BALL HANDLING TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A ball handling training device for improving hand strength and helping a user to hold a basketball with their fingertips instead of their palm includes a thumb sleeve that is designed to be positionable on a thumb of a hand of a user. A finger sleeve is designed to be positionable on one of a middle finger and a ring finger of the hand. A band couples the thumb sleeve to the finger sleeve. The band includes a resiliently deformable material wherein the band is designed to retract a distance between the thumb and the one of the middle finger and the ring finger. The band extends between the thumb sleeve and the finger sleeve wherein the band is positionable over a palm of the hand. The band is configured to be spaced from the palm of the hand to inhibit the user from holding a ball on the palm.

Claims

1. A basketball training device comprising: a thumb sleeve being configured to be positionable on a thumb of a hand of a user; a finger sleeve being configured to be positionable on one of a middle finger and a ring finger of the hand of the user; and a band coupling the thumb sleeve to the finger sleeve, the band comprising a resiliently deformable material wherein the band is configured to retract a distance between the thumb and the one of the middle finger and the ring finger, the band extending between the thumb sleeve and the finger sleeve wherein the band is configured to be positionable over a palm of the hand, the band being configured to be spaced from the palm of the hand wherein the band is configured to inhibit the user from holding a ball on the palm.

2. The basketball training device of claim 1, the finger sleeve further comprising: a first finger sleeve being configured to be positionable on a first one of the middle finger and the ring finger of the hand of the user; and a second finger sleeve being configured to be positionable on a second one of the middle finger and the ring finger of the hand of the user.

3. The basketball training device of claim 2, wherein the each of the first finger sleeve and the second finger sleeve is coupled to the thumb sleeve.

4. The basketball training device of claim 2, the band further comprising: a band first end being coupled to the thumb sleeve; a band second end being coupled to the first finger sleeve; and a band third end being coupled to the second finger sleeve;

5. The basketball training device of claim 4, wherein the band third end is coupled to the band first end wherein the band defines a V-shape between the thumb sleeve and each of the first finger sleeve and the second finger sleeve.

6. The basketball training device of claim 2, further comprising: a thumb sleeve lower edge of the thumb sleeve being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the thumb and the palm of the hand; a first finger sleeve lower edge being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the first one of the middle finger and the ring finger and the palm of the hand; a second finger sleeve lower edge being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the second one of the middle finger and the ring finger and the palm of the hand, the band being coupled to and extending between the thumb sleeve lower edge and each of the first finger sleeve lower edge and the second finger lower edge.

7. The basketball training device of claim 1, wherein the band has a length being configured to complement a distance across the palm between the thumb and the one of the middle finger and the ring finger, the length being measured along the band between the thumb sleeve and the finger sleeve.

8. The basketball training device of claim 7, wherein the length is between 0.75 inches and 3.75 inches.

9. The basketball training device of claim 7, wherein the length is between 1.0 inch and 1.5 inches.

10. The basketball training device of claim 7, wherein the length is between 2.0 inches and 2.5 inches.

11. The basketball training device of claim 7, wherein the length is 3.0 inches.

12. The basketball training device of claim 7, wherein the length is 3.5 inches.

13. The basketball training device of claim 1, further comprising: a thumb sleeve lower edge of the thumb sleeve being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the thumb and the palm of the hand; and a finger sleeve lower edge being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the one of the middle finger and the ring finger and the palm of the hand, the band being coupled to and extending between the thumb sleeve lower edge and the finger sleeve lower edge.

14. The basketball training device of claim 13, the band further comprising: a band first end being coupled to the thumb sleeve lower edge; and a band second end being coupled to the finger sleeve lower edge.

15. A basketball training device comprising: a thumb sleeve being configured to be positionable on a thumb of a dominant hand of a user, the thumb sleeve including: a thumb sleeve upper edge; a thumb sleeve lower edge being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the thumb and a palm of the dominant hand; a finger sleeve being configured to be positionable on one or both of a middle finger and a ring finger of the dominant hand of the user, the finger sleeve including: a first finger sleeve being configured to be positionable on a first one of the middle finger and the ring finger of the dominant hand of the user, the first finger sleeve being coupled to the thumb sleeve, the first finger sleeve including: a first finger sleeve upper edge; a first finger sleeve lower edge being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the first one of the middle finger and the ring finger and the palm of the dominant hand; a second finger sleeve being configured to be positionable on a second one of the middle finger and the ring finger of the dominant hand of the user, the second finger sleeve being coupled to the thumb sleeve, the second finger sleeve including: a second finger sleeve upper edge; a second finger sleeve lower edge being configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the second one of the middle finger and the ring finger and the palm of the dominant hand; a band coupling the thumb sleeve to each of the first finger sleeve and the second finger sleeve, the band comprising a resiliently deformable material wherein the band is configured to be stretchable to facilitate the user in widening a distance between the thumb and each of the middle finger and the ring finger and wherein the band is configured to retract the distance between the thumb and each of the middle finger and the ring finger, the band extending between the thumb sleeve and each of the first finger sleeve and the second finger sleeve wherein the band is configured to be positionable over the palm of the dominant hand, the band being configured to be spaced from the palm of the hand wherein the band is configured to inhibit the user from holding a ball on the palm, the band having a length being configured to complement a distance across the palm between the thumb and the middle finger, the length being measured along the band between the thumb sleeve lower edge and the first finger sleeve lower edge, the length being between 0.75 inches and 3.75 inches, the band being elongated wherein the length of the band exceeds a width of the band, the band including: a band first end being coupled to the thumb sleeve, the band first end being positioned adjacent to the thumb sleeve lower edge; a band second end being coupled to the first finger sleeve, the band second end being positioned adjacent to the first finger sleeve lower edge; a band third end being coupled to the second finger sleeve, the band third end being positioned adjacent to the second finger sleeve lower edge, the band third end being coupled to the band first end wherein the band defines a V-shape between the thumb sleeve and each of the first finger sleeve and the second finger sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ball handling training device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 9 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new basketball shot training aid embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0022] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the ball handling training device 10 generally comprises a thumb sleeve 12 is configured to be positionable on a thumb 14 of a hand 16 of a user 18. For example, the hand 16 may be the dominant hand 16 of the user 18. The thumb sleeve 12 is generally positioned on the thumb 14 of the hand 16 that the user 18 prefers for tasks such as dribbling or shooting a basketball.

[0023] The thumb sleeve 12 may include a thumb sleeve upper edge 20 and a thumb sleeve lower edge 22. The thumb sleeve lower edge 22 is generally configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the thumb 14 and a palm 24 of the hand 16.

[0024] A finger sleeve 26 is configured to be positionable on one of a middle finger 28 and a ring finger 30 of the hand 16 of the user 18. The finger sleeve 26 generally includes a finger sleeve upper edge 58 and a finger sleeve lower edge 60. For example, the finger sleeve lower edge 60 may be generally configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the middle finger 28 and the palm 24 of the hand 16, as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the finger sleeve 26 may be positionable on the middle finger 28 of the hand 16. However, in such embodiments, the finger sleeve 26 may alternatively be positioned on the ring finger 30 of the hand 16. The finger sleeve 26 is coupled to the thumb sleeve 12.

[0025] Some embodiments include a pair of finger sleeves 56, each of which is positionable on an associated one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30. FIGS. 6-8 provide examples of such embodiments. For example, the pair of finger sleeves 56 may include a first finger sleeve 32 that is configured to be positionable on a first one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 of the hand 16 of the user 18. The first finger sleeve 32 is coupled to the thumb sleeve 12. The first finger sleeve 32 may include a first finger sleeve upper edge 34 and a first finger sleeve lower edge 36. The first finger sleeve lower edge 36 is generally configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the first one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 and the palm 24 of the hand 16.

[0026] The pair of finger sleeves 56 may further include a second finger sleeve 38 that is configured to be positionable on a second one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 of the hand 16 of the user 18, as shown in FIG. 7. The second finger sleeve 38 is coupled to the thumb sleeve 12. The second finger sleeve 38 may include a second finger sleeve upper edge 34 and a second finger sleeve lower edge 42. The second finger sleeve lower edge 42 is generally configured to be positionable proximate to a junction between the second one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 and the palm 24 of the hand 16.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first finger sleeve 32 may be positionable on the middle finger 28 of the hand 16 and the second finger sleeve 38 may be positionable on the ring finger 30 of the hand 16. The first finger sleeve 32 and the second finger sleeve 38 are each coupled to the thumb sleeve 12.

[0028] A band 44 couples the thumb sleeve 12 to the finger sleeve 26. In embodiments according to FIGS. 6-8, the band 44 couples the thumb sleeve 12 to each of the first finger sleeve 28 and the second finger sleeve 38. The band 44 generally comprises a resiliently deformable material wherein the band 44 is configured to be stretchable to facilitate the user 18 in widening a distance between the thumb 14 and each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30. The band 44 may also be configured to retract the distance between the thumb 14 and each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30. The resiliently deformable material may comprise elastic, rubber, or another suitable material.

[0029] Embodiments according to FIGS. 1-5 may facilitate the user 18 in selectively widening and retracting the distance between the thumb 14 and one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30. Embodiments according to FIGS. 6-8 may facilitate the user 18 in selectively widening and retracting the distance between the thumb 14 and each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30. For example, the band 44 may stretch as the user 18 extends each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 away from the thumb 14, the resiliently deformable material of the band 44 may be configured to provide resistance against the user 18 to facilitate the user 18 in strengthening the hand 16 by selectively extending each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 away from the thumb 14.

[0030] The band 44 may retract when the user 18 is not widening the distance whereby the band 44 is configured to facilitate the user 18 in handling a ball 46, such as the basketball shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, without the ball 46 resting on the palm 24 of the hand 16 of the user 18. For example, when the user 18 is dribbling, the band 44 may retract the distance between the thumb 14 and each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 to facilitate the user 18 in handling the ball 46 with a corresponding fingertip of each of the thumb 14, the middle finger 28, and the ring finger 30. In another example, when the user 18 is shooting, the band 44 may retract the distance between the thumb 14 and each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 to facilitate the user 18 in holding the ball 46 with the corresponding fingertips of each of the thumb 14, the middle finger 28, and the ring finger 30. After the user 18 has shot the ball, the band 44 may further retract distance between the thumb 14 and each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 to facilitate the user 18 in following through on the shot with each of the thumb 14, the middle finger 28, and the ring finger 30.

[0031] In embodiments according to FIGS. 1-5, the band 44 generally extends between the thumb sleeve 12 and the finger sleeve 26. In embodiments according to FIGS. 6-8, the band 44 generally extends between the thumb sleeve 12 and each of the first finger sleeve 32 and the second finger sleeve 38. The band 44 is configured to be positionable over the palm 24 of the hand 16. The band 44 is configured to be spaced from the palm 24 of the hand 16 wherein the band 44 is configured to inhibit the user 18 from holding the ball 46 on the palm 24. The band 44 is thusly designed to facilitate the user 18 is spacing the ball 46 from the palm 24 of the hand 16. For example, the ball 46 may rest on the band 44 above the palm 24 while the user 18 is holding the ball 46, rather than the ball 46 resting directly on the palm 24 of the hand 16. FIG. 9 depicts an example of the band 44 that is spaced from the palm 24, with the ball 46 resting on top of the band 44 such that the ball 46 is spaced from the palm 24.

[0032] By maintaining space between the band 44 and the palm 24 of the hand 16, the band 44 inhibits the user 18 from using the palm 24 to hold or dribble the ball 46. Additionally, because the band 44 urges the thumb 12 toward each of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30, the band 44 facilitates the user 18 in holding and dribbling the ball 46 using the fingertips, which can improve the performance of the user 18. Over time, the ball handling training device 10 can help the user 18 to develop muscle memory, so that the user 18 naturally uses their fingertips, and not the palm 24, to handle the ball 46.

[0033] The band 44 may have a length 48 that is configured to complement a distance across the palm 24 between the thumb 14 and the middle finger 28. In embodiments according to FIGS. 1-5, the length 48 is generally measured along the band 44 between the thumb sleeve lower edge 22 and the finger sleeve lower edge 60. In embodiments according to FIGS. 6-8, the length 48 is generally measured along the band 44 between the thumb sleeve lower edge 22 and the first finger sleeve lower edge 36. In both embodiments, the length 48 is generally measured when the band 44 is fully relaxed, for example when the user 18 is not wearing the ball handling training device 10.

[0034] For example, the length 48 may be between 0.75 inches and 3.75 inches. The band 44 may be manufactured in various lengths corresponding to various sizes of the hand 16. For example, a small size may have a length 48 between 1.0 inch and 1.5 inches. The small size may be configured to fit a hand 16 of a child. A medium size may have a length 48 between 2.0 inches and 2.5 inches. A large size may have a length 48 of approximately 3.0 inches. An extra-large size may have a length 48 of approximately 3.5 inches. The band 44 is generally elongated wherein the length 48 of the band 44 exceeds a width of the band 44.

[0035] The band 44 may include a band first end 50 that is coupled to the thumb sleeve 12. The band first end 50 is generally positioned adjacent to the thumb sleeve lower edge 22. A band second end 52 may be coupled to the finger sleeve 26, or the first finger sleeve 32. The band second end 52 is generally positioned adjacent to the first finger sleeve lower edge 36. In embodiments according to FIGS. 6-8, the band 44 may further include a band third end 54 that is coupled to the second finger sleeve 38. The band third end 54 is generally positioned adjacent to the second finger sleeve lower edge 42. The band third end 54 may be coupled to the band first end 50 and may be spaced from the band second end 52 wherein the band 44 defines a V-shape between the thumb sleeve 12 and each of the first finger sleeve 32 and the second finger sleeve 38.

[0036] In use, the thumb sleeve 12 can be positioned on the thumb 14 and the finger sleeve 26 can be positioned on the one of the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the finger sleeve 26 may be positioned on the middle finger 28. Alternatively, the first finger sleeve 32 may be positioned on the middle finger 28 and the second finger sleeve 38 may be positioned on the ring finger 30, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0037] The band 44 will retract the distance between the thumb 14 and the middle finger 28 to facilitate the user 18 in holding the ball 46 with the fingertips of the thumb 14 and the middle finger 28, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. The ball 46 may rest on the band 44, wherein the band 44 creates space between the ball 46 and the palm 24 of the hand to inhibit the user 18 from holding the ball 46 with the palm 24 of the hand while dribbling or shooting. Because the band 44 retracts the thumb 14 inwardly toward the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30, the band 44 facilitates the user 18 in following through after shooting the ball. For example, the middle finger 28 and the ring finger 30 may be pulled downwardly toward the thumb 14 after the user 18 shoots the basketball, helping the user 18 to learn proper shooting techniques.

[0038] The ball handling training device 10 generally comprises materials that can be used or worn as the user 18 is playing a competitive basketball game. For example, the resiliently deformable material of the band 44 may comprise rubber or elastic. The thumb sleeve 12 and the finger sleeve 26 may comprise fabric materials that are soft to inhibit the thumb sleeve 12 and the finger sleeve 26 from injuring the user 18, or another player, during the competitive basketball game. The user 18 can also strengthen the hand 16, and particularly each of the thumb 14, the middle finger 28, and the ring finger 30. For example, the user 18 can stretch the thumb 14, middle finger 28, and ring finger 30 outwardly from each other as the band 44 provides resistance against the movements of the user 18.

[0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.