Basketball goal height reducing frame

A frame for securing a substantially typical basketball goal/backboard assembly to a self-supported basketball goal/backboard assembly at a lower height than the self-supported basketball goal/backboard assembly. The frame includes support members for being attached to an auxiliary basketball goal/backboard assembly, hanger members for being attached to the backboard of a self-supported primary basketball goal/backboard assembly, and a truss-like linkage joining the support members and hanger members with the auxiliary basketball goal/backboard assembly positioned lower than the primary basketball goal/backboard assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a removable framing device used to 
regulate the height of a basketball goal and backboard assembly or the 
like. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Heretofore, various basketball goal height reducing devices have been 
patented. U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,104 granted to Killick discloses a 
substantially smaller basketball hoop and backboard attaching to the rim 
of the basketball hoop. Other basketball goal height reducing devices are 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,058 granted to Hilbert et al; U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,330,101 granted to Andersen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,040 granted to 
White; U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,463 granted to Cobb; U.S. Pat. No. 2,039,794 
granted to Hayden; U.S. Pat. No. 1,878,864 granted to Lane et al. None of 
the above mentioned patents disclose or suggest the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The concept of the present invention is to provide a sturdy lightweight 
frame for removably securing an auxiliary basketball goal and backboard 
assembly to an existing primary basketball goal and backboard assembly. 
An object of the present invention is to lower the height of the basketball 
goal and backboard assembly from a 10 foot (3.0 m) height to either a 9 
foot (2.7 m) or an 8.5 foot (2.55 m) height. 
Another object is to provide a safe and sturdy basketball goal and 
backboard assembly that may be used for smaller children. 
A further object is that the frame extends out away from the existing 
basketball goal, therefore, producing a smaller playing court for the 
smaller children. 
Still another object is that the adjustment of the desired height may be 
completed on the floor before the frame is installed on the primary 
basketball goal and backboard assembly. 
The basketball goal height reducing frame includes a linkage means, a 
hanger means for attaching the linkage means to the top of a primary 
basketball goal and backboard assembly, and a support means for securing 
an auxiliary basketball goal and backboard assembly to the linkage means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The basketball goal height reducing frame 11 of the present invention 
includes, in general, a linkage means 13, a hanger means 15 for attachment 
of the linkage means 13 to the backboard 17 of a primary basketball goal 
17', and a support means 19 for securing an auxiliary basketball goal 
21/backboard 21' assembly thereto. (See, in general, FIGS. 1 and 2). 
The linkage means 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a first side truss 
23 including upwardly extending first and second ends 25, 27 with the 
first end 25 being substantially shorter in height relative to the second 
end 27 thereof. The first end 25 is in a vertical position spaced in front 
of the second end 27 and rigidly attached thereto by a plurality of cross 
members 26, 28, and diagonal members 30a, 30b, 30c. The upper end 27' of 
the second end 27 is substantially higher relative to the upper end 25' of 
the first end 25 and the lower end 25" of the first end 25 is 
substantially lower relative to the lower end 27" of the second end 27. 
the first side truss 23 defines one side of the basketball goal height 
reducing frame 11 and in constructed out of a rigid material, such as wood 
or metal, in a manner apparent to those skilled in the art. 
The linkage means 13 includes a second side truss 29 which is identical to 
the first side truss 23 including upwardly extending first and second ends 
31, 33. The vertical first end 31 is positioned in front of the vertical 
second end 33 and rigidly attached thereto by a plurality of cross members 
32, 34 and diagonal members 36a, 36b, 36c. The upper end 33' of the second 
end 33 is substantially higher relative to the upper end 31' of the first 
end 31 and the lower end 31" of the first end 31 is substantially lower 
relative to the lower end 33" of the second end 33. The second end truss 
29 defines another side of the basketball goal height reducing frame 11. 
The linkage means 13 includes a first end truss member 35 comprising a 
first side 37, a second side 39, a top 41 and a bottom 43. The upwardly 
extending first side 37 and second side 39 are positioned in spaced 
relationship opposite one another. The horizontal top 41 is rigidly 
attached at the first end 41' to the upper end of the first side 37 and at 
the second end 41" to the upper end of the second side 39. Likewise, the 
first end 43' of the bottom 43 is rigidly attached to the lower end of the 
first side 37 and the second end 43" is rigidly attached to the lower end 
of the second side 39, therefore, forming an elongated rectangular shaped 
first end truss member 35. 
The first side 37 of the first end truss member 35, the first end 41' of 
the top 41 and the first end 43' of the bottom 43 are fixedly attached to 
the lower end 25" of the first end 25 of the first side truss 23 so that 
the underneath side of the first end 43' of the bottom 43 is aligned with 
the underneath side of the lower end 25" of the first end 25 of the first 
side truss 25 with the first side 37 and first end 41' of the top 41 
extending upwardly therefrom. Similarly, the second side 39, the second 
end 41" of the top 41 and the second end 43" of the bottom 43 is fixedly 
attached to the lower end 31" of the first end 31 of the second side truss 
33 with the underneath side of the second end 43" of the bottom 43 aligned 
with the underneath side of the lower end 31" of the first end 31 of the 
second side truss 29. Thus, the first side truss 23 and the second side 
truss 29 are coupled together with the first end truss 35 forming the 
lower front portion of the basketball goal height reducing frame 11. (See 
FIGS. 1 and 2). 
The frame 11 includes a second end truss member 45 comprising upwardly 
extending first and second sides 47, 49, a horizontal top and bottom 51, 
53 and brace 55. The first end 51' of the top 51 is rigidly attached to 
the upper end of the first side 47, the second end 51" is rigidly attached 
to the upper end of the second side 49, the uppermost portion of the first 
end 53' of the bottom 53 is rigidly attached to the lower end of the first 
side 47 and the second end 53" is rigidly attached to the lower end of the 
second side 49 forming a rectangular shaped second end truss member 45. 
The brace 55 has one end rigidly attached to the underneath corner where 
the first side 47 and the first end 51' of the top converge and runs 
diagonally to the other end that is also rigidly attached to the topside 
of the second end 53" of the bottom 53 where the lower end of the second 
side 49 converge. The diagonally running brace 55 adds strength to the 
rectangular shaped second end truss member 45. 
Looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the second end truss 45 is 
fixedly attached to the first and second side trusses 23, 29 with the 
first side 47, the first end 51' of the top 51, and the first end 53' of 
the bottom 53 being fixedly attached to the upper end 27' of the second 
end 27 of the first side truss 23. The second side 49, the second end 51" 
of the top 51, and the second end 53" of the bottom 53 is fixedly attached 
to the upper end 33' of the second end 33 of the second side truss 29, 
therefore, coupling the first side truss 23 and the second side truss 29 
together. The uppermost part of the top 51 is aligned with the uppermost 
end of the upper end 27' of the first side truss 23, and upper end 33' of 
the second side truss 29 with the bottom 53, the first side 47, and the 
second side 49 extending downwardly therefrom, making a portion of the 
back of the basketball goal height reducing frame 11. 
The linkage means 13 also includes a horizontal first cross truss member 57 
comprising a first side 59, a second side 61, a first end 63, a second end 
65, and a diagonal brace 67. The first side 59 and the second side 61 are 
in parallel spaced relationship and the first end 63 and second end 65 are 
likewise in parallel spaced relationship. The front end 59' of the first 
side 59 is rigidly attached to one side of the first end 63 with the back 
end 59" of the first side 59 being rigidly attached to one side of the 
second end 65. The front end 61' of the second side 61 is rigidly attached 
to the other side of the first end 63 and the back end 61" of the second 
side 61 is rigidly attached to the other side of the second end 65, 
therefore, forming the substantially rectangular first cross truss member 
57. The brace 67 is rigidly attached at one end to the corner where the 
front end 59' of the first side 59 and one side of the first end 63 
converge. The brace 67 adds strength and maintains the rectangular shape 
of the first cross truss member 57. 
The front end 59' of the first side 59 of the first cross truss member 57 
is aligned with and fixedly attached to the uppermost part of the upper 
end 25' of the first end 25 of the first side truss 23 with the first side 
59 running the entire length parallel with the horizontal cross member 26 
and with the back end 59" of the first side 59 being aligned with and 
fixedly attached to the second end 27 of the first side truss 23. The 
front end 61' of the second side 61 of the first cross truss member 57 is 
fixedly attached to and aligned with the opposite uppermost part of the 
upper end 31' of the first end 31 of the second side truss 29 with the 
second side 61 running the entire length parallel with the horizontal 
cross member 32 and with the back end 61" of the second side 61 aligned 
with and fixedly attached in a manner apparent to those skilled in the art 
to the second end 33 of the second side truss 29. 
The first cross truss member 57 is the top horizontal cross truss member 
and positioned so that the first end 61 is perpendicular to the first end 
25 of the vertical first side truss 23 and the first end 31 of the 
vertical second side truss 29. 
The linkage means 13 inludes a second cross truss member 69 which lies 
substantially below and parallel with the first cross truss member 57 and 
is identical in shape and construction thereto. The second cross truss 
member 69 comprises a first side 71, a second side 73, a first end 75, a 
second end 77, and a diagonal brace 79. The first end 75 is rigidly 
attached at one end to the front end 71' of the first side 71 with the 
other end being rigidly attached to the front end 73' of the second side 
73 to constitute the front thereof. The second end 77 is rigidly attached 
at one end to the back end 71" of the first side 71 and the other end is 
rigidly attached to the back end 73" of the second side 73 constituting 
the back portion of the second cross truss member 69. The brace 79 runs 
diagonally from the corner where the front end 71' of the first side 71 
and the first end 75 converge to the opposite back corner where the back 
end 73" of the second side 73 and the second end 77 converge. The brace 79 
strengthens the second cross truss member 69 and maintains the rectangular 
shape thereof. The second cross truss member 67 is fixedly attached at one 
side to the first side truss 23 and the other side is fixedly attached to 
the second side truss 29. More specifically, the front end 71' of the 
first side 71 is aligned with and fixedly attached substantially to the 
center of the first end 25 of the first side truss 23 with the first side 
71 running the entire length of the cross member 28 and which the back end 
71" aligned with the lower end 27" of the second end 27 of the first side 
truss member 23. The front end 73' of the second side 73 is aligned with 
and fixedly attached substantially to the center of the first end 31 of 
the second side truss 29 with the second side 73 running along the entire 
length of the cross member 34 and with the back end 73" aligned with and 
fixedly attached thereto the lower end 33" of the second end 33 of the 
second side truss 29. 
The second cross truss member 69 is spaced at a substantial distance below 
the first cross truss member 57, therefore, creating a cavity of 
sufficient size as to allow the primary basketball goal 17' to fit therein 
between the upper first cross truss member 57 and the lower second cross 
truss member 69 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. 
The second cross truss member 69 has a safety strap means 81 fixedly 
attached by any manner, such as a bolt and nut means 82 (as shown in FIGS. 
4 and 5), to the center of the second end 77 for securely strapping the 
basketball goal height reducing frame 11 to the frame 17" of the primary 
basketball goal and backboard assembly 17. As shown in FIG. 5, the 
elongated safety strap means 81 may consist of an elongated length of a 
flat belting material having first and second ends 81', 81", respectively, 
with a pair of substantially circular locking rings fixedly attached to 
the second end 81" in a manner apparent to those skilled in the art. The 
safety strap means 81 may be of the type commonly used on most backpacks 
and sporting gear for allowing a fast hookup and easy release thereof in a 
manner well-known to those skilled in the art. 
The hanger means 15 includes a first hook member 83 fixedly attached to the 
back upper end 27' of the second end 27' of the second end 27 of the first 
side truss 23 for being hooked over the top edge of the backboard assembly 
17 of the primary basketball goal 17' and a second hook member 85 fixedly 
attached to the back upper end 33' of the second end 33 of the second side 
truss 29 for being hooked over the top edge of the backboard assembly 17 
of the primary basketball goal 17'. The first and second hook members 83, 
85 may be constructed out of a rigid metal stock and bent in a manner as 
to form upside down J-shaped brackets. Therefore, one side (preferably the 
longest side) of the brackets are respectively fixedly attached in a 
manner apparent to those skilled in the art to the back upper end 27' of 
the second end 27 of the first side truss 23 and to the back upper end 33' 
of the second end 33 of the second side truss 29 and with the intermediate 
portions of brackets 83, 85 resting on the top edge of the backboard 
assembly 17, therefore, supporting the weight of the basketball height 
reducing frame 11, and with the other ends of the brackets 83, 85 being 
engaged behind the top edge of the backboard assembly 17 hooking the frame 
11 thereon. (See FIGS. 1, 2 and 6). 
When the basketball goal height reducing frame 11 is hooked over the top 
edge of the backboard assembly 17, the primary basketball goal 17' fits 
into the cavity between the first cross truss member 57 and the second 
cross truss member 69, therefore placing the safety strap means 81 
substantially close to the bottom of the backboard assembly 17 so that 
safety strap means 81 may be placed under the backboard assembly 17 and 
around the primary basketball goal frame 17" and attached thereto in a 
manner well-known to those skilled in the art. (See FIG. 5). 
Support means 19 includes a pair of upwardly extending first and second 
support members 87, 89 fixedly attached to the front of the basketball 
goal height reducing frame 11. The first support member 87 is fixedly 
attached substantially to the left side of the first end 63 of the first 
cross truss member 57, the first end 75 of the second cross truss member 
69, the top 41 of the first end truss member 35, and the bottom 43 of the 
first end truss member 35. The second support member 89 is fixedly 
attached substantially to the right side of the frame 11 to the first end 
63 of the first cross truss member 57, the first end 75 of the second 
cross truss member 69, the top 41 of the first end truss member 35, and 
the bottom 43 of the first end truss member 35 in a manner apparent to 
those skilled in the art. (See FIG. 1). The support members 87, 89 are 
substantially the same height in respect to the first end 25 of the first 
side truss 23 and the first side 31 of the second side truss 29. The first 
and second support members 87, 89 have a plurality of apertures 
therethrough through which may be extended the bolt means 91 for securing 
an auxiliary basketball goal 21 and backboard 21' thereto at various 
heights. When desiring the 8.5 foot (2.55 m) height, the bolt means 91 are 
extended through aperture 93 and when desiring the 9 foot (2.7 m) height, 
the bolt means 91 are extended through apertures 95. The first and second 
support members 87, 89 are spaced apart at a distance parallel to one 
another in a manner apparent to those skilled in the art. 
The rigid construction of the first side truss 23, the second side truss 
29, the first end truss member 35, the second end truss member 45, the 
first cross truss member 57, the second cross truss member 69 along with 
the support members 87, 89 allows ease in the manufacturing and shipping 
of the basketball goal height reducing frame 11, and also allows the user 
or purchaser to quickly put the frame 11 together. 
The basketball goal height reducing frame 11 may be easily installed on the 
primary basketball goal 17' and backboard assembly 17 by simply lifting 
the frame 11 up and resting horizontal bottom 53 of second end truss 45 on 
the primary basketball goal 17' and letting it hang there while a ladder, 
etc. is obtained to stand on so that the basketball goal height reducing 
frame 11 may be lifted higher to hook the hanger means 15 over the top of 
the primary backboard assembly 17. Then the safety strap means 81 thereof 
is fastened. To remove the basketball height reducing frame 11 from the 
primary basketball goal 17' and backboard assembly 17 you simply release 
the safety strap means 81 and lift the frame 11 up and out, therefore, 
unhooking the hanger means 15 from the top edge of the primary backboard 
17. When the frame 11 is away from the backboard 17 just lower the frame 
11 down and place horizontal bottom 53 of second end truss 45 on the 
primary basketball goal 17' letting it hang there until you get down off 
the ladder, etc. and on to the floor. Then the frame 11 is lifted up and 
out to remove horizontal bottom 53 of second end truss 45 from the primary 
goal 17'. The frame 11 is then placed on the floor. 
The entire job of removing or replacing the frame 11 is easily done by two 
men. Also, note that no damage or alterations are done to the primary 
basketball goal 17' which is protected in the cavity of the frame 11. 
The basketball height reducing frame 11 is not limited for use only on 
backboards or in gymnasiums but may also be installed on any framework 
that would allow the hanger means 15 to be placed over the top thereof. 
As thus constructed, the basketball goal height reducing frame 11 provides 
a safe, sturdy, lightweight frame for the attachment of a regulation size 
auxiliary basketball goal 21 and backboard assembly 21', therefore, 
allowing smaller children to play the game of basketball at a reduced 
height thereby developing their playing skill that they can use later in 
life. 
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a 
preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and 
modifications can be made which are within the full intended scope of the 
invention.