U.S. patent application number 11/726191 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in shooting a basketball.
Invention is credited to Christopher Charles Graham.
Application Number | 20070238558 11/726191 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38576034 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070238558 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Graham; Christopher
Charles |
October 11, 2007 |
Apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in
shooting a basketball
Abstract
Apparatus for teaching proper technique in shooting a basketball
includes a generally V-shaped member having a first leg portion
engageable with an inner surface of an index finger and a second
leg portion engageable with an inner surface of a middle finger for
spreading such index and middle fingers apart. A first generally
cylindrical C-shaped member is connected along one edge thereof to
an edge of the first leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof and
has a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of
the first leg portion for adjusting to a finger size of a user. A
second generally cylindrical C-shaped member is connected along one
edge thereof to an edge of such second leg portion adjacent an
outer end thereof. The second C-shaped member also includes a slot
like portion disposed closely adjacent a second edge of the second
leg portion for adjusting to a finger size of a user.
Inventors: |
Graham; Christopher Charles;
(Concord, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES RAY & ASSOCIATES
2640 PITCAIRN ROAD
MONROEVILLE
PA
15146
US
|
Family ID: |
38576034 |
Appl. No.: |
11/726191 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60784328 |
Mar 21, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/477 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0075 20130101;
A63B 69/0071 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/477 |
International
Class: |
A63B 63/00 20060101
A63B063/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in
holding and shooting a basketball, said apparatus comprising: (a) a
generally V-shaped member having a concave surface on a first leg
portion engageable with an inner surface of an index finger and a
concave surface on a second leg portion engageable with an inner
surface of a middle finger for spreading apart such index and
middle fingers; (b) a first generally cylindrical C-shaped member
connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of said
first leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof, said first
generally cylindrical C-shaped member having a slot like portion
disposed closely adjacent a second edge of said first leg portion
adjacent said outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of
a user; and (c) a second generally cylindrical C-shaped member
connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of said
second leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof, said second
generally cylindrical C-shaped member having a slot like portion
disposed closely adjacent a second edge of said second leg portion
adjacent said outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of
a user.
2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus
further includes a liner disposed over each of an inner surface of
said first and said second generally cylindrical C-shaped members
and said concave surface of each of said first and said second leg
portions.
3. An apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said liner is an
elastomeric material.
4. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is
formed from a predetermined material selected from the group
consisting of plastic and aluminum.
5. An apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined
material is plastic.
6. an apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said plastic has a
memory.
7. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said generally
V-shaped member has a predetermined angle of at least about 15.0
degrees.
8. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said generally
V-shaped member is hinged adjacent a bottom surface thereof.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is related to and claims priority
from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/784,328 filed
Mar. 21, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to teaching aids
for sports and, more particularly, this invention relates to an
apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding
and shooting a basketball for shooting purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Prior to the conception and development of the present
invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, various
types of devices are commercially available on the market for
assisting in teaching various aspects of numerous sports including
basketball as well as at least golf, baseball and football.
[0004] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,381 teaches a sports glove
which claims to be particularly suited for being worn on a player's
hand to facilitate ball handling as in basketball handling. The
device includes resilient finger positioning members mounted on the
glove in positions which tend to splay all of the fingers of the
players hand.
[0005] Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,979 teaches a basketball
shooting trainer device for teaching a user to correctly shoot and
release a basketball. Such device includes a piece of material
having a top edge and a bottom edge that is adapted to removably
cover a back of the user's basketball shooting hand. The device
also includes tubular finger members extending from the top edge of
the piece of material to fittingly receive a user's fingers. The
device also has a finger wedge attached to the piece of material
for keeping the user's middle two fingers spread apart.
Additionally, there is a support member attached to the material.
Further, there is a strap assembly attached to the bottom edge of
the material which is adapted to removably fasten about a user's
wrist to support the material upon the user's basketball shooting
hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an apparatus for assisting in
teaching the proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball.
Such apparatus includes a generally V-shaped member having a
concave surface on a first leg portion which is engageable with an
inner surface of an index finger and a concave surface on a second
leg portion that is engageable with an inner surface of a middle
finger for spreading apart such index and middle fingers. A first
generally cylindrical C-shaped member is connected along one edge
thereof to a predetermined edge of the first leg portion adjacent
an outer end thereof. This first generally cylindrical C-shaped
member includes a slot like portion disposed closely adjacent a
second edge of such first leg portion adjacent the outer edge
thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a user. A final essential
element is a second generally cylindrical C-shaped member which is
connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge of the
second leg portion adjacent an outer end thereof. The second
generally cylindrical C-shaped member having a slot like portion
disposed closely adjacent a second edge of such second leg portion
adjacent the outer edge thereof for adjusting to a finger size of a
user.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present
invention to provide an apparatus for assisting in teaching the
proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball which is
relatively light weight.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding
and shooting a basketball which is comfortable to wear.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in
holding and shooting a basketball which is relatively inexpensive
to manufacture.
[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in holding
and shooting a basketball which can be made from a variety of
materials.
[0011] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
an apparatus for assisting in teaching the proper technique in
holding and shooting a basketball which can be manufactured in a
variety of colors.
[0012] In addition to the various objects and advantages of the
present invention described with some degree of specificity above
it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the
present invention will become more readily apparent to those
persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more
detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such
description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing
figures and with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partial view of the generally cylindrical
members illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is view showing an alternative embodiment of the
present invention of the apparatus in use on a person's hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the
present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity
and understanding, identical components which have identical
functions have been identified with identical reference numerals
throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing
figures.
[0018] Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-4.
Illustrated therein is a presently preferred embodiment of an
apparatus, generally designated 10, for assisting in teaching the
proper technique in holding and shooting a basketball 12 (FIG.
4).
[0019] Apparatus 10 includes a generally V-shaped member 14 having
a concave surface 16 (FIG. 2) on a first leg portion 18 which is
engageable with an inner surface 20 of an index finger 22 (FIG. 4)
and a concave surface 24 on a second leg portion 26 which engages
an inner surface 28 of a middle finger 30 for spreading apart such
index finger 22 and such middle finger 30.
[0020] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, such
generally V-shaped member 14 may be hinged adjacent a lower portion
thereof.
[0021] A first generally cylindrical C-shaped member 32 is
connected along one edge thereof to a predetermined edge 34 of the
first leg portion 18 adjacent an outer end 36 thereof. Such first
generally cylindrical C-shaped member 32 forms a slot like portion
38 disposed closely adjacent a second edge 40 of the first leg
portion 18 adjacent such outer predetermined edge 34 thereof for
adjusting to a finger size of a user.
[0022] There is a second generally cylindrical C-shaped member 42
connected along one edge 44 thereof to a predetermined edge 46 of
the second leg portion 26 adjacent an outer end 48 thereof. The
second generally cylindrical C-shaped member 42 having a slot like
portion 50 disposed closely adjacent a second edge 52 of such
second leg portion 26 adjacent the outer edge 46 thereof for
adjusting to a finger size of a user.
[0023] In the presently most preferred embodiment of the invention
the apparatus 10 will further include a liner 54 disposed over each
of an inner surfaces 16 and 24, respectively, of such first
generally cylindrical C-shaped member 32 and such second generally
cylindrical C-shaped member 42 and such concave surfaces 16 and 24,
respectively, of each of said first leg portion 18 and such second
leg portion 26. Preferably, such liner 54 is formed from an
elastomeric material.
[0024] The apparatus 10 can formed from a predetermined material
selected from the group consisting of plastic and aluminum. It is
presently preferred from a cost and formability standpoint for the
material to be plastic and preferably such plastic will have a
memory. Additionally, it is presently preferred that the generally
V-shaped member will exhibit a predetermined angle of at least
about 15.0 degrees.
[0025] While a presently preferred and various alternative
embodiments of the present invention have been described in
sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant
art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various
other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those
persons skilled in such art without departing from either the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
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