Action-responsive basketball backboard

• US 20020049102A1
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Taylor
• Original Assignee: Carl Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 6,554,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/447
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

An action-responsive basketball backboard includes a backboard having a rim mounted thereon. Mounted thereon are a rim motion sensor operative to detect specific motions of the rim and output notification signals signaling detection of those specific motions, and a backboard motion sensor operative to detect specific motions of the backboard and output notification signals signaling detection of those specific motions. At least one set of indicator lights is mounted on the backboard and a power supply for supplying electrical power to the set of indicator lights is connected thereto for lighting the lights. A control box having a controllable switch interposed between the power supply and the set of indicator lights is included, the control box in information transmission connection with the rim motion sensor and the backboard motion sensor, the control box operative to receive notification signals from the rim and backboard motion sensors and alternatively engage and disengage the controllable switch to light the set of indicator lights in response to motion detection by the rim and backboard motion sensors.

Claims

1. An action-responsive basketball backboard comprising:

a backboard having a rim mounted thereon;

a rim motion sensor mounted on one of said backboard and said rim, said rim motion sensor operative to detect specific motions of said rim and output notification signals signaling detection of those specific motions;

a backboard motion sensor mounted on one of said backboard and said rim, said backboard motion sensor operative to detect specific motions of said backboard and output notification signals signaling detection of those specific motions;

at least one set of indicator lights mounted on said backboard;

power means for supplying electrical power to said at least one set of indicator lights;

a control box having a controllable switch means interposed between said power means and said at least one set of indicator lights, said control box in information transmission connection with said rim motion sensor and said backboard motion sensor, said control box operative to receive notification signals from said rim and backboard motion sensors and engage said controllable switch means to light said at least one set of indicator lights in response to motion detection by said rim and backboard motion sensors.

2. The action-responsive basketball backboard of claim 1 wherein said rim is pivotably mounted on said backboard by a breakaway hinge such that said rim is pivotable downwards from a generally horizontal rest position in response to force applied thereto.

3. The action-responsive basketball backboard of claim 2 wherein said rim pivot sensor comprises a resistance-variable sensor which returns a value of zero when said rim is in said rest position and returns proportionally increasing values corresponding to motion detection depending upon the degree of downwards pivot of said rim.

4. The action-responsive basketball backboard of claim 3 wherein said backboard motion detector is mounted on the rear of said backboard and comprises a vibration and motion sensor which would return a value of zero when the backboard is at rest and would return greater values depending upon the degree of vibration and/or motion of said backboard.

5. The action-responsive basketball backboard of claim 4 comprising at least two sets of indicator lights, at least one first set related to said rim motion detector and at least one second set related to said backboard motion detector such that upon said rim motion detector detecting motion of said rim, said rim motion detector signals said control box to engage said at least one first set of indicator lights to visually display motion of said rim, and upon said backboard motion detector detecting motion of said backboard, said backboard motion detector signals said control box to engage said at least one second set of indicator lights to visually display motion of said backboard.

6. The action-responsive basketball backboard of claim 1 wherein said control box comprises light control means selected from the group comprising a rheostat, a controllable switch and a microprocessor.

7. An action-responsive basketball backboard comprising:

a backboard having a downwardly pivotably mounted breakaway rim mounted thereon;

a rim motion sensor mounted on one of said backboard and said breakaway rim, said rim motion sensor operative to detect downward pivoting motion of said breakaway rim and output notification signals signaling detection of downward pivoting motion of said breakaway rim and the amount thereof;

a backboard motion sensor mounted on one of said backboard and said rim, said backboard motion sensor operative to detect vibrational motions of said backboard and output notification signals signaling detection of vibrational motions and the intensity thereof;

at least one first set of indicator lights mounted on said backboard;

at least one second set of indicator lights mounted on said backboard;

power means for supplying electrical power to said at least one first set and at least one second set of indicator lights;

a control box having at least two controllable switch means, a first controllable switch means interposed between said power means and said at least one first set of indicator lights, a second controllable switch means interposed between said power means and said at least one second set of indicator lights, said control box in information transmission connection with said rim motion sensor and said backboard motion sensor;

said control box operative to receive notification signals from said rim motion sensor and engage said first controllable switch means to light said at least one first set of indicator lights in proportional response to the amount of pivoting motion of said rim, said control box operative to receive notification signals from said backboard motion sensor and engage said second controllable switch means to light said at least one second set of indicator lights in proportional response to the intensity of vibrating motion of said backboard.