Power Operated Basketball Backboard (Patent No: 620505)

Inventor: Alger, Bruce M.

Location: Lethbridge

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-
(1) A power operated basketball backboard adapted to be suspended from overhead supports comprising in combination a substantially rectangular vertically situated front frame work pivotally supported from said overhead supports, a substantially rectangular diagonally situated rear framework also pivotally supported from said overhead supports, said rear framework being pivotally connected by the lower ends thereof to adjacent the lower ends of said front framework, a basketball backstop board and hoop secured to adjacent the lower ends of said front framework, a source of power, a winch operated by said source of power, spring loaded break joints in each of said frameworks and cable means extending from said winch and being operatively connected to said framework whereby the upper part of said front framework folds upwardly and forwardly, the lower part thereof folds upwardly and rearwardly, the upper part of said rear framework folds upwardly and forwardly, and the lower part of said rear framework folds upwardly and rearwardly when said backboard is raised and vice versa.
(2) The device according to Claim 1 in which said spring loaded break joints consist of vertical flanges secured to the rear side of adjacent portions, said vertical flanges being pivotally secured together, and a tension spring extends between said adjacent portion on one side thereof and lying on one side of said pivotal connection in the raised position and upon the other side thereof in the lowered position.
(3) The device according to Claim 1 in which said frameworks include vertical members and horizontal members, said cable passing around one of said horizontal members of said rear framework and being anchored to said front framework adjacent the lower end thereof.
(4) The device according to Claim 2 in which said frameworks include vertical members and horizontal members, said cable passing around one of said horizontal members of said rear framework and being anchored to said front framework adjacent the lower end thereof.
(5) The device according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 in which said source of power is operated electrically, a two-way switch for operating said device, and a pair of limit switches mechanically operated by the movement of said backstop, whereby one of said limit switches in co-operation with one position of said two-way switch closes the circuit to operate said winch in one direction, and the other of said limit switches in co-operation with the other position of said two-way switch closes the circuit to operate said winch in the other direction.
(6) The device according to Claim 4 in which said source of power is operated electrically, a two-way switch for operating said device, and a pair of limit switches mechanically operated by the movement of said backstop, whereby one of said limit switches in co-operation with one position of said two-way switch closes the circuit to operate said winch in one direction, and the other of said limit switches in co-operation with the other position of said two-way switch closes the circuit to operate said winch in the other direction.
(7) The device according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the upper end of said front framework incline rearwardly.
(8) The device according to Claims 1, 2 or 3 in which said source of power is operated electrically, a two-way switch for operating said device, and a pair of limit switches mechanically operated by the movement of said backstop, whereby one of said limit switches in co-operation with one position of said two-way switch closes the circuit to operate said winch in one direction, and the other of said limit switches in co-operation with the other position of said two-way switch closes the circuit to operate said winch in the other direction, the upper ends of said front framework inclining rearwardly.
FETHERSTONHAUGH & KENT
Patent Attorneys of the Applicant