Patent Publication Number: US-11045704-B2

Title: Adjustable wall mount assembly for a basketball goal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 62/458,054, which was filed Feb. 13, 2017. The aforementioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application to the extent consistent with the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Basketball goals are frequently used in areas outside of professional basketball arenas. These basketball goals are typically mounted to a pole or wall, and may include a mechanism to adjust the height of the goal. While such basketball goals are functional, the mounting system for wall mounted goals typically runs through the middle of the backboard. Unlike the goals used in professional basketball arenas, the view through the backboard of a typical adjustable, wall-mounted goal is obstructed by one or more cross members running across the back of the backboard. What is needed, therefore, is a wall mount for an adjustable basketball goal that provides an unobstructed view though the backboard, providing an experience closer to that of a professional basketball arena. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an adjustable wall mount assembly for a basketball goal. The adjustable wall mount assembly may include a frame having opposing side members, a pair of supports, an actuator, a pair of actuator brackets, and a support bracket. Each support may be rotatably coupled to a respective side member of the frame at a first end and adapted to be rotatably coupled to a backboard at a second end. Each actuator bracket may be rotatably coupled to the frame at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a second end thereof. The support bracket may be adapted to be rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to the backboard, rotatably coupled to the frame at a second end thereof, and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a point intermediate the first and second ends thereof. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide an adjustable basketball goal. The adjustable basketball goal may include a backboard and a wall mount assembly. The backboard may include a backboard frame, a panel retained by the backboard frame, and a rim assembly coupled to the backboard frame. The wall mount assembly may include a frame having opposing side members, a pair of supports, an actuator, a pair of actuator brackets, and a support bracket. Each support may be rotatably coupled to a respective side member of the frame at a first end and rotatably coupled to the backboard at a second end. Each actuator bracket may be rotatably coupled to the frame at one end thereof and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a second end thereof. The support bracket may be rotatably coupled at a first end thereof to the backboard, rotatably coupled to the frame at a second end thereof, and rotatably coupled to the actuator at a point intermediate the first and second ends thereof. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may further provide an adjustable basketball goal. The adjustable basketball goal may include a wall mount assembly and a backboard. The wall mount assembly may include a frame, a first actuator bracket, a second actuator bracket, a first support, a second support, a support bracket, and an actuator. The first actuator bracket and the second actuator bracket may each be rotatably coupled to the frame. The first support, the second support, and the support bracket may each have a first end that is rotatably coupled to the frame. The actuator may include an outer cylinder and an inner rod. The outer cylinder may be rotatably coupled to the support bracket. The inner rod maybe partially disposed within the outer cylinder and rotatably coupled to the first actuator bracket and the second actuator bracket. The backboard may include a backboard frame, a panel, and a rim assembly. The backboard frame may include a first side member, a second side member, and a mounting bracket. The first side member may be rotatably coupled to a second end of the first support, the second side member may be rotatably coupled to a second end of the second support, and the mounting bracket may be rotatably coupled to a second end of the support bracket. The panel may be retained by the backboard frame and the rim assembly may be coupled to the backboard frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of an adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal, according to one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the adjustable wall mount assembly of  FIG. 1  with the backboard omitted. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an actuator, as may be used in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the backboard frame and the adjustable wall mount assembly of  FIG. 1  from the obverse perspective. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the exemplary embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. Furthermore, as it is used in the claims or specification, the term “or” is intended to encompass both exclusive and inclusive cases, i.e., “A or B” is intended to be synonymous with “at least one of A and B,” unless otherwise expressly specified herein. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of an adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100 , according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The adjustable wall-mounted basketball goal  100  may include an adjustable wall mount assembly  102  and a backboard  104 . The adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may include an actuator  106 , which will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 2  below. The adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may be removably coupled to a wall or support structure (not shown) using fasteners  108  such as anchors, screws, or bolts. 
     The example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes four fasteners  108  on each of the side of the adjustable wall mount assembly  102 . The fasteners  108  are used to removably mount the basketball goal  100  to a wall. Other embodiments may have two, three, five, or more fasteners  108  on each side, or have fasteners  108  on all four sides of the adjustable wall mount assembly  102 . In other embodiments, the fasteners  108  may be omitted and the adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may be permanently affixed to the wall or support structure through welding or other similar methods. 
     The backboard  104  may include a backboard frame  110  surrounding a panel  112 . In some embodiments, the backboard frame  110  may include a top member  114 , a bottom member  116 , and two side members  118 . In other embodiments, the backboard frame  110  may include a lower, u-shaped member (not shown) positioned around the perimeter of the panel  112  and a top member  114 . The individual members  114 ,  116 ,  118  may be coupled together using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. 
     The backboard frame  110  may include an outer frame that is coupled to a structural inner frame (not shown). The outer frame and inner frame may be coupled to one another using bolts, adhesives, welds, or other similar means. The outer frame may be made of aluminum or other similar lightweight material and the inner frame may be made of steel, iron, or other similar metal. The frame  110  may further include a bumper  120  coupled to the bottom member  116  and at least a portion of the side members  118 . The bumper  120  may be made out of rubber, foam, or other similar material, as is known in the art. 
     The backboard frame  110  may further include a groove (not shown) on the interior surface  122  configured to receive and retain the panel  112 . The panel  112  may be inserted into the groove prior to the top member  114  being coupled to the side members  118 . Other embodiments of the backboard frame  110  may have an inner shelf in addition to, or in place of, the groove that provides a surface to bond the panel  112  to the backboard frame  110  using glue, epoxy, and the like. 
     The panel  112  may be made of a clear material, such as glass, tempered glass, plexiglass, or polycarbonate. This may allow a clear view through the panel  112 . Additionally, a variety of suitable materials are known in the art for this purpose and any such material may be used for the panel  112 . The panel  112  may further include a horizontally centered and vertically offset square or rectangular target  124 . The target  124  may be painted onto the panel  112 , etched into the panel  112 , or may be a sticker adhered to the panel  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a rim assembly  126  may be coupled to the backboard  104 . The rim assembly  126  may include a mounting plate  128  and a hoop  130 . The mounting plate  128  may be coupled to the backboard frame  110  using bolts, adhesives, welds, or other similar means. The mounting plate  128  may also be coupled to the panel  112  using bolts or adhesives. In some embodiments, a cloth or chain net (not shown) may be attached to the hoop  130 . 
     The rim assembly  126  may be a fixed type rim assembly as shown in the exemplary embodiment, with the mounting plate  128  and hoop  130  rigidly coupled together. In other embodiments, the rim assembly  126  may be a collapsible style rim assembly. A collapsible style rim assembly may allow the hoop  130  to flex independently of the mounting plate  128 , allowing the rim assembly  126  to absorb some of the force when the hoop  130  is pulled. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , with continued reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  illustrates the adjustable wall mount assembly  102  of  FIG. 1  with the backboard  104  omitted. The adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may include a frame  202 , two supports  204 , two actuator brackets  206 , a lower support bracket  208 , and the actuator  106 . In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame  202  is rectangular; however, other embodiments of the frame may be an oval or other geometric shape. Other embodiments of the adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may include more than two supports  204  and actuator brackets  206 , more than one lower support bracket  208 , or any combination thereof. 
     The frame  202  may include two side members  210  (one shown), a top member  212 , and a bottom member  214 . The side members  210 , top member  212 , and bottom member  214  may be coupled together using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The top member  212  and bottom member  214  may each have a flange  216  extending away from the frame  202 . In other embodiments, the flange  216  may be omitted. 
     The frame  202  may further include two vertical members  218  extending between the top member  212  and the bottom member  214 , and coupled to the frame  202  using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. Other embodiments of the frame  202  may include one, three, or more vertical members  218 , or the vertical members  218  may be omitted. In another embodiment, horizontal members (not shown) may extend between the side members  210  in addition to or instead of the vertical members  218 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lower support bracket  208  is coupled to the vertical members  218 . The lower support bracket  208  may consist of two parallel arms  220  and two cross braces  222  (one indicated) positioned between the parallel arms  220  and retained using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. Other embodiments of the adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may include one, three, or more cross braces  222 , or the cross braces  222  may be omitted. The lower support bracket  208  may be rotatably coupled to the vertical members  218  using one or more bolts or pins  224 . In another embodiment, the lower support bracket  208  may be a solid piece of material (not shown) with a hole cut out for the actuator  106 . 
     The actuator brackets  206  may each include a first arm  226  (one indicated) and a second arm  228  (one indicated), as shown in the exemplary embodiment. Each first arm  226  may be rotatably coupled to a side member  210  of the frame  202  opposite the respective support  204  using a single bolt or pin assembly  230 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each second arm  228  may be coupled to the frame  202  below the respective first arm  226  using similar means. In another embodiment, the first arm  226  may be coupled to the respective side member  210  at a different location than the support  204 . Other embodiments of the actuator bracket  206  may have one, three, or more arms. 
     The actuator brackets  206  may also be coupled to the actuator  106 . Both the first arm  226  and second arm  228  of each actuator bracket  206  may be coupled to a common location  232  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A single bolt or pin assembly  234  may couple the two actuator brackets  206  to the actuator  106  and allow the actuator brackets  206  to rotate. In another embodiment, the first arms  226  may be rotatably coupled to the actuator  106  at a first common location  232  and the second arms  228  may be rotatably coupled to the actuator  106  at a second common location (not shown). 
     Other embodiments of the adjustable wall mount assembly  102  may include an upper support bracket instead of or in addition to the lower support bracket  208 . The upper support bracket may be similar in construction to the lower support bracket  208  and be positioned above the actuator brackets  206 . In such embodiments, the upper support bracket may be rotatably coupled to the actuator  106  at location  232  and the actuator brackets  206  may be coupled to the actuator  106  at a common location below the upper support bracket, such as location  236 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an actuator  106 , as may be used in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the actuator  106  is a hydraulic cylinder  302  that includes a handle  304 , an outer cylinder  306 , an inner rod  308 , and a height indicator  310 . Other embodiments of the actuator  106  may use a worm gear, pneumatic cylinder, or other similar device that can extend to raise or lower the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100 . 
     The handle  304  may include a grip  312  and a shaft  314  that includes a bend. Other embodiments of the handle  304  may omit the grip  312 , the bend, or both. The handle  304  may be removably coupled to the hydraulic cylinder  302  using a pin assembly  316 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In another embodiment, the handle  304  may be coupled to the hydraulic cylinder  302  using a bolt or permanently fixed to the hydraulic cylinder  302 . The hydraulic cylinder  302  may be configured to extend when the handle  304  is rotated in one direction and retract when the handle  304  is rotated in the opposite direction. Other embodiments of the actuator  106  may extend or retract when the handle  304  is pulled at an angle or the handle  304  is pumped. 
     The hydraulic cylinder  302  may include a height gauge  318  on the exterior of the outer cylinder  306 . The height gauge  318  may be a sticker adhered to the outer cylinder  306 . In other embodiments, the height gauge  318  may be painted onto the outer cylinder  306  or etched into the outer cylinder  306 . The hydraulic cylinder  304  may further include a tube  320  coupled to the outer cylinder  306  through welding or other similar means. The tube  320  may receive a bolt or pin to couple the hydraulic cylinder  302  to the lower support bracket  208  while still allowing rotation of the hydraulic cylinder  302  and lower support bracket  208  about the bolt or pin. 
     The inner rod  308  may include an end retained by the outer cylinder  306 . In at least one embodiment, the inner rod  308  may be a hollow cylinder with plates welded or otherwise coupled to each end. In other embodiments, the inner rod  308  may be solid. The inner rod  308  may further include a mounting bracket  322  having a plurality of through holes  324 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The mounting bracket  322  may be coupled to the inner rod  308  using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. 
     The hydraulic cylinder  302  may also include the height indicator  310 . The height indicator  310  may have a mounting bracket  326  that aligns with the mounting bracket  322  of the inner rod  308 . In other embodiments, the height indicator  310  may be coupled to the mounting bracket  322  or the inner rod  308  using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The edge  328  of the height indicator  310  may be positioned such that the height of the wall-mounted basketball goal  100  is indicated on height gauge  318 . 
     The actuator  106  may further include a second tube  330  that may be inserted into the plurality of holes  324  on the mounting bracket  322  of the inner rod  308 . The tube  330  may receive a bolt or pin to couple the hydraulic cylinder  302  to the actuator brackets  206  while still allowing rotation of the hydraulic cylinder  302  and actuator brackets  206  about the bolt or pin. The height indicator  310  may also be retained between the actuator brackets  206  by the bolt or pin. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 ,  FIG. 4  illustrates the backboard frame  110  and the adjustable wall mount assembly  102  of  FIG. 1  from the obverse perspective. In the exemplary embodiment, the supports  204  and lower support bracket  208  are coupled to the backboard frame  110  using bolts, as indicated in phantom lines  402 . The bolts may allow for rotational movement of the backboard frame  110 . Other embodiments of the wall-mounted basketball goal  100  may use pin assemblies in place of the bolts. 
     The supports  204  may be coupled to tabs  404 . The tabs  404  may be coupled to the side members  118  of the backboard frame  110  using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The backboard frame  110  may also include a mounting bracket  406  that is coupled to the lower support bracket  208  using bolts or pins. The mounting bracket  406  may be coupled to the backboard frame  110  using fasteners, welds, or other similar means. The mounting bracket  406  may also be used to mount the rim assembly  126 . 
     In operation, the actuator  106  may be extended to lower the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100  and retracted to raise the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100 . Other embodiments of the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100  may be configured to raise the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100  as the actuator  106  is extended, and retract the adjustable, wall-mounted basketball goal  100  as the actuator  106  is retracted. Relative movement at the points  408  permit the lower support bracket  208  and supports  204  to move relative to the frame  202  as the actuator  106  raises or lowers the backboard  104 . Similarly, relative movement at the points  410  permit the lower support bracket  208  and supports  204  to move relative to the backboard  104  and maintain the backboard  104  in its proper orientation. In the exemplary embodiment, the handle  304  may be removed after the adjustable wall-mounted basketball goal  100  reaches the desired height to prevent damage to the actuator  106 . 
     The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that, they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     Additionally, the description herein uses terms such as ‘lower’, ‘upper’, etc., that are relative in nature. Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that these terms are used relative to the orientation of an adjustable wall mount assembly in use with a backboard, as in, for example,  FIG. 1 .