Basketball Goals

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of basketball goal systems. One embodiment, among others, comprises a rim connection assembly coupled to a support structure, the rim connection assembly comprising a support plate coupled to a backboard frame, a rim, and a plurality of tubular members through which portions of the rim are inserted and from which the rim is secured to the support plate, wherein the plurality of tubular members are configured to maintain a gap between the goal rim and a substrate corresponding to the backboard frame.

1 . A basketball goal system, comprising: 
 a segmented upright frame, having a first segment and a second segment;    first and second upper backboard support members and a lower backboard support member;    a pivot structure;    a rim connection assembly; and    a backboard frame having a substrate,    wherein the first segment comprises a base having mounting apertures configured to receive a plurality of bolts that secure the first segment to a surface, the first segment having a screw jack coupled within the first segment, the screw jack having a gear and pin assembly, the screw jack having an adjustment member coupled to the gear and pin assembly to cause movement of the screw jack upon imposition of force to raise and lower the screw jack, the first segment coupled to a gas strut that moves in coordination with the screw jack, the pivot structure configured to enable a substantially constant overhang of the backboard frame throughout the range of movement of the screw jack.    
   
   
       2 . A basketball goal system, comprising: 
 an upright frame having a screw jack, the screw jack configured for a range of movement;    a pivot structure;    a gas strut coupled to the upright frame, the gas strut configured for a range of movement;    a basketball frame having opposing peripheral edges and a substrate;    first and second upper backboard support members pivotably coupled to the opposing peripheral edges of the basketball frame and pivotably coupled to the upright frame;    a lower backboard support member pivotably coupled to the upright frame, the pivot structure, and the screw jack, the lower backboard support member further coupled to the gas strut;    a rim connection assembly coupled to the pivot structure, the rim connection assembly comprising a support plate coupled to the backboard frame, a rim, and a plurality of tubular members through which portions of the rim are inserted and from which the rim is secured to the support plate, wherein the plurality of tubular members are configured to maintain a gap between the goal rim and the substrate.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the upright frame comprises a base having mounting apertures configured to receive a plurality of bolts, the bolts each having at least a ¾ inch diameter, for securing the upright frame to a surface.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of bolts each having at least a ¾ inch diameter.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the screw jack is internal to the upright frame.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a crank arm having a shear pin and a socket, wherein the socket is configured to be removably coupled to the screw jack for transferring forces between a user and the screw jack.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the shear pin has a failure threshold that is lower than a failure threshold for a pin in a gear and pin assembly of the screw jack.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the upright frame comprises a slot configured to enable reception and movement of a removable crank arm without binding of the crank arm to a surface of the slot during an entire range of the movement of the screw jack.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot structure is configured to enable movement of the rim from a height of 5½ feet from a surface to a height of 10 feet from a surface while maintaining a substantially constant overhang throughout movement of the rim.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second upper backboard support members and the lower backboard support member are configured in a V-configuration when viewed from a top view.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second upper backboard support members and the lower backboard support member together have a parallelogram configuration when viewed in a profile view.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second upper backboard support members and the lower backboard support member substantially maintain the parallelogram configuration throughout range of motion of the screw jack.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the upright frame comprises a bracket, the bracket having two side walls and a rear wall connected to the two side walls, the rear wall abutted adjacent the first segment, the second segment coupled to the first and second upper backboard support members and the lower backboard support member.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket has an edge that extends farther from the backboard frame than an edge of the non-bracket portion of the upright frame, wherein the lower backboard support member is pivotably coupled to the bracket at a pivot point, the pivot point extending beyond a vertical plane corresponding to the non-bracket portion of the upright frame.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a pin and a plurality of synthetic washers, wherein the lower backboard support member is pivotably coupled to a coupling mechanism of the screw jack using the pin and the plurality of synthetic washers, the synthetic washers disposed between each of two side walls of the bracket and the lower backboard support member.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket comprises a slot configured to receive a member that enables a fixed height configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower backboard support member is configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the screw jack and the first and second upper backboard support members are configured to move in response to the movement of the lower backboard support member.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot structure is configured to enable a substantially constant overhang throughout the range of movement of the screw jack.  
   
   
       19 . A basketball goal system, comprising: 
 a rim connection assembly coupled to a support structure, the rim connection assembly comprising a support plate coupled to a backboard frame, a rim, and a plurality of tubular members through which portions of the rim are inserted and from which the rim is secured to the support plate, wherein the plurality of tubular members are configured to maintain a gap between the goal rim and a substrate corresponding to the backboard frame.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the support structure comprises a support arm.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the support structure comprises a wall.