Basketball arcade game

Abstract

An arcade game includes a frame assembly that is selectively configurable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The frame assembly includes a rear frame and a front frame that are connected by telescoping struts that allow the length of the frame assembly to be shortened when in the collapsed configuration and extended when in the expanded configuration. The front frame and the rear frame each include vertical struts that provide support for the side nets and apron that define the game play area. Optionally, a front panel is hingedly attached to the front frame. The front panel may be deployed at an angle in the expanded configuration or positioned substantially parallel to the front vertical struts to reduce the footprint of the frame assembly in the collapsed configuration.

1 . An arcade game system comprising:
 a frame assembly, wherein the frame assembly includes:
 a rear frame comprising a pair of horizontal rear telescoping struts, wherein each of said rear telescoping struts extends forward; 
 a front frame comprising a pair of front telescoping struts, wherein each of said front telescoping struts extends rearward; 
 wherein each rear telescoping strut is telescopingly coupled to one of said front telescoping struts to slidingly attach said rear frame to said front frame; 
   a game play area defined between said rear frame and said front frame;   a target attached to said rear frame; and   wherein the rear frame and the front frame are slidably configured so that when the rear telescoping struts and the front telescoping struts are extended, the frame assembly is in an expanded configuration, and wherein when the rear telescoping struts and the front telescoping struts are retracted, the frame assembly is in a collapsed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The arcade game system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front panel;   wherein said front panel is attached to said front frame at a hinged connection so that said front panel may hinge with respect to said front frame.   
     
     
         3 . The arcade game system of  claim 2 , wherein said hinged connection includes a first opening and a second opening, and wherein a fastener is configured to be fit into said first opening or said second opening to prevent said front panel from hinging with respect to said front frame. 
     
     
         4 . The arcade game system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an apron, wherein a first end of said apron is attached to said rear frame and a second end of said apron is attached to said front panel.   
     
     
         5 . The arcade game system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first side net, wherein said first side net is attached to said rear frame and said front frame;   a second side net, wherein said second side net is attached to said rear frame and said front frame; and   wherein said first side net, said second side net, and said apron define a boundary of said game play area.   
     
     
         6 . The arcade game system of  claim 5 , wherein said first side net is attached to said front panel, and wherein said second side net is attached to said front panel. 
     
     
         7 . The arcade game system of  claim 1 , wherein said rear frame includes a pair of lower rear vertical struts and a pair of upper rear vertical struts. 
     
     
         8 . The arcade game system of  claim 6 , wherein said pair of upper rear vertical struts are hingedly attached to said pair of lower rear vertical struts. 
     
     
         9 . The arcade game system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a pair of angled support struts, wherein a first end of each of said of angled support struts is attached to a respective one of said lower rear vertical struts, and wherein a second end of each of said angled support struts is attached to a respective one of said rear telescoping struts.   
     
     
         10 . The arcade game system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more rims attached to said target.   
     
     
         11 . The arcade game system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said front telescoping struts are slidable within a respective rear telescoping strut. 
     
     
         12 . The arcade game system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said rear telescoping struts are slidable within a respective front telescoping strut. 
     
     
         13 . A method of moving a frame assembly of an arcade game system from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the method comprising:
 pivoting a front panel of the frame assembly away from front vertical struts of a front frame of the frame assembly;   pulling the front frame away from a rear frame of the frame assembly, wherein said rear frame includes a pair of rear telescoping struts and wherein said front frame includes a pair of front telescoping struts coupled to said rear telescoping struts;   sliding said front telescoping struts and said rear telescoping struts with respect to each other as said front frame is pulled away from said rear frame; and   wherein a length of the frame assembly increases as the front frame is pulled away from said rear frame.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inserting fasteners into openings in hinged connections that attach said front panel to said front frame to lock said front panel in a selected position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said front panel is pivoted from a position in which said front panel is parallel with respect to said front vertical struts to a position in which said front panel is at an oblique angle with respect to said front vertical struts. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 pivoting a pair of upper rear vertical struts of said rear frame with respect to a pair of lower rear vertical struts to reduce a height of the rear frame.   
     
     
         17 . A method of moving a frame assembly of an arcade game system from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the method comprising:
 hinging a front panel of the frame assembly toward front vertical struts of a front frame of the frame assembly;   pushing the front frame toward a rear frame of the frame assembly, wherein said rear frame includes a pair of rear telescoping struts and wherein said front frame includes a pair of front telescoping struts coupled to said rear telescoping struts;   sliding said front telescoping struts and said rear telescoping struts with respect to each other as said front frame is pushed toward said rear frame; and   wherein a length of the frame assembly decreases as the front frame is pushed toward said rear frame.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing fasteners from openings in hinged connections that attach said front panel to said front frame.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said front panel is pivoted from a position in which said front panel is at an oblique angle with respect to said front vertical struts to a position in which said front panel is parallel with respect to said front vertical struts. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 pivoting a pair of upper rear vertical struts of said rear frame with respect to a pair of lower rear vertical struts to increase a height of the rear frame.