Athlete practice shooting aid device
First Claim
1. A device attachable to a sporting event goal for improving the accuracy and shooting form of a player by providing a visual target to aim at and strike with the sporting event'"'"'s game piece comprising:
- a clamp having an inner surface which contacts the sporting event'"'"'s goal and an oppositely facing exterior surface, the clamp configured and adapted to removably attach to the sporting event'"'"'s goal;
a substantially straight elongated member having first and second ends, the elongated member connected adjacent its first end to the clamp and extending substantially perpendicular from the exterior surface of the clamp such that its second end is located at a point distal from the clamp; and
a three-dimensional target member connected adjacent the second end of the elongated member to form a target for the player to aim and attempt to strike with the game piece, wherein the elongated member is configured and adapted such that it (a) deflects when the target member is struck by the game piece so that the target member moves without substantially altering the trajectory of the game piece and (b) returns the target member to its original position after it has been deflected by the game piece.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An athletic shooting aid adapted to be detachably mounted directly on the goal of a sporting event to provide a target at which the player aims and strikes with the game piece in order to improve the form and accuracy of the player'"'"'s shooting. The device comprises a clamp which is removably attachable to the goal having a substantially straight elongated member extending from the clamp with a ball or target of material attached to the elongated member to serve as the target at which the player aims when shooting the game piece. The elongated member is adapted and configured to allow the ball to move when struck by the game piece in such a manner that the game piece deflects the ball without substantially affecting the trajectory of the game piece and to allow the ball to be repositioned after the game piece has passed through the goal.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device attachable to a sporting event goal for improving the accuracy and shooting form of a player by providing a visual target to aim at and strike with the sporting event'"'"'s game piece comprising:
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a clamp having an inner surface which contacts the sporting event'"'"'s goal and an oppositely facing exterior surface, the clamp configured and adapted to removably attach to the sporting event'"'"'s goal;
a substantially straight elongated member having first and second ends, the elongated member connected adjacent its first end to the clamp and extending substantially perpendicular from the exterior surface of the clamp such that its second end is located at a point distal from the clamp; and
a three-dimensional target member connected adjacent the second end of the elongated member to form a target for the player to aim and attempt to strike with the game piece, wherein the elongated member is configured and adapted such that it (a) deflects when the target member is struck by the game piece so that the target member moves without substantially altering the trajectory of the game piece and (b) returns the target member to its original position after it has been deflected by the game piece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
upper and lower jaws configured and adapted to cooperate and communicate to grip the basketball hoop;
an adjustable set screw wherein the upper and lower jaws are movable about the basketball rim so that the device may be removably attached to the rim by rotating the set screw.
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15. The device of claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises:
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a base portion configured and adapted to cooperatively receive and grip a basketball hoop;
a first leg portion configured and adapted to cooperatively receive and grip a basketball hoop and fixedly attached to said base portion;
a second leg portion configured and adapted to cooperatively receive and grip a basketball hoop and to rotatably attach to said base portion having an open position to allow a basketball hoop to pass between the base portion, and first and second leg portions for cooperatively receiving the basketball hoop, and a closed position for gripping of and attachment to the basketball hoop; and
a tightening nut configured and adapted to hold and press together the first and second leg portions of the clamp so that the clamp grips and attaches to the basketball hoop.
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16. The device of claim 1 wherein the clamp further comprises a tubularly-shaped member of flexible material defining a channel running the length thereof configured and adapted to fit over and attach to a basketball rim, the tubular member having a slit running the length thereof and configured and adapted to allow the tubularly-shaped member to fit over the rim.
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17. The device of claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises two legs configured to attach to the sports goal and connected by a flexible connecting member, the flexible connecting member biasing the legs into a closed position wherein the legs attach to the sports goal.
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18. A basketball shooting aid device attachable to a basketball rim for the improving accuracy and shooting form of a basketball player by providing a visual target to aim at and strike with the basketball comprising:
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a clamp having a tubularly-shaped unitary member of flexible, resilient material defining a channel running the length thereof configured and adapted to fit over and attach to a basketball rim, the tubular member having an inner surface which is configured and adapted to fit over and come into contact with the basketball rim and an opposite exterior surface, the tubular member having a slit along the length thereof, the slit configured and adapted to allow the spreading of the tubular member so that it may fit over the rim;
a substantially straight elongated member having first and second ends, the elongated member connected adjacent its first end to the tubular member and extending substantially perpendicular from the exterior surface of the tubular member such that its second end is located at a point distal from the clamp; and
a target member connected adjacent the second end of the elongated member to form a target for the player to aim and attempt to strike with the game piece, wherein the elongated member is configured and adapted such that it (a) deflects when the tubular member is struck by the basketball so that the target member moves without substantially altering the direct trajectory of the basketball and (b) returns the target member to its original position after it has been deflected by the basketball. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A device attachable to a football field goal post for improving the accuracy and kicking form of a football player by providing a visual target to aim at and strike with a football comprising:
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a clamp having an inner surface which contacts the football field goal post, the clamp configured and adapted to removably attach to the football goal post;
a substantially straight elongated member having first and second ends, the elongated member connected adjacent to its first end of the clamp and extending substantially perpendicular from the clamp such that its second end is located at a point distal from the clamp, the elongated member formed of a stranded wire coated with a plastic material; and
a target member connected adjacent the second end of the elongated member to form a target for the player to aim and attempt to strike with the football, wherein the elongated member is configured and adapted such that it deflects when the target member is struck by the football so that the target member moves without substantially altering the trajectory of the football and returns the target member to its original position after it has been deflected by the football.
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21. A device attachable to a sporting event goal for improving the accuracy and shooting form of a player by providing a visual target to aim at and strike with the sporting event'"'"'s game piece essentially consisting of:
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a clamp having an inner surface which contacts the sporting event'"'"'s goal and an oppositely facing exterior surface, the clamp configured and adapted to removably attach to the sporting event'"'"'s goal;
a substantially straight elongated member having first and second ends, the elongated member connected adjacent its first end to the clamp and extending substantially perpendicular from the exterior surface of the clamp such that its second end is located at a point distal from the clamp; and
a three-dimensional target member connected adjacent the second end of the elongated member to form a target for the player to aim and attempt to strike with the game piece, wherein the elongated member is configured and adapted such that it (a) deflects when the target member is struck by the game piece so that the target member moves without substantially altering the trajectory of the game piece and (b) returns the target member to its original position after it has been deflected by the game piece. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
upper and lower jaws configured and adapted to cooperate and communicate to grip the basketball hoop;
a set screw wherein the upper and lower jaws are tightened about the basketball rim to removably attach the device to the rim by rotating the set screw.
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23. The device of claim 21 wherein the clamp comprises:
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a base portion configured and adapted to cooperatively receive and grip a basketball hoop;
a first leg portion configured and adapted to cooperatively receive and grip a basketball hoop and fixedly attached to said base portion;
a second leg portion configured and adapted to cooperatively receive and grip a basketball hoop and to rotatably attach to said base portion having an open position to allow a basketball hoop to pass between the base portion, and first and second leg portions for cooperatively receiving the basketball hoop, and a closed position for gripping of and attachment to the basketball hoop; and
a tightening nut configured and adapted to hold and press together the first and second leg portions so that the clamp grips and attaches to the basketball hoop.
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Specification