Abstract:
The present invention relates to the sports training aids, in particular a improved apparatus for providing drills for new basketball players to practice rebounding skills, not having a platform or base below the players as they jump which can twist an ankle or knee. Further an improved mechanism for tuning the action in the recoil assembly is provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to generally to sports training aids. In particular a basketball rebounding system for training basketball players to improve their rebounding skills. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In basketball, it is important for the player to learn to aggressively and forcefully compete for missed shots which are rebounded from the rim or backboard. 
         [0003]    US patent application publication US 2004/0176192 A1 by Slavey et al., discloses a portable basketball rebound apparatus having a plurality of pads situated on a plurality of adjustable arms that provide a toggle assembly. The apparatus is directed toward the player practicing “boxing out” before, during or after capturing a rebound. The rebounder has a rebounding arm or carriage having a carriage end, mounted on a pole extending from a base on the floor, for receiving and supporting a basketball a predetermined distance above the ground. The rebounding arm or carriage is pivotally secured by a pin and comprises a second end coupled to a solenoid which controls the motion of the rebounding arm downward during a rebound and the recovery once the ball is removed. A solenoid control of the type shown in Slavey cannot be independently controlled, or tuned, to match the both the desired resistance and rate of travel for return independently. Further solenoid designs of this type typically have a sharp increase in resistance when much force is applied such as a very aggressive rebound, which can result in unbalance and injury to a player. A pivoting stop has a first end coupled to a basketball track, which receives a plurality of basketballs through the top. The basketballs are retained and prevented from moving towards the carriage when rebounding arm or carriage is in the home position. As the rebounding aim or carriage is pulled or moved downward towards the ground, during a rebounding practice session, a second post rides along an inner surface of the pivoting stop which, in turn, causes the end to move, thus causing an indexing of the next basketball into position. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,705, issued to McCall, Jr., shows a basketball rebounding practice device that holds a plurality of basketballs and presents them in succession to a position where they can be taken by a player practicing rebounding. The device sits on the floor via a portable platform with casters, with a pedestal which extends from the platform and is adjustable in height, and has a basket-like receptacle. Balls drop in the basket area and then roll along a passageway and seat in the loop to be taken by players during practice. 
         [0005]    Movement of the arm controls the feed of basketballs along the passageway. An arm is held against free downward swinging about its hinges by a check mechanism that includes pistons and springs in a cylinder that force the pistons back after movement. Using this check mechanism, the loop may be swung downwardly as a ball is taken, and the return movement will be slowed to prevent shock. 
         [0006]    With both of the aforementioned inventions, having a base or platform on the floor can be problematic as players jockey for position under the rebound holding mechanism. Due to the inertial forces exerted pulling the ball down, the base or platform must be in close proximity to where a player may land in order to keep from tipping over. This can result in players landing on the base or platform and injuring ankles as they jockey for position. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,313, issued to Dickey, describes a basketball practice device allowing a player to practice handling a basketball in tipping a ball toward a basket. The device is directed toward a boom pivoted above a backboard, an extendible section depending from the boom in the vicinity of the goal on the backboard, and a cap for releasably holding a basketball carried at the lower end of the extendible section. The attachment by which the basketball is held to the cap can be varied to change the ease with which the ball is removed from the cap. This drill differs from the present invention in that the objective is to reach up to a ball that suspended in air in the vicinity of the basket and tipping the ball toward the basket. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an objective of the current invention to provide a training apparatus which can be mounted on a wall surface providing a floor free from obstruction below the basketball in the ball receiver. 
         [0009]    It is a further objective of the current invention to provide a training apparatus which can be adjusted to a desired height. 
         [0010]    It is a further objective to provide a training apparatus having a large receiving port for easily loading basketballs. 
         [0011]    It is a further objective to provide a training apparatus having a storing capacity for a plurality of basketballs sufficient for extended drills. 
         [0012]    It is a further objective to provide a training apparatus having a recoil assembly comprising self canceling actions for release and return by means of a recoil assembly and a rotational translator which rotate in counter directions. 
         [0013]    It is a further objective to provide a training apparatus having a recoil assembly which can be tuned for release and return by means of a tensioner in the coupler assembly between the recoil assembly and the rotational translator. 
         [0014]    It is a further objective to provide a training apparatus having a shock which minimizes the resistance during ball retrieval, yet has a pre-set resistance when the pivot arm assembly returns to the primary position for another ball to be retrieved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a rebound training apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the rebound training apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a ball pivot arm assembly with recoil assembly and feed mechanism; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a side through view of an embodiment of a shock cylinder in the extended position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a side through view of an embodiment of a shock cylinder in the compressed position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  shows a side through view of a close-up of an embodiment of a piston in the low resistance configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  shows a side through view of a close-up of an embodiment of a piston in the high resistance configuration. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  shows a top view of one embodiment of the front side of a piston head. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7B  shows a bottom view of one embodiment of the back side of a piston head. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a top down representative view of one embodiment of a mounting slide mounted in a vertical race. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of one embodiment of a rebound training apparatus mounted to a wall. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0027]      1 —basketball
   10 —training apparatus
   12 —mounting slide
   13 —hoisting means
   14   a, b —top and bottom lateral coupler
   15 —tie rod
   16   a, b —top and bottom diagonal coupler
   17 —vertical race
   18 —receiving port
   19 —tracks
   20 —vertical members
   21 —anchor
   30 —recoil assembly
   32 —axis
   34 —spring
   36 —lever arm
   40 —coupler assembly
   42 —proximal tie
   44 —tensioner
   46 —rod
   48 —distal tie
   50 —shock
   52 —proximal tie member
   54 —end
   56 —cylinder
   58 —piston
   59 —circlip
   60 —retaining member
   61 —washer
   62 —stop
   63 —bushing
   64 —end cap
   65 —port
   66 —rod
   67 —confluence
   68 —coupler
   69 —release
   70 —distal tie rod
   73 —secondary air chamber
   74 —air chamber
   90 —pivot arm assembly
   92 —ball receiver
   94 —hinge
   96 —lever
   98 —rotational translator
   100 —pivot arm axis
   102 —pivot arm tie
 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show some of the major features of the training apparatus  10 . Basketballs  1  are fed into the training apparatus  10  by way of the receiving port  18 , generally by tossing, where they then settle into a queue on tracks  19  located at the lower end of the training apparatus  10 . The basketballs  1  move along a reciprocating path to the pivot arm assembly  90  where one ball at a time is presented to the ball receiver  92 . In one configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as the player pulls the ball  1  from the ball receiver  92 , a rotational force is applied to a lever  96  through a hinge  94 , in a counter clockwise fashion, through a coupler assembly  40  and to lever arm  36  causing the recoil assembly  30  to rotate in a clockwise fashion working against a spring  34  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Also in communication with the recoil assembly is a shock  50  which serves to moderate resistance depending upon direction of rotation. 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment of the recoil assembly as shown in  FIG. 3 , once a basketball  1  is located on end of the ball receiver  92  the player then attempts to remove the ball by means of grabbing the ball and pulling it down. The downward force of the ball  1  on the ball receiver  92 , whose elements can be connected to act together by means of a pivot arm tie  102 , causes a rotation of the pivot arm axis  100  and a rotational translator  98  to a lever  96  for controlling distance of travel and force to a coupler assembly  40  which is preferably comprised of at least one rod  46  being in communication between the lever  96  and the lever arm  36 . The lever arm  36  is situated so as to translate the linear force from the coupler assembly back into a rotational force which acts upon a spring  34  which revolves around a fixed axis  32 . The spring  34  applying a counter force designed to return the pivot arm assembly  90  to the primary position. 
         [0030]    In order to enhance the skill of the player, the spring  34  may be coupled through the axis  32  to a lever arm  36  such that resistance is applied requiring the player to exert sufficient force to overcome the spring  34 . In an alternate embodiment, the precise positioning and hence movement can be regulated by means of a coupler assembly  40  comprised of a tensioner  44  similar to those used in cable tensioning, such as a standard cable tensioner, so is to tune or regulate the length and, therefore, the coupling between the lever  96  and a lever arm  36 . In addition, the lever arm is preferred to be coupled with the shock  50  positioned in parallel with the coupler assembly  40  to further control the relative rates of resistance and rotation of the pivot arm assembly  90 . 
         [0031]    Operation of the preferred embodiment of the shock  50  can best be understood by referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 A and  6 B,  7 A and  7 B. The shock  50  is designed such that there is negligible resistance during ball retrieval with a pre-set resistance when the pivot arm assembly returns to the primary position in time for another ball to be retrieved. The shock  50  is comprised of a proximal tie member  52  for mounting to the training apparatus  10  housing to the end  54 . Coming orthogonally from the end  54  is a cylinder  56  which houses a piston  58  being mounted on a rod  66 . The piston  58  is mounted to the rod  66  by means of a retaining member  60 , which can be a simple nut and bolt combination or other suitable means. A stop  62  made of steel or other suitable material is located directly behind the piston such that during the elongation phase, when the shock is extending as shown in  FIG. 6A , the rod  66  is able to move freely with little resistance. This because air entrained in the air chamber  74  is free to flow through the confluence  67 , through at least one port  65  into the secondary air chamber  73  having little pressure drop. 
         [0032]    As the piston moves from an extended position,  FIG. 4 , to a compressed position,  FIG. 5 , compression of air in the secondary air chamber  73  in addition to initial inertia of the rod  66  cause the piston  58  to move in the direction of the stop  62  causing the confluence  67  to be plugged by a washer  61  and bushing  63  building a more substantial pressure in the secondary air chamber  73 . A release  69  can be located through the piston  58  which can be open, or partially blocked, between the air chamber and the secondary air chamber. The ratio of areas between ports  65  which terminate in the confluence  67 , and the port  69  which terminates outside the confluence  67 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , can be adjusted by one skilled in the art to optimize the resistance between extension and compression. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanism herein disclosed can also be design in reciprocal fashion without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a preferred way in which the training apparatus  10  can be mounted to a wall by means of vertical races  17  which are attached in parallel to a wall in a substantially vertical position. The races are placed at a distance which corresponds to the mounting slides  12 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to allow the mounting slides  12  to fit into the vertical races  17  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The mounting slides  12 , which may be comprised of a wheel, low friction slide or other like means, are connected to the apparatus  10  by means of a tie rod  15  extending generally horizontally from the vertical races  17  and are connected to the vertical members  20  of the training apparatus  10  by means of the top and bottom lateral coupler  14   a  and  14   b  and the top and bottom diagonal coupler  16   a  and  16   b  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0034]    The height can be adjusted as desired, by means of a hoisting means  13 , which is typically a cable and pulley, but can comprise a ratcheting means, gear, drive motor drive or the like sufficient to move the training apparatus  10  along the vertical races  17  to the desired above the playing floor. It is desired that the height take into account a vertical distance which will challenge the player. 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0035]    Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. The invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0036]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequent appended claims.