Patent Publication Number: US-2004043841-A1

Title: Basketball training aid

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a basketball training device, and more particularly to a basketball training device which can be detachably mounted on a standard basketball goal to improve a player&#39;s ability to make successful shots into the goal.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] In the sport of basketball, it is generally desirable to shoot a basketball with a high arch to ensure it enters the goal. Basketball players spend a great deal of time aiming and shooting the basketball towards the goal in order to master the skills necessary for achieving the ideal arch. However, while repetitive practice is a key factor in improving shooting performance, basketball players may also rely on training devices to improve their skills.  
       [0005] In the past, devices designed to assist basketball players with their training have done little to improve a player&#39;s form. Basketball training devices have primarily served to return the ball to the player after trial shots. While these devices enable the player to spend more time shooting the ball and less time retrieving the ball, they do not improve a player&#39;s shooting trajectory. In addition, most basketball training devices require substantial effort for their installation and dismantling. This is a significant disadvantage for players who immediately transition from shooting practice to playing a real game on the same basketball court.  
       [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,915, issued Jun. 10, 1980 to C. Woodcock, discloses a basketball practice device which can be mounted on a basketball goal. The device comprises a ring attached to a plurality of radially extending legs projecting horizontally from the goal, and a free-standing element mounted upon each leg for deflecting basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory. Installation of the device can be cumbersome as each leg must be individually clamped to the ring and the rim of the goal by means of brackets.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,764, issued Nov. 17, 1981 to W. Burke, discloses a basketball training aid comprising a basketball receiving hoop surrounded by a laterally extending, downwardly inclined shield terminating in a peripheral ring just outside of the rim of a standard basketball goal through which the ball passes to score points. This device eliminates the capability of the players to “dunk” the ball through the hoop.  
       [0008] Most basketball practice devices are designed to return the ball to the player. U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,680, issued Nov. 24, 1992 to N. Cass, discloses a basketball practice device designed to return the ball to the player after completing a basket, thus enabling the player to spend less time retrieving the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,543, issued Mar. 26, 1974 to J. Steele, discloses a ball deflector that is designed so that as a ball passes through the net of the goal, the deflector intercepts the path of the ball as the ball passes out of the bottom of the net. Canadian Patent No. 2,138,864, issued Feb. 5, 1995 to Frank Adamek, discloses a device for returning a basketball to the player at a desired location on a basketball court. International Patent No. WO 97/02869, published Jan. 30, 1997, discloses a device which returns the basketball to the player no matter where he is in the court. U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,052, issued Nov. 22, 1988 to K. Zinger, discloses a basketball return for deflecting a basketball which has passed through a basketball hoop.  
       [0009] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a basketball training aid solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] The basketball training aid according to the present invention is a semi-circular shaped device, having the same or about the same radius of curvature as the rim of a standard basketball goal. The device, which can be detachably mounted to the rim of a standard basketball goal, comprises an arcuate free-standing vertical wall which protrudes from an arcuate semi-cylindrical base. The device serves to deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory. The base has a groove or opening which fits over the rim of the hoop and allows the device to be detachably mounted thereon. The device is secured in place on the rim by C-shaped hooks and hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) fastener straps located at each end of the base. The hooks extend under the rim to prevent horizontal movement and/or provide stops between the loops to which the net is attached. The hook and loop straps wrap around the rim and the base to prevent the device from falling off the rim.  
       [0011] Once the device is secured on the rim, the vertical wall extends above the horizontal plane of the rim to deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory. Players are thereby induced to shoot the ball with a higher arch.  
       [0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a basketball training device which aids basketball players in acquiring proper shooting techniques.  
       [0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a basketball training device which will deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory.  
       [0014] It is a further object of the invention to provide a basketball training device which can be easily attached and detached to a basketball hoop.  
       [0015] Still another object of the invention is to provide a basketball training device which can be used as a sighting aid by the player shooting the ball.  
       [0016] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
       [0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is an environmental front perspective view of a basketball training device according to the present invention, that is mounted on the rim of a standard basketball goal.  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is an environmental side perspective view of a basketball training device according to the present invention, that is mounted on the rim of a standard basketball goal.  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a rear view of a basketball training device according to the present invention. 
    
    
     [0021] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0022] As shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , a preferred embodiment of the basketball training device according to the present invention, generally designated as  5 , is adapted to be mounted on a conventional basketball goal having a standard rim  15  and backboard  10 . As depicted in FIG. 2, the front  20  of the device  5  faces the position from which the player shoots the ball and the back  30  of the device  5  faces the backboard  10 .  
     [0023] As depicted in FIG. 1, the present invention is a semi-circular shaped basketball training device  5 , having the same radius of curvature as a standard basketball rim  15 . The device  5  can be detachably mounted on the rim  15  and comprises an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall  25  protruding from an arcuate semi-cylindrical base  26  having opposing ends  27  and  28 .  
     [0024] As depicted in FIG. 2, the base  26  has a hollow interior or groove  45  for receiving the rim  15 . The base  26  also has a C-shaped hook  40  and strap  35  at each of its opposing ends  27  and  28  to prevent movement of the device  5  on the rim  15 .  
     [0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the hooks  40  at the opposing ends  27  and  28  of the base  26  protrude beneath the rim  15  adjacent the loops to which the net is attached, lodging against or abutting the loops in order to prevent rotation of the base  26  laterally on the rim  15 . A first end  55  of strap  35  is attached to a first slot  42  on the front  20  of the base  26  and a second end  50  of the strap  35  is inserted through a second slot  43  at the back  30  of the base  26 . The second end  50  of the strap  35  has a first patch of hook and loop fastening material  39  attached to one side of the strap  35 , and a second patch of mating hook and loop fastening material  41  attached to the opposite side of the strap  35 , so that second end  50  of the strap  35  is wrapped around the base  26  and the rim  15  and secured to itself, thereby securing the base  26  to the rim  15 . Straps  35  may be made from nylon webbing or other suitable material with hook and loop patches  39  and  41  attached thereto.  
     [0026] The vertical wall  25 , protrudes from the center of the base  26 . Preferably, the vertical wall  25  has a height of about 3.75 inches and extends about 13 inches circumferentially, while the base  26  has a height of about 1.25 inches and extends about 18.25 inches circumferentially.  
     [0027] When placed upon the rim  15 , the vertical wall  25  extends above the horizontal plane of the rim  15 . Straps  35  wrap around the base  26  and the rim  15  at each of the opposing ends  27  and  28 . The hooks  40  extend from underneath each opposing end  27  and  28  and protrude under the rim  15 , abutting against the net-holding loops which depend from the rim  15 .  
     [0028] The base  26  and vertical wall  25  are preferably made in one piece from a thermoplastic material that is capable of withstanding the impact of basketballs which are thrown against it. Preferably, the device  5  is made from polypropylene, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other impact resistant material, most preferably polypropylene.  
     [0029] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.