Patent ID: 7736250

Claim:
A portable basketball system for use in playing basketball-related games on sand covered outdoor environments, comprising: a transport configuration, and a play configuration; a wind-transmissive backboard structure having a backboard surface disposed substantially within a first plane, bounded by a frame structure, and characterized by a high degree of air permeability across said backboard surface so that air currents, expected in said sand covered outdoor environments, can pass through said backboard surface with minimal resistance yet deflect a lightweight basketball when tossed thereagainst during basketball-related games; a basketball hoop structure defining an opening through which a basketball can be passed during said basketball-related games, and generally disposed within a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane when said portable basketball system is arranged in said play configuration, and wherein said second plane is substantially parallel to said first plane when said portable basketball system is arranged in said transport configuration; a plurality of arrangeable pole sections; wherein said plurality of arrangeable pole sections are disassembled when said portable basketball system is arranged in said transport configuration; wherein when said portable basketball system is arranged in said play configuration, said plurality of arrangeable pole sections are assembled together to form a single straight pole assembly, for supporting said wind-transmissive backboard structure at a height above the surface of a sand bed located in said sand covered outdoor environments; and a pole anchoring device having a pole anchoring sleeve for driving beneath said sand bed, when said portable basketball system is arranged in said play configuration, and independently supporting said single straight pole assembly in a substantially plumb orientation, while playing said basketball-related games.