Basketball rim assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11547913-B2
Application number	US-202117301682-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2021
Priority date	Oct 15, 2018
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

Basketball goals may incorporate folding rim assemblies which can be packaged and transported pre-mounted to certain backboard assemblies. Alternately, folding rim assemblies can be sold separately or packaged with a backboard for on-site mounting. Some basketball rim assembles may incorporate a break-away mechanism using a leaf spring. The leaf spring biases the rim bracket and resiliently resists downward pivotal movement of the rim bracket and rim. When the rim is rotated downward under an applied force, the leaf spring is flexed, biasing the rim to return to a static playing position when the force is removed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A basketball goal rim assembly, comprising:
a mounting bracket with a planar rear portion configured to be mounted to a basketball backboard with the rear portion parallel to the backboard
a rim bracket with a planar top portion, wherein the rim bracket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket to pivot downward relative to the mounting bracket around a pivot axis;
a basketball rim extending from the rim bracket;
a leaf spring formed as an elongated length of plate material, the leaf spring having a lower end anchored parallel to the backboard, wherein the leaf spring extends upward from the lower end and curves forward to an upper end which abuts the planar top portion of the rim bracket, wherein the elongate length of the leaf spring is perpendicular to the pivot axis; and
wherein the leaf spring biases the rim bracket upward relative to the mounting bracket.

2. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rim bracket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket with an axle, wherein a mid-portion of rim leaf spring perpendicular to the axle tangentially contacts the axle, and wherein the leaf spring is retained in a curved orientation by the anchored lower end and the axle.

3. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , comprising a fastener extending through a mounting opening defined in the leaf spring and securing the leaf spring to the basketball backboard.

4. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rim bracket is rotatable upward relative to the mounting bracket from a playing position to a folded position, and wherein when the rim bracket is in the folded position the upper end of the leaf spring extends to a vertical height higher than a plane defined by a downward facing inner face of the rim bracket in the playing position.

5. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the planar top portion is perpendicular to the backboard the rim leaf upper end is depressed by the rim bracket top portion.

6. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the planar top portion is perpendicular to the backboard the rim bracket applies a pre-load to the leaf spring resisting downward pivoting of the rim bracket.

7. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , where the lower end of the leaf spring is anchored to the mounting bracket with a pair of clamping tabs.

8. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring material is steel, stainless steel or aluminum.

9. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring material is plastic or rubber.

10. A basketball goal rim assembly, comprising:
a basketball backboard;
a mounting bracket with a planar rear portion mounted to the backboard with the rear portion parallel to the backboard;
a rim bracket with a planar top portion wherein the rim bracket is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket to pivot downward;
a basketball rim extending from the rim bracket;
a leaf spring formed as a flexible length of a planar sheet material, the leaf spring having a lower end anchored to the mounting bracket rear portion parallel to the backboard;
the leaf spring extending upward to a mid-portion curving forward and extending to an upper end which abuts against the planar top portion of the rim bracket; and
wherein the leaf spring biases the rim bracket upward relative to the mounting bracket.

11. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rim bracket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket with an axle and wherein the mid-portion of the leaf spring is perpendicular to the axle.

12. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 10 , wherein the mid-portion of the leaf spring tangentially contacts the axle and wherein the leaf spring is retained in a curved orientation by the anchored lower end and the axle.

13. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rim bracket is rotatable upward relative to the mounting bracket from a playing position to a folded position, and wherein when the rim bracket is in the folded position the upper end of the leaf spring extends to an unflexed vertical height higher than a plane defined by a downward facing inner face of the rim bracket in the playing position.

14. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 13 , wherein when the planar top portion is perpendicular to the backboard the leaf spring upper end is depressed from its unflexed vertical height.

15. A basketball goal rim assembly, comprising:
a basketball backboard;
a rim bracket pivotally mounted to the backboard to pivot downward around a pivot axis;
a basketball rim extending from the rim bracket;
a leaf spring formed as a flexible strip of a planar sheet material, the leaf spring having a lower end anchored parallel to the backboard;
wherein the leaf spring extends upward from the lower end and curves forward to an upper end which abuts the rim bracket, wherein the elongate length of the leaf spring is perpendicular to the pivot axis; and
wherein the leaf spring biases the rim bracket upward relative to the backboard.

16. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rim bracket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket with an axle and wherein the mid-portion of the leaf spring is perpendicular to and tangentially contacts the axle and wherein the leaf spring is retained in a curved orientation by the anchored lower end and the axle.

17. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 15 , wherein the leaf spring upper end is depressed by the rim bracket top portion applying a pre-load to the leaf spring to resist downward pivoting of the rim bracket.

18. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 15 , comprising a fastener extending through a mounting opening defined in the leaf spring and securing the leaf spring to the basketball backboard.

19. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 15 , wherein the leaf spring material is steel, stainless steel or aluminum.

20. The basketball goal rim assembly of claim 15 , wherein the leaf spring material is plastic or rubber.

Assignees

• Indian Ind Inc

Inventors

• Elpers Philip
• Seitz Clay
• Cornell Robert W

Classifications

• A63B2063/086

  deflectable under excessive loads · CPC title

• A63B2210/50

  Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport · CPC title

• A63B2225/093

  Height · CPC title

• A63B63/083 Primary

  for basketball · CPC title

• A63B71/0036

  Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment (A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence) · CPC title