Patent ID: 6267696
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A basketball foul-shot return apparatus for use with a basketball goal assembly elevated above a court including a backboard having a planar face and an upper end, and a basket extending forwardly from the face, said apparatus comprising:(a) an elongated, rigid structure adapted for being adjacently positioned against the face of the backboard to receive the basket, said structure having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the face of the backboard with a rearward end proximate to the backboard and a forward end distal to the backboard, said structure includinga substantially rectangular frame having a size sufficient to receive the basket, said frame having upper and lower rails, first and second parallel side rails having upper and lower ends, and a hooking means connected to said frame, wherein said hooking means is adapted to engage the upper end of the backboard when the basket is received, andan elongated brace extending downwardly forward from a center point of said lower rail of said frame along said longitudinal axis to a forward end, anda rigid ball return mechanism positioned transverse to said longitudinal axis and having an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end is pivotally connected to the forward end of said brace;(b) first and so that second elongated arms having a rearward end and a forward end wherein the rearward end of each said arm is pivotally connected to the upper end of said corresponding first and second side rails of said frame so that said arms pivot through a pair of corresponding first and second essentially parallel planes lying on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis; and(c) a first and second means for locking connected to said corresponding first and second arms and engageable with said rigid structure so as to support said arms in a longitudinally extended position.(d) a ball collection chute formed from a longitudinal web, said web having a rearward edge, a forward edge, and a pair of first and second opposed side edges, wherein said rearward edge is attached about the lower rail and first and second side rails of said frame, wherein said first and second side edges are attached to said corresponding first and second arms, said forward edge having a pair of first and second outer portions disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and a center portion disposed therebetween and intersected by said axis, wherein said center portion is attached to the lower end of said ball return mechanism and said first and second outer portions extend upwardly from said center portion to the corresponding forward ends of said first and second arms when said arms are positioned in said longitudinally extended position,wherein said basketball foul-shot return apparatus is elevated above the court when positioned on the backboard.