EQUIPMENT FOR PLAYING BASKETBALL

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of equipment for playing basketball, having a base equipped with two lateral structures forming a storage housing therebetween, and a post having a lower post section which can be stowed in a storage configuration in the housing. The post has an upper post section slidably mounted on the lower post section using an actuation system with a case fastened on a rear wall of the lower post section and an actuator mechanism for moving the upper post section which is housed in the case. The actuator mechanism has a handling socket which projects from the case. The housing is configured to receive the lower post section in the stowed configuration while preventing access to the socket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of French patent application number 2102296, filed on Mar. 9, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a piece of equipment for playing basketball, comprising a base intended to be disposed bearing on the ground, as well as a post which has an upper section carrying a board on which a basketball hoop is mounted.

Such equipment that could be folded in order to facilitate the set-up and the storage thereof are known, in particular while limiting the need for tools and/or the time required for such operations, which actually might turn out to be dissuasive for use of said equipment as well as for storage thereof.

The documents FR-3 022 795 and FR-3 022 796 describe an equipment for playing basketball, wherein the base is equipped with two rows of wheels forming a housing therebetween, and whose post has a lower section which is rotatably mounted on said base so as to be able to dispose said post reversibly between a stowed storage configuration, wherein at least the lower section is disposed in the housing, and an upright use configuration.

To be able to improve the compactness of the equipment in the storage configuration, the upper section of the post is mounted movable relative to the lower section between a retracted position and a deployed position, in order to be able to be disposed in the retracted position when the equipment is placed in the storage configuration.

To this end, the documents FR-3 022 795 and FR-3 022 796 provide for slidably mounting the upper section on the lower section, the equipment comprising a system for actuating said movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one projecting position corresponding to a height of use, said actuation system comprising a case fastened on a rear wall of the lower section and a mechanism for moving the upper section which is housed in said case, said mechanism comprising a handling socket which projects from said case.

In these documents, the movement mechanism comprises a strap whose a first end is fastened to the lower section, and whose second end could be wound around a shaft rotatably mounted in the case according to a frontal axis, said axis projecting from a lateral wall of said case to form a handling socket, to which a crank handle is associated.

For reasons related to compactness, the distance between the rows of wheels is not enough for the housing to receive the lateral socket, which leaves the possibility of an actuation of the deployment of the upper section in the storage configuration.

SUMMARY

The invention aims to improve the prior art by providing equipment for playing basketball wherein the post could be folded on the base in a storage configuration while preventing handling of the deployment of said post, and that being so without any particular constraint on the dimension of the base.

To this end, the invention provides equipment for playing basketball, comprising a base intended to be disposed bearing on the ground, said base being equipped with two lateral structures forming a housing therebetween, said equipment comprising a post having an upper section carrying a board on which a basketball hoop is mounted, said post having a lower section which is rotatably mounted on said base so as to be able to dispose said post reversibly between a stowed storage configuration in which at least the lower section is disposed in the housing and an upright use configuration, said upper section being slidably mounted on said lower section and said equipment comprising a system for actuating said movement over a stroke comprised between a storage retracted position and at least one projecting position corresponding to a height of use, said actuation system comprising a case fastened on a rear wall of the lower section and a mechanism for moving the upper section which is housed in said case, said mechanism comprising a handling socket which projects from the case, said equipment being characterised in that said socket is disposed on a rear wall of the case and in that the housing is arranged so as to receive the lower section in the stowed configuration while preventing access to said socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, made with reference to the appended figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective front view of a piece of equipment according to a first embodiment of the invention in the use configuration, FIG. 1a representing a perspective rear view of the base of this same equipment;

FIG. 2 represents a side view of the mounting of the board and of the hoop on the upper section of the equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective rear view of the post of the equipment of FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, centred on the system for actuating the movement of the upper section,

FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b represent sections of FIG. 3 according to two different sagittal planes;

FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b represent the equipment of FIGS. 1 to 3b in the storage configuration, respectively in perspective (FIG. 4a) and in rear view (FIG. 4b);

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5a represent views similar to FIGS. 1 and 1a respectively, for a piece of equipment according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 represents a view similar to FIG. 2 for the equipment of FIGS. 5 and 5a;

FIG. 7, FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b represent views similar to FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b respectively, for the equipment of FIGS. 5, 5a and 6;

FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b represent the equipment of FIGS. 5 to 7b in the storage configuration, respectively in rear view (FIG. 8a) and in perspective (FIG. 8b);

FIG. 9 represents a perspective rear view of an equipment according to a third embodiment of the invention in the use configuration, FIG. 9a representing a perspective rear view of the lower section of the post and the base of this same equipment;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective rear view of the post of the equipment of FIGS. 9, 9a, centred on the system for actuating the movement of the upper section,

FIG. 10a and FIG. 10b being sections of the actuation system of FIG. 10 according to two different sagittal planes;

FIG. 11a, FIG. 11b and FIG. 11c represent the equipment of FIGS. 9, 9a, 10, 10a and 10b in the storage configuration, respectively in rear view (FIG. 11a) and in perspective according to two different orientations (FIGS. 11b, 11c);

FIG. 12a, FIG. 12b and FIG. 12c represent a perspective rear view of mounting of the board on the upper section of the post in the equipment of FIGS. 9 to 11c, respectively in the use position (FIG. 12a), in the storage position (FIG. 12b) and in an exploded view (FIG. 12c);

FIG. 13 is an enlargement of FIG. 12a centred on the stop member defining the use position of the board;

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view according to a sagittal plane of the mechanism for mounting the board on the upper section of the post in the equipment of FIGS. 9 to 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to these figures, an equipment for playing basketball is described hereinbelow.

The equipment comprises a base 1 intended to be disposed bearing on the ground, as well as a post 2 having an upper section 2a carrying a board 3 on which a basketball hoop 4 is mounted.

The post 2 has a lower section 2b which is rotatably mounted on the base 1 to be able dispose said post reversibly between a stowed storage configuration and an upright use configuration.

The base 1 is equipped with two lateral structures 5 which form a housing 6 therebetween such that, in the storage configuration, at least the lower section 2b of the post 2 is disposed in said housing. In the represented embodiments, the base 1 comprises a frame 7 on which the lower section 2b is rotatably mounted, the lateral structures 5 being carried by said frame forming a U-like shaped housing 6 therebetween.

The two lateral structures 5 form a counterweight to the post 2 in the upright configuration for use of the equipment, in order to avoid a tilting of said equipment, and thus guarantee the safety of its users.

At least one lateral structure 5 may be arranged so as to be able to be filled with a ballast matter, for example water or sand. In the represented second and third embodiments (respectively in FIGS. 5, 5a, 8a, 8b and in FIGS. 9, 9a, 9b, 11a, 11b, 11c), each lateral structure 5 has three modules 5a aligned according to a sagittal direction, each of said modules comprising a tank 8 on which an opening 9 is disposed to enable filling thereof with such a ballast matter.

For a proper distribution of the weight, in each of the represented embodiments, the lateral structures 5 have identical modules 5a which are symmetrically distributed with respect to the modules 5a of the other lateral structure 5, on either side of a sagittal midplane containing the post 2.

The base 1 is further equipped with wheels 10 to enable the movement of the equipment, in particular in its storage configuration.

In the represented first two embodiments (FIGS. 1 to 4b and FIGS. 5 to 8b respectively), the frame 7 forms a cradle on which the lateral structures 5 are disposed, said cradle carrying at least one pair of wheels 10.

In particular, in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 4b), the frame 7 has a U-like shaped geometry whose branches 7a extend rearwards according to a sagittal direction, while each heaving a rear wheel 10 which is fastened at their respective free end so as to be raised when the base 1 lies flat on the ground, which allows avoiding any inadvertent movement of the equipment, in particular during use thereof.

Thus, to be able to move the equipment, the user should raise the base 1 slightly on the front side, in particular by manually grasping a front transverse bar 7b forming the base of the U of the frame 7, in order to make the rear wheels 10 bear on the ground.

In the second embodiment (FIGS. 5 to 8b), the frame 7 has a frame 7d with a substantially rectangular geometry which is equipped with four wheels 10 distributed at each of its corners. In particular, each of the front wheels 10a is rotatably mounted on the frame 7 around an independent vertical axis 11, in order to enable the user to easily steer the equipment when he makes it roll on the ground.

In the represented third embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 14), the base 1 is equipped with two rows of wheels 10 each forming a lateral structure 5 between which is formed the housing 6 for receiving the lower section 2b in the stowed configuration.

In particular, each of the wheels 10 forms a ballast module 5a for the corresponding lateral structure 5, and has, to this end, a cylindrical tank 8 on the periphery of which an opening 9 is disposed to enable filling thereof with a ballast matter, the axis of revolution of said tank extending horizontally and perpendicularly to the sagittal plane of the frame 7, in order to be able to move the base 1 by making said tanks roll on their periphery.

In FIGS. 9, 9a and 11a to 11c, the frame 7 comprises a central beam 7c on either side of which the wheels 10 are mounted. In particular, each of the wheels 10 comprises a hub 12 secured to the central beam 7c, said hubs being arranged so as to enable the wheels 10 to rotate independently of each other.

As regards mounting of the lower section 2b, the cradle 7a, 7b, 7d or the central beam 7c of the frame 7 has a front portion on which said lower section is rotatably mounted. Thus, to dispose the equipment in the use configuration, the user first moves the lower section 2b from the stowed configuration to the upright configuration by making it pivot relative to the front portion of the frame 7.

To facilitate its arrangement in the use configuration, the equipment comprises a connecting arm 13 which has a front end 13a hinged on the lower section 2b, as well as a rear end hinged on the base 1, in particular by being disposed in the housing 6 for receiving said lower section.

In the represented first embodiment (FIGS. 1, 1a, 4a, 4b), the connecting arm 13 has two segments 14 which are hinged at a central hinge 15 so as to be able to be reversibly disposed in a deployed configuration for holding the post 2 upright and a folded storage configuration.

In particular, the central hinge 15 comprises a pin 16 for locking the arm 13 in the deployed configuration to avoid an inadvertent folding thereof, and thus limiting the risks of tilting of the lower section 2b during the use of the equipment. The pin 13 can be manually actuated to enable a movement thereof from the locking position towards an unlocked position, in order to free the relative rotation of the segments 14 and enable the tilting of the arm 13 in the folded configuration.

In the other two represented embodiments, at least one amongst the front 13a and rear ends of the connecting arm 13 is slidably mounted respectively on the lower section 2b and the base 1.

In the second embodiment (FIGS. 5, 5a), the connecting arm 13 comprises a front end 13a rotatably mounted on a carriage 19 which slides on a vertical rail 17 mounted on a rear face of the lower section 2b, as well as a rear end rotatably mounted on the frame 7.

In particular, the carriage 19 comprises a locking pin 20 which is arranged so as to be reversibly disposed in an upper and/or lower orifice 21 formed on the rail 17, in order to block said carriage in the top and/or bottom position, and thus lock the lower section 2b in the stowed and/or upright configuration.

In the third embodiment (FIGS. 9, 9a), the connecting arm 13 comprises a front end 13a rotatably mounted on a rear face of the lower section 2b and a rear end rotatably and slidably mounted on a horizontal rail formed on the central beam 7c.

The lower section 2b is further equipped with at least one foot 18 which is disposed laterally, in order to stabilise the post 2 in the upright configuration, in particular to prevent tilting thereof on the sides, in combination with the base 1 which forms a counterweight to avoid tilting thereof forwards or rearwards.

In the figures, the lower section 2b comprises two feet 18 disposed on either side of its lower end. In FIGS. 1, 1a, 4a and 4b, the feet 18 are rotatably mounted on the base 1 and on the lower section 2b. In FIGS. 5, 5a, 8b, 9, 9a and 11c, the feet 18 are fastened on the lower section 2b so as to bear on the ground when the post 2 is in the upright configuration, which also allows preventing the base 1 from rolling when the equipment is in the use configuration.

The upper section 2a is slidably mounted on the lower section 2b, the equipment comprising a system 22 for actuating this movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one projecting position corresponding to a height of use.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 3a, 3b, 7, 7a, 7b, 10, 10a and 10b, the actuation system 22 comprises a case 23 fastened on a rear wall of the lower section 2b and a mechanism for moving an upper section 2a which is housed in said case, said mechanism comprising a handling socket 24 which projects from said case.

In particular, the handling socket 24 is disposed on a rear wall 23a of the case 23, and the housing 6 of the base 1 is arranged so as to receive the lower section 2b in the stowed configuration while preventing access to said handling socket, as represented in FIGS. 4b, 8a and 11a.

Thus, the risk of an inadvertent deployment of the upper section 2a when the equipment is in the storage configuration is optimally limited, and that being so without having to make considerable changes in the geometry of the housing 6, and therefore of the base 1.

In the represented embodiments, the upper section 2a is slidably mounted in the lower section 2b. In particular, as represented in FIGS. 3, 3a, 7, 7a, 10 and 10a, the actuation system 22 comprises a vertical row of orifices 25 formed on the rear face of the upper section 2a and a mechanism comprising a gear wheel 26 which is rotatably actuated by a worm screw 27, said wheel being arranged so as to successively fit into the orifices 25 for sliding of the upper section 2a in the lower section 2b.

The gear wheel 26 is rotatably mounted in the case 23 according to a frontal axis A1, and the screw 27 is rotatably mounted in the case 23 according to a sagittal axis A2. The screw 27 has a rear end 27a which projects from the rear wall 23a of the case 23 and on which a metallic loop 24 is fastened forming a handling socket for manipulating the mechanism.

Advantageously, a crank handle 28 may be reversibly associated on the handling loop 24 of the screw 27, so as to be removed from said loop when the mechanism is not actuated. This arrangement allows not only limiting the bulk of the system 22 when it is arranged in the housing 6, but also limiting the risk of inadvertent actuation of the mechanism when the equipment is in the use configuration, in order to guarantee the safety of the users.

The actuation mechanism comprises two gear wheels 26, 29 with a different diameter which are secured in rotation. Referring to the sectional FIGS. 3a, 3b, 7a, 7b, 10a and 10b, the wheel with a large diameter 26 is fitted into the orifices 25 and the wheel with a small diameter 29 is actuated by the worm screw 27.

The worm screw 27 may be arranged so as to require a handling of the socket 24 to actuate the upper section 2a in either one of its directions of movement. Thus, in particular, a rotation of the wheels 26, 29 in the direction of retraction of the upper section 2a when the screw 27 is not actuated is prevented, which allows ensuring holding of said upper section at the selected height, in order to guarantee the safety of the users by preventing an inadvertent retraction in the lower section 2b during the use of the equipment.

To limit the bulk of the equipment in the storage configuration, the upper section 2a of the post 2 comprises an upper segment 30a carrying the board 3 and a lower segment 30b slidably mounted on the lower section 2b, said upper segment being movably mounted relative to said lower segment between a use configuration, in which said upper segment is deployed relative to said lower segment, and a storage configuration, in which said upper segment forms a compact arrangement with said lower segment.

Thus, once the lower section 2b is in the upright position, the user can dispose the equipment in the use configuration by successively deploying the lower segment 30b out of said lower section, by actuation of the system 22 by means of the crank handle 28, and then the upper segment 30a relative to said lower segment.

In the first two represented embodiments (FIGS. 1, 5), the upper segment 30a is slidably mounted on the lower segment 30b, the equipment comprising a system 22′ for actuating said movement over a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one projecting position corresponding to a height of use.

In particular, this actuation system 22′ comprises a case 23′ fastened on a rear wall of the lower segment 30b and a mechanism for moving the upper segment 30a which is housed in said case, said mechanism comprising a handling socket 24′ which projects from said case.

Advantageously, the handling socket 24′ of this system 22′ is also disposed on a rear wall of the case 23′, and the housing 6 is arranged so as to receive the lower segment 30b in the stowed configuration while preventing access to said socket, as represented in FIGS. 4b and 8a.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the respective actuation systems 22, 22′ of the lower segment 30b and of the upper segment 30a are similar, which allows facilitating the manufacture of the equipment. In particular, the equipment may comprise a unique crank handle 28 that could be selectively and reversibly fastened on the handling socket 24, 24′ of either one of these systems during the deployment of said equipment in the use configuration.

In the represented third embodiment (FIGS. 9, 9a), the upper segment 30a is rotatably mounted on the lower segment 30b between an angular upright use configuration and an angular folded storage configuration against the lower segment 30b.

In particular, the upper segment 30a comprises at least one pair of parallel bars 31 each having a rear end rotatably mounted on the upper end of the lower segment 30b, as well as a front end on which the board 3 is rotatably mounted according to a frontal axis. Thus, the upper segment 30a forms a deformable four-bar linkage which enables the user to angularly deploy said upper segment and lay out the board 3 in one single gesture.

The equipment may further comprise a system 32 for locking the upper segment 30a in the upright configuration, in order to avoid any inadvertent tilting of said upper segment in the folded configuration, in particular during the use of said equipment, and thus ensure the safety of the users.

In FIG. 9, the locking system 32 comprises a case 33 which is mounted on the upper end of the lower segment 30b, and on each lateral face of which the rear end of an upper parallel bar 31 is rotatably mounted, said case enclosing a locking mechanism which could be reversibly actuated by means of a toggle lever 34 mounted at the upper portion of said case.

Advantageously, the board 3 is movable relative to the upper segment 30a between a use position and a storage position, which allows limiting the bulk of the equipment in the storage configuration.

In the represented three embodiments, the board 3 has a quadrilateral, in particular rectangular, geometry, which, when in the storage position, is turned by 90° with respect to its use position on the upper segment 30a. In particular, the board 3 has longitudinal and lateral dimensions which substantially correspond respectively to the sagittal and frontal dimensions of the base 1. Thus, to the extent that the base 1 has a sagittal dimension that is larger than its frontal dimension to be able to ensure the stability of the equipment with regards to a front-rear tilting, it is possible to store a rectangular board that is satisfactory for the sports practice, within the bulk of said base.

In the represented first two embodiments, the board 3 is reversibly mounted on the upper segment 30a between a mounted use position and a dismounted storage position, the post 2 in the storage configuration enabling the storage of the dismounted board 3 on the base.

For this purpose, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, the board 3 is equipped with a connector 35 in which the upper end of the upper segment 30a is disposed, said connector having a transverse wall 35a on which said upper end bears in the use position.

In FIG. 2, the connector 35 comprises a case 59 fastened on the rear face of the board 3 and defining a housing for receiving the upper end of the upper segment 30a, said end bearing under an upper wall 35a of said case when the board is mounted in the use position.

The connector 35 is equipped with a locking pin 36 which could be actuated between a stable blocking position, in which said pin is fitted into an orifice provided to this end in the upper segment 30a, and a constrained mounting position, in which said pin is retracted from the orifice.

In FIGS. 6 and 8b, the connector 35 comprises a vertical recess 60 formed on the lower edge of the board 3, and delimited at the top portion with a transverse wall under which the upper end of the upper segment 30a bears during mounting of said board on the post 2.

In particular, the connector 35 comprises a vertical leg 61 which extends in the recess 60, said leg being arranged so as to be disposed in the complementary vertical housing 62 provided to this end in the upper end of the upper segment 30a.

The upper segment 30a is equipped with a locking pin 36′ which could be actuated between a stable blocking position, in which said pin crosses the housing 62 of the upper segment 30a to fit onto a locking stop provided to this end on the leg 61 of the connector 35, and a constrained mounting position, in which said pin is retracted from said housing.

In these two embodiments, the locking pin 36, 36′ comprises an internal end intended to be fitted into the orifice of the segment 30a or on the stop of the leg 61, as well as an external end on which is mounted a grip 37, 37′ to enable the user to move said pin towards its constrained mounting position by pulling on said grip.

Moreover, the pin 36, 36′ is equipped with an elastic biasing means, for example in the form of a spring, which is arranged so as to be elastically loaded upon a pull on the grip 37, 37′ in order to elastically urge said pin towards its stable position when the user releases said grip.

In the first embodiment (FIGS. 4a and 4b), at least one lateral structure 5 has a housing 38 for receiving the case 59 when the board 3 is in the storage configuration on the base 1, in order to ensure holding of said board on said base.

Advantageously, each lateral structure 5 has such a housing 38, which enables the user to dispose the dismounted board 3 on the base 1 by indifferently disposing the connector 35 on one of said lateral structures.

In the represented third embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 14), the board 3 is rotatably mounted on the upper segment 30a between an angular use position (FIGS. 9, 12a, 12c) and an angular storage position (FIGS. 11a to 11c and FIG. 12b), in particular through a rotational mechanism 39 between these two positions.

Referring to FIGS. 12a to 14, the rotational mechanism 39 comprises a subplate 40 for joining together the upper end of the upper segment 30a, said subplate comprising an extension 41 linked to the board through a friction pivot. As represented in FIG. 12a, the extension 41 is disposed above the upper segment 30a when the board 3 is in the use position.

The extension 41 of the subplate 40 comprises a U-like shaped structure whose two branches 42 carry means for joining together the upper end of the upper section, the base 42a of said U-like shape being engaged into the pivot connection.

In particular, each branch 42 has a pair of vertical lateral plates 43 between which the upper end of respectively one bar 31 is rotatably mounted.

The extension 41 is clamped against the board 3 with at least one friction insert 45 interposed therebetween, the equipment further comprising a clamping adjustment means 46 in order to optimise the friction torque of the rotation.

For this purpose, the rotational mechanism 39 comprises a rear cup 47 fastened on the rear face of the board 3 and a front cup 48, the extension 41 being disposed between the cups 47, 48 which are equipped with means 46 for clamping said extension therebetween, at least one cup 47, 48 housing a friction insert 45.

In FIGS. 12a, 12b, 12c and 14, each cup 47, 48 houses a friction insert 45, the extension 41 being clamped between said cups and fastened at the rear of the board 3 by means of four screws 46.

Each insert 45 is immobilised in rotation between the cups 47, 48, and comprises a friction bushing 45a which is clamped respectively on a rear 41b and a front 41a face of the extension 41 through a clamping bushing 47a, 48a formed on the adjacent cup 47, 48.

The extension 41 has a square section, as represented in particular in FIG. 14, or rectangular, a friction bushing 45a being clamped respectively against a front face 41a and a rear face 41b of said section.

Each clamping bushing 47a, 48a has indentations 49, and in particular two indentations 49 with identical angular dimensions which are diametrically opposite along said bushing.

After having disposed the lower section 2b in the upright configuration, the user can dispose the board 3 in the use position by making it pivot by means of the rotational mechanism 39. Afterwards, the user can make the upper segment 30a pivot to dispose it in the upright configuration, and then erect the lower segment 30b out of the lower section 2b by actuation of its system 22, up to the desired height of the board 3.

The use position of the board 3 is delimited by the abutment of the subplate 40 on a member 50 secured to said board. Advantageously, the stop member 50 of the board 3 comprises a means 51 for locking the use position, which allows safeguarding said position, in particular by avoiding any inadvertent rotation of said board during the use of the equipment.

Referring to FIG. 13, the locking means is a latch 51 which reversibly fits on an axis 52 secured to the subplate 40. In particular, the axis 52 is fastened on the lower end of one of the branches 43 of the U-like shaped extension 41, and the latch 51 comprises a hook 51a which fits on said axis in the locking position, as well as a leg 51b that the user could manually grasp to make the latch 51 pivot and clear the hook 51a of said axis, when he wishes to make the board 3 pivot towards its storage position.

As represented in FIG. 12c, the hoop 4 is fastened on the board 3 so as not to interact with the subplate 40 when said board is rotated. For this purpose, the hoop 4 comprises a support 53 which is fastened on the board 3 mechanically independent of the subplate 40.

Advantageously, the hoop 4 has an extension 4a which is rotatably mounted around an axis 54 secured to its support 53 for fastening to the board 3, so that said hoop could be stowed from its horizontal use position towards a vertical storage position against the board 3, in order to limit the bulk of said hoop in the storage configuration of the equipment.

For this purpose, the support 53 has two vertical sidewalls 53a which extend from a front face of the board 3 according to a sagittal direction, the extension 4a being rotatably mounted on a frontal axis 54 fastened between said sidewalls.

In particular, in the represented third embodiment, the support 53 also comprises:

• • a bottom 53b extending frontally at the rear of its vertical sidewalls 53b, and fastened to the board 3 by means of screws; and
  • a second frontal axis 55 fixed between its vertical sidewalls 53b, on which the extension 4a of the hoop 4 abuts when said hoop is disposed in the use position.

In the represented first and second embodiments, the hoop 4 is equipped with a holding arch 56 which has two arms 56a rotatably mounted under said hoop and a base 56b reversibly fitted into a stop formed on the support 53 to define the use position.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4a and 4b, the support 53 comprises two slots 57 formed respectively on a vertical sidewall 53a, within which the base 56b slides when the hoop 4 is rotated while defining the use position by abutment of said base on the lower edges of said slots (FIG. 2). In particular, as represented in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the base 56b also abuts on the upper edges of the slots 57 in the storage position of the hoop 4.

In FIG. 6, the base 56b abuts at the lower portion of the support 53 so as to define the use position of the hoop 4, and the equipment comprises a latch 58 for locking said base on said stop.

Claims

1. Equipment for playing basketball, comprising a base with two lateral structures defining a housing therebetween a post having an upper post section carrying a board on which a basketball hoop is mounted, the post also having a lower post section which is rotatably mounted on the base and adjustable between a stowed storage configuration in which at least the lower post section is disposed in the housing and an upright use configuration, the upper post section being slidably mounted on the lower post section, an actuating system configured to move the upper post section between a retracted storage position and at least one projecting position corresponding to a height of use, the actuation system comprising a first case fastened on a rear wall of the lower post section and a first actuator mechanism for moving the upper post section which is housed in the first case, the first actuator mechanism comprising a handling socket which projects from the first case, and is disposed on a rear wall of the first case and wherein the housing is arranged to receive the lower post section in the stowed configuration while preventing access to the handling socket.

2. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the two lateral structures form a counterweight to the post in the upright use configuration of the equipment.

3. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a frame on which the lower post section is rotatably mounted, the lateral structures being carried by the frame while forming a U-like shaped housing therebetween.

4. The equipment according to claim 1, it further comprising a connecting arm with a front end hinged on the lower post section and a rear end hinged on the base, the rear end being disposed in the housing.

5. The equipment according to claim 4, wherein the connecting arm has two segments which are hinged and configured to be reversibly disposed in a deployed configuration for holding the post in an upright use configuration and also configured to hold the post in a folded storage configuration.

6. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the lower post section is equipped with at least one foot which is disposed laterally in order to stabilise the post in the upright use configuration.

7. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the upper post section is slidably mounted in the lower post section, the actuation system comprising a vertical row of orifices formed on the rear face of the upper first section and a first actuator mechanism comprising a gear wheel which is rotatably actuated by a worm screw, the gear wheel being configured to fit into the vertical row of orifices for sliding of the upper post section in the lower post section.

8. The equipment according to claim 7, wherein the gear wheel is rotatably mounted in the case according to a frontal axis, the screw being rotatably mounted in the case according to a sagittal axis.

9. The equipment according to claim 7, wherein the first actuation mechanism comprises a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel each with a different diameter and the first and second gear wheels being secured in rotation, the first gear wheel with a larger diameter being fitted into the vertical row of orifices and the second gear wheel with a smaller diameter being actuated by the worm screw.

10. The equipment according to claim 7, wherein a crank handle is reversibly associated on the handling socket for rotatably manipulating the worm screw.

11. The equipment according to claim 7, wherein the worm screw is arranged to require a manipulation of the handling socket to actuate movement the upper post section.

12. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the upper section comprises an upper segment carrying the board and a lower segment slidably mounted on the lower post section, the upper segment being slidably mounted on the lower segment, the actuation system having a second case fastened on a rear wall of the lower segment and a second actuator mechanism for moving the upper segment which is housed in the second case, the second actuator mechanism comprising a handling socket which projects from the second case, the socket is disposed on a rear wall of the second case, the housing being arranged to receive the lower segment in the stowed configuration while preventing access to said socket.

13. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the board is rotatably mounted on the upper post section between an angular use position and an angular storage position.

14. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the board is reversibly mounted on the upper section between a mounted use position and a dismounted storage position, the post in the storage configuration enabling the storage of the dismounted board on the base.

15. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the hoop has a lateral extension which is rotatably mounted around an axis secured to a support fastened on the board configured to permit the hoop be stowed from a horizontal use position into a vertical storage position against the board.