Patent ID: 7097574

Claim:
A basketball goal system comprising: a backboard including a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion and a rear portion; a support structure that is sized and configured to position the backboard above a surface; a backboard support assembly connected to the backboard and the support structure; a goal support assembly including a rim and a support member with a first end that extends substantially beyond a plane that is generally aligned with the front portion of the backboard and is attached to the rim and a second end that extends substantially beyond a plane that is generally aligned with the rear portion of the backboard, an intermediate portion of the support member of the goal support assembly being attached to the backboard support assembly at an attachment point that is at least substantially behind the plane that is generally aligned with the front of the backboard; and a resistance mechanism including a first end and a second end, the first end of the resistance mechanism being connected to the support member of the goal support assembly and the second end being connected to the support structure, the resistance mechanism being sized and configured to allow the rim to move between a first position in which the rim is generally perpendicular to the front portion of the backboard and a second position in which the rim is disposed at an angle to the front portion of the backboard, the resistance mechanism being sized and configured to bias the rim into the first position.