TRAINING SYSTEM FOR BASKETBALL SHOOTING

Abstract

The system herein disclosed and claimed is a system for training users how to shoot a basketball into a hoop rim by tossing the ball at a height well above the hoop rim so as to have the basketball arc downward with mostly downward more than sideward momentum.

Claims

1. A system to aid teaching basketball shooting technique comprising: an irregular hexagon-shaped frame comprising: two side rods of equal length; one front rod; and two joining rods of equal length; said irregular hexagon-shaped frame is attached to any standard basketball backboard using a mounting subsystem comprising: two clamping subsystems; and two latching pivot fixtures; one end of one said side rod is attached to one end of one said joining rod; one end of second said side rod is attached to one end of second said joining rod; other end of one said joining rod is attached to one end of said front rod; other end of second said joining rod is attached to other end of said front rod; other end of said side rod is attached to first said latching pivot fixture; other end of said second side rod is attached to second said latching pivot fixture; said first latching pivot fixture is attached to said first clamping subsystem; said second latching pivot fixture is attached to second said clamping subsystem; said first clamping subsystem is operative to attach to one side of a basketball goal backboard; said second clamping subsystem is operative to attach to opposite side of said basketball goal backboard; said latching pivot fixtures are-operative to pivot such that said side rods rotate in parallel vertical planes; said latching pivot fixtures are operative to latch said side rods such that they are oriented essentially horizontal when rotated into said essentially horizontal position; a cable set attached to each end of two side rod extensions extending from said mounting subsystem in a direction opposite the position of said front rod; said cable set operative to rotate, by being pulled downwards, said side rods from a vertical orientation with said front rod near the ground to said essentially horizontal position where said side rods and said front rod are essentially in a horizontal plane; said latching pivot fixtures operative to unlatch when rotated a second time after having latched when rotated a first time, such that successive pulling on said cable set will produce successive latching and unlatching operations of said latching pivot fixtures; a net with one end attached to said side rods and said front rod extending downward when said side rods and said front rod are essentially in a horizontal plane.

2. A claim as in claim 1 further comprising: A ball return subsystem with one end directly below said net and an opposite end located near a user.

3. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary basketball goal comprising vertical support stand, backboard, hoop and net.

[0013] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary basketball goal stand, backboard, hoop and net using an articulating stand that allows backboard/hoop to be lowered or raised.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates shooting where the ball has a small angle with the respect to the rim.

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates shooting where a larger rim structure above the basket rim forces a higher shot with a larger angle between ball and basket rim.

[0016] FIG. 5 is one embodiment of the system from a top view.

[0017] FIG. 6 is one embodiment of the system from a front view.

[0018] FIG. 7 is one embodiment of the system from a side view showing a stationary stand (left) and an articulating stand (right).

[0019] FIG. 8 is one embodiment of the system from a rear view showing the cables used to raise and lower the system.

[0020] FIG. 9 is one embodiment of the system where it is lowered so as to free up the basket rim and net for unaided shooting practice.

[0021] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the invention in which the net is extended and leads to a ball return structure that guides the ball back to the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The invention is an accessory system added to a standard basketball goal structure. Its purpose is to help train a learner to toss the basketball higher than the hoop rim so as to increase the downward vector of the ball relative to the horizontal vector. This increases the likelihood of making a basket (e.g. having the ball go through the hoop).

[0023] Prior art includes larger rims placed above the hoop rim for essentially the same training purpose. However, such accessories are attached such that the rim is horizontally oriented and supported by a cable from its corners to the backboard. Whereas these cables do provide support, they also create an obstruction above the hoop rim that may interfere with balls being tossed from the sides. As such, unimpeded shooting is limited to the area below and in front of the hoop rim. The invention herein disclosed and claimed uses no support cables and is designed to be lowered, from the ground, so as to allow unaided shooting once practice is concluded. The cables are used only for raising and lowering the accessory rim and its net, whereas support, once it is in its horizontal orientation, is provided by the special clamping subsystem and the materials used for the rim components.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a basketball goal consists of a vertical stand (101), backboard (102), hoop rim (103) and hoop net (104).

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a basketball goal in which the vertical stand (200) is articulated and allows the backboard, hoop, and net to be lowered, as a unit, from its regular height to a lower height. Doing so would allow younger learners who cannot yet toss a ball high enough for a 10-foot-above-ground hoop to learn to shoot with a lowered rim height. The invention herein disclosed and claimed will work with any type of basketball goal structure.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a ball tossed at a height just above hoop rim height (301). The ball in its downward arc makes an angle, 302, with the plane of the rim of about 30 degrees or less. As a result, when it contacts the rim, it has both downward and horizontal vector components, and the horizontal components will tend to move it toward the backboard or outer rim decreasing the likelihood that the ball will drop through the rim and net.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a ball tossed at a greater height than in FIG. 3 because it is blocked by an accessory rim (402) from getting to the hoop rim at a lower height. As a result, the ball trajectory is steeper and it makes a larger angle (403) with the hoop rim plane. As a result, the horizontal vector is diminished with respect to the vertical increasing the likelihood that the ball will fall into the hoop rim and net.

[0028] The accessory shown in FIG. 4 is the invention. FIG. 5 shows it from a top view (e.g. above the hoop rim and backboard). Using the backboard as one side, the invention has a parallel front rod (501) and two side rods (502) that are perpendicular to the backboard. In addition, two other joining rods (506) join the front rod and side rods. Two special clamping subsystems (505) attach the side rods to the backboard. These subsystems (505) are adaptable to any backboard structure. Special latching pivot fixtures (504) allow the invention's rim structure to pivot downward until essentially vertically oriented or abutting the vertical stand. When raised to a horizontal position, the pivot fixtures will latch providing support for the rim structure in its horizontal orientation position. The pivot fixture and clamping subsystem provide ample support and robustness to eliminate any need for a cable support system such as are found in prior-art systems.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows the invention embodiment of FIG. 5 from a front view. The front rod portion parallel to the backboard (501) and joining rods (506) are shown and it is located parallel to and above the plane of the hoop rim by some predetermined displacement. The invention rim also has a net (510) that is larger and longer than the hoop rim net. Balls that fail to go through the hoop rim will traverse the side of net 503 and land near the feet of the shooter.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the invention embodiment for a stationary basketball goal structure (left) and an articulating basketball goal structure (right). A set of cables (701) attached to extensions of the side rods allow a user to raise and lower the invention embodiment from the ground. When the cables are pulled downward, the invention rim rotates upward from an essentially vertical orientation to an essentially horizontal orientation. The latching pivot fixture will then latch the side rods such that the rim is in a fixed horizontal position. A second downward pull on the cables rotates the invention rim slightly above its horizontal orientation and thereby initiates an unlatching of the pivot fixture. Then allowing the cables to move upward enables the invention rim to rotate downward.

[0031] FIG. 8 shows the invention embodiment from a rear view. The cables (701) are shown. A cleat device (not shown) can be attached to the vertical stand and used to secure the cables when the invention rim is in its horizontal orientation. That can provide a second level of support.

[0032] FIG. 9 is a side view of the invention embodiment showing the invention rim in a lowered (e.g. essentially vertical orientation) position. The left side of the figure shows the invention embodiment attached to a stationary vertical stand basketball goal; the right side of the figure shows the invention embodiment attached to an articulating vertical stand basketball goal. The cables (701), side rod (502) and net (510) are shown in the lowered position.

[0033] In FIG. 10, the rim net 510 is extended such that a trough structure 1001 acts as a ball return element. When the ball falls through the hoop rim, or the invention rim net, it lands in the trough structure 1001 which is tilted slightly downward toward the learner. As a result, the ball falls into the trough and rolls to the learner.

[0034] The materials used for the invention rim rods could be made out of metal or resin materials that can sustain being hit by a basketball without breaking or bending. Although shown as separate rod, the side rods, joining rods and front rod could be made from a single long rod that is bent so as to conform to the irregular hexagonal shape. The dimensions will depend upon the dimensions of the backboard width. The height above the hoop rim will be determined by the dimensions of the invention rim. These are not critical so long as the invention rim is large enough and high enough to encourage learners to toss the ball well above the hoop rim height. The net material is not critical and would be determined by resistance to elements if used outdoors. The trough structure can be made from cylindrical material cut in half axially, or can be made using guide rods essentially parallel to the ground and raised slightly just below the net to act as guides. The guide rods would be tilted slight downward toward the learner such that the ball would roll back toward the learner after falling between the rods nearest the invention rim net 510.