FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to basketball backboard systems, and in particular to portable basketball backboards.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Basketball systems generally include at least a pole with support frame attached at or near the top of the pole and supporting basketball backboard for use in playing basketball. For basketball systems designed for residential use, consumers often prefer a portable basketball system. Portable systems allow the consumer to move the system for any of various reasons, such as putting the system away for the winter or moving from one location to another. In order to create a portable system, a large base is used to support and steady the pole. The base typically has wheels to assist in the moving the base about.
FIGS. 1A and 1B depict various embodiments of portable basketball systems. In FIG. 1A, the support frame and basketball backboard extend forward from the top of the pole, while the base extends away from the bottom of the pole in the opposite direction. This is because the area underneath the backboard is typically kept substantially clear to allow for play under the rim. However, this also requires the base to have sufficient weight to counterbalance the support frame and backboard and keep the basketball system stable during play.
In FIG. 1B, the pole extends forward at an angle from the back of the base at an angle and is further supported by a fulcrum rising from the front of the base to meet the pole some distance up from the base. This cantilevered design also requires the base to have sufficient weight to counterbalance the support frame and basketball backboard at the top of the pole.
The amount of ballast material (usually water, sand, dirt, etc.) required to stabilize the system can exceed 100 pounds, depending on the weight of the backboard and frame, the distance they extend from the pole, and the nature of the base design. Accordingly, it is often necessary to remove ballast material when the system is to be moved. This is time-consuming and potentially results in large amounts of wasted water or sand after it is removed from the ballast. Additionally, the base may develop cracks over time, resulting in ballast (particularly if the ballast is water) leaking from the base.
Therefore, a base having improved ballast retaining structures is needed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In some aspects, the invention relates to a basketball backboard system having a pole, a basketball backboard, and a base attached to and supporting the pole, wherein the base comprises two cavities adapted to store ballast.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral.
FIGS. 1A and 1B depict typical basketball backboard system configurations.
FIG. 2 depicts a basketball backboard system base according to one embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 3 depicts a cutaway showing an interior cavity in the base depicted in FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 4 depicts the base of FIG. 2 having a cover, according to one embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5 depicts a basketball backboard system base using containers, according to one embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A multi-cavity base for receiving multiple separate portions of ballast is herein disclosed. In addition to compartmentalizing ballast, which may allow for retaining ballast in the location(s) most needed, the use of multiple cavities allows different types of ballast to be used to optimize the load distribution and facilitate movement or storage of a portable basketball system.
FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a base 5 having multiple cavities for receiving ballast according to one embodiment of the invention. The base 5 is a large structure having a pole attachment 40 for stabilizing and supporting the pole (not shown). Wheels 50 are located on the opposite end from the pole attachment 40. The base 5 may be formed of any sturdy, preferably non-permeable material, such as hard plastics, wood, or metal. Preferably, the material is lightweight in order to not unduly burden a user trying to move the base 5 and resistant to typical outdoor weathering effects, such as UV rays or water. For example, high-density polyethylene is used in order to reduce the weight of the base 5 itself for ease of shipping or transporting while still retaining shape and strength for general outdoors use and to contain the ballast material.
The base 5 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 has an interior cavity 25 and an exterior cavity 30. The interior cavity 25 (as depicted in the cutaway shown in FIG. 3) is a cavity that is fully contained within the material of the base 5. In FIG. 2, the interior cavity is surrounded by an inner wall 15, an outer wall 20 and top wall 10. A port 45 in the top wall 10 permits the user to fill the interior cavity 25 with ballast. An interior cavity 25 is appropriate for holding water or other liquid ballast in order to enclose and isolate the liquid. Loose sand, gravel, dirt, or other solid aggregate ballast may also be used in the interior cavity 25, although this may complicate loading or unloading ballast into the cavity if the interior cavity 25 is of an elongate or irregular shape, such that portions of the interior cavity 25 are hard to reach directly from the port 45. For example, in the embodiment in FIG. 2, the interior cavity 25 wraps around the perimeter of the base 5, so portions of the cavity 25 near the wheels 45 would be difficult to fill with the use of sand or gravel, which cannot flow throughout the cavity 25 unassisted. However, an interior cavity 25 may be of any size or shape to receive and contain ballast. Therefore, if the interior cavity 25 is of the shape of a linear vertical or substantially vertical shape, then sand, gravel, dirt, or other aggregate material may be more suitable for use in such an interior cavity 25.
Because the interior cavity 25 retains ballast, it preferably is completely enclosed from the outside, except for the port 45, which may be capped off after filling the cavity with ballast. Accordingly, blow-molded or injection-plastics are particularly effective as base materials in order to minimize any joints. Alternatively, if the base 5 is constructed of two or more sections physically connected together the seam or attachment location between the sections should be caulked, welded, cemented, gasketed, or otherwise sealed together to prevent leaking.
The base 5 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 also has an exterior cavity 30. The exterior cavity 30 is separated from the interior cavity 25 by the inner wall 15. Unlike the interior cavity, 25, the exterior cavity 30 has no top wall 10. The exterior cavity 30 may contain various types of ballast, such as water, sand, gravel, or dirt. In some embodiments, and as depicted in FIG. 4, the exterior cavity 30 may be covered with a covering 35 to prevent rain water, insects, leaves, or other materials from falling into the exterior cavity 30. The covering 35 may also be given an aesthetically pleasing shape.
In some uses, the ballast may be placed loose into the exterior cavity 30, such as simply pouring water, loose sand or other loose aggregate material into the cavity 30. Alternatively, and as depicted in FIG. 5, the ballast may be placed in a container 55 and loaded into the cavity 30. For example, sand or gravel may be bagged and dropped into the cavity. As another example, one or more containers 55 may be fashioned to fit within the exterior cavity 30, such that the containers 55 may be removed separately by the user when desired, such as for transportation, cleaning, or storage.
The base 5 disclosed herein has at least two cavities. For example, a base 5 may have two exterior cavities 30, two interior cavities 25, or one exterior cavity 30 and one interior cavity 25, as depicted in FIG. 2. Additional cavities of either type may also be designed and included. Furthermore, the word “cavity” is used herein to refer to space or volume within the base for receiving and holding ballast, including within limitation structures such as a receptacle, bowl, or hollow shell. Furthermore, the cavity may be subdivided or have subcomponents for receiving and storing ballast, wherein a subcomponent may be independently filled with ballast.
A person of skill in the art may design a base having multiple cavities as described herein to potentially provide a number of benefits to the user. If one cavity develops a crack or leak, the base 5 may resist becoming unstable if ballast leaks out of the cavity. The other cavities remain full of ballast and accordingly continue to counterbalance the basketball backboard and support frame. Additionally, when the user wants to move the portable basketball system, not all of the ballast has to be removed. If a container 55 or bagged sand or aggregate is used in conjunction with the exterior cavity 30, the ballast is not wasted either, as it can be removed during the period of transporting the system and then replaced in the exterior cavity 30.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed here.
Patent Application
20150148153
