The present system relates to basketball return nets, and in particular a basketball goal return net and method of mounting.
A training aid for certain basketball goals is a net to catch and return or urge a basketball towards a user. Such nets typically are located below a basketball goal hoop, and may be slanted forward. An improved system and method for attaching a basketball goal return net to a basketball goal system is desired.
One embodiment of the present invention includes a basketball goal return net and a mounting system for mounting the basketball return net to a basketball goal assembly. The mounting system may be used with various styles and sizes of basketball goal assemblies. The mounting system secures a net to a basketball goal assembly. The system suspends the net and may also inhibit side-to-side or lateral movement. In certain embodiments, an elongate member passes through a sleeve of the return net, the sleeve being formed at the top of the return net. The mounting system includes one or more straps extending from the net and attachable to a hoop mount. The straps can be attached adjacent ends of the elongate member to the outer surface of the sleeve or directly to the elongate member. The straps are preferably attached at a middle portion or opposing end to the hoop mount. The net serves to capture and/or return a basketball to a thrower.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the detailed drawings and descriptions provided herein. Each embodiment described herein is not intended to address every object described herein, and each embodiment does not include each feature described. Some or all of these features may be present in the corresponding independent or dependent claims, but should not be construed to be a limitation unless expressly recited in a particular claim.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
One embodiment of the present invention includes a basketball goal return net and a mounting system for mounting the basketball return net to a basketball goal assembly. The mounting system may be used with various styles and sizes of basketball goal assemblies. The mounting system secures a net to a basketball goal assembly. The system suspends the net and may also inhibit side-to-side or lateral movement. In certain embodiments, an elongate member passes through a sleeve of the return net, the sleeve being formed at the top of the return net. The mounting system includes one or more straps extending from the net and attachable to a hoop mount. The straps can be attached adjacent the ends of the elongate member to the outer surface of the sleeve or directly to the elongate member. The straps are preferably attached at a middle portion or at an opposing end to the hoop mount, for example with a hook and loop fastener system. The net serves to capture and/or return a basketball to a thrower.
Referring to
Basketball goal assembly 14 includes a conventional backboard assembly 15. In one embodiment, backboard assembly 15 includes a backboard 16 with a surrounding frame 17. Basketball goal assembly 14 preferably includes a basketball goal hoop 19 mounted to the front face of a backboard assembly 15 via a bracket or hoop mount 20. Hoop bracket 20 may allow the hoop to pivot during use, for example with a biased pivot hinge. A scoring net is typically suspended from the hoop.
For convenience, directional references to front refer to the side of the backboard upon which the hoop is mounted and forward is the direction extending towards the playing area. Rear refers to the side or face of the backboard opposite the hoop and rearward is a direction extending behind the backboard, opposite to forward. Inward refers to directions from the respective side edges towards the center of the backboard, and outward extends from the center towards and beyond the edges.
In a preferred embodiment, system 10 attaches net 12 to hoop bracket 20 of backboard assembly 15. Referring to
The elongate member, such as bar 18, preferably has a length equal to or slightly longer than the width of the upper end of net 12. In an alternative embodiment, the net may be compressed or gathered so that the effective width of the upper end of the net is equal to or less than the length of the elongate member.
An upper end of the net 12 defines a sleeve 40. The sleeve closure can be fixed, such as by sewing. Alternatively, the sleeve on the upper end can be defined using various closure or surrounding methods as would occur to one skilled in the art, examples include a zipper, snaps, straps, laces or Velcro® hook and loop fasteners. In the illustrated embodiment, the bar passes through the sleeve to carry the net. The sleeve can be held from sliding relative to the bar by a snug size causing a friction fit, end caps or retaining pieces which secure the sleeve in place by passing through or around the sleeve and/or bar. The retaining pieces can be a temporary or permanent limiting member such as a cotter pin, a clip, a bolt, a screw, a peg, a clamp or a plastic piece such as a zip tie. In an alternate embodiment, the retaining member is a biased button or stud which resiliently extends from the elongate member's interior to engage the sleeve.
System 10 is illustrated with straps 26 and 27 extending from net 12 and attachable to the hoop bracket, for example by securing the inward ends 30 and 31 (
Mounting base 25 can extend along the entire width or less of hoop bracket 20. As illustrated, mounting base 25 includes an upper surface 25a. Upper surface 25a includes one portion of a hook and loop fastener pairing, such as Velcro® fasteners. Strap 26 includes an inward end portion 30 with lower surface 26a and upper surface 26b. Strap 27 includes an inward end portion 31 with lower surface 27a and upper surface 27b. Preferably, mating portions of the hook and loop fasteners extend in lengths adjacent the inward ends 30 and 31 to allow strap 26 and strap 27 to be selectively secured to the mounting base 25.
In certain embodiments, hook and loop fastener portions are mounted on surfaces 26a, 26b and 27a to allow lower surface 26b to mate with upper surface 25a, and to allow upper surface 26b to mate with lower surface 27a. In a slight alteration, upper surface 27b can optionally also include a hook and loop fastener portion to reversibly allow strap 27 to be attached to base 25 and strap 26 be positioned on top of strap 27.
In an alternative embodiment illustrated in
Additionally, it should be appreciated that the straps and base can be attached differently to the backboard assembly, including being mounted to backboard 16. In certain embodiments, the straps can be shorter or longer in length to allow for placement of the net at varying heights or to support longer or shorter elongate members. Optionally, the straps can include hook and loop fasteners throughout a length of the straps, allowing for height adjustability of the net.
Alternate system 100 is illustrated in
In certain embodiments, such as in system 10, the end caps are optional. The protective caps are illustrated as capturing an end of the elongate member by enclosing it, which also provides weather protection and blunts the edges. However, the caps can be secured to the end portions without complete enclosure. In one embodiment, the caps have a snug, friction fit to the end portions. Alternately, the caps are secured in place with a retaining piece.
The optional end caps, in one embodiment, can include round, soft tips. In another embodiment, the end caps can include arrow shaped tips. Additionally, the end caps can be made of a substantially plastic material. However, it should be appreciated that the end caps can be made of other suitable materials, such as rubber.
In certain less preferred embodiments, one continuous strap is used instead of separate straps. The one continuous strap can be attached to the hoop bracket in various manners, including through the use of hook and loop fasteners or bracket assemblies. In preferred alternative embodiments, the one continuous strap is maintained at a position on the hoop bracket, preventing forward and side-to-side movement of the return net. As an example, the one continuous strap can be received in a trough or channel mounted to or by the hoop bracket, and friction or another mounting mechanism, such as a mechanical fastener or clamp, can be used to prevent side-to-side movement of the strap.
Preferably the straps are selectively and releaseably securable to allow simple and optionally quick release mounting and disengaging of the net assembly, preferably without tools. In other alternative embodiments, fasteners such as snaps or laces are used to connect the straps and to retain the straps in position. In further alternative embodiments, fasteners such as retaining clips or buckles are mounted to the backboard assembly, bar or net and are connectable to straps to retain the net assembly in position. The buckles can be plastic or metal. In certain alternative embodiments, one or more straps are fixedly mounted to a hoop bracket and can be selectively connected to the return net at one or both ends of the strap(s). A still further alternative embodiment involves the use of studs or pins connected to a mount or backboard assembly, with holes, optionally with metal eyelets, in the strap(s) selectively placed over the studs.
The straps and/or the net can be composed of nylon, leather, plastic, or synthetic materials, or other such material compositions that enable performance of the functions stated herein. The sleeve of the net can be one continuous passage, or a series of passages such as loops of material. Additionally, the elongate member can be made of a plastic, metal, or wood material, or other such material compositions that enable performance of the functions stated herein.
The elongate member is shown with a circular cross-section, although other cross-sections, such as square, oval or rectangular may be used as desired. In other embodiments, the member can be longer or shorter and/or can include telescopic or fixed length extension members or sections to provide for extension and reduction of the member length to correspond to various backboard assembly and return net sizes. In other embodiments, the elongate member can have a smaller or larger cross-section. Further, in yet other embodiments, the member is flexible to permit flexing of the member during mounting, and is biased to unbend to a return length and to then be retained in place.
Referring generally to
The lower end of the net 12 can hang loose or be held in position by water or sand bags or another such weighting or bracing mechanism as desired. During use, a basketball which lands on the net will be urged in a desired direction depending on how the net is oriented. The elongate member, stops and net may move or sway due to an impact, yet preferably are inhibited from lateral movement and return to a standard position.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/709,295, filed Aug. 18, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60709295 | Aug 2005 | US |