Collapsible structures basketball goal

• US 6,264,573 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/500,515
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 473/471, 473/472, 473/479, 473/481, 473/485, 273/350, 273/398, 135/125, 135/126, 135/128
• US Class Current: 473/471
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/52 Frame members linked by elastic means when disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/54 Foldable elastic frame members automatically resuming their expanded state when released
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/605 Floating
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 9/00 Climbing poles, frames, or stages climbing walls for mountaineering training A63B69/0048; endless loop ladders A63B22/04

Abstract

Collapsible structures are disclosed having a central panel, a first support panel disengageably connected to the left side of the central panel, and a second support panel disengageably connected to the right: side of the central panel. Each of the central panel and support panels includes a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member.

Claims

1. A collapsible structure comprising:

a panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member, the panel further including a first side and a basket provided on the first side, the basket comprising a hoop and netting coupled to the hoop, the panel being collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings of the frame member to substantially reduce the size of the panel in the folded orientation.

2. The structure of claim 1, further including a support coupled to the panel.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the support comprises a plurality of loops.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein the support is a panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member.

5. The structure of claim 2, wherein the support is a flotation device.

6. The structure of claim 2, wherein the support is disengageably connected to the panel.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the panel has a bottom surface that rests on a surface or floats on water when the structure is in an upright position.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the panel is a single panel.