backboard. Unlike the goals used in professional basketball arenas, the view through the backboard of a typical adjustable, wall-mounted goal is obstructed by one or more cross members running across the back of the backboard. What is needed, therefore, is a wall mount for an adjustable basketball goal that provides an unobstructed view though the backboard, providing an experience closer to that of a professional basketball arena .

[0003] Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an adjustable wall mount assembly for a basketball goal. The adjustable wall mount assembly may include a frame having opposing side members, a pair of supports, an actuator, a pair of actuator brackets, and a support bracket. Each support may be rotatably coupled to a respective side member of the frame at a first end and adapted to be rotatably coupled to a backboard at a second end. Each actuator bracket may be rotatably coupled to the frame at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a second end thereof. The support bracket may be adapted to be rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to the backboard, rotatably coupled to the frame at a second end thereof, and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a point intermediate the first and second ends thereof.

[0004] Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide an adjustable basketball goal. The adjustable basketball goal may include a backboard and a wall mount assembly. The backboard may include a backboard frame , a panel retained by the backboard frame, and a rim assembly coupled to the backboard frame. The wall mount assembly may include a frame having opposing side members, a pair of supports, an actuator, a pair of actuator brackets, and a support bracket. Each support may be rotatably coupled to a respective side member of the frame at a first end and rotatably coupled to the backboard at a second end. Each actuator bracket may be rotatably coupled to the frame at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a second end thereof. The support bracket may be rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to the backboard, rotatably coupled to the frame at a second end thereof, and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a point intermediate the first and second ends thereof.

[0005] Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide an adjustable basketball goal. The adjustable basketball goal may include a wall mount assembly and a backboard. The wall mount assembly may include a frame, a first actuator bracket, a second actuator bracket, a first support, a second support, a support bracket, and an actuator. The first actuator bracket and the second actuator bracket may each be rotatably coupled to the frame. The first support, the second support, and the support bracket may each have a first end that is rotatably coupled to the frame. The actuator may include an outer cylinder and an inner rod. The outer cylinder may be rotatably coupled to the support bracket. The inner rod maybe partially disposed within the outer cylinder and rotatably coupled to the first actuator bracket and the second actuator bracket. The backboard may include a backboard frame, a panel, and a rim assembly. The backboard frame may include a first side member, a second side member, and a mounting bracket. The first side member may be rotatably coupled to a second end of the first support, the second side member may be rotatably coupled to a second end of the second support, and the mounting bracket may be rotatably coupled to a second end of the support bracket. The panel may be retained by the backboard frame and the rim assembly may be coupled to the backboard frame.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

[0007] Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of an adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal, according to one or more embodiments. [0008] Figure 2 illustrates the adjustable wall mount assembly of Figure 1 with the backboard omitted.

[0009] Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of an actuator, as may be used in the embodiment of Figure 1 .

[0010] Figure 4 illustrates the backboard frame and the adjustable wall mount assembly of Figure 1 from the obverse perspective.

Detailed Description

[0011] It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the exemplary embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0012] Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to." All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. Furthermore, as it is used in the claims or specification, the term "or" is intended to encompass both exclusive and inclusive cases, i.e. , "A or B" is intended to be synonymous with "at least one of A and B," unless otherwise expressly specified herein.

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of an adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal 1 00, according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The adjustable wall- mounted basketball goal 1 00 may include an adjustable wall mount assembly 102 and a backboard 1 04. The adjustable wall mount assembly 1 02 may include an actuator 106, which will be discussed in greater detail with reference to Figure 2 below. The adjustable wall mount assembly 102 may be removably coupled to a wall or support structure (not shown) using fasteners 1 08 such as anchors, screws, or bolts.

[0014] The example embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 includes four fasteners 108 on each of the side of the adjustable wall mount assembly 1 02. The fasteners 1 08 are used to removably mount the basketball goal 100 to a wall. Other embodiments may have two, three, five, or more fasteners 108 on each side, or have fasteners 1 08 on all four sides of the adjustable wall mount assembly 102. In other embodiments, the fasteners 1 08 may be omitted and the adjustable wall mount assembly 102 may be permanently affixed to the wall or support structure through welding or other similar methods.

[0015] The backboard 1 04 may include a backboard frame 1 10 surrounding a panel 1 12. In some embodiments, the backboard frame 1 10 may include a top member 1 14, a bottom member 1 16, and two side members 1 18. In other embodiments, the backboard frame 1 10 may include a lower, u-shaped member (not shown) positioned around the perimeter of the panel 1 12 and a top member 1 1 4. The individual members 1 14, 1 16, 1 1 8 may be coupled together using fasteners, welds, or other similar means.

[0016] The backboard frame 1 1 0 may include an outer frame that is coupled to a structural inner frame (not shown). The outer frame and inner frame may be coupled to one another using bolts, adhesives, welds, or other similar means. The outer frame may be made of aluminum or other similar lightweight material and the inner frame may be made of steel, iron, or other similar metal. The frame 1 10 may further include a bumper 1 20 coupled to the bottom member 1 1 6 and at least a portion of the side members 1 1 8. The bumper 120 may be made out of rubber, foam, or other similar material, as is known in the art.

[0017] The backboard frame 1 1 0 may further include a groove (not shown) on the interior surface 1 22 configured to receive and retain the panel 1 1 2. The panel 1 1 2 may be inserted into the groove prior to the top member 1 1 4 being coupled to the side members 1 18. Other embodiments of the backboard frame 1 10 may have an inner shelf in addition to, or in place of, the groove that provides a surface to bond the panel 1 12 to the backboard frame 1 1 0 using glue, epoxy, and the like.

[0018] The panel 1 1 2 may be made of a clear material, such as glass, tempered glass, plexiglass, or polycarbonate. This may allow a clear view through the panel 1 1 2. Additionally, a variety of suitable materials are known in the art for this purpose and any such material may be used for the panel 1 1 2. The panel 1 12 may further include a horizontally centered and vertically offset square or rectangular target 124. The target 1 24 may be painted onto the panel 1 12, etched into the panel 1 1 2, or may be a sticker adhered to the panel 1 1 2.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1 , a rim assembly 1 26 may be coupled to the backboard 104. The rim assembly 1 26 may include a mounting plate 128 and a hoop 1 30. The mounting plate 128 may be coupled to the backboard frame 1 1 0 using bolts, adhesives, welds, or other similar means. The mounting plate 128 may also be coupled to the panel 1 12 using bolts or adhesives. In some embodiments, a cloth or chain net (not shown) may be attached to the hoop 1 30.

[0020] The rim assembly 126 may be a fixed type rim assembly as shown in the exemplary embodiment, with the mounting plate 128 and hoop 130 rigidly coupled together. In other embodiments, the rim assembly 1 26 may be a collapsible style rim assembly. A collapsible style rim assembly may allow the hoop 130 to flex independently of the mounting plate 1 28, allowing the rim assembly 126 to absorb some of the force when the hoop 1 30 is pulled. [0021] Referring now to Figure 2, with continued reference to Figure 1 , Figure 2 illustrates the adjustable wall mount assembly 102 of Figure 1 with the backboard 104 omitted. The adjustable wall mount assembly 102 may include a frame 202, two supports 204, two actuator brackets 206, a lower support bracket 208, and the actuator 1 06. In the example embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the frame 202 is rectangular; however, other embodiments of the frame may be an oval or other geometric shape. Other embodiments of the adjustable wall mount assembly 1 02 may include more than two supports 204 and actuator brackets 206, more than one lower support bracket 208, or any combination thereof.

[0022] The frame 202 may include two side members 21 0 (one shown), a top member 212, and a bottom member 214. The side members 21 0, top member 21 2, and bottom member 214 may be coupled together using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The top member 21 2 and bottom member 21 4 may each have a flange 216 extending away from the frame 202. In other embodiments, the flange 21 6 may be omitted.

[0023] The frame 202 may further include two vertical members 218 extending between the top member 212 and the bottom member 214, and coupled to the frame 202 using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. Other embodiments of the frame 202 may include one, three, or more vertical members 218, or the vertical members 218 may be omitted. In another embodiment, horizontal members (not shown) may extend between the side members 210 in addition to or instead of the vertical members 218.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the lower support bracket 208 is coupled to the vertical members 218. The lower support bracket 208 may consist of two parallel arms 220 and two cross braces 222 (one indicated) positioned between the parallel arms 220 and retained using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. Other embodiments of the adjustable wall mount assembly 1 02 may include one, three , or more cross braces 222, or the cross braces 222 may be omitted. The lower support bracket 208 may be rotatably coupled to the vertical members 21 8 using one or more bolts or pins 224. In another embodiment, the lower support bracket 208 may be a solid piece of material (not shown) with a hole cut out for the actuator 106.

[0025] The actuator brackets 206 may each include a first arm 226 (one indicated) and a second arm 228 (one indicated), as shown in the exemplary embodiment. Each first arm 226 may be rotatably coupled to a side member 21 0 of the frame 202 opposite the respective support 204 using a single bolt or pin assembly 230, as shown in Figure 2. Each second arm 228 may be coupled to the frame 202 below the respective first arm 226 using similar means. In another embodiment, the first arm 226 may be coupled to the respective side member 210 at a different location than the support 204. Other embodiments of the actuator bracket 206 may have one, three, or more arms.

[0026] The actuator brackets 206 may also be coupled to the actuator 1 06. Both the first arm 226 and second arm 228 of each actuator bracket 206 may be coupled to a common location 232 as shown in Figure 2. A single bolt or pin assembly 234 may couple the two actuator brackets 206 to the actuator 1 06 and allow the actuator brackets 206 to rotate. In another embodiment, the first arms 226 may be rotatably coupled to the actuator 1 06 at a first common location 232 and the second arms 228 may be rotatably coupled to the actuator 106 at a second common location (not shown).

[0027] Other embodiments of the adjustable wall mount assembly 102 may include an upper support bracket instead of or in addition to the lower support bracket 208. The upper support bracket may be similar in construction to the lower support bracket 208 and be positioned above the actuator brackets 206. In such embodiments, the upper support bracket may be rotatably coupled to the actuator 106 at location 232 and the actuator brackets 206 may be coupled to the actuator 106 at a common location below the upper support bracket, such as location 236.

[0028] Referring now to Figure 3, with continued reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of an actuator 1 06, as may be used in the embodiment of Figure 1 . In the example embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the actuator 1 06 is a hydraulic cylinder 302 that includes a handle 304, an outer cylinder 306, an inner rod 308, and a height indicator 310. Other embodiments of the actuator 1 06 may use a worm gear, pneumatic cylinder, or other similar device that can extend to raise or lower the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal 1 00.

[0029] The handle 304 may include a grip 312 and a shaft 31 4 that includes a bend. Other embodiments of the handle 304 may omit the grip 31 2, the bend, or both. The handle 304 may be removably coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 302 using a pin assembly 31 6, as shown in Figure 3. In another embodiment, the handle 304 may be coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 302 using a bolt or permanently fixed to the hydraulic cylinder 302. The hydraulic cylinder 302 may be configured to extend when the handle 304 is rotated in one direction and retract when the handle 304 is rotated in the opposite direction. Other embodiments of the actuator 1 06 may extend or retract when the handle 304 is pulled at an angle or the handle 304 is pumped.

[0030] The hydraulic cylinder 302 may include a height gauge 31 8 on the exterior of the outer cylinder 306. The height gauge 318 may be a sticker adhered to the outer cylinder 306. In other embodiments, the height gauge 31 8 may be painted onto the outer cylinder 306 or etched into the outer cylinder 306. The hydraulic cylinder 304 may further include a tube 320 coupled to the outer cylinder 306 through welding or other similar means. The tube 320 may receive a bolt or pin to couple the hydraulic cylinder 302 to the lower support bracket 208 while still allowing rotation of the hydraulic cylinder 302 and lower support bracket 208 about the bolt or pin.

[0031] The inner rod 308 may include an end retained by the outer cylinder 306. In at least one embodiment, the inner rod 308 may be a hollow cylinder with plates welded or otherwise coupled to each end. In other embodiments, the inner rod 308 may be solid. The inner rod 308 may further include a mounting bracket 322 having a plurality of through holes 324, as shown in Figure 3. The mounting bracket 322 may be coupled to the inner rod 308 using fasteners, welds, or other similar means.

[0032] The hydraulic cylinder 302 may also include the height indicator 31 0. The height indicator 310 may have a mounting bracket 326 that aligns with the mounting bracket 322 of the inner rod 308. In other embodiments, the height indicator 31 0 may be coupled to the mounting bracket 322 or the inner rod 308 using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The edge 328 of the height indicator 310 may be positioned such that the height of the wall- mounted basketball goal 1 00 is indicated on height gauge 318.

[0033] The actuator 106 may further include a second tube 330 that may be inserted into the plurality of holes 324 on the mounting bracket 322 of the inner rod 308. The tube 330 may receive a bolt or pin to couple the hydraulic cylinder 302 to the actuator brackets 206 while still allowing rotation of the hydraulic cylinder 302 and actuator brackets 206 about the bolt or pin. The height indicator 310 may also be retained between the actuator brackets 206 by the bolt or pin. [0034] With continued reference to Figures 1 , 2, and 3, Figure 4 illustrates the backboard frame 1 10 and the adjustable wall mount assembly 102 of Figure 1 from the obverse perspective. In the exemplary embodiment, the supports 204 and lower support bracket 208 are coupled to the backboard frame 1 10 using bolts, as indicated in phantom lines 402. The bolts may allow for rotational movement of the backboard frame 1 1 0. Other embodiments of the wall-mounted basketball goal 1 00 may use pin assemblies in place of the bolts.

[0035] The supports 204 may be coupled to tabs 404. The tabs 404 may be coupled to the side members 1 18 of the backboard frame 1 1 0 using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The backboard frame 1 1 0 may also include a mounting bracket 406 that is coupled to the lower support bracket 208 using bolts or pins. The mounting bracket 406 may be coupled to the backboard frame 1 1 0 using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The mounting bracket 406 may also be used to mount the rim assembly 1 26.

[0036] In operation, the actuator 1 06 may be extended to lower the adjustable, wall- mounted basketball goal 1 00 and retracted to raise the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal 1 00. Other embodiments of the adjustable , wall-mounted basketball goal 100 may be configured to raise the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal 1 00 as the actuator 106 is extended, and retract the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal 100 as the actuator 1 06 is retracted. Relative movement at the points 408 permit the lower support bracket 208 and supports 204 to move relative to the frame 202 as the actuator 1 06 raises or lowers the backboard 1 04. Similarly, relative movement at the points 410 permit the lower support bracket 208 and supports 204 to move relative to the backboard 104 and maintain the backboard 104 in its proper orientation. In the exemplary embodiment, the handle 304 may be removed after the adjustable wall-mounted basketball goal 1 00 reaches the desired height to prevent damage to the actuator 106.

[0037] The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] Additionally, the description herein usesterms such as lower', 'upper", etc., that are relative in nature. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that these terms are used relative to the orientation of an adjustable wall mount assembly in use with a backboard, as in, for example, Figure 1 .