Apparatus and method for a retractable basketball backboard and hoop assembly

Abstract

A basketball backboard and hoop apparatus including a basketball backboard and hoop assembly, wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly, further includes a backboard, and a hoop, a support arm for supporting the basketball backboard and hoop assembly, and a guiding device. The support arm is moveable along the guiding device. At least one of the support arm and the guiding device is curved in shape. The basketball backboard and hoop assembly is moved from a first position inside the structure to a second position outside the structure.

1 . A basketball backboard and hoop apparatus, comprising: 
 a basketball backboard and hoop assembly, wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly, further comprises: 
 a backboard; and  
 a hoop;  
   a support arm for supporting the basketball backboard and hoop assembly; and    a guiding device, wherein the support arm is moveable along the guiding device;    wherein at least one of the support arm and the guiding device is curved in shape, wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is moved from a first position inside the structure to a second position outside the structure.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is adjustable depending upon the amount of the support arm from the first position.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm is moved along the guiding device in an opposite direction, and further wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is moved from the second position to a stored position.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is deployed for outside use.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure further comprises: 
 at least one mounting element for mounting the guiding device to a structure.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is moved through a dedicated aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is deployed for indoor use.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the backboard is a foldable backboard.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a backboard support member, wherein the backboard support member deploys the backboard to an in-use position.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hoop deployment member, wherein the hoop deployment member deploys the hoop to an in-use position.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the backboard support member facilitates the folding of the backboard prior to storage.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one activation device for facilitating at least one of an automated deployment of the basketball backboard and hoop assembly to the second position and an automated retraction of the basketball backboard and hoop assembly to the first position.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one activation device is at least one of a motor, an electric motor, a garage door opener, a hydraulic device, a vacuum device, and a pneumatic device.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one activation device is activated by at least one of a switch, a remote control device, and a wireless device.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one activation device is activated by an automatic timer.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one activation device is activated by a sensor for sensing at least one of darkness, daylight, noise, infrared heat from a player, an impact against the basketball backboard or the apparatus, a breaking of a light beam, motion in the vicinity of the structure in which the apparatus is mounted or to which the apparatus is mounted, rainfall, snowfall, motion in the vicinity of the apparatus, rainfall, snowfall, and an environmental condition.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one mechanical device for facilitating at least one of a deployment of the backboard and hoop assembly to the second position and a retraction of the backboard and hoop assembly to the first position.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the apparatus, the basketball backboard and hoop assembly, and the support structure, is manufactured from at least one of metal, steel, wood, plastic, plastic composite material, metal alloy material, metal alloy composite material, and fiberglass.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the backboard is an unfoldable backboard.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one mounting support element for mounting the guiding device to a structure, wherein the at least one mounting support element adjusts an incline of at least one the guiding device and the support arm.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one mounting support element facilitates adjusting the height of the basketball backboard and hoop assembly.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one mounting support element is adjustable during deployment of the basketball backboard and hoop assembly.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the hoop is rotatably connected to the backboard and further wherein the hoop is automatically rotated to an in-use position.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a hinge device capable of rotating vertically and horizontally, wherein the hinge device connects the hoop to the backboard or to the support arm.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one mounting support element is at least one of adjusted and activated by at least one of the activation device and a second activation device.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one mounting support element is at least one of adjusted and activated using a manual device.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a coupling device for coupling the at least one activation device to the support arm;    a backboard support member for deploying the backboard to an in-use position; and    a hoop deployment member for deploying the hoop to an in-use position,    wherein the coupling device, the support arm, the backboard support member, and the hoop deployment member, are activated by the at least one activation device.    
   
   
       28 . A basketball backboard and hoop apparatus, comprising: 
 a basketball backboard and hoop assembly;    a support arm for supporting the basketball backboard and hoop assembly; 
 wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly, further comprises:  
 a backboard; and  
 a hoop;  
   a guiding device, wherein the support arm is moveable along the guiding device; and    an activation device for moving the support arm,    wherein at least one of the support arm and the guiding device is curved in shape, wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is moved from a first position inside the structure to a second position outside the structure.    
   
   
       29 . A basketball backboard and hoop apparatus, comprising: 
 a basketball backboard and hoop assembly;    a support arm for supporting the basketball backboard and hoop assembly; 
 wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly, further comprises:  
 a backboard; and  
 a hoop;  
   wherein the apparatus further comprises:    a guiding device, wherein the support arm is moveable along the guiding device;    wherein at least one of the support arm and the guiding device is curved in shape, wherein the basketball backboard and hoop assembly is moved from a first position inside the structure to a second position outside the structure.