Adjustable basketball goal

Abstract

A basketball goal assembly has an outer support pole extending vertically upward from a base. An inner pole is telescopically arranged within the outer support pole. A basketball backboard assembly having a backboard and a rim extends from an upper end of the inner pole. A series of tracking blocks are secured to the inner pole. Each tracking block protrudes from the inner pole to bear against an inner surface of the outer support pole. The blocks rigidly hold the inner pole at a spaced lateral distance from the outer support pole while allowing the inner pole to travel vertically relative to the outer support pole. An actuator is operable to telescopically raise and lower the inner pole relative to the outer pole.

1 . A basketball goal assembly comprising:
 a. an outer support pole with a length extending vertically upward from a base and defining a hollow interior cross-section defining a vertical passage with interior surfaces;   b. an inner pole with a length and outer surfaces, the inner pole defining a cross-section arranged telescopically within the vertical passage;   c. a backboard and a rim extending from an upper end of the inner pole;   d. a plurality of tracking blocks mounted to the inner pole, wherein the tracking blocks extend from the inner pole to bear against the interior surfaces of the vertical passage, and wherein the blocks rigidly hold the outer surfaces of the inner pole at a spaced lateral distance from the interior surfaces of the outer support pole while allowing the inner pole to travel vertically relative to the outer support pole; and   e. an actuator connected between the outer pole and inner pole which is operable to telescopically raise and lower the inner pole relative to the outer pole, wherein the tracking blocks slide vertically along the interior surfaces of the vertical passage.   
     
     
         2 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking blocks are spaced around a perimeter of the inner pole. 
     
     
         3 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tracking blocks include a series of upper tracking blocks at a first height and a series of lower tracking blocks at a second height. 
     
     
         4 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking blocks are nestably mounted within the inner pole and protrude beyond the outer surfaces of the inner pole. 
     
     
         5 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a series of cross-brackets nested in the inner pole;   wherein each cross-bracket is mounted flush with an outer surface of the inner pole; and   wherein the tracking blocks are mounted to the cross-brackets.   
     
     
         6 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer support pole comprises a framing arrangement mounted in the interior of the vertical passage, wherein the framing arrangement includes an opposing pair of U-shaped sections, wherein the U-shaped sections are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other with open ends facing each other, wherein each tracking block bears against at least one inner surface of a U-shaped section, and wherein the inner surfaces of the U-shaped section are the interior surfaces of the vertical passage. 
     
     
         7 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tracking blocks abut the U-shaped sections to rigidly hold the inner pole at a spaced lateral distance from the U-shaped sections. 
     
     
         8 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow interior cross-section of the outer support pole is rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking blocks are composed of polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer support pole comprises a framing arrangement mounted in the interior of the vertical passage, wherein the framing arrangement includes a C-shaped sleeve, wherein the C-shaped sleeve is a single piece of material extending around a majority of the inner pole, and wherein the tracking blocks bear against inner surfaces of the C-shaped sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inner pole is rectangular, and wherein the C-shaped sleeve extends around at least a portion of all four sides of the inner pole. 
     
     
         12 . A basketball goal assembly comprising:
 a. an outer support pole with a length extending vertically upward from a base and defining a hollow interior cross-section defining a vertical passage with interior surfaces;   b. an inner pole with a length and outer surfaces, the inner pole defining a cross-section arranged telescopically within the vertical passage;   c. a backboard and a rim extending from an upper end of the inner pole;   d. a first series of tracking blocks extending from the inner pole at a first height;   e. a second series of tracking blocks extending from the inner pole at a second height;   f. wherein each tracking block bears against an interior surface of the vertical passage, and wherein the first series and second series of tracking blocks rigidly hold the outer surfaces of the inner pole at a spaced lateral distance from the interior surfaces of the outer support pole; and   g. an actuator connected between the outer pole and inner pole which is operable to telescopically raise and lower the inner pole relative to the outer pole, wherein the tracking blocks slide vertically along the interior surfaces of the vertical passage.   
     
     
         13 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner pole is rectangular, and wherein the first series of tracking blocks and the second series of tracking blocks extend from all four sides of the inner pole. 
     
     
         14 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the outer support pole comprises a framing arrangement mounted in the interior of the vertical passage, wherein the framing arrangement includes an opposing pair of U-shaped sections, wherein the U-shaped sections are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other with open ends facing each other, wherein each tracking block bears against at least one inner surface of a U-shaped section, and wherein the inner surfaces of the U-shaped section are the interior surfaces of the vertical passage. 
     
     
         15 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the hollow interior cross-section of the outer support pole is rectangular. 
     
     
         16 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the outer support pole comprises a framing arrangement mounted in the interior of the vertical passage, wherein the inner pole is rectangular, and wherein the framing arrangement includes a single piece of material extending around at least a portion of all four sides of the inner pole. 
     
     
         17 . A basketball goal assembly comprising:
 a. an outer support pole with a length extending vertically upward from a base and defining a hollow rectangular interior cross-section defining a vertical passage;   b. a liner with interior surfaces arranged within the vertical passage;   c. an inner pole with a length and outer surfaces, the inner pole defining a rectangular cross-section arranged telescopically within the vertical passage;   d. a backboard and a rim extending from an upper end of the inner pole; and   e. a plurality of tracking blocks, wherein each tracking block extends from the inner pole to bear against at least one interior surface of the liner, and wherein the blocks rigidly hold the inner pole at a spaced lateral distance from the liner while allowing the inner pole to travel vertically relative to the outer support pole.   
     
     
         18 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of tracking blocks are spaced around a perimeter of the inner pole. 
     
     
         19 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of tracking blocks include a series of upper tracking blocks at a first height and a series of lower tracking blocks at a second height. 
     
     
         20 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a series of cross-brackets nested in the inner pole;   wherein the tracking blocks are mounted to the cross-brackets; and   wherein each cross-bracket is mounted flush with an outer surface of the inner pole.   
     
     
         21 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the liner includes an opposing pair of U-shaped sections, wherein the U-shaped sections are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other with open ends facing each other, wherein each tracking block bears against at least one inner surface of a U-shaped section, and wherein the inner surfaces of the U-shaped section are the interior surfaces of the liner. 
     
     
         22 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the liner is a C-shaped sleeve, wherein the C-shaped sleeve is a single piece of material extending around a majority of the inner pole. 
     
     
         23 . The basketball goal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the inner pole is rectangular, and wherein the liner is a rectangular sleeve extending around at least a portion of all four sides of the inner pole.