Basketball Hoop Shot Detection System

Abstract

A basketball hoop shot detection system includes a detection assembly and a computer application. The detection assembly is removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and includes a motion sensor and a wireless transmitter to transmit information received from the motion sensor to a personal electronic device. The computer application is installable on a personal electronic device and designed to receive information from the motion sensor regarding movement of a shot basketball through a basketball hoop and past the motion sensor, and designed to send audio information that includes at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

[0004] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to basketball hoop accessories and more particularly pertains to a new basketball hoop shot detection system for detecting made shots and playing an audio sound in response to the made shots, such as music, sound effects, and messages, which would enhance the basketball playing experience. The basketball hoop shot detection system is portable for use on any basketball hoop.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0007] The prior art relates to basketball hoop accessories. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose a basketball hoop shot detection system that includes a detection assembly and a computer application, wherein the detection assembly is removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and is designed to detect made shots and transmit the information to a personal electronic device on which the computer application is installed, wherein the computer application is programmed to play audio sounds on a portable audio speaker paired to the personal electronic device in response to made shots.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a basketball hoop shot detection system generally comprising a detection assembly and a computer application. The detection assembly is removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and includes a motion sensor and a wireless transmitter to transmit information received from the motion sensor to a personal electronic device. The computer application is installable on a personal electronic device and designed to receive information from the motion sensor regarding movement of a shot basketball through a basketball hoop and past the motion sensor, and designed to send audio information that includes at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] 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:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a basketball hoop shot detection system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of a component of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of a component of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a component of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a component of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a close-up view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new basketball hoop shot detection system embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0022] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the basketball hoop shot detection system 10 generally comprises a detection assembly 12 and a computer application. The detection assembly 12 is removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket 62 and includes a motion sensor 14 and a wireless transmitter 16 to transmit information received from the motion sensor 14 to a personal electronic device. The computer application is installable on a personal electronic device and designed to receive information from the motion sensor 14 regarding movement of a shot basketball 68 through a basketball hoop 60 and past the motion sensor 14, and designed to send audio information that includes at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played.

[0023] In one possible embodiment, the computer application is designed to receive and display the number of shot basketballs 68 detected by the motion detector. The computer application can be programmed with a pre-selected set of audio files, or can be customized by the user with audio files selected by the user.

[0024] As best seen in FIG. 3, the detection assembly 12 includes a housing 18 containing the motion sensor 14 and the wireless transmitter 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the housing 18 has a box-shaped portion 20 and a dome portion 22 extending out from the box-shaped portion 20, which dome portion 22 contains the motion sensor 14. Also as shown in FIG. 3, the detection assembly 12 further includes a microprocessor 24 positioned in the housing 18 and operatively connecting the motion sensor 14 and the wireless transmitter 16. The detection assembly 12 includes a rechargeable power source 26 positioned in the housing 18 and operatively connected to each of the microprocessor 24, the wireless transmitter 16, and the motion sensor 14, as also shown in FIG. 9. The power source 26 could be a battery that could be replaced or recharged, such as by a USB charger. As shown in FIG. 4, the detection assembly 12 includes a magnetic layer 28 attached to a back surface of the housing 18 to permit removable attachment of the housing 18 to the basketball hoop mounting bracket 62. A peel-away cover 30 could be used to protect the magnetic layer 28 prior to its first use, though this is optional.

[0025] In one possible embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the motion sensor 14 has a limited field of detection 32 directed at an area below a rim 64 of the basketball hoop 60 to minimize detection of a shot basketball 68 not passing through a net 66 of the basketball hoop 60. The field of detection 32 could essentially cover the area encompassed by the net 66, such that missed shots or shots that travel partially below the rim 64 and bounce out would not be counted as made shots.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the basketball hoop shot detection system 10 can also include an installation device 34 to permit attachment and removal of the detection assembly 12 to and from the basketball hoop mounting bracket 62 by a user standing at ground level. The installation device 34 includes an elongated member 36 and an engagement structure 38 to engage the detection assembly 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the elongated member 36 is in the form of a telescoping rod assembly, though a solid rod could be used. As best seen in FIG. 5, the engagement structure 38 includes a threaded projection 40. With reference to FIG. 3, the threaded projection 40 is designed to be screwed into a threaded receptacle 42 in the housing 18 of the detection assembly 12.

[0027] The basketball hoop shot detection system 10 is used to enhance practicing or playing a game of basketball. As shown in FIG. 6, the user first installs the detection assembly 12 on the basketball hoop mounting bracket 62, which can be accomplished using the installation device 34. The user connects the end of the installation device 34, in this case the threaded projection 40, to the detection assembly 12, in this case the threaded receptacle 42 in the housing 18. The user then lifts and places the magnetic layer 28 adjacent the basketball hoop mounting bracket 62. Once temporarily attached to the basketball hoop mounting bracket 62 by the magnetic layer 28, the user disconnects the installation device 34, in this case by unscrewing the threaded projection 40. The user can now activate the computer application of a personal electronic device 70, such as a smartphone, which is paired to an audio speaker 72, such as a portable speaker or boombox. The user can now shoot basketballs 68 into the hoop 60. When a shot is successfully made, i.e., the basketball 68 passes through the rim 64 and into the net 66, the motion detector detects this event and the information is transmitted to the personal electronic device 70. The personal electronic device 70 then plays an audio file through the audio speaker 72. The audio file can be virtually any sound, such as music, sound effects, and messages, which will enhance the enjoyment of playing basketball. When the user is done playing, he can remove the detection assembly 12 from the basketball hoop mounting bracket 62, again using the installation device 34. The user can thereby use the detection assembly 12 in a portable manner on any basketball hoop 60 anywhere.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

Claims

1. A basketball hoop shot detection system comprising:a detection assembly removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and comprising a motion sensor and a wireless transmitter to transmit information received from said motion sensor to a personal electronic device; anda computer application installable on a personal electronic device and configured to receive information from said motion sensor regarding movement of a shot basketball through a basketball hoop and past said motion sensor, and configured to send audio information comprising at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played.

2. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 1, wherein said motion sensor has a limited field of detection directed at an area below a rim of a basketball hoop to minimize detection of a shot basketball not passing through a net of a basketball hoop.

3. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 1, wherein said detection assembly comprises a housing containing said motion sensor and said wireless transmitter.

4. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 3, wherein said detection assembly comprises a magnetic layer attached to a back surface of said housing to permit removable attachment of said housing to a basketball hoop mounting bracket.

5. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 3, wherein said detection assembly comprises a microprocessor disposed in said housing and operatively connecting said motion sensor and said wireless transmitter.

6. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 5, wherein said detection assembly comprises a rechargeable power source disposed in said housing and operatively connected to each of said microprocessor, said wireless transmitter, and said motion sensor.

7. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 1, wherein said computer application is configured to receive and display the number of shot basketballs detected by said motion detector.

8. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 1, wherein the basketball hoop shot detection system further comprises an installation device comprising an elongated member and an engagement structure to engage said detection assembly to permit attachment and removal of said detection assembly to and from a basketball hoop mounting bracket by a user standing at ground level.

9. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 8, wherein said elongated member comprises a telescoping rod assembly.

10. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 8, wherein said engagement structure comprises a threaded projection configured to be screwed into a threaded receptacle in said housing of said detection assembly.

11. A basketball hoop shot detection system comprising:a detection assembly removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and comprising a motion sensor and a wireless transmitter to transmit information received from said motion sensor to a personal electronic device, wherein:said motion sensor has a limited field of detection directed at an area below a rim of a basketball hoop to minimize detection of a shot basketball not passing through a net of a basketball hoop,said detection assembly comprises a housing containing said motion sensor and said wireless transmitter,said detection assembly comprises a microprocessor disposed in said housing and operatively connecting said motion sensor and said wireless transmitter,said detection assembly comprises a rechargeable power source disposed in said housing and operatively connected to each of said microprocessor, said wireless transmitter, and said motion sensor,said detection assembly comprises a magnetic layer attached to a back surface of said housing to permit removable attachment of said housing to a basketball hoop mounting bracket; anda computer application installable on a personal electronic device and configured to receive information from said motion sensor regarding movement of a shot basketball through a basketball hoop and past said motion sensor, and configured to send audio information comprising at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played, wherein said computer application is configured to receive and display the number of shot basketballs detected by said motion detector.

12. The basketball hoop shot detection system of claim 11, wherein the basketball hoop shot detection system further comprises an installation device comprising an elongated member and an engagement structure to engage said detection assembly to permit attachment and removal of said detection assembly to and from a basketball hoop mounting bracket by a user standing at ground level, wherein said elongated member comprises a telescoping rod assembly and said engagement structure comprises a threaded projection configured to be screwed into a threaded receptacle in said housing of said detection assembly.

Images