U.S. patent number 3,776,550 [Application Number 05/285,867] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for basketball retrieval and return device.
Invention is credited to James R. McNabb.
United States Patent |
3,776,550 |
McNabb |
December 4, 1973 |
BASKETBALL RETRIEVAL AND RETURN DEVICE
Abstract
A large basket shaped framework enclosed by an outer covering is
positioned beneath a basketball basket. A chute leads from the
bottom of this framework to a basketball return mechanism. The
return mechanism comprises a motor driven rotating projecting arm
and a transfer arm for transferring a basketball from the end of
the chute to the projecting arm. The projecting arm is connected to
the motor by a drive shaft and a torsion spring mount. A tension
spring controlled arm engages the end of the projecting arm to
prevent it from rotating while the transfer arm operates. When the
force in the torsion spring increases to a force greater than that
of the tension spring, due to the continued operation of the motor,
the projecting arm is released and throws the basketball resting
thereon to a user.
Inventors: |
McNabb; James R. (Philadelphia,
TN) |
Family
ID: |
23096037 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/285,867 |
Filed: |
September 1, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/436; 124/7;
273/395; 273/DIG.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/40 (20130101); A63B 63/083 (20130101); A63B
69/0071 (20130101); Y10S 273/08 (20130101); A63B
2063/001 (20130101); A63B 47/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
63/00 (20060101); A63B 63/08 (20060101); A63B
69/40 (20060101); A63B 47/02 (20060101); A63B
47/00 (20060101); A63b 069/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/1.5A,103,125
;124/6,7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Shapiro; Paul E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable and automatic basketball retrieval and return device
for use in the practice of the sport of basketball with a
conventional basketball goal and conventional basketballs which
comprises, in combination:
a. a ball retrieval system comprising a base portion having a
plurality of tubular members to form an upstanding frame attached
to and extending therefrom, an outer covering attached to said
frame whereby an enlarged upward opening is provided for the
capture of a basketball and whereby said covering converges
downwardly to guide the ball toward an opening in the lowest
portion thereof;
b. a ball return system;
c. means for transferring a basketball from said ball retrieval
system to said ball return system wherein said ball return system
comprises:
d. a housing,
e. a reduction gear motor associated with said housing,
f. a drive shaft driven by said motor,
g. a basketball projectile arm,
h. means for imparting rotational movement from said drive shaft to
said basketball projectile arm,
i. means for transferring a basketball to said projectile arm,
j. tension means for momentarily halting rotational movement of
said projectile arm,
k. means for overcoming tension applied to said projectile arm
wherein said means for overcoming tension comprises:
l. at least one projectile spring mounted in said projectile arm
wherein said reduction gear motor continues to drive said drive
shaft, wherein rotational movement is thereby imparted from said
drive shaft to said basketball projectile arm after said projectile
arm has been retained momentarily by said tension means whereby
said tension means is overcome by force of said reduction gear
motor thereby providing the force required to activate said
projectile arm.
2. A basketball retrieval and return device as recited in claim 1
wherein the means for transferring a basketball from the ball
retrieval system to the ball return system comprises a chute having
an elevated portion mounted directly beneath said ball retrieval
system whereby the basketball can roll by force of gravity to a
lower portion of the chute whereupon entrance is made to the ball
return system.
3. A basketball retrieval and return device as recited in claim 1
wherein said tension means for halting rotational movement of said
projectile arm consists of a holding spring attached to a pivotally
mounted pressure stop whereby tension is applied thereto whereby
said projectile arm is momentarily halted from rotational
movement.
4. A basketball retrieval and return attached as recited in claim 3
further comprising a turnbuckle attahced to said holding spring for
adjusting the tension thereof.
5. A basketball retrieval and return device as recited in claim 1
wherein said means for transferring a basketball to said projectile
arm comprises a pivotally mounted loading arm and means
interconnecting said drive shaft to said loading arm thereby
converting rotary motion of the former to pivotal movement of the
latter.
6. A basketball retrieval and return device as recited in claim 5
wherein said interconnecting means comprises a vertical member
provided with a slot therein to provide a time delay for movement
of the ball to said loading arm during activation of said loading
arm.
7. A basketball retrieval and return device as recited in claim 5
further comprising a pivotally mounted loading ramp interconnected
to said loading arm whereby said loading ramp can sequentially and
intermittantly retain a ball until said projectile arm is
activated, thereby forcefully projecting the ball to the shooter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein relates to an apparatus for
practicing the sport of basketball. It is an improvement of known
ball-return devices, such as that of J.L. King, U.S. Pat. No.
3,233,896, J.H. Scalf, U.S. Pat No. 2,808,264 and H.E. Kimbrell,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,683.
It is well known that in the game of basketball the players
endeavor to toss a ball through an annular member secured to a
board at each end of a court and that the annular members generally
have a net open at the bottom depending therefrom. The annular
member, together with the net, is commonly called the basket. It is
obvious that not all of the shots made toward the basket enter
therein. Therefore, during practice sessions, it is generally
necessary for a player to be stationed nearby to retrieve the
thrown balls and then return them to the shooter or for the shooter
to chase after the thrown ball and then return to the point at
which he may be practicing a particular type of shot. This results
in considerable wasted effort and shortens the effective practice
time of each shooter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a means for greatly
increasing the number of practice shots which an individual may
make at any point on the basketball court. It is an additional
object of this invention to provide a basketball practice device
which does not depend upon an individual having any particular
degree of skill in shooting baskets. This invention will retrieve
all balls thrown toward the basket whether or not they go through
the annular member and will then impel the balls to the shooter at
a predetermined rate, with a force which may be varied, and in an
adjustable direction. The ability to control a number of variables
which can influence the making of basketball goals will enable a
basketball player or coach to concentrate on improving certain
deficiencies which may thereby be discovered in the players
shooting skills. Athletes can be easily, quickly and automatically
graded as to proficiency with a particular shot by means of known
devices such as an automatic counter attached to the ball return
system of this invention and a photocell sensor installed within
the rim of the basket to sense and record shots which enter
therein. This invention will greatly increase the number of shots
possible to the individual practicer in a given time and will be of
particular value in the practice of baseline and outside shots.
This apparatus is easily installed, easily dismantled, can be
stored compactly following practice sessions and can be
economically manufactured. The invention is designed to be used in
conjunction with a standard basketball backboard assembly with no
damage to any part thereof.
Further features and objects of the invention will be apparent from
an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of the operation of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is the preferred embodiment of the ball retriever portion of
the invention;
FIG. 3 is the rectangular base portion of the preferred embodiment
of the ball retriever portion of the invention in a partially
folded position.
FIG. 4 shows the disassembled tubular members of the preferred
embodiment of the ball retriever portion of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned side view of the ball return system
of the invention.
FIG. 6 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7--7
of FIG. 6 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows
showing the arrangement of the projectile spring of the device.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the
several views of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Having reference to the drawings in detail, the ball retriever
portion of the invention is generally indicated in FIG. 1 at 15 and
is arranged so as to utilize a backstop or backboard 11 which may
be supported in any suitable manner and has attached thereto a
basket assembly 12. The basket assembly 12 is comprised of an
annular member 13 and a net 14, all of which are conventional and
well known. Ball retriever 15 is formed generally in the shape of a
funnel and comprises a framework of tubular members with an outer
covering 16 which can be constructed of netting or other flexible
or foldable material. Ball retriever 15 is positioned in relation
to basket assembly 12 so that the enlarged upward opening extends a
substantial distance outward from a point beneath basket assembly
12 whereby a ball thrown or tossed in the direction of said basket
assembly will encounter and be retrieved by the outer covering 16
even though the ball does not go through annular member 13.
Covering 16 is attached to ball retriever 15 by suitable attaching
means which means are detachable and the entire ball retriever 15
is comprised of members having sleeve connectors which are
telescopically attached one to another for ease and convenience in
transporting the ball retriever and for compactability in storing
when the subject invention is not in use. Covering 16 tapers
downward to a circular opening 24 which is somewhat larger than a
basketball in size so that a basketball retrieved by ball retriever
15 may pass, by force of gravity, therethrough.
A non-flexible chute 25 having an elevated portion 26 and a lower
portion 27 is positioned with elevated portion 26 directly beneath
the circular opening 24 of ball retriever 15 so as to transfer the
basketball to ball return system 10. Chute 25 can be constructed of
any durable material such as molded plastic, wood, wire or other
metal but it is essential that chute 25 serve only to guide the
ball downward and into position for subsequent pickup and
projection.
A preferred embodiment of the framework of ball retriever 15 is
shown in FIG. 2 wherein the netting is omitted to show details of
construction. A partially folded view of the rectangular aluminum
base A is shown in FIG. 3. The disassembled tubular members B, C,
D, E, F of ball retriever 15 are further shown in FIG. 4.
Base A, FIG. 3, consists of two outer sections 18 attached by
hinges 19 to a center section 20. Tubular support holders 21 are
welded into base A at strategic positions to support the tubular
members B and F, FIG. 2. Tubular members B, C, D, E, and F
interlock with each other, FIG. 2, to form the support required to
maintain net 16 in position. The means for connecting members A, B,
C, D, E, and F of the framework of ball retriever 15 consists of
tapering male ends 22 of members B, D, E, and F, FIG. 4, to a size
whereby the male ends 22 snuggly enter female ends 23 of members C,
and D, FIG. 4, and tubular support holders 21 of base A, FIG. 3.
The members are not required to be locked together by other than
frictional forces in the described embodiment. However, the use of
conventional pins or snaplocks will provide greater stability and
permanence to ball retriever 15.
Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 the ball return system of the
invention at 10 includes, in one embodiment, an iron framework
welded together to form a housing 30 having a base 31 on which are
supported the elements to be ennumerated. Base 31 supports a
reduction gear motor 32 with sprocket 33 attached to the shaft 35
thereof. Sprocket 33 is connected to sprocket 34 on shaft 35 by
means of standard chain drive 36. Projectile arm 37 is mounted to
rotate around shaft 35. Appended to each end of projectile arm 37
is an annular ring 38 having a diameter smaller than a basketball
so as to be able to pick up the basketball and project it to the
shooter. Sprocket 39 is mounted on shaft 35 and is connected to
sprocket 40 mounted on shaft 41 by means of standard chain drive
42.
Shaft 41 has pivotally attached thereto mechanical means 43 for
raising and lowering loading arm assembly 44 which is disposed to
pick up balls from chute 25 at a predetermined and adjustable rate
and to thereafter deposit the balls one at a time onto loading
platform 45. The means for activating loading arm assembly 44 is
best illustrated in FIG. 5. Connecting arm 46 is pivotally attached
at one end to shaft 41 and pivotally attached at the other end to a
vertical member 47 which is suitably threaded as a means for
adjusting the travel of said member. The lower end of vertical
member 47 is provided with a slot 48 to engage pin 49 in one end of
connecting arm 50. Connecting arm 50 is fixedly mounted to shaft
51.
Loading arm assembly 44 consists of lever arm 52 fixedly mounted to
shaft 51. Lever arm 52 has a pivotal attachment 53 at the end
opposite to the fixed position on shaft 51 wherein is pivotally
mounted loading arm 54. Loading arm 54 has an annular portion 55 at
one end for lifting the basketball and an upward curved portion 56
at the other end. When sprocket 40 turns connecting arm 46 toward a
downward position, vertical member 47 translates the motion to
connecting arm 50 whereupon shaft 51 turns in a counterclockwise
direction causing loading arm assembly 44 to move upward carrying
the ball toward loading platform 45. When the upward curved portion
56 of loading arm 54 meets trip point 57 loading arm 54 turns at
pivotal attachment 53 thereby causing the ball to flip forward onto
inclined loading platform 45. The ball rolls by force of gravity
down the incline of loading platform 45 to an annular portion 65
wherein it rests until projectile arm 37 is activated.
When sprocket 40 turns connecting arm 46 toward an upright
position, vertical member 47 translates the motion to connecting
arm 50 whereby shaft 51 turns in a clockwise direction causing
loading arm assembly 44 to move downward and into position to
receive the ball from position 58 in chute 25. Loading ramp 59
adjacent to chute 25 is pivotally mounted at 60 whereby end 61
moves clockwise by force of gravity and is in position to receive a
ball from chute 25 when loading arm assembly 44 is in an upward
position. When loading arm assembly 44 moves into a downward
position contact end 62 of lever arm 52 strikes pressure point 63
whereby loading ramp 59 moves counterclockwise at pivot mount 60,
such movement causing the ball to roll forward and down loading
ramp 59 by force of gravity into annular portion 55 of loading arm
54. It is an important function of slot 48 in vertical member 47 to
provide a brief time delay to the upward motion of lever arm 52 to
enable the ball to roll into said annular portion 55 of loading arm
54.
Activation of projectile arm 37 can best be shown by referring to
the partially sectioned side view of FIG. 5 and the end view of the
invention shown in FIG. 6. When contact bar 70 on projectile arm 37
strikes pressure stop 71 pivotally attached at 77 projectile arm 37
is retained momentarily by the tension exerted by helical holding
spring 72 on pressure stop 71. The momentary suspension of the
rotational motion of projectile arm 37 does not suspend the
rotational motion as to torsional projectile spring 73 which is
attached to and rotates with shaft 35. The resultant energy stored
in projectile spring 73 is transferred to projectile arm 37 and is
applied to pressure stop 71 by contact bar 70 until the downward
force of holding spring 72 is overcome by the greater force built
up in projectile spring 73. The sudden release of energy stored in
projectile spring 73 causes projectile arm 37 to instantly and
forcefully project the basketball to the shooter. The force by
which the basketball is projected is controlled by the tension
applied by holding spring 72 which tension is adjusted by means of
turnbuckle 74 attached between base 31 and holding spring 72.
The arrangement of projectile spring 73 in the device is best shown
in the end view of FIG. 6 and the sectional view of FIG. 7 taken
substantially along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6. In the preferred
embodiment one or more projectile springs 73 are fixedly mounted on
one end to shaft 35 and to a connecting bar 75 which is attached to
projectile arm 37 on their opposite ends. Pin 76 prevents
dislodgement of projectile spring 73 from shaft 35 during rotation
of said shaft 35.
In one embodiment of the subject invention whereby optimum
operating conditions were achieved, an 18 revolutions per minute
reduction gear motor 32 was coupled to an 11-toothed sprocket 33.
Sprocket 33 was connected to a 44-toothed sprocket 34 on shaft 35
by means of a standard chain drive 36 which connection gave a 4:1
rotational reduction to produce 4.5 revolutions per minute from
gear motor 32 to shaft 35. A sprocket 39 having 30 teeth was
mounted on shaft 35 and was connected to a sprocket 40 having 15
teeth on shaft 41 by standard chain drive 42 whereby nine
revolutions per minute were achieved on shaft 41.
Employment of the described specifications whereupon shaft 35 could
turn at 4.5 revolutions per minute provides projectile arm 37 with
the capability to project two balls per revolution or nine balls
per minute. The consequent rotation of shaft 41 at nine revolutions
per minute whereby nine balls are delivered to loading platform 45
per minute provides a highly efficient delivery system and is the
preferred embodiment of this invention.
It is apparent that the sizes of the sprockets and gear motor are
not limited to those enumerated herein and that shaft speeds can be
increased or decreased at will by known and conventional means. It
is an important advantage of the subject invention that the rate of
delivery of balls to the shooter may be controlled by conventional
means and that the invention can be interacted with existing
electronic timing devices and operated in conjunction with known
speed-control mechanisms so as to provide the optimum number of
shots per given time span consistent with the shooters ability.
The aforedescribed means for retrieving any ball thrown toward the
basket assembly is not limited to the style or scope of the
apparatus described in the drawings. It is obvious that any base
may be used to support a plurality of arms extendible radially
therefrom and that a net or other covering can be suspended
therefrom to retrieve a ball thrown generally in the direction of a
basket assembly when said basket assembly is placed superior to a
retrieval means. In the subject embodiment the framework of ball
retriever 15 is composed of lightweight aluminum members to
facilitate its portability with the base A mounted on rubber
casters to prevent marring of hardwood gymnasium floors. The base
can, however, be covered or mounted upon felt, carpeting, or any
suitable resilient material. It is obvious that the materials for
constructing the framework are not limited to any single material
and that the main consideration is the durability and portability
of the instant embodiment.
A preferred embodiment of this invention has been set forth in the
description and drawings. These descriptions are used in a generic
sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Various changes may
therefore be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *