Safety device for backstop assembly

Claim 2

Apparatus including a member to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said member, said support means being movable with said member, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said member, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said member and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said main cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said member is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means, means mounted on said fixed means for preventing movement of said second cable when said slack sensing means detects slack in said first cable so that said second cable prevents movement of said member, said movement preventing means comprising a housing, guide means for guiding said second cable into said housing, a first roller supported in said housing for contacting said second cable, a second roller around which said second cable is reeved, said second roller being concentric with and freely rotatable about a third roller having pins secured thereto, said pins extending through said housing and having washer members adjaceNt to the upper-most ends thereof, a solenoid mounted on said housing, said solenoid having the plunger thereof secured to a linkage for preventing movement of said stationary roller, said linkage engaging the under side of said washers to prevent downward movement of said pins, and said second and third rollers, actuation of said solenoid being operative to move said linkage so that said linkage will be out of contact with said washers to permit said pins and said second and third rollers to drop to thereby wedge said second cable between said first roller and said second roller to prevent further movement thereof.

Claim 3

A safety device for a movable backstop including a backstop to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said backstop, said support means being movable with said backstop, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said backstop, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said backstop and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said first cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said backstop is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means, means mounted on said fixed means for preventing movement of said second cable when said slack sensing means detects slack in said cable so that said second cable prevents movement of said backstop, said movement preventing means comprising a housing, guide means for guiding said second cable into said housing, a first member supported by said housing for contacting said second cable, a second member supported by said housing spaced from said first member around which said second cable is reeved, said second member being concentric with and freely rotatable about a stationary third member, said third member having rods secured to the ends thereof, said rods extending through said housing and having enlarged members adjacent the upper-most ends thereof, a solenoid mounted on and supported by said housing, said solenoid having the plunger thereof secured to a linkage for preventing movement of said stationary member, said linkage engaging the under side of said enlarged members to prevent downward movement of said third member, actuation of said solenoid being operative to move said linkage so that said linkage will be moved out of communication with said enlarged members to permit said second and third members to drop and wedge said second cable against said housing and said first member to prevent further movement of said second cable, support means and backstop supported by said support means.

Claim 4

A safety device for a movable backstop including a backstop to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said backstop, said support means being movable with said backstop, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said backstop, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said backstop and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said first cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said backstop is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means, means mounted on said fixed means for preventing movement of said second cable when said slack sensing means detects slack in said cable so that said second cable prevents movement of said backstop, said movement preventing means comprising a housing, guide means for guiding said second cable into said housing, a first member supported by said housing for contacting said second cable, a second member supported by said housing spaced from said first member around which said second cable is reeved, said second member being concentric with and freely rotatable about a stationary third member, said third member having rods secured to the ends thereof, said rods extending through said housing and having enlarged members adjacent the upper-most ends thereof, a solenoid mounted on and supported by said housing, said solenoid having the plunger thereof secured to a linkage for preventing movement of said stationary member, said linkage engaging the under side of said enlarged members to prevent downward movement of said third member, actuation of said solenoid being operative to move said linkage so that said linkage will be moved out of communication with said enlarged members to permit said second and third members to drop and wedge said second cable against said housing and said first member to prevent further movement of said second cable, support means and backstop supported by said support means.

Claim 5

A safety device for a movable backstop including a backstop to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said backstop, said support means being movable with said backstop, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said backstop, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said backstop and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said first cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said backstop is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means, said first and second cables being connected to a slack sensing takeup spring, means for preventing movement of said second cable when said slack sensing means detects slack in said first cable so that said second cable prevents movement of said member, shut-off means associated with said support means, said shut-off means being interconnected with and operative to render ineffective said movement preventing means, said shut-off means being effective as said backstop reaches its fully operative position, said movement preventing means comprising a housing, guide means for guiding said second cable into said housing, a first member supported by said housing for contacting said second cable, a second member supported by said housing spaced from said first member around which said second cable is reeved, said second member being concentric with and freely rotatable about a stationary third member, said third member having rods secured to the ends thereof, said rods extending through said housing and having enlarged members adjacent the upper-most ends thereof, a solenoid mounted on and supported by said housing, said solenoid having the plunger thereof secured to a linkage for preventing movement of said stationary member, said linkage engaging the under side of said enlarged members to prevent downward movement of said third member, actuation of said solenoid being operative to move said linkage so that said linkage will be moved out of communication with said enlarged members to permit said second and third members to drop and wedge said second cable against said housing and said first member to prevent further movement of said second cable, support means and backstop.

Claim 6

A safety device for a movable backstop including a backstop to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said backstop, said support means being movable with said backstop, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said backstop, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said backstop and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said first cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said backstop is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means, said first and second cables being connected to a slack sensing takeup spring, means for preventing movement of said second cable when said slack sensing means detects slack in said first cable so that said second cable prevents movement of said member, shut-off means associated with said support means, said shut-off means being interconnected with and operative to render ineffective said movement preventing means, said shut-off means being effective as said backstop reaches its fully operative position, said movement preventing means comprising a housing, guide means for guiding said second cable into said housing, a first member supported by said housing for contacting said second cable, a second member supported by said housing spaced from said first member around which said second cable is reeved, said second member being concentric with and freely rotatable about a stationary third member, said third member having rods secured to the ends thereof, said rods extending through said housing and having enlarged members adjacent the upper-most ends thereof, a solenoid mounted on and supported by said housing, said solenoid having the plunger thereof secured to a linkage for preventing movement of said stationary member, said linkage engaging the under side of said enlarged members to prevent downward movement of said third member, actuation of said solenoid being operative to move said linkage so that said linkage will be moved out of communication with said enlarged members to permit said second and third members to drop and wedge said second cable against said housing and said first member to prevent further movement of said second cable, support means and backstop.

Claim 7

Apparatus including a member to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said member, said support means being movable with said member, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said member, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said member and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said first cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said member is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means and means for preventing movement of said second cable, said movement preventing means being mounted on said fixed means and comprising roller means and first and second spaced bearing surfaces which define a path through which said second cable passes when said member is moved between operative and inoperative positions, said roller means being biased for movement between said bearing surfaces, restraining means responsive to a signal from said slack sensing means, said restraining means normally restraining said roller means against said movement, said bias causing said roller means to move between said first and second bearing surfaces when said restraining means releases said roller means to lock said second cable between said bearing surfaces and said roller means to prevent movement of said member.

Claim 8

Apparatus including a member to be raised and lowered between operative and inoperative positions, support means for supporting said member, said support means being movable with said member, fixed means for supporting both said support means and said member, a first cable having one end connected to said support means, means connected to the other end of said first cable for moving said member and support means between said inoperative and operative positions, slack sensing means supported by said fixed means, said first cable being interconnected to said slack sensing means while said member is in its inoperative position and while it is being moved between said operative and inoperative positions, a second cable having one end connected to said support means and means for preventing movement of said second cable, said movement preventing means being mounted on said fixed means and comprising roller means and first and second spaced bearing surfaces which define a path through which said second cable passes when said member is moved between operative and inoperative positions, said roller means being biased for movement between said bearing surfaces, restraining means responsive to a signal from said slack sensing means, said restraining means normally restraining said roller means against said movement, said bias causing said roller means to move between said first and second bearing surfaces when said restraining means releases said roller means to lock said second cable between said bearing surfaces and said roller means to prevent movement of said member.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said movement preventing means includes a solenoid operation of said solenoid causing said roller means to move against said second cable and wedge said second cable to lock it against further movement.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including shut-off switch means supported by said fixed means and operatively associated with said support means, said shut-off switch means being operative to render ineffective said movement preventing means, said shut-off switch means being effective as said member reaches its operative position.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein slack prevention means is connected to the other end of said second cable, both said first cable and said second cable being operatively connected to a slack take-up spring, said member being a basketball backboard, and said movement preventing means including a solenoid to actuate said roller means for locking said safety cable upon failure of said first cable or said support structure.