Patent Publication Number: US-7223186-B2

Title: Apparatus, assemblies and methods for training athletes

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/600,535 filed Aug. 11, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   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&#39;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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a training assembly of the present invention attached to a basketball backboard. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the training assembly of  FIG. 1 , shown attached to a basketball backboard. 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the training assembly of  FIG. 1 , shown attached to a basketball backboard. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial side elevational view of the training assembly of  FIG. 1  showing a reel housing having a spring-loaded reel disposed therein. 
       FIG. 5  is a partial side elevational view of the training assembly of  FIG. 4  showing a pivotable sidewall of the reel housing having been pivoted outward exposing the spring loaded reel and a reel mount to which the spring loaded reel is rotatably attached. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of an embodiment of the training assembly of the present invention with a simplified drawing of an athlete using the training assembly wherein the athlete has jumped to grab a ball of the assembly and turned to pull the ball away, thereby simulating an aspect of rebounding during a basketball game. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing only a cable portion with a releasable clip and a ball attached to the cable portion using the releasable clip. 
       FIG. 8A  is a side elevation view of a spring loaded reel of the present invention detached from the reel mount of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8B  is cross sectional view of the spring-loaded reel of  FIG. 8A , as viewed from line  8 B— 8 B. 
       FIG. 8C  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of an adjustable stop of the present invention for “stopping” retraction of the suspension member beyond a location of the stop. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of a backboard of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a basketball hoop is pivotable between positions “F,” “G,” or “H” to allow the basketball hoop to be moved away from a front of the backboard during training with the training assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a prior art side elevation view of an adjustment assembly for adjusting a height of some backboards used with various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for some mounting brackets of the present invention, to which the reel housing of  FIG. 1  can be attached. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment for some mounting brackets of the present invention, to which the reel housing of  FIG. 1  can be attached. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a further alternate embodiment for a mounting bracket of the present invention, wherein a clamp of the mounting bracket is selectively adjustable for coupling the mounting bracket to a backboard or other surface. 
       FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein the training assembly is pivotably attached to a basketball backboard to allow the training assembly to be rotated away from a front of the backboard. 
       FIG. 15  is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a ball for the present invention having a recess and a retaining bar to which the suspension member can be attached. 
       FIG. 16  is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention employing a pivotable arm for adjusting height of the ball. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of rear portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 16 . 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  are side elevation views of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 17 , with the pivotable arm being in a first position in  FIG. 18A  and a second position in  FIG. 18B . FIG. 
       FIG. 18C  is an example embodiment of an extension crank useable with some embodiments of the present invention for adjusting a height of the reel housing. 
   

   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 assembly  2  comprising a mounting bracket  6 , a reel housing  16 , a suspension member  20 , a stop  18 , and a ball  22 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . In turn, the training assembly  2  can be attached to a backboard  4 , such as a basketball backboard, or other mountable surface. 
   In the illustrated embodiment in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 , the mounting bracket  6  has an attachment portion  8  that can be coupled to the backboard  4  as shown. The attachment portion  8  is illustrated as rectangular strip configured to rest and be coupled to a top edge portion  4 ′ of the backboard  4 . A rising section  10 , such as a vertical wall portion, extends upwardly away from the attachment portion  8 . The mounting bracket  6  further includes a retaining portion  14  that is attached to a top part of the rising section  10 , with the retaining portion  14  extending laterally outward from the rising section  10 . In some embodiments, the mounting bracket  6  also has support members  12  attached to both the rising section  10  and retaining portion  14 , as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Also, a support piece  11  can be coupled to the rising section  10  and the backboard  4  to reinforce the strength with which the mounting bracket  6  is attached to the backboard  4 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , it can be seen that in some embodiments of the present invention, the reel housing  16  is attached to the mounting bracket  6  by being coupled to the retaining portion  14 . Also, a spring loaded reel  24  is rotatably attached to a reel mount  26  within the reel housing  16 . The reel mount  26  is formed to a pivotable sidewall  26 ′ of the reel housing  16 . The pivotable sidewall  26 ′ can be pivoted outward away from, or inwardly toward, the remainder of the reel housing  16  in a manner generally represented by the arrow “A” in  FIG. 5 . In this way, the spring loaded reel  24  and reel mount  26  can be exposed or enclosed within the reel housing  16  by pivoting the pivotable sidewall  26 ′. The pivotable sidewall  26 ′ can also have a locking mechanism (not shown) for releasably locking the pivotable sidewall  26 ′ in place when it is pivoted inward toward the rest of the reel housing  16  to its position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 8   a  &amp;  8   b , the spring loaded reel  24  can have raised outer wall edges  24 ′ that extend radially outward from an inner peripheral wall  24 ″. The suspension member  20  can be coupled to the spring loaded reel  24  by being attached at an end portion thereof to the spring loaded reel  24  and wound for a portion of its length around a circumferential surface of the spring loaded reel. The circumferential surface shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 8   a  &amp;  8   b , is the inner peripheral wall  24 ″. 
   Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , a housing aperture  30  can be provided in the reel housing  16  through which the suspension member  20  can be passed and extended outward away from the reel housing  16 . A ball  22  can be coupled to a distal end portion of the suspension member  20 . 
   As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing the present disclosure, in some embodiments, the spring loaded reel  24  can be configured so that a spring force urges the spring loaded reel to retract the suspension member  20 . However, pulling the ball  22  away from the reel housing  16  will cause the spring loaded reel  24  to rotate and unwind or un-spool a length of the suspension member  20  while moving the ball  22  away from the reel housing  16 , and releasing tension or force on the ball  22 , allows the spring loaded reel  24  to retract a length of the suspension member  20 . These movements of the suspension member  20  are represented generally by arrow “B” in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 4 . Also, a spring strength of the spring loaded reel  24  can be selected such that the spring loaded reel  24  can retract the suspension member  20  against the weight of an attached ball  22 . In other embodiments, the spring strength of the spring loaded reel  24  is 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 in  FIGS. 1-5 , a stop  18 , such as a rubber stop, can also be attached to the suspension member  20  at a point along the length of the suspension member  20  between the reel housing  16  and the ball  22 . The location of the stop  18  can either be permanently set or allow adjustment of the retractable length of suspension member  20 . For example, the stop  18  may be a plug type stop of any size and shape that cannot pass through the housing aperture  30 , thereby stopping the retraction of the suspension member  20  at the location of the stop  18 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the stop  18  is adjustable and may be attached to the suspension member  20  at any point along the length thereof. The stop  18  may 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 stop  18 , such as a threaded screw type clamp  42 , illustrated in  FIG. 8   c , having an adjustable threaded shaft  44  being insertable within a mating channel  46  of the stop  18 . The threaded shaft  44  may then be turned and screwed inward in the mating channel  46  to tighten a gripping end  48  of the threaded shaft  44  against the suspension member  20 , thereby holding the stop  18  in place along the suspension member. The gripping end  48  may be configured to have gripping edges or protruding teeth to assist in creating friction against the suspension member  20 . In other embodiments the stop  18  may 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 assembly  34  is provided that allows a user to attach different balls  22  or other devices or apparatus to the suspension member  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The releasable clip assembly  34  can have a primary clip  35  with a pivotable bar  36  that is pivotable in the directions indicated by arrow “C” in  FIG. 7 . Also, a second clip portion  38  can be coupled to a ball  22  so that the ball  22  can be clipped onto the suspension member  20  by interlocking the primary clip  35  and second clip portion  38 . The ball  22  can therefore be released from the suspension member  20  by unclipping the clip assembly  34 . In this manner, the ball  22  can be easily interchanged with another ball of similar or different type, that is also attached to a second clip portion  38 , or other type of clip portion that is interlockable with the primary clip  35 , 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 housing  16  and its contents as well as the stop  18 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a player or athlete can jump in position  40   a  to grab the ball  22 , and then pull the ball down to position  40   b .  FIG. 6  is only one representation of a myriad of physical maneuvers that can be practiced with various embodiments of the present invention. However,  FIG. 6  is intended to illustrate generally how the training assembly  2  may 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 ball  22  hangs 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 stop  18  along the length of the suspension member  20 . A player may then be required during practice to jump at the ball  22  to tip or grab the ball. If a player reaches the ball  22 , 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 ball  22  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. As stated earlier, in some embodiments, tension is selectable in the spring loaded reel  24  to adjust the pulling and grabbing force required of a player to grab the ball  22  and pull it. In other embodiments, the tension of the spring loaded reel  24  can be changed by changing out the spring loaded reel  24  with a different spring loaded reel manufactured with a different tension. Still in further embodiments, different training assemblies  2  are equipped with different spring tensions in the spring-loaded reel  24 . 
   Various other mounting brackets can be employed in some embodiments of the present invention. For example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , some embodiments of the mounting bracket  6 ′ can employ parallel retainers  82 , with a reel housing coupling surface  80  to which the reel housing  16  can be attached. The parallel retainers  82  can have cross members  84  disposed between them for support. As best seen in  FIGS. 12 &amp; 13 , other embodiments of the mounting bracket  6 ″,  6 ′″ can comprise a mounting piece  91 ,  91 ′ having parallel walls  92  which can be placed around the top of a backboard  4  so that the backboard is disposed between the parallel walls  92 , with a horizontal wall  94  of the mounting bracket  6 ″,  6 ′″ resting on the top of the backboard  4 ′. In some embodiments, such as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , an adjustable clamp comprising a movable surface  96  and one or more adjustment members  98  are provided to allow a user to tighten the movable surface  96  against a surface of the backboard  4 , so as to clamp the mounting bracket  6 ′″ on the backboard  4 . The adjustment members  98  can include a knob  102  and a threaded shaft  104 , with the knob  102  being usable to turn the threaded shaft  104  to screw the movable surface  96  toward a wall of the backboard  4 . In addition, apertures  100  can be provided on one or more of the parallel walls  92  to allow the mounting brackets  6 ″,  6 ′″ to be bolted to a backboard  4 . The movable surface  96  can also be adjusted to allow the mounting bracket  6 ′″ to be adaptable to backboards  4  of different thickness. 
   Further embodiments of the present invention include a backboard  4  being adapted to have a training assembly  2 ′ that is pivotably attached to the backboard  4 , as best seen in  FIG. 14 . A pivotable connection  110  between the training assembly  2 ′ and the backboard  4  can allow a user to pivot the training assembly from a position “I” in front of the backboard  4 , to a position “J,” away from the front of the backboard  4 . Positions “I” and “J” illustrate some example positions to which the training assembly  2 ′ 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 hoop  50  can be pivotably attached to a backboard  4  via a pivotable connection  52 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 , to allow a user to be able to pivot the basketball hoop  50  away from a front of the backboard  4 . Positions “F”, “G” and “H” of the basketball hoop  50  illustrate some example positions to which the basketball hoop  50  can 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 balls  22 , such as basketballs, that are uniquely adapted for use with various embodiments of the present invention. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , some embodiments of the ball  22  can have a recess  120 , with inner walls  122 . A retainer bar  124  can extend between the inner walls  122  to which an annular or other retaining member  126  can be attached. The suspension member  20 , or a portion thereof, can be attached to the retaining member  126  to couple the suspension member  20 , to the ball. As disclosed supra, a releasable clip assembly  34  can be employed with the suspension member  20 , as best seen in  FIG. 15 . In some alternative embodiments, the second clip portion  38  of the releasable clip assembly  24 , can be coupled directly to the retainer bar  124 . 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 16 &amp; 17 , in another embodiment of the present invention the reel housing  16  is mounted on a height adjustment assembly  142 , which includes a pivotable arm  138  that is pivotably connected to a first linking member  148 . The pivotable arm  138  is also pivotably connected to stationary support members  134   a  &amp;  134   b . The first linking member  148  is pivotably connected to second linking member  150 , which is, in turn, connected to translation member  154 . A threaded drive shaft  158  is threadably coupled to the translation member  154 . An upper end portion of the threaded drive shaft  158  is rotatably retained within a tubular stub  160 . Also, a lower portion of the threaded drive shaft is rotatably retained within a stabilizer plate  164 . The threaded drive shaft  158  can be supported by the stabilizer plate  164  using an annual member  164 ′ welded to the threaded drive shaft  158 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, weight from the threaded drive shaft  158  can be transferred to the stabilizer plate  164  using the annular member  164 ′, while the upper end portion of the threaded drive shaft  158  rotatably resides within the tubular stub  160 . 
   The threaded drive shaft  158  can be turned in the directions of arrow “L” to drive a rearward section  140  of the pivotable arm  138  upward or downward, depending on the direction in which the threaded drive shaft  158  is turned. This can cause the reel housing  16 , and hence the ball  22 , to be raised or lowered, as is selectable by a user. As exemplified in  FIGS. 18A &amp; 18B , as the threaded drive shaft  158  is turned, the ball  22  can 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 shaft  158 , can cause the ball  22  to be raised. An extension crank  168 ′ can be provided that can be removably coupled to the threaded drive shaft  158 . In some embodiments, the extension crank  168 ′ has an end portion  168 ″ with a curvature configured to be insertable within an annular coupling  168  of the threaded drive shaft  158  to grip the annular coupling  168  and 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 assembly  142 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 17 , the height adjustment assembly  142  can also comprise an adjustable mounting clamp having an upper clamp section  170  and a lower clamp section  172 . The upper clamp section  170  can have an upper clamp grip  132 , and lower clamp section  172  can have a lower clamp grip  130 . Each of the upper and lower clamp grips  130 ,  132  can be configured to fit over top and bottom edges, respectively, of a backboard  4 . 
   The upper and lower clamp sections  170 ,  172  can each be elongated such that a lower portion  170 ′ of the upper clamp section  170  can overlap an upper portion  172 ′ of the lower clamp section  172 . In some embodiments, the lower clamp section  172  includes an elongated slot  173 . The upper clamp section  170  can have apertures through which connection members  174 , such as threaded bolts or nuts, can be inserted and extended through the elongated slot  173  of the lower clamp section  172 , to secure the upper and lower clamp sections  170 ,  172  together. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, a wide variety of connection members  174  can 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 backboards  4  having 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.