Equipment for playing basketball

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of equipment for playing basketball, having a base equipped with two lateral structures forming a storage housing therebetween, and a post having a lower post section which can be stowed in a storage configuration in the housing. The post has an upper post section slidably mounted on the lower post section using an actuation system with a case fastened on a rear wall of the lower post section and an actuator mechanism for moving the upper post section which is housed in the case. The actuator mechanism has a handling socket which projects from the case. The housing is configured to receive the lower post section in the stowed configuration while preventing access to the socket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Equipment for playing basketball, comprising a base with two lateral structures defining a housing therebetween a post having an upper post section carrying a board on which a basketball hoop is mounted, the post also having a lower post section which is rotatably mounted on the base and adjustable between a stowed storage configuration in which at least the lower post section is disposed in the housing and an upright use configuration, the upper post section being slidably mounted on the lower post section, an actuating system configured to move the upper post section between a retracted storage position and at least one projecting position corresponding to a height of use, the actuation system comprising a first case fastened on a rear wall of the lower post section and a first actuator mechanism for moving the upper post section which is housed in the first case, the first actuator mechanism comprising a handling socket which projects from the first case, and is disposed on a rear wall of the first case and wherein the housing is arranged to receive the lower post section in the stowed configuration while preventing access to the handling socket. 
     
     
         2 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the two lateral structures form a counterweight to the post in the upright use configuration of the equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a frame on which the lower post section is rotatably mounted, the lateral structures being carried by the frame while forming a U-like shaped housing therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , it further comprising a connecting arm with a front end hinged on the lower post section and a rear end hinged on the base, the rear end being disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment according to  claim 4 , wherein the connecting arm has two segments which are hinged and configured to be reversibly disposed in a deployed configuration for holding the post in an upright use configuration and also configured to hold the post in a folded storage configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower post section is equipped with at least one foot which is disposed laterally in order to stabilise the post in the upright use configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper post section is slidably mounted in the lower post section, the actuation system comprising a vertical row of orifices formed on the rear face of the upper first section and a first actuator mechanism comprising a gear wheel which is rotatably actuated by a worm screw, the gear wheel being configured to fit into the vertical row of orifices for sliding of the upper post section in the lower post section. 
     
     
         8 . The equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein the gear wheel is rotatably mounted in the case according to a frontal axis, the screw being rotatably mounted in the case according to a sagittal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein the first actuation mechanism comprises a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel each with a different diameter and the first and second gear wheels being secured in rotation, the first gear wheel with a larger diameter being fitted into the vertical row of orifices and the second gear wheel with a smaller diameter being actuated by the worm screw. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein a crank handle is reversibly associated on the handling socket for rotatably manipulating the worm screw. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein the worm screw is arranged to require a manipulation of the handling socket to actuate movement the upper post section. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper section comprises an upper segment carrying the board and a lower segment slidably mounted on the lower post section, the upper segment being slidably mounted on the lower segment, the actuation system having a second case fastened on a rear wall of the lower segment and a second actuator mechanism for moving the upper segment which is housed in the second case, the second actuator mechanism comprising a handling socket which projects from the second case, the socket is disposed on a rear wall of the second case, the housing being arranged to receive the lower segment in the stowed configuration while preventing access to said socket. 
     
     
         13 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the board is rotatably mounted on the upper post section between an angular use position and an angular storage position. 
     
     
         14 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the board is reversibly mounted on the upper section between a mounted use position and a dismounted storage position, the post in the storage configuration enabling the storage of the dismounted board on the base. 
     
     
         15 . The equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the hoop has a lateral extension which is rotatably mounted around an axis secured to a support fastened on the board configured to permit the hoop be stowed from a horizontal use position into a vertical storage position against the board.