Patent Publication Number: US-7713149-B2

Title: Basketball backboard target

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/919,811 Filed Mar. 24, 2007 from which priority is claimed, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND 
   This disclosure relates to a targeting system for improving the bank shot accuracy and “muscle memory” of a basketball player. The targeting system can provide both horizontal and vertical bank shot targets. While some bank shot targets have provided horizontal aiming guidance, none are known to provide targets which appear to move vertically with respect the hoop and backboard as a player moves around a basketball court. 
   SUMMARY 
   A factor in developing a targeting system described herein is that a preferred entry angle for a basketball passing through the horizontal plane of a basketball hoop is about 45 degrees. In accordance with this disclosure, it has been determined that this entry angle can effectively range from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees, and preferably from 38 degrees to 52 degrees. 
   It has been found that using a 45 degree angle of attack as the desired entry angle into the hoop, a targeting system can be developed which can well accommodate basketball players of varying heights with little or no adjustments of the targeting system. That is, when using a 45 degree angle of attack into an imaginary basket located behind the backboard (as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,415), the player&#39;s height and distance from the backboard become less of a factor in providing a target for vertical aiming than if other entry angles are used. No matter the player&#39;s height or distance from the backboard, the player should shoot the basketball so that its parabolic flight enters an imaginary basket hoop at about 45 degrees, as described further below. 
   When constructing a targeting system as described herein, the use of a nominal 45 degree entry angle into a virtual hoop located behind the backboard requires a relatively limited amount of vertical adjustment of the aiming target. That is, the point along the vertical or y axis at which the basketball intersects the plane of the backboard varies less than might be expected. This vertical range is very small for a player shooting from the center of the court and becomes slightly larger as a player moves toward the sidelines of the court. 
   The aforementioned features and advantages of the disclosure will be pointed out with particularity, and will become clear from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form an integral part thereof. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a basketball court showing various basketball trajectories used to derive the targeting systems of  FIGS. 2-15 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the backboard of  FIG. 1  showing the development of target areas on the plane of the backboard; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a basketball aiming target having an enclosed housing; 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7  are partial perspective views of  FIG. 3  with certain components removed to show interior constructions; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 3  with outer wall portions removed to show internal constructions; 
       FIG. 8  is a left side elevation view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of  FIG. 3 , slightly rotated; 
       FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a basketball aiming target having planar arrays of vertical lenses applied directly to a backboard; 
       FIG. 13-15  are schematic view of additional embodiments of basketball aiming targets that can be used with or without an illuminated light source; and 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic top plan view of the targeting system of  FIG. 13  mounted behind a backboard. 
   

   In the various views of the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or similar parts. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   The calculation of a target profile on the plane of the backboard can be accomplished using three dimensional software to create virtual free throw trajectories along parabolic arcs from various points covering the floor of a virtual basketball court. As seen in  FIG. 1 , these free throws are calculated to enter a virtual basket hoop positioned behind the backboard, as further described in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,415. The center of the virtual hoop is typically located about five to six inches behind the backboard, and within the same horizontal plane as the actual basketball hoop located in front of the backboard. 
   While the angle of entry of the virtual ball into the virtual hoop is nominally 45 degrees, free throw calculations were made over a range of entry angles from 35 degrees to 45 degrees. The scatter or pattern of points at which these free throws intersect the front plane of the backboard on their way to the virtual hoop define a pair of upwardly extending, laterally-diverging and somewhat trapezoidal target areas as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As further seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a basketball hoop or rim  10  is mounted in a known fashion to a planar backboard  12  by an L-shaped angle bracket  14 . The center  16  of a virtual hoop is located behind backboard  12  and serves as the point through which each virtual free throw passes. The paths  18  ( FIG. 1 ) of representative free throws intersect backboard  12  along their way to the center of the virtual hoop  16  and form a distribution of contact points within a pair of target regions or light apertures  20  on the front surface of the backboard. The locations and dimensions of the regions  20  on backboard  12  are represented in  FIG. 2  in inches. While regions  20  are shown as trapezoids, other polygonal regions can be used, as can nonliner regions such as represented by dashed region lines  21  in  FIG. 2 . 
   The three parabolic paths  18  from each free throw location  22  in  FIG. 1  respectively represent virtual hoop entry angles of 35 degrees, 45 degrees and 55 degrees. Other values can, of course be used. The selected ball release height of the free throws can vary for the purpose of determining the location of the resulting target regions  20 , but values around six feet above the floor of the court produce realistic parabolic paths similar to those produced by live basketball players. 
   Once the target regions  20  have been defined or modeled as described above, an actual target is needed that duplicates or simulates the area or boundary of region  20  on the surface of backboard  12 . While simply duplicating regions  20  directly on the backboard  12  with a static covering such as paint, lamination sheets or other indicia will provide some aiming assistance to a basketball player, it is helpful to provide an additional aiming target that appears to move horizontally or laterally across the regions  20  as a basketball player likewise moves horizontally or laterally across the floor of the basketball court. 
   The lateral or horizontal location of such an apparently “moving” target within region  20  provides the proper horizontal or lateral location for targeting a bank shot, while the vertical height range of region  20  at each horizontal or transverse location provides the proper vertical range of targeting for a bank shot. Each region  20  extends upwardly and outwardly from the central portion  25  of the backboard  12  and increases in vertical height from the central portion or region  25  outwardly toward the sides of the backboard  12 . 
   Previous aiming devices have been located either on the plane of the backboard as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,415, or behind the plane of the backboard as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,768. These aiming devices do not provide a target which appears to move vertically as a player moves laterally between the sidelines of the court. As described below, horizontal and vertical targeting limits for bank shots can be placed or displayed directly on the front or back surfaces of the backboard, preferably on the back or rear surface, using lenticular films. In another embodiment, a stand-alone targeting system can be mounted behind a standard “clear”, transparent or otherwise light transmissible backboard such as those in common use. No modification of the backboard is required. 
   In another embodiment, the backboard  12  is modified so that only regions  20  are clear or transparent or light transmissible, and the remainder of the backboard is opaque or sufficiently semi-opaque enough to prevent visual detection of an aiming target located behind the backboard. In this case, a mask, coating, or curtain can be applied to the rear surface of the backboard  12  with cut-out or “see-through” portions defining the target regions  20 . While the use of an aiming target is preferred, as discussed below, aiming regions  20  can be used without an aiming target. 
   A visible aiming target, such as a vertical pole, light strip, light bar, light pipe, fluorescent tube, neon tube or any other type of visible vertical target can extend vertically through virtual hoop center  16  ( FIG. 1 ) along vertical axis  24 . This simple inexpensive target is advantageously positioned at about 5.7 inches behind the front plane of backboard  12  and located along a line perpendicular to the backboard and bisecting the hoop  10 . 
   As a player moves laterally back and forth (from side to side) across the basketball court, the apparent position of the aiming target moves back and forth across the region  20  as seen by a player on the court so as to provide the proper position for a bank shot at all locations on the court, wherever bank shots are proper. As shown schematically in  FIG. 2 , a vertically-extending target  26 , located on axis  24  about 5.7 inches behind the backboard  12 , will appear through the target region  20  as a visible vertical target line to a player positioned near, but not at the middle of the court floor, such as at position A ( FIG. 1 ). 
   The target  26  identified as “A” in  FIG. 2 , will appear close to the middle or central portion of the backboard  12  at a corresponding position A ( FIG. 2 ). The opaque central region  25  located laterally between the target regions  20  blocks a player&#39;s view of the target from some central court locations, thereby indicating that a bank shot is not appropriate when a player cannot see the target  26 , such as when a player is directly in front of the hoop  10 . 
   As the player moves away from the middle or central portion of the basketball court, in this example toward the left sideline, the target  26 , although stationary, will appear to move horizontally to the left, such as at position B in  FIG. 2 . In each case, the player aims for the target  26  as seen through target region  20  to complete a successful bank shot. 
   Target  26  can be mounted in any suitable fashion behind the backboard  12  of  FIG. 2  using brackets, braces, and/or linkages, as desired. This allows for easy on and off functionality of the aiming target  26  as it may be folded down, removed, turned or otherwise moved out of view when targeting is not desired. A schematic representation of a simple mounting arrangement for target  26  and its associated aiming aperture board or mask  100  is shown in  FIG. 16 . 
   A stand-alone integral targeting system  30  is shown in  FIGS. 3 through 11 . This system does not require any modification to existing transparent basketball backboards. This system is essentially a light box which is mountable behind a basketball backboard. System  30  includes an outer housing  32  which can be opaque or semi-opaque to light. Housing  32  serves as a mask to mask certain portions of target  26  as discussed below. A pair of end caps  34  prevents light from escaping the ends of the housing  32  and provides structural integrity to the system. The housing  32  includes a pair of front walls  36 ,  38  which diverge outwardly and rearward from a central rounded leading edge  40  located within the opaque region  25 . The front walls  36 ,  38  extend into a pair of rear walls  42 ,  44  ( FIG. 4 ) so as to form a substantially closed tubular housing  32 . 
   A vertical mounting rail  46  is adapted to be connected to additional mounting structure fixed to a basketball backboard such as a mounting bar  114  shown in  FIG. 16 . Rail  46  is further adapted to fit within a slideway formed on or in housing  32 . The slideway can be defined by a longitudinally-extending opening or channel  48  formed through each end cap  34  and through a series of longitudinally-spaced brace plates  50  ( FIG. 6 ). 
   One or more set screws  52  ( FIG. 7 ) threaded through each brace plate  50  can be selectively adjusted with a hand tool T ( FIG. 6 ) by loosening and tightening against and within a groove  54  ( FIG. 6 ) extending along the mounting rail  46 . This adjustment allows the housing  32  to be adjusted vertically (up and down) along the mounting rail  46  to optimize the location of the vertical aiming component of the targeting system  30 . That is, the housing  32  can be adjusted downwardly for shorter players and upwardly for taller players. 
   The housing  32  further includes a pair of side beams  56  ( FIG. 6 ) extending along and against the inner surface of each respective rear wall  42 ,  44  for proving additional strength and stiffness to the system  30 . Further strength is provided by a rectangular light support bar  62  ( FIG. 6 ) that is fitted into a mating pocket  64  ( FIG. 4 ) in each end cap  34 . Support bar  62  is removed from  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 7  for clarity 
   As further seen in  FIG. 6 , a longitudinally-extending light source such as a light bulb, light bar, light strip, light pipe, light tube or a linear series of small lights such as a strip of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  66  is mounted to the vertical light support bar  62 . Suitable controls and circuitry can be provided to power the light source  60  on and off as desired, either directly or by remote control. 
   First and second light passages or apertures  70 ,  72  ( FIG. 3 ) are provided in the respective front walls  36 ,  38  of the housing  32  to provide a horizontally and vertically varying aiming target  26  ( FIG. 2 ), by providing visibility to the target light source  60  ( FIG. 5 ) only within the target regions  20  of  FIG. 2 . Although the light source  60  is fixed in position, it appears to be moving up and down and back and forth as viewed by a player moving over and around the court. The apertures  70 ,  72  reproduce or project the target regions  20  of  FIG. 2  as seen through a clear glass or plastic backboard. These target regions  20  created or defined by the apertures  70 ,  72  are limited by upper and lower borders or boundaries which extend upwardly and laterally outwardly as a pair of wings from an interior central portion  25  of the backboard to define a somewhat “\ /”-shaped (open V) target region. 
   In order to produce a target  26  which is substantially confined to visibility within backboard regions  20  by a player on the court, simple trigonometry and descriptive geometry can be used to calculate the shapes and locations of light apertures or light passages  70 ,  72  which define the limits of target visibility to a player. A central V-shaped region  25 , which extends vertically between the apertures  70 ,  72 , blocks a player&#39;s view of the aiming target  26  when a player is near or at the center of the court (midway between the sidelines). That is, when a player is directly facing the hoop  10 , a “swoosh” shot directly through the hoop is generally preferred over a bank shot. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , each light passage  70 ,  72  can be formed as a simple opening or cutout in the respective front walls  36 ,  38  of housing  32 . If desired, a light-transmitting covering or lens (not shown) can be provided over each light passage  70 ,  72 . If further desired, the lenses may each include a “flocked” or opaque matrix of dots which partially or substantially block visibility to the light source  60  when the light source is extinguished. This provides a convenient means for selectively displaying the target  26  during practice and for removing the target from sight during game play without having to move the targeting system  30 . 
   In the representative embodiment of  FIGS. 3-7 , each light passage  70 ,  72  is defined by a relatively short lower vertical side wall  80  ( FIG. 6 ) located adjacent the leading edge  40 . Wall  80  transitions upwardly into a longer upwardly and rearwardly extending side wall  82 . An upwardly and rearwardly extending sidewall  84  forms a bottom apex  86  with the bottom of the lower side wall  80  and joins a vertically-extending upper sidewall  88  at the upper end of sidewall  84 . 
   Sidewall  88  is substantially parallel with sidewall  80 , and extends upwardly to meet sidewall  82  at an upper apex. With this design, the light passages or, apertures  70 ,  72  are defined by trapezoidal openings. In this embodiment, the apertures  70 ,  72  extend upwardly and rearwardly in a wing-like configuration, suggestive of a V-shaped opening with a closed apex. Of course, many other shapes and patterns of light apertures may be used to project or control the visibility of a target  26  within regions  20 . Moreover, a colored rod, such as an elongated beam or pole painted with brightly colored fluorescent or “day glow” type paint, may be used as a low cost substitute for a light source. Light reflective or shiny surfaces or coatings can also be applied to the target  26  as a substitute or in addition to a light source  60 . 
     FIGS. 8 through 11  provide some dimensions, in inches, of a representative embodiment of the targeting system of  FIGS. 3 through 7  and show the system in different views. The apertures  70 ,  72  are not shown in these views as the apertures can be formed as clear portions of an opaque solid plastic panel or housing and not visible until the internal aiming target  26  is illuminated. 
   Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 12 , where the regions  20  are applied as a lenticular sheet or covering directly on the surface of backboard  12 , either on the front surface preferably on the rear surface of the backboard. The individual lenses such as linear, vertically-extending lenses  91 , similar to those on Fresnel lenses can be formed on a single sheet of plastic lens material and applied as a single covering on the front or behind the backboard to provide and define both regions  20 , or as a series of separate lenses  91  applied to the backboard individually. Any conventional mounting method can be used, such as adhesives, clips, tape or threaded fasteners and brackets. Each lens is aligned at a slightly different angle to provide visibility to a player located on a predetermined position on the court. As a player moves across the court, different lenses will become visible or transparent to the player, thereby revealing a single elongated lens or revealing several adjacent lenses as a desired target for a proper bank shot. 
   It is also possible to manufacture the backboard with integral lenticular target regions  20 . Each target within target region  20  is only visible when a player is located on an area of the court where the target region provides an appropriate target for a bank shot. Of course, target regions can be also applied as individual opaque or semi-opaque appliques or “patches”  90 . In this example, the aiming target  26  is optional or eliminated. 
   The targeting systems described above can be provided as retrofit systems, or as original equipment, depending on the system used. The system of  FIG. 2  is primarily for original equipment applications, while the “stand-alone” system of  FIG. 3  can be used with new or existing backboards. The system of  FIG. 12  can be used with original equipment or as a retrofit. 
   Although regions  20  as described above have been derived mathematically, it is also possible to derive similar target regions empirically based on preferences of basketball coaches, players and others. This empirical approach can focus on parabolic arcs and the principal of the imaginary arcs as given starting points. The lateral or horizontal boundaries of each target region  20  can then be adjusted as desired, and the vertical boundaries of each target region  20  can also be adjusted as desired based on other factors such as entry angle, player distance, and player height which combine to create a range of acceptable target regions. Additional room for modifying the target regions  20  can be based on the fact that a regulation basketball has about a nine inch diameter and the hoop has an eighteen inch diameter. 
   This adjustment or modification of the target regions  20  to suit different shooting preferences can be made by providing adjustable shutters on the apertures  70 ,  72  (such as used in cameras) so that the size and shape of each aperture can be varied as desired by moving the shutters over the apertures, thereby adjusting the size and shape of each target region  20 . Overlays with different shaped target regions  20  can also be selectively applied to the backboard in the form of a set of various overlay sheets, tape strips, as well as erasable paint or erasable markers and the like. 
   Additional embodiments of a simplified form of targeting system are shown in  FIGS. 13-15 . In these embodiments, an enclosed outer housing, such as outer housing  32  in  FIG. 3 , is replaced with a simple apertured mask or shroud  100 . Mask  100  can be formed of a thin sheet of metal, plastic, wood, fabric, cardboard or any other opaque material. 
   Light passages  70 ,  72  can be formed as apertures, slots, or cut-out regions in mask  100  to allow for selective visibility of the aiming target  26 . In  FIG. 13 , mask  100  is formed with a curved convex front surface  102 , and aiming target  26  is formed as a cylindrical rod mounted symmetrically behind the center of mask  100 . 
   In  FIG. 14 , mask  100  is formed as a V-shaped curtain with flat rectangular side walls  104  having light passages  70 ,  72  formed as simple rectangular slots diverging upwardly and laterally outwardly from the central bottom portion to the top lateral side portions of the mask  100 . The aiming target  26  can take the form of a brightly colored bar having a rectangular cross section. 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , the mask  100  can be a simple planar panel  110  having a greater width W than the previous embodiments so as to provide sufficient lateral masking of the aiming target  26 . The aiming target  26  can be of any elongated shape, such as the triangular rod shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     FIG. 16  shows a schematic representation of one mounting arrangement for mounting any one of the masks of  FIGS. 13-15  as well as the system  30  of  FIG. 3 . In this example, a bracket  112  is mounted to the back of backboard  12  in any suitable manner, such as with screws, bolts, clamps, adhesives and the like. A central horizontal mounting bar  114  supported by bracket  112  extends rearwardly along a line bisecting hoop  10 . The aiming target  26  can be vertically adjustably mounted to the mounting bar  114  with an adjustable clamp ring  116 , such as used to adjust the height of a bicycle seats. Alternatively, the mask  100  can be vertically adjustably mounted to the mounting bar  114  along a vertical support pole  118  using an adjustable clamp  120 , such as clamp ring  116 . 
   There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.