Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-10-09
Pierce, William M. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Goal or target structure for projectile; element thereof
C473S480000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299555
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sports apparatus, and more particularly, to a basketball goal sounding apparatus.
Basketball is a grueling sport, favored and participated in by a great number of people. Basketball games, especially whether a shot is made or not, attract the attention of both the amateurs and fans. In particular, during important match, the athletes are deeply concerned about whether they hit the goal and whether the referee judges correctly. The spectators on the bleachers far away from the court are also eager to know the result of the ball tossed toward the goal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a basketball goal sounding apparatus for the correct judgement of the goal, for avoiding wrong judgement due to human factors, for inspiring the athletes to hit the goal, and for increasing the friendly atmosphere of a game.
The object of the present invention is achieved by a basketball goal sounding apparatus, comprises an elastic cord placed in the lower portion of the net, a trigger, conducting wires, a switch of power supply and a audio device properly connected to each other. The trigger comprises a hollow insulating tube, a metal spring placed in the hollow insulating tube and two metal plates with conductive contact fixed to the ends of the metal spring respectively. Each end of the elastic cord is extended to the respective end of hollow insulating tube and fixed to the respective plate at a respective end of the spring to form a loop. One end of the conducting wires with a conductive contact is fixed to the inner wall of the hollow insulating tube, facing the contact of the metal plate, while the other end of the wires is connected to the switch of power supply and the audio device. The procedure of its installation and operation is as follows: The elastic cord whose diameter matches that of the net is installed at a suitable lower portion of the net in a manner as inconspicuous as possible. The wires are connected to the switch of power supply and the audio device. The audio device can be placed anywhere, such as, on the score board or the bleachers as desired. The different sounds for the two parties of a game can be pre-set. When a basketball is passed through the net of the goal, the net becomes larger in diameter as the ball falls. With the diameter of the elastic cord increasing, the metal spring connected to the ends of the elastic cord is forced to be stretched by tension, until the contacts on the plates at the ends of the metal spring come into contact with the contacts on the ends of the wires. Thus, a closed circuit is formed. Then the audio device will immediately generate the sound previously set, indicating that the ball has hit the goal. After the ball falls down, the diameter of the net is decreased and the diameter of the elastic cord is also decreased. Then the spring contracts as the tensile force vanishes. As the contacts are disconnected and the circuit is broken, no sound is generated. Therefore, each time a ball hits the goal, the audio device will sound once, which is helpful for the judgement of a shot and for inspiring the athletes to make further shots. When no ball falls in, even if the net, the hoop and/or the backboard vibrates, the audio device will not make any sound.
The present invention is simple in structure and easy to be implemented, and is helpful for the judgement of whether a shot is made, and for increasing the friendly atmosphere of the game.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1980652 (1934-11-01), Wiezel et al.
patent: 2061152 (1936-11-01), Guthrie
patent: 2413952 (1947-07-01), Chervenka
patent: 4858920 (1989-08-01), Best
patent: 5064195 (1991-11-01), McMahan et al.
patent: 5163680 (1992-11-01), Amron
patent: 5294913 (1994-03-01), Mower et al.
patent: 5300920 (1994-04-01), Caselli et al.
patent: 5358237 (1994-10-01), Yu
patent: 5418517 (1995-05-01), Matherne et al.
patent: 5776018 (1998-07-01), Simpson et al.
patent: 5813928 (1998-09-01), Hsieh
patent: 2271137Y (1997-12-01), None
patent: 8-332256 (1996-12-01), None
Ladas & Parry
Pierce William M.
LandOfFree
Basketball goal sounding apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Basketball goal sounding apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Basketball goal sounding apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2602007