BASKETBALL GOAL ASSEMBLY HAVING OBLIQUELY TRUNCATED BALL-DIRECTING NET

Abstract

A basketball goal assembly has a truncated net with a front side shorter than the rear side. The net may be cylindrical or conical and may be concave or convex, and the bottom rim may be cylindrical or elliptical. A basketball passing through a basketball goal having a truncated net will be directed in the direction in which the net is truncated.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a basketball goal assembly having a truncated net. More particularly, the invention relates to a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly that directs a basketball in a particular direction after it passes through the horizontal rim of the goal assembly.

Description of the Related Art

Almost since its inception, the game of basketball has used a net attached to the bottom of the circular, horizontal rim of a basketball goal. There are several reasons for this. First, it slows the descent of the basketball after it passes through the rim. As a result, a basketball travels less distance after leaving the basketball goal and is easier to reacquire once it leaves the goal. In addition, most players believe it provides a better target when aiming a basketball. Many also appreciate the sound the basketball makes as it passes through the net. Nets are typically made of nylon but can be formed from any suitable fibrous material as well as chains or any other material used to form nets.

While standard basketball nets currently in use slow the speed of the basketball, once the ball leaves the net it may bounce away in any direction. When basketball is played by two teams, the unpredictability of the direction of the ball can increase enjoyment. However, when only two or three people are playing, or when a single person is practicing, chasing a ball after every shot becomes tiresome and reduces the enjoyment of the game.

Several devices exist in the prior art which are designed to direct a basketball in a particular direction after it passes through the horizontal rim. The most common is a curved slide formed from a rigid material that directs the ball in a forward direction. These devices, and many others, all require either replacing net entirely or modifying the net to include a rigid device which must be removed or replaced when a basketball hoop is used by two teams rather than during practice or when used by a smaller group of people.

The above-described deficiencies of today's systems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a basketball net in a basketball goal assembly which does not require the addition of rigid or other devices to direct a basketball in a desired direction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a basketball goal assembly comprising a backboard, a horizontal rim mounted on the backboard, and a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim. The net extends downward from the horizontal rim. The distance from a top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than the distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the opening is oblique.

In one embodiment, the net of the basketball goal assembly has a shape conforming to a truncated solid selected from the group consisting of a truncated cone, an oblique truncated cone, a truncated cylinder, an oblique truncated cylinder, a truncated right cylinder, an oblique truncated prism, a right truncated prism, a tapered truncated prism, and a curved truncated elliptical cone. The bottom opening is oblique and circular.

In another embodiment of the invention, the top half of the net of the basketball goal assembly is convex, the bottom half of the net is concave, and the shape conforms to an oblique truncated cone. Additionally, the bottom opening is oblique and elliptical in shape.

In other embodiments of the invention, the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 30°, at least 45°, and between 30° and 60°.

For all the embodiments included herein the material of the net of the basketball goal assembly consists essentially of flexible fibers woven together.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a basketball goal assembly having a truncated net that directs a basketball leaving the goal in a desired predetermined direction.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is side elevation view of another alternative truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is side elevation view of another alternative truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 is side elevation view of another alternative truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 5 is side elevation view of another alternative truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of another alternative embodiment of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of another alternative embodiment of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a final alternative embodiment of a truncated net for a basketball goal assembly in accordance with the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The disclosed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the various embodiments herein. Various embodiments of the disclosure could also include permutations of the various elements recited in the claims as if each dependent claim was a multiple dependent claim incorporating the limitations of each of the preceding dependent claims as well as the independent claims. Such permutations are expressly within the scope of this disclosure.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, dimensions, reaction conditions and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. The term “a” or “an” as used herein means “at least one” unless specified otherwise. In this specification and the claims, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. Moreover, the use of the term “including”, as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included”, is not limiting. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one unit unless specifically stated otherwise.

Various embodiments of the disclosure could also include permutations of the various elements recited in the claims as if each dependent claim was a multiple dependent claim incorporating the limitations of each of the preceding dependent claims as well as the independent claims. That is, the combinations of the various components of the invention are not limited to those combinations expressly shown in the Figures. Unless expressly stated otherwise, components described in one embodiment may be interchanged with components of the same name found in other embodiments. Such permutations are expressly within the scope of this disclosure.

Disclosed is a basketball goal assembly having a net which directs a basketball in a desired direction after the basketball passes through the horizontal rim of the goal assembly. The net has a truncated configuration and the opening at the bottom of the net has an oblique shape. The combination of these two elements consistently causes a basketball to be ejected from the net in the direction of the shortest side of the truncated net and return back to the user.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 10 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The truncated net 10 forms an oblique truncated cone and extends downward from a horizontal rim 12 affixed to a backboard 14. A front side 16 of the net 10 tapers inward at a greater angle than the rear side 18. The front side 16 also has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 18. The bottom opening 19 is substantially circular.

FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 20 accordance with principles of the invention. The truncated net 20 forms an oblique tapered truncated cylinder and extends downward from a horizontal rim 22 affixed to a backboard 14. A front side 26 of the net 20 tapers inward at a greater angle than the rear side 28. The front side 26 also has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 28. The bottom opening 29 is slightly elliptical, and the front side 26 is nonlinear.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 30 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The truncated net 30 forms an oblique truncated cylinder and extends downward from a horizontal rim 32 affixed to a backboard 34. A front side 36 of the net 30 is substantially perpendicular to the rim 32 and the rear side 38 tapers in a forward direction. The front side 36 also has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 38. The bottom opening 39 is elliptical.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 40 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The concave truncated net 40 extends downward from a horizontal basketball rim 42 affixed to a backboard 44. A front side 46 of the net 40 is concave but has endpoints that are vertically aligned. The rear side 48 is also concave but tapers in a forward direction. The front side 46 also has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 48. The bottom opening 49 is substantially elliptical.

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 50 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The curved oblique truncated net 50 extends downward from a horizontal rim 52 affixed to a backboard 54. A front side 56 of the net 50 is concave and is either vertically aligned with the front side of the rim 52 or extends further forward from the rim 52. The rear side 58 of the net 50 is convex and tapers in a forward direction. The front side 56 also has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 58. The bottom opening 59 is substantially elliptical and concave.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another alternative embodiment of a truncated net 60 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Truncated net 60 extends downward from a horizontal rim 62. It has a substantially straight front side 64, as well as convex sides 70. The back of the net 68 is substantially convex towards the top of the net 60, and transitions to concave towards the bottom of the net 60, resulting in a sigmoidal shape. This weakens the backside of the net 68, making it more likely for the ball to return to the user. Finally, the bottom opening 72 is elliptical and angled slightly upward at the front side.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show another exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 80 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The curved truncated elliptical cone 80 extends downward from a horizontal rim 82 affixed to a backboard 84. A front side 88 of the net 90 is concave and extends in a forward direction. The rear side 86 of the net 80 is convex and tapers in a forward direction. The front side 88 also has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 86. The bottom opening 89 is oblique and is more elliptical than circular. Additionally, the oblique, bottom opening 89 forms an angle 96 with the horizontal rim 82 of at least 30°, as demonstrated by the horizontal line 94 extending from the horizontal rim 82 and the angled line 96 extending from the bottom opening 89.

FIG. 11 shows a final exemplary embodiment of a truncated net 100 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The curved oblique truncated net 100 extends downward from a horizontal rim 102 affixed to a backboard 104. The top half of the net 114 is convex and frustoconical in shape and the bottom half of the net 116 is a concave, oblique truncated cone. The front of the top opening 110 of the net 100 attaches to the horizontal rim 102 and tapers down and back to the front of the bottom opening 118. The back of the top opening 112 of the net 100 attaches to the horizontal rim 102 and tapers down and forward to the back of the bottom opening 120. The front side 108 has a length that is less than the length of the rear side 106, resulting in the front of the bottom opening 118 having a higher elevation than the back of the bottom opening 120. The top opening 124 of the net 100 is substantially circular, and the bottom opening 122 of the net 100 is oblique and elliptical. The truncated net 100 is composed of a series of fibers 126 and knots 128, which have been woven together, to maintain the shape and desired function of the net 100.

The net itself is made of a series of fibers that have been woven and knotted together to make a typical net. As used herein, the word fiber refers to flexible materials such as rope, twine, string, nylon, polymers, organic material, synthetic material, plastic chain, metal chain, or the like. Additionally, the flexible fibers, as used herein, may possess elastic or inelastic properties.

In use, all the exemplary embodiments shown will direct a basketball that has descended through the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net in a forward direction. That is, a basketball net and goal assembly in accordance with principles of the invention will direct any ball passing through it in the direction of an operator standing in front of a basketball goal assembly as described herein. Thus, an operator will no longer need to chase down a basketball that has passed through the basketball goal.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. The claims should be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net comprising: a backboard;a horizontal rim mounted on the backboard;a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim and extending downward from the horizontal rim;wherein a distance from the top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than a distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the opening is oblique.

2. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 1 wherein the bottom opening is circular.

3. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 2 wherein the net has a shape conforming to a truncated solid selected from the group consisting of a truncated cone, an oblique truncated cone, a truncated cylinder, an oblique truncated cylinder, a truncated right cylinder, an oblique truncated prism, a right truncated prism, a tapered truncated prism, and a curved truncated elliptical cone.

4. A basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net comprising: a backboard;a horizontal rim mounted on the backboard;a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim and extending downward from the horizontal rim;wherein a distance from the top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than a distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the bottom opening is oblique and elliptical.

5. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 4 wherein the top half of the net is convex.

6. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 5 wherein the bottom half of the net is concave.

7. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 6 wherein the net has a shape conforming to an oblique truncated cone.

8. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 4 wherein a material used to form the net consists essentially of flexible fibers woven together.

9. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 4 wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 30°.

10. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 9 wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 45°.

11. The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 4 wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim between 30° and 60°.

12. A method of manufacturing a basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net comprising: providing a backboard;attaching a horizontal, circular rim to the backboard;affixing a net to the rim;wherein the net comprises:a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim and extending downward from the horizontal rim;a distance from the top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than a distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the bottom opening is oblique and elliptical.

13. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 12 wherein the top half of the net is convex.

14. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 13 wherein the bottom half of the net is concave.

15. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 14 wherein the net has a shape conforming to an oblique truncated cone.

16. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 12 wherein a material used to form the net consists essentially of flexible fibers woven together.

17. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 12 wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 30°.

18. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 17 wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 45°.

19. The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of claim 12 wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim between 30° and 60°.