Backstop screen for basketball net

• US 5,971,873 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Balducci
• Original Assignee: Robert Balducci
• Inventors: Balducci, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/094,273
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 473/431, 473/432, 473/433, 473/434, 273/394, 273/396, 273/397
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

The invention relates to a basketball retrieval device that is connected to a basketball pole. The retrieval device comprises an elongated pole that vertically extends from the basketball pole up to a upper horizontal support arm. The upper support arm supports a screen or net that hangs down behind the backboard. The ball hits the retrieval device and causes the ball to roll back onto the court instead of landing off the court. A lower support arm is attached to the bottom of the basketball pole and secures the bottom of the net in tension.

Claims

1. A basketball retrieval device for retrieving basketballs back to the playing court that miss a backboard mounted on an elongated vertical pole, comprising:

an upper horizontal support arm coupled to the top of the vertical pole;

a screen having a top end connected to said support arm and extending from the top of said support arm to a basketball court, and a lower horizontal support arm disposed adjacent to the bottom of the basketball pole for capturing a bottom end of said screen and holding said screen in tension, so that said screen forms a basketball backstop for stopping basketballs that fall behind the basketball backboard.

2. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a support pole that extends substantially vertical from a top end of said basketball pole, said extending pole connecting to said upper support arm.

3. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is a net.

4. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is a solid cloth.

5. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower support arm comprises a weight connected to the bottom of said screen, said weight holding said screen in place.

6. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said weight is a bar attached to the bottom end of said screen, said bar extending across the width of said screen.

7. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom end of said screen attaches to the basketball pole.

8. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper support arm is a bar extending across the top end of the screen.

9. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upper support arm is at least nine feet long.

10. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upper support arm is a galvanized pipe.

11. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lower support arm is a galvanized pipe.

12. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vertically extending pole is a galvanized pipe.

13. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said upper support arm is positioned at least 13 feet above the basketball court.

14. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper and lower support arms each comprise two-piece pipes that are fitted together.

15. The basketball retrieval device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said net is hemmed at its top and bottom ends to receive and capture said upper and lower support arms.