Patent ID: 7794342

Claim:
A quick change backboard bracket system comprising: a backboard assembly including a backboard having a peripheral frame including corner brackets, a first yoke member comprising a central plate coupled to the backboard, and a left web and a right web affixed to the central plate, the left and right webs oriented to extend rearwardly and perpendicular to the backboard and each web having a slot and an opening, and a rim assembly coupled to the central plate of the first yoke member through the backboard, wherein the rim assembly includes a mounting plate having apertures for receiving a fastener, and the central plate of the first yoke member includes apertures for receiving said fasteners passing through the mounting plate, backboard, and the central plate; a basketball goal support assembly comprising a basketball goal support, a second yoke member including a middle plate coupled to the basketball goal support, a coupling shaft, a connecting pin, and a bracing member to couple the basketball goal support to the corner brackets of the backboard, the middle plate including a left arm and a right arm affixed to the middle plate, the left and right arms oriented to extend frontwardly and each arm having a first aperture and a second aperture, the coupling shaft extending laterally between the left and right arms and positioned through each first aperture, being configured to engage each slot of the first yoke member webs, and the connecting pin being removably attached through each opening of the first yoke member webs and each second aperture of the second yoke member arms, one of the arms of the second yoke member or the webs of the first yoke member separated by an outermost lateral distance that is less than an innermost lateral distance of the other of the arms of the second yoke member or the webs of the first yoke member; means for fixedly attaching the coupling shaft to each first aperture; and means for engaging the connecting pin to each opening and each second aperture in order to couple the backboard assembly to the basketball goal assembly and wherein the peripheral frame of the backboard includes two corner brackets at an upper portion of the backboard and wherein a bracing member includes a free end extending from the basketball goal support, the free end of the bracing member being removably coupled to the two corner brackets of the upper portion of the backboard.