Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-07-31
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C237S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267696
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a basketball rebounding apparatus and more particularly to a lightweight and optionally collapsible basketball foul-shot return apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Basketball foul-shot return devices designed to return the ball to a point proximate the foul-shot position are useful in basketball practice and in arcade entertainment. Various types of ball retrieving apparatuses are known, but the type most closely simulating the rebounding of a basketball from the backboard directly to a player shooting the ball from the foul-shot position on a basketball court, or simulating a pass from another player to the foul-shot player is of present concern. Such type of foul-shot return apparatus generally has an elongated, upwardly-open ball collection chute adapted to retrieve balls rebounding from the basketball goal or backboard, but also adapted so that the balls shot into or near the basket are allowed to freely travel and bounce downwardly and forwardly through the chute to a forwardly located ball return mechanism proximate the foul-shot position. This type of device is hereinafter referred to as an “elongated open chute” type foul-shot return apparatus. Examples of elongated open chute foul-shot return apparatuses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,838,549; 5,692,976; and 5,171,009. These three patents disclose foul-shot return apparatuses that are too cumbersome and heavy for a single player of average build to hang over a basketball backboard himself. Therefore, these previous foul-shot return apparatuses of the same type include rolling standards for easily moving the apparatus and aligning it in place with the backboard. Foul-shot return apparatuses including rolling or stationary standards are deleterious in that they tend to move out of position when during the intended use and are quite bulky for storage purposes.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide an elongated open chute type foul-shot return apparatus that is lightweight enough so that it can be easily hung over the top of a backboard by an average size person. Such a hanging elongated open chute foul-shot return apparatus would also need to be strong enough to resist bending the rigid members supporting the chute.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a basketball foul-shot return apparatus for use with an elevated basketball goal assembly including a backboard having a planar face and an upper end, and a basket extending forwardly from the face. The apparatus of the present invention comprises
(a) an elongated, rigid structure adapted for being adjacently positioned against the face of the backboard to receive the basket, said structure having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the face of the backboard with a rearward end proximate to the backboard and a forward end distal to the backboard, said structure including
a substantially rectangular frame having a size sufficient to receive the basket, said frame having upper and lower rails, first and second parallel side rails having upper and lower ends, and a hooking means connected to said frame, wherein said hooking means is adapted to engage the upper end of the backboard when the basket is received, and
an elongated brace extending downwardly forward from a center point of said lower rail of said frame along said longitudinal axis to a forward end, and
a rigid ball return mechanism positioned transverse to said longitudinal axis and having an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end is connected to the forward end of said brace;
(b) first and second elongated arms having a rearward end and a forward end wherein the rearward end of each said arm is connected to the upper end of said corresponding first and second side rails of said frame, wherein said arms are disposed in first and second essentially parallel planes lying on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and positionable in a longitudinally extended position; and
(c) a ball collection chute formed from a longitudinal web, said web having a rearward edge, a forward edge, and a pair of first and second opposed side edges, wherein said rearward edge is attached about the lower rail and first and second side rails of said frame, wherein said first and second side edges are attached to said corresponding first and second arms, said forward edge having a pair of first and second outer portions disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and a center portion disposed therebetween and intersected by said axis, wherein said center portion is attached to the lower end of said ball return mechanism and said first and second outer portions extend upwardly from said center portion to the corresponding forward ends of said first and second arms when said arms are positioned in said longitudinally extended position,
wherein said basketball foul-shot return apparatus is elevated above the ground when positioned on the backboard.
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Mabe Clarence
Rockwell Jay T.
Aryanpour Mitra
Chapman Jeanette
Johnston Susan F.
New Innovations, Inc.
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