The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1992
Robert T Auer, East Stroudsburg, PA (US);
Calvin Cook, Erie, PA (US);
SLM, Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A basketball goal provided with a hoop from which is suspended a net, and a mounting assembly adapted normally to support the hoop on a backboard at a horizontal position. But when the hoop is subjected to a downward force by a player, the hoop is then momentarily deflected to absorb this force and thereby prevent damage to the goal and injury to the player. The assembly includes a mounting plate attached to the backboard and a hinge component secured to the front of the mounting plate, the component having a channel therein parallel to the plate and aligned at its midsection with a slot formed in the plate. Also included is a clevis formed by a rod shaped to define a pair of parallel legs that are joined to the hoop and are integral with inwardly-directed pin elements received in the channel, thereby pivoting the hoop on the hinge component, the pin elements merging with arms in abutting relation forming a cantilever crank that passes through the slot and projects from the rear of the mounting plate. Connected between the end of the crank and a point on the plate below the slot is a spring that acts to maintain the hoop is deflected by a downward force, the spring is then stretched and acts to return the hoop to its normal position.