Hoop for indicating when a basketball passes therethrough

• US 6,582,329 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwin Cabrera
• Original Assignee: Edwin Cabrera
• Inventors: Cabrera, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/884,546
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 473/480, 473/489, 473/485, 473/487, 473/488, 473/482, 273/317.3
• US Class Current: 473/480
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration

Abstract

A hoop for indicating when a basketball passes therethrough that includes a ring and first and second apparatuses. In a first embodiment, the first apparatus includes a momentary microswitch, a lever that closes the microswitch when contacted by the basketball, and a timer that activates when the momentary switch is closed. In a second embodiment, the first apparatus includes a light source and a photo electric cell that receives a beam of light from the light source. When the beam of light is broken by the basketball, the photo electric cell activates and activates the timer. The second apparatus includes an internal ring, a plurality of bulbs removably mounted in, and illuminating through, the internal ring when the timer is activated, a plurality of tube assemblies that depend from, and visually communicate with, the internal ring, a speaker, and an annunciator that audiblizes through the speaker when the timer is activated.

Claims

1. A hoop for indicating when a basketball passes therethrough, comprising:

a) a ring; and

c) first means for activating when the basketball passes through said ring; and

wherein said ring is for having the basketball pass therethrough,

wherein said ring comprises an inner ring;

wherein said ring comprises an outer ring;

wherein said outer ring is replaceably attached to said inner ring; and

wherein said outer ring is concentrically attached to said inner ring, wherein said inner ring has a vertical wall; and

wherein said vertical wall of said inner ring is cylindrically-shaped, wherein said vertical wall of said inner ring has an uppermost terminal edge;

wherein said uppermost terminal edge of said vertical wall of said inner ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said vertical wall of said inner ring has a lowermost terminal edge; and

wherein said lowermost terminal edge of said vertical wall of said inner ring is circular-shaped, wherein said inner ring has a horizontal wall;

wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring is flat; and

wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring is donut-shaped, wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring has an innermost terminal edge;

wherein said innermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring has an outermost terminal edge;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring is concentric with said innermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring; and

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring is coplanar with said innermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring, wherein said vertical wall of said inner ring has a plurality of throughbores;

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said vertical wall of said inner ring extend horizontally through said vertical wall of said inner ring; and

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said vertical wall of said inner ring are spaced circumferentially around said vertical wall of said inner ring, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said vertical wall of said inner ring, are disposed in close proximity to said lowermost terminal edge of said vertical wall of said inner ring.

2. The hoop as defined in claim 1;

further comprising second means for indicating when the basketball passes through said ring.

3. The hoop as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner ring is inverted L-shaped in lateral cross section.

4. The hoop as defined in claim 1, wherein said innermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring is coincident with said uppermost terminal edge of said vertical wall of said inner ring;

wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring extends perpendicularly from said vertical wall of said inner ring; and

wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring extends radially outwardly from said vertical wall of said inner ring.

5. The hoop as defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring has a plurality of throughbores;

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said horizontal wall of said inner ring extend vertically through said horizontal wall of said inner ring; and

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said horizontal wall of said inner ring are spaced circumferentially around said horizontal wall of said inner ring.

6. The hoop as defined in claim 5, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said horizontal wall of said inner ring are disposed midway between said outermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring and said innermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring.

7. The hoop as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer ring is substantially C-shaped in lateral cross section.

8. The hoop as defined in claim 5, wherein said outer ring has an outermost vertical wall;

and

wherein said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring is cylindrically-shaped.

9. The hoop as defined in claim 8, wherein said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring has an uppermost terminal edge;

wherein said uppermost edge of said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring has a lowermost terminal edge; and

wherein said lowermost edge of said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped.

10. The hoop as defined in claim 9, wherein said outer ring has a lowermost horizontal wall;

wherein said lowermost wall of said outer ring is flat; and

wherein said lowermost wall of said outer ring is donut-shaped.

11. The hoop as defined in claim 10, wherein said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring has an innermost terminal edge;

wherein innermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring has an outermost terminal edge;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is concentric with said innermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is coplanar with said innermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

12. The hoop as defined in claim 11, wherein said outermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is coincident with said lowermost terminal edge of said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring;

wherein said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring extends perpendicularly from said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring extends radially inwardly from said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring.

13. The hoop as defined in claim 11, wherein said outer ring has a innermost vertical wall;

and

wherein said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring is cylindrically-shaped.

14. The hoop as defined in claim 13, wherein said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring has a lowermost terminal edge;

and

wherein said lowermost terminal edge of said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped.

15. The hoop as defined in claim 14, wherein said lowermost terminal edge of said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring is coincident with said innermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring;

wherein said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring extends perpendicularly from said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring;

wherein said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring extends upwardly from said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring abuts directly against said vertical wall of said inner ring.

16. The hoop as defined in claim 13, wherein said outer ring has an uppermost horizontal wall;

wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is flat; and

wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is donut-shaped.

17. The hoop as defined in claim 16, wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring has an innermost terminal edge;

wherein said innermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring has an outermost terminal edge;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is circular-shaped;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is concentric with said innermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is coplanar with said innermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

18. The hoop as defined in claim 17, wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring extends perpendicularly from said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring;

wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring extends inwardly from said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring;

wherein said innermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring abuts directly against said vertical wall of said inner ring;

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring is disposed just below said uppermost terminal edge of said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring so as to form a recessed ledge;

wherein said recessed ledge of said outer ring is defined by said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring and said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring;

wherein said recessed ledge of said outer ring receives said horizontal wall of said inner ring;

wherein said horizontal wall of said inner ring rests directly on said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said outermost terminal edge of said horizontal wall of said inner ring abuts directly against said uppermost terminal edge of said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring.

19. The hoop as defined in claim 14, wherein said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring has a plurality of throughbores;

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring extend horizontally through said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring are spaced circumferentially around said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring.

20. The hoop as defined in claim 19, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring are disposed in close proximity to said lowermost terminal edge of said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring.

21. The hoop as defined in claim 19, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring are aligned with said plurality of throughbores in said vertical wall of said inner ring, respectively.

22. The hoop as defined in claim 17, wherein said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring has a plurality of throughbores;

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring extend vertically through said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring are spaced circumferentially around said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

23. The hoop as defined in claim 22, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring are disposed midway between said outermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring and said innermost terminal edge of said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

24. The hoop as defined in claim 22, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring are aligned with said plurality of throughbores in said horizontal wall of said inner ring, respectively.

25. The hoop as defined in claim 19, wherein said ring comprises a first plurality of screws;

and

wherein said first plurality of screws extend into said plurality of throughbores in said vertical wall of said inner ring and said plurality of throughbores in said vertical wall of said outer ring, respectively, so as to replaceably maintain said outer ring onto said inner ring.

27. The hoop as defined in claim 16, wherein said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring has a plurality of throughbores;

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring extend vertically through said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring are spaced circumferentially around said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

28. The hoop as defined in claim 27, herein said plurality of throughbores in said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring are disposed midway between said outermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring and said innermost terminal edge of said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

29. The hoop as defined in claim 27, wherein said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring has a plurality of throughbores;

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring extend horizontally through said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring; and

wherein said plurality of throughbores in said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring are spaced circumferentially around said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring.

30. The hoop as defined in claim 29, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said outermost vertical horizontal wall of said outer ring are disposed midway between said uppermost terminal edge of said outermost vertical horizontal wall of said outer ring and said lowermost terminal edge of said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring.

31. The hoop as defined in claim 29, wherein said plurality of throughbores in said outermost vertical horizontal wall of said outer ring are star-shaped.

32. The hoop as defined in claim 8, wherein said ring comprises a fluorescent coating;

and

wherein said fluorescent coating covers said outermost vertical horizontal wall of said outer ring so as to allow said ring to shine in the dark.

33. The hoop as defined in claim 29, wherein said first means includes a momentary microswitch that is attached to said vertical wall of said inner ring.

34. The hoop as defined in claim 33, wherein said first means includes a lever that is pivotally connected to said momentary microswitch.

35. The hoop as defined in claim 34, wherein said lever extends radially inwardly from said momentary microswitch into said inner ring a distance sufficient for being contacted by the basketball when the basketball passes through said ring, and when contacted, pivots downwardly and closes said momentary microswitch, and then pivots back upwardly.

36. The hoop as defined in claim 33, wherein a first apparatus comprises a timer;

wherein said timer is in electrical communication with said momentary microswitch; and

wherein said timer activates when said momentary switch is closed, and when activated, activates said second apparatus for a preselected period of time.

37. The hoop as defined in claim 1, wherein a first apparatus comprises a light source;

wherein said first apparatus comprises a photo electric cell;

wherein said first apparatus comprises a timer;

wherein said timer is in electrical communication with said photo electric cell;

wherein said light source is attached to said vertical wall of said inner ring;

wherein said light source generates a beam of light;

wherein said photo electric cell is attached to said vertical wall of said inner ring;

wherein said photo electric cell is diametrically opposite to said light source;

wherein said photo electric cell is in electrical communication with said timer; and

wherein said photo electric cell receives said beam of light from said light source, and when said beam of light is broken, said photo electric cell activates said timer which activates said second apparatus for a preselected period of time.

38. The hoop as defined in claim 36, wherein a second apparatus comprises an internal ring;

and

wherein said internal ring is disposed in said outer ring.

39. The hoop as defined in claim 38, wherein said internal ring extends radially from said outermost vertical wall of said outer ring to said innermost vertical wall of said outer ring;

wherein said internal ring extends vertically, at a lowermost horizontal surface thereof, from said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring to an uppermost horizontal surface thereof; and

wherein said uppermost horizontal surface of said internal ring is spaced below said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring.

40. The hoop as defined in claim 38, wherein said internal ring is transparent;

and

wherein said internal ring visually communicates with said plurality of throughbores in said outermost vertical horizontal wall of said outer ring.

41. The hoop as defined in claim 39, wherein said uppermost horizontal surface of said internal ring has a plurality of blindbores;

wherein said plurality of blindbores depend vertically in said uppermost horizontal surface of said internal ring; and

wherein said plurality of blindbores are spaced circuimferentially around said uppermost horizontal surface of said internal ring.

42. The hoop as defined in claim 41, wherein said lowermost surface of said internal ring has a plurality of blindbores;

wherein said plurality of blindbores extend vertically in said lowermost surface of said internal ring;

wherein said plurality of blindbores are spaced circumferentially around said lowermost surface of said internal ring;

wherein said plurality of blindbores are threaded;

wherein said plurality of blindbores are in communicating alignment with said plurality of throughbores in said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring, respectively; and

wherein said plurality of blindbores are in visual alignment with said plurality of blindbores in said uppermost horizontal surface of said internal ring.

43. The hoop as defined in claim 42, wherein a second apparatus comprises a plurality of bulbs;

wherein said plurality of bulbs are removably mounted in said plurality of blindbores in said uppermost horizontal surface of said internal ring, respectively;

wherein said plurality of bulbs visually communicate with said internal ring;

wherein said plurality of bulbs are in electrical communication with said timer; and

wherein said plurality of bulbs illuminate through said plurality of throughbores in said outermost vertical horizontal wall of said outer ring when said timer is activated.

44. The hoop as defined in claim 43, wherein said second apparatus further comprises a plurality of tube assemblies;

wherein said plurality of tube assemblies comprise upper portions; and

wherein said plurality of tube assemblies comprise lower portions.

45. The hoop as defined in claim 44, wherein said upper portions of said plurality of tube assemblies are externally threaded bushings;

wherein said externally threaded bushings extend freely up into said plurality of throughbores in said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring, respectively; and

wherein said externally threaded bushings extend threadably up into said plurality of blindbores in said lowermost surface of said internal ring, respectively.

46. The hoop as defined in claim 45, wherein said lower portions of said plurality of tube assemblies are tubes;

wherein said tubes have uppermost ends;

wherein said uppermost ends of said tubes are force fitted into said externally threaded bushings, respectively; and

wherein said tubes depend from said uppermost ends thereof past said lowermost horizontal wall of said outer ring, to free ends.

47. The hoop as defined in claim 44, wherein said lower portions of said plurality of tubes assemblies are transparent;

and

wherein said lower portions of said plurality of tubes assemblies visually communicate with said internal ring so as to allow said plurality of bulbs to illuminate therethrough when said timer is activated.

48. The hoop as defined in claim 36, wherein a second apparatus comprises a speaker;

wherein a second apparatus comprises an annunciator;

wherein said speaker is in electrical communication with said timer;

wherein said annunciator is in electrical communication with said timer;

wherein said annunciator is in electrical communication with said speaker; and

wherein said annunciator audiblizes through said speaker when said timer is activated.

26. The hoop as defined in clams 22, wherein said ring comprises a second plurality of screws;

and

wherein said second plurality of screws extend into said plurality of throughbores in said horizontal wall of said inner ring and said plurality of throughbores in said uppermost horizontal wall of said outer ring so as to replaceably maintain said outer ring onto said inner ring.