Patent Application
20250114681
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The disclosure relates to basketball training apparatuses and more particularly pertains to a new basketball training apparatus for training an individual to launch a basketball along a desired pathway to move the basketball downwardly through a basketball hoop.
When a basketball is launched into the air, the basketball typically follows a parabolic arc as a result of gravity urging the basketball toward the earth with near-constant force. This geometrical knowledge is utilized in training an individual to launch a basketball with proper form to move the basketball downwardly through a basketball hoop. This is particularly true for free throws, where the individual is required to launch the basketball from a distance away from the basketball hoop. The individual, who will typically have a height and arm length such that the individual will release the ball at an elevation above a ground surface which is less than an elevation of the basketball hoop over the ground surface, will need to launch the basketball along a parabolic arc with a vertex with a greater elevation above the ground surface than the elevation of the basketball hoop.
The greater the elevation of a vertex of the parabolic arc, the steeper the descent of the ball, which improves the chances of making a successful shot through the basketball hoop instead of seeing the basketball rebound off of an inner side of the basketball hoop without going through the hoop. However, the individual is also restricted from shooting the basketball along too high an arc due to the individual's strength and the individual's ability to accurately launch the basketball at the basketball hoop along longer paths.
Therefore, a training apparatus may be helpful in identifying visually to the individual or bystanders a location of a vertex of a desired pathway for the basketball to travel from the individual and downwardly through the basketball hoop. Additional indicators may also be useful for identifying another point along the desired pathway which is closer to the individual than the vertex and for identifying the angle at which the basketball should travel at this other point in order to continue following the desired pathway.
The prior art discloses several apparatuses designed to achieve at least some of these functions. Particularly, apparatuses are described which at least generally identify the location of the vertex of the desired pathway. However, the apparatuses of the prior art either indicate only a minimum for the vertex by, for example, providing a generally horizontal beam which the individual must throw the basketball over in order to launch the basketball with proper form, or indicate a wide area which is acceptable by, for example, providing a closed loop at the vertex of the desired pathway through which the individual is intended to launch the basketball. The prior art also fails to describe an apparatus which indicates an additional point along the desired pathway and indicates the angle at which the basketball should travel through the additional point in order to remain on the desired pathway. An apparatus which identifies a precise point of the vertex rather than the range and which identifies an additional point along the desired pathway and a desired angle of travel of the basketball at this additional point provides functionality not described by the prior art.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base, a pair of front columns, and a pair of vertex indicators. The pair of front columns is coupled to the base at a front side of the base. The front columns extend upwardly from the base and are laterally spaced from each other. Each vertex indicator of the pair of vertex indicators is coupled to an associated front column of the pair of front columns. Each vertex indicator of the pair of vertex indicators is positioned adjacent to a distal end of the associated front column with respect to the base. The pair of vertex indicators indicates a desired vertex position between the pair of vertex indicators.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure 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 additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A pair of front columns 32 is coupled to the base 12 at the front side 20 of the base 12. The front columns 32 extend upwardly from the base 12 and are laterally spaced from each other. Each one of the pair of front columns 32 is also slidably receivable into an associated one of the plurality of posts 14 of the base 12. Each front column 32 of the pair of front columns 32 is telescopically extendable such that a height of the front column 32 is adjustable. Each front column 32 of the pair of front column 32 is movable between a retracted position and an extended position 38.
Each one of a pair of vertex indicators 34 is coupled to an associated front column 32 of the pair of front columns 32. Each vertex indicator 34 of the pair of vertex indicators 34 is positioned adjacent to a distal end 36 of the associated front column 32 with respect to the base 12. The pair of vertex indicators 34 indicates a desired vertex position between the pair of vertex indicators 34. The desired vertex position is the location of the vertex of a desired pathway of a basketball 76 when attempting to launch the basketball 76 to move downwardly through a basketball hoop 78. The desired pathway of the basketball 76 is a parabolic arc that extends from the basketball 76 at the moment of release from an individual 80 and downwardly through the basketball hoop 78. When the basketball scoring training apparatus 10 is positioned for use, the desired pathway also lies along a central vertical plane that is centered between the vertex indicators 34 and extends between the front side 20 and the rear side 22 of the base 12. The pair of vertex indicators 34 extend toward each other to indicate a desired vertex position between the pair of vertex indicators 34 when each front column 32 of the pair of front columns 32 is positioned in the extended position 38.
In some embodiments, however, the pair of vertex indicators 34 may include a light source which emits a light, such as a laser beam, toward the desired vertex position. The vertex indicators 34 also may include any other suitable indication means for indicating the desired vertex position between the pair of vertex indicators 34. Further, in some embodiments, the location of each desired vertex position of the pair of desired vertex positions is movable with respect to the associated front column 32 such that a location of the desired vertex position is vertically adjustable.
Each one of a pair of target indicators 40 is coupled to an associated front column 32 of the pair of front columns 32. Each target indicator 40 of the pair of target indicators 40 comprises a first segment 42, a second segment 44, and a third segment 46. The first segment 42 of each target indicator 40 extends away from the associated front column 32 when the target indicator 40 is in a use position 48. The second segment 44 of each target indicator 40 is coupled to the first segment 42 at a distal end 36 of the first segment 42 with respect to the associated column and extends toward the second segment 44 of another target indicator 40 of the pair of target indicators 40. The third segment 46 is coupled to the second segment 44 at a distal end 36 of the second segment 44 with respect to the first segment 42 and extends upwardly from the second segment 44 when the target indicator 40 is in the use position 48.
The second segments 44 of the pair of target indicators 40 indicate a desired target area between the pair of target indicators 40 when each target indicator 40 is positioned in the use position 48. The desired target area lies along the desired pathway of the basketball 76 and serves to provide the individual 80 launching the basketball 76 to aim at the desired target area such that the basketball 76 follows the desired pathway when launched with an appropriate force at the desired target area. Alternately or in combination with the second segments 44, each target indicator 40 may include other suitable indication means for indicating the desired target area between the pair of target indicators 40 such as a light source which directs a light, such as a laser beam, at the desired target area. Each target indicator 40 is pivotable between the use position 48 and a folded position in which the first segment 42 of the target indicator 40 lies adjacent to the associated column.
The third segment 46 of each target indicator 40 may also be pivotable with respect to the second segment 44 such that the third segment 46 lies substantially parallel to the desired pathway or a tangent of the desired pathway at the desired target area. As such, the third segment 46 may operate to indicate a desired angle at which the basketball 76 should travel at the desired target area in order to follow the desired pathway. The second segment 44 of each target indicator 40 may also have an adjustable length via telescopic action or similar so that the position of the desired target area is adjustable. The second segment 44 and the third segment 46 of each target indicator 40 may be constructed of a resiliently flexible material, such as rubber, silicone, or the like, so that if the basketball 76 strikes either of the second segment 44 or the third segment 46, the basketball 76 may be permitted to continue substantially along its launched path rather than rebounding off of the target indicator 40.
A rear support 52 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base 12 at the rear side 22 of the base 12. The rear support 52 comprises a pair of rear columns 54 and a cross member 56, wherein the cross member 56 is coupled to and extends between the pair of rear columns 54. Each rear column 54 of the pair of rear columns 54 is telescopically extendable such that a height of the rear column 54 is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position 58. The cross member 56 may be removable from the pair of rear columns 54 or adjustable in length such that the width of the base 12 may be adjusted without impinging upon the cross member 56.
A ball return 60 is coupled to the rear support 52 and comprises a sloped member 62. A rear end 64 of the sloped member 62 is coupled to the rear support 52, and a front end 66 of the sloped member 62 is coupled to the pair of front columns 32. The sloped member 62 is angled downwardly from the rear end 64 to the front end 66 when each front column 32 of the pair of front columns 32 is positioned in the extended position 38 and each rear column 54 of the pair of rear columns 54 is positioned in the expanded condition. The sloped member 62 comprises a net but may comprise a rigid chute or any other member which has a suitable surface for guiding the basketball 76 forwardly with respect to the base 12 when the basketball 76 lands on the sloped member 62.
The ball return 60 further comprises a track 68 is coupled to the rear support 52 and extends forwardly from the rear support 52 to a front end 66 of the track 68. The track 68 is angled downwardly from the rear support 52 to the front end 66. The track 68 comprises a pair of rails 70 which are laterally spaced with respect to each other. The track 68 is positioned directly below the basketball hoop 78 during use such that the track 68 directs the basketball 76 forwardly with respect to the base 12 when the basketball 76 falls from the basketball hoop 78. Either or both of the sloped member 62 and the track 68 may be removable from the rear support 52 and the pair of front columns 32.
A plurality of wheels 72 is coupled to the base 12, and each wheel 72 of the plurality of wheels 72 comprises a caster. The plurality of wheels 72 facilitate movement of the basketball scoring training apparatus 10 across a support surface 74, such as a basketball 76 court or a ground surface.
In use, the basketball scoring training apparatus 10 is positioned between the individual 80 and the basketball hoop 78, and the ball return 60 is positioned below the basketball hoop 78. The location of the desired vertex position and the position of the desired target location are adjusted based on the location of the desired pathway of the basketball 76. It will be appreciated that the shape and position of the desired pathway is a subjective determination based on several ergonomic factors such as a position of the individual 80 in relation to the basketball hoop 78, a height of the individual 80, and an arm length of the individual 80. The third segments 46 of the pair of target indicators 40 may also be adjusted to lie substantially parallel to the desired pathway or a tangent of the desired pathway at the desired area.
The individual 80 attempts to launch the basketball 76 along the desired pathway and downwardly through the basketball hoop 78. The individual 80 and bystanders may assess the quality of the attempt and the configuration of the basketball scoring training apparatus 10 based on the successfulness of the attempt to launch the basketball 76 through the basketball hoop 78 and how closely the basketball 76 followed the desired pathway. The individual 80 may make repeated attempts and the basketball scoring training apparatus 10 may be adjusted as needed.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
