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 method of packing a portable basketball goal support system having a base, a ballast tank, and an arm for supporting a basketball goal support pole which can be assembled in an expanded configuration for use and a compact configuration for shipping or storage. In the expanded configuration, the ballast tank extends at least partially behind the support pole providing stability for the base, while in the compact configuration, the ballast tank may be nested within a portion of the base, thereby occupying less space. The overall length, height, and thickness of the support assembly are thus reduced for storage, thus occupying less space when shipped or stored than would be possible in previous conventional designs providing comparable performance.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A basketball backboard assembly for supporting a rebound member having a tubular steel frame and one or more plastic channels connecting the rebound member to the frame in a manner that protects the edge of the rebound member. The steel frame includes an outer section preferably formed from a single piece of tubular steel and an inner section welded to the outer section. The plastic channel includes a first slot which receives the peripheral edge of the rebound member and a second slot which receives a portion of the outer section of the frame.

Abstract: A basketball goal unit having a first mounting plate for attachment to a backboard, a second mounting plate pivotally mounted to the first mounting plate, a rim supported from the second mounting plate, and a resilient member located between and in contact with the first and second mounting plates, the resilient member acting to bias the second mounting plate to a normal use position, wherein the resilient member is compressed and the second mounting plate is permitted to pivot a specified amount toward the first mounting plate when the rim receives a force having a downward component greater than a threshold level. Thereafter, the second mounting plate automatically pivots back to its normal use position due to the biasing action of the resilient member.

Abstract: A support structure or ground sleeve for supporting a pole including a cap threadably engageable with an open end of a sleeve body. The ground sleeve includes a sleeve body adapted to be positioned in a ground surface for receiving and supporting a pole and includes at least one flange extending outwardly from the sleeve body for preventing the sleeve from rotating in the ground, a collet for engaging the pole, and an inwardly tapered closed end of the sleeve body for centering an end of the pole. An inwardly tapered race surface of the cap and a plurality of cirumferentially-spaced tabs of the sleeve body cooperate to define the collet. In addition, the ground sleeve is formed of a weather resistant non-corrosive material.

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 basketball goal unit is disclosed having a first mounting plate for attachment to a backboard, a second mounting plate pivotally mounted to the first mounting plate, a rim supported from the second mounting plate, and a resilient member located between and in contact with the first and second mounting plates, the resilient member acting to bias the second mounting plate to a normal use position, wherein the resilient member is compressed and the second mounting plate is permitted to pivot a specified amount toward the first mounting plate when the rim receives a force having a downward component greater than a threshold level. Thereafter, the second mounting plate automatically pivots back to its normal use position due to the biasing action of the resilient member.