Patent Publication Number: US-2009227402-A1

Title: Foldable basketball shooting device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an arcade-type basketball shooting device, more particularly to a foldable basketball shooting device which is used outdoor and easily unfolded to a ready-for-play position or folded into a storage position. 
     2. Description of Related Invention 
     Conventionally, the basketball shooter device comprises merely a basket and a backboard fixedly hanging on a stable object making it unable to be portable. Additionally, another improvement provides multi-sectional combination of frame structure which must be assembled or detached one by one of each section thereof, more particularly, most users find such improvement inconvenient and unable to complete the assembling and folding process alone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages, the present invention relates to an improvement of a foldable arcade basketball shooting device which mainly utilizes a hoop, a backboard, foldable frame structures, two side fabric guards and a fabric bottom. The present invention enables the rapid process of being extended to ready-for-play position and folded into a storage position to scale down the size by providing collapsible joints pivotally connected among each frames. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESPCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the frame structure disclosed in  FIG.1  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2-1  is a perspective view of the frame structure in folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of the frame structure of the first folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of the frame structure of the second folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing of the frame structure of the third folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing of the frame structure of the fourth folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing of the fifth frame structure in folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7-1  is a schematic drawing of the fourth frame structure in folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1  to  FIG. 7-1  of the drawings, the present invention includes a backboard ( 10 ), a hoop ( 20 ), foldable frame structures ( 30 ), a pair of side fabric guards ( 50 ) and a fabric bottom ( 60 ), wherein the hoop ( 20 ) is secured to the backboard ( 10 ) and the backboard ( 10 ) which is installed with a pair of vertical and parallel upright frame bars ( 12 ) in the back thereof utilizes four foldable boards ( 11 ) presenting in rectangular shape when in ready-for-play position. 
     Foldable frame structures ( 30 ) include two pairs of side frame bars ( 31 ), three pairs of upper supporting legs ( 32 ), first pair of lower supporting legs ( 33 ), second pair of lower supporting legs ( 34 ), and third pair of lower supporting legs ( 35 ), accompanied with first pair of collapsible joints ( 36 ), second pair of collapsible joints ( 37 ), third pair of collapsible joints ( 38 ) and three crossed connecting joint members ( 40 ), wherein the side frame bars ( 31 ), the upper supporting legs ( 32 ), the first, second and the third pair of lower supporting legs ( 33 ,  34 ,  35 ) are totally in different length of cylinder bars respectively. More particularly, the length of the first pair of lower supporting legs ( 33 ) are shorter than the second pair of lower supporting legs ( 34 ) which are sequentially shorter than the third pair of lower supporting legs ( 35 ), wherein three pairs of the lower supporting legs ( 33 ,  34 ,  35 ) are suitably and respectively engaged with three pairs of the upper supporting legs ( 32 ) by utilizing three crossed connecting joint members ( 40 ) respectively. At the bottom of each pair of lower supporting legs ( 33 ,  34 ,  35 ) are installed with base plates ( 70 ). Two pairs of side frame bars ( 31 ) are pivotally connected with each other by the second pair of collapsible joints ( 37 ) there between. Each pair of upper supporting legs ( 32 ) are respectively engaged with the side frame bars ( 31 ) by pivotally connected with the first, second and third pairs of collapsible joints ( 36 ,  37 ,  38 ). First pair of intra-leg foldable joints ( 341 ) is relatively provided in the middle of the second pair of supporting legs ( 34 ), and second pair of intra-leg foldable joints ( 351 ) are relatively provided in the middle of the third pair of supporting leg ( 35 ). Three crossed connecting joint members ( 40 ) are respectively composed of two plates ( 41 ) which have pin holes ( 411 ) correspondingly located at the crossed section thereof and pivotally engaged with each other. 
     The function of preventing basketballs from dropping off is provided by a pair of side fabric guards ( 50 ) and the fabric bottom ( 60 ), with the pair of side fabric guards ( 50 ) respectively inclining from the distal to the proximate end of the side frame bars ( 31 ) by extending upwardly from the side frame bars ( 31 ) and suitably attached to both side edges of the backboard ( 10 ). As for catching the returned basketballs, it is permitted by the fabric bottom ( 60 ) attached to and extending along inner edges of the side frame bars ( 31 ) from one end to another and up to the edges of the backboard ( 10 ) 
     The backboard ( 10 ) comprises four foldable boards ( 11 ) being pivotally mounted to each other by providing locking plates installed among each of the foldable boards ( 11 ). Two upright frame bars ( 12 ) are suitably attached to the back of the backboard ( 10 ) and each of them is mounted on third pair of collapsible joints ( 38 ). 
     The storage position is provided by pulling out the upright frame bars ( 12 ) from the third pair of collapsible joints ( 38 ) and removing the backboard ( 10 ) along with detaching the hoop ( 20 ) therefrom. Further, each side frame bars ( 31 ) is pivotally pressed inwardly against each other, together with three pairs of collapsible joints ( 36 ,  37 ,  38 ), each pair of the upper supporting legs ( 32 ) and three pairs of lower supporting legs ( 33 ,  34 ,  35 ). The upper supporting legs ( 32 ) are pivotally folded upwardly leaning on the side frame bars ( 31 ) against the first pair of collapsible joints ( 36 ). The section of side frame bars ( 31 ) between the first and second pair of collapsible joints ( 36 ,  37 ) is pivotally folded downward leaning on the upper supporting legs ( 32 ) and the first pair of lower supporting legs against the second pair of collapsible joints ( 37 ). The lower ends of third pair of lower supporting legs ( 35 ) are outwardly folded in half leaning on each other against the intra-leg foldable joints ( 351 ). The upper supporting leg ( 32 ) is pivotally folded toward the second pair of lower supporting leg ( 34 ) against the third pair of collapsible joint ( 38 ). The side frame bars ( 31 ) positioned between the second and the third pair of collapsible joints ( 37 ,  38 ) are bended downwardly leaning on the upper supporting legs ( 32 ) and the second pair of lower supporting legs ( 34 ) against the third collapsible joint ( 38 ). Eventually, the end of the second pair of lower supporting legs ( 34 ) is folded outwardly in half against the intra-leg foldable joint ( 341 ) so as to complete the folding process into storage position.