ES2977506T3 - Equipment for basketball practice - Google Patents

Abstract

Basketball playing equipment comprising a base (1) provided with two side structures (5) forming a housing (6) between them, and a post (2) having a lower section (2b) that can be arranged in a folded storage configuration in which it is arranged in the housing (6), an upper section (2a) being slidably mounted on said lower section by means of a drive system (22) comprising a housing (23) fixed on a rear wall of the lower section (2b) and a mechanism for moving the upper section (2a) that is housed in said housing, said mechanism comprising a handling sleeve (24) protruding from the housing (23), said sleeve being arranged on a rear wall (23a) of the housing (23), the housing (6) being arranged to receive the lower section (2b) in a folded configuration while preventing access to said sleeve. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Equipment for basketball practice

The invention relates to equipment for playing basketball, comprising a base intended to be placed resting on the ground, as well as a post having in its upper section a backboard on which a basketball hoop is mounted.

There are known devices of this type that are foldable to facilitate their installation and storage, in particular by limiting the use of tools and/or the time required for such operations, which can in fact be a deterrent both to the use of such devices and to their storage.

Documents FR-3022795 and FR-3022796 describe equipment for playing basketball, in which the base is equipped with two rows of wheels that form a housing between them, and whose post has a lower section that is mounted to rotate on said base in order to be able to arrange said post reversibly between a folded storage configuration, in which at least the lower section is arranged in the housing, and a vertical standing configuration for use.

In order to improve the compactness of the equipment in the storage configuration, the upper section of the pole is movably mounted relative to the lower section between a retracted position and a deployed position, so that it can be placed in the retracted position when the equipment is placed in the storage configuration.

To this end, documents FR-3022795 and FR-3022796 provide for mounting the upper section with sliding on the lower section, the equipment comprising a system for actuating said movement along a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one protruding position corresponding to a height of use, said actuation system comprising a casing fixed to a rear wall of the lower section and a mechanism for moving the upper section that is housed in said casing, said mechanism comprising a handling grip protruding from said casing.

In these documents, the movement mechanism comprises a belt, the first end of which is fixed to the lower section, and the second end of which can be wound around an axis mounted for rotation in the housing along a front axis, said axis protruding from a side wall of said housing to form a handling grip, to which a crank is associated.

For reasons of compactness, the distance between the rows of wheels is not sufficient for the housing to receive lateral grip, which leaves the possibility of activating the deployment of the upper section in storage configuration.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing equipment for playing basketball in which the post can be folded down onto the base in a storage configuration, avoiding the need to manipulate the deployment of said post, and this without a particular limitation as to the dimensions of the base.

To this end, the invention proposes a basketball playing equipment, comprising a base intended to be placed resting on the ground, said base being provided with two lateral structures forming a housing between them, said equipment comprising a post having an upper section carrying a backboard on which a basketball hoop is mounted, said post having a lower section which is mounted to rotate on said base in order to be able to arrange said post reversibly between a folded storage configuration in which at least the lower section is arranged in the casing and a vertical standing configuration for use, said upper section being mounted with sliding on said lower section and said equipment comprising a drive system for said movement along a stroke comprised between a folded storage position and at least one protruding position corresponding to a height of use, said drive system comprising a casing fixed to a rear wall of the lower section and a mechanism for moving the upper section which is housed in said casing, said mechanism comprising a handling grip protruding from the casing, said grip being arranged on a rear wall of the casing and the housing being arranged to receive the lower section in a folded configuration while avoiding access to said grip.

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

Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the front of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention in a configuration for use, Figure 1a shows a perspective view from the rear of the base of this same device;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the assembly of the backboard and the ring in the upper section of the equipment in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective enlargement seen from the rear of the post of the equipment in Figures 1, 1a and 2, centered on the upper section displacement drive system,

Figure 3a and Figure 3b are both sections of Figure 3 along two different sagittal planes;

Figure 4a and Figure 4b represent the equipment of Figures 1 to 3b in storage configuration, respectively in perspective (Figure 4a) and in a view from the rear (Figure 4b);

Figure 5 and Figure 5a represent views similar to Figures 1 and 1a respectively, for an equipment according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 represents a view similar to Figure 2 for the equipment of Figures 5 and 5a;

Figure 7, Figure 7a and Figure 7b represent views similar to Figures 3, 3a and 3b, respectively, for the equipment of Figures 5, 5a and 6;

Figure 8a and Figure 8b represent the equipment of Figures 5 to 7b in storage configuration, respectively in a view from the rear (Figure 8a) and in a perspective (Figure 8b);

Figure 9 represents a perspective view from the rear of the equipment according to a third embodiment of the invention in its use configuration, Figure 9a represents a perspective view from the rear of the lower section of the post and the base of this same equipment;

Figure 10 is a perspective enlargement seen from the rear of the equipment post of Figures 9, 9a, centered on the drive system for moving the upper section, Figure 10a and Figure 10b which are sections of the drive system of Figure 10 along two different sagittal planes;

Figure 11a, Figure 11b and Figure 11c represent the equipment of Figures 9, 9a, 10, 10a and 10b in storage configuration, respectively in a view from the rear (Figure 11a) and in perspective following two different orientations (Figures 11b, 11c);

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

Figure 13 is an enlargement of Figure 12a centered on the stop member defining the use position of the board;

Figure 14 is a partial sectional view along a sagittal plane of the mounting mechanism of the board on the upper section of the post in the equipment of Figures 9 to 13.

In relation to these figures, a team for playing basketball is described below.

The equipment comprises a base 1 intended to be placed resting on the ground, as well as a post 2 having an upper section 2a carrying a backboard 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 so that said post can be reversibly arranged between a folded storage configuration and a vertical standing configuration for use.

The base 1 is equipped with two lateral structures 5 which form a housing 6 between them such that, in storage configuration, at least the lower section 2b of the post 2 is arranged in said housing. In the embodiments shown, the base 1 comprises a chassis 7 on which the lower section 2b is mounted for rotation, the lateral structures 5 being carried by said chassis forming a U-shaped housing 6 between them.

The two side structures 5 form a counterweight to post 2 in a vertical foot configuration for the use of the equipment, in order to prevent the equipment from tilting, and therefore ensure the safety of its users.

At least one lateral structure 5 may be arranged to be able to be filled with a ballast material, for example water or sand. In the second and third embodiments shown (respectively in Figures 5, 5a, 8a, 8b and in Figures 9, 9a, 11a, 11b, 11c), each lateral structure 5 has three modules 5a aligned in a sagittal direction, each of said modules comprising a tank 8 on which an opening 9 is arranged to allow its filling with said ballast material.

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

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

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

In particular, in the first embodiment (Figures 1 to 4b), the chassis 7 has a U-shaped geometry whose branches 7a extend rearwards in a sagittal direction, each presenting a rear wheel 10 which is fixed at its respective free ends to be raised when the base 1 is resting on the ground, thus making it possible to avoid any involuntary movement of the equipment, especially during use.

Therefore, in order to move the equipment, the user must slightly raise the base 1 on the front side, in particular by manually grasping a front crossbar 7b which forms the base of the U of the chassis 7, in order to put the rear wheels 10 on the ground.

In the second embodiment (Figures 5 to 8b), the chassis 7 has a frame 7d of 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 mounted so as to rotate on the chassis 7 about an independent vertical axis 11, to allow the user to easily steer the equipment when rolling it on the ground.

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

In particular, each of the wheels 10 forms a ballast module 5a for the corresponding lateral structure 5, and for this purpose has a cylindrical tank 8 on the periphery of which an opening 9 is arranged to allow it to be filled with a ballast material, the axis of revolution of said tank extending horizontally and perpendicularly to the sagittal axis of the chassis 7, in order to be able to move the base 1 by rolling said tanks on its periphery.

In Figures 9, 9a and 11a to 11c, the chassis 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 fixed to the central beam 7c, said hubs being arranged to allow the wheels 10 to rotate independently of each other.

As regards the mounting of the lower section 2b, the cradle 7a, 7b, 7d or the central beam 7c of the chassis 7 has a front part on which said lower section is mounted to rotate. Therefore, to arrange the equipment in its configuration of use, the user first moves the lower section 2b from the folded configuration to the vertical standing configuration by pivoting it with respect to the front part of the chassis 7.

To facilitate its arrangement in the use configuration, the equipment comprises a connection arm 13 having a front end 13a articulated in the lower section 2b, as well as a rear end articulated in the base 1, in particular being arranged in the receiving housing 6 of said lower section.

In the first embodiment shown (Figures 1, 1a, 4a, 4b), the connecting arm 13 has two segments 14 which are articulated at a central hinge 15 so that they can be reversibly arranged in an unfolded configuration to keep 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 prevent its untimely folding and thus limit the risk of tilting of the lower section 2b during use of the equipment. The pin 13 can be manually actuated to allow it to move from the locked position to an unlocked position, to release the relative rotation of the segments 14 and allow the arm 13 to tilt to the folded configuration.

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

In the second embodiment (Figures 5, 5a), the connecting arm 13 comprises a front end 13a mounted for rotation on a carriage 19 sliding on a vertical rail 17 mounted on a rear face of the lower section 2b, as well as a rear end mounted for rotation on the chassis 7.

In particular, the carriage 19 comprises a locking pin 20 which is arranged to be reversibly disposed in an upper and/or lower hole 21 formed in the rail 17, in order to lock said carriage in the upper and/or lower position, and therefore to lock the lower section 2b in the folded and/or upright configuration.

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

The lower section 2b is further equipped with at least one foot 18 which is arranged laterally, to stabilise the post 2 in a vertical foot configuration, in particular to prevent it from tilting sideways, in combination with the base 1 which forms a counterweight to prevent it from tilting forwards or backwards.

In the figures, the lower section 2b comprises two feet 18 arranged on either side of its lower end. In figures 1, 1a, 4a and 4b, the feet 18 are mounted so as to rotate on the base 1 and on the lower section 2b. In figures 5, 5a, 8b, 9, 9a and 11c, the feet 18 are fixed on the lower section 2b so as to rest on the ground when the post 2 is in the vertical foot configuration, thereby also making it possible to prevent the base 1 from rolling when the equipment is in the use configuration.

The upper section 21a is mounted with sliding on the lower section 2b, the equipment comprising a system 22 for driving this movement along a stroke between a retracted storage position and at least one protruding position corresponding to a height of use.

Referring to Figures 3, 3a, 3b, 7, 7a, 7b, 10, 10a and 10b, the drive system 22 comprises a casing 23 fixed to a rear wall of the lower section 2b and a movement mechanism of the upper section 2a which is housed in said casing, said mechanism comprising a handling grip 24 protruding from said casing.

In particular, the grip 24 is arranged on a rear wall 23a of the casing 23, and the housing 6 of the base 1 is arranged to receive the lower section 2b in a folded configuration, avoiding access to said grip, as shown in Figures 4b, 8a and 11a.

The risk of untimely deployment of the upper section 2a is therefore optimally limited when the equipment is in storage configuration and without having to make significant modifications to the geometry of the housing 6 and therefore of the base 1.

In the embodiments shown, the upper section 2a is slidably mounted on the lower section 2b. In particular, as shown in Figures 3, 3a, 7, 7a, 10 and 10a, the drive system 22 comprises a vertical row of holes 25 formed on the rear face of the upper section 2a and a mechanism comprising a toothed wheel 26 which is driven to rotate by a worm screw 27, said wheel being arranged to successively engage the holes 25 for sliding the upper section 2a on the lower section 2b.

The toothed wheel 26 is mounted for rotation in the housing 23 along a front axis A1, and the screw 27 is mounted for rotation in the housing 23 along a sagittal axis A2. The screw 27 has a rear end 27a which projects from the rear wall 23a of the housing 23 and to which is fixed a metal loop 24 which forms a handling grip for the mechanism.

Advantageously, a crank 28 can be reversibly associated with the manipulation loop 24 of the screw 27, so that it is removed from said loop when the mechanism is not actuated. This arrangement not only makes it possible to limit the volume of the system 22 when it is placed in the housing 6, but also to limit the risk of untimely actuation of the mechanism when the equipment is in the configuration for use, in order to guarantee the safety of users.

The drive mechanism comprises two toothed wheels 26, 29 of different diameters which are integral for rotation. Referring to Figures 3a, 3b, 7a, 7b, 10a and 10b in section, the large diameter wheel 26 is coupled to the holes 25 and the small diameter wheel 29 is driven by the worm screw 27.

The worm screw 27 can be arranged to require the manipulation of the grip 24 to actuate the upper section 2a in each of its directions of movement. In this way, the rotation of the wheels 26, 29 in the direction of retraction of the upper section 2a is prevented in particular, when the screw 27 is not actuated, which makes it possible to ensure that said upper section is maintained at the chosen height, to guarantee the safety of the user by avoiding its untimely retraction into the lower section 2b during use of the equipment.

In order to limit the volume 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 slidingly 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 place the equipment in its use configuration by successively deploying the lower segment 30b out of said lower section, by actuating the system 22 by means of the crank 28 and then the upper segment 30a with respect to said lower segment.

In the first two embodiments shown (Figures 1, 5), the upper segment 30a is mounted with sliding on the lower segment 30b, the equipment comprising a system 22' for driving said movement along a stroke between a storage in a retracted position and at least one protruding position corresponding to a height of use.

In particular, this drive system 22' comprises a housing 23' fixed to a rear wall of the lower segment 30b and a movement mechanism of the upper segment 30a that is housed in said housing, said mechanism comprising a handling grip 24' protruding from said housing.

Advantageously, the handling grip 24' of this system 22' is also arranged on a rear wall of the casing 23', and the housing 6 is arranged to receive the lower segment 30b in a folded configuration, preventing access to said grip, as shown in Figures 4b and 8a.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the respective drive systems 22, 22' of the lower segment 30b and the upper segment 30a are similar, which makes it easier to manufacture the equipment. In particular, the equipment may comprise a single crank 28 that can be selectively and reversibly fixed in the handling grip 24, 24' of one or the other of these systems during deployment of said equipment in the use configuration.

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

In particular, the upper segment 30a comprises at least a pair of parallel bars 31 each having a rear end mounted for rotation at the upper end of the lower segment 30b, as well as a front end on which the board 3 is mounted for rotation along a front axis. Thus, the upper segment 30a forms a deformable parallelogram allowing the user to angularly unfold said upper segment and to stand up the board 3 in a single movement.

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

In Figure 9, the locking system 32 comprises a housing 33 which is mounted at the upper end of the lower segment 30b, and on each side face of which is mounted for rotation the rear end of an upper parallel bar 31, said housing containing a locking mechanism which can be reversibly operated by a tilting lever 34 mounted at the top of said housing.

Advantageously, the board 3 can be moved relative to the upper segment 30a between a use position and a storage position, making it possible to limit the volume of the equipment in storage configuration.

In the three embodiments shown, the board 3 has a quadrilateral, in particular rectangular, geometry which, in the storage position, is rotated by 90° with respect to its position of use at the upper segment 30a. In particular, the board 3 has longitudinal and lateral dimensions which correspond substantially to the sagittal and frontal dimensions respectively of the base 1. Therefore, insofar as the base 1 has a sagittal dimension greater than its frontal dimension in order to ensure the stability of the equipment against tilting from front to back, it is possible, within the overall dimensions of said base, to store a rectangular board suitable for sports practice.

In the first two embodiments shown, the board 3 is reversibly mounted on the upper segment 30a between an assembled use position and a disassembled storage position, the post 2 which, in storage configuration, allows storage of the board 3 disassembled on the base.

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

In Figure 2, the connector 35 comprises a housing 59 fixed to the rear face of the board 3 and defining a housing for receiving the upper end of the upper segment 30a, said end being supported below an upper wall 35a of said housing when the board is mounted in the use position.

The connector 35 is equipped with a locking pin 36 which can be operated between a stable locking position, in which said pin is engaged in a hole provided for this purpose in the upper segment 30a, and a limited mounting position, in which said pin is retracted from the hole.

In Figures 6 and 8b, the connector 35 comprises a vertical recess 60 formed in the lower edge of the board 3, and delimited at the top by a transverse wall under which the upper end of the upper segment 30a rests during the assembly of said board on the post 2.

In particular, the connector 35 comprises a vertical pin 61 extending within the recess 60, said pin being arranged to be disposed in a complementary vertical housing 62 provided for this purpose at the upper end of the upper segment 30a.

The upper segment 30a is equipped with a locking pin 36' that can be operated between a stable locking position, in which said pin passes through the housing 62 of the upper segment 30a to engage a locking stop provided for this purpose in the pin 61 of the connector 35, and a limited mounting position, in which said pin is retracted out of said housing.

In these two embodiments, the locking pin 36, 36' comprises an inner end intended to fit into the hole of the segment 30a or into the stop of the pin 61, as well as an outer end on which a handle 37, 37' is mounted to allow the user to move said pin to its limited mounting position by pulling said handle.

Furthermore, the pin 36, 36' is equipped with an elastic compression means, for example in the form of a spring, which is arranged to be elastically compressed during traction on the handle 37, 37' in order to elastically return said pin to its stable position when the user releases said handle.

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

Advantageously, each side structure 5 has a housing 38 of this type, which allows the user to place the disassembled board 3 on the base 1 by arranging the connector 35 on either of said side structures.

In the third embodiment shown (Figures 9 to 14), the board 3 is mounted to rotate on the upper segment 30a between an angular use position (Figures 9, 12a, 12c) and an angular storage position (Figures 11a to 11c and Figure 12b), in particular by means of a pivot mechanism 39 between these two positions.

Referring to Figures 12a to 14, the turning mechanism 39 comprises a plate 40 for associating the upper end of the upper segment 30a, said plate comprising an extension 41 connected to the board by means of a friction pivot. As shown in Figure 12a, the extension 41 is arranged above the upper segment 30a when the board 3 is in the use position.

The extension 41 of the plate 40 comprises a U-shaped structure whose two branches 42 carry means for associating the upper end of the upper section, the base 42a of said U being coupled in the friction pivot connection.

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

The extension 41 is pressed against the board 3 with at least one friction insert 45 interposed between them, the equipment further comprising means 46 for adjusting the tightening in order to optimize the friction torque of the rotation.

For this purpose, the turning mechanism 39 comprises a rear cup 47 fixed to the rear face of the board 3 and a front cup 48, the extension 41 of which is arranged between the cups 47, 48 that are equipped with means 46 for tightening said extension between them, at least one cup 47, 48 housing a friction insert 45.

In Figures 12a, 12b, 12c and 14, each cup 47, 48 houses a friction insert 45, the extension 41 of which is clamped between said cups and fixed to the rear of the board 3 by means of four screws 46.

Each insert 45 is locked for rotation between the cups 47, 48, and comprises a friction ring 45a which is pressed into a rear face 41b and front face 41a, respectively, of the extension 41 through a clamping ring 47a, 48a formed in the adjacent cup 47, 48.

The extension 41 has a square section, as shown in particular in Figure 14, or a rectangular section, a friction ring 45a which is pressed against, respectively, a front face 41a and a rear face 41b of said section.

Each clamping crown 47a, 48a has notches 49 and, in particular, two notches 49 of identical angular dimensions which are diametrically opposed along said crown.

After having arranged the lower section 2b in the upright standing configuration, the user can arrange the tabletop 3 in the use position by pivoting it by means of the swivel mechanism 39. The user can then rotate the upper segment 30a to arrange it in a upright standing configuration and then lift the lower segment 30b out of the lower section 2b by actuating its system 22, to the desired height for the tabletop 3.

The use position of the board 3 is delimited by the support of the plate 40 on a member 50 fixed to said board. Advantageously, the stop member 50 of the board 3 comprises a means 51 for locking the use position, which makes it possible to secure said position, in particular by preventing any untimely rotation of said board during use of the equipment.

Referring to Figure 13, the locking means is a latch 51 which reversibly engages an axis 52 fixed to the plate 40. In particular, the axis 52 is fixed to the lower end of one of the branches 43 of the U-shaped extension 41, and the latch 51 comprises a hook 51a which engages said axis in the locked position, as well as a pin 51b which the user can manually grasp to rotate the latch 51 and release the hook 51a from said axis, when he wishes to pivot the board 3 towards its storage position.

As shown in Figure 12c, the ring 4 is fixed to the board 3 so as not to interact with the plate 40 during the rotation of said board. To this end, the ring 4 comprises a support 53 which is fixed to the board 3 in a manner mechanically independent of the plate 40.

Advantageously, the ring 4 has an extension 4a which is mounted to rotate around an axis 54 fixed to its support 53 for fixing to the board 3, so that said ring can be folded from a horizontal position of use towards a vertical position of storage against the board 3, in order to limit the size of said ring in the storage configuration of the equipment.

For this purpose, the support 53 has two vertical preforms 53a extending from a front face of the board 3 in a sagittal direction, the extension 4a being mounted to rotate on a front axis 54 fixed between said preforms.

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

- a lower part 53b extending frontally to the rear of its vertical spaces 53b and fixed to the board 3 by means of screws; and

- a second front axis 55 fixed between its vertical preforms 53b, on which the extension 4a of the ring 4 abuts when said ring is placed in the use position.

In the first and second embodiments shown, the ring 4 is equipped with a retaining arc 56 having two arms 56a mounted to rotate below said ring and a base 56b reversibly coupled to a stop formed in the support 53 to define the position of use.

Referring to Figures 2, 4a and 4b, the support 53 comprises two slots 57 formed respectively in a vertical preform 53a, in which the base 56b slides during the rotation of the ring 4 defining the use position by bringing said base into contact with the lower edges of said slots (Figure 2). In particular, as shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the base 56b likewise abuts the upper edges of the slots 57 in the storage position of the ring 4.

In Figure 6, the base 56b abuts the lower part of the support 53 to define the position of use of the ring 4, and the equipment comprises a latch 58 for locking said base in said stop.

Claims (15)

1. Equipment for playing basketball, comprising a base (1) intended to be placed resting on the ground, said base being provided with two lateral structures (5) forming a housing (6) between them, said equipment comprising a post (2) having an upper section (2a) carrying a backboard (3) on the front face of which a basketball hoop (4) is mounted, said post having a lower section (2b) which is mounted to rotate on said base so as to be able to arrange said post reversibly between a folded storage configuration in which at least the lower section (2b) is arranged in the housing (6) and a vertical foot configuration for use, said upper section being mounted with sliding in said lower section and said equipment comprising a system (22) for driving said movement on a stroke between a retracted storage position and at least one protruding position corresponding to a height of use, said drive system comprising a housing (23) fixed to a rear wall of the lower section (2b) and a mechanism for moving the section (2a) 1. A device for handling a lower section (2b) that is housed in said casing, said mechanism comprising a handling grip (24) protruding from the casing (23), said equipment being characterised in that said grip is arranged on a rear wall (23a) of the casing (23) and in that the housing (6) is arranged to receive the lower section (2b) in a folded configuration whilst avoiding access to said grip. 2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the two lateral structures (5) form a counterweight to the post (2) in a vertical foot configuration for the use of said equipment. 3. Equipment according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the base (1) comprises a chassis (7) on which the lateral structures (5) that are carried by said chassis are mounted for rotating the lower section (2b), forming a U-shaped housing (6) between them. 4. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a connection arm (13) having a front end (13a) articulated in the lower section (2b) and a rear end articulated in the base (1), said rear end being arranged in the housing (6). 5. Equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting arm (13) has two segments (14) which are articulated so that they can be reversibly arranged in a deployed configuration for maintaining the vertically standing post (2) and a folded storage configuration. 6. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lower section (2b) of the post (2) is equipped with at least one foot (18) which is arranged laterally to stabilize the post (2) in a vertical foot configuration. 7. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper section (2a) is mounted with sliding in the lower section (2b), the drive system (22) comprising a vertical row of holes (25) formed in the rear face of the upper section (2a) and a mechanism comprising a toothed wheel (26) that is driven to rotate by means of a worm screw (27), said toothed wheel being arranged to successively engage in the holes (25) for sliding the upper section (2a) in the lower section (2b). 8. Equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that the toothed wheel (26) is rotatably mounted in the housing (23) along a front axis (A1), the screw (27) being rotatably mounted in the housing (23) along a sagittal axis (A2). 9. Equipment according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the drive mechanism comprises two toothed wheels (26, 29) of different diameters which are fixed to rotate, the large diameter wheel (26) engaging in the holes (25) and the small diameter wheel (29) being driven by the worm screw (27). 10. Equipment according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a crank (28) can be reversibly associated with the handling grip (24) to rotate the worm screw (27). 11. Equipment according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the worm screw (27) is arranged to require manipulation of the grip (24) to actuate the upper section (2a) in each of its movement directions. 12. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that 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 slidably mounted on said lower segment, said equipment comprising a drive system (22') for said movement along a stroke comprised between a retracted storage position and at least one protruding position corresponding to a height of use, the drive system (22') comprising a housing (23') fixed to a rear wall of the lower segment (30b) and a movement mechanism of the upper segment (30a) being housed in said housing, said mechanism comprising a handling grip (24') protruding from the housing (23'), said grip being arranged on a rear wall of the housing (23'), the housing (6) being arranged to receive the lower segment (30b) in a configuration folded while preventing access to said grip. 13. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the board (3) is mounted to rotate on the upper section (2a) between an angular use position and an angular storage position. 14. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the board (3) is reversibly mounted on the upper section (2a) between an assembled position for use and a disassembled storage position, the post (2) in storage configuration allowing storage of the disassembled board (3) on the base (1). 15. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the ring (4) has a lateral extension (4a) which is mounted to rotate around an axis (54) fixed to a support (53) fixed to the board (3) such that said ring is foldable from a horizontal position of use to a vertical position of storage against said board.