Wall mounted basketball system reinforcement brackets

Abstract

A wall mounted basketball system with one or more reinforcement brackets to additionally secure the frame of a basketball system to a wall. Reinforcement brackets include a base configured to mount to a wall. The base defines an aperture through which one or more secondary fasteners are arranged to secure the bracket to the wall. The bracket further includes at least one hook configured to receive and/or retain a portion of a frame of the basketball system, such as an outwardly extending upper flange of the frame. The hooks provide a counterbalancing force to resist downward or rotational forces applied to the basketball system during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of mounting a basketball system, comprising:
 placing an end of a frame of the basketball system against a wall, wherein the basketball system includes a backboard and a rim,   securing the end of the frame of the basketball system to the wall using one or more primary fasteners;   inserting a portion of the frame into a slot defined in a reinforcement bracket;   advancing the reinforcement bracket until a rearward face of the reinforcement bracket abuts the wall while retaining the portion in the slot; and,   securing the reinforcement bracket to the wall using a secondary fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes an upper frame piece and wherein the portion of the frame inserted into the slot is the upper frame piece. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the upper frame piece has an outwardly extending leg portion; wherein the portion of the frame inserted into the slot is the outwardly extending leg portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 3 , comprising inserting the leg portion of the upper frame piece into a second slot defined in a second reinforcement bracket;
 advancing the second reinforcement bracket until a rearward face of the second reinforcement bracket abuts the wall while retaining the leg portion in the slot; and,   securing the second reinforcement bracket to the wall using a secondary fastener.   
     
     
         5 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 4 , wherein a protrusion of the reinforcement bracket abuts a lower portion of the upper frame piece. 
     
     
         6 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement bracket includes a body with a series of contoured sections along a rear side, including a first section is configured to abut the wall and a second section configured to engage and clamp an upward extending flange of the frame against the wall. 
     
     
         7 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement bracket includes a base arranged between a pair of hook plates, wherein the base includes an aperture configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 7 , wherein the base includes a back portion is arranged parallel the wall when the reinforcement bracket is mounted to the wall, and wherein a leg portion is extends perpendicular the wall when the reinforcement bracket is mounted to the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 7 , wherein a leg portion abuts a top portion of an upper frame piece when the reinforcement bracket is mounted on the frame. 
     
     
         10 . A method of mounting a basketball system, comprising:
 placing an end of a frame of the basketball system which includes a backboard and a rim, against a wall, wherein the end of the frame includes an upper frame piece, and wherein the upper frame piece has an outwardly extending leg portion and an upwardly extending back portion;   securing the end of the frame to the wall using one or more primary fasteners;   inserting the leg portion of the upper frame piece into a slot defined by at least one reinforcement bracket;   advancing the reinforcement bracket such that a contoured portion of a rear face of the reinforcement bracket engages the upwardly extending back portion of the upper frame piece;   advancing the reinforcement bracket until a rearward face of the reinforcement bracket abuts the wall; and,   securing the reinforcement bracket to the wall via one or more secondary fasteners.   
     
     
         11 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 10 , wherein the reinforcement bracket includes two reinforcement brackets. 
     
     
         12 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 10 , wherein the reinforcement bracket includes an L-shaped base arranged between a pair of hook plates. 
     
     
         13 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 12 , wherein the hook plates include a body and a protrusion together defining the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The method of mounting a basketball system of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion abuts a lower portion of the upper frame piece when the reinforcement bracket is mounted on the frame. 
     
     
         15 . A basketball system, comprising:
 a backboard;   a rim mounted to the backboard;   a frame with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end mounts to the backboard, and wherein the second end mounts to a wall via one or more primary fasteners;   at least one reinforcement bracket;   wherein the reinforcement bracket includes at least one hook portion defining a slot configured to receive and engage a portion of the frame; and   wherein reinforcement bracket abuts the wall when the slot receives a portion of the frame, and wherein the reinforcement bracket is secured to the wall via one or more secondary fasteners.   
     
     
         16 . The basketball system of  claim 15 , wherein the portion of the frame received in the slot is a flange extending perpendicular to the wall. 
     
     
         17 . The basketball system of  claim 16 , wherein the flange extends horizontally along an upper piece of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The basketball system of  claim 16 , wherein the flange extends horizontally along a lower piece of the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The basketball system of  claim 16 , wherein the flange extends vertically along a side of the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The basketball system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one reinforcement bracket comprises a pair of reinforcement brackets.