Abstract:
A basketball hoop closure adapted to be emplaced from the ground by means of a removable rod-like installation member, wherein the installation member is adapted to alternately raise or lower the closure and drive or remove fasteners associated with hoop engaging forcipate ends of the closure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is directed to a means for closing off a basketball hoop so as to prevent the hoop from being used in play. 
     Conventionally, to prevent the play of the game in an area where a hoop or basket was installed required a person to climb a ladder and install a chain and lock equatorially across the aperture of the basket or to fabricate a plate or board to close off the aforementioned aperture and then install same while perched atop a ladder or to remove the hoop entirely. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,026 to Kregel describes a physical training unit comprising a ball attached to a tether which is suspended from a mounting plate which is hung over the ring of the hoop. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,574 to Voltz et al. is a basketball rebound training device which comprises a membrane spanning the aperture to the hoop and containing therein a plurality of objects intented to distort the membrane so as to reduce the certainty of the path of a basketball that had impacted on the membrane. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,840 to Dix comprises a resiliently mounted ring which is placed within the hoop aperture. The ring as with the above recited Voltz patent is designed as a means for practicing rebounds. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,687 to Hair comprises a plurality of radially arranged spokes clipped over the hoop ring and designed to provide a rebounding surface for players to use to practice retrieving a rebounded ball. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary object of the invention to provide a means for closing off a basketball hoop from play. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for closing off a basketball hoop from play without the necessity of climbing up to the level of the hoop. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a means for closing off a basketball hoop from play that is easily and quickly installed. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a means for closing off a basketball hoop from play which, while easily removed by the installer, is difficult to remove by some other individual. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the specification, drawings and claims herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel closure; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the installation apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closure installed on a basketball hoop. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, the novel basketball closure wherein the body may be made of either a metal or a plastic such as polypropylene or an UHMW. This body (10) defines a central axial port (12) which extends through the body along the transverse axis through the thicker aspect of the body. 
     The closure body 10 further consists of a plurality of forcipate ends 14, 16 defining a body longitudinal axis therebetween wherein the proximal forcipate end 14 further comprises a first plurality of tines 18, 20 which define a first groove 22 therebetween, and the distal forcipate end 16 also further consists of a second plurality of tines 24, 26 which define a second groove 28 therebetween. 
     Transverse to the respective forcipate ends are fastening means 30,32 for attaching the body 10 wherein in the preferred embodiment the fastening means are threaded fasteners which pass through co-axial holes 34,36 defined by the tines 18, 20 and 24, 26 wherein each hole set defined thereby is threaded in a first (lower) tine 18, 24 and unthreaded in a second (upper) tine 20, 26, thereby allowing a threaded fastener to be inserted across the respective forcipate end 14, 16 and, therefore, bridge from tine to tine the respective groove 22, 28 theredefined. 
     Associated with the closure body 10 and intermittently attached thereto, is an installation means 40. The installation means comprises a substantially rod-like appendage 42 onto which is impressed a crank-like FIG. 44 at the rod-like appendage&#39;s distal end 46. 
     At the proximal end 48 of the appendage 42 is a fastener actuating means 50 which is adapted to engage the fastening means 30, 32 so as, when actuated, inducing the fastening means to either close off the grooves 22, 28 or, conversely, to remove the fastening means 30, 32 from across the grooves 22, 28. 
     In operation, the body 10 of the instant invention is first attached to the installation means 40 by inserting the distal end 46 of the installation means 40 into the central axial port 12 of the body 10 which rides up appendage 42 until the body 10 reaches the crank-like FIG. 44 and rests thereon. At this time, the fastening means 30, 32 are withdrawn from across respective grooves 22, 28. Using the attachment means 40, the operator raises the body 10 and sequentially engages the basketball hoop 52-into each of the grooves 22, 28 in the respective forcipate ends 14, 16 of the body 10. In this installed configuration, the net 54 can either be engaged by the body 10 by engaging net elements 55 within the grooves 22, 28 so as to prevent theft of the net 54, or the body 10 can be installed on the hoop element 52 solely. 
     When in engagement, the hoop body 52 is resting within each of the respective grooves 22, 28 interiorly to each of the respective fastening means 30, 32, with the body 10 across the hoop aperture 53. 
     Once the body 10 is engaged with the hoop 52, the attachment means 40 is withdrawn from the central axial port 12. The operator then inverts the installation means 40 and, using the fastener actuating means 50 on the proximal end 48 of the rod-like appendage 42 of the installation means 40 raises the proximal end 48 and brings fastener actuating means 50 into engagement with either one of the respective fastening means 30, 32 and by actuating the fastener actuating means 50 sequentially drives the fastening means 30, 32 across the groove apertures 60, 61 exterior to the hoop body 52. In this configuration, the body 10 is securely attached across the hoop aperture 53 and since the hoop aperture 53 will no longer pass a basketball, the hoop assembly 65 is removed from play. 
     To restore the hoop assembly 65 to use in play, the operator merely engages the fastener actuating means 50 with either one of the fastening means 30 or 32 and sequentially withdraws the fastening means 30, 32 from across their respective groove apertures 60, 61. The operator then inverts the installation means 40 and using the distal end 46 of the rod-like appendage 42 inserts same into the axial port 12 of the body 10 and disengages the respective grooves 22, 28 from the hoop 52 and using the installation means 40 lowers the body 10 to the ground, thereby returning the hoop to play.