Trailer hitch assembly for support of a basketball backboard or net assembly

A support assembly cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch for allowing the temporary erection of sports equipment such as a basketball post, backboard and net, or supports for volleyball or badminton, the support assembly comprising a T-shaped tubular support member having a horizontal member and a vertical member, the horizontal member having a tubular cross section cooperative with the internal diameter of a tubular trailer hitch for the slidable engagement thereof and the vertical tubular member being of a cross section and length sufficient enough to support a basketball backboard and net at a regulation height, in one embodiment, the vertical member being hinged at its mid section so as to allow transport of the assembly without having to remove it from the trailer hitch, and in another embodiment, the vertical member being telescopic and having a crank and pulley mechanism associated therewith in which the support assembly is transported in a non-telescopic mode and then raised to the regulation height of a basket for play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a support assembly for supporting a basketball post and basketball backboard or volleyball or badminton net in an erect orientation, and more particularly, to a support assembly cooperative with a vehicular mounted trailer hitch to permit the erection of the assembly wherever so desired.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The popularity of the sport of basketball is well documented. College and professional basketball dominate the sport scenes during the winter months and these games are played on a court within large arenas. On the local level, basketball is most often played in school gyms, YMCA's and other health club facilities that have sufficient space in which to position a basketball court. These facilities are not always available to the general public unless a membership is obtained or players pay a fee for usage thereof.

Outdoor courts and outdoor baskets are oftentimes erected in public parks for the public to utilize when the weather permits. In addition, basketball net and backboard assemblies have become popular recently in a kit form in which a base member is filled with ballast such as water or sand to maintain the basketball backboard and net in position. These assemblies can be seen on many driveways and at curbside where the individuals utilize the street as the basketball court.

In all of the preceding, the court is either in a fixed position or the basketball backboard and net assembly is of such a cumbersome design that it cannot easily be transported. Therefore there has been a need for the ability to easily transport and erect a basketball post supporting a basketball backboard and basketball net for use on a paved area which is not heavily used by vehicular traffic in order that one could develop one's dexterity in handling and shooting a basketball. Heretofore, no such assembly was available. Applicant's assembly utilizes a trailer hitch on a vehicle to support a basketball post, basketball backboard and basketball net, the assembly being easily erected once the vehicle is stationary at the desired location. The basketball post, backboard and net assembly is easily foldable for transportation by the vehicle to and from the desired location.

The same assembly with little or no modification can be used to support a volley ball or badminton net for play in a suitable area.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel support assembly cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the temporary erection of a basketball post, backboard and net assembly in an open area such as a vacant parking lot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel support assembly for the temporary erection of a basketball post, backboard and net assembly which is easily set up and easily broken down in a minimal amount of time.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel support assembly for sports which are cooperative with a variety of vehicular mounted trailer hitches.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel support assembly cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch to permit the temporary erection of a basketball post, backboard and net assembly so as to increase the availability of a basketball area for playing, teaching, and/or introducing the sport to individuals.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel support assembly cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch which allows for the temporary erection of a volleyball or badminton net assembly in an open area such as a vacant parking lot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A support assembly cooperative with a vehicular trailer hitch for allowing the temporary erection of sports equipment such as a basketball post, backboard and net, or supports for volleyball or badminton, the support assembly comprising a T-shaped tubular support member having a horizontal member and a vertical member, the horizontal member having a tubular cross section cooperative with the internal diameter of a tubular trailer hitch for the slidable engagement thereof and the vertical tubular member being of a cross section and length sufficient enough to support a basketball backboard and net at a regulation height, in one embodiment, the vertical member being hinged at its mid section so as to allow transport of the assembly without having to remove it from the trailer hitch, and in another embodiment, the vertical member being telescopic and having a crank and pulley mechanism associated therewith in which the support assembly is transported in a non-telescopic mode and then raised to the regulation height of a basket for play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a side view of a portion of the support member cooperating with a trailer hitch. The present invention comprises a support member10in cooperation with a vehicular trailer hitch12mounted to the underside of the rear bumper of a vehicle to support a basketball backboard and net in an erect orientation having regulation height. Support member10is a tubular member comprising a vertical tubular member14and a horizontal tubular member16. Horizontal tubular member16is approximately 2 inches square in cross section so as to be slidably accommodatable within a standard two square inch inner diameter trailer hitch12normally found secured to the rear of a vehicle beneath the bumper. The trailer hitch12normally comes standard with aligned apertures18formed in opposing side walls22. Apertures18are in alignment and accommodate a locking pin26which passes through and can be secured by a cotter pin28at one end. Horizontal arm member16is formed with apertures30in opposing side walls34, apertures30being registerably alignable with the apertures18in trailer hitch12such that locking pin26can pass through the apertures and secure support member10to the trailer hitch with vertical tubular member14in a vertical orientation.

In the folding embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, vertical tubular member14is square in cross sectional area and of a length sufficient to support a basketball backboard40and basketball net42or a volley ball or badminton net43at the regulation height of ten feet. The length of vertical tubular member14is such that the clearance from the ground to the trailer hitch12is factored into its height.

The basketball backboard40and attached basketball net42are secured to the upper end44of vertical tubular member14by a plurality of brackets46secured to a back plate45which backplate45is hingably secured47to the rear face41of backboard40allowing backboard40to be swiveled to a vertical position when in the folded transport mode ofFIG. 3. Vertical tubular member14is also hinged48at its proximate midsection thereby defining the upper end50of vertical tubular member14and the lower end52of vertical tubular member14(SeeFIG. 4). In the erect upright position a locking pin54is cooperative with upstanding fingers56and an aperture51therethrough alignable with an aperture59in upper end50of vertical tubular member14to maintain the upper and lower ends50and52of vertical tubular member14in a secure and erect position. When play is discontinued, the pin54is removed and the upper member50together with backboard40and basketball net42are hingeably pivoted downwardly and backboard40is rotated on hinge47to a vertical position with basket42facing away from the rear of the vehicle. The non-erect support member10can then be secured by bungee cords or the like and the vehicle can be used in a normal course intended. Additional vertical support and integrity for vertical tubular member14may be achieved by the addition of an angled, gusset like support bar53between horizontal member14and lower ends51of vertical member14. Alternatively, the additional integrity and support could be achieved by a plurality of bungee cords secured between vertical member14and the vehicle bumper.

In another embodiment of the support member illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the support assembly10includes a crank70, gear72, ratchet74and pulley assembly76. In this embodiment there is a horizontal tubular member16cooperative with the trailer hitch12. However, there are two vertical support members. A first tubular member78is rectangular in cross section and approximately one inch square. This tubular member78is manually telescopic, having a plurality of alignable apertures80in first lower member82and upper member84. Lower member82is secured to vertical tubular member14. Positioned atop upper member84of vertical member78is a pulley76and cable means77, secured to a crank70, gear72and ratchet74assembly positioned on the lower end86of vertical support member88. In operation, the upper member84of vertical support member78would be telescopically enclosed within the lower end82when not in use and the upper end of the support member88would be telescopically enclosed within the lower end86. Upon reaching a location in which play was desired, the user would first extend the upper end84of telescopic member78and secure it in position with pin81. Telescopic member78is meant to extend to a height greater than the regulation height of a basketball net in order to provide leverage to raise the basketball backboard and net. Once support member78was in position, the user would utilize crank70, gear72, and ratchet74to raise the upper member of support member88to which the backboard40and basketball net42were attached to the regulation height. Play would then commence. When play was finished, the user would reverse the process by releasing the ratchet74and lower upper member88, backboard40and net42until upper member88was telescopically enclosed within lower member86. The user would then release the pin81, securing upper and lower members82and84of support member78and manually lower the upper member84telescopically into the lower member82, while at the same time taking up the slack on the cable by means of the crank70.

An additional feature of the apparatus could include a horizontal pivot arm,FIGS. 7 and 8, which would allow for the assembly to be pivotally swung from alignment with the trailer hitch12to a position where the vertical support members are in alignment with the side of the vehicle, thus allowing access to the rear door or hatch of the vehicle.

FIG. 7is a front view andFIG. 8is a top view of a pivot member horizontal arm for use in either embodiment which allows for the erected basketball backboard assembly or net assembly to be pivoted out of the way in order that the user may gain access to the rear of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the horizontal tubular member16is slidably secured within the trailer hitch12. Horizontal tubular member16is then secured to a second horizontal tubular member17at a right angle thereto forming an L-shaped member, horizontal tubular member16and perpendicular horizontal tubular member17. Positioned on top of horizontal tubular member17is a third horizontal tubular member19pivotally secured to horizontal tubular member17at pivot point21. At end23of horizontal tubular member19there is secured vertical member14of either the first or second embodiment type disclosed herein.

Second horizontal tubular member17and third horizontal tubular member19are maintained in coextensive position by a locking pin25which is securable through alignable apertures in the upper surface and lower surface of third horizontal tubular member19and the upper surface of second horizontal tubular member17. In this configuration if while the game is in progress or the assembly remains secured to the vehicle in a non-erect mode, but access to the rear of the vehicle is desired, the locking pin25can be removed and the entire assembly swung outwardly about pivot point21to allow access to the rear of the vehicle.

One final aspect of the invention as an accessory thereto would be an expandable fan-shaped netting27which could be secured to vertical tubular member14or bracket46which could be expanded in a fan-like manner when play is in progress so as to prevent an errant shot from striking the vehicle and causing damage. The fan-like net27would fold to a vertical closed position and be slidably engageable on vertical tubular member14when not in use and raised an extended and spread in fan-like manner when in use.

The present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.