US3722886A

US3722886A - Movable stand for a basketball goal

Info

Publication number: US3722886A
Application number: US00142234A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Sinner
Original assignee: TEAMAKERS Inc
Current assignee: TEAMAKERS Inc
Priority date: 1971-05-11
Filing date: 1971-05-11
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27
Also published as: CA949992A

Abstract

A stand for a basketball goal has as its main member an elongated tube which, at one end, has a basket and a backboard mounted thereon and which runs at an inclined angle of roughly 30* to 45* from that point to a ground supported end. The tube is supported at its mid-portion by a movable carriage so that the basket and backboard are removed far enough from the carriage to provide the players with a relatively large run-under room. The tube running at an inclined angle from the backboard to the ground provides a relatively great effective longitudinal dimension of the stand which creates a rigid and firm support for the backboard which will have relatively little give or springiness. A winch mechanism is provided to raise and lower the basket and backboard and means is provided for adjusting the backboard to remain vertical with respect to the ground as the height is adjusted. At the ground supported end of the tube means is provided so that the stand may be secured to a motor vehicle or bolted to a solid surface. The lower end of the tube may be filled with any suitable ballast material to add mass and increase stability.

Description

[ 51 Mar. 27, 1973 United States Patent Sinner MOVABLE STAND FOR A BASKETBALL GOAL [75] Inventor:

George A. Sinner, Casselton, N. Dak.

[57] ABSTRACT A stand for a basketball goal has as its main member [73] Assignee: Teamakers, Inc., Casselton, N. Dak.

Filed: May 11 [21] Appl. No.: 142,234

, 1971 an elongated tube which, at one end, has a basket and a backboard mounted thereon and which runs at an inclined angle of roughly 30 to 45 from that point to a ground supported end. The tube is supported at its [52] 0.8. R, 248/42 mid-portion by a movable carriage so that the basket Int. 63/04 and backboard are removed far enough from the car- [58] Field of Search.......................273/l.5 R; 248/42 riage to provide the players with a relatively large rununder room. The tube running at an inclined angle from the backboard to the ground provides a relative [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ly great effective longitudinal dimension of the stand which creates a rigid and firm support for the 4/1960 backboard which will have relatively little give or 2,932,511 273/15 R I 1,757,350 5/1930 Wallace.............................273/l 5 R springiness. A winch mechanism is provided to raise 3,544,110 12/1970 Dickinson..........................273/l.5 R

and lower the basket and backboard and means is provided for adjusting the backboard to remain vertical FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS with respect to the ground as the height is adjusted. At the ground supported end of the tube means is pro- .273/1.5 R vided so that the stand may be secured to a motor 273/ 5 R vehicle or bolted to a solid surface. The lower end of ...273/1.5 R

1,232,360 10/1960 977,204 11/1950 France........... 306,083 3/1955 Switzerland 1,055,574 1/1967 Great Britain..................

the tube may be filled with any suitable ballast material to add mass and increase stability.

17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented March 27, 1973 2 SheetsSheet 1 IN VEN TOR. GEORGE SIAM/7? [[Tlll Patented March 27, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE:

\ INVENTOR.

450246 a. .s/wvae c yfi f lrraxn rs MOVABLE STAND FOR A BASKETBALL GOAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a movable basketball stand for supporting basketball baskets and backboards, either indoors or outdoors, and having a relatively great effective longitudinal dimension to create a firm and rigid support for the basketball and backboard.

At the present time, basketball goals of a portable nature are generally relatively heavy and cumbersome to move. One such basketball goal is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,058 in which the basketball goal is tipped backwards in order to roll the goal and support the weight of the goal on the pair of wheels 13, 13. As may be seen, the further the basketball stand is tipped away from the perpendicular, the greater the weight which must be supported by the mover thereof.

The basketball stand shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,502 provides a relatively large distance of rununder room for basketball players, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the patent, as well as a relatively compact size when folded for storage, as best shown in FIG. 6 of that patent. However, it would be desirable to have a less heavy and complicated mechanism which could be purchased more inexpensively.

Although U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,81 1 shows a basketball goal which folds to a more compact unit for storage, it still requires a substantial amount of room and requires a relatively heavy platform to provide a base. This basketball goal could not be folded into an extremely compact structure for shipment. Also, a relatively heavy-duty gear system is required for operation of the backboard and basket between playing and storage positions. In addition, when in its playing position, the rigidity and strength of the stand is dependent upon the gears and there is no single member extending substantially from the backboard to the platform to provide a rigid structure. This same characteristic is noted in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,502 in which the various structural members of the unit are hinged together so that itmay fold for storage.

The structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,025 is substantially similar to the structure of the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,058, except that additional wheels are provided so that the basketball goal may be moved without tipping from the vertical. Although this basketball stand may be adjusted for height, it would be desirable to have a greater amount of run-under room. This same disadvantage is present in the structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,058. These two patents also have the disadvantage of a relatively short effective longitudinal dimension, that is, the dimension of the supporting structure behind the basketball basket and backboard. The rigidity and firmness of the mounting of the basket and backboard are related to the strength of the supporting supporting structure and the length of this structure extending behind the backboard. The structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,058 is mounted on a single vertical post which may freely vibrate back and forth at the top end thereof giving a relatively non-rigid and firm support to basketball backboard. U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,502 does not have this disadvantage. The structure supporting the backboard is braced extensively by members which form a rigid triangular type framework so that any tendency to vibration of the backboard back and forth the surface. A pair of wheels supports this tube through transversely is prevented by this structure which is braced against movement on the supporting surface at a relatively great distance from the basketball backboard. Comparison between the figures of this patent and U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,058 make these differences clear.

It is now clear that there is a need for, and that it would be desirable to have a basketball stand providing a relatively rigid and firm support for a basketball basket and backboard along with a relatively good distance of run-under room for the players without a substantial and complex mechanism. Such a basketball stand should be of the type which is portable and which may have the facility for being adjusted to different heights, including a relatively compact height for storage under bleachers of the type commonly found in schools. In addition, it would be an added advantage if such a basketball stand could be shipped in an extremely compact lightweight form. If a basketball stand were to have a combination of all these features and be relatively inexpensive, it would be suitable for purchase and use by individuals as well as institutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION under room for players, a relatively rigid and firm support for the backboard to prevent undesirable vibration and .a relatively compact form when packed for shipping. In addition, this basketball stand may be used indoors and outdoors and may be towed by a motor vehicle. In the form of the invention shown, means is provided for adjusting the height of the basket above the ground and the basket may be lowered nearly to ground level if desired for storage ina room having a low ceiling or beneath the bleachers or stage in a gymnasium.

In the form of the invention shown, this basketball stand has as its main-structural element an elongated member in the form of a large diameter tube which supports the basketball backboard and basket and inclines generally at an angle of 30 to 45 with respect to the supporting surface through a relatively long distance to the other surface supported end which rests directly on a framework at a pointwhich slightly overbalances the basketball goal so that the surfaces or ground supported end of the tube will rest on the ground. In the form of the invention shown, one portion of this framework is a movable support mounted to guides rigidly secured to the tube and a winch is provided to operate between the tube and the movable support to raise and lower the basketball stand.

As the metal tube is raised and lowered by the interaction of the winch and the wheeled framework supporting the tube, the angle of the tube with respect to the ground changes and the backboard will not remain in the desired vertical orientation. The backboard is hingedly mounted at the bottom thereof to a mounting plate secured to the end of the tube and a pair of braces pivotally mounted to the top of the backboard extends backwardly and downwardly to a lockable sliding clamp which has a handle for causing the adjustment of the backboard by movement on the hinge mounting. so that the backboard may be brought to a vertical position after the height has been adjusted.

A fill opening is provided in the tube, just behind the pair of wheels which supports the tube at the mid-portion, in the form of the invention shown, so that the tube may be filled with ballast to add additional weight and stability to the stand.

At the ground supported end of the tube, a plate is provided which extends out from the tube in a direction away from the basketball backboard and which may be used as a hitch for towing the stand by a motor vehicle as well as providing a means for rigidly securing the ground supported end of the basketball stand to a playing area surface.

Because the basketball stand is supported on a single elongated member extending at an inclined angle away from the basketball backboard, the stand is relatively vibration free because of the attenuation of the horizontal vibration forces. The inclined member creates a large effective longitudinal dimension for vibration damping. Substantial run-under room is provided for the players to exercise their skill and creates an additional safety factor in reducing the likelihood of a player being injured by running into the stand. In addition, the stand may be easily moved by a'single person since the weight of the stand tends to be balanced over the wheels, without the attendant danger of overbalancing the unit, causing it to tip over. It will be appreciated that, although the unit may be lowered nearly to ground level for movement so that the basketball backboard will move under overhead objects, the lifting of the ground supported end will cause a substantial lowering of the backboard without mechanically operating the winch to reduce the height of the structure. This is particularly useful, since in one form of the invention, the tube is rigidly secured to the wheels by a framework at a fixed height, but would still be easily capable of manipulation under overhead objects, such as door frames.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of one form of a basketball stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the basketball stand shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the basketball stand shown in FIG. 1 and which is part of the means for adjusting the basketball backboard to a vertical orientation with respect to the ground;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view along lines 44 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed plan view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the figures, a basketball stand has an elongated tubular member 12 extending from a ground supported end 14 at an inclined acute angle upwardly to a basketball goal supporting end 16. A basketball backboard 18 with a basket 20 mounted thereon is secured to the goal supporting end 16 of the elongated member by a hinge 22. The basketball backboard has a frame 19 of angle iron on the back side thereof to which one ear of the hinge 22 is welded. Bolts 24 extend all the way through the backboard l8, securing, in part, the frame 19 to the back of the backboard and the basket at the front side thereof. An

end plate 28 is welded to the goal supporting end 16 of the elongated member 12 and the other ear of the hinge 22 is bolted to this plate using bolts 26.

A pair of pipe braces, 30 and 32, are pivotally mounted to the upper portion of the frame 19 of the backboard, one brace being mounted at either side thereof. Both braces converge extending backwardly and downwardly to be secured by a nut and bolt combination 36 to a sliding clamp 34, which is in turn secured on the upper surface of the tube 22. The clamp has a slot 38 running longitudinally thereof and oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 12. A bolt 40, secured to the member 12, extends through the slot 38 and a wing nut 42 thereon secures the clamp in a fixed position as desired and releases the clamp for movement as desired. By sliding the clamp 34 back and forth, the backboard will pivotally rotate on the hinge 22 and the pivotal mountings 44 of the

braces

30 and 32 to the upper portion of the frame 19 of the backboard, allowing the angle of the backboard to be adjusted with respect to the ground to achieve the optimum vertical orientation desired for use. A handle 43 is provided on the sliding clamp 34 so that the user may easily operate the clamp as desired. I

A hand operated winch 46 is used for height adjustment of the goal supporting end of the tubular member 12, in order to raise or lower the basketball backboard and basket to suit the height and skills of the players. Obviously, for younger players the basket could be kept at an appropriate height, below regulation height, and for older more skilled players the basket could be raised to regulation height. The winch is mounted on the under side of the tubular member 12 and slightly displaced from the middle of the tube towards the ground supported end thereof. The winch cable 72 is connected to a cross bar which in turn is secured to a pair of supporting

legs

48 and 50. The supporting legs are secured at theirlower ends to

sleeves

52 and 54, respectively, which are rotatably mounted on an axle 56. A pair of

wheels

58, 58 are provided at the outside ends of the axle which is sufficiently long to provide a relatively wide stance for the basketball stand so as to provide a high degree of rigidity and lateral stability when in use and when in transit. The supporting

legs

48 and 50 extend generally upwardly and are biased slightly forwardly to be movably secured to the member 12. I

The movable connection of the upper ends of the supporting

legs

48 and 50 are formed using T-shaped elements 60. The base portion of the T is provided with threads so that a nut 62 may be used to secure the base portion of the T through the upper ends of the supporting

legs

48 and 50, as best seen in FIG. 4. The cross portion of the T-shaped elements 60 is formed from a rod 64 which is longitudinally oriented with guides 66 found of angle iron and welded to either side of the tubular member 12. In the form of the invention herein disclosed, guides 66 are formed of right angled iron which are welded to the tube with the apex welded to the extreme outside periphery of the tube 12 so that the flanges extend in either direction at an angle of 45 with respect to the tangent of the tube at the point where the corner of the angle iron is secured. As may best be seen in FIG. 1, the angle iron extends generally from the porting end 16 thereof.

As will be appreciated from the dotted line showing of FIG. 1, the supporting legs 48 and'50 may be moved nearly to the vertical to achieve maximum height of the basket, which would be regulation height, or lower, as illustrated in the solid line showing of FIG. 1. It may also be appreciated that the stand may be lowered nearly to ground level by letting out the winch cable 72 allowing the T-shaped elements 60 and the

legs

48 and 50 to slide nearly to the goal supporting end of the angle irons 6 6, 66. lndicia 67, three of which are shown, indicate with reference to leg 48 the height of the basket.

Bracing

members

68, 68 are provided between the supporting legs 48 and S in an X configuration with the two members secured together at the cross-over point, as best shown in FIG. 2, in order to hold the legs together so that the T-shaped elements will not be released from the guides 66.

Alternatively, the movable connection of the

legs

48 and 50 to the tube 12 may be provided in many different ways, such as by the use of nylon or steel rollers in U-shaped channels secured to the tube 12.

Connected to the axle 56 and extending backwardly, generally horizontally, towards the ground supported end of the tube 12, are a pair of

braces

74 and 76 which supported end 'so that the tube 12 is generally horizontal with respect to the ground, causing the stand to have a relativelylow height for such transportation. Handles may be provided as desired to facilitate movement of the stand.

It is intended that basketball stands according to this invention may be provided with sufficiently large wheels 58 and a sufficiently strong axle 56 so that it maybe used outdoors and towed over highways at reasonable speeds. The stand is sufficiently rugged and simple so that it may be used by individual families as well as institutions. The structure may be disassembled and shipped in a relatively compact kit form by placing the axle and all of various legs, braces and rods within the tube 12 for shipping purposes. The stand may be shipped essentially as a piece of pipe, except for the wheels and the basketball goal.

It will primarily be appreciated that a basketball stand has been provided of efficient and simple construction which provides a relatively great run-under room for players and a substantially long effective longitudinal dimension which will cause vibration created by basketballs striking the backboard to be transmitted directly through the elongated member to the ground supported end 14. In the form of the invention shown,

are pivotally mounted at either side of the tubular member 12 by means of a bolt an nut combination 78 which extends in a sleeve, not shown, all the way through the member 12 so as to secure both

braces

74 and 76. I

' A ballast fill opening 80 is provided in the tube 12 at a position slightly to the rear, that is towards the ground supported end 14, of the tubular member 12 so that gravel or other ballast may be provided to add to the weight of the structure and make it more firm as a result of increasing its mass.'A cover 82 is provided: for the gravel fill opening 80 and which may be bolted or otherwise secured in place.

At the bottom ground supported end 14 of s the member 12, a ground plate 84 is welded thereto and extends outwardly at an angle so that is approximately parallel with, and in contact with, the ground when the basketball goal is elevated to the regulation height. This ground plate will have a hole therethrough so that the plate may be bolted to an anchoring device, a'concrete apron for example, when the structure is outside in the open, or to a gymnasium floor, if the structure is used inside. In addition, this plate may provide an attachment point to be adapted to an ordinary car or -trailer hitch of any one of several types so that the basketball stand may be towed behind an ordinary motor vehicle.

In use, by operation of the winch to release the winch cable 72 to its full length, the stand may be lowered to be nearly horizontal with respect to the ground so that it may be stored in a room with a low ceiling, or under a low overhang, or beneath the bleachers or stage of a gymnasium. In addition, one form of the invention, having an essentially identical appearance to the showing of FIGS. 1 and 2 but without an elevation adjustment feature so that the basketball goal must remain at a fixed elevation, may be moved through doorways and other low overhead obstructions by lifting the ground -84 which is properly engaged with'the playing area surface, whether by rigid attachment or frictional contact, this stand will have tremendous vibration resistance, thereby providing a desirable feel3 of the backboard for professional players. It is, of course, understood that the basketball stand need not have a ground plate and that satisfactory performance may be had with th e ground supported end of the tube frictionally engaged with the playing area surface.

' The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An athletic equipment stand for supporting a basketball goal above a playing area surface comprismg:

an elongated member, having an goal supporting end and a surface supported end, said member disposed at an acute angle with respect to the playing area surface and inclining from the elevated goal supporting end downwardly to the surface supported end, and

support means for supporting the goal supporting end of said member above the playing area surface,

at least one leg connected at one end to the support means,

means movably mounting the opposite end of said leg to said elongated member,

at least one brace pivotally attached at one end to said member and connected at the opposite end to the support means,

said leg and said brace being pivotally movable about the support means relative to one another, and

means to pivot the leg relative to the brace whereby the goal supporting end of the elongated member is selectively raised and lowered.

2. The structure of claim 1 where said member is inclined with respect to the playing area surface at an angle within the range of 30 to 45.

3. The structure of claim 1 and further comprising means for engaging the surface supported endof said member with the playing area surface.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said surface supported end of said member is secured to a generally flat ground plate at an angle so that said ground plate is substantially parallel to and in substantial contact with the surface on which said stand is supported.

'5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support means for supporting said member is comprised of a frame extending between the surface on which said stand is located and said member to cooperatively support said member at a point between the surface supported end and the goal supporting end so that the center of gravity is disposed on the surface supported end side of said frame causing the stable position of said stand to be that position with the surface supported end resting on the surface.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said frame includes a pair of wheels disposed on an axle mounted athletic equipment above a playing area surface com- 7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the basketball goal supported by said goal supporting end includes a basketball backboard and basket and wherein said member is an elongated tubular member extending to the ground from said backboard to create arelatively great effective longitudinal dimension of said stand causing said backboard to transfer any vibratory movement caused by playing activities through said member to the surface supported end.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said member is a hollow tube having an opening for admission of ballast to the surface supported end thereof. I

9. The athletic stand of claim 1 wherein, said stand has a pair of said legs and wherein means for movably mounting said legs to said member includes:

a pair of guides associated with said member and running generally longitudinally thereof, and

a pair of elements, one secured to each leg for movement in one of said guides respectively.

10. The athletic stand of claim 1 wherein the basketball goal supported by said goal supporting end is a basketball backboard and basket and further comprising means for adjusting the basketball backboard to the vertical with respect to the playing area surface.

11. The athletic stand of claim 10 wherein said means for adjusting said basketball backboard includes:

a pivotal hinge mounting the lower portion of said backboard to the goal supporting end of said member,

a pair of second braces pivotally mounted to an upper portion of said basketball backboard and extending generally longitudinally of said member, and

a sliding clamp slidably mounted at a mid-portion of said member and having said second braces prising:

an elongated member, having an equipment supporting end and a surface supported end, said member disposed at an acute angle with respect to the playing area surface and inclining from the elevated equipment supporting end downwardly to the surface supported end,

means for supporting the equipment supporting end of said member above the playing area surface,

a pair of braces pivotally mounted to said member proximate to the ground supporting end thereof and extending generally horizontally with respect to the playing area surface towards the equipment supporting end thereof,

an axle, having a pair of wheels mounted thereon,

connected to said braces, V

a pair of legs secured to said axle and pivotally movable with respect to said braces and extending generally upwardly toward the equipment supporting end of said member,

means for movably mounting said legs to said member, and

means coacting between said member and said movably mounted legs to cause relative movement back and forth of said legs with respect to said member to cause raising and lowering of said member with respect to the playing area surface.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said means for movably mounting said legs to said member includes:

a pair of guides associated with said member-and running generally longitudinally thereof, and

. 15. The structure of claim 13 wherein the athletic equipment supported by said equipment supporting end is a basketball backboard and basket and further comprising means for adjusting the basketball backboard to the vertical with respect to the playing area surface.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein said means for adjusting said basketball backboard includes:

a pivotal hinge mounting the lower portion of said backboard to the equipment supporting end of said member,

a pair of second braces pivotally mounted to an upper portion of said basketball backboard and extending generally longitudinally of said member,v

ment of said backboard to the vertical with respect to said playing area surface. 17. The structure of claim 16 and including means for locking said slidable clamp in a predetermined position. 5

P0-1050 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 722,886 Dated a 1973 Inventor s George A. Sinner It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the title page, the name of the assignee is incorrectly shown as "Teamakers, 1110.". The name of the assignee should be --Teammakers Inc.---.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of November 19?},

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. RENE firtfiixxmmyta Attesting Officer Acting Gommissionear of Patents

Claims

1. An athletic equipment stand for supporting a basketball goal above a playing area surface comprising: an elongated member, having an goal supporting end and a surface supported end, said member disposed at an acute angle with respect to the playing area surface and inclining from the elevated goal supporting end downwardly to the surface supported end, and support means for supporting the goal supporting end of said member above the playing area surface, at least one leg connected at one end to the support means, means movably mounting the opposite end of said leg to said elongated member, at least one brace pivotally attached at one end to said member and connected at the opposite end to the support means, said leg and said brace being pivotally movable about the support means relative to one another, and means to pivot the leg relative to the brace whereby the goal supporting end of the elongated member is selectively raised and lowered.

2. The structure of claim 1 where said member is inclined with respect to the playing area surface at an angle within the range of 30* to 45*.

3. The structure of claim 1 and further comprising means for engaging the surface supported end of said member with the playing area surface.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support means for supporting said member is comprised of a frame extending between the surface on which said stand is located and said member to cooperatively support said member at a point between the surface supported end and the goal supporting end so that the center of gravity is disposed on the surface supported end side of said frame causing the stable position of said stand to be that position with the surface supported end resting on the surface.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said frame includes a pair of wheels disposed on an axle mounted transversely of the direction of orientation of said member so that said stand may be moved with said wheels supporting the weight thereof.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the basketball goal supported by said goal supporting end includes a basketball backboard and basket and wherein said member is an elongated tubular member extending to the ground from said backboard to create a relatively great effective longitudinal dimension of said stand causing said backboard to transfer any vibratory movement caused by playing activities through said member to the surface supported end.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said member is a hollow tube having an opening for admission of ballast to the surface supported end thereof.

9. The athletic stand of claim 1 wherein said stand has a pair of said legs and wherein means for movably mounting said legs to said member includes: a pair of guides associated with said member and running generally longitudinally thereof, and a pair of elements, one secured to each leg for movement in one of said guides respectively.

11. The athletic stand of claim 10 wherein said means for adjusting said basketball backboard includes: a pivotal hinge mounting the lower portion of said backboard to the goal supporting end of said member, a pair of second braces pivotally mounted to an upper portion of said basketball backboard and extending generally longitudinally of said member, and a sliding clamp slidably mounted at a mid-portion of said member and having said second braces secured thereto, said clamp being slidably mounted for back and forth movement to move said second braces and the top of said backboard back and forth pivotally on said hinge for adjustment of said backboard to the vertical with respect to said playing area surface.

12. The athletic stand of claim 11 and including means for locking said slidable clamp in a predetermined position.

13. An athletic equipment stand for supporting athletic equipment above a playing area surface comprising: an elongated member, having an equipment supporting end and a surface supported end, said member disposed at an acute angle with respect to the playing area surface and inclining from the elevated equipment supporting end downwardly to the surface supported end, means for supporting the equipment supporting end of said member above the playing area surface, a pair of braces pivotally mounted to said member proximate to the ground supporting end thereof and extending generally horizontally with respect to the playing area surface towards the equipment supporting end thereof, an axle, having a pair of wheels mounted thereon, connected to said braces, a pair of legs secured to said axle and pivotally movable with respect to said braces and extending generally upwardly toward the equipment supporting end of said member, means for movably mounting said legs to said member, and means coacting between said member and said movably mounted legs to cause relative movement back and forth of said legs with respect to said member to cause raising and lowering of said member with respect to the playing area surface.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said means for movably mounting said legs to said member includes: a pair of guides associated with said member and running generally longitudinally thereof, and a pair of elements, one secured to each leg for movement in one of said guides respectively.

15. The structure of claim 13 wherein the athletic equipment supported by said equipment supporting end is a basketball backboard and basket and further comprising means for adjusting the basketball backboard to the vertical with respect to the playing area surface.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein said means for adjusting said basketball backboard includes: a pivotal hinge mounting the lower portion of said backboard to the equipment supporting end of said member, a pair of second braces pivotally mounted to an upper portion of said basketball backboard and extending generally longitudinally of said member, and a sliding clamp slidably mounted at a mid-portion of said member and having said second braces secured thereto, said clamp being slidably mounted for back and forth movement to move said second braces and the top of said backboard back and forth pivotally on said hinge for adjustment of said backboard to the vertical with respect to said playing area surface.

17. The structure of claim 16 and including means for locking said slidable clamp in a predetermined position.