Abstract:
A basketball practice device including a C-shaped ring capable circumferential contraction from its normal unrestrained configuration to reduce the diameter of the rim of a basketball goal including means to facilitate the installation and removal of the same.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/655,304, filed on Feb. 22, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an attachment for a rim of a basketball goal capable of reducing the diameter thereof for teaching players the proper shooting techniques in the sport of basketball; and more particularly the invention relates to a device to facilitate the installation and removal of such attachment to and from the rim of a basketball goal. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is generally known in the prior art that devices can be employed to slightly reduce the diameter of a regulation rim of a basketball goal to assist in improving the shooting skill and accuracy of basketball athletes. Such devices are used during practice sessions and are adapted to be mounted on the rim of standard basketball goal prior to the practice session and removed therefrom upon the cessation of practice. Since the rim of the basketball goal is disposed ten (10) feet above the floor of the basketball court, the application of the attachment device necessitates the use of a ladder or some other implement to elevate the attendant to the proper height for attachment of the device. 
         [0004]    Exemplary to the prior art devices are those illustrated and described in the United States Letters Patent Nos. 1,904,836 Peoples; 2,708,576 Verkuilen; 2,918,283 Marschalk; 4,206,915 Woodcock; and 5,364,092 Riepe et al. The patent to Marschalk shows a basketball practice device comprising a C-shaped ring having a plurality of radially extending and depending bifurcated legs affixed thereto. The C-shaped ring is constructed of a material which permits it to be expanded and contracted circumferentially and to thereby be mounted on a standard basketball goal so that the bifurcated legs of the device are forced outwardly into engagement with the basketball goal by forces developed with a C-shaped ring. The C-shaped ring is an annular ring having any small section thereof removed to form a ring having the general appearance of a capital letter C. The C-shaped ring is a slightly smaller diameter than the standard basketball goal, but of larger diameter than the standard basketball, and is mounted on a plane slightly above the plane of the goal so that the force of basketballs falling on the C-shaped ring can be readily transmitted to the goal without danger of the C-shaped ring becoming disengaged therefrom. During training and practice sessions, the device is effective in improving the shooting accuracy of the players which should result in a higher shooting average during regulation play. 
         [0005]    However, in the Marschalk patent, as well as the other prior art, there is no suggestion of how the application of the device can be accomplished, other than by utilizing a ladder and manually installing the device. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to produce a basketball practice device capable of being applied or installed on a basketball goal without the requirement or necessity to utilize a ladder thereby greatly reducing or substantially eliminating the injuries which oftentimes occur during the climbing up and/or down a ladder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The above, as well as other, objects of the invention may surprisingly be achieved by a basketball practice device to be mounted on the rim of a standard basketball goal, said device comprising: a C-shaped ring capable of circumferential contraction from its normal unrestrained configuration; a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs affixed to said ring and adapted to engage the rim of the basketball goal; hook means for exerting a force on at least one of the tabs to contract the ring from its normal unrestrained configuration to permit the tabs to position the device firmly in place by exerting a pressure against the rim of the basketball goal; and means spaced from the hook means for selectively urging the hook means toward or away from one another to contract the ring to permit the ring to be positioned within the rim of the basketball goal and thence allow the ring to return toward its unrestrained position allowing the tabs to firmly engage the rim of the basketball goal and hold the ring firmly in position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a basketball rim attachment and associated mounting means; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a left side view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view with a portion broken-away to more clearly show the guideway. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Referring to the drawings, there is shown a basketball practice device incorporating the features of the present invention. The device includes a generally C-shaped ring  10  having end portions  12  and  14  defining a space in between. The C-shaped ring  10  is provided with a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 . While there are five tabs in the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that other combinations may be employed. The tabs  16  and  24  are disposed near the respective end portions  12  and  14 , while the other tabs  18 ,  20  and  22  are disposed at spaced positions about the circumference of the ring  10 . 
         [0014]    The ring  10  is formed of a material which is capable of circumferential contraction from the normal position illustrated in the drawings. Then, upon release of the force tending to contract the ring  10 , the ring  10  will return to its original unrestrained configuration as shown in the drawings. Typically, the ring  10  is formed of a ferrous metal, for example, the tabs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  in the preferred illustrated embodiment are formed of a metal which may be readily welded to the ring  10 . 
         [0015]    The C-shaped ring  10  may be constrained by applying a force to the integral tabs  16  and  24  to cause the end portions  12  and  14  of the ring  10  to approach one another to thereby reduce the distance therebetween and simultaneously reduce the diameter of the C-shaped ring  10 . Accordingly, the ring  10  is in an unrestrained condition, the intermost ends of the tabs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  extend outwardly farther than they do when mounted in the rim of a basketball goal. Obviously, the diameter of the C-shaped ring  10  is larger in the unrestrained position than it is when mounted for use on the goal. 
         [0016]    In order to mount the device, the two end portions must be forced together so that the diameter of the C-shaped ring  10  is made smaller. This configuration is achieved by a pair of hook members  25  and  26  adapted to cooperate with respective tabs  16  and  24 . The hook members  25  and  26  are slideably mounted within a hollow guideway member  30 . In a preferred embodiment, the hook member  25  is fixedly mounted in respect of the guideway  30 , and the hook member  26  is adapted to move toward and away from the hook member  24 . A compression spring  32  is positioned within the interior of guideway  30 , thereby tending to normally urge the hook numbers  25  and  26  away from one another. 
         [0017]    The guideway  30  is fixedly attached adjacent the distal end of a pole  40 . A pivotally mounted handle  42  is disposed at the proximal end of the pole  40 . The handle  42  is mounted to pivot about a pivot connection  44 . One end of a cable  46  is mounted at  48  to the handle  42 . 
         [0018]    The other end of the cable  46  is caused to pass over a pulley  50  and, thence, is connected to the slideably mounted hook member  26  within the guide  30 . The effective length of the cable  46  may be varied by the use of a turnbuckle  52 . 
         [0019]    When the handle  42  is in the position illustrated in dashed line in  FIG. 1 , the cable  46  allows the hook member  26  to be in the fully relaxed position. When it is desired to mount the device in the basketball goal, the handle  42  is caused to be pivoted to the position illustrated in full lines in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In this position, the cable  46  is under tension and has caused the hook member  26  to move the tab  24  against the bias of the compression spring to cause the end portion  14  of the ring  10  to approach the end portion  12  thereby reducing the diameter of the ring  10 . The reduced diameter of the ring  10  will cause the tabs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  to move radially inwardly allowing the outer ends to contact the rim of the basketball goal at spaced apart locations. Then, the handle  42  is pivoted to the position illustrated in  FIG. 1  allowing the hook member  26  to be urged away from the cooperating hook member  25  allowing the residual forces to the ring  10  to expand the ring  10  causing the tabs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  to firmly engage the basketball goal. 
         [0020]    In removing the device including the C-shaped ring  10  from the goal, the handle  42  is pivoted to urge the hook member  26  toward the hook member  25 , thus reducing the diameter of the C-shaped ring  10  and associated tabs  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 . Thereupon, the pole  40  is moved upwardly and then away from the goal. 
         [0021]    The above described invention has produced a system for safely and simply mounting and removing the practice device without the necessity of using a ladder or other precarious perch. Further, the invention effectively decreases the diameter of the standard rim of a basketball goal and rests on the top of the rim without the necessity of any bolts, screws, brackets, or other functioning devices which might require the use of tools to be tightened or loosened. 
         [0022]    One other feature which can be utilized in combination with the present invention includes a bar which may be selectively attached to extend across the C-shaped ring  10  to militate against the passage of a basketball therethrough. Such structure would be useful in practicing rebounding, for example. 
         [0023]    From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.