System for, and method of, indicating to a child the accuracy of shooting a basketball to make a basket
First Claim
1. In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player, a basketball backboard, a rim supported by the backboard, a net supported by the rim, a first member disposed on the backboard and responsive to the impingement of the basketball against the backboard for producing a first indication, a second member disposed relative to the rim and responsive to the impingement of the basketball on the rim for producing a second indication, a third member responsive to the passage of the basketball through the net for producing a third indication, and a microprocessor responsive to the production of individual ones and combinations of the first, second and third indications for indicating whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a backboard, a rim on the backboard and a net extending from the rim are provided for a child shooting a basketball. A first sensor on the backboard produces a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard. A second sensor disposed relative to the rim produces a second signal when the basketball hits the rim. A third sensor disposed relative to the net produces a third signal when the basketball passes through the net. The first, second and third sensors may respectively include first, second and third switches which respectively close when the basketball hits the backboard, when the basketball hits the rim and when the basketball passes through the net and which respectively cause the first, second and third signals to be produced when they close. The first, second and third signals may be processed as by a microprocessor to provide an indication of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. The processing of the first signal relative to the second and third signals may be delayed to coordinate the operation of the microprocessor in indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. Similarly, the processing of the second signal may be delayed relative to the processing of the third signal. The path of movement of the basketball may be indicated on a sensory basis such as orally and in a manner to offer encouragement to the child.
17 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player,
a basketball backboard, a rim supported by the backboard, a net supported by the rim, a first member disposed on the backboard and responsive to the impingement of the basketball against the backboard for producing a first indication, a second member disposed relative to the rim and responsive to the impingement of the basketball on the rim for producing a second indication, a third member responsive to the passage of the basketball through the net for producing a third indication, and a microprocessor responsive to the production of individual ones and combinations of the first, second and third indications for indicating whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net.
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11. In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player,
a backboard, a rim supported by the backboard, a net extending downwardly from the rim, a first sensor for providing a first signal when the basketball shot by the player hits the backboard, a second sensor for providing a second signal when the basketball shot by the player hits the rim, a third sensor for providing a third signal when the basketball shot by the player passes through the net, and a processor responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals and to combinations of the first, second and third signals for indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.
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21. In combination for use with a basketball shot by a player,
a backboard, a first sensor disposed relative to the backboard for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player hits the backboard, a rim disposed on the backboard, a second sensor disposed relative to the rim for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player hits the rim, a net extending from the rim, a third sensor disposed relative to the net for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player passes through the net, and a processor operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating whether or not the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and whether or not the basketball has impinged upon the rim and whether or not the basketball has passed through the net.
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26. In a method of indicating the flight path of a basketball when the basketball is shot by a player, the steps of:
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providing a basketball backboard and a rim supported by the backboard and a net supported by the rim, providing a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard, providing a second signal when the basketball hits the rim, providing a third signal when the basketball passes through the net, and processing the production, or the lack of production, of respective ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate the flight path of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.
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Specification