Game board mounting post and game board mounting post assembly

Abstract

A portable mounting post for securing a game board to a stationary structure is disclosed. The mounting post may include a support portion to attach the post to the structure and an opening and a groove to receive the mounting element; and a slotted portion positioned above the post support portion and having at least one slot at a top surface of the slotted portion, the at least one slot configured to receive and thereby to secure the attachment device mounted to the game board. A basketball backboard designed to be secured to a structure it is also disclosed. The backboard may have a pair of apertures extending from a front to a rear of the backboard and positioned on either side of a vertical center line and receiving a securing strap or a rigid member for securing the device to the structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game board mounting post configured to be attached, using a mounting element, to a load bearing object and configured to receive an attachment device attached to the game board, the mounting post comprising:
 a post support portion configured to attach the post to the load bearing object;   the post support portion having a longitudinal extent in use oriented vertically and having at least one of an opening and a groove positioned and configured to receive the mounting element; and   a slotted portion positioned above the post support portion and having at least one slot at a top surface of the slotted portion, the at least one slot configured to receive and thereby to secure the attachment device mounted to the game board.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting post of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot at the top surface of the slotted portion is configured to receive a clip attached to the game board. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting post of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the opening and the groove of the post support portion comprises a first opening, and a second opening positioned below and spaced from the first opening, the first opening and the second opening each extending horizontally through an entirety of the post support portion from a first side of the support portion to a second side of the post support portion. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting post of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first extension piece and a second extension piece,   each extension piece configured to be mounted to a side of the slotted portion and comprising at least one slot at a top surface of the respective extension piece, the at least one slot of the respective extension piece configured to receive and thereby to secure the attachment device mounted to the game board.   
     
     
         5 . The mounting post of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted portion has an extension member receiving slot positioned at the top surface, and the mounting post further comprising:
 an extension piece comprising a central connector thinner than laterally adjacent portions of the extension piece and configured to be mounted in the extension member receiving slot so as to secure the extension piece in the slotted portion.   
     
     
         6 . The mounting post of  claim 1 , further comprising the mounting element, wherein the mounting element is a strap. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting post of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting post defines a concave slot positioned at a center of the mounting post and extending along at least a majority of a longitudinal extent of the mounting post. 
     
     
         8 . A mounting kit comprising the mounting post of  claim 1 , and further comprising the attachment device. 
     
     
         9 . A mounting kit comprising the mounting post of  claim 1 , and further comprising the attachment device and the game board. 
     
     
         10 . A game board mounting post configured to be attached, using a mounting element, to a load bearing object and configured to receive an attachment device attached to the game board, the mounting post comprising:
 a post support portion configured to attach the post to the load bearing object;   the post support portion having a longitudinal extent in use oriented vertically and having at least one of an opening and a groove positioned and configured to receive the mounting element; and   a fastener receiving portion defining an aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the game board to the mounting post.   
     
     
         11 . The mounting post of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the opening and the groove is positioned on a front surface of the mounting post, the front surface being a side of the mounting post facing away and being parallel to a side of the mounting post facing the game board. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting post of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener receiving portion is configured to receive a rigid fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting post of  claim 10 , further comprising a basketball backboard and basketball hoop, the device configured to be secured to a structure behind the basketball backboard, the basketball backboard comprising:
 a first pair of apertures, each aperture extending from a front surface to a rear surface of the basketball backboard and positioned on either side of a vertical center line of the basketball backboard; and   each aperture configured to receive a securing strap extending between the apertures on the front surface of the basketball backboard for securing the device to the structure.   
     
     
         14 . The mounting post of  claim 10 , further comprising a basketball backboard and basketball hoop, the device configured to be secured to a structure behind the basketball backboard, the basketball backboard comprising:
 a first pair of apertures, each aperture extending from a front surface to a rear surface of the basketball backboard and positioned on either side of a vertical center line of the basketball backboard; and   each aperture configured to receive a securing strap extending between the apertures on the front surface of the basketball backboard for securing the device to the structure,   wherein the basketball backboard comprises a second pair of apertures positioned below and vertically aligned with the first pair of apertures, each aperture of the second pair of apertures extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the basketball backboard, and configured to receive a second securing strap extending between the pair of second apertures on the front surface of the basketball backboard for securing the device to the structure.   
     
     
         15 . The mounting post of  claim 10 , wherein each aperture includes a vertical slot configured to receive the strap, and a horizontal slot traversing the vertical slot configured to receive a male protruding member of a bracket. 
     
     
         16 . A device comprising a basketball backboard and basketball hoop, the device configured to be secured to a structure behind the basketball backboard, the basketball backboard comprising:
 a first pair of apertures, each aperture extending from a front surface to a rear surface of the basketball backboard and positioned on either side of a vertical center line of the basketball backboard; and   each aperture configured to receive a securing strap extending between the apertures on the front surface of the basketball backboard for securing the device to the structure.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the basketball backboard comprises a second pair of apertures positioned below and vertically aligned with the first pair of apertures, each aperture of the second pair of apertures extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the basketball backboard, and configured to receive a second securing strap extending between the pair of second apertures on the front surface of the basketball backboard for securing the device to the structure. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  in combination with a pair of brackets, each bracket configured to be positioned behind the basketball backboard and comprising two pairs of male protruding members, each male protruding member configured to extend through an aperture;
 each bracket comprising an L-shaped top portion configured to secure the bracket to the structure. 
 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein each male protruding member comprises a flange configured to project up along the front surface of the basketball backboard so as to secure the basketball backboard to the bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein each aperture includes a vertical slot configured to receive the strap, and a horizontal slot traversing the vertical slot configured to receive a male protruding member of a bracket.