Bracing system for basketball load-support system

Abstract

An improvement in a mast stiffening system for providing improved support to a mast system for use to support a basketball equipment assembly typically used to suspend a basketball backboard and basket of the type commonly used in a gymnasium building. A mast bracing system co-planar with the centerline of the mast is provided. A vibration reduction system to reduce vibratory and sound transmission during basketball play is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A mast stiffening system for providing improved support from a vertical mast, having a longitudinal center axis and an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter; being supported by a horizontal mast, on top of and perpendicular to said vertical mast, of a basketball equipment assembly comprising, in combination: 
 a) at least one first attachment structured and arranged to firmly attach at least one portion of the outer perimeter to the horizontal mast;    b) at least one bracer structured and arranged to brace the horizontal mast to the vertical mast;    c) at least one second attachment structured and arranged to attach said bracer to the horizontal mast; and    d) at least one third attachment structured and arranged to attach said bracer to the vertical mast;    e) wherein at least one first transverse edge of the horizontal mast is essentially in alignment with at least one point of the outer perimeter of the vertical mast; and    f) wherein the longitudinal center axis of the vertical mast, said second attachment, and said third attachment all are situate in a single plane.    
     
     
         2 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one first attachment comprises at least one weld firmly joining at least one perimeter portion of a top portion of the vertical mast to at least one bottom portion of the horizontal mast.  
     
     
         3 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one bracer comprises at least two side braces, each respective said at least two side braces having an upper end and a lower end, extending from the horizontal mast to the vertical mast in a plane parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the vertical mast.  
     
     
         4 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 3  wherein the second attachment is further structured and arranged to firmly attach each said upper end of said at least two side braces to the horizontal mast.  
     
     
         5 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 4  wherein said third attachment is structured and arranged to firmly attach each said lower end of said at least two side braces to the vertical mast.  
     
     
         6 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 5  wherein said third attachment is structured and arranged to firmly attach each said lower end of said at least two side braces to the vertical mast.  
     
     
         7 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 6  wherein said at least two side braces are structured and arranged in a mirror image manner with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the vertical mast and opposed at 180 degrees to each other.  
     
     
         8 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 7  wherein a second transverse edge of the horizontal mast is essentially in alignment with a transverse edge of each respective brace.  
     
     
         9 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 4  wherein said second attachment comprises at least one weld.  
     
     
         10 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 5  wherein said third attachment comprises at least one weld.  
     
     
         11 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 3  wherein each respective said at least two side braces comprise a single straight rectangular-cross-section bar.  
     
     
         12 ) A mast stiffening system for providing improved support of a basketball equipment assembly comprising, in combination: 
 a) a vertical mast, having 
 i) an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter,  
 ii) a longitudinal center axis;  
   b) a horizontal mast, situate at the top of and perpendicular to said vertical mast;    c) at least two side braces, each having an upper end and a lower end, extending from said horizontal mast to said vertical mast in a single plane passing through said longitudinal center axis of said vertical mast;    d) at least one first attachment structured and arranged to firmly attach at least one portion of said outer perimeter to at least one portion of said horizontal mast;    e) at least one second attachment structured and arranged to attach at least one portion of each said upper end of said at least two side braces to at least one portion of said horizontal mast;    f) at least one third attachment structured and arranged to attach at least one portion of each said lower end of said at least two side braces to at least one portion of said vertical mast;    g) wherein a first transverse edge of said horizontal mast is essentially in alignment with at least one point of said outer perimeter of said vertical mast; and    h) wherein said longitudinal center axis of said vertical mast, said at least one second attachment, and said at least one third attachment all are situate in a single plane.    
     
     
         13 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least two side braces comprise two side braces that are situate to said longitudinal center axis of said vertical mast in a mirror image and 180 degrees to each other.  
     
     
         14 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 12  wherein a second transverse edge of said horizontal mast is essentially in alignment with a transverse edge of each respective said at least two side braces.  
     
     
         15 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one first attachment comprises at least one weld firmly joining to at least one portion of said outer perimeter of said vertical mast to at least one portion of a bottom portion of said horizontal mast.  
     
     
         16 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one second attachment is further structured and arranged to attach at least one portion of each said upper end of each respective said at least two side braces to at least one portion of said horizontal mast.  
     
     
         17 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one third attachment is structured and arranged to attach to at least one portion of each said lower end of each respective said at least two side braces to at least one portion of said vertical mast.  
     
     
         18 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 16  wherein said second attachment comprises at least one weld firmly joining each respective said upper end of each respective said at least two side braces to said horizontal mast.  
     
     
         19 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 17  wherein said third attachment comprises at least one weld firmly joining each respective said lower end of each respective said at least two side braces to the vertical mast.  
     
     
         20 ) The mast stiffening system according to  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a) a support structure comprising a plurality of attachment components structured and arranged to attach to said horizontal bar and support the basketball assembly;  
 b) a vibration reducing system for reducing vibration between said attachment components comprising 
 i) at least one vibration reducer structured and arranged to reduce vibration between said attachment components,  
 ii) wherein said at least one vibration reducer is placed between at least two of said attachment components;  
 iii) whereby vibration between said attachment component is reduced when the basketball assembly is used.  
 
 
     
     
         21 ) The system according to  claim 20  wherein said at least one vibration reducer is a sound reduction material having; 
 a) a thickness of about 0.04 inches,  
 b) a weight of about 0.5 pounds per square foot,  
 c) a sound transmission loss of about 19-30 decibels at about 1000 Hertz and about 34-44 decibels at a about a frequency of 6300 Hertz, and  
 d) an STC rating of about 19.  
 
     
     
         22 ) A vibration reducing system for reducing vibration between steel attachment components used to attach and suspend equipment from the ceiling structure of a building comprising, in combination: 
 a) a vibration reducer structured and arranged to reduce vibration between the steel attachment components; and    b) wherein said at least one vibration reducer is placed between at least two of said attachment components.