Basketball Shooting Skills Training Device

Abstract

A basketball shooting skills training device, known as the box blocker, is disclosed for improving a player's ability to execute unconventional bank shots. The device is an assembly comprising panels, brackets, and a coupling system that attaches to a basketball rim. When installed, the panels are strategically positioned to obstruct preferred bank shot areas of the backboard, forcing players to adapt and practice shooting off less conventional, unobstructed backboard areas. The front side of the panels is preferably designed to be generally convex and irregular to discourage bouncing the ball off the device itself. For installation, the device may utilize an accessory pole that couples to apertures in the brackets, allowing the user to easily position the coupling system onto the rim from the ground.

Claims

1. A basketball shooting skills training device configured to be coupled to a basketball backboard assembly comprising: a) One or more panels, each panel having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to face a backboard, b) One or more brackets, the one or more brackets configured to couple with the one or more panels, the one or more panels configured to obstruct the backboard, c) A coupling system, the coupling system comprising one or more magnets, the one or more magnets attached to the one or more brackets such that when the brackets are coupled to the basketball backboard assembly the magnets magnetically couple to a metallic rim bracket of the basketball backboard assembly.

2. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The one or more panels comprises a first panel and a second panel.

3. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 2, wherein: a) The first panel and a second panel are identical to each other.

4. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The front side of the one or more panels is an irregular convex shape, having a plurality of local peaks.

5. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The front side of the one or more panels is adapted with a plurality of fins.

6. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The one or more brackets comprises two brackets, and the two brackets are mirror images of each other.

7. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The height dimension of each panel is between 25 cm and 32 cm.

8. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The width dimension of each panel is between 23 cm and 28 cm.

9. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The one or more panels comprises a first panel and a second panel, and the distance between the inner edge of the first panel and the inner edge of the second panel is between 18 cm and 25 cm when the box blocker is assembled.

10. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The one or more panels comprises a first panel and a second panel, and the distance between the outer edge of the first panel and the outer edge of the second panel is between 68 cm and 80 cm when the box blocker is assembled.

11. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) 50% or more of each panel is disposed within the outer border of the shooters square.

12. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) Between 20%-100% of each panel is disposed above the top of the basketball rim when the box blocker is installed on the basketball backboard assembly.

13. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1, wherein: a) The one or more brackets are adapted with a box blocker coupler, the box blocker coupler configured to couple with an installation device.

14. The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 13, wherein: a) The box blocker coupler is one or more apertures through a bracket.

15. A method for installing a basketball shooting skills training device on a basketball backboard assembly, the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing a basketball shooting skills training device comprising one or more brackets, one or more panels, and a coupling system, the one or more panels coupled to one or more brackets, the coupling system comprising one or more magnets attached to the one or more brackets, the one or more brackets further comprising a box blocker coupler; b) Providing an installation device having installation couplers which are configured to couple with the box blocker coupler; c) Coupling the installation couplers of the installation device to the box blocker coupler disposed on the brackets; d) Lifting the basketball shooting skills training device toward the basketball backboard assembly using the installation device; e) Positioning the training device such that the magnetic coupling system couples to the basketball backboard assembly; f) Lowering the training device such that the magnetic coupling system couples with the rim bracket; and g) Decoupling the installation device from the brackets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and other features of the invention will become apparent to one having the ordinary level of skill in the art upon a thorough review of the following details and descriptions, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the Box Blocker installed on a basketball backboard assembly;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a bracket;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a bracket;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a side profile view of a bracket;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of a panel;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of a panel;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows side profile view of a panel;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a back perspective view of a panel;

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an installation device;

[0041] FIG. 10 shows a side profile view of an installation device;

[0042] FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of the box blocker being lifted with an installation device.

[0043] FIG. 12 shows a rear perspective view of the box blocker being lifted with an installation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0044] For purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions of certain preferred embodiments are hereinafter provided such that one having ordinary skill in the art may be enabled to make and use the invention. These details and descriptions are representative only of certain preferred embodiments, however, and a myriad of other embodiments which will not be expressly described will be readily understood by one having skill in the art upon a thorough review of the instant disclosure. Accordingly, any reviewer of the instant disclosure should interpret the scope of the invention only by the claims, as such scope is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described and illustrated herein.

[0045] For purposes herein, reference numbers are provided in the drawings for illustrating certain features of embodiments. Where distinct figures of the drawings utilize a shared reference number, it can be appreciated that the feature corresponding to the shared reference number is the same or similar, perhaps observed from a different view, or observed with respect to a different embodiment deploying the same or similar feature.

[0046] Now turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the box blocker installed on a basketball backboard assembly (500). The two panels (200), a first panel (200A) and a second panel (200B) obstruct specific areas of the backboard (501). The inner edge (209) and the outer edge (210) of each panel are identified in FIG. 1 as well. The brackets (100) are coupled together and are supported by the rim bracket. Two magnets (600) are coupled to the brackets. The magnets are attracted to the metal rim bracket, thereby securing the box blocker to the basketball backboard assembly.

[0047] FIG. 2-FIG. 4 show a bracket from a variety of angles. The bracket comprises a horizontal member (101) attached to a vertical member (102). The vertical member has a front side (103) and a back side (104). The horizontal member has a top side (105) and a bottom side (106). When installed on the basketball backboard assembly, the bottom side of the horizontal member serves as the rim face (107), and the back side of the vertical member serves as the backboard face (108). Mounting apertures (109) are disposed through the horizontal member, and mounting apertures are disposed through the vertical member. Box blocker couplers (110) are disposed through the bracket, and they will serve as coupling points for the installation device (300).

[0048] FIG. 5-FIG. 8 show a panel (200) from a variety of angles. The panel is configured with a front side (201), which faces away from the backboard (501), and a back side (202) which faces the backboard. Lateral sides (203) span the distance between the front side and the back side. In this embodiment, the front side is generally convex shaped and configured with fins (206) which protrude out from the front side. FIG. 5-FIG. 7 show the irregular convex shape of the front side of the panel, with a plurality of local peaks (208) identified. The panel is also configured with a one or more mounting apertures (109) which pass between the front side and the back side of the panel.

[0049] The back side (202) of each panel is configured with two slots (204). When a bracket is inserted into a slot, some of the mounting apertures (109) through the panel align with some of the mounting apertures through the bracket. Bolt (401) and nut (402) hardware (400) may be installed through the mounting apertures. The back side of each panel is configured with a series of pockets (207) and ridges (205). The pockets are void spaces in the back side thereby reducing the overall amount material used to form the panel. The ridges are the raised features between the pockets.

[0050] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the installation device (300). The installation device is configured with one or more of installation couplers (302). In this embodiment the installation couplers are hooks (306). The hooks have a saddle (303) between their upward point (304) and the greater installation device body. The saddle has a saddle width (305) dimension. The installation device is configured with a female threaded fitting (301) such that a pole (307) may be coupled to the installation device. The pole may be a painter's pole with male threads that couple to the female threaded fitting on the installation device.

[0051] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the installation device (300) coupled to the box blocker. Magnets (600) are coupled to the bottom side (106) of the bracket. The box blocker may be lifted and placed on the rim bracket (502). The rim (503) rim bracket are shown in FIG. 1

[0052] The hardware may be obtained commercially. Alternatively, the hardware can be customized in accordance with the level and knowledge of one having skill in the art

[0053] Each of the components of the box blocker and related system described herein may be manufactured and/or assembled in accordance with the conventional knowledge and level of a person having skill in the art.

[0054] While various details, features, and combinations are described in the illustrated embodiments, one having skill in the art will appreciate a myriad of possible alternative combinations and arrangements of the features disclosed herein. As such, the descriptions are intended to be enabling only, and non-limiting. Instead, the spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

TABLE-US-00001 FEATURE LIST Bracket (100) Horizontal Member (101) Vertical Member (102) Front Side (103) Back Side (104) Top Side (105) Bottom Side (106) Rim Face (107) Backboard Face (108) Mounting Apertures (109) Box Blocker Coupler (110) Panel (200) First Panel (200A) Second Panel (200B) Front Side (201) Back Side (202) Lateral Side (203) Slot (204) Ridge (205) Fin (206) Pocket (207) Local Peak (208) Inner Edge (209) Outer Edge (210) Installation Device (300) Female Threaded Fitting (301) Installation Couplers (302) Saddle (303) Upward point (304) Saddle width (305) Hook (306) Pole (307) Hardware (400) Bolt (401) Nut (402) Basketball Backboard Assembly (500) Backboard (501) Rim Bracket (502) Rim (503) Shooters Square (504) Magnet (600)