Abstract:
A basketball net includes a longitudinal strap assembly and an annular strap assembly each has a plurality of straps releasably or permanently secured together. Additionally, at least one of logo(s) and visual or audible scoring indication can be printed or mounted thereon. A hoop together with the mounted basketball net aims to bring advertisement effect or be more interesting when playing a ball game. A method of manufacturing the basketball net is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to basketball net structure and more particularly to a basketball net with at least one of logo(s) and visual or audible scoring indication being printed or mounted thereon so as to bring advertisement effect or be more interesting when playing a ball game, and method of manufacturing same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, a basketball net is formed of string sewn at spaced points to provide an annular net structure. Typically, when a ball drops through the net the radial deflection of the net material produces a distinctive snapping noise that provides an audible indication that a goal has been scored. 
         [0005]    But this is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following reasons: It is too dull. Moreover, no advertisements are on the net. Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
         [0006]    The pertinent prior art of which this inventor is aware are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,760 and 6,746,349. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a basketball net basketball net having at least one of logo(s) and visual or audible scoring indication being printed or mounted thereon so as to bring advertisement effect or be more interesting when playing a ball game, and method of manufacturing same. 
         [0008]    In one aspect of the invention there is provided a basketball net comprising a longitudinal strap assembly including a plurality of first straps having a plurality of joining faces; a plurality of attaching members each disposed at a top end of the first strap and adapted to secure to one of a plurality of brackets on the underside of a hoop; and an annular strap assembly including a plurality of horizontal second straps; wherein the second straps are permanently or releasably secured to the joining faces of the first straps to form an annular net structure. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a basketball net comprising the steps of preparing a longitudinal strap assembly including a plurality of first straps having a plurality of joining faces, and an annular strap assembly including a plurality of horizontal second straps; and securing the longitudinal strap assembly and the annular strap assembly together at spaced joints of the longitudinal and the annual strap assemblies to form an annular net structure. 
         [0010]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of basketball net according to the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the longitudinal strap assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the longitudinal strap assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the area in circle A in  FIG. 3  where a first configuration of attaching longitudinal strap assembly and annular strap assembly together is illustrated; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  where a second configuration of attaching longitudinal strap assembly and annular strap assembly together is illustrated; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  where a third configuration of attaching longitudinal strap assembly and annular strap assembly together is illustrated; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the basketball net of the invention mounted to the underside of the hoop with logos “NBA.COM” being printed on the straps; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view showing the longitudinal strap assembly of the invention being secured to the underside of the hoop by means of a hook; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view showing the longitudinal strap assembly of the invention to be secured to the underside of the hoop by means of a bolt and nut combination; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of the longitudinal strap assembly of  FIG. 7B  being secured to the hoop; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the basketball net with a plurality of indication elements are mounted at joints of the longitudinal strap assembly and the annular strap assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of the indication elements and associated electrical components when the indication elements are implemented as lights; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a circuit diagram of the indication elements and associated electrical components when the indication elements are implemented as buzzers; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of basketball net according to the invention mounted at the underside of the hoop; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 11  where a large logo is mounted on the net; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart depicting a process for manufacturing basketball net according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a basketball net in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a longitudinal strap assembly  10  and an annular strap assembly  20 . Each component is discussed in detail below. 
         [0028]    The longitudinal strap assembly  10  comprises a plurality of elongated straps  11  arranged longitudinally in equally spaced configuration. Each of a plurality of rings (e.g., D-rings)  12  is provided at a top end of the strap  11 . The ring  12  is adapted to secure to one of a plurality of wire brackets  31  formed on the underside of a hoop  30  (see  FIG. 7 ). The strap  11  has a plurality of joining faces (e.g., first, second, and third joining faces  111 ,  112 ,  113 ) in which the third joining face  113  is at the bottom of the strap  11 . The annular strap assembly  20  comprises a plurality of straps  21 ,  22 ,  23  arranged annually in equally spaced configuration in which the diameter of the upper strap  21  is larger than that of the intermediate strap  22  and the diameter of the intermediate strap  22  is larger than that of the lower strap  23 , i.e., tapered toward the bottom. 
         [0029]    In assembly, the upper straps  21  are secured to the first joining faces  111 , the intermediate straps  22  are secured to the second joining faces  112 , and the lower straps  23  are secured to the third joining faces  113  respectively as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a first configuration of attaching the straps  11  of the longitudinal strap assembly  10  and the straps  21 ,  22 ,  23  of the annular strap assembly  20  together is illustrated. As shown, the first joining face  111  is about to secure to a corresponding joining face  211  of the upper strap  21  by a hook and loop fastener (i.e., Velcro fastener)  111  A, the second joining face  112  is about to secure to a corresponding joining face  221  of the intermediate strap  22  by a hook and loop fastener, and the third joining face  113  is secured to a corresponding joining face  231  of the lower strap  23  by a hook and loop fastener respectively. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second configuration of attaching the straps  11  of the longitudinal strap assembly  10  and the straps  21 ,  22 ,  23  of the annular strap assembly  20  together is illustrated. As shown, the first joining face  111  is about to secure to a corresponding joining face  211  of the upper strap  21  by fastening a rivet  115  through a hole  114  on the first joining face  111  into a hole  212  on the corresponding joining face  211 , the second joining face  112  is about to secure to a corresponding joining face  221  of the intermediate strap  22  by fastening another rivet  115  through the second joining face  112  into a hole  222  on the corresponding joining face  221 , and the third joining face  113  is secured to a corresponding joining face  231  of the lower strap  23  by still another rivet (not numbered) respectively. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a third configuration of attaching the straps  11  of the longitudinal strap assembly  10  and the straps  21 ,  22 ,  23  of the annular strap assembly  20  together is illustrated. As shown, for example, the first joining face  111  is secured to a corresponding joining face  211  by stitches  116 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the rings  12  are made of plastics or metal and are secured to the wire brackets  31  on the underside of the hoop  30 . Also, a plurality of logos (e.g., “NBA.COM”s)  40  are printed on selected portions of the straps  11 ,  21  and  22  as advertisements. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , the ring  12  is replaced by a hook  12  having an upper C-shaped member  121  secured to the wire bracket  31  and a lower triangular member  122  secured to the strap  11  by stitching. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 7B and 7C ; the ring  12  is eliminated and the upper end  12 A of the strap  11  is doubled back with the hoop  30  being looped around. Further, the upper end  12 A of the strap  11  is fixedly joined together by driving a bolt  122 A through two opposite holes  120 A,  121 A on the upper end  12 A of the strap  11  to be secured by a nut  123 A. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a plurality of indication elements  50  are mounted at joints of the straps  11  of the longitudinal strap assembly and the straps  21 ,  22 ,  23  of the annular strap assembly. The indication element  50  comprises a switch  51  on the back of the joint. The switches  51  are mechanical switches, sensor activated switches, or equivalent switching means. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the indication elements  50  are implemented as lights  50  and are electrically connected to a controller  52 , a power source (e.g., battery)  53 , and switches  51  to construct a circuit. The power source  53  is enabled prior to playing. When a basketball falls through the net the switches  51  are activated (i.e., closed immediately) to turn on the lights  50  and deactivated (i.e., open immediately) thereafter to turn off the lights  50  (i.e., auto-reset) so as to provide a visual indication that a goal has been scored. This has the flashing effect. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the indication elements  50  are implemented as buzzers  50 A and are electrically connected to a controller  52 A, a power source (e.g., battery)  53 , and switches  51  to construct a circuit. The power source  53  is enabled prior to playing. When a basketball falls through the net the switches  51  are activated (i.e., closed immediately) to activate the buzzers  51 A and deactivated (i.e., open immediately) thereafter to deactivate the buzzers  51 A (i.e., auto-reset) so as to provide an audible indication that a goal has been scored. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , a second preferred embodiment of basketball net according to the invention is shown. The basketball net is mounted at the underside of a hoop  30 . The basketball net comprises a longitudinal strap assembly  10  including a plurality of elongated straps arranged longitudinally in equally spaced configuration, and a annular strap assembly  30  including a plurality of straps  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , and  28  arranged annually in equally spaced configuration in which the diameter of the upper strap  24  is larger than that of the upper intermediate strap  25 , the diameter of the upper intermediate strap  25  is larger than that of the central intermediate strap  26 , the diameter of the central intermediate strap  26  is larger than that of the lower intermediate strap  27 , and the diameter of the lower intermediate strap  27  is larger than that of the lower strap  28 , i.e., tapered toward the bottom. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a large logo (e.g., “NBA.COM”)  41  is mounted on the net as advertisement. The logo  41  may be secured to the net by means of a permanent method (e.g., by threaded fasteners or stitching) or a nonpermanent method (e.g., Velcro fastener). 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a flowchart depicting a process for manufacturing basketball net according to the invention is illustrated. 
         [0042]    In step S 1 , a longitudinal strap assembly  10  and an annular strap assembly  20  are prepared and each comprises a plurality of straps (e.g., straps  11 ,  21 ). 
         [0043]    In step S 2 , the longitudinal strap assembly  10  and the annular strap assembly  20  are secured together at spaced joints in a manner discussed above to provide an annular net structure. 
         [0044]    In step S 3 , a plurality of indication elements  50  are mounted on the net. 
         [0045]    In step S 4 , a large logo  41  is permanently or releasably mounted on the net as advertisement. 
         [0046]    Note that the logos  40  are printed in advance when preparing the longitudinal strap assembly  10  and the annular strap assembly  20 . Further, the steps S 1  and S 2  can be performed in a single injection molding so as to simplify the manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the steps S 3  and S 4  are optional and thus they can be omitted. 
         [0047]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.