[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Utility Patent Application having Serial No. 15/840,356, which was filed December 13. 201 7 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Serial No. 62/477,006, which was filed March 27, 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 typically have a rim mounted to a backboard. It has become quite common for players to leap and "dunk" a basketball directly through the rim rather than shoot from the floor. Players occasionally grab the rim and hold onto it. This sometimes leads to structural failure of the rim, the backboard, or both. Such structural failures can require significant downtime in the game or practice as the rim and/or the backboard is replaced. Some clean-up is also occasionally warranted, especially when the backboard shatters and the pieces fall onto the court.

[0003] There have been several attempts to mitigate these types of occurrences. For example, some basketball goals include what are known as "breakaway rims". These rims deform in a controlled fashion to absorb energy and keep it from being transferred to the backboard. They then return to their original shape and position afterwards so that play can quickly resume. However, the art is always accepting of further advances relative to this problem and so the presently disclosed technique will be well received.

[0004] Embodiments of the disclosure provides a basketball goal. The basketball goal includes a stand, a backboard, a mounting assembly, and a rim. The backboard has a cutout. The mounting assembly includes a lower extension arm, a pair of upper extension arms, a mounting plate, and a mounting frame. Each upper extension arm has a first end coupled to the lower extension arm and a second end coupled to the backboard. The mounting plate has a front surface and a back surface. The back surface of the mounting plate is affixed to an end of the lower extension arm. The mounting frame is affixed to the mounting plate and defines a channel into which a bottom edge of the backboard is fitted with the cutout around the mounting plate. A front surface of the backboard is flush with the front surface of the mounting plate. The rim is affixed to the front surface of the mounting plate through the cutout in the backboard. [0005] Embodiments of the disclosure further provides a mounting assembly for a basketball goal. The mounting assembly includes a lower extension arm, a first upper extension arm, a second upper extension arm, a mounting plate, and a mounting frame. The first upper extension arm has a first end and a second end. The first end of the first upper extension arm is coupled to the lower extension arm, and the second end of the first upper extension arm extends to a first side of the mounting assembly. The second upper extension arm has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second upper extension arm is coupled to the lower extension arm, and the second end of the second upper extension arm extends to a second side of the mounting assembly. The mounting plate has a front surface and a back surface. The back surface of the mounting plate is affixed to an end of the lower extension arm. The front surface of the mounting plate is spaced from the back surface such that the front surface is flush with a backboard when the backboard is mounted. The mounting frame is affixed to the mounting plate with the mounting frame defining a channel into which the backboard is fitted when the backboard is mounted.

[0006] Embodiments of the disclosure further provides a basketball goal. The basketball goal includes a stand having a base, a mounting assembly coupled to the stand, a backboard, and a hinge coupled to the base. The mounting assembly includes a lower extension arm, a first upper extension arm, a second upper extension arm, a mounting plate, and a mounting frame. The first upper extension arm has a first end and a second end. The first end of the first upper extension arm is coupled to the lower extension arm, and the second end of the first upper extension arm extends to a first side of the mounting assembly. The second upper extension arm has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second upper extension arm is coupled to the lower extension arm, and the second end of the second upper extension arm extends to a second side of the mounting assembly. The mounting plate has a front surface and a back surface. The back surface of the mounting plate is affixed to an end of the lower extension arm. The mounting frame is affixed to the mounting plate and defines a channel. The backboard has a bottom edge fitted in the channel of the mounting frame. The backboard defines a cutout positioned parallel to the front surface of the mounting plate. The backboard includes a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second end of the first upper extension arm on the first side of the mounting assembly. The second side is coupled to the second end of the second upper extension arm on the second side of the mounting assembly. The hinge is coupled to the base such that the stand and the lower extension arm may be tilted to permit the backboard to slide into the mounting frame.

[0007] Embodiments of the disclosure further provides a method of mounting a backboard. The method includes affixing a lower extension arm to a stand. The method also includes coupling a pair of upper extension arms to the lower extension arm . Each upper extension arm has a first end coupled to the lower extension arm and a second end coupled to the backboard. The method further includes affixing a back surface of a mounting plate to an end of the lower extension arm and affixing a mounting frame to the mounting plate. The method also includes sliding the backboard into the mounting frame with a cutout in the backboard mating with a front surface of the mounting plate. The method further includes affixing a rim to the front surface of the mounting plate through the cutout in the backboard.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] 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.

[0009] Figure 1 illustrates a basketball goal having a stand, a backboard, a mounting assembly, and a rim in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention in a perspective, assembled view from the front of the basketball goal with the backboard exploded from the mounting frame to better reveal a cutout.

[0010] Figure 2 illustrates the basketball goal of Figure 1 from a perspective, assembled view from the rear of the basketball goal.

[0011] Figure 3 illustrates the relationship of a mounting plate, a mounting frame, a backboard, and a rim in the basketball goal of Figure 1 from the front of the basketball goal.

[0012] Figure 4A depicts the tilting mechanism of the stand of Figure 1 as may be found in some embodiments and omitted in others.

[0013] Figure 4B illustrates a perspective, assembled view of the stand of Figure 1 in a vertical position with the installation brace removed. [0014] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, the drawings illustrate specific embodiments herein described in detail by way of example. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Detailed Description

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates one particular embodiment of a basketball goal 100 in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention in a perspective, assembled view from the front of the basketball goal 100 with a backboard 1 04 exploded from a mounting frame 1 18 to better reveal a cutout 134. This particular embodiment comprises a stand 1 02, the backboard 1 04 having a cutout 1 34, a mounting assembly 1 14, and a rim 1 20. The mounting assembly 1 14 comprises a lower extension arm 108, a plurality of fasteners 1 10a-1 1 0f (e.g., bolts and brackets in the illustrated embodiment), a pair of upper extension arms 1 1 2a, 1 1 2b, a mounting plate 1 16, and a mounting frame 1 1 8.

[0018] Referring now to Figure 2, with continued reference to Figure 1 , Figure 2 illustrates a perspective, assembled view from the rear of the goal. The mounting assembly 1 14 is coupled to the stand 102 at a fixed height using a plurality of fasteners 1 1 0a. The mounting assembly 1 1 4 includes the pair of upper extension arms 1 1 2a, 1 1 2b coupled to the lower extension arm 108 using the plurality of fasteners 1 10b, 1 10c. The pair of upper extension arms 1 12a, 1 1 2b are coupled to the lower extension arm 108 at first ends 1 22a, 122b via the plurality of fasteners 1 10b, 1 1 0c. The pair of upper extension arms 1 1 2a, 1 1 2b are coupled to the backboard 104 at second ends 1 24a, 124b via the plurality of fasteners 1 10d, 1 1 0e. In other embodiments, the mounting assembly 1 1 4 may include one or more arms than the two upper extension arms 1 12a, 1 1 2b.

[0019] The first upper extension arm 1 12a has the first end 1 22a coupled to the lower extension arm 1 08 via the plurality of fasteners 1 1 0b. The first upper extension arm 1 1 2a has the second end 124a, which extends to a first side 125a of the mounting assembly 1 14. The second upper extension arm 1 12b has the first end 122b coupled to the lower extension arm 108 via the plurality of fasteners 1 1 0c. The second upper extension arm 1 12b has the second end 124b, which extends to a second side 125b of the mounting assembly 1 1 4. In alternative embodiments, the plurality of fasteners 1 1 0b, 1 1 0c may be omitted and the pair of upper extension arms 1 1 2a, 1 1 2b may be coupled to the lower extension arm 108 through welding or any other suitable technique known to the art.

[0020] The mounting plate 1 16 has a front surface 126, best shown in Figure 2, and a back surface 1 28, best shown in Figure 1 . The back surface 1 28 of the mounting plate 1 16 is affixed to an end 1 30 of the lower extension arm 108 using the plurality of fasteners 1 10f. Other embodiments may affix the mounting plate 1 1 6 to the end 130 of the lower extension arm 108 in other ways, however, using any suitable technique known to the art. The mounting frame 1 1 8 is affixed to the mounting plate 1 16. The mounting frame 1 18 defines a channel 132 into which a bottom edge 1 36 of the backboard 1 04 is fitted with the cutout 134 around the mounting plate 1 1 6.

[0021] The backboard 104 has a first side 1 38 and a second side 1 40. The first side 138 of the backboard 1 04 is coupled to the second end 124a of the first upper extension arm 1 12a on the first side 1 25a of the mounting assembly 1 1 4. The second side 1 40 of the backboard 1 04 is coupled to the second end 124b of the second upper extension arm 1 12b on the second side 1 25b of the mounting assembly 1 1 4. In alternative embodiments, the second ends 124a, 124b of the first upper extension arms 1 1 2a, 1 1 2b may be coupled to the backboard 104 on different ends of the same side of the backboard 1 04.

[0022] A front surface 1 42 of the backboard 104 is flush with the front surface 1 26 of the mounting plate 1 1 6. The rim 120 is affixed to the front surface 126 of the mounting plate 1 16 through the cutout 1 34 in the backboard 104. The backboard 104 may be made of a material such as glass, tempered glass, plexiglass, or polycarbonate.

[0023] Referring now to Figure 3, with continued reference to Figure 1 , Figure 3 illustrates the relationship of the mounting plate 1 1 6, the mounting frame 1 1 8, the backboard 1 04, and the rim 120. The mounting frame 1 18 is affixed to the mounting plate 1 1 6. The mounting frame 1 1 8 has a front lip 302 and a back lip 304. The channel 1 32 extends between the front lip 302 and the back lip 304. The cutout 1 34 in the backboard 104 is matched to a shape and dimensions of the mounting plate 1 1 6. The front surface 1 42 of the backboard 1 04 is flush with the front surface 126 of the mounting plate 1 18. The rim 1 20 is affixed to the front surface 126 of the mounting plate 1 1 6 through the cutout 1 34 in the backboard 104.

[0024] Referring now to Figure 4A, with continued reference to Figure 1 , the illustrated embodiment includes a hinge 402 by which the basketball goal 100 may be tilted . The hinge 402 is disposed on an anchor plate 404, which is anchored to the ground through a concrete mount 406. The hinge 402 is coupled to a base 408 of the stand 102. The hinge 402 is defined by a hinge bolt 41 0 that extends through hinge leaves 41 2 coupled to a base plate 414 and the base 408 of the stand 1 02. Rotation on the hinge 402 defined by the hinge bolt 410 secured by a hinge nut 41 6 may allow for tilting the stand 102.

[0025] As shown in Figure 4A, the stand 1 02 is tilted to lower the mounting frame 1 18 to facilitate fitting the bottom edge 1 36 of the backboard 1 04 into the mounting frame 1 1 8. An installation brace 418 is configured to provide stability of the stand 1 02 while in a tilted position. The installation brace 41 8 has a first end 420 removably coupled to the base plate 414. The installation brace 418 has a second end 422 removably coupled to the anchor plate 404. A brace pin 424 extends through the second end 422 of the installation brace 41 8 and tubes 426a, 426b disposed on the anchor plate 404. The installation brace 418 and the brace pin 424 are removed when the stand 102 is vertical (best shown in Figure 4B).

[0026] A plurality of bolts 428 are coupled to the base plate 414 by which the basketball goal 100 is secured to the concrete mount 406. The plurality of bolts 428 are secured by their heads 430 to the anchor plate 404. When the stand 1 02 is vertical (best shown in Figure 4B), threaded stems 432 of the plurality of bolts 428 fit through openings 434 in the base plate 414, where the threaded stems 432 can then be secured by bolts 428 to the base plate 414. Rotation of the head 430 of the plurality of bolts 428 may allow for leveling the stand 1 02 after the stand 1 02 is returned to a vertical position. In alternative embodiments, the hinge 402, the plurality of bolts 428, or both may be omitted.

[0027] Accordingly, once the basketball goal 1 00 is installed, the installation may be tilted on the hinge 402 to facilitate fitting the backboard 1 04 into the channel 1 32 of the mounting frame 1 18. The installation brace 41 8 may be used to hold the installation in the titled position and stabilize it there while the fitting is performed. However, the hinge 402 may be omitted in some embodiments. For example, at some locations there may be some means, such as a scissors lift, by which the backboard can be lifted high enough to fit into the mounting frame 1 18. In such situations, the hinge 402 would be superfluous and, thus, omitted.

[0028] A method for mounting a backboard 104 includes affixing a lower extension arm 1 08 to a stand 102. The method also includes coupling a pair of upper extension arms 1 12a, 1 12b to the lower extension arm 1 08 with each upper extension arm 1 12a, 1 1 2b having a first end 1 22a, 1 22b coupled to the lower extension arm 108 and a second end 1 24a, 1 24b coupled to the backboard 104 via a plurality of fasteners 1 10d, 1 10e. The method further includes affixing a back surface 128 of a mounting plate 1 1 6 to an end 1 30 of the lower extension arm 108. The method also includes affixing a mounting frame 1 1 8 to the mounting plate 1 1 6. The method further includes sliding the backboard 104 into the mounting frame 1 18 with a cutout 134 in the backboard 104 mating with a front surface 1 26 of the mounting plate 1 16. The method also includes affixing a rim 1 20 to the front surface 1 26 of the mounting plate 1 1 6 through the cutout 134 in the backboard 1 04. The method further includes tilting the stand 1 02 to lower the mounting frame 1 1 8 to facilitate sliding the backboard 1 04 into the mounting frame 1 18, a hinge 402 being coupled to a base 408 of the stand 102. The method also includes leveling the stand 102 via a plurality of bolts 428 coupled to a base plate 41 4 of the base 408 when the stand 1 02 is in a vertical position.

[0029] 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.