Abstract:
A projectile machine for use in practicing various activities including the practice of basketball shots from various positions on a basketball court. The projectile machine when practicing basketball shots automatically returns the basketballs to the person practicing shots thereby eliminating the necessity for the practicing player or other players to retrieve the basketballs that have been shot and return them to the player practicing the shots. More specifically, the present invention enables basketballs that have been shot towards the basketball goal or hoop to be automatically collected and mechanically returned to a selected on-court location at varying elevations, trajectories and velocities. The projectile machine can also be used during various activities relating to the practice of various endeavors in which an article is projected in a desired trajectory. The projectile machine may be supported from a support post for the backboard and goal for use as a home unit. The projectile can be projected by moving a projectile between retention members by a power device or the retention members may be moved past a stationary projectile by a power device to project the projectile.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a projectile machine for use in practicing various activities including the practice of basketball shots from various positions on a basketball court. The projectile machine when practicing basketball shots automatically returns the basketballs to the person practicing shots thereby eliminating the necessity for the practicing player or other players to retrieve the basketballs that have been shot and return them to the player practicing the shots. More specifically, the present invention enables basketballs that have been shot towards the basketball goal or hoop to be automatically collected and mechanically returned to a selected on-court location at varying elevations, trajectories and velocity. The projectile machine can also be used during various activities relating to the practice of various endeavors in which an article is projected in a desired trajectory. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Basketball players spend considerable time and effort in practicing shots from various positions on the basketball court. When doing so, it is necessary for the individual to retrieve each basketball that is shot or other players retrieve and return the basketballs to the person practicing the basketball shots. In an effort to reduce the necessity of the practicing player or other players retrieving and returning the basketballs to various locations on the basketball court, devices have been developed to collect and return basketballs to various locations on the basketball court. 
     Prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,340, issued Apr. 1, 1986 discloses a machine for collecting and returning basketballs to various locations on the basketball court. The prior art of record in that patent also is relevant to this invention. 
     The machine disclosed in the above prior patent functions effectively but does not include various capabilities that are desirable when practicing basketball shots. The present invention is constructed so that it returns a basketball to various selected locations on the basketball court by varying the path of trajectory and velocity of the returning basketball. The basketball practice machine of this invention is mobile and can be operated from either a 110 or 12 volt power source, thus enabling operation in both indoor and outdoor environments. Also, the operation of the basketball return machine of this invention may be controlled remotely which enables a player to control the functions of the machine. Additionally, the basketball return machine of this invention includes a net supported by a collapsible frame that collects balls that go through the basketball goal or bounce off the backboard or goal and return them to the machine for projecting the basketballs singly toward different locations on the basketball court. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The basketball practice device of this invention includes a portable and mobile machine capable of being positioned at a desired location on a basketball court generally underneath the basketball goal and backboard into which shooting practice is to be conducted. The machine includes a base having a ball ejecting or projecting mechanism which can be rotated about a vertical axis for directing balls to a selected on-court location dependent on the angular position about a vertical axis, the angular position about a horizontal axis and the velocity of the basketball as it is ejected or projected. Adjustment of the velocity, the vertical angle of discharge and the horizontal angle of discharge controls the movement characteristics of the returned basketballs. 
     The basketball return machine includes a collecting net supported from a base with the net having a wide opening at the top. The net is generally of a funnel shape in order to collect the balls from the basketball goal or backboard with the restricted bottom end of the funnel shaped net having an opening to feed the balls by gravity into the ball ejecting or projecting mechanism. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a basketball practice device which includes a portable and mobile machine including a funnel shaped net associated with the basketball goal and backboard to collect balls which go through the goal, bounce off the goal or backboard and return them by gravity to a basketball ejecting or projecting mechanism that returns the balls to a desired on court location dependent upon the positioning and adjusted characteristics of the ball ejecting or projecting mechanism. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice device in which the ball ejecting or projecting mechanism is adjustable about a vertical axis to angularly select the desired direction of the ball to different spaced locations on the basketball court. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice device in accordance with the preceding objects in which the angular relation of the trajectory path about a horizontal axis can be adjusted for returning the basketball to a practice player at various distances and elevations from the ejecting or projecting mechanism. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice device in which the basketball ejecting mechanism is capable of adjusting the velocity of the basketball when discharged for causing the ball to be projected a greater distance or at a higher elevation. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice device in accordance with the preceding object in which the basketball ejecting mechanism includes a pair of spaced rollers and a plunger which forces the basketball between the rollers with the spaced relationship of the rollers determining the velocity of the basketball as it leaves the ejecting mechanism. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice device in which the device includes a collapsible collection net that is removably attached to a mobile supporting base having the ejecting mechanism mounted thereon. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice machine with an ejecting mechanism that is adjustable about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis with the rotation or adjustment of the ejecting mechanism being programmed to discharge basketballs in accordance with a predetermined pattern or a random pattern or discharge of basketballs which may be controlled remotely by a unit operated by a coach, player or players. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a basketball practice device in accordance with the preceding objects which effectively collects and returns basketballs which have been shot at a basketball goal in order for the player practicing basketball shots to continuously shoot practice shots without having to retrieve basketballs or have others retrieve basketballs with the basketball practice device returning the balls to on court locations at varying velocities and trajectories to enable a basketball player to not only practice basketball shots but also become more proficient in catching and handling basketballs returned by the device. 
     Another feature of this invention is to provide a basketball practice device in accordance with the preceding objects which is adapted for home use by mounting the projecting mechanism on a supporting post for the backboard and goal. 
     Still another feature of this invention is a projecting mechanism which includes powered projectile retention members which move past the projectile to eject the projectile in a desired trajectory. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred basketball practice device in accordance with the present invention positioned on a basketball court in relation to a basketball goal and backboard for collecting basketballs which go through the goal, bounce off the goal or backboard and return them to a basketball ejection mechanism. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred basketball ejection mechanism of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism for supporting a returned basketball and ejecting the basketball from the ejecting mechanism of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed elevational view of the adjustable rollers which control the velocity of discharge of the basketballs from the ejecting mechanism of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view illustrating additional structure details of the preferred ejecting mechanism of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plunger structure for ejecting the basketball in accordance with the preferred ejection mechanism of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the base of the preferred ejecting mechanism of the present invention, illustrating the manner in which the ejecting mechanism is rotated about a vertical axis. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred collecting net support structure of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a basketball court with typical on court locations being designated to enable a player to move from one location to another dependent upon the manner in which the ball ejecting mechanism of the present invention is programmed to eject balls to the various locations. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of the main control unit in the ball ejecting mechanism in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of the remote control unit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the practice device mounted on a supporting post for the backboard and basketball goal. 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the projecting mechanism in which the projectile retention members are moved in relation to a projectile. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and terms so selected; it being understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the basketball practice device of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral  20  and includes a collection net generally designated by reference numeral  22  and a portable, mobile basketball ejecting or projecting mechanism generally designated by reference numeral  24  which is supported on the basketball court  26  or other similar horizontal supporting surface. As illustrated, the collection net  22  is generally funnel shaped with an open top  23  and is located in alignment with and below a basketball goal or basket  28  and backboard  30  of conventional construction so that basketballs  54  which go through the goal  28 , bounce off the goal  28 , bounce off the backboard  30  or miss the goal  28  will be caught by the open topped funnel shaped collection net  22  and returned by gravity to the ball ejecting mechanism  24 . 
     The ball ejecting mechanism  24  illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a base preferably in the form of a horizontal framework generally designated by reference numeral  32  and a generally vertically extending hollow housing  34  supported thereon. The hollow housing  34  includes a generally convexly rounded upper end  36  having an inlet opening  38  therein to enable basketballs  54  to move downwardly into the housing  34  by gravity. The forward upper portion of the housing  34  includes an enlarged opening  40  through which basketballs  54  can be ejected to various locations on the basketball court  26  such as the numbered locations  1 - 10  as illustrated in FIG.  9 . 
     The rearward portion of the horizontal frame  32  includes a vertical support tube  41  rigid with the base  32  and oriented centrally at the rear edge thereof as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The upper end of the support tube  41  is provided with a forwardly extending bracket  42  which supports a horizontally disposed circular ring  44  in close overlying proximity to the inlet opening  38 . The support tube  41  is preferably provided with gusset type braces  46  connected to the bracket  42  for rigidifying this structure. As illustrated, the horizontal base  32  is in the form of an open frame including side rails  48  and transverse rails or frame members  50 . The base  32  is supported by wheels  52  preferably located adjacent each corner of the rectangular base with the wheels  52  either being caster wheels or at least one pair of the wheels at one end of the base being caster wheels to enable the ejection mechanism  24  to be easily rolled along a basketball court surface  26  or along any other supporting surface. The ring  44  is connected to the lower end of the collecting net  22  in a manner described hereinafter and serves to discharge basketballs  54  through the inlet opening  38  into the interior of the housing  34 . 
     FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the structure interiorly of the housing  34  which supports and ejects basketballs  54 . This structure includes a pair of generally horizontally disposed supports  56  which are spaced apart a predetermined distance and a pair of generally vertically disposed adjustable rollers  58 . The supports  56  which may be cylindrical or other configurations and are spaced apart a distance to support a basketball  54  along lower portions thereof on each side of the center of the basketball, and the vertical rollers  58  are adjustably positioned so that they will squeeze the basketball as it is pushed between the rollers  58  for ejecting the basketball  54  at an adjustable velocity. 
     The rollers  58  are each supported by an elongated support arm  60  having a generally U-shaped mounting bracket  62  affixed to the outer end thereof with the mounting bracket  62  engaging and rotatably supporting opposite ends of the rollers  58 . As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, rollers  58  are not directly connected to any driving mechanism. The rearward ends of each of the arms  60  are pivotally supported by a bracket  64  in order for the rearward ends of the arms  60  to pivot about a generally vertical pivot axis defined by pivot bolt  66 . Each of the arms  60  includes an upstanding centrally located bracket  68  that are interconnected by an adjustment mechanism  70  capable of swinging the outer ends of arms  60  and the rollers  58  towards each other and away from each other. The arms  60  are guided during their swinging movement by laterally extending open ended slots  72  in outer ends of transversely extending support members  74 . The support members  74  are rigidly affixed to a central plate  75  which includes an enlarged central opening  76  through which a plunger  78  preferably in the form of a square tube can pass. The plunger  78  engages the basketball  54  and moves the basketball outwardly. As it moves outwardly, the ball  54  will engage and rotate the rollers  58  as the ball is squeezed at its opposite sides by the rollers  58  until the center of the ball passes the center of the rollers  58  at which time the basketball will be ejected or projected at a predetermined velocity depending upon the position of rollers  58  and in a trajectory determined by the position of the supporting structure for the ejecting mechanism as described hereinafter. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, the rectangular plunger  78  is telescopically disposed in a cylinder  80  which is supported from the support plate  75  at one end by bolts  77 . The opposite end of the cylinder  80  is rigidly supported by a collar  81 . A reversible electric motor  82  that is parallel to the cylinder  80  and the plunger  78  received in the cylinder has an outer end supported by a support plate  84  rigidly connected to cylinder  80 . The other end of motor  82  is provided with an end plate  86  so that motor  82  is rigidly connected to the cylinder  80 . The motor  82  includes a drive pulley  90  driving a belt  92  which drives a pulley  94  on a shaft  96  journaled in the inner end of cylinder  80  and which is in the form of a ball shaft with the pulley  94  being mounted on an input end  98  of shaft  96 . The shaft  96  interiorly of the cylinder  80  is rotatably and telescopically received in a bore  79  in plunger  78 . The plunger  78  is square and extends through a square opening  97  in an end plate  99  on the cylinder  80  and the square hole  76  in plate  75  to engage basketball  54 . The bolts  77  secure end plate  99  and thus the cylinder  80  to plate  75 . The ball shaft  96  extends through a ball nut  100  which is anchored to the inner end of the plunger  78  at  101 . Thus, when the shaft  96  is rotated, the nut  100  which is stationary since it is rigid with the square plunger  78  which extends through the square hole  97  in the end plate  99  will cause the plunger  78  to move either inwardly or outwardly depending upon the rotational direction of the ball shaft  96 . Thus, with the reversible variable speed motor  82  driving the ball shaft  96  in a selected direction, the plunger  78  can be extended or retracted at a predetermined speed. When the plunger  78  is extended, the basketball  54  will be pushed through the squeeze rollers  58  to a degree that the center of the ball will pass the center of the rollers  58  and be projected due to the forces exerted on the periphery of the ball as the center of the basketball  54  passes the center of the rollers  58 . After each ejection, the plunger  78  is retracted by reversing the rotational output of the motor  82  to enable a subsequent basketball  54  to fall by gravity onto the supports  56 . 
     The supports  56  are rigidly welded to short sleeves  102  welded to a transverse support plate  104  which forms a subassembly along with a subframe  106  which extends rearwardly and is pivotally supported by a depending frame structure  108  at each side of subframe  106  for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis defined by pivot bolts  110 . An extendable and retractable adjustment structure  112  extends between a base plate  114  and the support plate  104  for pivoting the subframe  106 , the support plate  104 , cylinder  80 , motor  82 , plunger  78 , supports  56 , rollers  58  and arms  60  about the transverse horizontal axis defined by pivot bolts  110  thus varying the vertical angle of the trajectory of the basketball when it is discharged. This is accomplished by adjusting the adjustment mechanism  112  which is in the form of a power device which can be extended and retracted. The velocity of discharge of the basketball  54  is determined by the position of the rollers  58  which can be adjusted by the adjustment mechanism  70  which pivots the arms  60  and thus the rollers  58  toward and away from each other about the pivot axis defined by the pivot bolts  66  connecting the arms  60  to brackets  64 . 
     The base plate  114  is circular in configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 with the inverted V-shaped frames  108  which support subframe  106  being connected to and mounted on opposite side portions of the plate  114  for rotation with the plate  114 . In order to rotate the plate  114  about a vertical axis to vary the angle of discharge of the basketball in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, the plate  114  is driven by a motor  116  supported on base  32  by a plate  117  adjacent vertical tube  41 . The motor  116  has an output pulley  118  under plate  117  with a belt  119  driving pulley  120  connected with the outer race of a lazy susan bearing assembly  121  which has the inner race connected to plate  114  to pivot the plate  114  about a vertical axis. The motor  116  is a reversible electric motor and can thus rotate the base plate  114  in either direction about a vertical axis for causing the ball to be discharged in various directions. The motor  116  also has a position encoder built into it to stop the ejecting mechanism at programmed positions. 
     Additional details of the funnel shaped net  22  are illustrated in FIG.  8  and includes a vertical tubular member  124  telescoped into the tube  41  and secured in position by a set screw or fastener bolt  126 . The tubular member  124  has a plurality of pairs of lugs  125  which support stanchions or arms  127  for pivotal movement about hinge pins or bolts  128 . The stanchions  127  extend radially and have upturned ends  144  and connect to the upper end  23  of net  22  as shown in FIG.  1 . The top cord  148  pulls the ends of the stanchions  127  up and brace bars  129  pull the stanchions  127  down. The upper ends of the brace bars  129  are pivoted to the under side of stanchions  127  at  130  and the lower ends are pivoted to lugs  131  on tube  41 . The brace bars  129  are telescopically adjustable and include a twist lock device  132  as shown in FIG.  8 . This type of adjustment can also be used to adjust the length of the stanchions  127 . 
     The upper end  23  of net  22  is defined by and supported by a peripheral member  148  of flexible construction which is connected to the upper ends of the upturned ends  144  of the arms  127 . The mesh net  150  is supported from the peripheral member  148  and includes a reinforcement area  152  incorporated therein having a funnel shaped lower end  154  which is attached to the ring  44  so that all basketballs will pass through the lower end  154  and through the ring  44  which is aligned with the inlet opening  38  thereby depositing the basketballs into the projecting mechanism  24 . The net  150  is also connected to each of the stanchions  127  by short vertical members  149  which tension the net by pulling the net downwardly against the peripheral member  148 . 
     The housing  34  is supported from the framework by a plurality of upwardly extending support rods  170  having angled plates on the upper end as designated by reference numeral  172  which engage and are secured to the inner surface of the housing in a manner which enables the housing to be removed for adjustment, repair and the like if necessary. Also, in the end of the housing under the ejection opening  40 , a sensor panel  174  is mounted to sense the presence of a player so that the ejection mechanism will be rendered inoperative as a safety measure in the event a player is standing closely adjacent and in alignment with the discharge opening  40 . Also, mounted on the plate  117  is a battery assembly  176  which includes a low voltage storage battery such as a 12 volt battery or the like together with a battery charger to recharge the battery when necessary thus enabling the device to be operated independently of an electrical outlet. However, if desired, a electrical supply system may be provided by a plug into an electrical outlet with a suitable power reduction being employed for the mechanisms which drive the components of the ball ejection mechanism. A switch  178  is provided to sense the presence of a basketball  54  as illustrated in FIG. 10 which also illustrates the relationship of the sensor panel  174  to a player  180 . FIG. 10 also illustrates the control mechanism and power supplier including the battery and charger together with the drive motor  116  for rotating the base plate  114 , pivoting the subframe and adjusting the rollers for determining the velocity of discharge of the basketball together with a firing actuator for the plunger motor. The control assembly illustrated in FIG. 10 is connected to a remote control illustrated in FIG. 11 which includes a portable key pad  182  having numeric designations with a display  184  associated therewith to enable a player to use a transmitter assembly  186  to control operation of the ball ejecting mechanism in a manner well known in the art thereby enabling the operator, either a player, coach or other person to control operation of the ball ejection mechanism and to control projection of the ball to the various court locations identified numerically in FIG.  9 . This can be individually controlled in a sequential manner or the sequence of projection of the basketball can be preprogrammed to project the ball sequentially to locations  1 - 10 . Alternatively, the ball ejection mechanism may randomly direct the ball to an on-court location as selected by a remote control operator. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the basketball practice device generally designated by reference numeral  220  which is adapted for use as a home unit where a backboard  222  and a basketball goal and net  224  mounted on the backboard  222  is supported by a vertically disposed support post  226  inserted into a pavement or ground surface  228  or attached to a weighted base such as a sand filled base well known in this art. The upper end of the post  226  includes a support member  230  which connects to the backboard and any suitable reinforcements may be provided to stabilize the backboard. The supporting posts, the backboard and basketball goal and net are all conventional and are supported in a conventional manner. 
     The practice device  220  includes a collection net  232  and a projecting mechanism  234  which is the same as the projection mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 except that the supporting casters or wheels have been omitted. The projecting mechanism  234  is supported from the post  226  by a pair of vertically spaced support brackets  236  and support arms  238 . Any suitable support brackets and supporting structure for the projecting mechanism may be used to support the projecting mechanism  234  in a suitable elevated relation to the support surface. The projecting mechanism  234  operates and functions in the same manner as that illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 and includes an ejection opening  240  and an inlet opening  242  in alignment with a ring  244  attached to the lower end of the net  232  and supported by a bracket structure  246 . 
     The net is associated with the backboard and goal in generally the same manner as in FIG. 1 except that the inner end of the net is generally in alignment with the backboard to prevent basketballs from passing under the bottom edge of the backboard  222  and deflecting them downwardly into the net and may extend laterally beyond the backboard. The net  232  is, in effect approximately one half the size of that illustrated in FIG.  1  and is supported from the bottom edge of the backboard  222  by a plurality of flexible cables, chains, fabric cords or the like as designated by reference numeral  248  so that the net can be adjusted to some extent with respect to the basketball goal  224 . The supporting members  248  are flexible and have a small diameter and are spaced apart sufficiently that basketballs passing through the basketball goal, bouncing off the backboard or nearly missing the goal will fall between the supporting cables or lines and enter the open end of the mesh net  232 . The net itself will be supported by a plurality of support arms  250  which are pivotally supported at their lower ends by the rigid ring  244  and which are connected at their upper ends to the cables or support lines  248  to enable the contour and position of the open upper end of the net to be varied in relation to the basketball goal and backboard. The lower funnel end of the net  232  is also connected to the ring  244  which maintains the lower end of the net in alignment with the inlet opening  242  so that basketballs can move by gravity from the mesh net  232  into the projecting mechanism  234 . This embodiment of the invention operates in the same manner and is controlled in the same manner as that illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 except that the projecting mechanism  234  and the net  232  are supported from the supporting post and backboard thereby providing a less expensive unit for home or outdoor playground use. 
     While a detailed disclosure of the above invention for use in practicing basketball shots has been specifically disclosed, the above invention can also be used with various other inflated or resilient balls or other shaped projectiles. For example, soccer balls, volleyballs, footballs, tennis balls or the like can be effectively projected by dimensional changes of portions of the projecting device. Also, by constructing the retention rollers with resilient characteristics, projectiles, including balls, of rigid construction can be projected. For example, baseballs and other target type devices, including but not limited to “clay pigeons” used in practicing skeet shooting and other projectiles can be projected which enables the machine user to practice various activities related to the projectiles. 
     Further, while the basketball projection device preferably includes adjustment of the velocity, adjustment in a vertical plane and adjustment in a horizontal plane, the projecting device may be adjusted with respect to one, two or three of the above mentioned adjustments. In addition, the projectile machine disclosed in detail includes a mechanical plunger arrangement, the plunger can be actuated hydraulically or pneumatically. FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the projection mechanism in which the retention rollers  58   a  are the movable components that are associated with a stationary component  59  which retains the ball or projectile in place along with supports  56   a  so that instead of pushing the ball or projectile through the retention rollers  58   a , the retention rollers are moved toward the stationary component  59  for the projectile. A propulsive thrust or projection thrust is imparted to the ball or projectile by compressing the projectile between the retention rollers or a rigid projectile compressing or partly compressing one or both of the retention rollers as they pass opposed surfaces of the ball or projectile. The retention members may be adjustable or stationary members, or rotatable roller of rigid, flexible or resilient construction. 
     As schematically illustrated in FIG. 13, the retention rollers  58   a  are supported from a pair of generally parallel arms  60   a  which are connected at their ends remote from the rollers  58   a  by a cross piece  61  that is connected to the core or armature  63  of an electric solenoid  65  supported fixedly by a bracket  67  connected to a support frame  106   a  similar to the frame  106  in FIGS. 1-11. The arms  60   a  are guided by guides  69  during their reciprocating movement in relation to the stationary component or abutment  59  which can be formed by an end of the solenoid  65  or as a separate component. The balls  54  are deposited on the supports  56   a  inwardly of the rollers  58   a  and against stationary member  59  in the same manner as in FIGS. 1-12. The projection mechanism in FIG. 13 functions and is controlled in the same manner as in FIGS. 1-11. 
     The basketball projecting machine specifically disclosed is supported for movement to different positions on a basketball court. However, as illustrated in FIG. 12 a mounting bracket structure may be provided in lieu of the supporting base to support the projecting device from the vertical post normally provided for supporting a basketball backboard and goal. The features of the projecting device including the mechanism for projecting the projectile and varying the characteristics of the projectile as it is projected are retained in order for the projection device to operate in the same manner as when it is supported by a base and supporting wheels or casters. In this form of the invention, the ball retrieving net would only extend outwardly into the basketball court below the backboard and goal with the collection net having a generally vertically extending portion adjacent the supporting post and would extend to an upper edge adjacent the lower edge of the backboard in order to enable this embodiment of the invention to be easily supported from the supporting posts by bracket structure connected to a support frame  252 . 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 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 invention.