Edward George Van Zweden
Social Work in Ogden, UT

6776734, Aug 17, 2004

Jan 17, 2002

10/052164

Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

473481, 2483462

An anchoring assembly for a portable basketball goal assembly is disclosed. The anchoring assembly enables the basketball goal assembly to be rigidly attached to a playing surface to stabilize the basketball goal assembly during game play. Each anchoring assembly may include an anchor fitted within an anchoring hole of the playing surface and an anchoring attachment extending through a hole in the base of the basketball goal assembly to engage the anchor. The anchoring attachment can be gripped and rotated by a user to engage or disengage the anchoring assembly. Various bracket arrangements may be used in conjunction with oversized holes in the base to permit significant variation in the positioning and orientation of the anchoring holes. Furthermore, support struts may be attached directly to such brackets to transmit force through a pathway constructed exclusively of high strength material.

6699146, Mar 2, 2004

Jul 15, 2002

10/195645

David C. Winter - Layton UT
Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
Coplan E. Vaughan - Syracuse UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

473484, 473483, 473482, 473481, 2482831, 24828011

An adjustable basketball goal system allowing for adjustment of the height of a basketball goal above a playing surface. The basketball goal system including a rigid support pole having a first end, a second opposing end, and an intermediate body portion disposed between the first and second ends. A first parallelogrammic structure configured to pivotally engage the first end of the rigid support. A basketball goal attached to the first parallelogrammic structure. The first deformable parallelogrammic structure may be deformed into a plurality of configurations resulting in an adjustment to the height of the basketball goal above the playing surface corresponding to each configuration. A second parallelogrammic structure, which may also be deformed into a plurality of configurations, includes a first end pivotally connected to the first parallelogrammic structure and a second opposing end configured to pivotally engage the rigid support pole. In operation, selective deformation of the second parallelogrammic structure results in selective deformation of the first parallelogrammic structure, thereby adjusting the height of the basketball goal above the playing surface. A locking mechanism may be operably disposed relative to the second parallelogrammic structure.

6120396, Sep 19, 2000

Jan 25, 1999

9/236817

Edward G. Van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
David C. Winter - Layton UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

473484

The present invention relates to a quick-release locking mechanism for adjustable basketball goal system and methods for using the same which facilitates an adjustment in the height of a basketball goal above a playing surface. The adjustable basketball goal system includes a deformable goal support structure attached at one end to a rigid support. A basketball goal is preferably attached at the other end of the goal support structure. A locking rod is also attached to the rigid support. An extension arm is positioned between the goal support structure and a housing which movably engages the locking rod. The housing is configured with one or more locking plates kept at non-perpendicular angles to the locking rod by a biasing spring. In this configuration, the locking plates selectively bind the locking rod and prevent movement of the extension arm relative to the locking rod. An adjustment handle may be provided to engage the locking plates and move them into a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the locking rod, thus allowing for an adjustment in the height of the basketball goal above the playing surface.

6135901, Oct 24, 2000

Feb 11, 1999

9/249278

Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

473484

A novel compression crank adjustment mechanism for a basketball goal assembly is disclosed in one presently preferred embodiment which facilitates an adjustment in the height of a basketball goal above a playing surface. The basketball goal assembly includes a deformable goal support structure attached at a first end to a rigid support pole. A basketball goal is preferably attached at a second opposing end of the goal support structure. An extension arm is operably connected between the goal support structure and a first adjustment member positioned along the back side of the support pole. A second adjustment member is connected to the support pole and configured for threaded engagement with the first adjustment member. The first and second adjustment members are operably disposed in compression relative to each other under the force acting on the basketball goal assembly. A rotatable handle is attached to the first adjustment member to facilitate movement of the first adjustment member relative to the second adjustment member, thereby selectively positioning the goal support structure into a plurality of configurations in relation to the playing surface.

5375835, Dec 27, 1994

Feb 3, 1994

8/191339

Edward G. Van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
Barry D. Mower - Layton UT
Robert Adams - Kaysville UT
Kelly Taylor - Layton UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

273 15R

A basketball assemblage capable of assembly into a basketball system includes an inner pole section and an outer pole section which mate in a telescoping manner. The inner pole section contains a plurality of depressions which are releasably engageable by a latch secured to the outer pole section, thereby making the pole movable among a plurality of predetermined positions. The latch includes a pivot arm pivotally mounted for movement between a position engaging a selected depression to prevent telescoping pole movement, and a releasing position which allows movement. A safety lock pin is releasably engageable to prevent movement of the pivot arm. A slider positioned adjacent the inner pole section reduces binding. The pole also includes a sealed chamber for damping movement of the inner pole section to prevent the backboard from moving suddenly downward when the latch is released. The pole is prolate in cross-section, thereby reducing the total material required as compared to a circular pole, while still providing adequate structural strength.

5947847, Sep 7, 1999

Jul 10, 1998

9/114025

Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
Brent R. Allen - Ogden UT
Richard C. Nordgran - Roy UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

473481

A portable, folding basketball system employing a unique design to allow manual manipulation of the system from an extended position suitable for game play and a retracted position for compacted storage of the system. The system comprises a plurality of pole sections which form a pole of variable height, a base pivotally connected to the pole and having a recess for receiving the pole, a support arm pivotally connected to the base, a collar pivotally connected to the support arm and slidably engaging the pole, a bracket assembly pivotally connected to the pole, a backboard connected to the bracket assembly, and a rim assembly pivotally connected to the backboard. In the extended position the pole is generally directed upward at a playable height, the rim is in the horizontal position, and the backboard is in a playable position. In the retracted position, the pole is reduced in height and is nested within the recess of the base, the rim is disposed generally parallel to the backboard, and the backboard and bracket assembly are pivoted so that the majority of the backboard is disposed below the upper pole end.

5573237, Nov 12, 1996

Jul 15, 1994

8/275779

Edward G. Van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
David C. Winter - Layton UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

273 15R

An adjustable basketball standard which may be assembled with a conventional backboard and goal to form a portable basketball system is disclosed. Embodiments include either a pole alone or the pole and a hollow ballast-receiving base which supports the pole. The pole includes a tubular inner pole section, a tubular outer pole section, and at least two fasteners. In the assembled system, the fasteners normally hold the inner pole section in a fixed position relative to the outer pole section. However, the fasteners may be released to permit telescopic movement of the inner pole section inside the outer pole section to change the pole's height. An insertion end of the inner pole section has an outwardly extending flare which acts as a bearing. The flare also works with a neck on the outer pole section to prevent accidental removal of the inner pole section. The outer pole section includes a base pole section and a middle pole section connected by a permanent fastener-free pole joint.

5507484, Apr 16, 1996

Jul 15, 1994

8/276032

Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
David C. Winter - Layton UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B 6308

273 15R

A preferred embodiment of a basketball backboard is blow-molded from polyethylene. The backboard includes a front layer, a back layer, a plurality of offsets, and an edge wall which are homogeneously secured to one another during the blow-molding process and which together define an interior volume that is substantially filled with air, polyurethane foam, or another fill material. The front layer has a medium-to-large sized flat face for receiving basketball impacts. The back layer is spaced apart from the front layer by the offsets. A variety of differently shaped and positioned offsets are employed. Two T-shaped offsets are positioned alongside a location at which a hoop may be mounted to the backboard. Quadrilateral-shaped and other offsets are positioned relative to mounting sites for mounting the backboard to a backboard support such as a pole or wall. The mounting sites define a triangle whose sides correspond to lines of high stress within the backboard.

6916257, Jul 12, 2005

Aug 5, 2002

10/212443

Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT, US

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

A63B063/08

473481, 473479, 280 46

A portable basketball goal system having an adjustable wheel assembly is disclosed. The portable basketball goal system may comprise a rigid pole, a support base, an adjustable wheel assembly, and an engaging member. The support base is configured to maintain the rigid pole in a generally elevated position. The adjustable wheel assembly is connected to the support base and has an engaged and disengaged position. In the engaged position, the wheel assembly supportably engages a playing surface. In the disengaged position, the wheel assembly may not supportably engage the playing surface. The adjustable wheel assembly may be slidably coupled to the support base. The adjustable wheel assembly may be operated by an engaging member coupled to a cam surface. The cam surface may interact with a follower to transition the adjustable wheel assembly between the supportable and unsupportable engagements.

D366507, Jan 23, 1996

Jan 30, 1995

D/034213

Edward G. van Nimwegen - North Ogden UT
Kelly Taylor - Layton UT

Lifetime Products, Inc. - Clearfield UT

D21201