Adjustable Basketball Device

Abstract

An adjustable basketball device includes a support, a backboard coupled to the support, a mounting structure coupled to the backboard, an adjustment mechanism movably coupled to the mounting structure, and an adjustable rim supported by the mounting structure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism. The adjustable rim is adjustable between a first configuration in which the rim defines an opening with a first diameter, and a second configuration in which the opening of the rim defines an opening with a second diameter different than the first diameter.

1 . An adjustable basketball assembly, comprising:
 a support;   a backboard coupled to the support;   a mounting structure coupled to the backboard;   an adjustment mechanism movably coupled to the mounting structure; and   an adjustable rim supported by the mounting structure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism, the adjustable rim includes a body portion with a first end portion and a second end portion, each of the first end portion and the second end portion being inserted into the mounting structure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism, the adjustable rim being adjustable between a first configuration in which the rim defines an opening with a first diameter and a second configuration in which the opening of the rim has a second diameter different than the first diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a knob that is rotatably supported by the mounting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the knob extends outwardly from the mounting structure and includes a gripping area configured to be gripped by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an actuator with an engagement surface, the engagement surface being configured to engage the first end portion to move the first end portion relative to the mounting structure. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a substantially cylindrical body, the engagement surface extends around the body and has a first projection and a second projection, at least one of the projections being engageable with the first end portion to move the first end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 4 , wherein an axis of rotation of the actuator is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the support. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure includes a first guide defining an opening and a second guide defining an opening, the first end portion of the rim being inserted into the opening of the first guide, and the second end portion of the rim being inserted into the opening of the second guide. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable basketball assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of the guides is pivotally mounted to the mounting structure. 
     
     
         9 . An adjustable rim for a basketball device, comprising
 a mounting structure defining a first opening and a second opening;   a rim body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the rim body being inserted into the first opening of the mounting structure, and the second end of the rim body being inserted into the second opening of the mounting structure, the rim body defining an opening having a diameter; and   an adjustment mechanism coupled to the mounting structure, the adjustment mechanism being configured to move the rim body relative to the mounting structure to change the diameter of the opening of the rim body.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable rim of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment mechanism engages the first end of the rim body and the second end of the rim body. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable rim of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a rotatably mounted actuator, the actuator being engaged with the first end of the rim body and the second end of the rim body. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable rim of  claim 11 , wherein rotation of the actuator in a first direction causes the diameter of the rim body opening to decrease, and rotation of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes the diameter of the rim body opening to increase. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustable basketball device, comprising:
 a backboard;   a mounting structure coupled to the backboard, the mounting structure including a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion;   a rim body including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being inserted into the first receiving portion, and the second end portion being inserted into the second receiving portion; and   a rotatable actuator engaged with the first end portion and the second end portion, the rotatable actuator including an engagement portion, the engagement portion contacting the first end portion and the second end portion and configured to move the first end portion and the second end portion relative to each other.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement portion includes at least two projections and each of the end portions includes at least one projection, the at least two projections of the engagement portion being engaged with the at least one projection of each end portion during adjustment of the rim body. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting structure includes a body, the first receiving portion includes a first guide member pivotally coupled to the body of the mounting structure, and the second receiving portion includes a second guide member pivotally coupled to the body. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the guide members defines an opening into which one of the end portions is inserted. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable actuator includes a knob. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 17 , wherein the knob extends outwardly from the mounting structure and includes a gripping area configured to be gripped by a user. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator includes a substantially cylindrical body, the engagement portion extends around the body and has a first projection and a second projection, at least one of the projections being engageable with the first end portion to move the first end portion. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable basketball device of  claim 13 , wherein an axis of rotation of the actuator is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of a support to which the backboard is coupled.