Yieldable direct mount below the backboard goal system

A goal having a horizontal bracket extending below and behind a backboard is yieldably mounted at two longitudinally spaced positions to a rearly extending brace attached to the backboard frame.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to basketball systems and more 
specifically to an improved method of mounting yieldable goals and 
backboards to the support structure. 
A standard glass backboard generally includes a glass with a frame 
therearound. The frame generally includes brackets for mounting of the 
frame to a support structure. A pair of plates are provided on the front 
and back of the glass with four pre-drilled apertures and connectors 
through the backboard between the two plates to allow mounting of a goal 
to the two plates. With the advent of the "dunk shot", further protection 
for the glass was needed. In addition to a breakaway or yieldable goal 
structure, the prior art also attempted to transfer the forces to torsion 
bars connected to the support structure. The system illustrated in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,433,839 to Simonseth is an example. 
Another method, which has been used but has been abandoned, is to diminish 
the height of the backboard and connect the goal beneath the reduced 
bottom edge of the backboard to a torsion bar at the rear of the board. 
This is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,143. Although removing the 
drilled holes which weaken the glass, this system had other problems. The 
connection of the goal to the torsion bar is along a welded horizontal 
line. This produces a cantilever affect at a point along a single line, 
thereby creating substantial stress and moments. In use, this goal 
attachment structure flexed unacceptably, acting as a torsion system and 
moved relative to this backboard. Thus, this system was abandoned by the 
industry. 
Even through direct mounting of the goal to the support structure has 
protected the glass backboard, it has not protected the player. The motion 
of the players' body downward engages a stationary hoop structure and is 
equivalent to an automobile hitting a brick wall. The weaker of the two 
elements at impact must absorb the forces. This is generally the player, 
resulting in jammed or broken limbs. 
Thus, there exists a need for providing an improved mounting of a goal 
yieldably to the backboard support structure. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting of a goal 
to the backboard support structure without the Problems of the prior art. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a direct mount 
system requiring no holes in the glass backboard. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a direct 
mount system which protects the player. 
These and other objects of the invention are attained by extending the 
depth of the back bottom portion of the backboard frame and securing the 
goal to the backboard frame and extended backboard frame along at least 
two longitudinally spaced positions. This structure alleviates the point 
or single line of cantilevered construction and distributes the cantilever 
load over a greater longitudinal distance of the cantilever structure. 
In one embodiment, the depth of the frame is increased by providing a 
vertical brace extending between and secured to the top and bottom of the 
frame and centered thereon to restrict flexing of the backboard. A 
horizontal flange is provided on the vertical brace and the goal is 
mounted to the flange as well as to the frame. In another embodiment, 
wherein the support is a vertical post centered on the backboard, the 
bottom rear portion of the frame is extended by a horizontal brace 
extending substantially along the length thereof and includes a portion 
extending to the post clamp. The rim is connected to the rear extension in 
at least two longitudinally spaced positions. In an even further 
embodiment, for a horizontal center support structure, a horizontal brace 
extends the rear portion of the frame and the goal is secured to the 
horizontal brace and the centered horizontal strut. 
The two positions of attachment include two pairs of longitudinally spaced 
apertures. A fifth aperture is provided for securing the goal to the 
existing frame of the backboard. The goal is a unique structure having a 
tubular extension or support bracket in which the apertures are provided 
to align with the apertures in the frame, brace or other structure. The 
frame of the backboard has padding along the front and side edges of the 
bottom and side portions and the tubular extension of the goal has padding 
along its side and bottom surfaces. 
The goal may be yieldably mounted to the brace extending from the frame so 
as to yield in response to excess force and protect the player. Fasteners 
are provided at the two positions of attachment extending between the 
brace and the tubular extension of the goal. A resilient device is 
provided on the fasteners. The resilient device may be an elastomer or 
metal leaf spring. A common resilient device may be used with all the 
fasteners at all the positions. The resilient device may be provided 
interior the tubular extension of the goal or exterior thereof. The 
tubular extension has a generally rigid U-shaped cross section with 
padding extending across the open end of the U-shaped and along the 
outside of the legs of the U-shape. Alternatively, a hinge may be provided 
at one of the longitudinal spaced position for and the fastener and 
resilient devices at the other longitudinal position. 
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will 
become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention 
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
A backboard assembly 10 as illustrated in FIGS 1-3 include a glass bank 12 
surrounded by flange 13 of a tubular frame 14. Keyhole slots 16, 18 and 20 
are provided in the top and bottom rear walls of the tubular frame 14 to 
allow attachments of the support structure. Where a standard glass 
backboard has a general dimensions of the height of 4 feet and a length of 
6 feet, the backboard of the present invention has a height of 3 feet and 
a length of 5 feet, 6 inches. The center-to-center distance of keyhole 
slots 16 is 4 feet, 6 inches and that of keyholes 18 is 2 feet, 11 inches. 
With the outside dimension of 5 feet, 6 inches, the board will mount to 
standard pre-existing ceiling suspended drop frames using slot 18.d The 
tubular frame 14 adds rigidity to the backboard and the versatility of 
mounting structure. In the prior art, mounting plates were welded to the 
frame. 
By shortening the height of the backboard and removing substantially 
non-playable areas, the goal of the goal may be mounted directly to the 
support structure without passing through or being supported on the glass 
bank 12. Thus, the holes in the glass which weaken it are eliminated. 
The goal includes a closed ring 22 with downward extending circumferal 
flanges 24 along the sides and back thereof. A rectangular cross-section 
support bracket 26 extends from the back of the ring 22. The length of 
bracket 26 along its extending longitudinal axis is sufficient to traverse 
the bottom edge of the frame 14 and extends therepast to provide securing 
to a support structure at two longitudinally spaced positions. As 
illustrated in FIG. 3, a pair of apertures 28 in the support bracket 26 
define one position, while a pair of apertures 30 define a second 
position. A fifth aperture 32 is provided and longitudinally spaced from 
the other two pairs of apertures. As will be discussed more fully below, 
whereas apertures 28 and 30 are connected to the extended frame or support 
structure, aperture 32 aligns with and is secured to the frame 14 of the 
backboard 12. 
The brace which secures the support bracket 26 of the goal to the frame 14 
of the backboard 12, in the FIGS. 1-3 embodiment, includes a vertical 
brace 34 having a top plate 35 and an L-shaped bottom flange or gusset 38 
welded thereto. The brace is secured to the top and bottom of the frame 14 
by fasteners 36 in top plate 35, bottom flange 38 and keyhole slots 20. 
The brace 34 should be as thin as is practical to minimize its appearance 
through the glass backboard. At the bottom of brace 34 is a flange or 
plate 38 welded thereto. A triangular-shaped flange 40 is welded between 
the brace 34 and the flange 38. Fasteners 42 extend through apertures 28 
and 30 in the support bracket 26 of the goal and corresponding apertures 
in the plate 40 to secure the goal to the flange 38 and brace 34. Fastener 
44 extends through aperture 32 in the support bracket 26 and into a 
corresponding apertures in frame 14 of the backboard. 
Thus, it can be seen that the brace 34 and the flange 38 extend the rear 
back surface of the backboard frame 14 and permits the mounting of the 
goal via its support bracket 26 at two longitudinally displaced positions. 
This distributes the forces of the cantilevered goal from a single line of 
contact and thereby reduces the deformation of the support bracket 36 and 
its movement relative to the frame 14 and the glass 12. The rectangular 
cross-section or the tubular shape of the support bracket 26 also 
increases its rigidity and its ability to carry the cantilevered load. 
During tests, it has been found that upon loading the front of the rim, 
that the rim 22 deformed at approximately an 800 pound load with no 
deformation or movement of the support bracket 26 relative to the 
backboard or frame up to the tested 2,000 pound load. The tubular frame 14 
and the vertical brace 34 attached to the frame at the top and bottom in 
the center reduce the bowing of the glass backboard and thereby reduces 
stress in the glass. The front and side surfaces of the bottom and 
adjacent portions of the sides of the frame 14 are covered with the 
industry standard two inch thick padding 46. The support bracket 26 of the 
goal is also surrounded by a one inch thick padding 48. The padding on the 
goal maximize players' protection from sharp edges and from the fasteners 
used to mount the goal to the support structure. 
In another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4 
and 5, the backboard and goal are mounted to and supported by a single 
centered ceiling suspended post 50. In lieu of the vertical strut 34 and 
flange 38, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 include a horizontal brace 52 
extending along a substantial portion of the back rear face of the bottom 
of the frame 14 and is secured in keyhole openings 18 by fasteners 36. The 
brace 52 is preferably tubular for strength and rigidity. A rectangular 
tubular element 54 connects the brace 52 to a U-shaped post clamp 56. A 
U-shaped bolt 58 is received in post clamp 56 and clamps the backboard to 
the post 50. The goal support 26 extending below the bottom edge of the 
frame 14 substantially to the post 50. Apertures 28 and 30 align with 
corresponding apertures in the clamp 56 and the horizontal brace 52 
respectively and is secured thereto by fasteners 42. Thus, as in the 
previous embodiment, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 secure the goal 
support bracket 26 to the extended frame structure at two positions 
longitudinally spaced and transmitting forces evenly thereto. 
Another embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is for mounting to a 
horizontally extending strut 60. Typically, this design is used in 
portable units or other floor or base mounted units. The strut 60 extends 
substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backboard. The extended 
backboard frame structure includes merely the horizontal brace 52 secured 
to the frame 14 by fasteners 36 in keyhole slots 18. The goal support 
bracket 26 extends beneath the bottom edge of the goal and along 
horizontal brace 52 and a portion of strut 60. The pairs of longitudinally 
spaced apertures 28 and 30 of the goal support bracket 26 align with 
openings and are secured by fasteners 42 to the strut 60 and the 
horizontal brace 52 respectively. Thus, as in the previous ebodiments, the 
forces experienced by the cantilevered goal are transferred to the 
extended backboard frame and support structure at a minimum of two 
longitudinally spaced positions. 
Although the previously described embodiments provide an improved direct 
mount system, they are not designed to protect the player during a slam 
dunk. 
To yieldably mount the goal to the frame, a resilient device 70 is provided 
on the fasteners 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The resilient device 
70 is a leaf spring having offset planar portion 72 and 74 contacting the 
mounting bracket 26 and the fasteners 43 respectively. A inclined portion 
76 connects the two offset planar portion 72 and 74. A single metal leaf 
spring 70 is used for all four fasteners 42. 
The mounting brackets 26 has been modified from the previous figures with 
the lower surface removed such as it has a U-shaped cross section. This 
allows access to the interior such that the resilient device 70 may be 
mounted therein. The padding 48 extends across and closes the open end of 
the bracket 26. The padding 48 is removable to allow acess to the 
resilient means for assembly/disassembly as well as adjustment. The 
apertures 28 and 30 are enlarged compared to the diameter of the fasteners 
42 such that they may pivot relative thereto. This will allow varying 
amounts of deflection at each of the apertures due to the load on the rim. 
It should be noted that the resilient device 70 should be sufficiently 
stiff to meet the NCAA standard for yieldable goals, namely the yieldable 
goal should have identical rebound characteristics as standard rigid type 
goals. 
Another type of resilient element is illustrated in FIG. 10 as an 
elastomeric 80 connected to all four of the fasteners 42. Plate 82 
separates the head of the fasteners 42 from the elastomer 80. The 
deformation of the elastomeric should meet the requirements described 
above. 
Another alternative, as illustrated in FIG. 11, provides a hinge 90 secured 
to the bracket between the flange 38 and the top wall of the support 
bracket 26. This defines one of the two laterally spaced positions. 
Elastomeric 92 with plate 94 is secured by fastener 42 at the second 
longitudinal space position. As illustrated in FIG. 11, since the 
elastomeric 92 is mounted outside the support bracket 26, individual 
elastomerics 92 are mounted to each of the fasteners 42. 
Although a common resilient element is illustrated in FIGS. 8-9, individual 
resilient elements may be provided on the individual fasteners 42 interior 
the support brackt 26 as illustrated in FIGS. 8-10 or exterior as 
illustrated in FIG. 11. Although a leaf spring has been illustrated in 
FIGS. 8 and 9 and elastomer shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, other type of 
resilient elements may be used as long as they meet the requirement 
described above. 
From the preceding description of the preferred embodiments, it is evident 
that the objects of the invention are attained. Although the invention has 
been described and illustrated with respect to three specific support 
structures, the present invention may be used with other support 
structures. The spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only 
by the terms of the appended claims.