High-strenght, lightweight blow-molded plastic basketball backboard

• US 20060019776A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Original Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Inventors: Mower, Barry D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/481
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/08 Table tops; Rims therefor not restricted to table tops A47B95/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/087 with struts supporting the legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/091 with struts supporting the legs in combination with foldable top leaves A47B3/087
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0912 the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/0031 Making articles having hollow walls
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4802 with means for locally compressing part(s) of the parison in the main blowing cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0077 Yield strength; Tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0082 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0089 Impact strength or toughness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/448 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/52 Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys B29L2031/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/24 using separate pins, dowels, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1397 Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]

Abstract

Blow molded plastic structures are provided for use in various structures such as, but not limited to, tables, chairs, walls, backboards, storage bins, sports equipment and the like. The blow molded plastic structure has a first surface and a second surface extending between a first end and a second end and forming a chamber there between. A plurality of depressions is formed on the second surface and extends into the chamber. The depressions are usually unitary structures formed by a depression wall. Generally, the steeper the depression wall, the more strength is provided to the structure. In addition, where the plurality of depressions has a low profile and a greater density, increased strength is provided to the structure. The depressions may or may not be joined to the first surface.

Claims

1. A basketball backboard constructed from blow-molded plastic and including a hollow interior portion formed during the blow-molding process, the basketball backboard comprising:

a front surface;

a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface by a distance, at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the rear surface enclosing at least a portion of the generally hollow interior portion of the backboard; and

a plurality of depressions integrally formed in the rear surface as part of a unitary, one-piece backboard, each of the plurality of depressions including a height measured from the rear surface to an end of the depression, the depressions having a generally uniform configuration and being disposed in a generally uniform pattern that covers at least a substantial portion of the rear surface, each of the adjacent depressions in the generally uniform pattern of depressions being separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than three times the distance separating the front surface and the rear surface.

2. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the end of at least a majority of the plurality of depressions engages the front surface of the basketball backboard.

3. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the end of at least a majority of the plurality of depressions is spaced apart from the front surface of the basketball backboard.

4. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the generally uniform pattern of depressions is sized and configured to support the front surface in a generally consistent manner so that the front surface of the backboard has generally uniform strength and generally uniform rebounding characteristics.

5. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of depressions have a generally consistent spacing between adjacent depressions.

6. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the depressions cover substantially the entire rear surface of the basketball backboard.

7. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein each of the adjacent depressions in the generally uniform pattern of depressions is separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than three times the average height of the plurality of depressions.

8. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the depressions have a generally consistent spacing between adjacent depressions, the depressions cover substantially the entire rear surface of the backboard and the depressions are sized and configured to support the front surface in a generally consistent manner.

9. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the depressions have a length that is generally equal to a width to allow the depressions to be closely spaced.

10. The basketball backboard as in claim 1, wherein the depressions have a generally circular or oval configuration to allow the depressions to be closely spaced.

11. A basketball backboard constructed from blow-molded plastic and including a hollow interior portion formed during the blow-molding process, the basketball backboard comprising:

a front surface;

a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface by a distance, at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the rear surface enclosing at least a portion of the generally hollow interior portion of the backboard; and

a plurality of depressions integrally formed in the rear surface as part of a unitary, one-piece backboard, each of the plurality of depressions including a height measured from the rear surface to an end of the depression, the depressions having a generally uniform configuration and being disposed in a generally uniform pattern that covers at least a substantial portion of the rear surface, each of the adjacent depressions in the generally uniform pattern of depressions being separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than two times the distance separating the front surface and the rear surface.

12. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the end of at least a majority of the plurality of depressions engages the front surface of the basketball backboard.

13. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the end of at least a majority of the plurality of depressions is spaced apart from the front surface of the basketball backboard.

14. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the generally uniform pattern of depressions is sized and configured to support the front surface in a generally consistent manner so that the front surface of the backboard has generally uniform strength and generally uniform rebounding characteristics.

15. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the plurality of depressions have a generally consistent spacing between adjacent depressions.

16. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the depressions cover substantially the entire rear surface of the basketball backboard.

17. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein each of the adjacent depressions in the generally uniform pattern of depressions is separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than two times the average height of the plurality of depressions.

18. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the depressions have a generally consistent spacing between adjacent depressions, the depressions cover substantially the entire rear surface of the backboard and the depressions are sized and configured to support the front surface in a generally consistent manner.

19. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the depressions have a length that is generally equal to a width to allow the depressions to be closely spaced.

20. The basketball backboard as in claim 11, wherein the depressions have a generally circular or oval configuration to allow the depressions to be closely spaced.

21. A basketball backboard constructed from blow-molded plastic and including a hollow interior portion formed during the blow-molding process, the basketball backboard comprising:

a front surface;

a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface by a distance, at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the rear surface enclosing at least a portion of the generally hollow interior portion of the backboard; and

a plurality of depressions integrally formed in the rear surface as part of a unitary, one-piece backboard, each of the plurality of depressions including a height measured from the rear surface to an end of the depression, the depressions having a generally uniform configuration and being disposed in a generally uniform pattern that covers at least a substantial portion of the rear surface, each of the adjacent depressions in the generally uniform pattern of depressions being separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than two times the distance separating the front surface and the rear surface.

22. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the end of at least a majority of the plurality of depressions engages the front surface of the basketball backboard.

23. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the end of at least a majority of the plurality of depressions is spaced apart from the front surface of the basketball backboard.

24. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the generally uniform pattern of depressions is sized and configured to support the front surface in a generally consistent manner so that the front surface of the backboard has generally uniform strength and generally uniform rebounding characteristics.

25. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the plurality of depressions have a generally consistent spacing between adjacent depressions.

26. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the depressions cover substantially the entire rear surface of the basketball backboard.

27. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein each of the adjacent depressions in the generally uniform pattern of depressions is separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than two times the average height of the plurality of depressions.

28. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the depressions have a generally consistent spacing between adjacent depressions, the depressions cover substantially the entire rear surface of the backboard and the depressions are sized and configured to support the front surface in a generally consistent manner.

29. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the depressions have a length that is generally equal to a width to allow the depressions to be closely spaced.

30. The basketball backboard as in claim 21, wherein the depressions have a generally circular or oval configuration to allow the depressions to be closely spaced.