US20120309566A1 - Basketball Training Device - Google Patents

An improved basketball training device comprising a substantially semi-elliptical U-shaped rim device, which is designed to allow a user to safely and rapidly install or remove the device from an existing standard sized rim that is attached to a backboard of a raised basketball goal. The training device compels players to use proper arch when shooting in order to pass the basketball through the goal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

• The present invention relates to a basketball training device adapted to be releasably secured to a standard sized rim of a basketball goal in a safe and efficient manner without the need for tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• It is desirable that basketball players develop a high degree of accuracy in shooting the ball from various locations on the court, such that the ball will pass directly into the basket. This is particularly true with regard to free throw shots. Many players have good skills in making shots using the backboard, such as lay-up shots, yet they can have considerable difficulty in making shots from the free throw line, or from an angle where the backboard cannot be used to bank a shot. As such, it is desirable for players to develop the ability to make shots with the proper arch such that the basketball passes directly through the goal without connecting with either the backboard or the rim of the goal. This is known in the vernacular as a “swish” shot.

• There are numerous inventions designed to help player's improve aim in the game of basketball. As with this invention, many are to be used in combination with a standard basketball goal. However, none of the inventions known to this applicant contain the same features for achieving this desired end as the present invention.

• U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,364,092 and 5,823,896 both describe devices that decrease the diameter of a basketball rim so that making a basketball shot is more difficult. However, the devices are not directed to teaching a player to use proper arch when shooting. Other types of improvement devices include additional hoops through which the basketball must travel before it travels through the basketball rim. Such a device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,323. These devices are only effective in allowing a user to shoot a goal from a restricted number of angles.

• U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,342,486 and 6,932,723 decrease a user's reliance on the use of a backboard, but they both require tools to attach and remove the training aid from the rim.

• Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,551, decreases a player's use of the backboard, and promotes proper arch when shooting. However, it is attached to the backboard by means of suction cups, which are known to be unreliable in securely supporting such a device. Suction cups require a surface completely free of dust and residue to remain attached. Moreover, a vigorously shot basketball can cause the unsupported device to be knocked loose from the backboard. Thereby requiring a user to reattach the device frequently during use. Further, this method of attachment presents a safety hazard as it requires the user to attempt to secure the device to a backboard by pushing the device while standing on a ladder or other surface, at a dangerous elevation. Accordingly, this device requires additional tethering means to prevent the invention from falling to the ground when the gripping means unexpectedly disengage from the front surface of the backboard.

• While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that can be releasably secured to a standard sized rim of a basketball goal in a safe and efficient manner without the need for tools, which can increase the accuracy of a player by training said player to impart proper loft and trajectory when shooting a basketball. The desired device also will be lightweight, easily storable, constructed of reliable materials, and economic to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of training aids now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new basketball training device comprising an elliptical barrier over which a basketball shot must be shot in order to pass through the basketball goal. The basketball training device is intended for secure attachment to a conventional basketball goal with a circular rim mounted to the front surface of a basketball backboard. The device is designed so that it can be releasably attached and subsequently removed from a basketball goal in a safe and efficient manner without the need for tools. Moreover, this device requires no additional support attachments or tethering devices.

• In one embodiment, the basketball training device comprises a barrier having a first end and a second end, and being formed into a substantially semi-elliptical U-shape with an interior side and an exterior side. The barrier has a plurality of brackets attached to the bottom edge of the barrier for positioning the barrier member onto the top of the rim. A plurality of gripping means are affixed to the barrier in line with the brackets for selectively securing the barrier member securely to the rim such that the barrier member extends upwardly with the majority of the barrier member rising above the rim. The gripping means may be toollessly released from said rim surface of the basketball goal in order to remove the basketball training device.

• There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims.

• The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims forming a part of this disclosure.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

• One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a basketball training device that fits onto an existing standard sized basketball rim in order to teach a player to shoot a basketball using proper arch.

• Another object of the present invention is to provide an oversized basketball rim device that be safely and easily attached to and removed from an existing standard sized basketball rim with the aid of tools.

• It is a further object of the present invention to provide a basketball training device that can be securely attached to a basketball goal without the possibility that it could be dislodged during use.

• It is a further object of the present invention to provide a basketball training device that needs no height adjustment or complex set up for proper use.

• Another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, long lasting basketball training device with sufficient strength to withstand the forces imparted on it.

• Another object of this invention is to provide a basketball training device that can be manufactured easily and economically.

• It is a further object of the present invention to provide a basketball training device that has a minimum amount of parts that can wear out or be damaged, such that it substantially maintenance free.

• It is a further object of the present invention to provide a basketball training device that is easy to use and can be easily assembled or disassembled for compact storage when not in use.

• These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1

  is a perspective of a basketball training device mounted onto a standard sized basketball rim according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

• FIG. 2

  is a rear perspective view of a basketball training device mounted onto a standard sized basketball rim according to one embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 3

  is an overhead view of a basketball training device mounted onto a standard sized basketball rim according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

• As shown on the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same part or area of a part throughout the several views thereof, there is shown in

  FIG. 1

  the present invention, a basketball practice device indicated generally by the

  reference numeral

  10, which is supported from and above a standard

  annular basketball rim

  5. Rim 5 is affixed to an

  angular bracket

  6 that is secured to a standard basketball goal backboard using bolts or other means.

• Basketball practice device

  10 includes a

  barrier

  20 that is generally of a U-shape with two

  end portions

  24, and an

  arcuate portion

  22, which forms the bight of the U.

  Barrier

  20 radius is slightly greater than the radius of

  rim

  5 with a result that the

  curved portion

  22 lies laterally beyond the exterior of said rim.

  Barrier

  20 may be made of any suitable material, such as high-impact polymer composite, nylon, fiberglass, an extrudable material, such that it is flexible, lightweight, and durable. The edges of

  end portions

  24 can remain sharp when cut during manufacturing. Accordingly,

  end guards

  26 are affixed to surround the edges of said

  end portions

  24 to protect a user of said

  practice device

  10 from potential injury from the edges of said

  end portions

  24.

  End guards

  26 also serve the dual purpose of protecting a basketball goal backboard from scratches or other damage from the edges of said

  end portions

  24. End guards 26 may be made of any suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, high-impact polymer composite, fiberglass, and the like, so that it is protects the user and backboard from said

  end portions

  24.

• Basketball practice device

  10 is supported from and above a standard

  annular basketball rim

  5 by suspension means 30. Suspension means 30 are affixed through connection means 35 to the interior side of said

  barrier

  20. Suspension means 30 are generally of an inverted J-shape such that they can hook onto the surface of

  rim

  5. Suspension means 30 may be made of any rigid material, such as rubber coated metal, plastic, high-impact polymer composite, fiberglass and the like, such that they can retain their shape when supporting

  basketball practice device

  10.

• In general, the requirements for the construction of connection means 35 are well known and are not discussed in great detail herein. Briefly, in the preferred embodiment, connection means 35 consist of an exterior portion, such as a common screw, which passes through both

  barrier

  20 and suspension means 30 and is then threadingly received by a standard nut. Alternatively, connection means 30 can be any other method, including welding, gluing, bonding, or the like, for rigidly securing suspension means 30 to the interior of

  barrier

  20.

• Suspension means 30 collectively provide support sufficient to maintain the majority of

  barrier

  20 above and substantially parallel to

  rim

  5, thereby causing the upper surface of

  barrier

  20 to be positioned above a top surface of

  rim

  5 and outside a front edge of

  rim

  5 as illustrated in

  FIG. 1

  and

  FIG. 2

  . Correspondingly, suspension means 30 are affixed to said

  barrier

  20 so that an imaginary line drawn between the uppermost portion of each suspension means 30 is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of

  basketball goal

  5. Suspension means 30 are positioned on said

  barrier

  20 so that the uppermost portion of

  barrier

  20 prevents a player from shooting a shot into the basket from any angle without proper trajectory. Rather, the player must shoot the basketball at a high arching angle of flight so that it will pass over the uppermost portion of

  barrier

  20 and then downwardly through

  rim

  5.

• Extension bar

  50 is generally of a cylindrical shape with two end portions, each containing a hole (not specifically shown) located near said end portions that pass its diameter. When

  basketball device

  10 is properly assembled,

  extension bar

  50 passes through the end portions of

  barrier

  20 and is held in place thereof, by the combination of retaining

  cap

  55 and retaining

  pin

  60. Retaining

  cap

  55 has an interior diameter sized to fit the exterior diameter of

  extension bar

  50, and a

  hole

  56 passing through both sides of said retaining cap. When retaining

  cap

  55 is properly inserted onto the end of said extension bar, retaining

  cap hole

  56 aligns with the extension bar hole, so that retaining

  pin

  60 may then be inserted simultaneously through retaining

  cap

  55 and

  extension bar

  50, thereby securing

  extension bar

  50 in a fixed position in relation to

  barrier

  20.

  Extension bar

  50 is sized such that when it passes through

  barrier

  20 and is secured by retaining

  cap

  55 and retaining

  pin

  60, it causes

  barrier

  20 to maintain the desired U-Shape, such that

  end portions

  24 are parallel to one another.

  Extension bar

  50 provides additional support for the device through its contact with

  bracket

  6.

  Extension bar

  50 may be made of any material, such as rubber, plastic, high-impact polymer composite, fiberglass and the like, such that it can retain its cylindrical shape when supporting

  basketball practice device

  10. Further, said

  extension bar

  50 may be made using either a solid or hollow cylindrical object such as a length of PVC pipe.

• It can be readily observed that in its desired configuration

  basketball practice device

  10 is of a slightly larger size and diameter than a

  standard basketball ring

  5, which provides the foundation for the entire practice device. Once

  basketball practice device

  10 is placed on

  rim

  5 and is retained thereof by

  extension bar

  50 and suspension means 30, the device is secured to said

  rim

  5 by attachment means 40. Attachment means 40 are preferably toollessly releasable. In other words, attachment means 40 may be rapidly installed or released from

  rim

  5 without the aid of any tools. Accordingly,

  basketball practice device

  10 may be secured or removed from a

  standard basketball rim

  5 simply and easily. As this feat must generally be performed while standing on a latter, the lack of tools or complicated attachment mechanisms substantially increases the safety of the present device. In the preferred embodiment, attachment means 40 consist of an attachment device commonly referred to as a ball tie. Ball ties are generally made of one or more strands of an elastic material, usually rubber, bound together by a fabric covering into a singly flexible strand, which is then formed into a loop with both ends secured to a plastic ball. In this embodiment, the loop of said

  ball tie

  40 extends through the

  exterior side

  21 of

  barrier

  20, it then coils around

  rim

  5 and then return through

  interior side

  23 of said barrier to emerge on

  exterior side

  21. The ball rests against

  exterior side

  21 of

  barrier

  20 and the loop wraps around and over the ball. The elastic nature of ball tie provides constant tension to hold

  basketball practice device

  10 securely to

  rim

  5.

• The invention has been shown, described and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.