Folding Basketball Goal

Abstract

The invention disclosed is a foldable basketball goal apparatus that when in the unfolded, active position, is usable as a basketball goal for playing the game of basketball. When in the folded, home position, the apparatus is usable as a sports table on which games may be played, picnics may be held, or other activities requiring a table can be carried out. The apparatus is made of a base, a frame assembly, and a basketball goal assembly. The basketball goal assembly is rotatably attached to one end of the frame assembly. The opposite end of the frame assembly is pivotally attached to the base. In the home position, the basketball goal assembly is rotated so that the back surface of the backboard acts as a table surface, creating a complete table surface when positioned next a partial table surface held by the frame assembly. The rim is protected between the frame assembly and base when in the home position. The frame assembly is pivoted between a generally horizontal orientation for use as a table, to a generally vertical position for use as a basketball goal.

1 . A basketball goal apparatus transitionable between an active position and a home position, comprising:
 a. a frame assembly supporting a partial table surface and having an upper end and a lower end;   b. a basketball goal assembly, comprising
 a backboard having a front playing surface and a back table surface; and 
 a rim attached to the front playing surface of the backboard, said basketball goal assembly rotatably connected to the upper end of the frame assembly so that the basketball goal assembly is rotatable between a closed position, wherein the front playing surface of the backboard is disposed against the frame assembly such that the back table surface and partial table surface are mated to form a complete table surface, and 
 an open position, wherein the rim is accessible for playing basketball; and 
   c. a base pivotally connected to the lower end of the frame assembly,   said apparatus home position comprising the basketball goal assembly oriented in the closed position and the frame assembly pivoted so that the partial table surface is generally horizontally disposed, with the base providing support to the frame assembly, and   said apparatus active position comprising the basketball goal assembly oriented in the open position and the frame assembly pivoted so that the partial table surface is generally vertically oriented, with the base acting as a counterweight to the frame assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The basketball goal apparatus of  claim 1 , the frame assembly further comprising a fixed portion to which the partial table surface is attached; and a telescoping portion to which the basketball goal assembly is rotatably connected for extending the length of the frame assembly relative to the rim and lower end. 
     
     
         3 . The basketball goal apparatus of  claim 2 , the frame assembly further comprising a foot portion comprising the lower end of the frame assembly and attached to the fixed portion, wherein the frame assembly is an L-shape, with the length of the foot portion determining the height of the complete table surface when the apparatus is in the home position. 
     
     
         4 . The basketball goal apparatus of  claim 1 , the base further comprising two benches attached to the base such that the frame assembly rests between them when in the home position. 
     
     
         5 . The basketball goal apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a hollow bench attached to the base with a removeable lid and providing storage space inside the hollow bench. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein wheels are provided allowing the apparatus to be moved across a hard surface to a desired location. 
     
     
         7 . The basketball goal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lifting mechanism connected to both the base and the frame assembly for reversibly lifting the frame assembly from the home position to the active position. 
     
     
         8 . A basketball goal system foldable between an active position and a home position, comprising:
 a. a frame assembly, comprising:
 a partial table surface; 
 an upper end and a lower end; 
 a fixed portion to which the partial table surface is attached; and 
 a telescoping portion for extending the length of the frame assembly, thereby determining goal height; 
   b. a basketball goal assembly, comprising:
 a backboard having a front playing surface and a back table surface; 
 a rim attached to the front playing surface of the backboard, said basketball goal assembly rotatably connected to the telescoping portion of the frame assembly so that the basketball goal assembly is rotatable between a closed position, wherein the front playing surface of the backboard is disposed against the frame assembly such that the back table surface and partial table surface are mated to form a complete table surface, and 
 an open position, wherein the rim is accessible for playing basketball. 
   c. a base pivotally connected to the lower end of the frame assembly at a pivot connection; and   d. a lifting mechanism connected to both the base and the frame assembly for reversibly lifting the frame assembly from the home position to the active position,   
       said apparatus home position comprising the basketball goal assembly oriented in the closed position and the frame assembly pivoted so that the partial table surface is generally horizontally disposed, with the base providing support to the frame assembly, and 
       said apparatus active position comprising the basketball goal assembly oriented in the open position and the frame assembly pivoted so that the partial table surface is generally vertically oriented, with the base acting as a counterweight to the frame assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The basketball goal system of  claim 8 , the lifting mechanism comprising:
 a. a linear actuator having an upper extendable end connected to the frame assembly at an upper connection point, and a lower end connected to the base at a lower connection point;   b. a motor; and   c. a power source.   
     
     
         10 . The basketball goal system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper connection point and lower connection point are positioned on the frame assembly and base, respectively, so that the linear actuator passes through a completely vertical position when traversing between the home and active positions to improve apparatus compactness when in the home position. 
     
     
         11 . The basketball goal system of  claim 8  wherein the height of the goal above the playing surface can be adjusted by extending telescoping an extendable frame portion from within a fixed frame portion. 
     
     
         12 . The basketball goal system of  claim 11 , further comprising an extending mechanism connected to the fixed portion and the telescoping portion of the frame assembly for reversibly extending the length of the frame assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The basketball goal system of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of the motive force necessary to transition the system between modes or to extend the frame is provided by one or more of an electric motor, an hydraulic cylinder, a winch and a spring. 
     
     
         14 . The basketball goal system of  claim 8 , the lifting mechanism comprising:
 a. a tension spring assembly provided at the pivot connection between the base and the frame assembly providing assistive force in the direction traveled by the frame assembly when traversing from the home position to active position;  and   b. a gas spring having an upper extendable end connected to the frame assembly at an upper connection point, and a lower end connected to the base at a lower connection point, said gas spring providing assistive force in the direction traveled by the frame assembly when traversing from the active position to home position.   
     
     
         15 . A basketball goal and table system foldable between modes of an active position and a home position, comprising:
 a. a frame assembly, comprising a rotatable goal assembly support frame, a base, frame support posts and a partial table surface;   b. a basketball goal assembly, comprising a backboard having a front playing surface and a back table surface with a rim attached to the front playing surface of the backboard, said basketball goal assembly further rotatably connected to goal assembly support frame so that the basketball goal assembly is rotatable between a closed position, wherein the front playing surface of the backboard is disposed against the frame assembly such that the back table surface and partial table surface are mated to form a complete table surface, and an open position, wherein the rim is accessible;   c. a base pivotally connected to the lower end of the goal assembly support frame at a pivot connection; wherein the rotatable goal assembly support frame can be rotated from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position,   said system home position comprising the basketball goal assembly oriented in the closed position and the frame assembly pivoted so that the partial table surface is generally horizontally disposed, with the base providing support to the frame assembly, and   said system active position comprising the basketball goal assembly oriented in the open position and the frame assembly pivoted so that the partial table surface is generally vertically oriented, with the base acting as a counterweight to the frame assembly, and the rim being positioned for playing basketball.   
     
     
         16 . The basketball goal and table system of  claim 15  wherein when the system is positioned in the apparatus home position, the rim is located approximately between the frame support posts. 
     
     
         17 . The basketball goal and table system of  claim 15  further comprising a lifting mechanism, comprising
 a. a tension spring assembly provided at the pivot connection between the base and the frame assembly providing assistive force in the direction traveled by the frame assembly when traversing from the home position to active position; and 
 b. a gas spring having an upper extendable end connected to the frame assembly at an upper connection point, and a lower end connected to the base at a lower connection point, said gas spring providing assistive force in the direction traveled by the frame assembly when traversing from the active position to home position; and 
 c. a fixed portion and a telescoping portion of the frame assembly, and an extending mechanism connected to the fixed portion and the telescoping portion of the frame assembly for reversibly extending the length of the frame assembly, 
 
     
     
         18 . The basketball goal and table system of  claim 17 , the extending mechanism further comprising a hydraulic linear actuator connected to the fixed portion and the telescoping portion of the frame assembly for reversibly extending the length of the frame assembly, wherein the hydraulic linear actuator is contained within the fixed portion of the frame so that it is not visible from the exterior. 
     
     
         19 . The basketball goal and table system of  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of the motive force necessary to transition the system between modes or to extend the frame assembly is provided by one or more of an electric motor, an hydraulic cylinder, a winch and a spring. 
     
     
         20 . The basketball goal and table system of  claim 15 , the base further comprising two benches attached to the base such that the basketball goal assembly rests between them when in the home position. 
     
     
         21 . The basketball goal apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an extending mechanism comprised of at least one electro-mechanical screw connected to the fixed portion and the telescoping portion of the frame assembly for reversibly extending the length of the frame assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The basketball goal system of  claim 12 , the extending mechanism further comprising at least one electro-mechanical screw. 
     
     
         23 . The basketball goal and table system of  claim 17 , the extending mechanism further comprising at least one electro-mechanical screw connected to the fixed portion and the telescoping portion of the frame assembly for reversibly extending the length of the frame assembly, wherein the at least one electro-mechanical screw is contained within the fixed portion of the frame so that it is not visible from the exterior.