Muscle-memory method and basketball training aid

• US 5,599,016 A
• Filed: 06/19/1995
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin Larkin
• Original Assignee: Martin Larkin
• Inventors: Larkin, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/492,439
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1.5 A, 273/1.5 R, 248/97, 248/98
• US Class Current: 473/448
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles

Abstract

A muscle memory basketball training aid and method is provided. The training aid includes a pair of base assemblies and a rectangular frame detachably coupled to the base assemblies. The frame includes a pair of shooting bars and a pair of end bars detachably coupled to the shoot bars. A pair of extension members are detachbly coupled to the base assemblies and to the frame. A locking device is provided that enables longitudinal adjustment of the extension members relative to the base assemblies, for adjusting the height of the frame assembly relative to the base assemblies. The locking device enables each extension member to be adjusted independently of the other, so that the frame assembly may extend obtusely above the base assemblies, to accommodate plural users of different heights. The training aid is implemented by adjusting the frame assembly to a predetermined height, determined by adjusting the extension members, until the shooting bar extends parallel to a user'"'"'s wrist, when the user'"'"'s shooting arm is extended into a finished shooting position. The user is positioned under the opening in the frame and provided with a basketball. The user projects the basketball through the opening in the frame, such that the arm changes from an initial position to the finished shooting position, projecting the basketball towards a target. The motion is repeated to establish muscle-memory of the muscles in the user'"'"'s shooting arm and the associated muscles, to train the muscles associated with shooting the basketball.

Claims

1. A muscle memory basketball training apparatus comprising:

a pair of base assemblies supporting said apparatus on a ground surface;

a rectangular frame assembly detachably coupled to said base assemblies, said frame assembly comprising a plurality of tubular members defining a rectangular opening therebetween, said plurality of tubular members detachably coupled together to provide a detachable frame; and

support means detachably coupled to said frame assembly and to said base assembly, said support means adjustably supporting said frame assembly at a desired height above the ground surface, said support means including means for supporting said frame assembly obtusely above said ground surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pair of base assemblies comprises a pair of planar, rectangular base members, each of said base members having a hollow support member detachably coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support means comprises first and second extension members coupled to said frame assembly and slidably retained in said support members for detachably coupling said base assemblies to said frame assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising adjustment means coupled to said extension members for adjusting the height of said frame assembly relative to said ground surface, said adjustment means providing longitudinal adjustment of said extension members relative to said support members for adjusting the height of said frame assembly relative to said ground surface, said adjustment means including means for retaining said extension members at a desired longitudinal position relative to said support members for maintaining said frame assembly at the desired height, said adjustment means enabling each of said extension members to be adjusted independently of the other so that said frame assembly may extend obtusely above the ground surface to enable plural users of different heights to stand under said frame assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising connecting means affixed to said frame assembly and detachably coupled to said extension members, said extension members slip-fitting to said connecting means for detachably coupling said support means to said frame assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of wheels affixed to each of said planar base members, a wheel affixed to an underside of said base member adjacent to each corner thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame assembly comprises a pair of shooting bars detachably coupled to a pair of end bars for forming a rectangular opening therebetween, said frame assembly including means for slip-fitting said shooting bars to said end bars to detachably couple said shooting bars to said end bars, said opening dimensioned to enable a user to stand thereunder and project a basketball through said opening.

8. A muscle memory basketball training apparatus comprising:

first and second base assemblies for supporting said apparatus on a ground surface, each of said base assemblies including a hollow, tubular support member detachably coupled to a rectangular planar base member;

a rectangular frame assembly, said frame assembly comprising a pair of elongated shooting bars extending parallel to one another and a pair of end bars coupled to ends of the shooting bars, said end bars being substantially shorter than said shooting bars for forming a rectangular opening therebetween with the length of said opening being substantially greater than the width, said shooting bars slip-fitting to said end bars for forming a detachable frame; and

first and second support means detachably coupled to said frame assembly and to said base assemblies for supporting said frame assembly, said support means comprising first and second extension members slip-fit to a center of said end bars and partially retained in said support members for detachably coupling said base assemblies to said frame assembly, said support means including adjustment means coupled to said extension members, said adjustment means enabling longitudinal adjustment of said extension members relative to said support members for adjusting the height of said frame assembly relative to said ground surface, said adjustment means including means for securing said extension members at a desired longitudinal position relative to said support member for maintaining said frame assembly at the desired height, said adjustment means enabling each of said extension members to be adjusted independently of the other, so that said frame assembly may extend obtusely above the ground surface to enable plural users of different heights to stand under the opening in said frame assembly and project a basketball therethrough.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of wheels affixed to each of said planar base members, a wheel affixed to an underside of said base member adjacent to each corner thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said adjustment means comprises a plurality of holes disposed through each of said extension members, along the longitudinal axis thereof, and bolt means adapted to be disposed through and reside in said holes of adjusting the height of said frame assembly relative to said ground surface and for maintaining said frame assembly at the desired height.

11. A method of training the muscles of a user associated with shooting a basketball toward a desired target, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a training apparatus, said apparatus comprising a base assembly, a rectangular frame assembly coupled to said base assembly, said frame assembly comprising a plurality of tubular members defining a rectangular opening therebetween, a pair of said tubular members comprising shooting bars, and support means coupled to said frame assembly and to said base assembly, said support means adjustably supporting said frame assembly at a desired height and further supporting said frame assembly at a desired angle relative to said base assembly;

adjusting the frame assembly to a predetermined height, said height being determined by adjusting the support means until the frame assembly is at a height where said shooting bar extends parallel to the user'"'"'s wrist, when the user'"'"'s shooting arm is extended into a finished shooting position;

positioning the user under the frame assembly, such that the user stands under the opening in the frame assembly with the elbow in their shooting arm positioned beneath a front edge of the shooting bar of said frame assembly, when the arm is in an initial position;

providing a basketball for the user to shoot, such that the basketball resides in the hand of the user'"'"'s shooting arm;

projecting the basketball, with the user'"'"'s shooting arm, through the opening in the frame assembly, such that the arm changes from the initial position to the finished shooting position for projecting the basketball towards the target, the fingers of the hand of the user'"'"'s shooting arm extending over the shooting bar when the arm is in the finished shooting position; and

repeatedly positioning the user under the frame assembly, providing the user with a basketball to shoot, and projecting the basketball, with the user'"'"'s shooting arm, through the opening in the frame assembly, such that the arm changes from the initial position to the finished shooting position for projecting the basketball towards the target, to establish muscle-memory of the muscles in the user'"'"'s shooting arm and the associated muscles to train the muscles associated with shooting the basketball.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising the further steps of:

providing a plurality of users;

dimensioning the opening in said frame assembly to accommodate said plurality of users;

simultaneously positioning each of said users under the opening in said frame assembly;

providing each of said users with a basketball to shoot;

each of said users simultaneously projecting their respective basketballs, with the user'"'"'s shooting arm, through the opening in the frame assembly, such that the arm changes from the initial position to the finished shooting position for projecting the basketball towards the target, the fingers of the hand of each of the user'"'"'s shooting arm extending over the shooting bar when the arm is in the finished shooting position; and

repeatedly simultaneously positioning each of the users under the opening in said frame assembly, providing the users with basketballs to shoot, and projecting the basketballs through the opening in the frame assembly.