Patent Publication Number: US-8123634-B1

Title: Programmable basketball shot setup and return device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to sports equipment and, more specifically, to an automatic or manually operated basketball delivery and return unit with a remote control. 
     The unit&#39;s ball-input hopper is placed under a basketball hoop where a ball will be directed to a timed ejector unit designed to deliver a plurality of balls in timed sequence to a predetermined location. The deliverer also includes rotation of the device through an arc in conjunction with timed release of a ball. Additionally the present invention has wheels and wheel locks to facilitate for easy movement and placement. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are return devices designed for sports balls. While these return devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic or manually operated basketball return unit. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic or manually operated basketball return unit with remote control device. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a basket ball return unit that is placed under a basketball hoop having a hopper at its top distal end to receive basketballs. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a basketball return unit having a hopper at its top distal end that funnels down to a return chute allowing a basketball to engage a motorized return mechanism which expels the basketball out of a return chute and to the user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a basketball return unit that comprises a support housing with rotating compression wheels, each having a motor which ejects the ball out of an aperture. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a basketball return unit that rotates 180 degrees manually or automatically. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an automatic or manually operated basketball return unit with remote control device that is placed under a basketball hoop having a hopper at its top distal end that funnels down to a return tube allowing basketballs to engage a motorized return mechanism which expels the basketball out a return chute and too the user. The return unit comprises a support housing with rotating compression wheels, each having a motor which ejects the ball out an aperture. The unit rotates 180 degrees manually or automatically. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top illustrative aerial view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a top illustrative aerial view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative/sectional view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the return unit of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is ball movement in the return unit of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a frontal view of the present invention placed under a basketball hoop; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the present invention placed under a basketball hoop; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a detailed view of the wheel locks of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Programmable Basketball Return Unit with Remote Control of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Programmable Basketball Return Unit with Remote of the present invention       

     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 12 
                 return unit 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 hopper 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 return tube 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 return channel of 16 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 return chute 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 basketball 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 basketball rim 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 user 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 ball return mechanism 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 motor of 30 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 base of 12 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 tube rotation motor 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 remote control unit 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 receiver 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 support bracket of 30 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 wiring 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 actuator 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 user controls of 38 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 timer control 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 automatic mode control 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 manual mode control 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 wheel 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 wheel lock 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 wheel lock actuator 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a top illustrative aerial view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the basketball return unit  12  in the automatic remote control mode. The basketball return unit hopper  14  is placed under a basketball rim  26 . The ball  24  is funneled through a central channel to a motorized return mechanism that expels the basketball  26  in timed intervals out of a return chute that optionally may incorporate angular positioning that may also be remotely controlled. The unit rotates 180 degrees manually or automatically. Shown is the user  28  receiving the ball from a plurality of positions as the return unit  12  ejects the ball  26  while passing through the 180 degree arc. 
       FIG. 2  is a top illustrative aerial view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the return unit  12  in manual mode. The hopper  14  is positioned under a basketball rim  26  to funnel the ball  24  to a timed ejector mechanism and back to the user  28 . There is no rotation of the return tube and its associated return chute while in manual mode. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative/sectional view of the present invention  10  in use. The return unit  12  is positioned so the hopper  14  is disposed beneath the basket rim  26 . A shot ball  24  passing through the rim  26  falls into the hopper  14  and drops through a return channel  18  extending through the return tube  16 . Upon reaching the bottom of the return channel  18  the ball  24  is introduced to a ball return mechanisms  30  comprising a pair of compression wheels  33  with each having its own motor  32  to rotate them in opposite directions to enable them to eject the ball through a return chute  22  disposed on the side of the return tube  16 . A base  34  is provided at the bottom of the return tube  16  for stabilizing the return unit  12  and housing a motor  36  for rotating the return tube  16 . A receiver  40  is in communication with the return tube motor  36  and a remote control  38  for varying parameters remotely. 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the return mechanism  30  of the present invention  10 . Shown is the basketball  24  timed return mechanism  30  wherein the ball  24  falls into the hopper and is channeled to the return chute  22  and return mechanism&#39;s  30  motorized compression wheels  33  in timed intervals, each compression wheel  33  has its own motor  32  and the ball  24  is ejected from the return chute  22  by the compression wheels  33 . The unit is capable of holding a number of basketballs  24  waiting to be dispensed. Optionally provided is an actuator  46  to vary the pitch of the support bracket  42  thereby changing the angle and distance of the ejected basketball  24   
       FIG. 5  is ball movement in the return chute  22  of the present invention  10 . Shown is the basketball  24  timed return mechanism  30  wherein the ball  24  falls into the hopper and is channeled to the return chute  22  and return mechanism&#39;s  30  motorized compression wheels  33  in timed intervals, each compression wheel  33  has its own motor  32  and the ball  24  is ejected from the return chute  22  by the compression wheels  33 . The unit is capable of holding a number of basketballs  24  waiting to be dispensed. Optionally provided is an actuator  46  to vary the pitch of the support bracket  42  thereby changing the angle and distance of the ejected basketball  24   
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . The return unit  12  is positioned so the hopper  14  is disposed beneath the basket rim  26 . A shot ball passing through the rim  26  falls into the hopper  14  and drops through a return channel  18  extending through the return tube  16 . Upon reaching the bottom of the return channel  18  the ball is introduced to a ball return mechanisms  30  comprising a pair of compression wheels  33  with each having its own motor  32  to rotate them in opposite directions to enable them to eject the ball through a return chute  22  disposed on the side of the return tube  16 . A base  34  is provided at the bottom of the return tube  16  for stabilizing the return unit  12  and housing a motor  36  for rotating the return tube  16 . A receiver  40  is in communication with the return tube motor  36  and a remote control  38  for varying parameters remotely. User controls  48  on the remote control unit  38  enable the user to adjust between manual  54  and automatic  52  modes and vary the speed of the timer  54  as desired. 
       FIG. 7  is a frontal view of the present invention  10  placed under a basket ball rim  26 . Shown is the basketball return unit  12  of the present invention  10  set up under a basketball rim  26 . The user shoots basketballs into a basketball hoop  26 , as the ball (s) fall through the hoop  26 , it enters the return unit  12  through the hopper  14  and is funneled down to a return mechanism which ejects the basketball out the return chute  22  and back to the user. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the present invention  10  placed under a basket ball hoop  26 . Shown is the basketball return unit  12  of the present invention  10  set up under a basketball hoop  26 . The user shoots basketballs into a basketball hoop  26 , as the ball (s) fall through the hoop  26 , it enters the return unit  12  through the hopper  14  and is funneled down to a return mechanism which ejects the basketball out the return chute  22  and back to the user. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a top view of the basketball return unit of the present invention  10  having hopper  14  leading to a return channel  18  extending therethrough that funnels down a return tube allowing basketballs  24  to engage a motorized return mechanism which expels the basketball out a return chute and too the user. The unit rotates 180 degrees manually or automatically. 
       FIG. 10  is a detail view of the wheel lock assembly. The wheels  56  enable the user to move the unit from one location to another and apply the wheel locks  58  via the actuator  60  to prevent the inadvertent movement thereof. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention