Basketball collection, passing and shot analysis system
DCFirst Claim
1. A basketball passing machine comprising:
- a body;
a basketball supply, mounted to the body, comprising a basketball supply region having an entrance, through which basketballs are introduced into the supply region, the basketball supply region sized and configured to hold at least two basketballs;
a basketball ejector assembly, mounted to the body and operably coupled to the basketball supply region, arranged and adapted to pass basketballs, one-at-a-time and in a controlled manner, from the basketball supply along a trajectory directed away from said machine; and
said basketball ejector assembly comprising;
first and second passing rollers having basketball-engaging surfaces; and
a basketball metering assembly which supplies basketballs one-at-a-time and in a controlled manner along a path to a discharge position between and engagable with the first and second rollers, said basketball metering assembly comprising a rotatable paddle-wheel having arms engagable with said basketballs and a paddle-wheel rotation limiter for limiting rotation of said paddle-wheel to a chosen rotary movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A basketball passing machine (18) includes a basketball supply (20) which provides basketballs (48) for a basketball ejector assembly (26) which passes basketballs one-at-a-time in a controlled manner along a trajectory (70) towards a waiting player. The machine can be used with a collection net assembly (16) adjacent a backboard (6) so that basketballs from both made and missed shots are collected and directed into the basketball supply. The supply of basketballs allows the passing machine to pass basketballs to the player as fast as desired, such as every three to four seconds. Balls can be passed from the machine on demand; the pass rate, the azimuth of the trajectory, the speed of the ball and the number of balls placed in play at each position can be preprogrammed. Sensors (74, 104) are used to generate signals whenever a ball is placed in play and when a shot is made. Shooting accuracy and associated information can be displayed for a player as well as recorded for future reference.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A basketball passing machine comprising:
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a body; a basketball supply, mounted to the body, comprising a basketball supply region having an entrance, through which basketballs are introduced into the supply region, the basketball supply region sized and configured to hold at least two basketballs; a basketball ejector assembly, mounted to the body and operably coupled to the basketball supply region, arranged and adapted to pass basketballs, one-at-a-time and in a controlled manner, from the basketball supply along a trajectory directed away from said machine; and said basketball ejector assembly comprising; first and second passing rollers having basketball-engaging surfaces; and a basketball metering assembly which supplies basketballs one-at-a-time and in a controlled manner along a path to a discharge position between and engagable with the first and second rollers, said basketball metering assembly comprising a rotatable paddle-wheel having arms engagable with said basketballs and a paddle-wheel rotation limiter for limiting rotation of said paddle-wheel to a chosen rotary movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A basketball passing machine and shot analysis system comprising:
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a basketball collection net assembly, positionable adjacent a basketball backboard, comprising a frame and downwardly converging netting supported by the frame, the collection net assembly having a basketball discharge opening; the frame of the basketball collection net assembly being a floor-supported frame, said floor-supported frame comprising; a support frame comprising a vertical support with upper and lower ends; a lift frame slidably mounted to the vertical support for movement between an upper, use position and a lower, storage position; and a netting frame assembly mounted to the lift frame, the netting frame assembly comprising a netting frame and supporting arms pivotably mounted to and extending from the netting frame, said netting secured to the supporting arms; a basketball passing machine comprising; a body; a basketball supply, mounted to the body, comprising a basketball supply region having an entrance, through which basketballs are introduced into the supply region from the basketball collection net assembly, the basketball supply region sized and configured to hold at least two basketballs; and a basketball ejector assembly, mounted to the body and operably coupled to the basketball supply, arranged and adapted to pass basketballs, one-at-a-time and in a controller manner, from the basketball supply along a trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A basketball collection net assembly, positionable adjacent a basketball backboard, comprising:
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a floor-supported frame; downwardly converging netting; said floor-supported frame comprising; a support frame comprising a vertical support with upper and lower ends; a lift frame slidably mounted to the vertical support for movement between an upper, use position and a lower, storage position; and a netting frame assembly mounted to the lift frame, the netting frame assembly comprising a netting frame and supporting arms pivotably mounted to and extending from the netting frame, said downwardly-converging netting secured to the supporting arms; and the collection net assembly having a basketball discharge opening. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification