Apparatus, assemblies and methods for training athletes

An athletic training assembly and methods suitable for use in training basketball players. The training assembly allows a ball to be suspended at a selectable height by a suspension member that is attached to a spring loaded reel. The spring loaded reel urges the ball upward when a user grabs the ball to pull it away from the spring loaded reel.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to training apparatus for training athletes.

2. Description of Related Art

Various athletic skills are required to play the sport of basketball, especially at advanced levels, including running, dribbling, passing, rebounding, catching and shooting. Athletes and coaches often use practice drills to improve these skills and experience has shown that drills can be invaluable for improving player performance during actual game play.

Rebounding drills are among the important categories of practice drills. One type of conventional rebound drill involves players repeatedly catching, grabbing or tipping basketballs in midair that have been thrown or bounced from a basketball backboard. This type of rebound drill has some benefits. On the other hand, it does not offer control over the height at which the rebounding player makes contact with the ball. Players that are deficient in vertical leap and timing in game play rebounds may continue to perform the same way during conventional rebounding drills. A more controlled method of rebound training is desirable and could be combined with conventional rebound drills.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally resides in athletic training apparatus and assemblies and methods for using the same. In some embodiments of the present invention, a training assembly is disclosed having a mounting bracket that is attachable to a basketball backboard or other surface. A reel housing containing a spring loaded reel is attached to the mounting bracket, with a suspension member, such as a rope or cable, attached to the spring loaded reel. The suspension member extends away from the spring loaded reel, and can hang down from the spring loaded reel. The spring loaded reel can be contained within the reel housing, such that the suspension member extends through an aperture in the reel housing. A distal end portion of the suspension member is coupled to a ball (e.g., a basketball) so that the ball can hang from the suspension member. The spring loaded reel can have sufficient spring force to be capable of retracting the suspension member against the weight of the ball, and hence pull the ball toward the spring loaded reel. However, a user or player can exert sufficient counteracting force against the spring force to pull the ball away from the spring loaded reel during training. Also, in some embodiments, a stop, such as a rubber stop, is coupled to the suspension member and prevents the spring loaded reel from pulling the ball flush against the reel housing by “stopping” the suspension member at a designated location along the suspension member. The stop can be a plug type stop that is disposed at a location along the suspension member to prevent the suspension member from being retracted through the reel housing past the point at which the stop is located. Therefore, the remaining portion of the suspension member (outward of the stop) can hang below the reel housing, and hence, hang the ball below the reel housing.

A basketball player may use the training assembly to practice such skills as rebounding. For example, in some embodiments the reel housing is disposed at a height above, or near, the top of a basketball backboard. A ball can hang from the reel housing via the suspension member at a height that can be adjusted to approximate various heights of a basketball during rebounding in game play. The height can also be adjusted to approximate a maximum height that a particular basketball player can jump (i.e., the player's “vertical”) to help the player improve her or his “vertical” and rebounding skills—the height of the ball can be adjusted in some embodiments by adjusting the location of the stop along the length of the suspension member, or by adjusting the height of a backboard to which the training assembly is attached.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the reel housing is mounted on a height adjustment assembly that includes a pivotable arm that is linked to a threaded drive shaft. The threaded drive shaft can be used to drive the pivotable arm to adjust the height of the reel housing and ball.

A player may be required during practice to jump at the ball to tip or grab the ball. If a player reaches the ball, the player can tip it to give the ball motion and continue attempting to tip the ball. Alternatively, the player can attempt to grab and pull the ball downward with the player as she or he descends from a jump, thereby simulating grabbing a ball rebounded from a basketball hoop or a backboard. In some embodiments, tension is selectable in the spring loaded reel to adjust the pulling and grabbing force required of a player to grab the ball and pull it downward.

As previously stated, in some embodiments the spring loaded reel is enclosed in a reel housing. The reel housing can have a pivotable sidewall that can pivot outward away from the rest of the reel housing to expose an inside of the reel housing. Also, the spring loaded reel can be rotatably attached to a reel mount, which, in turn, is attached to an inside portion of the pivotable sidewall. Pivoting the pivotable sidewall outward away from the rest of the reel housing can expose the spring loaded reel, while pivoting the sidewall toward the rest of the reel housing can enclose the spring loaded reel within the reel housing. This can provide a manner with which to access the spring loaded reel for maintenance purposes, or for changing the spring loaded reel with a reel having different tension.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a basketball backboard is configured to be conveniently usable with the training assembly. In particular, a basketball hoop of the backboard is rotatable away from a front of the backboard to avoid interfering with use of a training assembly, since use of the training assembly can require the suspension member and ball to hang down in front of the backboard.

In further embodiments, the training assembly is pivotably mounted on a basketball backboard, for conveniently pivoting the training assembly away from a front of the backboard to allow the backboard to be used for game play without the training assembly potentially interfering. In still further embodiments, both the training assembly and basketball hoop can be pivotably mounted on the basketball backboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, upon reviewing this disclosure one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with spring-loaded reels, basketballs, basketball backboards and height adjustment assemblies for basketball backboards have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the embodiments of the invention.

Throughout various portions of the following description, the embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of training apparatus and methods for training basketball players. However, as will be understood by one skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, various embodiments of the present invention have a wide variety of applications for other athletic training and the context of the description is not intended to be restrictive unless otherwise indicated.

The term “suspension member” as used herein, is intended to include, without limitation, tethers, ropes, cables, strings, chains, cords, bands and any elongated member or elongated flexible member suitable for attachment to a ball of any type for suspending the ball from a mounting bracket or other device or location, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure.

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a training assembly2comprising a mounting bracket6, a reel housing16, a suspension member20, a stop18, and a ball22, as can be seen inFIG. 1. In turn, the training assembly2can be attached to a backboard4, such as a basketball backboard, or other mountable surface.

In the illustrated embodiment inFIGS. 1 & 3, the mounting bracket6has an attachment portion8that can be coupled to the backboard4as shown. The attachment portion8is illustrated as rectangular strip configured to rest and be coupled to a top edge portion4′ of the backboard4. A rising section10, such as a vertical wall portion, extends upwardly away from the attachment portion8. The mounting bracket6further includes a retaining portion14that is attached to a top part of the rising section10, with the retaining portion14extending laterally outward from the rising section10. In some embodiments, the mounting bracket6also has support members12attached to both the rising section10and retaining portion14, as best seen inFIG. 1. Also, a support piece11can be coupled to the rising section10and the backboard4to reinforce the strength with which the mounting bracket6is attached to the backboard4.

Referring toFIGS. 4 & 5, it can be seen that in some embodiments of the present invention, the reel housing16is attached to the mounting bracket6by being coupled to the retaining portion14. Also, a spring loaded reel24is rotatably attached to a reel mount26within the reel housing16. The reel mount26is formed to a pivotable sidewall26′ of the reel housing16. The pivotable sidewall26′ can be pivoted outward away from, or inwardly toward, the remainder of the reel housing16in a manner generally represented by the arrow “A” inFIG. 5. In this way, the spring loaded reel24and reel mount26can be exposed or enclosed within the reel housing16by pivoting the pivotable sidewall26′. The pivotable sidewall26′ can also have a locking mechanism (not shown) for releasably locking the pivotable sidewall26′ in place when it is pivoted inward toward the rest of the reel housing16to its position illustrated inFIG. 4.

As best seen inFIGS. 8a&8b, the spring loaded reel24can have raised outer wall edges24′ that extend radially outward from an inner peripheral wall24″. The suspension member20can be coupled to the spring loaded reel24by being attached at an end portion thereof to the spring loaded reel24and wound for a portion of its length around a circumferential surface of the spring loaded reel. The circumferential surface shown in the embodiments ofFIGS. 8a&8b, is the inner peripheral wall24″.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 4 & 5, a housing aperture30can be provided in the reel housing16through which the suspension member20can be passed and extended outward away from the reel housing16. A ball22can be coupled to a distal end portion of the suspension member20.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing the present disclosure, in some embodiments, the spring loaded reel24can be configured so that a spring force urges the spring loaded reel to retract the suspension member20. However, pulling the ball22away from the reel housing16will cause the spring loaded reel24to rotate and unwind or un-spool a length of the suspension member20while moving the ball22away from the reel housing16, and releasing tension or force on the ball22, allows the spring loaded reel24to retract a length of the suspension member20. These movements of the suspension member20are represented generally by arrow “B” inFIGS. 2 & 4. Also, a spring strength of the spring loaded reel24can be selected such that the spring loaded reel24can retract the suspension member20against the weight of an attached ball22. In other embodiments, the spring strength of the spring loaded reel24is adjustable to accommodate a user, or pre-selected to accommodate a particular spring resistance required to facilitate a training goal of the user or users.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 1-5, a stop18, such as a rubber stop, can also be attached to the suspension member20at a point along the length of the suspension member20between the reel housing16and the ball22. The location of the stop18can either be permanently set or allow adjustment of the retractable length of suspension member20. For example, the stop18may be a plug type stop of any size and shape that cannot pass through the housing aperture30, thereby stopping the retraction of the suspension member20at the location of the stop18. In some embodiments of the present invention, the stop18is adjustable and may be attached to the suspension member20at any point along the length thereof. The stop18may be adjustable by various well known mechanical devices used to create friction between a body and a cable, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. For example, various types of clamps may be coupled to the stop18, such as a threaded screw type clamp42, illustrated inFIG. 8c, having an adjustable threaded shaft44being insertable within a mating channel46of the stop18. The threaded shaft44may then be turned and screwed inward in the mating channel46to tighten a gripping end48of the threaded shaft44against the suspension member20, thereby holding the stop18in place along the suspension member. The gripping end48may be configured to have gripping edges or protruding teeth to assist in creating friction against the suspension member20. In other embodiments the stop18may be fixedly attached at a single location on the suspension member, or may be omitted altogether.

In further embodiments of the present invention, a releasable clip assembly34is provided that allows a user to attach different balls22or other devices or apparatus to the suspension member20, as shown inFIG. 7. The releasable clip assembly34can have a primary clip35with a pivotable bar36that is pivotable in the directions indicated by arrow “C” inFIG. 7. Also, a second clip portion38can be coupled to a ball22so that the ball22can be clipped onto the suspension member20by interlocking the primary clip35and second clip portion38. The ball22can therefore be released from the suspension member20by unclipping the clip assembly34. In this manner, the ball22can be easily interchanged with another ball of similar or different type, that is also attached to a second clip portion38, or other type of clip portion that is interlockable with the primary clip35, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure.

Various practice methods can be employed with the present invention, including the retracting system, which, in some embodiments, comprises the reel housing16and its contents as well as the stop18. As shown inFIG. 6, a player or athlete can jump in position40ato grab the ball22, and then pull the ball down to position40b.FIG. 6is only one representation of a myriad of physical maneuvers that can be practiced with various embodiments of the present invention. However,FIG. 6is intended to illustrate generally how the training assembly2may be utilized in some embodiments, but is not intended to be restrictive in any way. For example, a basketball player may use the training assembly to practice such skills as rebounding. The actual height at which the ball22hangs can be adjusted to approximate a maximum height limit for a particular basketball player to reach when jumping—e.g. for practicing to increase the “vertical” of the player. The height of the ball can be adjusted in some embodiments of the present invention by adjusting the location of the stop18along the length of the suspension member20. A player may then be required during practice to jump at the ball22to tip or grab the ball. If a player reaches the ball22, the player can tip it to give it motion and then continue attempting to tip the ball. Alternatively, the player can attempt to grab and pull the ball22downward with the player as she or he descends from a jump, thereby simulating grabbing a ball rebounded from a basketball hoop or a backboard. As stated earlier, in some embodiments, tension is selectable in the spring loaded reel24to adjust the pulling and grabbing force required of a player to grab the ball22and pull it. In other embodiments, the tension of the spring loaded reel24can be changed by changing out the spring loaded reel24with a different spring loaded reel manufactured with a different tension. Still in further embodiments, different training assemblies2are equipped with different spring tensions in the spring-loaded reel24.

Various other mounting brackets can be employed in some embodiments of the present invention. For example, as shown inFIG. 11, some embodiments of the mounting bracket6′ can employ parallel retainers82, with a reel housing coupling surface80to which the reel housing16can be attached. The parallel retainers82can have cross members84disposed between them for support. As best seen inFIGS. 12 & 13, other embodiments of the mounting bracket6″,6′″ can comprise a mounting piece91,91′ having parallel walls92which can be placed around the top of a backboard4so that the backboard is disposed between the parallel walls92, with a horizontal wall94of the mounting bracket6″,6′″ resting on the top of the backboard4′. In some embodiments, such as illustrated inFIG. 13, an adjustable clamp comprising a movable surface96and one or more adjustment members98are provided to allow a user to tighten the movable surface96against a surface of the backboard4, so as to clamp the mounting bracket6′″ on the backboard4. The adjustment members98can include a knob102and a threaded shaft104, with the knob102being usable to turn the threaded shaft104to screw the movable surface96toward a wall of the backboard4. In addition, apertures100can be provided on one or more of the parallel walls92to allow the mounting brackets6″,6′″ to be bolted to a backboard4. The movable surface96can also be adjusted to allow the mounting bracket6′″ to be adaptable to backboards4of different thickness.

Further embodiments of the present invention include a backboard4being adapted to have a training assembly2′ that is pivotably attached to the backboard4, as best seen inFIG. 14. A pivotable connection110between the training assembly2′ and the backboard4can allow a user to pivot the training assembly from a position “I” in front of the backboard4, to a position “J,” away from the front of the backboard4. Positions “I” and “J” illustrate some example positions to which the training assembly2′ can be pivoted but are not intended to be restrictive, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. Also, in other embodiments of the present invention, a basketball hoop50can be pivotably attached to a backboard4via a pivotable connection52, as best seen inFIG. 9, to allow a user to be able to pivot the basketball hoop50away from a front of the backboard4. Positions “F”, “G” and “H” of the basketball hoop50illustrate some example positions to which the basketball hoop50can be pivoted in some embodiments of the present invention. Those illustrated positions are also not meant to be restrictive, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure.

The present invention can also comprise one or more balls22, such as basketballs, that are uniquely adapted for use with various embodiments of the present invention. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 15, some embodiments of the ball22can have a recess120, with inner walls122. A retainer bar124can extend between the inner walls122to which an annular or other retaining member126can be attached. The suspension member20, or a portion thereof, can be attached to the retaining member126to couple the suspension member20, to the ball. As disclosed supra, a releasable clip assembly34can be employed with the suspension member20, as best seen inFIG. 15. In some alternative embodiments, the second clip portion38of the releasable clip assembly24, can be coupled directly to the retainer bar124.

As can be seen inFIGS. 16 & 17, in another embodiment of the present invention the reel housing16is mounted on a height adjustment assembly142, which includes a pivotable arm138that is pivotably connected to a first linking member148. The pivotable arm138is also pivotably connected to stationary support members134a&134b. The first linking member148is pivotably connected to second linking member150, which is, in turn, connected to translation member154. A threaded drive shaft158is threadably coupled to the translation member154. An upper end portion of the threaded drive shaft158is rotatably retained within a tubular stub160. Also, a lower portion of the threaded drive shaft is rotatably retained within a stabilizer plate164. The threaded drive shaft158can be supported by the stabilizer plate164using an annual member164′ welded to the threaded drive shaft158. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, weight from the threaded drive shaft158can be transferred to the stabilizer plate164using the annular member164′, while the upper end portion of the threaded drive shaft158rotatably resides within the tubular stub160.

The threaded drive shaft158can be turned in the directions of arrow “L” to drive a rearward section140of the pivotable arm138upward or downward, depending on the direction in which the threaded drive shaft158is turned. This can cause the reel housing16, and hence the ball22, to be raised or lowered, as is selectable by a user. As exemplified inFIGS. 18A & 18B, as the threaded drive shaft158is turned, the ball22can be lowered from a first position (See,FIG. 18A) to a second position (See,FIG. 18B). Conversely, reversing the direction of rotation of the threaded drive shaft158, can cause the ball22to be raised. An extension crank168′ can be provided that can be removably coupled to the threaded drive shaft158. In some embodiments, the extension crank168′ has an end portion168″ with a curvature configured to be insertable within an annular coupling168of the threaded drive shaft158to grip the annular coupling168and to allow a user to turn it in the directions of arrow “L” using the extension crank. A cover or cover assembly (not shown) can be provided to fit over a portion of the height adjustment assembly142.

As best seen inFIG. 17, the height adjustment assembly142can also comprise an adjustable mounting clamp having an upper clamp section170and a lower clamp section172. The upper clamp section170can have an upper clamp grip132, and lower clamp section172can have a lower clamp grip130. Each of the upper and lower clamp grips130,132can be configured to fit over top and bottom edges, respectively, of a backboard4.

The upper and lower clamp sections170,172can each be elongated such that a lower portion170′ of the upper clamp section170can overlap an upper portion172′ of the lower clamp section172. In some embodiments, the lower clamp section172includes an elongated slot173. The upper clamp section170can have apertures through which connection members174, such as threaded bolts or nuts, can be inserted and extended through the elongated slot173of the lower clamp section172, to secure the upper and lower clamp sections170,172together. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, a wide variety of connection members174can be utilized to secure the upper and lower clamp sections together, such as threaded nuts or screws combined with mating nuts (not shown) to tighten and secure the threaded nuts or screws. The adjustable mounting clamp can thus be adjusted to fit various backboards4having different vertical dimensions.

Although specific embodiments and examples of the invention have been described supra for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art after reviewing the present disclosure. The various embodiments described can be combined to provide further embodiments. The described devices and methods can omit some elements or acts, can add other elements or acts, or can combine the elements or execute the acts in a different order than that illustrated, to achieve various advantages of the invention. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description.

In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is determined entirely by the following claims.