Patent Publication Number: US-6991568-B1

Title: Height adjustable basketball frame structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a basketball frame structure, and more particularly to a height adjustable basketball frame structure. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A conventional basketball frame structure comprises a padded base, a column mounted on the padded base, a support unit mounted on the column, a brace member mounted on the support unit, and a backboard mounted on the brace member. However, the backboard has a fixed height that cannot be adjusted to fit requirements of users of different ages and heights, thereby decreasing the versatility of the conventional basketball frame structure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a basketball frame structure, comprising:
         a backboard;   two fixing plates each mounted on the backboard;   a base located below the backboard;   two first upright rods each mounted on a first end of the base;   two second upright rods each mounted on a second end of the base;   two first links each having a first end pivotally mounted on an upper end of a respective one of the two first upright rods and a second end pivotally mounted on a first end of a respective one of the two fixing plates;   an adjusting bar having a first end movably mounted between the two second upright rods; and   two second links each having a first end pivotally mounted on a second end of the adjusting bar, a mediate portion pivotally mounted on a respective one of the two first upright rods and a second end pivotally mounted on a second end of a respective one of the two fixing plates.       

   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a height adjustable basketball frame structure. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a basketball frame structure, wherein the height of the backboard is changed easily and conveniently by movement of the adjusting bar, thereby facilitating a user adjusting the height of the backboard. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a basketball frame structure, wherein when the adjusting bar is moved, the positioning bolt is slidable in the slideway of the adjusting bar and detachably locked in either one of the retaining slots of the adjusting bar, so that the height of the backboard is changed in a multi-stage manner so as to fit requirements of different users. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a basketball frame structure, wherein the weights are used to support the basketball frame structure rigidly and stably. 
   Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a basketball frame structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partially perspective enlarged view of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective enlarged view of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic operational view of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a weight of the basketball frame structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective assembly view of the weight of the basketball frame structure as shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
       FIG. 10  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a basketball frame structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1–6 , a height adjustable basketball frame structure  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a backboard  20 , two fixing plates  21  each mounted on the backboard  20 , a base  10  located below the backboard  20 , two first upright rods  11  each mounted on a first end of the base  10 , two second upright rods  12  each mounted on a second end of the base  10 , two first links  14  each having a first end pivotally mounted on an upper end of a respective one of the two first upright rods  11  and a second end pivotally mounted on a first end of a respective one of the two fixing plates  21 , an adjusting bar  30  having a first end movably mounted between the two second upright rods  12 , and two second links  15  each having a first end pivotally mounted on a second end of the adjusting bar  30 , a mediate portion pivotally mounted on a respective one of the two first upright rods  11  and a second end pivotally mounted on a second end of a respective one of the two fixing plates  21 . 
   A reinforcing bar  13  is mounted between the two first upright rods  11  and the two second upright rods  12 . The first end of the adjusting bar  30  is formed with a longitudinally arranged slideway  31  having a wall formed with a plurality of transversely arranged oblique retaining slots  32 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the basketball frame structure  10  further comprises a fixing plate  41  fixed on the reinforcing bar  13 , a positioning bolt  40  extended through the fixing plate  41 , the reinforcing bar  13 , the slideway  31  of the adjusting bar  30  and the two second upright rods  12  and detachably locked in either one of the retaining slots  32  of the adjusting bar  30 , and a control handle  42  fixed on the positioning bolt  40  and urged on the two second upright rods  12  to position the adjusting bar  30  between the two second upright rods  12 . 
   The fixing plate  41  is formed with a hexagonal hole  44 , and the positioning bolt  40  has a first end formed with a hexagonal head  45  secured in the hexagonal hole  44  of the fixing plate  41 . The positioning bolt  40  has a second end formed with an outer thread  46 , and the control handle  42  has an end formed with a screw bore  43  screwed onto the outer thread  46  of the positioning bolt  40 . 
   When the control handle  42  is unscrewed from the positioning bolt  40 , the adjusting bar  30  is movable between the two second upright rods  12 , and the positioning bolt  40  is slidable in the slideway  31  of the adjusting bar  30  and detachably locked in either one of the retaining slots  32  of the adjusting bar  30 . 
   In operation, referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  with reference to  FIGS. 1–5 , when the control handle  42  is unscrewed from the positioning bolt  40 , the adjusting bar  30  is movable relative to the two second upright rods  12  to drive the two second links  15  and the two first links  14  to move from the position as shown in  FIG. 6  to the position as shown in  FIG. 7  so as to change the position of the backboard  20 , so that the height of the backboard  20  is changed easily and conveniently by movement of the adjusting bar  30 , thereby facilitating a user adjusting the height of the backboard  20 . In addition, when the adjusting bar  30  is moved, the positioning bolt  40  is slidable in the slideway  31  of the adjusting bar  30  and detachably locked in either one of the retaining slots  32  of the adjusting bar  30 , so that the height of the backboard  20  is changed in a multi-stage manner so as to fit requirements of different users. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  with reference to  FIG. 1 , the basketball frame structure  10  further comprises a plurality of hollow weights  50  mounted on the base  10 , the first upright rods  11  and the second upright rods  12  to support the basketball frame structure  10  rigidly and stably. Each of the weights  50  is inflatable and expandable and has a corrugated shape. Each of the weights  50  has a central portion formed with a mounting hole  51  mounted on the base  10 , the first upright rods  11  and the second upright rods  12  and has a periphery formed with a slit  52  communicating with the mounting hole  51  to facilitate each of the weights  50  being mounted on the base  10 , the first upright rods  11  and the second upright rods  12 . Each of the weights  50  has an end formed with a filling port  53  for filling sand, water or the like into the inside of each of the weights  50  so as to inflate each of the weights  50 . A plug  54  is removably inserted into the filling port  53  of each of the weights  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , the slit  52  is undefined, and each of the weights  50  is integrally formed on the base  10 , the first upright rods  11  and the second upright rods  12  during the manufacturing process. 
   Accordingly, the height of the backboard  20  is changed easily and conveniently by movement of the adjusting bar  30 , thereby facilitating a user adjusting the height of the backboard  20 . In addition, when the adjusting bar  30  is moved, the positioning bolt  40  is slidable in the slideway  31  of the adjusting bar  30  and detachably locked in either one of the retaining slots  32  of the adjusting bar  30 , so that the height of the backboard  20  is changed in a multi-stage manner so as to fit requirements of different users. Further, the weights  50  are used to support the basketball frame structure  10  rigidly and stably. 
   Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.