Dribbling Practice Assembly

Abstract

A dribbling practice assembly for practicing dribbling a basketball includes a pair of hoops that are coupled together to form a spherical surround for insertably receiving a basketball. An elastomeric band is coupled to and extends upwardly from the hoops. A strap is coupled to the elastomeric band. The strap is removably wrapped around a user's wrist or hand for suspending the hoops from the user's wrist or hand thereby suspending the basketball from the user's wrist or hand. The elastomeric band stretches when the user bounces the basketball downwardly. Moreover, the elastomeric band urges the hoops toward the strap thereby lifting the basketball up toward the user's wrist or hand to train the user in dribbling the basketball.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0001] Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0003] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0004] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

[0005] The disclosure relates to dribbling device and more particularly pertains to a new dribbling device for practicing dribbling a basketball.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

[0006] The prior art relates to dribbling devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of hoops that are coupled together to form a spherical surround for insertably receiving a basketball. An elastomeric band is coupled to and extends upwardly from the hoops. A strap is coupled to the elastomeric band. The strap is removably wrapped around a user's wrist or hand for suspending the hoops from the user's wrist or hand thereby suspending the basketball from the user's wrist or hand. The elastomeric band stretches when the user bounces the basketball downwardly. Moreover, the elastomeric band urges the hoops toward the strap thereby lifting the basketball up toward the user's wrist or hand to train the user in dribbling the basketball.

[0008] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof 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 disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0009] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0010] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dribbling practice assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new dribbling device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0016] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the dribbling practice assembly 10 generally comprises a pair of hoops 12 that are coupled together to form a spherical surround 14. The spherical surround 14 receives a basketball 16 for positioning therein. Each of the hoops 12 is comprised of a resiliently bendable material to facilitate the basketball 16 to be slid into the hoops 12. Moreover, each of the hoops 12 lies on a plane that is oriented perpendicular to each other with respect to a vertical axis. Each of the hoops 12 intersects each other at each of a top side 18 and a bottom side 20 of the hoops 12.

[0017] An elastomeric band 22 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the hoops 12. The elastomeric band 22 is positioned at an intersection of the top side 18 of the hoops 12 and the elastomeric band 22 has a distal end 24 with respect to the hoops 12. The elastomeric band 22 may have a minimum length of approximately 3.0 inches and a maximum length of approximately 24.0 inches.

[0018] A strap 26 is provided and the strap 26 is coupled to the elastomeric band 22. The strap 26 is removably wrapped around a user's wrist 28 or hand 29 for suspending the hoops 12 from the user's wrist 28 or hand 29. In this way the hoops 12 suspend the basketball 16 from the user's wrist 28 or hand 29. The elastomeric band 22 stretches when the user bounces the basketball 16 downwardly to facilitate the basketball 16 to bounce on ground. Additionally, the elastomeric band 22 is biased to urge the hoops 12 toward the strap 26 to lift the basketball 16 up toward the user's wrist 28 or hand 29. In this way the user can train dribbling the basketball 16.

[0019] The strap 26 has a first end 30, a second end 32, a top surface 34 and a bottom surface 36. The distal end 24 of the elastomeric band 22 is coupled to the bottom surface 36 having the distal end 24 being centrally positioned between the first 30 and second 32 ends. A first mating member 38 is coupled to the strap 26. The first mating member 38 is positioned on the top surface 34 of the strap 26 and the first mating member 38 is aligned with the first end 30 of the strap 26.

[0020] A second mating member 40 is coupled to the strap 26. The second mating member 40 is positioned on the bottom surface 36 of the strap 26 and the second mating member 40 is aligned with the second end 32 of the strap 26. The first mating member 38 releasably engages the second mating member 40 for retaining the strap 26 around the user's wrist 28. Each of the first 38 and second 40 mating members may be hook and loop fasteners or other similar releasable fasteners.

[0021] In use, the basketball 16 is positioned within the hoops 12 for practicing dribbling. The strap 26 is wrapped around the user's wrist 28 or hand 29 to suspend the basketball 16 from the user's wrist 28 or hand 29. The user bounces the basketball 16 and the elastomeric band 22 draws the basketball 16 back to the user's hand 29. In this way the user can practice dribbling the basketball 16 without losing control of the basketball 16. Additionally, the user can walk or run while wearing the strap 26 on the user's wrist 28 or hand 29 to practice dribbling while walking or running.

[0022] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A dribbling practice assembly comprising: a pair of hoops being coupled together to form a spherical surround wherein said spherical surround is configured to have a basketball positioned therein, each of said hoops being comprised of a resiliently bendable material wherein each of said hoops is configured to facilitate the basketball to be slid into said hoops; an elastomeric band being coupled to and extending upwardly from said hoops; and a strap being coupled to said elastomeric band, said strap being removably wrapped around a user's wrist or hand for suspending said hoops from the user's wrist or hand wherein said hoops are configured to suspend the basketball from the user's wrist or hand, said elastomeric band stretching when the user bounces the basketball downwardly wherein said elastomeric band is configured to facilitate the basketball to bounce on ground, said elastomeric band being biased to urge said hoops toward said strap wherein said elastomeric band is configured to lift the basketball up toward the user's wrist or hand to train the user in dribbling the basketball, said strap having a first end, a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface, said strap having a constant width extending a full length between said first end and said second end; a first mating member being coupled to said strap, said first mating member being positioned on said top surface of said strap, said first mating member being aligned with said first end of said strap; and a second mating member being coupled to said strap, said second mating member being positioned on said bottom surface of said strap, said second mating member being aligned with said second end of said strap, said first mating member releasably engaging said second mating member for retaining said strap around the user's wrist or hand.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: each of said hoops lies on a plane being oriented perpendicular to each other with respect to a vertical axis, each of said hoops intersecting each other at each of a top side and a bottom side of said hoops; and said elastomeric band is positioned at an intersection of said top side of said hoops, said elastomeric band having a distal end with respect to said hoops.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a distal end of said elastomeric band being coupled to said bottom surface having said distal end being centrally positioned between said first and second ends.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. A dribbling practice assembly comprising: a pair of hoops being coupled together to form a spherical surround wherein said spherical surround is configured to have a basketball positioned therein, each of said hoops being comprised of a resiliently bendable material wherein each of said hoops is configured to facilitate the basketball to be slid into said hoops, each of said hoops lying on a plane being oriented perpendicular to each other with respect to a vertical axis, each of said hoops intersecting each other at each of a top side and a bottom side of said hoops; an elastomeric band being coupled to and extending upwardly from said hoops, said elastomeric band being positioned at an intersection of said top side of said hoops, said elastomeric band having a distal end with respect to said hoops; a strap being coupled to said elastomeric band, said strap being removably wrapped around a user's wrist or hand for suspending said hoops from the user's wrist or hand wherein said hoops are configured to suspend the basketball from the user's wrist or hand, said elastomeric band stretching when the user bounces the basketball downwardly wherein said elastomeric band is configured to facilitate the basketball to bounce on ground, said elastomeric band being biased to urge said hoops toward said strap wherein said elastomeric band is configured to lift the basketball up toward the user's wrist or hand to train the user in dribbling the basketball, said strap having a first end, a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface, said strap having a constant width extending a full length between said first end and said second end, said distal end of said elastomeric band being coupled to said bottom surface having said distal end being centrally positioned between said first and second ends; a first mating member being coupled to said strap, said first mating member being positioned on said top surface of said strap, said first mating member being aligned with said first end of said strap; and a second mating member being coupled to said strap, said second mating member being positioned on said bottom surface of said strap, said second mating member being aligned with said second end of said strap, said first mating member releasably engaging said second mating member for retaining said strap around the user's wrist or hand.

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