U.S. patent application number 09/884554 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for basketball shooting practice return apparatus having retrieval net front height adjustable from above.
Invention is credited to Bush, James R..
Application Number | 20010055999 09/884554 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26908153 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010055999 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bush, James R. |
December 27, 2001 |
Basketball shooting practice return apparatus having retrieval net
front height adjustable from above
Abstract
A basketball shooting practice return apparatus includes a
framework for mounting on a backboard, support members pivotally
mounted to the framework below guide elements on the framework and
above a hoop on the backboard, a retrieval net assembly supported
by the support members and spaced outwardly and hanging downwardly
from above the hoop, a net positioning mechanism operable for
selectively applying and releasing a pulling force upon the
retrieval net assembly and support members from the direction of
the guide elements above the backboard so as to be able to
pivotally move the net assembly and support members between a
raised inclined position extending forwardly and upwardly from the
backboard and a lowered vertical position extending downwardly from
the backboard and to hold the retrieval net assembly and support
members at any stationary position therebetween, and a basketball
return structure associated with the retrieval net assembly.
Inventors: |
Bush, James R.; (Hulett,
WY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John R. Flanagan
FLANAGAN & FLANAGAN
P.O. Box 11300
Jackson Hole
WY
83002
US
|
Family ID: |
26908153 |
Appl. No.: |
09/884554 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60213512 |
Jun 22, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/433 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0071 20130101;
A63B 63/083 20130101; A63B 47/025 20130101; A63B 2063/001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/433 |
International
Class: |
A63B 063/08; A63B
069/36 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A basketball shooting practice return apparatus, comprising: (a)
a framework for mounting on a backboard and having guide elements
disposed above the backboard; (b) a pair of support members
pivotally mounted to said framework below said guide elements
thereon and above a hoop on the backboard; (c) a retrieval net
assembly supported by said support members and spaced outwardly and
hanging downwardly from above the hoop; (d) a net positioning
mechanism operable for selectively applying and releasing a pulling
force upon said retrieval net assembly and said support members
from the direction of said guide elements above the backboard so as
to be able to pivotally move said retrieval net assembly and said
support members between a raised position extending forwardly from
the backboard and a lowered vertical position extending downwardly
from the backboard and to hold said retrieval net assembly and
support members at any stationary position therebetween; and (e) a
basketball return structure associated with said retrieval net
assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said basketball return
structure is adapted to receive a basketball from said retrieval
net assembly and transfer the received basketball to a position
where a person is located that is practice shooting the
basketball.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retrieval net assembly is
slidably mounted to said support members such that said retrieval
net assembly is removable from said support members when in said
generally downward vertical position by releasing the pulling
force.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retrieval net assembly is
slidably mounted to said support members such that said retrieval
net assembly is removable from said support members by sliding off
outer ends of said support members and said net positioning
mechanism is connected to outer portions of said retrieval net
assembly such that said retrieval net assembly is retained on said
support members by said pulling force applied to said retrieval net
assembly.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said net positioning mechanism
includes a pair of elongated flexible members extending upwardly to
and guidably past said guide elements on said framework and
therefrom forwardly and downwardly to said retrieval net assembly
adjacent said outer portion thereof so as to interconnect a pulling
force generating source to said retrieval net assembly and be
capable of transmitting, releasing and holding a pulling force
applied upon said retrieval net assembly and said support members
from above said support members.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said net positioning mechanism
further includes a rotary motion generating device being said
pulling force generating source.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rotary motion generating
device is a winch located within reach of a person using the
apparatus and said elongated flexible members are cables wound over
said winch and extending from said winch upwardly to and through
said guide elements on said framework.
8. A basketball shooting practice return apparatus, comprising: (a)
a framework mountable on a backboard such that portions of said
framework extend beyond opposite lateral sides and above a top side
of the backboard and are exposed from forwardly of the backboard,
said framework having a pair of guide elements located above the
top side of the backboard on said portions of said framework
extending above the top side of the backboard; (b) a pair of
support members pivotally mounted at inner ends thereof to said
portions of said framework extending beyond opposite lateral sides
of the backboard such that said inner ends of said support members
are located below said guide elements and above a hoop on the
backboard; (c) a retrieval net assembly supported by said support
members and spaced outwardly and hanging downwardly from above the
hoop; (d) a net positioning mechanism operable for selectively
applying and releasing a pulling force upon said retrieval net
assembly and said support members from the direction of said guide
elements above the backboard so as to be able to pivotally move
said retrieval net assembly and said support members from a
generally horizontal position extending forwardly from the
backboard to a raised inclined position extending forwardly and
upwardly from the backboard and above the hoop and to a lowered
inclined position extending forwardly and downwardly from the
backboard and above the hoop such that the height above a shooting
surface of a front portion of said retrieval net assembly can be
adjusted to act as a visual marker of the proper arch for the
shooter to place on the basketball shot; and (e) a basketball
return structure associated with said retrieval net assembly.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said basketball return
structure is adapted to receive a basketball from said retrieval
net assembly and transfer the received basketball to a position
where a person is located that is practice shooting that is
practice shooting the basketball.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said retrieval net assembly is
slidably mounted to said support members such that said retrieval
net assembly is removable from said support members by sliding off
outer ends of said support members and said net positioning
mechanism is connected to outer portions of said retrieval net
assembly such that said retrieval net assembly is retained on said
support members by said pulling force applied to said retrieval net
assembly.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said framework is mountable to
a back of the backboard and said portions of said framework are
opposite vertical side portions extending beyond the opposite sides
of the backboard and above the top side of the blackboard such that
said opposite vertical side portions of said framework are exposed
from forwardly of the backboard, said opposite vertical side
portions of said framework having said respective guide elements
attached thereon at locations spaced above the top side of the
blackboard.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said retrieval net assembly
includes a mounting frame supported by said support members and
having a pair of opposite side frame members and a front frame
member extending between and interconnecting the opposite side
frame members at forward ends thereof.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said opposite side frame
members of said mounting frame are tubular in configuration and at
inner ends thereof are respectively slidably inserted over and
removable from said support members at outer ends of said support
members.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said retrieval net assembly
further includes a retrieval net supported by said mounting frame
and being of a generally funnel-shaped configuration and open at
opposite top and bottom ends with said open bottom end also being
substantially smaller in size than said open top end, said
retrieval net at opposite upper side portions and an upper front
portion thereof being respectively secured to said opposite side
frame members and front frame member of said mounting frame so as
to hang downwardly therefrom and locate said opposite upper side
portions and said upper front portion of said net outwardly from
and above the hoop on the backboard.
15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said net positioning mechanism
includes a pair of elongated flexible members extending upwardly to
and guidably past said guide elements on said framework and
therefrom forwardly and downwardly to said retrieval net assembly
adjacent said outer portion thereof so as to interconnect a pulling
force generating source to said retrieval net assembly and be
capable of transmitting, releasing and holding the pulling force
applied upon said retrieval net assembly and said support members
from above said support members.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said net positioning
mechanism further includes a rotary motion generating device being
said pulling force generating source.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said rotary motion generating
device is a winch located within reach of a person using the
apparatus and said elongated flexible members are cables wound over
said winch and extending from said winch upwardly to and through
said guide elements on said framework.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said guide elements are in
the form of loops attached to said framework.
19. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said basketball return
structure has one end disposed adjacent to and below said retrieval
net for receiving a basketball therefrom, an opposite end disposed
adjacent to the position where a person is shooting the basketball,
and a plurality of sections interconnected one to the next and
extending between said opposite ends of the structure, each of said
sections having a pair of spaced apart elongated tracks defining a
path along which a basketball can roll and a plurality of
ground-engaging support stands detachably attached at upper ends to
and extending downward from said tracks.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said sections telescopically
interfit together at opposite ends thereof so as to form said
free-standing return structure capable of being adjusted in length
so as to extend from below said retrieval net to the desired
location of the shooter, said sections being easily taken apart and
said support stands removed to disassemble said return structure
for storage during periods of non-use.
Description
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
provisional application No. 60/213,512, filed Jun. 22, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a basketball
retrieval and return devices and, more particularly, is concerned
with a basketball shooting practice return apparatus having a
retrieval net supported from above a backboard and a mechanism
allowing adjustment of the vertical height of the front portion of
the net above the shooting surface so as to establish the arch of
the basketball shot that is required to clear the front portion of
the net.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] One of the problems with solo practice shooting a
basketball, such as free throws, is the necessity to retrieve the
basketball after each shot. The basketball, whether the shot is
made or missed, rarely bounces back to the location of the shooter.
After each shot the shooter must chase after the basketball which,
more likely than not, is bouncing or rolling away from the shooter.
More time is typically consumed going after the errant basketball
than actually practicing shots.
[0006] A variety of basketball retrieval devices have been proposed
in the prior art. Representative of such prior art devices are the
ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,652 to Lees et al. and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,540,428 to Joseph. The Lees et al. and Joseph patents
disclose basketball retrieval and return devices which appear to be
steps in the right direction toward alleviating the aforementioned
problem experienced in basketball solo practice shooting by
eliminating the need to expend energy in chasing the
basketball.
[0007] However, another problem of basketball shooting practice is
how to train a shooter to learn to shoot the basketball with the
needed amount of arch so as to be able to utilize all the available
clearance provided between the basketball and hoop and thereby
increase the likelihood of the basketball shot scoring by going
through the rim or hoop. Neither Lees et al. nor Joseph devices
appear to address the problem of training a shooter how to put the
necessary arch on the basketball shot.
[0008] Consequently, a need still exists for a basketball practice
shooting return apparatus which provides solutions to the
aforementioned and other problems in the prior art without
introducing any new problems in place thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a basketball shooting
practice return apparatus which is designed to satisfy the
aforementioned needs. The basketball shooting practice return
apparatus of the present invention solves the aforementioned
problem providing a means to enable a shooter to practice shooting
the basketball with adequate arch on the shot. A retrieval net of
the apparatus is supported on and adjusted from above the backboard
so as to facilitate easy adjustment of the vertical height of a
front portion of the net above the shooting surface. The front
portion of the net is used in shooting practice as a visual marker
to show the shooter how high the shooter must shoot the basketball
or, in other words, what amount of arch the shooter must place on
the shot to clear the front portion of the net which will, in turn,
be the amount of arch that will maximize the likelihood of the
basketball going through the hoop by taking advantage of all the
available clearance between the basketball and the backboard hoop
which has a larger diameter than the basketball.
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
basketball shooting practice return apparatus which comprises: (a)
a framework for mounting on a backboard and having guide elements
disposed above the backboard; (b) a pair of support members
pivotally mounted to the framework below the guide elements thereon
and above a hoop on the backboard; (c) a retrieval net assembly
supported by the support members and spaced outwardly and hanging
downwardly from above the hoop; (d) a net positioning mechanism
operable for selectively applying and releasing a pulling force
upon the retrieval net assembly and support members from the
direction of the guide elements above the backboard so as to be
able to pivotally move the retrieval net assembly and support
members between a raised position extending forwardly from the
backboard and a lowered vertical position extending downwardly from
the backboard and to hold the retrieval net assembly and support
members at any stationary position therebetween; and (e) a
basketball return structure associated with the retrieval net
assembly.
[0011] The present invention also is directed to a basketball
shooting practice return apparatus which comprises: (a) a framework
mountable on a backboard such that portions of the framework extend
beyond opposite lateral sides and above a top side of the backboard
and are exposed from forwardly of the backboard, the framework
having a pair of guide elements located above the top side of the
backboard on the portions of the framework extending above the top
side of the backboard; (b) a pair of support members pivotally
mounted at inner ends thereof to the portions of the framework
extending beyond opposite lateral sides of the backboard such that
the inner ends of the support members are located below the guide
elements and above a hoop on the backboard; (c) a retrieval net
assembly supported by the support members and spaced outwardly and
hanging downwardly from above the hoop; (d) a net positioning
mechanism operable for selectively applying and releasing a pulling
force upon the retrieval net assembly and support members from the
direction of the guide elements above the backboard so as to be
able to pivotally move the retrieval net assembly and support
members from a generally horizontal position extending forwardly
from the backboard to a raised inclined position extending
forwardly and upwardly from the backboard and above the hoop and to
a lowered inclined position extending forwardly and downwardly from
the backboard and above the hoop such that the height above the
shooting surface of a front portion the retrieval net assembly can
be adjusted to act as a visual marker of the proper arch for the
shooter to place on the basketball shot; and (e) a basketball
return structure associated with the retrieval net assembly.
[0012] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a
reading of the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described
an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the following detailed description, reference will be
made to the attached drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a basketball shooting
practice return apparatus of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG.
1 without a ground-supported basketball return structure being
shown.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the apparatus
of FIG. 1 showing multiple basketballs being shot at a hoop on a
backboard with which the apparatus is associated and being
retrieved and returned from the hoop by use of the apparatus.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a net
positioning mechanism of the apparatus shown also in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of
the basketball return structure in a collapsed condition.
[0019] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion
of the basketball return structure enclosed by circle 6.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of one of the
ground-engaging support stands of the basketball return structure
of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4,
there is illustrated a basketball shooting practice return
apparatus, generally designated 10, of the present invention. The
apparatus 10 basically includes a framework 12, a pair of support
members 14, a retrieval net assembly 16, a net positioning
mechanism 18, and a ground-supported basketball return structure
20. The framework 12 is mountable on a back A of a backboard B and
has opposite lateral side portions 12A which extend beyond opposite
lateral sides C and a top side D of the backboard B and are exposed
from forwardly of the backboard B with the portions 12A having a
pair of guide elements 22 thereon being located above the top side
D of the blackboard B. The support members 14 are pivotally mounted
to the framework 12 below the guide elements 22 thereon and above a
hoop E on the backboard B. The retrieval net assembly 16 is
supported by the support members 14 and is spaced outwardly and
hangs downwardly from above the hoop E. The net positioning
mechanism 18 is operable for selectively applying and releasing a
pulling force upon the retrieval net assembly 16 and support
members 14 from the direction of the guide elements 22 above the
backboard B so as to be able to pivotally move the retrieval net
assembly 16 and support members 14 between a raised position
extending forwardly from the backboard B, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and
4, and a lowered vertical position extending downwardly from the
backboard B, as seen in FIG. 2, and to hold the retrieval net
assembly 16 and support members 14 at any stationary position
therebetween. The ground-supported basketball return structure 20
is associated with the retrieval net assembly 16.
[0022] More particularly, the framework 12 of the apparatus 10 has
a generally rectangular configuration and is attached and mounted
to the back A of the backboard B such that the opposite vertical
side portions 12A of the framework 12 are disposed beyond opposite
sides C of the backboard B and exposed from forwardly of the
backboard B. The support members 14 have generally straight rigid
configurations and are pivotally mounted at their inner ends 14A
thereof to the opposite vertical side portions 12A of the framework
12 at locations adjacent to upper ends of the opposite lateral
sides C of the backboard B.
[0023] The retrieval net assembly 16 of the apparatus 10 includes a
mounting frame 24 and a retrieval net 26 supported by the mounting
frame 24. The mounting frame 24 of the assembly 16 is supported by
the support members 14 and has a pair of opposite side frame
members 24A and a front frame member 24B extending between and
interconnecting the opposite side frame members 24A at forward ends
thereof such that the mounting frame 24 has a generally U-shaped
configuration. The opposite side frame members 24A of the mounting
frame 24 are tubular in configuration and at their inner ends 24C
are respectively slidably inserted over and removable from the
support members 14 at outer ends 14B thereof.
[0024] The retrieval net 26 of the assembly 16 has a generally
funnel-shaped configuration and an open top end 26A and an open
bottom end 26B substantially smaller in size than the open top end
26A. The net 26 at opposite upper side portions 26C and upper front
portion 26D of its open top end 26A is respectively secured around
the opposite side frame members 24A and front frame member 24B so
as to hang downwardly therefrom so as to locate the opposite upper
side portions 26C and upper front portion 26D of the net 26
outwardly from and above the hoop E on the backboard B.
[0025] The net positioning mechanism 18 includes a manually or
power-operated winch 28 located at ground level within reach of a
person using the apparatus 10 and a pair of cables 30 wound over
the winch 28. The cables 30 extend from the winch 28 upwardly to
and through the guide elements in the form of loops 22 attached to
upper ends of 12B of opposite lateral side portions 12A of the
framework 12. The cables 30 then extend downwardly to corners 16A
formed by the adjacent ends of the opposite side frame members 24A
and front frame member 24B. When the tubular opposite side frame
members 24A are inserted over the support members 14, the winch 28
can be operated by the person to wind and shorten the lengths of
the cables 30 and thereby pull the cables 30 and lift the opposite
side frame members 24A and support members 14 and retrieval net 26
therewith, to a desired use position relative to the backboard B
and hoop E, for example, with the support members 14 and mounting
frame 24 disposed in a horizontal position H, extending outwardly
from the opposite side portions 12A of the framework 12. By the
cables 30 being connected to the outer corners 16A of the assembly
16 and pulling rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, the cables 30
will retain the mounting frame 24 over the support members 14 at
the desired use position. By a selected desired amount of unwinding
or winding of the cables 30 from or around the winch 28 the support
members 14 can be pivotally adjusted, raised or lowered, by a
desired amount to change the use position of the mounting frame 24
and the support members 14 and net 26 therewith relative to the
backboard B and hoop E. Further, by unwinding and thus lengthening
the cables 30 the mounting frame 24 and the support members 14 and
net 26 therewith can be pivotally lowered until the mounting frame
24 can slide off the support members 14 to thereby disassemble the
retrieval net assembly 16 from the support members 14. Once removed
from the support members 14, the retrieval net assembly 16 can be
easily reduced in size for storage during periods of non-use.
During periods of non-use, the support members 14 merely extend
downwardly along the opposite side portions 12A of the framework 12
out of the way of the backboard B and hoop E for allowing normal
use of the backboard B.
[0026] FIG. 4 also shows, at dashed lines U and L, both the
mounting frame 24 and retrieval net 26 respectively adjusted to a
raised upper inclined position U placing its front frame member 24B
above the horizontal position H and at a first height above the
shooting surface S (shown in FIG. 3) and a lowered inclined
position L placing its front frame member 24B below the horizontal
position H and at a second height above the shooting surface S
which is less than the first height. The net positioning mechanism
18 is operable for selectively applying and releasing a pulling
force upon the retrieval net assembly 16 and said support members
14 from the direction of the guide elements 22 above the backboard
B so as to be able to pivotally move the retrieval net assembly 16
and support members 14 from the generally horizontal position H
extending forwardly from the backboard B to the raised inclined
position U extending forwardly and upwardly from the backboard B
and above the hoop E and to the lowered inclined position L
extending forwardly and downwardly from the backboard B and above
the hoop E such that the height above the shooting surface S of the
front frame member 24B of the retrieval net assembly 16 can be
adjusted to act as a visual marker of the proper arch for the
shooter to place on the basketball shot.
[0027] The ground-supported basketball return structure 20 has one
end 20A disposed adjacent to and below a collar 32 attached to the
open lower end 26B of the retrieval net 26 for receiving a
basketball F therefrom. The return structure 20 has an opposite end
20B disposed adjacent to the position where the person is shooting
the basketball F. The return structure 20 includes a plurality of
sections 34 extending between the opposite ends 20A, 20B thereof.
Each section 34 has a pair of spaced apart elongated tracks 36
defining a path along which a basketball F can roll and
ground-engaging support stands 38 detachably attached at upper ends
to and extending downward from the tracks 36. As seen in FIGS. 5
and 6, the sections 34 telescopically interfit together at opposite
ends so as to form the free-standing return structure 20 capable of
being adjusted in length so as to extend from below the open lower
end 26B of the net 26 to the desired location of the shooter. The
sections 34 are easily taken apart and the support stands 38
removed to disassemble the return structure 20 for storage during
periods of non-use.
[0028] Other advantages of the basketball shooting practice return
apparatus 10 is that it can be mounted solely to the backboard B
and thus is capable of being used in conjunction with both outdoor
pole-supported backboards and indoor pole-free backboards. It is
readily apparent that the parts of the apparatus 10 as described
above are only mounted to the backboard B and not to the pole G
supporting the backboard B. Thus, the apparatus 10 can be equally
adapted for employment with a pole-supported or pole-free
backboard.
[0029] It is thought that the present invention and its advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be
apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing
from its spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of
its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being
merely preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.
* * * * *