Basketball training apparatus

• US 5,524,881 A
• Filed: 05/09/1995
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricardo E. Edward
• Original Assignee: Ricardo E. Edward
• Inventors: Edward, Ricardo E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/437,689
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1.5 R, 273/1.5 A, 273/350, 273/402, 273/400, 248/97, 248/150, 248/159, 403/361, 403/372, 403/226, 403/225
• US Class Current: 473/447
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/455 Elastomer interposed between radially spaced members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7061 Resilient

Abstract

A basketball training apparatus for practicing "outside shooting" and including a rim and attached net supported by a supporting frame structure so that the rim is maintained in a horizontal orientation at a regulation height above the floor and in a manner unobstructed by the supporting structure so as to simulate the reaction to ball impact and the appearance of a conventionally supported basketball rim. The supporting frame structure includes individual frame members and frame connectors for attaching the frame members at opposite ends to define a base and upwardly extending legs attachable to connecting elements on the rim. The connecting elements each include a cup having an open end adapted to receive an upper end zone of the legs therein and a rod extension of reduced diameter interconnecting between the cup and the rim and structured to support and maintain the rim in spaced, unobstructed relation above the cups and frame structure. A trap net attaches between the legs from the base up to the rim for capturing basketballs shot through the rim or to return missed shot attempts which fall short of the rim.

Claims

1. A basketball training apparatus comprising:

a frame structure including a plurality of thin-wall tubular frame members, said plurality of frame members including a plurality of base frame members adapted for interconnection at opposite ends to define a base, and a plurality of leg members each including a lower distal end zone, connector means for removably interconnecting said base frame members at said opposite ends to define said base, said connector means being further structured for removably interconnecting said lower distal end zone of each of said leg members to said base, said connector means including a plurality of connector elements each having three connection ports, said ports including two base connection ports structured for fitted attachment onto said opposite ends of said base frame members and a leg connection port structured for fitted attachment onto said lower distal end zone of said leg members, said leg connection port being disposed in angular relation to said base connection ports so that said leg members are supported in an upwardly angled position relative to said base and underlying floor surface with said respective upper distal end zones disposed in equally spaced relation to one another at the same height above the base, said ports further including a sleeve having a friction bearing therein structured for releaseable, frictional engagement with a respective one of said opposite ends of said base frame members and said lower distal end zones of a respective one of said leg members, a circular rim having a maximum cross sectional dimension defining a basketball goal including means for releaseable interconnection to each of said respective upper distal end zones of said leg members such that said circular rim is fixedly supported in a horizontal position at a predetermined height above said base, said leg members having a minimum cross section dimension at least three times the maximum cross sectional dimension of said rim, said rim interconnection means including a plurality of cup-shaped members each structured and disposed for fitted attachment onto a respective one of said upper distal end zones of said leg members, each of said cup-shaped members including a bottom end, an open end, and a surrounding wall having an inner surface, said inner surface including a friction bearing structured for releaseable, frictional engagement with said upper distal end zone of a respective one of said leg members, said rim interconnection means further including a rod extending and interconnecting between said bottom end of each of said cup-shaped members and said rim, said rod having a maximum cross sectional dimension no greater than the maximum cross sectional dimension of said rim and being of a reduced diameter relative to said surrounding wall of said cup-shaped members and being structured and disposed to support said rim in spaced, unobstructed relation above said cup-shaped members and said leg members so as to avoid a ball striking said rim from simultaneously contacting said cup-shaped members or said leg members and further promoting visibility of said rim relatively to a remainder of said apparatus, and a trap net having a mesh construction and being attachable to said frame structure so as to extend between each of said leg members and from said base members to said rim.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said base frame members are of equal length.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said base frame members are straight.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said base frame members are curved.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said base frame members are curved about an arc of 90 degrees.