BASKETBALL TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A basketball training device including one or more targets, generally a plurality of targets, featured on a strip of material located along the inside circumference of a basketball goal rim. The strip of material can include a magnetic flap that helps hold the device to the rim or the rim's frame, i.e. the back plate. The strip of material features a plurality of targets that are located in front of the inside of the basketball rim. The device allows a player to aim at a target that is on the inside of the basketball rim located directly in front of their position while shooting from any position on the court. In addition, the device trains the player to target the inside of the rim when shooting while the device is not in place.

Claims

1. A sports training device for use with a basketball goal having a rim comprising at least one target positioned along the circumference of the basketball rim.

2. The sports training device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of targets positioned along the circumference of the basketball rim.

3. The sports training device of claim 2 wherein the plurality of targets is positioned along the inner circumference of the basketball rim.

4. The sports training device of claim 3 wherein the plurality of targets are featured on an annular strip of material.

5. The sports training device of claim 4 wherein the targets are positioned in front of eyelets located along the circumference of the basketball rim.

6. The sports training device of claim 1 further comprising at least one pressure sensor integrated into the at least one target.

7. The sports training device of claim 5 further comprising at least one pressure sensor integrated into the annular strip of material featuring a plurality of targets.

8. The sports training device of claim 6 wherein the at least one pressure sensor is operably connected to an alarm that is activated when the pressure sensor detects pressure.

9. The sports training device of claim 7 wherein the at least one pressure sensor is operably connected to an alarm that is activated when the pressure sensor detects pressure.

10. The sports training device of claim 6 further comprising a transmitter operably connected to the pressure sensor; said transmitter being configured to send a signal to a processor.

11. The sports training device of claim 10 wherein the processor is located in a separate device.

12. The sports training device of claim 6 wherein the pressure sensor is operably connected to a transmitter configured to send a signal to an alarm located in a separate device.

13. The sports training device of claim 7 wherein the pressure sensor is operably connected to a transmitter configured to send a signal to an alarm located in a separate device.

14. The sports training device of claim 7 wherein the pressure sensor is operably connected to a transmitter configured to send a signal to a processor located in a separate device.

15. A system for training a player to properly aim a basketball at a basketball goal having a rim comprising: equipping the basketball rim with a plurality of targets such that at least one of the targets is facing a player located on a basketball court regardless of where on the court the player is located; instructing the player to aim at the target most directly facing the player when shooting the basketball at the basketball goal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of targets aligns with a structure on the basketball rim such that the player shoots the basketball at the structure when they shoot the basketball at the target most directly facing them.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of targets is positioned along the inner circumference of the basketball rim.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising equipping the targets with at least one pressure sensor operably connected to an alarm configured to sound when the target is struck.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of targets is positioned along the inner circumference of the basketball rim.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising equipping the targets with at least one pressure sensor operably connected to an alarm configured to sound when the target is struck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a basketball training device;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a basketball training device;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a basketball training device; and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a basketball training device in relation to the rest of the basketball court.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring now to the invention in more detail, FIG. 1 shows the inventive Basketball Training Device in isolation. The device, generally 10, includes a length of material 11 with a width that exceeds its height. Ideally, the length of material 11 is configured to be placed along the inside of the rim (not shown) of a basketball goal. The length of material 11 features a plurality of targets 12 along its length. As a result, in preferred embodiments, when the device 10 is placed along the inner circumference of a basketball rim 15, a player viewing the device 10 from a distance will see several targets 12 featured along the inside of the basketball rim 15. At any place on the court, the player should be able to see one of the targets 12 featured on the length of material 11 directly in front of or opposed to the player (see FIG. 4). As a result, the device 10 assists the player in training to shoot by aiming at the target 12 along the inside of the rim 15. In the preferred embodiments of this device, the length of material 11 has one or more attachment points 13 located generally along or near the one edge of the length of material 11. These attachment points 13, in preferred embodiments, are holes through which a conventional fastener can be placed to secure the device to the rim. Generally, the targets are positioned such that they align and cover the eyelets (not shown) on the basketball rim 15. As a result, the player is left with a visual target, i.e. the eyelet, at which to aim when the device is not in place.

[0022] Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 2 there is shown the basketball training device attached to a basketball rim 15. As discussed above, the training device 10 is inserted into the basketball rim 15 such that it extends along the inner circumference of the rim 15. FIG. 2 also shows a flap 14 that is attached to an edge of the device 10, generally the edge that is on top when one is facing the targets on the device 10. This flap 14 allows the device 10 to be secured to the basketball goal at a point other than the eyelets (not shown) if present helping to hold the device 10 in place. More specifically, the flap 14 is shaped to engage with and fit over the back plate 17. In preferred embodiments, this flap 14 is made of a magnetic material to help secure it to the frame and it is generally the same shape and size as the back plate 17.

[0023] In addition, FIG. 2 shows the plurality of targets 12 featured on the surface of the length of material 11 that is facing the inside of the basketball rim 15. As discussed above, when the length of material 11 is placed inside the basketball rim 15, the targets 12 are facing away from the backboard (not shown) allowing them to serve as visual targets for players shooting the ball at the goal. In preferred embodiments, the targets 12 are positioned such that they line up with and directly cover the eyelets that are part of a lot of basketball goals. As a result, the player using the device will train to aim at a portion of the goal or rim 15 that is still visible even after the training device 10 is removed as a player aiming for the location at which they are used to seeing targets will see the eyelet 16 of the rim 15 or the inside of the rim 15 when the device 10 and targets 12 are no longer present. Even if the player familiar with this device 10 is faced with a basketball rim that does not feature eyelets, the player's gaze will be drawn to and focus on the inner circumference of the rim.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, the training device 10 is again seen engaged with the basketball goal, specifically the basketball rim 15. FIG. 3 shows the device from a top perspective view, i.e., looking down at the goal. As previously discussed, when in place, the device 10 extends along the length of the inner surface of the basketball rim 15. As a result of this positioning, a player facing the goal can see a plurality of targets 12. In preferred embodiments, the targets 12 are bullseye images, but any visual marking will suffice to serve as a target 12. Because there are multiple targets 12 featured along the length of material 11, a player can look straight towards the basketball rim 15 and find a target 12 directly facing them, regardless of where on the court they are standing.

[0025] FIG. 3 also shows the flap 14 more clearly. In preferred embodiments, the device has a flap 14 or flat section that fits over the back plate of the frame. This flap 14 may be attached to the frame using any number of conventional means including magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and adhesives. However, in some preferred embodiments, the device is removably attached to the frame as a result of the flap 14 containing magnetic material capable of adhering to a metal surface. This allows for quick and easy installation of the device.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device in relation to the court and players on the court. As previously discussed, the device 10 features a length of material 11 that fits and sits along the circumference of the basketball rimin the anticipated best mode of this device, the length of material is seated along the inner circumference of the rim. The length of material 11 can be made of any durable polymer or fabric or any other material that is both flexible enough to be bent and sturdy enough to withstand repeated impacts from a basketball. More importantly, FIG. 4 shows how the device provides a target inside the rim regardless of from where on the court the player views the goal. More specifically, FIG. 4 shows a player in seven different positions around the basketball goal. From each of those seven positions, the player is directly facing at least one of the targets 12 featured on the length of material 11. Similarly, when the device 10 is removed, the player can locate the eyelet (not shown) on the rim that is most directly in front of them. Alternately, when there are no eyelets on the rim 15, the player simply aims their shot at the portion of the rim 15 that is directly in front of them in the 12 o'clock position.

[0027] The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to provide a training device to a basketball player that is portable and easy to remove and take to another location. In addition, this device is designed to teach players to aim for the inside of the basketball rim; a target these inventors have found most reliably works for most basketball players. In addition, because the device partially encircles the inner circumference of the goal's rim, the targets acclimate players to aiming for the inside of the rim where the rim's eyelets are generally located. As a result, when the device is removed, the player still has a visual target to aim for, i.e. the eyelet or the inside of the rim.

[0028] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0029] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0030] It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0031] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.