Abstract: A breakaway net attachment system for detachably mounting a basketball net to the rim of a basketball goal with resilient net clips. The net clips include a body member with a net release portion attachable to the rim and a retainer portion for retaining the net in association with the rim. The rim preferably includes a plurality of rams extending therefrom to which the clips are removably coupled. The clips are provided with flexible fingers for coupling to the ram wherein the fingers will release from the ram in response to a predetermined force being applied to the net.

Abstract: An adjustable basketball apparatus having a basketball backboard, a support member or pole, and upper arm and a lower arm connecting the basketball backboard to the support member which, together with the backboard and support member, form a deformable parallelogram. There is a connecting rod disposed between one of the upper and lower arm and a locking device for holding the basketball backboard at a selected height. An inner bracket extends along the length of the connecting rod for preventing disengagement of the locking device. The connecting rod terminates in a first handle and the inner bracket terminates in a second handle such that when the first handle and the second handle are compressed, the locking device releases allowing the deformable parallelogram to be deformed, thereby adjusting the height of the basketball backboard.

Abstract: A resilient basketball goal assembly having a substantially u-shaped back plate, having side elements, an inside back surface, and an outside back surface adapted to attach to a vertical surface such as a basketball backboard. There is a top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a front edge, a back edge, and downwardly extending sidewalls pivotally connected to the back plate. In a resting position, the top surface of the top plate is essentially even with the top edge of the back plate and is substantially perpendicular to the vertical surface. The top plate pivots about a pivot point proximate the front edge of the side elements of the back plate. An angle bracket is coupled to the inside back surface of the back plate such that a portion of the angle bracket extends inwardly perpendicular from the back plate and is parallel to the top plate in the resting position. A carriage bolt extends from the top surface of the top plate through the inwardly extending portion of the angle bracket.

Abstract: A sports assembly such as a basketball goal assembly with a removable ballast wherein the basketball goal comprises a base and a ballast component, which is separate from the base. In the assembled configuration, the ballast member preferably extends beyond the rear of the base to increase the pullover force required to topple the unit and provide more stability. A support pole preferably is mounted at the rear of the base. Thus, by extending the ballast member beyond the rear of the base, the advantage of rearwardly disposed ballast may be achieved. In order to be easily transported, the ballast component may comprise one large tank with wheels or the like, or multiple attachable tanks. In another embodiment of the invention, there is a sports apparatus ballast having two removable members which engage a structural member of the particular sports apparatus such as the pole of a basketball goal assembly.

Abstract: The ballast system for a portable basketball system is composed of dual ballast fillable tanks, which together form the base for supporting the pole, backboard and goal. The dual tank system includes a primary tank and a secondary tank cooperatively configured such that the secondary tank may be disposed in one position for compact shipping/storage and in another position to ensure stability during play. In particular, the secondary tank is centrally disposed within the dimensions of the primary tank during shipping. During play, the secondary tank is repositioned in a manner that elongates the primary tank to increase the footprint of the portable basketball system and concentrate the ballast of the secondary tank at the rear of the base.

Abstract: A mounting structure for supporting a removable basketball support pole in the ground. In a first embodiment, the mounting structure may include a sleeve body, a clamping mechanism and a cap. The sleeve body has an open end of a predetermined size for receiving the basketball pole. The open end of the sleeve has relief portions, such as grooves, for providing flexibility to permit deformation of the open end of the sleeve to adjust to the size of the basketball pole. The clamping mechanism then may be used to engage the sleeve with the pole and securely support the basketball pole in position. In another embodiment, the clamping mechanism is unnecessary as a portion of the cap forms a wedge. In particular, the cap may include the relief portions and the sleeve has a camming surface whereby a portion of the cap wedges between the camming surface and the pole when the cap is tightened onto the sleeve.

Abstract: A basketball backboard formed of a structural foam material such as structural foam polypropylene. The backboard is provided with an inmolded graphics sheet formed of the same material as that used to form the backboard. The graphics sheet of material is formed with pores to receive the printing inks whereby a desired visual graphics display is provided on an exposed facing surface of the graphics sheet. The backboard is formed as a high strength rigid structure having good rebound characteristics.

Abstract: A molded frame backboard assembly for supporting a rebound member between separately formed front and rear frames such that the peripheral edge of the rebound member is encapsulated within the frame. The rear frame preferably is formed as one piece of plastic material having sufficient strength and rigidity to support the rebound member and may include an internal reinforcing structure integrally molded therewith. The front frame preferably is molded from plastic and has a large central opening providing substantially unobstructed access to the rebound surface of the rebound member. The rear frame includes a recess that locates the rebound member in a predetermined position within the rear frame. The front and rear frame members include cooperating alignment structures that enable the front frame to be easily located on and attached to the rear frame after the rebound member has been positioned within the rear frame.

Abstract: A portable basketball goal support system having a base, a ballast tank, and an arm for supporting a basketball goal support pole can be assembled in a compact configuration for shipping or storage and an expanded configuration for use. The support pole is mounted at a rear portion of the base and angled forward in the expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the ballast tank extends at least partially behind the support pole, while in the compact configuration, the ballast tank may be nested within portion of the base, thereby occupying less space. The support pole may be formed with a generally "pear"-shaped cross section defined by large and small curved portions connected by relatively straight sections, such that the large curved portion readily adapts to existing mounting hardware. One or more of the base, ballast tank, and support arm may be formed from plastic with a printed graphics sheet integrally molded therewith.

Abstract: The ballast system for a portable basketball system is composed of dual ballast fillable tanks, which together form the base for supporting the pole, backboard and goal. The dual tank system includes a primary tank and a secondary tank cooperatively configured such that the secondary tank may be disposed in one position for compact shipping/storage and in another position to ensure stability during play. In particular, the secondary tank is centrally disposed within the dimensions of the primary tank during shipping. During play, the secondary tank is repositioned in a manner that elongates the primary tank to increase the footprint of the portable basketball system and concentrate the ballast of the secondary tank at the rear of the base.

Abstract: Basketball backboards and other moldable plastic parts of basketball goal assemblies are formed of thermoplastic materials made in a compression molding process enabling use of an integrally molded graphics sheet. To produce the compression molded part with inmolded graphics, a peripheral edge of the printed graphics sheet is positioned to register with a positioning surface in the mold thereby aligning the graphics sheet relative to the mold. The graphics sheet bonds/melts with the base thermoplastic material during the molding operations and becomes a permanent inmolded graphics sheet surrounded by a border portion. The printed graphics sheet is formed of a material compatible with the thermoplastic material. A preferred thermoplastic material includes recycled plastic made from landfill-destined plastic and/or recycled glass fiber and/or other filler materials.

Abstract: A breakaway net attachment system for detachably mounting a basketball net to the rim of a basketball goal with resilient net clips. The net clips include a base portion attachable to the rim and a retainer portion for detachably retaining the net in association with the rim. The rim preferably includes a plurality of studs or apertures located along an undersurface thereof for engaging within apertures or projections provided on the clips, whereby the clips are retained in engagement with the rim. In some embodiments, the clips are provided with flexible fingers for retaining the net wherein the fingers will release the net in response to a predetermined force being applied to the net. In further embodiments, the clips are adapted to be pulled off of the rim when a predetermined force is applied to the net.

Abstract: A portable basketball goal support system having a base, a ballast tank, and an arm for supporting a basketball goal support pole can be assembled in a compact configuration for shipping or storage and an expanded configuration for use. The support pole is mounted at a rear portion of the base and angled forward in the expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the ballast tank extends at least partially behind the support pole, while in the compact configuration, the ballast tank may be nested within portion of the base, thereby occupying less space. The support pole may be formed with a generally "pear"-shaped cross section defined by large and small curved portions connected by relatively straight sections, such that the large curved portion readily adapts to existing mounting hardware. One or more of the base, ballast tank, and support arm may be formed from plastic with a printed graphics sheet integrally molded therewith.

Abstract: A basketball mounting system for an in-ground basketball system has a flanged basketball support pole and a flanged ground sleeve receiving a portion of the pole in overlapping relationship. The flanges are connected together by removable fasteners such as threaded bolts. In addition, the mounting system may include jacking members in the pole flange to facilitate removal of the pole from the ground sleeve. The jacking members include members such as threaded bolts passing through the pole flange that, when rotated in one direction, press against the ground sleeve flange causing the pole and the ground sleeve to separate.

Abstract: A portable basketball goal assembly that includes a rim attached to a backboard bracket. The backboard bracket is attached to a basketball backboard. The rim is pivotal in a direction towards the basketball backboard. The backboard is attached to one end of a shaft that contains foldable elements. The other end of the shaft is pivotally attached to the rear end of a base. A shaft support element has one end pivotally attached to the front end of the base. The other end of the shaft support element is removably attached to the shaft. The shaft and the shaft support element can be folded towards the base to allow storage and portability of the basketball goal. The base includes one or more wheels along its front edge allowing for transportability of the folded assembly. The basketball goal assembly can be stored in either a horizontal position parallel to the ground, or a vertical position perpendicular to the ground.