Method of constructing a basketball backboard

Abstract

A basketball backboard assembly and a method of making the backboard assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a backboard frame structure and an acrylic backboard which are bonded together with a suitable elastomeric adhesive, providing adequate adhesion and flexibility. The elastomeric adhesive has a bond gap in the range from 2 to 2.5 mm. The adhesive is catalyzed to provide control of the set time in the range from about 5 minutes to 1 hour. A plurality of bond gap spacers are located between the frame bonding surface and the backboard bonding surface to provide the bond gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a basketball backboard assembly for a residential basketball system, the basketball backboard assembly comprising an at least substantially clear basketball backboard bonded to a basketball backboard frame by an adhesive, the basketball backboard assembly for a residential basketball system resembling a professional basketball backboard, the method comprising:
 dispensing an uncured liquid adhesive;   sandwiching the uncured liquid adhesive between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame; and   allowing the adhesive to cure to bond the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the uncured liquid adhesive to the basketball backboard by robotic equipment and placing the basketball backboard frame so that the adhesive is disposed between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the uncured liquid adhesive to the basketball backboard frame by robotic equipment and placing the basketball backboard so that the adhesive is disposed between the basketball backboard frame and the basketball backboard. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the uncured liquid adhesive to a bonding surface of the basketball backboard by robotic equipment and placing the basketball backboard frame so that the adhesive is disposed between the bonding surface of the basketball backboard and a bonding surface of the basketball backboard frame. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the uncured liquid adhesive to a bonding surface of the basketball backboard frame by robotic equipment and placing the basketball backboard so that the adhesive is disposed between the bonding surface of the basketball backboard frame and a bonding surface of the basketball backboard. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility and adhesion to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and
 wherein the cured adhesive provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the basketball backboard, the printed image providing surface preparation such that a separate surface preparation step is not necessary. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on a bonding surface of the basketball backboard, the printed image providing surface preparation such that a separate surface preparation step is not necessary. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the basketball backboard. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a printed image on the basketball backboard, at least a portion of the printed image disposed between the adhesive and the basketball backboard. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a bond gap between the basketball backboard frame and the basketball backboard, the bond gap in the range of about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm (about 0.08 inch and about 0.1 inch). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed adhesive to decrease cure time and provide an optimum set time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a silicone adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a silicone elastomeric adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed silicon elastomeric adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a two-part adhesive including a separate catalyst. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from acrylic. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from a polymer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from a composite material. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from acrylic;
 wherein the basketball backboard frame is constructed from metal;   wherein the adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the acrylic basketball backboard and the metal basketball backboard frame to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and   wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from a polymer;
 wherein the basketball backboard frame is constructed from metal;   wherein the adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard and the metal basketball backboard frame to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and   wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from acrylic;
 wherein the basketball backboard frame is constructed from metal;   wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the acrylic basketball backboard and the metal basketball backboard frame to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and   wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from a polymer;
 wherein the basketball backboard frame is constructed from metal;   wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the acrylic basketball backboard and the powder coated surface to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and   wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from acrylic;
 wherein the basketball backboard frame is constructed from metal;   wherein the adhesive is a silicone elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard and the metal basketball backboard frame to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and   wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from a polymer;
 wherein the basketball backboard frame is constructed from metal;   wherein the adhesive is a silicone elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard and the powder coated surface to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball; and   wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard assembly to be used for playing the game of basketball.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive includes at least one of the following ingredients: dimethylpolysiloxane, N-propylsilicate, aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and/or 1, 3, 5-tris (trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanurate) as an ingredient.