Basketball retrieval device

• US 6,056,652 A
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Free Flow Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hoopmaster, Inc.
• Inventors: Lane, Stephen, Lees, Charles W., McGrail, Dan, Sparr, Jeffrey, Petrie, Aidan, Sirotin, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/047,974
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 473/432, 473/433
• 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 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00

Abstract

Basketball retrieval devices are provided. The devices have use and storage positions, whereby the devices include collapsible walls that permit the devices to be collapsed into a compact storage position and opened into a use position for permitting a player to practice foul-throw shooting.

Claims

1. A basketball retrieval device for use with a basketball rim, comprising;

a frame having, in a use position, a top and a bottom, the frame including;

a pair of first support arms spaced-apart from one another along their lengths, the first support arms defining a pair of first flexible wall attachment locations toward the top of the frame, the first flexible wall attachment locations spaced between 20" and 72" from one another, and

a pair of second support arms attached to the first support arms and pivotable with respect to the first support arms, each second support arm having a proximal end adjacent the first support arms and a distal end in the use position remote from the first support arms, the distal ends defining second flexible wall attachment locations spaced between 30" and 72" from one another, and each distal end spaced-apart from its respective first flexible wall attachment location by between 30" and 72", the second support arms spaced-apart laterally from one another along their lengths;

a chute having a proximal end at or below the first support arms and a distal end remote from the first support arms, the chute being at least 48" in length and extending over most of its length downwardly from the first support arms at an angle of between 10 and 45 degrees from horizontal,

a first flexible, collapsible wall attached to one of the first flexible wall attachment locations and to its respective second flexible wall attachment location and attached along a length of at least 48" of a first side of the chute, and

a second flexible, collapsible wall attached to the other of the first flexible wall attachment locations and to its respective second flexible wall attachment location and attached along a length of at least 48" of a second side of the chute,

wherein the second support arms are pivotable from the use position to a storage position in which the second support arms lie substantially parallel to the first support arms and in which the flexible, collapsible wall is collapsed.

2. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, further comprising

means for securing the frame with respect to a basketball rim and positioning the first flexible wall attachment locations behind the rim and at least 24" above the basketball rim.

3. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, further comprising collapsible material attached to the frame at the first support arms and attached to the second support arms, a first length of the collapsible material limiting pivotable movement of the second support arms and defining, by such limiting, the use position of the second support arms.

4. The basketball retrieval device of claim 3, wherein the flexible collapsible wall is netting and wherein the collapsible material is fabric defining a border of the netting.

5. The basketball retrieval device of claim 3, further comprising collapsible material attached to the second support arms and to the chute,

a second length of the collapsible material limiting pivotable movement of the chute and defining, by such limiting, the use position of the chute.

6. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a rigid frame member attached to the distal end of the chute.

7. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a cross-bar attached to the first support arms with stops for locating the cross-bar on a neck of a basketball rim.

8. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a pair of L-shaped arms extending behind the first support arm plane for engaging a backboard.

9. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises means for securing the device to a basketball rim.

10. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the chute has rigid sides and wherein the chute is pivotally attached to the frame, whereby the chute can be moved from the use position to a storage position in which the chute is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first support arms.

11. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the distal ends of the second support arms and the distal end of the chute define a trapezoidal opening.

12. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the chute has rigid sides connected by a chute cross-bar at the distal end of the chute, and wherein the cross-bar is remote from a plane defined by the rigid sides.

13. The basketball retrieval device of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises an extendable, telescoping arm, the telescoping arm extendable downwardly from the bottom of the frame for lifting the frame to a rim or backboard.

14. A framework for attachment to a basketball rim, comprising

a first pair of arms lying in a plane and spaced-apart from one another along their lengths,

a second pair of arms spaced-apart from one another along their lengths, the second pair pivotally attached to the framework and movable between a storage position, in which the second pair of arms is substantially parallel to the plane, and a use position, in which the second pair of arms extends outwardly and upwardly from the plane when the framework is oriented for attachment to a rim,

a third pair of arms spaced-apart from one another along their lengths, the third pair of arms pivotally attached to the framework and moveable between a storage position in which the third pair of arms is substantially parallel to the plane, and a use position, in which the third pair of arms extends outwardly and downwardly from the plane when the framework is oriented for attachment to a rim,

means attached to the second pair of arms and the third pair of arms for limiting pivotable movement of the second and third pair of arms and defining the use position by limiting such pivotable movement, and

means for attaching the framework to a basketball rim.

15. The framework of claim 14, wherein the means for attaching the framework to a rim attaches the framework indirectly to the basketball rim via attachment to a basketball backboard.

16. The framework of claim 14, wherein the means for attaching the framework to the basketball rim comprises a cross-bar of said framework.

17. The framework of claim 16, wherein the cross-bar includes stops for locating the framework on a neck of the basketball rim.

18. The framework of claim 14, further comprising a pair of cross-bars attached to the first pair of arms.

19. The framework of claim 14, further comprising at least one extendable arm attached to the framework for lifting the framework to its placement about a basketball rim.

20. The framework of claim 14, wherein the attachment means comprises L-shaped arms attached to the framework and extending in two directions outside of the plane.

21. The framework of claim 14, further comprising a pair of collapsible walls attached to the arms, and wherein the arms and the walls are configured as a pair of wedge-shaped fans.

22. The framework of claim 14, further comprising a pair of extendable arms telescoping with said framework.

23. The framework of claim 22, wherein each extendable arm telescopes with a respective one of the first pair of arms.

24. The framework of claim 14, wherein the first pair of arms forms with the second pair of arms substantially a right triangle in the use position.

25. The framework of claim 14, wherein the means attached to the second pair of arms and the third pair of arms for limiting pivotable movement of the second and third pair of arms is collapsible material.

26. A framework for attachment to a basketball rim, comprising:

a first pair of arms lying in a plane and spaced-apart from one another along their lengths,

a second pair of arms spaced-apart from one another along their lengths, and forming on the upper side thereof with the first pair of arms an acute angle, and

a third pair of arms spaced-apart from one another along their lengths, the third pair of arms forming on the upper side thereof with the first pair of arms an obtuse angle, and

a collapsible wall attached to the first, second and third pair of arms.

27. The framework of claim 26, wherein the wall is a collapsible wall and wherein the second arms and third arms are pivotably attached to the framework.

28. The framework of claim 27, wherein the second pair of arms and the third pair of arms are pivotable into a storage position in which the second pair of arms and the third pair of arms lie substantially in the plane.

29. The framework of claim 26, further comprising cross-bars attaching the first pair of arms to one another.

30. The framework of claim 26, further comprising retractable lift-arms received telescopically within the first pair of arms.

31. The framework of claim 26, wherein each of the second pair of arms has an end adjacent the plane of the first pair of arms and each of the third pair of arms has an end adjacent the plane defined by the first pair or arms, and wherein the ends of the second pair of arms are spaced vertically from the ends of the third pair of arms by at least 6".

32. A basketball retrieval device comprising

a backboard defining a plane,

a rim attached to the backboard,

a pair of collapsible panels detachably secured to one of or both of the rim and backboard, one of said panels on a left side of the rim and extending from the backboard forward of the rim, and the other of the said panels on a right side of the rim and extending from the backboard forward of the rim, the pair of panels having top front corners and bottom front corners, wherein the bottom front corners are spaced-apart at a first distance and the top front corners are spaced-apart at a second distance, and wherein the second distance is at least 50% longer than the first distance, and

a chute having two sides, each side of the chute attached along its length to a respective panel, the chute being at least 48" in length.

33. The basketball retrieval device of a claim 32, wherein the chute is free of attachment to any structure contacting a basketball playing surface other than via a post arrangement supporting the backboard.

34. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein the panels comprise a plurality of arms pivotable into parallel alignment with the plane.

35. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein each panel has a top side, the top sides positioned along their lengths at least 20" above the rim.

36. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, each panel being a trapezoid comprising:

a vertical side extending parallel to the plane adjacent the backboard,

a top side positioned at least 12" above the rim along its length,

a front side longer than the top side and extending from the top side downwardly and forming with the top side an obtuse angle, and

a bottom side extending downwardly from the vertical side to the front side and forming with the front side an acute angle.

37. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein the panels are collapsible to a configuration substantially parallel to the plane.

38. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein the chute is supported by a pair of arms pivotable into parallel alignment with the plane.

39. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein each collapsible panel comprises netting, fabric attached to the netting and a plurality of arms attached to the fabric, each panel configured as a wedged fan.

40. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein each collapsible panel comprises a plurality of support arms, each of said plurality of support arms received in a fabric sleeve substantially along its length.

41. The basketball retrieval device of claim 32, wherein the panels are supported on a frame which is detachably secured to the rim by a cross-bar on said frame.

42. A basketball hoop arrangement comprising:

an upright support, having a front and a side

a basketball rim attached to the upright support and defining with the upright support a center plane,

a front net support arm attached to the upright support, extending frontwardly and upwardly from the support and ending at a first net suspension point at least 18" above the rim, not more than 30" to the side of the rim, and at least 12" in front of the rim, wherein the front net support arm is positioned on a single side of the center plane, and

a net supported on the front net support arm for restricting lateral movement of a ball bouncing off of the rim.

43. The basketball hoop arrangement of claim 42, further comprising;

a side net support arm attached to the upright support and extending sidewardly and upwardly from the upright support and ending at a second net suspension point at least 20" above the rim and behind and to the side of the rim, wherein the net is also supported on the side net support arm.

44. The basketball hoop arrangement of claim 42, wherein the front net support arm is a pair of front net support arms, one of said pair extending only on a left side of the center plane and the other of the pair extending only on a right side of the center plane, and wherein said first net suspension point is a pair of first net suspension points, one on the left side of the center plane and another on the right side of the center plane, and spaced apart from one another by at least 30".

45. The basketball hoop arrangement of claim 44, further comprising;

a pair of side net support arms attached to the upright support and extending sidewardly and upwardly from the upright support and ending at a pair of second net suspension points at least 20" above the rim and behind the rim, one of the second net suspension points on the left side of the center plane and the other on the right side of the center plane.

46. A basketball retrieval device comprising;

an upright support,

a basketball rim attached to the support,

a flexible wall arrangement attached to the support, wherein the wall arrangement includes two side panels, each side panel including a first wedge segment and a second wedge segment,

a pair of pivotable arms, pivotable from the storage position in which the first wedge segments are collapsed, to a use position in which the first wedge segments are configured as triangles, wherein the first and second wedge segments of each side panel share a side defined by one of the pivotable arms, and

a chute attached to a side of each of the second wedge segments.

47. The basketball retrieval device of claim 46, wherein the side panels comprise netting.

48. The basketball retrieval device of claim 46, wherein the wedge segments are substantially triangular.