Basketball goal assembly methods

Abstract

This disclosure provides a method for installing a basketball goal by using an actuator. The actuator, in a non-inverted orientation, is used to raise and lower a backboard for the basketball goal. The actuator can be inverted and used as a crank to raise a hinged post of the goal into an upright orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling a basketball goal comprising:
 rotatably attaching a horizontally oriented post to a mounting plate of a base disposed on a ground;   connecting a stationary actuator bracket of an actuator to a post bracket of the post;   connecting a telescoping end of the actuator to a mounting assembly coupled with the mounting plate;   turning a crank of the actuator to withdraw the telescoping end into the actuator to rotate the post and to orient the post into an upright vertical orientation with respect to a horizon;   connecting a post plate of the post to the mounting plate to secure the post in the upright vertical orientation; and   removing the stationary actuator bracket of the actuator from the post bracket and the telescoping end from the mounting assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 connecting the removed the stationary actuator bracket to the post bracket and the telescoping end to a hinged support arm that engages with the post and a backboard assembly at a first height with respect to the ground; and 
 turning the crank of the actuator to withdraw the telescoping end into the actuator to raise the backboard assembly to a second height with respect to the ground. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising:
 turning the crank to orient post in an angled orientation with respect the horizon; and 
 connecting the hinged support arm to the post and the backboard assembly to the hinged support arm when the post is oriented in the angled orientation. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein turning the crank to orient post in an angled orientation with respect the horizon comprises:
 turning the crank to orient post in an angled orientation with respect the horizon between 0 and 90 degrees exclusively. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the base to the ground by cement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises one or more extenders positioned between the mounting plate and the ground. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein one or more extenders comprise square posts. 
     
     
         8 . A method for assembling a basketball goal comprising:
 hingedly coupling a post to a base engaging with a ground;   connecting a fixed end of an actuator to a post bracket on the post and a telescoping end of the actuator to the base;   rotating about the base, by actuating the actuator, the post from a more horizontal orientation to a more vertical orientation with respect to a horizon;   coupling support arms with a backboard assembly to the post;   removing the actuator from the post; and   reconnecting the fixed end of the actuator to the post bracket and a telescoping end to hinged support arms for a backboard assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising attaching the support arms with the backboard assembly when the post is oriented between the more horizontal orientation and the more vertical orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising moving the backboard assembly higher or lower by actuating the reconnected actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein actuating the actuator includes turning a crank in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, and moving a telescoping portion of the actuator in or out in response to a turning of the crank in the clockwise direction or the counter clockwise direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising connecting at a telescoping portion of the actuator to the hinged support arms for backboard assembly when the post has rotated to a vertical orientation to raise the backboard assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A method for assembling a basketball goal comprising:
 rotatably attaching a horizontally oriented post with a mounting pin to a mounting plate of a base disposed on a ground;   connecting with actuator pin one end of a telescoping actuator to a post bracket of the post;   connecting another end of the telescoping actuator to a mounting assembly engaging with the mounting plate;   turning a crank of the actuator in a first direction to contract the telescoping actuator, to rotate the post into an angled orientation with respect to a horizon;   attaching a backboard assembly to the post while the post is in the angled orientation with respect to the horizon;   turning a crank of the actuator in the first direction to contract the telescoping actuator, to rotate the post into an upright vertical orientation with respect to a horizon;   connecting a post plate of the post to the mounting plate with a screw to secure the post in the upright vertical orientation;   removing one end of the telescoping actuator from the post bracket and another end of the telescoping actuator from the mounting assembly;   inverting the removed telescoping actuator;   connecting the inverted telescoping actuator to the post bracket and another end of the telescoping bracket to a hinged support arm that engages with the post and the backboard assembly at a first height with respect to the ground; and   turning the crank of the telescoping actuator to expand or contract the telescoping actuator to raise or to lower the backboard assembly to a second height with respect to the ground.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising removing the mounting assembly from below the mounting plate after removing one end of the telescoping actuator from the post bracket and the another end of the telescoping actuator from the mounting assembly.