Huffy Corporation

Michael A Niver

David A Allen

James N Fitzsimmons

Randy R Schickert

Joseph K Bohrman

A basketball assembly for supporting a backboard comprises, a base having a plurality of generally vertical side walls and a base face extending between said sidewalls. The base face and one of said side walls defining a forward edge. The assembly includes a pole, having spaced apart ends. An elongated opening is provided in the base for supporting one end of said pole on said base with said pole at an angle to the vertical to extend the other end of the pile over and beyond the forward edge of the base.

Basketball backboard support assembly

An elevator system for a basketball backboard comprising, in combination, a parallelogram frame and a backboard connected to the frame. A ratchet and pawl arrangement is connected between one of the arms and one of the vertical surfaces of the parallelogram frame so that a first vertical surface is freely movable upward relative to a second vertical surface and is held in a selected vertical position when the vertical lifting force applied to the first vertical surface is removed. The ratchet includes a plurality of ratchet teeth connected to and movable with one arm relative to the first vertical surface. The pawl is pivotally connected to the first vertical surface and disposed for engagement with the ratchet teeth to hold the first vertical panel in a selected vertical position when the vertical lifting force is removed. Also provided is a structure for biasing the pawl toward selective engagement with the ratchet teeth, the engagement depending upon the vertical position of the first vertical surface relative to the second vertical surface. A bell crank lever is pivotally connected to the first vertical surface and operatively associated with the ratchet and pawl arrangement, with a structure for connecting the bell crank lever to the pawl that is responsive to pivotal movement of the bell crank to move the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Basketball backboard elevator system

A base for a basketball support pole comprising, in combination, a plurality of walls arranged at an angle to each other and forming a polyhedron shaped body, support structure within the body defining an elongated opening extending into the body at an angle to the vertical and for receiving a support pole, structure for securing the pole in the opening against rotation about the elongated axis of the pole and against withdrawal from the opening, structure within the body defining a ballast receiving enclosure, and ballast within the ballast receiving enclosure.

Portable base for basketball backboard support pole

A breakaway basketball goal assembly (20) includes a first mounting plate (30) for stationary mounting to the front of the backboard (22) and a second mounting plate (42) pivotally mounted to the first mounting plate and rigidly connected to the rim (24). The rim can pivot up or down in response to respective up and down forces, with the required downward force being greater, to provide differential breakaway. Left and right pivoting are also provided, to afford four way pivoting. Strength-increasing walls 102, 104, 106 are provided for the first mounting plate to prevent bowing away from the backboard and additionally serve the function of providing a protective finger pinch shroud. A universal structure selectively provides a choice between breakaway and non-breakaway applications without changing the manufacturing operation producing the goal assembly, to reduce cost.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Michael A Niver