Deformation-Preventing Swingable Mount for Basketball Goals

The ring of a basketball goal is frequently bent out of shape by excessive (e.g. body-engagement) force being applied thereto, which happening requires annoying and costly game-delaying repairs. It is accordingly the object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, yet highly effective means for minimizing the probability of such damage and such game delay.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the showing of FIG. 1 in section taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view in section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the ball-and-socket portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a second species of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the showing of FIG. 5 in section taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the numeral 11 designates a conventional backboard, upon which is to be mounted a conventional basket comprising a metal-rod ring 13 and a mesh basket 15. The ring 13 is welded at 17 to the horizontal base 19 of an inverted L-shaped bracket 21, the longer reach 23 of which may be tapered as shown in FIG. 1. A pin 25 is welded to the lower front of the reach 23 medially thereof to mount a ball 27 thereto. The ball 27 is received in a socket formed by a pair of elements 29 of known construction to permit the bracket 21 and its carried goal elements 13 and 15 to yieldably swing away from the backboard 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The bracket 21 is normally firmly held in its position of FIGS. 1 and 2 by a pair of shallow U-shaped powerful permanent magnets 31 and 33. The bight portion of the magnet 33 is cemented (e.g. by an epoxy film 35) to the bracket reach 21 (FIG. 3).

The mating poles of the magnets are shown as extending through alined apertures in the bracket arm 23 and the backboard 11. The front portions of the backboard apertures are tapered at 37 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to guide the bracket 21 back to its proper position, to which it preferably would be automatically returned by the pull of a flexible cable 39. The forward end of the cable 39 is welded at 41 to the bracket arm 23 and at its rear end to the apex of a tapered coiled compression spring 43. The cable 39 also roughly guides the bracket and goal elements to their playing positions after a displacement. Other guidance means may be employed, e.g. conical protuberances and mating depressions (not shown).

In the species of FIGS. 5 and 6, primed numerals designate like parts in the FIGS. 1-4 species. But in this more simple modification only downward and forward displacement (the more likely to occur) is provided for by a horizontal-axis hinge. The hinge comprises a rod 45 welded to the lower edge of bracket arm 23'. Two bearing-forming J-shaped threaded elements 47 extend through the backboard and are anchored by nuts 49. A leaf spring 51 is fixed in place by screws 53. A known mouse-trap-type coil spring (not shown) could be substituted for the spring 51.