Patent ID: 8012046

Claim:
A basketball return apparatus for collecting and returning basketballs shot at a basketball hoop back to a shooter, the apparatus comprising: a frame having a back portion with a mounting plate adapted to mount on a rim support bracket of the basketball hoop, a base portion that defines an orifice through which shot basketballs can descend and a foot portion which extends generally below the orifice, all portions of the frame are positioned forward of the backboard and do not extend around or over the backboard to mount thereon; arms connected to the frame and extending therefrom to a height above a rim of the basketball hoop; flexible collapsibly-extensible netting attached to the arms to form an upwardly and downwardly opened funnel shaped enclosure that directs shot basketballs to the orifice; and a ball return mechanism solely supported by and mounted to the foot portion of the frame so as to pivot with respect thereto, the mechanism having a motor which rotatably drives the ball return mechanism reciprocatingly from a first limit to a second limit to direct basketballs back to the shooter at variable court locations; wherein the mounting plate has mounting pads positioned to either side of the rim support bracket and angled relative one another to contact and interface along the back of the rim when the apparatus is mounted on the support bracket, and wherein the mounting pads reduce forward tilting and lateral swaying of the apparatus.