Patent Publication Number: US-11638862-B2

Title: Training aid for shooting a basketball

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application also claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/069,009, titled “Basketball Set Point Shooting Shield,” which was filed on Aug. 22, 2020 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Shooting a basketball accurately and consistently requires proper technique and practice. When shooting a basketball (e.g., a jump shot), there is typically a loading phase and a launching phase. The loading phase refers to the motion where the shooter moves the ball, typically from in front for the shooter&#39;s waist or chest, upward above the shooter&#39;s shoulders. In the loading phase, the shooter&#39;s wrist is bent backwards (towards the posterior of the forearm) supporting the ball and the shooter&#39;s elbow is typically bent. In the launching phase, the shooter extends his/her arm upward and outward as his/her wrist moves from a bent-backward position (i.e., extension of the wrist) to a bent-forward position (i.e., flexion of the wrist) to launch the basketball at the basket. When shooting a basketball, the “set-point” refers to the location of the ball relative to the shooter&#39;s body (i.e., head, shoulders, etc.) at the point between the loading phase and the launching phase. Preferably, the position of the basketball at the set-point is approximately in front of and adjacent the shooter&#39;s forehead. A set point location that is inconsistent from shot-to-shot or above and over the shooter&#39;s head may decrease shooting accuracy and/or range. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary training aid for shooting a basketball includes a head-mounting portion configured to mount onto the head of a person shooting the basketball and a feedback-providing portion attached to, and supported by, the head mounting portion. The feedback-providing portion defining a forward-facing engagement surface extending upward from the head-mounting portion that provides tactile feedback to the person when the engagement surface is contacted by at least one of the basketball and a shooting hand of the person shooting the basketball. 
     An exemplary method for training the technique of shooting a basketball, where the technique includes a loading phase, a launching phase, and a set-point location defining the position of the basketball between the loading phase and the launching phase. The method includes mounting an engagement surface onto a head of a person shooting a basketball where the engagement surface is adjacent the set-point location, bringing the basketball to the set-point location such that at least one of the basketball and a shooting hand of the person contacts the engagement surface, and launching the basketball. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a front perspective view of an example training aid for shooting a basketball; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a top view of the training aid of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a side view of the training aid of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the training aid of  FIG.  1    worn by a user; and 
         FIG.  5    illustrates side perspective view of an example training aid for shooting a basketball. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Detailed Description describes exemplary embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning. Features and components of one exemplary embodiment may be incorporated into the other exemplary embodiments. Inventions within the scope of this application may include additional features, or may have less features, than those shown in the exemplary embodiments. 
       FIGS.  1 - 4    illustrate an example training aid  100  for shooting a basketball  102 . The training aid  100  is configured to provide feedback to a person (“shooter”)  104  shooting the basketball  102  with regard to whether the basketball  102  is positioned at a desired set-point. The training aid  100  may be configured in a variety of ways. In the illustrated example, the training aid  100  includes a head-mounting portion  106  and a feedback-providing portion  108  attached to, or integrally formed with, the head-mounting portion  106 . In some implementations, the head-mounting portion  106  and the feedback-providing portion  108  are formed as a single, unitary piece. In other implementations, the head-mounting portion  106  and the feedback-providing portion  108  are separate components attached together. 
     The head-mounting portion  106  is configured to mount onto a head  110  ( FIG.  4   ) of the shooter  104  in order to support and position the feedback-providing portion  108 . The head-mounting portion  106  may be configured in a variety of ways. Any configuration that may securely mount onto the head  110  of the shooter  104  may be used. For example, the head-mounting portion  106  may include a head band, a head strap, a head covering, a head wrap, a chin strap, or other suitable devices and combinations thereof for supporting and positioning the feedback-providing portion  108 . In the illustrated example, the head-mounting portion  106  includes a head band  112  configured to encircle the head  110  of the shooter  104  in a generally horizontal arrangement (i.e., contacting a forehead  114  and the back of the head  110  of the shooter  104 ), as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     The head band  112  may be configured in a variety of ways, such as different dimensions (e.g., thickness, width, circumference), shapes, materials used, and adjustment devices (i.e., ways of adjusting the size and ensuring a secure fit onto the shooter&#39;s head). For example, in some implementations, the head band  112  has a closure, similar to an adjustable baseball cap. Various known closure types may be used, such as for example, a plastic snap, double plastic snap, a hook and loop tape, a tuck strap with slide, a tuck strap with buckle or snap, a D-Fit®, or other suitable closure type. The head band  112  may be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastic, nylon, an elastic material, such as rubber, spandex, elastane, or fold-over elastic stretch. Preferably, the materials used are lightweight and comfortable to wear, in addition to being able to support the feedback-providing portion  108  as desired. 
     In the illustrated example, the head band  112  is a continuous, elastic band made of any suitable elastic material. The head band  112  has an outer face  116 , an inner face  118  opposite and parallel to the outer face  116 , an upper edge  120  extending between the outer face  116  and the inner face  118 , and a lower edge  122  opposite the upper edge  120  and extending between the outer face  116  and the inner face  118 . The head band  112  may include a fabric material, such as for example, nylon, polyester, or cotton, on the inner face  118 , or surrounding the entire elastic band. The fabric material is configured to be a comfortable to the touch (i.e., skin friendly). In some implementations, the head band  112  may include an elastic band (e.g., spandex) with a soft fabric cover (e.g., cotton, polyester). In some implementations, the head band  112  may be configured as a sweat band that is sweat absorbent to keep sweat from the eyes of the shooter during use. For example, the fabric cover may include a sweat absorbent material. 
     In the illustrated example, the head band  112  is configured to provide the necessary support for, and positioning of, the feedback-providing portion  108 . In other implementations, however, additional straps, bands, head coverings, or supports may be used in conjunction with, or incorporated with, the head band  112 . For example, an additional strap (not shown) may be connected to the head band  112  and extend over the head  110  of the shooter  104 , perpendicular to the head band  112  (e.g., ear-to-ear). In the illustrated example, the head band  112  has a height H 2  in the range of 1 inch to 3 inches. In other embodiments, however, the height can be greater than 3 inches or less than 1 inch. 
     The feedback-providing portion  108  is configured to provide a tactile feedback to the shooter  104  when the basketball  102  is at the desired set-point or, alternatively, beyond the set-point (i.e., above and over the shooter&#39;s head more than is desired). In the illustrated example, the feed-back providing portion  108  includes a forward-facing engagement surface  124  which the basketball  102  and/or a shooting hand  126  of the shooter  104  contacts to provide the tactile feedback. The feedback-providing portion  108  may be configured in a variety of ways. Any suitable configuration that can provide the aforementioned engagement surface  124  may be used. Some implementations of the training aid  100  may be worn while the shooter  104  is playing a basketball game or participating in a practice (e.g., solo practice or multi-person practice). Thus, some configurations of the training aid  100  allow for free movement of the shooter&#39;s hands, arms, and legs, do not hinder passing, catching, or dribbling the basketball  102 , do not affect the shooter&#39;s vision, are light enough to not negatively affect movement of the shooter, and sturdy and durable enough to not break during rigorous activity. 
     In the illustrated example, the feedback-providing portion  108  is configured as a single panel  130 . In other implementations, the feedback-providing portion  108  may be a plurality of panels, fingers, stems, or other components capable of providing tactile feedback. In the illustrated example, the panel  130  includes a front face  132 , a rear face  134  opposite and parallel to the front face  132 , a bottom edge  136  extending between the front face  132  and the rear face  134 , a top edge  138  opposite the lower edge  136  and extending between the front face  132  and the rear face  134 , a first lateral edge  140  extending between the bottom edge  136  and the top edge  138 , and a second lateral edge  142  opposite the first lateral edge  140  and extending between the bottom edge  136  and the top edge  138 . In the illustrated example, the panel  130  is generally rectangular. In other implementations, however, the panel  130  can be any suitable shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the panel  130  has a height H 1  and a width W. The height H 1  and the width W may vary in different implementations. In the illustrated embodiment, the height H 1  is in the range of 4 inches to 8 inches, or 5 inches to 7 inches and the width W is in the range of 2 inches to 6 inches, such as 3 inches to 5 inches. In other implementations, however, the height H 1  may be greater than 8 inches or less than 4 inches and the width W may be greater than 6 inches or less than 2 inches. 
     In the illustrated example, the front face  132  is convex and the rear face  134  is concave. In other implementations, however, the front face and/or rear face may be planar or any other suitable shape. As shown, for example, in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , the amount of concavity or convexity of the panel  130  may vary across the panel  130 . For example, in the illustrated implementation, the portion of the panel  130  towards, or adjacent, the bottom edge  136  may be curved (i.e., concave or convex) more than the portion of the panel  130  toward, or adjacent, the top edge  138 . In other embodiments, however, the concavity or convexity of the panel  130  may be equal across the panel  130  or the portion of the panel  130  towards, or adjacent, the bottom edge  136  may be curved (i.e., concave or convex) less than the portion of the panel  130  toward, or adjacent, the top edge  138 . The front face  132  defines the forward-facing engagement surface  124 , which may be a portion of the front face  132  or the entire front face  132 . 
     The panel  130  may be made from any suitable material or materials, such as for example, plastic, foam, cardboard, or other suitable material with sufficient rigidity to serve as an engagement surface and light enough in weight to be non-intrusive while the shooter  104  plays or practices basketball. In some implementations, the panel  130  may be rigid such that the panel  130  does not deflect, or deflects only a small amount, when contacted by the basketball  102  and/or a shooting hand  126  during the shooting motion. In other implementations, however, the panel  130  may be flexible and resilient such that upon contact by the basketball  102  and/or the shooting hand  126 , the panel  130  moves from an upright position (as shown in  FIG.  4   , for example) to a deflected position where the panel  130  bends or deflects backward toward a back  115  of the head  110  of the shooter  104 . After the basketball  102  is launched, the panel  130 , due to its resilient nature, returns to the upright position. 
     In some implementations, the front face  132  and the rear face  134  may be continuous (i.e., not include any holes, slits, or other openings). In other implementations, the panel  130  may include one or more holes, slits, slots, or other openings extending through the panel  130  from the front face  132  to the rear face  134 . Including one or more openings in the panel  130  may be advantageous to reduce the weight and decrease air resistance of the panel  130 . 
     The panel  130  is configured to mount to, or be integrally formed with, the head band  112  such that the panel  130  extends superiorly from the shooter&#39;s forehead  114  when the head band  112  is properly worn by the shooter  104 , as shown in  FIG.  4   . The panel  130  may mount to the head band  112  in any suitable manner, such as for example, but not limited to, adhesives, hoop and loop strips, fasteners, snaps, clasps, clamps, or other suitable attachment devices. In the illustrated example, the panel  130  includes a hook/loop strip  150  mounted on the rear face  134  adjacent the bottom edge  136  and a corresponding loop/hook strip  152  mounted on the outer face  116  of the head band  112 . The panel  130  can be readily attached or removed from the head band  112  via the corresponding hook/loop strips  150 ,  152 . 
     In use, the shooter  104  places the training aid  100  onto his/her head  110  such that the head band  112  extends across his/her forehead  114  and the panel  130  extend upward from the head band  112 . If necessary, the circumference of the head band  112  can be adjusted for a secure and comfortable fit onto the shooter&#39;s head  110 . Once the training aid  100  is securely positioned onto the shooter&#39;s head  110 , the shooter  104  can begin to shoot the basketball  102 . During shooting, as the shooter  104  goes through the loading phase of the shooting technique, the basketball  102  and/or a shooting hand  126  will contact the engagement surface  124  on the panel  130  when the basketball  102  is at the desired set-point. The contact between the basketball  102  and/or a shooting hand  126  and the engagement surface  124  provides a tactile feedback to the shooter  104 . Thus, the shooter  104  can be given feedback on every shot regarding when the basketball  102  is at the desired set-point. As a result, the shooter  104  can shoot the basketball  102  with correct form in a repeatable manner. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates another example training aid  200  for shooting a basketball (e.g., basketball  102  of  FIG.  4   ). The training aid  200  is similar to the training aid  100  of  FIGS.  1 - 4    in that it configured to provide feedback to a shooter  204  with regard to whether the basketball is positioned at a desired set-point during shooting. The training aid  200  may be configured in a variety of ways. In the illustrated example, the training aid  200  includes a head-mounting portion  206  and a feedback-providing portion  208  attached to the head-mounting portion  206 . 
     The head-mounting portion  206  is configured similar to the head mounting portion  106  of  FIGS.  1 - 4   . The head mounting portion  206  is configured to mount onto a head  210  of the shooter  204  in order to support and position the feedback-providing portion  208 . The head-mounting portion  206  may be configured in a variety of ways. Any configuration that may securely mount onto the head  210  of the shooter  204  may be used. For example, the head-mounting portion  206  may include a head band, a head strap, a head covering, a head wrap, a chin strap, or other suitable devices and combinations thereof for supporting and positioning the feedback-providing portion  208 . In the illustrated example, the head-mounting portion  206  includes a head band  212  configured to encircle the head  210  of the shooter  204  in a generally horizontal arrangement, as shown in  FIG.  4   . The head band  212  may be substantially similar to the head band  112  of  FIGS.  1 - 4   . 
     The head band  212  may be configured in a variety of ways, such as different dimensions (e.g., thickness, width, circumference), shapes, materials used, and adjustment devices (i.e., ways of adjusting the size and ensuring a secure fit onto the shooter&#39;s head). For example, in some implementations, the head band  212  has a closure, similar to an adjustable baseball cap. Various known closure types may be used, such as for example, a plastic snap, double plastic snap, a hook and loop tape, a tuck strap with slide, a tuck strap with buckle or snap, a D-Fit®, or other suitable closure type. The head band  212  may be made of any suitable material or materials, such as plastic, nylon, an elastic material, such as rubber, spandex, elastane, or fold-over elastic stretch. Preferably, the materials used are lightweight and comfortable to wear, in addition to being able to support the feedback-providing portion  108  as desired. In the illustrated example, the head band  212  is a continuous, elastic band made of any suitable elastic material. 
     The head-mounting portion  206  also includes a cover portion  260 . The cover portion  260  is configured to provide a plurality of mounting locations  262 , relative to the head band  212 , for the feedback-providing portion  208 . The cover portion  260  may be configured in a variety of ways. In the illustrated implementation, the cover portion  260  is a half-dome extending from a location adjacent the forehead  214  of the shooter  204  rearward and terminating at a midpoint  264  between the forehead  214  and the back  215  of the head  210  of the shooter  204 . The cover portion  260  is configured to generally conform to the shape of the head  210  of the shooter  204 . The cover portion  260  includes a convex outer surface  266 , a concave inner surface (not shown) opposite the outer surface  266 , an exterior edge  268  between the inner surface (not shown) and outer surface  266 , and a rear edge  270  between the inner surface (not shown) and outer surface  266 . The rear edge  270  is curved to generally conform to the shape of the head  210  of the shooter  204 . 
     The cover portion  260  is connected to, or integrally formed with, the head band  212 . The cover portion  260  may be connected to the head band  212  in any suitable manner. In the illustrated example, the exterior edge  268  is connected to the head band  212  by, for example, hook and loop fastening strips (not shown). The plurality of mounting locations  262  for mounting the feedback-providing portion  208  may be configured in a variety of ways. Any configuration that allows the feedback-providing portion  208  to mount to different locations on the cover portion  260  relative to the head band  212  may be used. In the illustrated example, each of the plurality of mounting locations  262  includes a pair of fasteners  272 , one on each side of the head  210 , and a groove  274  extending between the pair of fasteners  272 . The mounting locations  262  are arranged in series such that the feedback-providing portion  208  may be moved forward and backward as desired. Thus, as shown in  FIG.  5   , each groove  274  extends parallel to the other grooves  274  and each fastener  272  on each side is aligned with the other snap fasteners  272  on that side. The fasteners  272  may be configured in a variety of ways. In one exemplary implementation, the fasteners are a male or female snap fastener. 
     The feedback-providing portion  208  is configured to provide a tactile feedback to the shooter  204  when the basketball is at the desired set-point or, alternatively, beyond the set-point (i.e., above and over the shooter&#39;s head more than is desired). In the illustrated example, the feed-back providing portion  208  includes an engagement surface  224  which the basketball and/or a shooting hand  126  of the shooter  204  contacts to provide the tactile feedback. The feedback-providing portion  208  may be configured in a variety of ways. Any suitable configuration that can provide the aforementioned engagement surface  224  may be used. 
     In the illustrated example, the feedback-providing portion  208  is configured as a single panel  230 . In other implementations, the feedback-providing portion  208  may be a plurality of panels, fingers, stems, or other components capable of providing tactile feedback. In the illustrated example, the panel  230  includes a front face  232 , a rear face  234  opposite and parallel to the front face  232 , a bottom edge  236  extending between the front face  232  and the rear face  234 , a top edge  238  opposite the lower edge  236  and extending between the front face  232  and the rear face  234 , a first lateral edge  240  extending between the bottom edge  236  and the top edge  238 , and a second lateral edge  242  opposite the first lateral edge  240  and extending between the bottom edge  236  and the top edge  238 . In the illustrated example, the panel  230  is generally rectangular, but the bottom edge  236  is concave to conform to the shape of the convex outer surface  266  of the cover portion  260 . In other implementations, however, the panel  230  can be any suitable shape. 
     In the illustrated example, the front face  232  and the rear face  234  are planar. In other implementations, however, the front face and/or rear face may convex and concave, respectively, or any other suitable shape. The front face  232  defines the engagement surface  224 , which may be a portion of the front face  232  or the entire front face  232 . 
     The panel  230  may be made from any suitable material or materials, such as for example, plastic, foam, cardboard, or other suitable material with sufficient rigidity to serve as an engagement surface and light enough in weight to be non-intrusive while the shooter  204  plays or practices basketball. In some implementations, the front face  232  and the rear face  234  may be continuous (i.e., not include any holes, slits, or other openings). In other implementations, the panel  230  may include one or more holes, slits, slots, or other openings extending through the panel  230  from the front face  232  to the rear face  234 . Including one or more openings in the panel  230  may be advantageous to reduce the weight and decrease air resistance of the panel  230 . 
     The panel  230  is configured to mount to the cover portion  260  such that the panel  230  extends superiorly from the shooter&#39;s forehead  214  when the head band  212  is properly worn by the shooter  204 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . The panel  230  may mount to the cover portion  260  in any suitable manner. In the illustrated example, the panel  230  includes a pair of fasteners (not shown) mounted on the bottom edge  236  and configured to connect to a corresponding pair of fasteners  272  on the cover portion  260 . For example, the pair of fasteners knot shown) may be a female or male snap fasteners configured to connect to the corresponding male or female snap fastener  272  on the cover portion  260 . In addition, the bottom edge  236  is configured to be received within one of the grooves  274  in the cover portion  260 . In this way, most, or all, of the bottom edge  236  is supported by the cover portion  260  via one of the grooves  274  and the pair of fasteners. 
     The panel  230  can be readily attached or removed from the cover portion  260  via the fasteners and adjusted in a forward or backward direction to change the location where the basketball will contact the panel  230 . Thus, the shooter can adjust the set-point of his/her shot to find the position that is best for him/her. 
     While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination with exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein, all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.