Basketball shot making training device

• US 5,938,547 A
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vera Gilford
• Original Assignee: Luther G. Gilford
• Inventors: Gilford, Luther G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,045
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 473/450
• US Class Current: 473/450
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball

Abstract

A basketball shot making training device having a forearm engaging frame, a pair of swing arms mounting a cradle-harness receiving a basketball. An adjustable spring mechanism resists movement of the swing arms as the user pushes the basketball outwardly with the wrist and finger motion. A strap harness network is adjustable to differently sized basketballs. The basketball is reversely rotated against a spring force as the user makes a simulated shot by wrist and hand motion.

Claims

1. A basketball shot making training device, comprising:

a frame configured to be fit to the forearm of a user, including a pair of elongated generally parallel spaced apart members, with a curved connecting end section at one end of said frame members, and an intermediate curved piece extending across a space between said members at a point intermediate the length thereof;

a pair of swing arms each having an inner and an outer end, each swing arm having a pivotal connection pivotally attaching said inner end thereof to an other end of a respective one of said frame members;

a basketball mounting arrangement pivotally connected to each outer end of each swing arm;

said basketball mounting arrangement including a network of straps able to be fit to a basketball to hold the same therein, said basketball engagable with the fingers and hand of a user having said frame in position on a forearm of said user; and

,

a resistance spring mechanism associated with each swing arm, each spring mechanism urging a respective swing arm towards a position on said associated pivotal connection extending transversely to said frame members.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each of said spring mechanisms including a wound spring and an adjustment screw engaging said wound spring to adjustably preload said spring with threaded movement thereof.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said basketball mounting arrangement comprises a cradle-harness arrangement including a concavely curved strip of rigid material comprising a cradle member supported at either end by said outer end of a respective swing arm, said cradle member adapted to allow a basketball to be rested thereon.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said network of straps includes a flexible strap able to be tightened to adjust to differently sized basketballs.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said basketball mounting arrangement is pivotally mounted to said swing arms.

6. The device according to claim 5 further including a spring on each swing arm outer end engaging said basketball mounting arrangement to resist pivotal movement thereon.

7. The device according to claim 3 wherein said network of straps includes a first strap extending from each end of said cradle member around the top of a mounted basketball, a second strip extending from each end of said cradle member and across the front of a mounted basketball.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said strap network further includes a third strap extending from the center of said cradle member to the center of said first strap.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a metal rod formed into a general U-shape to form said parallel frame members, a connecting end section concavely curved to be fit to a user'"'"'s forearm.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein a pad is mounted on said end section.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal connection between each of said swing arms and said respective frame members includes relatively rotatable elements connected to adjacent ends of said swing arms and from members, a wound spring interposed between said elements to resist relative rotation.

12. The device according to claim 11 further including a threaded screw having a traveling nut carried by one of said elements, an end of said spring captured by said nut to enable variable preloading of said spring to vary the resistance to rotation of said swing arms.