Retractable basketball goal

Abstract

A retractable basketball goal and methods of use are described. Embodiments of the retractable goal are configured to alternately retract into a garage for storage and to extend out of the garage through a garage door opening for use. Embodiments typically include an anchor assembly, a goal assembly including a backboard and rim, and a support boom linking the anchor assembly to the goal assembly. The anchor assembly typically anchors the retractable goal in a garage, where the anchor assembly resides just inside a garage door opening proximate a garage parking space. The retractable basketball goal typically includes a retracted configuration wherein the retractable goal resides entirely within a garage with the backboard disposed substantially horizontally, and an operational configuration, wherein the goal assembly resides outside the garage, with the backboard disposed vertically.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A retractable basketball goal comprising:
 a goal assembly including a basketball rim coupled to a backboard;   an anchor assembly coupled to the goal assembly, the anchor assembly being securely wedged in place between a garage floor and a garage ceiling;   a retracted configuration wherein the backboard is substantially horizontal and the retractable basketball goal is configured to reside entirely within a garage;   an operational configuration wherein the backboard is substantially vertical and the goal assembly is configured to reside outside the garage while the anchor assembly resides inside the garage; and   the anchor assembly remaining wedged in place during deployment and retraction.   
     
     
         2 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein the operational configuration further includes the rim residing at a height being adjustable in a range from 8 feet to 10 feet. 
     
     
         3 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein the goal assembly (i) resides at a clearance height in a range from 5 feet to 8 feet, inclusive, when in the retracted configuration, and (ii) is capable of maintaining a clearance height of at least 5.25 feet as the goal assembly deploys or retracts. 
     
     
         4 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 3 , wherein (i) the anchor assembly comprises a base and a tower, (ii) the base resides beneath and provides a stable platform for the tower, (iii) the tower is coupled to the base and projects upwardly therefrom, and (iv) a support boom is coupled to the tower and projects laterally therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein the goal assembly is configured to revolve at least 90° around the anchor assembly during deployment. 
     
     
         6 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable basketball goal further includes a backboard lift mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 6 , wherein the backboard lift mechanism is configured to raise the backboard from the substantially horizontal orientation to the substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 6 , wherein the backboard lift mechanism includes:
 a lift bracket;   a pair of backboard struts each including a first end and a second end, the first ends of the pair of backboard struts being rotatably coupled to the lift bracket;   the second ends of the pair of backboard struts being pivotably coupled to an upper portion of the backboard;   a swingarm pivotably coupled to the lift bracket; and   a lift line coupled to the swingarm.   
     
     
         9 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable basketball goal further includes a support boom that (i) couples the goal assembly to the anchor assembly, and (ii) is pivotably coupled to the anchor assembly and capable of rotating substantially horizontally around the pivotable coupling. 
     
     
         10 . The retractable basketball goal of  claim 9 , wherein the support boom includes a first boom arm and a second boom arm, the second boom arm being precisely parallel to the first boom arm. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a basketball goal comprising:
 deploying a retractable basketball goal from a retracted configuration to an operational configuration, the retractable basketball goal including:
 a goal assembly including a basketball rim coupled to a backboard; 
 an anchor assembly coupled to the goal assembly, the anchor assembly being securely wedged in place between a garage floor and a garage ceiling inside a garage; 
 the retracted configuration wherein the backboard is substantially horizontal and the retractable basketball goal is configured to reside entirely within a garage; 
 the operational configuration wherein the backboard is substantially vertical and the goal assembly is configured to reside outside the garage while the anchor assembly resides inside the garage; and 
 the anchor assembly remaining wedged in place during deployment and retraction. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the garage includes a garage door opening at least 7.0 feet wide and at least 7.0 feet tall, and a garage parking space residing inside the garage and immediately adjacent to the garage door opening, the garage parking space being at least 5.0 feet tall, 7.0 feet wide, and extending at least 15 feet into the garage perpendicular to the garage door opening; and   the anchor assembly resides outside the garage parking space.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said deploying further comprises:
 revolving the goal assembly at least 90° around the anchor assembly;   passing the goal assembly over the garage parking space; and   passing the goal assembly through the garage door opening.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the retractable basketball goal further includes a height adjustment mechanism; and   said deploying further comprises, with the height adjustment mechanism residing inside the garage, using the height adjustment mechanism to adjust the goal assembly to a rim height of between 8.0 feet and 10 feet.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the retractable basketball goal further includes a backboard lift mechanism; and   said deploying further comprises operating the backboard lift mechanism from inside the garage to raise the backboard from a substantially horizontal orientation to a precisely vertical orientation.