Deflectable basketball hoop

• US 6,334,822 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grant T. Zider
• Original Assignee: Grant T. Zider
• Inventors: Zider, Grant T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/578,203
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 473/415, 473/175, 473/446, 473/481, 473/486, 473/447, 473/466, 473/476, 473/479
• US Class Current: 473/479
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/086 deflectable under excessive loads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball

Abstract

A pivoting breakaway basketball hoop reduces player injury and prevents damage to the hoop by deflecting in multiple directions. The basketball hoop includes a rim which is supported on a rim support member by a joint such as flexible coupling or universal joint. The joint allows the rim to deflect in multiple directions and returns the rim to its original position. The basketball hoop also may include a counter balance and/or a stop which help to return the rim to its original position.

Claims

1. A deflectable basketball hoop comprising:

a rim supported on a substantially horizontal member;

a rim support member;

a backboard;

a joint connecting the rim to the rim support member, the joint providing the rim with at least two perpendicular degrees of freedom with respect to tho rim support member and with respect to the backboard; and

a counter balance connected to the substantially horizontal member and positioned to return the rim to a substantially horizontal position.

2. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, further comprising a spring for returning the rim to a substantially horizontal position.

3. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, wherein the joint is a spring.

4. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, wherein the joint is a rubber member.

5. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, the rim support member is a substantially vertical member, and the joint is positioned between the substantially horizontal member and the substantially vertical rim support nember.

6. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 5, further comprising a stop member for stopping the rim in the substantially horizontal position.

7. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, wherein the joint allows the rim to pivot forward when a force is applied to a front portion of the rim and allows the rim to pivot sideways when a force is applied to a side portion of the rim.

8. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, wherein the deflectable basketball hoop is a pool side basketball hoop and the rim support member is positioned on a base which is arranged to be positioned on a side of the pool.

9. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, further comprising a flexible backboard which deadens the bounce of the ball.

10. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 9, wherein flexible backboard is made of plexiglass.

11. The deflectable basketball hoop of claim 1, wherein the backboard deadens the bounce of the ball.