Basketball system shake reduction system

Abstract

A device to assist a basketball assembly in returning to a static state (i.e., a device to reduce vibrations) after the basketball assembly has been impacted by a basketball or a player. The device includes a weight (i.e., a mass) atop a rubber/urethane rod. The device is configured to allow the weight to oscillate in the plane of the force of the impact. Simultaneously, the rubber/urethane rod absorbs the vibrational energy of the impact. The combination of the weight and the rod assist the basketball assembly to return to a static position more quickly.

1 . A damper for a basketball goal assembly, comprising:
 a base selectively attachable to a top end of a goal post of a basketball goal assembly;   a flexible rod extending vertically from the base, wherein an upper end of the flexible rod is configured to flex radially at any angle within 360 degrees in an x-y plane perpendicular to a central vertical axis of the flexible rod; and   a weighted mass coupled to the upper end of the flexible rod;   wherein upon an impact force being applied to the basketball assembly, the weighted mass and the upper end of the flexible rod oscillate in counterpoint to the basketball goal assembly in an x-z plane defined by the direction of impact and the central vertical axis of the flexible rod to dampen vibration of the basketball goal assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the goal post has a hollow top end and the base is installed in the top end of the goal post. 
     
     
         3 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible rod is made of rubber and/or urethane. 
     
     
         4 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the damper includes a cover secured to the post of the basketball goal assembly and configured to surround and protect at least the flexible rod and the weighted mass of the damper without inhibiting the radial movement of the flexible rod and the weighted mass. 
     
     
         5 . The damper of  claim 4 , wherein the cover comprises a top cover and a bottom cover;
 wherein the top cover is operatively coupled to the bottom cover; and   wherein the bottom cover is operatively coupled to the top end of the post of the basketball goal assembly and/or the base of the damper.   
     
     
         6 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the base is selectively attachable to the top end of the goal post by a j-bolt configured to clamp to a crossarm bolt of the basketball goal assembly by rotating about its central axis such that a lateral arm of the j-bolt is positioned perpendicular relative to the crossarm bolt. 
     
     
         7 . The damper of  claim 6 , wherein the base includes a flange that acts as a backstop to ensure that the lateral arm of the j-bolt is rotated to a perpendicular position relative to the crossarm bolt. 
     
     
         8 . The damper of  claim 6 , wherein the base is further selectively attachable to the top end of the basketball goal assembly by one or more wedges configured to slide outward as they are tightened to the base, effectively increasing the width of the base to clamp it within the top end of the goal post. 
     
     
         9 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible rod is attached to the base via adhesives and/or fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . The damper of  claim 9 , wherein the base includes a cavity configured to support and receive a lower end of the flexible rod. 
     
     
         11 . The damper of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted mass is attached to the flexible rod via adhesives and/or fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . The damper of  claim 11 , wherein the weighed mass includes a bore configured to receive the upper end of the flexible rod. 
     
     
         13 . A damper for a basketball goal assembly, comprising:
 a base plate attachable to an outer surface of a top end of a goal post of a basketball goal assembly;   a flexible rod extending from the base plate parallel to the vertical axis of the basketball goal assembly wherein the flexible rod defines a central vertical axis;   a weighted mass coupled to the flexible rod;   wherein an upper end of the flexible rod and the weighted mass are configured to flex radially at any angle within 360 degrees in an x-y plane perpendicular relative to the central vertical axis of the flexible rod;   a clamp configured to receive and hold the flexible rod, wherein the clamp is securely attachable to the base plate such that the flexible rod is secured between the clamp and the base plate;   wherein upon an impact force being applied to the basketball assembly, the weighted mass and the upper end of the flexible rod oscillate in counterpoint to the basketball goal assembly in an x-z plane defined by the direction of impact and the central vertical axis of the flexible rod to dampen vibration of the basketball goal assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The damper of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible rod is made of rubber and/or urethane. 
     
     
         15 . The damper of  claim 13 , wherein the damper includes a cover configured to surround and protect at least the flexible rod and the weighted mass of the damper without inhibiting the radial movement of the flexible rod and the weighted mass. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for use in damping the movement of a basketball goal assembly after an impact on the basketball goal assembly, the kit comprising:
 a flexible rod selectively attachable to a top end of a goal post of a basketball goal assembly, wherein the flexible rod defines a central vertical axis; and   a weighted mass securable to an upper end of the flexible rod;   wherein when assembled an upper end of the flexible rod and the weighted mass are configured to flex radially at any angle within 360 degrees in an x-y plane perpendicular to the central vertical axis of the flexible rod;   wherein upon an impact force being applied to the basketball goal assembly, the weighted mass and the upper end of the flexible rod oscillate in counterpoint to the basketball goal assembly in an x-z plane defined by the direction of impact and the central vertical axis of the flexible rod to dampen vibration of the basketball goal assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16  comprising a base installable in a hollow top end of the goal post, and wherein a lower end of the flexible rod is attachable to the base to secure the flexible rod to the goal post. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the base comprises a j-bolt configured to vertically secure the base to a crossarm bolt of the basketball goal assembly and one or more wedges configured to slide outward as they are tightened to the base to horizontally secure the base within the top end of the goal post. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 16  comprising a clamp assembly installable adjacent a top end of the goal post and configured to secure a lower end of the flexible rod to the goal post. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the kit comprising a cover connectable to the base and/or the top end of the goal post configured to surround and protect at least the flexible rod and the weighted mass of the damper without inhibiting the movement of the flexible rod and the weighted mass.