Method of constructing a basketball backboard

• US 8,845,463 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Original Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Inventors: Stevens, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/275,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 473479-485
• US Class Current: 473/479
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1284 Application of adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/145 Printing
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A basketball backboard assembly and a method of making the backboard assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a backboard frame structure and an acrylic backboard which are bonded together with a suitable elastomeric adhesive, providing adequate adhesion and flexibility. The elastomeric adhesive has a bond gap in the range from 2 to 2.5 mm. The adhesive is catalyzed to provide control of the set time in the range from about 5 minutes to 1 hour. A plurality of bond gap spacers are located between the frame bonding surface and the backboard bonding surface to provide the bond gap.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a basketball backboard, the method comprising:

applying an uncured single layer of adhesive between a basketball backboard frame and a basketball backboard;

sandwiching the single layer of uncured adhesive between the basketball backboard frame and the basketball backboard with the adhesive directly contacting the basketball backboard frame and the basketball backboard; and

curing the adhesive to bond the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame;

wherein the cured adhesive has sufficient flexibility and adhesion to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising providing a printed image on the basketball backboard, at least a portion of the printed image disposed between the adhesive and the basketball backboard.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the printed image provides adequate surface preparation such that a separate surface preparation step is not necessary.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the single layer of cured adhesive is of the same material and directly bonds the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the single layer of cured adhesive is of the same material and is in direct contact with each of the basketball backboard frame and the basketball backboard.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a silicone elastomeric adhesive.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the uncured adhesive is a catalyzed, liquid elastomeric adhesive that solidifies to form the cured adhesive.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein a bond gap between the basketball backboard frame and the basketball backboard is in the range of about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm (about 0.08 inch and about 0.1 inch).

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the basketball backboard is constructed from acrylic.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein the basketball board is constructed from a polymer material.

12. The method as in claim 1, wherein the uncured adhesive is applied by automated equipment.

13. The method as in claim 1, wherein a curing time of the uncured adhesive is about fifteen (15) minutes.

14. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive includes dimethylpolysiloxane as a primary ingredient.

15. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive includes N-propylsilicate as an ingredient.

16. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive includes aminopropyltriethoxysilane as an ingredient.

17. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive includes trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanurate as an ingredient.

18. The method as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive includes aminopropyltriethoxysilane and trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanurate as ingredients.

19. The method as in claim 1, further comprising preparing a bonding surface of the basketball backboard frame to receive the adhesive.

20. The method as in claim 1, further comprising preparing a bonding surface of the basketball backboard to receive the adhesive.

21. The method as in claim 1, wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy from the basketball backboard and to the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard when playing the game of basketball.

22. The method as in claim 1, wherein the backboard is constructed from acrylic and the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive.

23. The method as in claim 1, wherein the backboard is constructed from a polymer material and the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive.

24. The method as in claim 1, wherein the backboard is constructed from a composite material and the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive.

25. The method as in claim 1, wherein the basketball backboard is for a residential basketball system and the basketball backboard is at least substantially clear to resemble a professional basketball backboard.

26. The method as in claim 1, wherein the uncured adhesive is a liquid adhesive that solidifies to form the cured adhesive;

wherein the uncured liquid adhesive is applied by automated equipment; and

wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

27. The method as in claim 1, wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball;

and

wherein the cured adhesive provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard frame and a basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

28. A method of bonding a basketball backboard to a frame, the method comprising:

disposing a single layer of uncured liquid adhesive material between a basketball backboard and a frame; and

sandwiching the single layer of uncured liquid adhesive material between the basketball backboard and the frame to directly bond the basketball backboard and the frame;

wherein the cured adhesive has sufficient flexibility to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball; and

wherein the cured adhesive has sufficient adhesion to securely connect the backboard and the frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

29. The method as in claim 28, further comprising providing a printed image on the basketball backboard, at least a portion of the printed image disposed between the adhesive and the basketball backboard.

30. The method as in claim 29, wherein the printed image provides adequate surface preparation such that a separate surface preparation step is not necessary.

31. The method as in claim 28, wherein the backboard is constructed from acrylic;

wherein the frame is constructed from metal; and

wherein the cured adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the acrylic backboard and the metal frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

32. The method as in claim 28, wherein the backboard is constructed from a polymer material;

wherein the frame is constructed from metal; and

wherein the cured adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the backboard and the metal frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

33. The method as in claim 28, wherein the backboard is constructed from acrylic;

wherein the frame comprises a painted metal surface; and

wherein the cured adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the acrylic backboard and the metal frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

34. The method as in claim 28, wherein the backboard is constructed from acrylic;

wherein the frame comprises a powder coated surface; and

wherein the cured adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the acrylic backboard and the powder coated surface to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

35. The method as in claim 28, wherein the backboard is constructed from a polymer material;

wherein the frame comprises a painted metal surface; and

wherein the cured adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the backboard and the metal frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

36. The method as in claim 28, wherein the backboard is constructed from a polymer material;

wherein the frame comprises a powder coated surface; and

wherein the cured adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the backboard and the powder coated surface to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

37. The method as in claim 28, wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive.

38. The method as in claim 28, further comprising a bond gap between the frame bonding surface and the backboard bonding surface, the bond gap having a size between about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm (0.08 inch to 0.1 inch).

39. The method as in claim 28, wherein the adhesive has a set time of about fifteen (15) minutes.

40. The method as in claim 28, wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

41. The method as in claim 28, wherein the basketball backboard is for a residential basketball system and the basketball backboard is at least substantially clear to resemble a professional basketball backboard.

42. The method as in claim 28, wherein the adhesive is a liquid adhesive that is applied by automated equipment.

43. The method as in claim 28, wherein the uncured adhesive is a liquid adhesive that solidifies to form the cured adhesive;

wherein the uncured liquid adhesive is applied by automated equipment; and

wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

44. The method as in claim 28, wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball;

and

wherein the adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard and the frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

45. A method of bonding a basketball backboard and a basketball backboard frame, the method comprising:

bonding a basketball backboard and a basketball backboard frame directly together with a single layer of an elastomeric adhesive, the elastomeric adhesive creating an elastic and high strength bond between the backboard and the frame, the elastomeric adhesive having sufficient flexibility and adhesion to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

46. The method as in claim 45, further comprising providing a printed image on the basketball backboard, at least a portion of the printed image disposed between the adhesive and the basketball backboard.

47. The method as in claim 46, wherein the printed image provides adequate surface preparation such that a separate surface preparation step is not necessary.

48. The method as in claim 45, wherein the elastomeric adhesive has a set time of about fifteen (15) minutes or less.

49. The method as in claim 45, wherein the backboard and the frame are separated by a bond gap having a size in the range from about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm (about 0.08 inch to about 0.1 inch).

50. The method as in claim 45, wherein the backboard is constructed from acrylic and the frame comprises a painted metal surface, the elastomeric adhesive directly bonding the acrylic backboard and the painted metal surface of the frame.

51. The method as in claim 45, wherein the backboard is constructed from a polymer material and the frame comprises a painted metal surface, the elastomeric adhesive directly bonding the backboard and the painted metal surface of the frame.

52. The method as in claim 45, wherein the backboard is constructed from acrylic and the frame comprises a powder coated surface, the elastomeric adhesive directly bonding the acrylic backboard and the powder coated surface of the frame.

53. The method as in claim 45, wherein the backboard is constructed from a polymer material and the frame comprises a powder coated surface, the elastomeric adhesive directly bonding the backboard and the powder coated surface of the frame.

54. The method as in claim 45, further comprising:

preparing a bonding surface of the backboard;

preparing a bonding surface of the frame; and

sandwiching the elastomeric adhesive between the bonding surface of the backboard and the bonding surface of the frame.

55. The method as in claim 45, wherein the elastomeric adhesive includes aminopropyltriethoxysilane as an ingredient.

56. The method as in claim 45, wherein the elastomeric adhesive includes trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanurate as an ingredient.

57. The method as in claim 45, wherein the elastomeric adhesive includes aminopropyltriethoxysilane and trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanurate as ingredients.

58. The method as in claim 45, wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

59. The method as in claim 45, wherein the basketball backboard is for a residential basketball system and the basketball backboard is at least substantially clear to resemble a professional basketball backboard.

60. The method as in claim 45, wherein the adhesive is a liquid adhesive that is applied by automated equipment.

61. The method as in claim 45, wherein the uncured adhesive is a liquid adhesive that solidifies to form the cured adhesive;

wherein the uncured liquid adhesive is applied by automated equipment; and

wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

62. The method as in claim 45, wherein the cured adhesive provides sufficient flexibility in the bond to dissipate impact energy between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame when a basketball strikes the basketball backboard to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball;

and

wherein the adhesive is an elastomeric adhesive that provides elastic bonding between the basketball backboard and the basketball backboard frame to allow the basketball backboard to be used for playing the game of basketball.

63. The method as in claim 45, wherein the adhesive is a catalyzed elastomeric adhesive and the backboard is constructed from a composite material.