Basketball practice device

• US 5,165,680 A
• Filed: 10/10/1990
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norman A. Cass
• Original Assignee: Norman A. Cass
• Inventors: Cass, Norman A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/596,713
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1.5 A, D21/201
• US Class Current: 473/433
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball

Abstract

A game of basketball designed to assist the player in practice shooting from various positions around the existing basketball hoop assembly and return the ball to the player after completing a basket, thus enabling the player more shooting and less time retrieving the ball.

Claims

1. A basketball return device, for attachment to a basketball goal having a vertical backboard and a horizontal circular hoop, comprising:

a) a lower unit comprising;

1) a main ring having a diameter greater than said hoop adapted to be positioned below said hoop;

2) a return chute depending from said main ring, said return chute comprising spaced skeletal side frames, netting material secured to the side of said main ring and skeletal side frames forming two spaced side walls of said chute and resilient material secured to the rear of said main ring and between said frames forming a downwardly and forwardly curved rear-bottom chute wall;

3) at least three upwardly and inwardly extending brackets secured to said main ring, said brackets each having an inverted U-shape hook at the inner-upper ends thereof for hooking over said hoop;

4) a guide ring having an outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of said hoop secured to said hooks and adapted to be positioned within said hoop; and

5) means for clamping said lower unit to said hoop against removal and rotation; and

b) an upper unit comprising;

1) a generally semi-cylindrical skeletal framework and netting filling said framework to form a general semi-cylindrical wall; and

2) means securing said wall to said lower unit with the lower edge of said wall spaced above said guide ring, and generally vertically aligned with the side and rear walls of said return chute,

c) whereby said device may be slipped over said hoop, with the guide ring positioned in said hoop, the return chute suspended from the hoop and the upper unit wall positioned above and partially surrounding the hoop, rotated so the return chute discharges balls in a desired direction toward a shooter, and clamped into position, so that balls thrown towards the hoop will be directed into the hoop by the upper unit wall and returned to the thrower by the return chute.