Apparatus for returning basketballs to freethrow line

Art apparatus for returning basketballs falling in front of the backboard to a shooter at the freethrow line. The apparatus may be mounted to the backboard, a free-standing post supporting the backboard, or to the hoop bracket. The apparatus contains a closed frame which bends down and away from the backboard. The closed frame supports a return surface such as webbing or sheeting. The apparatus may be easily attached for use, detached following use or swung into an out-of-the-way storage position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an apparatus which returns sketballs from the 
vicinity of the backboard to the shooter at the freethrow line. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Prior to the present invention, there has been a continuing need for a 
basket ball return apparatus which is easily mountable near a basketball 
hoop and adapted to return the ball to the freethrow line in a manner 
which simulates the throwing of the ball by the official. There has been 
an accompanying need that such apparatus not be cumbersome and be easily 
storable and/or retractable, yet light in weight and simple to handle. 
Prior to the present invention, there have not been any such apparatus in 
existence. Existing typical prior art is evidenced by the following 
patents, for example. U.S. Pat. No. 1,765,269 to Hatley granted Jun. 17, 
1930 discloses a frame of which upper ends are fixedly but detachably 
inserted into ring-loops extending from a lower edge of a backboard, with 
the lower end held by insertion into an extended base member lying on the 
ground; storage is possible solely by withdrawing the inserted upper ends 
and thereafter during storage folding at hinge-areas located at points 
positioned about half-way up the frame side-bars. U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,263 
to Wiley granted Nov. 4, 1975 is a basket-like apparatus supported from 
the ground to be positioned beneath a basketball backboard basket such 
that a ball solely falling through the basket will be guided by railings 
forwardly to a shooting position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,506 to Caveney 
granted Aug. 26, 1986 discloses a basketball backboard having side 
deflectors with a net attached to the side deflectors and to the 
backboard, with the bottom of the net fastened forwardly to the floor by 
unspecified floor inserts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,885 to Cohen granted Sep. 
29, 1991, somewhat similar to that of Cavehey patent, discloses a 
basketball backboard mounting apparatus that grasps the entire board and 
that suspends an upper end of a net from high points along the backboard, 
as well as from below the board, with the forward end having an attached 
strap for wrapping around a waist of a person, such as a bed-ridden 
person, such that the ball is returnable to that person lying in bed. U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,814,421 to Spier, Jr. granted Jun. 4, 1974 is to a basket 
attachment, such that when the basketball goes through the basket, it will 
be caused to fall forwardly toward the center of the basketball court 
directly in front of the basketball backboard. U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,371 to 
Postol granted Nov. 22, 1988 discloses a basketball return apparatus which 
contains netting and a frame. The frame is supported by legs. This 
apparatus returns the ball toward the freethrow line in such a manner that 
it becomes motionless at a level which is above the level of the court. 
Thus, this apparatus lacks the simulation of a ball thrown back by an 
official. Accordingly, it can readily be seen that the prior art does not 
solve all the problems addressed by the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In its broadest aspect, the present invention may be described as a 
basketball return apparatus which may be attached to the post, backboard 
or hoop bracket and comprises a mounting bracket which attaches to the 
post, backboard or hoop bracket, a hanging support which is held by the 
mounting bracket, and which, in turn, holds a closed frame which has 
side-to-side dimensions approximating that of the backboard. 
The apparatus may have a pivot mechanism which allows the closed frame to 
assume an "in use" outward position or a "storage" downward position. 
The apparatus has the advantage of returning basketballs to a player at the 
free throw line in a manner which simulates the return throw by an 
official. 
The apparatus of this invention returns not only those balls which fall 
through the hoop, but also those balls which fall within the proximity of 
the hoop within the side-to-side dimension of the backboard. 
The apparatus of this invention may be easily attached to, and detached 
from, basketball backboards, basketball hoop mounting brackets, or posts 
which hold the backboards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c, the basketball return apparatus 1 is 
attached to a free-standing post below the backboard (not shown). A pair 
of post clamps 3 hold a back plate 4 to the post 2. A "U"-shaped bracket 5 
is fixedly attached to the back plate 4. The "U"-shaped bracket 5 holds 
the upper member 6 of the main hanging brace 7. Side members 8 of the main 
hanging brace 7 extend vertically downward from the upper member 6. The 
closed frame 9 is detachably attached to the lower ends of the side 
members 8. The closed frame 9 is made up of a proximal member 10, two side 
members 10 and a rounded "V"-shaped distal member 12. The side-to-side 
measurement of the closed frame 9 is approximately the same as the width 
of the backboard (not shown). The side member 11, proceeding from the 
proximal member 10 to the distal member 12, contains a downward angle. The 
closed frame 9 supports a return surface 13, which is a single continuous 
member having a central axis and being connected on all sides to the 
closed frame 9. When in the operating position, as shown in FIG. 1a, the 
return surface slopes downwardly from the sides to its central axis and 
slopes downwardly from its proximal end to its distal end under the weight 
of a basketball. The arrangement allows a basketball falling onto the 
return surface 13 to be returned to the shooter at the freethrow line in a 
manner approximating that of a ball returned by an official. The return 
surface 13 may conveniently be made of cloth or plastic sheeting or rope 
or plastic webbing. 
Referring to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, an "S"-bracket 14 is held to the 
backboard 15 by an attachment means such as a bolt or a screw passing 
through the back plate 4, the "S"-bracket 14 and into or through the 
backboard 15. The "S"-bracket 14 in conjunction with the backboard 15, 
forms a "U"-shaped slot. 
The upper member 6 of the main hanging brace 7 fits into and is held 
securely by the "U"-shaped slot. 
FIG. 2a depicts the closed frame 9 in the outward operating position and in 
the downward flip-out-of-the-way position. 
Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the closed frame 9 and the return surface 13 
are seen in greater detail. 
In FIG. 3a, the closed frame 9 is depicted in an embodiment wherein it is 
made of separate members, i.e., proximal member 10, side members 11 and 
distal member 12. When the closed frame 9 is made of several members, 
these members may be tubes which insert one into the other, the side 
pieces 11 being slightly larger in diameter than the proximal 10 and 
distal 12 ends and slide over these end pieces. Alternatively, the closed 
frame 9 may be a single continuous member. In either case, the closed 
frame may be made of metal or plastic. 
Referring to FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, an alternate design is shown and the 
attachment of the main hanging brace 7 to the proximal member 10 of the 
closed frame 9 is more clearly depicted. 
In FIG. 4a, main hanging brace 7 has an opening 16 on either side of the 
upper member 6 thereof. The main hanging brace 7 has a backstop 17 on 
either side. Each side member 18 of each backstop 17 has an opening 16' 
therein. A rod 19 is passed through each opening 16 16' to secure the main 
hanging brace 7 to each backstop 17. Each backstop 17 supports a return 
surface 13', which aids in directing deflected basketballs to the return 
surface 13 of the closed frame 9. 
FIG. 4b depicts the manner in which the backstops 17 are attached to the 
proximal member 10 of the closed frame 9. Each side 18 of each backstop 17 
has a "J"-shaped slot 20 at its lower end. The proximal member 10 of the 
closed frame 9 rests in this "J"-shaped slot. A locking device 21, such as 
a cotter pin, secures the proximal member 10 in the slot 20. With this 
arrangement, proximal member 10 may turn freely and change the closed 
frame 9 from an outward operating position to a downward out-of-the-way 
position. 
FIG. 4c depicts the manner in which the main hanging brace 7 supports the 
closed frame 9. The lower ends of the side members 8' of the main hanging 
brace 7 end in "J"-shaped slots 22. The proximal member 10 of the closed 
frame 9 rests in this "J"-shaped slot 22. The proximal member 10 has 
openings 23 23' 24 24' which align with openings 25 25' in the side 
members 8 of the main hanging brace 7. When secured with a locking device 
26, such as a locking pin, this arrangement of openings allows the closed 
frame 9 to be securely held in either the outward operating position or 
the downward stored position. Changing from one position to the other can 
be done quickly and easily. 
FIGS. 5, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b and 7c depict alternate methods of mounting the 
basketball return apparatus. In each of the Figures, a mounting bracket 27 
is mounted on the hoop bracket 28, which is attached to the backboard 15. 
The mounting bracket 27 has a top member 29 mounted to the hoop bracket 28 
by locating tabs 30. 
Descending from each side of the top member 29 is a leg member 31. Each leg 
member 31 is made up of an upper vertical segment 32, an outwardly and 
downwardly sloping middle segment 33, and a lower segment 34. 
The upper vertical segment 32 has a proximal aspect 35 having a locking 
notch 36 therein. The upper member 6 of the main hanging brace 7 slidingly 
fits into and is secured by this locking notch 36. 
The outwardly and downwardly sloping middle segment 33 connects the upper 
vertical segment 32 to the bottom segment 34. 
The bottom segment 34 has a horizontal plane 37 containing a "U"-shaped 
opening 38. The two side members 8 of the main hanging brace 7 are held 
securely in place by the two "U"-shaped openings 38 of the bottom segment 
34. 
FIGS. 5, 6a, 6b and 6c depict the mounting bracket 27 as being constructed 
of sheet material, such as metal or plastic. 
FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c depict the mounting bracket as being constructed of 
wire material, such as metal or plastic. 
In these arrangements, the main hanging brace 7 may be quickly and easily 
mounted and removed and is securely held in place when mounted.