US4365802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Deformation-preventing swingable mount for basketball goals
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-26
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Granted: 1982-12-28
•
Expires: 1996-07-26
Abstract
Abstract The mounting bracket for the ring of a basketball goal is yieldably swingably movable downwardly, or both downwardly and laterally, responsively to application of potentially deforming or damaging forces. Strong magnets or equivalent structure firmly hold the bracket against movement by normal game-applied forces. Pivotal movement is provided by a hinge or a ball-and-socket connector. A coil spring behind the goal backboard and connected to the bracket by a flexible cable, or a leaf or coil spring, can be employed to automatically return the temporarily displaced goal to its normal position.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur H. Ehrat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:42
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B63/00; A63B63/08; A63B63/083; A63B2063/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A basketball-goal assemblage comprising: support structure for relatively immovable attachment to a basketball backboard, relatively movable goal-ring structure yieldably swingably connected to said support structure, and means interacting between said structures to hold said structures in normal positions against normal game-applied forces but yieldable to permit shock-absorbing swinging of said goal-ring structure for minimizing goal damage from abnormal forces applied thereagainst.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A basketball-goal assemblage comprising: support structure for relatively immovable attachment to a basketball backboard, relatively movable goal-ring structure yieldably swingably connected to said support structure, and means interacting between said structures to hold said structures in normal positions against normal game-applied forces but yieldable to permit shock-absorbing swinging of said goal-ring structure for minimizing goal damage from abnormal forces applied thereagainst.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Mechanism according to claim 1 in which said relative swinging action is provided by an arm connected to the rear margin of said goal-ring structure and extending downwardly over the face of said backboard and pivoted thereto by a hinge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Mechanism according to claim 2, said interacting means comprising at least one pair of co-operating magnetic elements matingly attached to and interacting between said relatively movable structures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Mechanism according to claim 3 and additionally comprising spring means for returning said movable structure to its normal position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Mechanism according to claim 4, said spring means comprising a compression spring located behind said backboard and connected to said movable structure by a flexible cable passing through a retraction-guiding bore in said backboard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Mechanism according to claim 4, said spring means being a leaf-spring overlying a horizontal-axis hinge at the lower margin of said downwardly extending arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Mechanism according to claim 3, at least one magnetic element lying in a dished despression and its co-operating element being guided into said depression for guidingly positioning and holding said relatively movable structures in normal positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
Mechanism according to claim 2, said hinge being of the ball-and-socket type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Mechanism according to claim 8, said interacting means comprising at least one pair of co-operating magnetic elements matingly attached to and interacting between said relatively movable structures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Mechanism according to claim 9 and additionally comprising spring means for returning said movable structure to its normal position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A basketball-goal assemblage comprising: support structure for relatively immovable attachment to a basketball backboard, relatively movable goal-ring structure yieldably swingably connected to said support structure, means interacting between said structures to hold said structures in their normal relative positions against their relative movement by normal game-applied forces but yieldable with initially rapidly decreasing force-resistance to permit shock-absorbing swinging of said goal-ring structure for minimizing goal damage from abnormal forces applied thereagainst, and relatively weak force-applying means for returning said goal-ring structure to its normal interacting-means-held position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A basketball-goal assemblage comprising: support structure for relatively immovable attachment to a basketball backboard, relatively movable goal-ring structure yieldably swingably connected to said support structure, means interacting between said structures to hold said structures in their normal relative positions against their relative movement by normal game-applied forces but yieldable with initially rapidly decreasing force-resistance to permit shock-absorbing swinging of said goal-ring structure for minimizing goal damage from abnormal forces applied thereagainst, and relatively weak force-applying means for returning said goal-ring structure to its normal interacting-means-held position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |