Abstract:
A free throw training aid including a frame adapted for positioning on a floor below a hoop attached to a backboard. The free throw training aid includes a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard. A substantially horizontal standard attaches between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. A shooter is intended to shoot a basketball over the horizontal and between the spaced apart ball guides. Visual feedback is provided to the shooter or an observer by comparing the angle of the based upon a comparison of the pair of spaced apart ball guides to a flight of the ball after it passes over the horizontal standard and upon its decent to the rim and the entry angle as the ball enters the hoop.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to sport training aids and more particularly to a basketball free throw training aid. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    In basketball, there is some small debate regarding the anatomy, or more properly the physics, of a consistent free throw, but there is no disagreement regarding the numbers that reflect successful free throws completed. The numbers reflect that men college players as a whole have achieved a statistical average of just below seventy percent. In professional basketball, the average hovers around the seventy-five percentile. What is more, it is widely agreed that while the free throw is the single most repeatable shot in the game of basketball, there has been little to no improvement in that average in at least forty years. Regarding the components of the free throw it is widely accepted that the markers of a consistently scoring free throw include a launch angle in the range of fifty to fifty-five degrees from horizontal and an entry angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal. 
         [0005]    A variety of devices have been offered that are aimed at helping the player and the coach in improving the players free throw percentage by aiding the shooter in achieving a more repetitive free throw and hence a more consistent result. There are a number of patents that are directed to devices that include a horizontal bar or element placed between the shooter and the basket to encourage the shooter to increase the height of the trajectory of the shot to a desired level. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,527, U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,926, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,136, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,556, U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,349, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,132 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,551. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a free throw training aid that provides a visual feedback to both the shooter and/or an observer regarding entry angle of the ball, from which information regarding ball launch angle and velocity may be derived. 
         [0007]    Advantage may be found then in a providing a free throw training aid that provides a visual feedback regarding entry angle of the ball, from which information regarding ball launch angle and velocity may be derived. 
         [0008]    Advantage may be found in a providing a free throw training aid that allows for adjustment of a height of a horizontal standard above the floor and the distance of the horizontal standard from the backboard simultaneously while maintaining an angle from horizontal that each of a pair of diagonal spaced apart ball guides extend from a device frame. 
         [0009]    Advantage may also be found in providing a free throw training aid that provides for adjustment of a width of a pair of spaced apart ball guides through which the shooter tosses the ball in executing a free throw in order to increase difficulty of the shot. 
         [0010]    Advantage may also be found in providing a free throw training aid that provides for adjustment of the device between a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches and an erected configuration wherein the device is configured for use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a free throw training aid for placement on a floor in front of a basketball backboard. The device includes a frame adapted for positioning on the floor below a hoop attached to the basketball backboard. A pair of spaced apart ball guides is attached to the frame and extends diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard. A horizontal standard is attached between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. The device includes means for adjusting a height of the horizontal standard above the floor and means for adjusting a distance of the horizontal standard from the backboard. In a preferred embodiment these adjustments are made by extending or retracting the pair of spaced apart diagonal guides. Because each of the pair of spaced apart ball guides extend or retract diagonally, both a height of the horizontal standard above the floor and a distance of the horizontal standard from the backboard are increased or decreased simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, each of the spaced apart diagonal guides is configured having two or more sections that cooperate with one another to telescopically extend or retract. Alternately other arrangements may be employed where two or more sections are held in sliding relationship to one another. 
         [0012]    In the preferred embodiment, the pair of spaced apart ball guides extends diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees from horizontal. In other embodiments, the pair of spaced apart ball guides extends diagonally from the frame at an angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal. 
         [0013]    The preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. In one embodiment each of the spaced apart diagonal guides includes a tubular segment, one being larger than the other such that the diameter of the smaller one fits within the diameter of the larger one in a telescoping fit that may be locked one with respect to the other for selectively setting a distance between the guides. Alternately other arrangements may be employed where two or more sections are held in sliding relationship to one another. 
         [0014]    A distinct advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is found in the fact that the shooter and a coach or other observer may both receive visual feedback based upon viewing the flight of the ball after it passes over the horizontal standard and upon its decent to the rim and the entry its angle as the ball enters the hoop compared to a longitudinal axis of one or both of the diagonal spaced apart ball guides. Preferably entry angle as the ball enters the hoop should also be in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diagonal spaced apart ball guides, which as previously noted preferably extend from the frame at an angle in the range of forty to fifty degrees from horizontal. 
         [0015]    The shooter also receives visual feedback based upon the height of the ball above a horizontal standard during ball flight. The shooter is trained to release the free throw so that its trajectory exhibits a flight that is a set and repeatable height above the horizontal standard. If the ball hits the horizontal standard or flies too close to the standard, an entry angle that is too low is indicated to the shooter and either or both the launch angle and/or the velocity of the ball upon release must be increased. Conversely, if the ball flies too far above to the standard, an entry angle that is too high is indicated to the shooter and either or both the launch angle and/or the velocity of the ball upon release must be decreased. 
         [0016]    The preferred embodiment of the invention, also includes a ball return system that includes a barrier configured as a net that extends approximately from a first outer edge of the backboard, attaching to a first net support member that extends from the device frame, around the front of the device, attaching to the pair of diagonal spaced apart ball guides and returning to attach near a second outer edged of the backboard to a second net support member that extends from the device frame. The ball return system also includes a ring disposed beneath the basketball hoop to which a lower marginal edge of the barrier is attached. A ball catch and a pair of rails are positioned beneath the ring to catch a ball as it drops through the ring directing the ball onto the pair of rails and back towards the shooter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a representative side view of a free throw training aid in use according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a representative front view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a representative perspective view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a representative side view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a representative side view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a representative rear view of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a representative detail view of a frame of a free throw training aid according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows free throw shooter S shooting ball B along trajectory T. Preferably the shot is initiated having a launch angle LA substantially equal to 52 degrees and a velocity sufficient to allow the trajectory to terminate at hoop H with an entry angle EA substantially equal to 45 degrees. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of basketball free throw training aid  10  is shown positioned on floor F below basketball hoop H which is attached to backboard BB. Basketball free throw training aid  10  includes frame  11  which in turn includes base  12  mounted on a plurality of wheels  13  one or more of which may be of the locking variety so that once positioned beneath hoop H as shown, the device may be locked to prohibit movement. Frame  11  also includes upright frame section  14  attached to base  12 . First frame brace  21  and as seen in  FIG. 2 , second frame brace  22  are shown stabilizing upright frame section  14 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows first ball guide  15  and second ball guide  16  attached to frame  11  and extending from frame  11  along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to backboard BB. As seen in  FIG. 1 , first ball guide  15 , which is typical of second ball guide  16 , extends diagonally from upright frame section  14  and is supported by first ball guide brace  25 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , second ball guide  16  is supported by second ball guide brace  26 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , an angle at which first ball guide  15  extends from upright frame section  14  may be adjusted or selected by removing screw  24  that holds first ball guide  15  with respect to first ball guide brace  25 , moving first ball guide  15  to any of a variety of angles and replacing screw  24  to secure first ball guide  15  at the selected angle with respect to first ball guide brace  25 .  FIG. 1  shows first ball guide  15  set at a preferred guide angle GA substantially equal to 45 degrees, which as previously noted is equal to the preferred entry angle EA at which ball B enters hoop H. Referring again to  FIG. 2 , horizontal standard  20  is attached between the pair of spaced apart ball guides, first ball guide  15  and second ball guide  16 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows horizontal standard  20  set at a selected elevation E above floor F and a selected distance D from backboard BB. As seen in  FIG. 1 , first ball guide  15 , which is typical of second ball guide  16 , includes first telescopic section  17  pivotably attached to upright frame section  14  at connector  19 . Second telescopic section  18  is telescopically extendable from first telescopic section  17 . Elevation E and distance D of horizontal standard  20  may be simultaneously increased or decreased as first and second ball guides  15  and  16  are extended or retracted. Preferably, horizontal standard  20  is set at an elevation E equal to a height of hoop H plus zero to twenty-four inches. Additionally, horizontal standard  20  is set at a distance D from backboard BB in the range of twenty-four inches to forty-eight inches. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a preferred embodiment of free throw training aid  30  including frame  31 . Frame  31  includes frame base  32  mounted on a plurality of wheels  33  one or more of which may be of the locking variety. Frame  31  also includes upright frame section  34  attached to frame base  32 . First frame brace  35  and second frame brace  45  as seen in  FIG. 3 , stabilize upright frame section  34 .  FIG. 3  also shows ball caddy  85  suspended from a plurality of frame uprights  84 . Ball caddy  85  is configured to hold a plurality of balls for storage and transport. 
         [0032]    First ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65  are shown attached to and extending from frame crossbar  53 . First ball guide  60  extends diagonally from frame crossbar  53  and is supported by first ball guide brace  50 . Similarly, second ball guide  65  extends from frame crossbar  53  and is supported by second ball guide brace  55 . Horizontal standard  75  is attached between the pair of spaced apart ball guides, first ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  also shows a pair of net support arms, first net support arm  70  and second net support arm  90 , which attach to and extend from frame crossbar  53 . Ball collection net  80  is attached to the pair of net support arms  70  and  90  and first and second ball guides  60  and  65 . A lower edge of ball collection net  80  attaches to net ring  81 . Ball catch  82  directs a ball that is caught within ball collection net  80  and is directed through net ring  81  onto ball return rails  83  which direct the ball back towards a shooter. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows basketball free throw training aid  30  arranged in a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches. Preferably the storage configuration should permit basketball free throw training aid  30  to be transported through a doorway having a height of eighty inches and a width of thirty-six inches. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4-9  show basketball free throw training aid  30  including frame  31 . Frame  31  includes frame base  32  mounted on a plurality of wheels  33  one or more of which may be of the locking variety. Frame  31  also includes upright frame section  34  attached to frame base  32 . First frame brace  35 , which is typical of first frame brace  45  seen in FIGS.  3  and  5 - 9  is shown attached between frame base  32  and upright frame section  34  to stabilize upright frame section  34 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4-9  show first ball guide  60 , supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar  53  by first ball guide brace  50 , and second ball guide  65 , seen in FIGS.  5  and  7 - 9 , shown supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar  53  by second ball guide brace  55 .  FIGS. 4 and 6  also show first ball guide  60  supported in part by first ball guide brace  50 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 4-9  also show ball caddy  85  suspended from a plurality of frame uprights  84 . Ball catch  82  is configured to catch a ball and direct it onto ball return rails  83  which direct the ball back towards a shooter. 
         [0038]    Referring again to  FIG. 4 , upright frame section  34 , first ball guide  60  and first net support arm  70  are all seen lowered in a storage configuration.  FIG. 6  is a side view of basketball free throw training aid  30  with first ball guide  60 , including first ball guide upper segment  62  extended for use from first ball guide lower segment  61 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 7-9  show free throw training aid  30  including frame  31  having frame base  32  mounted on a plurality of wheels  33 . Upright frame section  34  attaches to frame base  32 . Ball caddy  85  is configured to hold a plurality of balls for storage and transport. Free throw training aid  30  as shown in  FIGS. 7-9  includes first ball guide  60  including first ball guide lower segment  61  attached to frame crossbar  53  by first ball guide pivotable connector  64  and slideably engaging first ball guide upper segment  62  and held in position with respect thereto by first ball guide set screw  63 . First ball guide  60  is further supported in its angular extension from frame crossbar  53  by first ball guide brace  50 . Second ball guide  65  includes second ball guide lower segment  66  attached to by second ball guide pivotable connector  69  and slideably engaging second ball guide upper segment  67  and held in position with respect thereto by second ball guide set screw  68 . Second ball guide  65  is further supported in its angular extension from frame crossbar  53  by second ball guide brace  55 . Horizontal standard  75  includes first horizontal tubular segment  76  and second horizontal tubular segment  77  held in position with respect to one another, at least partially, by horizontal width adjustment set screw  78 . Horizontal standard  75  is connected between first ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65 . 
         [0040]    Free throw training aid  30  as shown in  FIGS. 7-9  also includes first net support arm  70  having first net support arm lower tubular segment  71  attached to frame crossbar  53  by first net support arm pivotable connector  58  and slideably engaging first net support arm upper tubular segment  72  and held in position with respect thereto by first net support arm set screw  73 . First net support arm  70  is held against upright frame section  34  by first net support bale  74 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 7-9  also show second net support arm  90  having second net support arm lower tubular segment  91  attached to frame crossbar  53  by second net support arm pivotable connector  59  and slideably engaging second net support arm upper tubular segment  92  and held in position with respect thereto by second net support arm set screw  93 . Second net support arm  90  is held against upright frame section  34  by first net support bale  94 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  is a detail view showing frame cross bar  53  attached to vertical slide member  52  which slideably cooperates with vertical frame element  51 . A vertical position of vertical slide member  52  with respect to vertical frame element  51  is maintained by slide set screw  54 . 
         [0043]    Referring again to  FIGS. 4-9 , a sequence of views steps taken in setting up free throw training aid  30 . Initially width W, as shown in  FIG. 5 , between first ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65  may be adjusted by loosening horizontal width adjustment set screw  78  of horizontal standard  75  and moving first ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65  in or out as desired extending or retracting horizontal first tubular segment  76  in or from horizontal second tubular segment  77 . When a desired width W is selected, width W is set by tightening horizontal width adjustment set screw  78 . 
         [0044]    Next, first ball guide  60 , shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar  53  by first ball guide brace  50 , and second ball guide  65 , seen in  FIG. 5 , shown supported at least partially in its angular extension from frame crossbar  53  by second ball guide brace  55 , are extended. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it will be noted that first ball guide  60  includes first ball guide lower tubular segment  61  pivotally attached to frame cross bar  53  by first ball guide pivotable connector  64 . First ball guide upper tubular segment  62  slideably engages first ball guide lower tubular segment  61 . Similarly. Referring to  FIG. 5 , second ball guide  65  includes second ball guide lower tubular segment  66  pivotally attached to frame cross bar  53  by second ball guide pivotable connector  69 . Second ball guide upper tubular segment  67  slideably engages first ball guide lower tubular segment  66 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , to extend first ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65 , first ball guide set screw  63  and second ball guide set screw  68  are loosened and first ball guide upper tubular segment  62  and second ball guide upper tubular segment  67  are extended until first ball guide  60  and second ball guide  65  reach a desired length. First ball guide set screw  63  and second ball guide set screw  68  are then re-tightened. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the next step taken in configuring free throw training aid  30  for use involves extending first net support arm  70  and second net support arm  90 . First net support set screw  73  and second net support set screw  93  are loosened and first net support arm upper tubular segment  72  is extracted from first net support arm lower tubular segment  72  and extended beneath first net support bale  74 . When a desired length is achieved, first net support set screw  73  is re-tightened. Similarly, with second net support set screw  93  loosened, second net support arm upper tubular segment  92  is extracted from second net support arm lower tubular segment  91  and extended beneath second net support bale  94 . Again, when a desired length is achieved, second net support set screw  93  is re-tightened. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the next step taken in setting up free throw training aid  30  involves raising upright frame section  34  from frame base  32 . Before raising upright frame section  34 , first vertical frame section set screw  42  and second vertical frame section set screw  43  are loosened. Upright frame section  34  includes first vertical frame tubular slide element  56  slideably engages first frame base upright  40 . Similarly, second vertical frame tubular slide element  57  slideably engages second frame base upright  41 . As upright frame section  34  is raised with respect to frame base  32 , first vertical frame tubular slide element  56  remains slideably engaged with first frame base upright  40 . Similarly, second vertical frame tubular slide element  57  remains slideably engaged with second frame base upright  41 . Lateral support for upright frame section  34  continues to be provided by engagement of first vertical frame tubular slide element  56  with first frame base upright  40  and second vertical frame tubular slide element  57  with second frame base upright  41 . Upright frame section  34  together with the connected structure including, first and second ball guides  60  and  65  respectively, first and second net support arms  70  and  90  respectively, all attached to frame cross bar  53  may be raised by lifting frame cross bar  53  and the attached upright frame section  34  to a desired selected height and first vertical frame section set screw  42  and second vertical frame section set screw  43  are then re-tightened. 
         [0048]    Referring again to  FIG. 9 , the next step taken in configuring free throw training aid  30  for use is shown. It will be noted that frame  31  includes vertical frame element  51  attached to upright frame section  34 . Frame cross bar  53  is attached to vertical slide member  52  which slideably cooperates with vertical frame element  51 . A vertical position of vertical slide member  52  with respect to vertical frame element  51  is maintained by slide set screw  54 . To raise vertical slide member  52  and its attached structure, slide set screw  54  is loosened and frame cross bar  53  is lifted to a desired position where slide set screw  54  is re-tightened. It should be noted that a height of horizontal standard  75  may be increased or decreased incrementally simply by incrementally raising or lowering slide member  52  and the attached frame cross bar  53 . Referring again to  FIG. 10  vertical slide member  52  is shown including incremental height indicator  95 . Sight window  96  is formed including index pointer  97  which may be aligned with one of the plurality of index hash marks  98  which represent the incremental raising or lowering of vertical slide member  52  and the attached horizontal standard  75 . 
         [0049]    Similarly, it should be apparent that a height of horizontal standard  75  may be increased or decreased incrementally simply by incrementally raising or lowering upright frame section  34 . Finally, it bears noting that a height of horizontal standard  75  may also be increased or decreased incrementally by incrementally extending or retracting first ball guide upper tubular segment  62  with respect to first ball guide lower tubular segment  61  and second ball guide upper tubular segment  67  second ball guide lower tubular segment  66  with respect to second ball guide pivotable connector  69 . 
         [0050]    The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiment(s) and implementation(s) disclosed. Modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. At least one preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and a best mode of practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention and the various modifications that are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . .”