Basketball return system

Abstract

Basketball return apparatus (10) for use with a basketball goal (12) and which is easily moved to return a ball to a shooter in any of many different locations with respect to the basketball goal. A lightweight frame (16) supports a net (18) surrounding a basketball goal (12) and is arranged to direct a ball into a ball return chute (52) which can be moved to be close to a shooter. Sensors are arranged to detect and count shots that pass through the goal and to count all shots that are made, and a display device (106) may be set to show the shooter's score and percentage of successful shots made. A sensor (124) is utilized in one embodiment to follow a signaling device (126) carried by a shooter and a system is provided to drive the ball return apparatus in azimuth angle (α) and amount of extension of the ball return chute (52) so as to follow a shooter.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a basketball return device, and more particularly to a basketball return device which can be adjusted to return the ball to a player at different distances and angles from the front of a basketball goal, and which can be used to keep track of the accuracy of a shooter.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Various basketball return devices have been in use for a number of years. Typically, such devices include nets which may partially surround a basketball goal and can direct a basketball that was shot at the goal into a return chute. In many cases, the ball return chute can be moved to return the ball to a shooter in any of various positions with respect to the basketball goal.[0003]In some basketball return devices there are sensors to count shots made and displays to provide feedback with respect to the accuracy of shooting.[0004]Known basketball return devices occupy a significant amount of space, both on the basketball court and when in storag...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In one embodiment, a ball return apparatus as disclosed herein is easily attached to or removed from a basketball goal and can be folded into a compact package that is easily transported, by virtue of the structure of the ball return apparatus being easily separable into several slender portions which can be placed generally parallel with one another without becoming disorganized and difficult to reassemble properly.

[0011]In one embodiment as disclosed herein, motors may be controlled to cause the basketball return apparatus to follow a shooter's movements automatically, so as to return a basketball that has been shot to a shooter moving about the basketball court.

Problems solved by technology

Known basketball return devices occupy a significant amount of space, both on the basketball court and when in storage.

Possibly because of the large size, such apparatus is not very commonly used for training purposes by basketball teams, and is more frequently found set up for individual entertainment in carnivals and fairs, where a customer pays to take a number of shots and the ball return device returns the ball to the shooter or to the operator of the entertainment.

While some previously known basketball return apparatuses are movable to return a ball to a shooter in any of various locations with respect to the basketball goal, they are not able to be moved quickly to allow a shooter to shoot at a basketball goal from various successive positions and still have a ball returned to the shooter.

Also, they are not conveniently movable to allow a shooter to take shots from one location and have a ball returned to a different location without a significant delay time, making shooting practice less efficient than is desired.

Images