Basketball net with enhanced ball contacting features

Abstract

A basketball net having improved ball contacting features is provided. The basketball net may be formed from an antimicrobial and moisture wicking fiber and may be configured to increase contact between the ball and the fibers of the basketball net. As compared to a traditional net, the basketball net may include thicker fibers, a tighter weave, an increased number of knots, larger knots, a smaller interior diameter, and other features to increase contact with a surface of a basketball during play.

Description

RELATED MATTERS

[0001] This application claims priority U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 763,887, filed on Feb. 26, 2025, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to an improved basketball net. The improved basketball net is configured to increase contact with balls passing through the net. The increased contact serves to remove moisture from the surface of a basketball that passes through the net. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a basketball net with improved construction and materials that is configured to increase the capacity of the basketball net to wick sweat and moisture from the surface of a basketball, reducing stoppages in play. The improved construction of the basketball net further serves to increase the durability of the net, to improve the stiffness of the net to prevent entanglement with the rim, and to improve the audible swish sound of the net during a made basket.BACKGROUND

[0003] The traditional basketball net has not undergone significant change, evolution, or innovation in over a century. The traditional basketball net has, for a significant amount of time, been considered good enough. Innovations in basketball nets have been sparse and minor. Against this backdrop, traditional basketball nets do suffer from significant drawbacks.

[0004] During a game of basketball, players frequently generate large quantities of sweat. As the basketball is handled, sweat transfers and accumulates on the surface of the basketball, making play more difficult as the ball becomes slippery. A slippery feeling basketball gives the athlete less control of the ball while dribbling, passing and shooting. To improve the precision of their ball handling, athletes may run to the sidelines and wipe their hands on a towel, or alternatively, wipe their hands on their shorts or jersey to wipe off some of the moisture. These practices are routine at all levels of competition. Further, while the effort may temporarily give the athlete dry hands it does not remove any of the moisture from the basketball. As a result, the fundamental problem caused by sweat on the basketball remains.

[0005] Sometimes, a game or practice is temporarily halted so that the ball can be wiped down with a towel to dry it. However, these interruptions stop the flow or momentum of the game and are frustrating to players, coaches, referees and fans.

[0006] In addition to moisture, germs are also transferred onto the ball from the sweat and contact with the hands of the athletes. This leads to an accumulation of germs as the ball continually changes hands during a game or practice. As the germs accumulate, the basketball continues to change hands leading to an increasingly unhygienic situation. These circumstances create an environment that can easily transmit infections among the participants.

[0007] Further, the towels that are available courtside during a basketball game are unsanitary because they are thrown on the bench or the gym floor and because the same towel is used repeatedly to remove sweat. As a result, wiping the ball down with a towel does not reduce germs. Instead, the towel may actually transmit germs to the surface of the ball.

[0008] Additionally, traditional basketball nets may lack durability and may suffer from excessive flexibility or bounce back, which can lead to the net being caught on or entangled with the rim.SUMMARY

[0009] A basketball net is constructed to provide an overall conical shape when hung from a rim, allowing for a wide top opening to catch a basketball. The materials of construction can include cotton, polyester or metal (chain link). Regardless of the materials of construction, the typical basketball net is formed by tying a fiber or string into a generally cylindrical structure and attaching loops to the top of the structure for attaching to a basketball rim. The resulting cylindrical structure includes rows of diamond-shaped openings extending about a longitudinal axis. The construction allows for a high degree of flexibility and stretch in the circumferential and axial directions by the individual openings and the basketball net as a whole. As a result, the basketball net is very flexible and responsive to forces, such those experienced when a basketball travels through the net.

[0010] When a basketball is thrown through the net, the basketball enters the wide top opening and on the descent, the ball is slowed and partially guided as the ball contacts the fibers and travels through the net. The fibers of the net brush across the surface of the basketball as it descends and rotates through the net. Additionally, a basketball passing through the net often contains rotational spin and an angled trajectory. The spin in particular may allow the surface of the basketball to generate increased contact with the fibers of the net. In other words, a spinning basketball passing through the net mimics the same surface contact as when a towel is wiped around the basketball, but with the ball rotating rather than the towel.

[0011] During a game, a basketball may travel through the net very frequently, about every other possession or many possessions in a row. The frequent contact between the basketball and the fibers of the net allows for potential moisture wicking off the basketball during the contact with the fibers. However, due at least to the flexibility, the relatively large openings, and the relatively wide construction of traditional or conventional basketball nets, the area on the surface of the basketball contacted by the fibers of the net is relatively small. Furthermore, the basketball travels through the net without much resistance and without contacting a maximum amount of the fibers of the net. A basketball descending at an angle will make solid contact with only a small portion of the net which is in line with the basketball's trajectory. However, other portions of the net make no contact with the basketball, or only make light or glancing contact. As a result, most basketball nets are able to wick very little moisture away from the basketball surface. Thus, a game or practice must be halted so that the ball can be wiped down with a towel to dry it when the ball accumulates too much sweat and becomes slippery. This situation may be further exacerbated due to the common use of fibers that do not provide increased moisture wicking capabilities.

[0012] In addition to these drawbacks, traditional basketball nets suffer from additional problems. The generally flexible nature of traditional basketball nets results in the net having a great deal of bounce back as the ball travels through. It is not uncommon for the net to bounce back and catch the rim, thus resulting in the net snagging on, catching, or tangling with the rim. During competitive basketball games, this situation requires that the game be stopped so that the net can be rearranged to hang properly. Additionally, traditional basketball nets lack durability. During usage, the frequent action of a ball passing through distorts the shape of the net as the various knots and strings are pulled at. This may quickly result in a net that looks poorly and unprofessional.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for apparatus, systems and methods that assist in removing both moisture and germs from a basketball. Furthermore, there is a need to assist in removing both moisture and germs from a basketball without causing disruptions to the play. Additionally, there is a need and desire for a basketball net with increased stiffness to prevent bounce back and increased durability to maintain its shape for a longer period of time. Finally, improved aesthetics and playability are desired improvements that can be satisfied by an improved swish sound.

[0014] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to increase the capacity of a basketball net to remove sweat or moisture from the surface of a basketball passing through the net.

[0015] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to increase the overall contact between a basketball net and a basketball passing through the net. In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to increase the contact area between the fibers of a basketball net and a basketball passing through the net. In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to increase the time of contact between the fibers of basketball net and a basketball passing through the net.

[0016] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net constructed of a thicker fiber.

[0017] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net having a reduced, smallest diameter when hung from the rim.

[0018] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net having a denser knit pattern.

[0019] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net having more rows of opening.

[0020] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net having smaller openings.

[0021] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to increase the area of a basketball net which is guaranteed to contact the surface of a basketball passing through the net. In some aspects, it is an object of this invention to increase the proportion of a basketball net which is guaranteed to contact the surface of a basketball passing through the net.

[0022] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net having increased frictional forces on a basketball passing through the net.

[0023] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net which imparts a greater resistance to a basketball passing through the net compared to a typical basketball net.

[0024] In some aspects, it is object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with one or more fibers having moisture-wicking properties. In some aspects, it is object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with one or more fibers having anti-microbial properties. In some aspects, it is object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with one or more fibers having moisture-wicking and anti-microbial properties.

[0025] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to maximize the capacity of a basketball net to remove moisture or sweat from the surface of a basketball passing through the net.

[0026] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to optimize the construction of a basketball net for increasing its moisture-wicking ability. In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to optimize the moisture-wicking capacity of a basketball net while maintaining compliant dimensions for various basketball leagues and associations.

[0027] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with increased durability.

[0028] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with increased stiffness and ability to maintain its form and shape during play.

[0029] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with that provides an improved audible quality in the sound of a “swish” as the ball passes through the net.

[0030] In some aspects, it is an object of this disclosure to provide a basketball net with one or more dimensional, material, and / or design parameters selected in order to achieve the objects disclosed herein.

[0031] As used herein, the term “approximately” is applied to measurements to account for tolerances and variations in the measured parts caused in the manufacturing process as well as potential inaccuracies arising from measurements of flexible objects that may shift or take different forms during the measurement process. It may be understood that “approximate” measurements may vary by 10% without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] As used herein, the term “antimicrobial” when used to refer to a compound, process or product means that the compound, process or product includes the characteristic of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms including both bacteria and viruses. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the disclosure herein that antimicrobial properties are effective in destroying or inhibiting virus cells such as COVID-19, flu, common cold, etc.

[0033] As used herein, the term “basketball goal” refers to a basketball goal system that includes at least a rim and a basketball net. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the disclosure herein that a basketball goal can also include a backboard, an extension arm / boom, pole, weighted base and or other support structure that secures the combination of the rim and the backboard at the desired location and elevation.

[0034] As used herein, the term “standard basketball rim” refers to a basketball rim having standardized dimensions found on most basketball goals which can be used for organized basketball games. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the basketball goals for most basketball leagues, including professional, collegiate, and recreational leagues, have a standard basketball rim. The standard basketball rim has a circular opening, an inner diameter of 18 inches, and 12 evenly spaced hooks around for attaching a basketball net, but standard basketball rims may vary in means of attachment to a backboard, means of providing flexibility or hinging to a backboard, color, thickness, and other aspects. Accordingly, most basketball nets are provided with 12 attachments loops for attaching to the 12 hooks of a standard basketball rim.

[0035] As used herein, the term “fiber” refers to any material that has a length dimension that is larger than its width dimension such that when used to construct a basketball net, the net includes a series of openings where the openings provide the majority of the surface area of an overall shape defined by the net when hung from a rim. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the disclosure herein that a fiber can include a single homogenous material, a woven material, extruded or printed material, and further, that a string can include natural material(s), synthetic material(s) or a combination of natural and synthetic materials. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the disclosure herein that a fiber can include a cord of material with a circular cross section but may also include materials that have an overall square or rectangular cross-sectional shape. That is, a fiber need not define a cylindrical shape. Accordingly, material can be manufactured in sheets including a series of openings defined by one or more “fibers” of material where the openings provide the majority of the surface area of an overall shape defined by the net when hung from a rim. Further, a basketball net can be manufactured in solid sheets that are stamped or die cut to form a series of openings defined by “fibers” of material where the openings provide the majority of the surface area of an overall shape defined by the net when hung from a rim. In various approaches, the “sheets” of material can include fabric.

[0036] As used herein, the term “surface area” is used to refer to an approximate, two-dimensional area occupied by the one or more fibers of the net and by the open space between the one or more fibers of the net. The one or more fibers comprising a basketball net have a three-dimensional shape; however the thickness of the fibers is relatively small compared to the length and width of the entire basketball net. Thus, the one or more fibers can be approximated as flat to characterize the surface area of the fibers of the basketball net. For example, a basketball net having a length L and constant diameter D can be approximated by a hollow cylinder having the length L and constant diameter D. Thus, the total surface area of the basketball net can be approximated by the formula Surface Area (SA)=2πrL; or SA=πDL, where r, D represent the radius or diameter, and L represents the length of the net. The open space between the one more fibers occupies a percentage of that total surface area, while the one or more fibers occupy the total surface area less the surface area of the open space. Similarly, a basketball net having a non-constant diameter, such as when attached to a rim, can be approximated by a hollow cone, stacked hollow cones, or a curved hollow funnel shape, as appropriate, using similar principles.

[0037] As used herein, the term “diameter” is used to refer to the diameter of a basketball net at a given point along a central, longitudinal axis, when measured in a plane perpendicular or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. Each reference to the “diameter” of basketball net refers to the diameter when measured in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, a basketball net having a substantially constant diameter refers to a basketball net having approximately the same diameter at each point along the longitudinal axis.BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0038] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1A illustrates a lateral view of a conventional basketball net.

[0040] FIG. 1B illustrates a lateral view of a conventional basketball net a rim-attached configuration.

[0041] FIG. 2A illustrates a lateral view of a basketball net according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 2B illustrates a lateral view of the basketball net of FIG. 2A hung from a rim.

[0043] FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of the basketball net of FIG. 2B.

[0044] FIG. 2D illustrates a lateral view of a basketball net according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 2E illustrates a lateral view of the basketball net of FIG. 2D hung from a rim.

[0046] FIG. 3A illustrates a view of an embodiment having 7 rows of openings and supporting a basketball.

[0047] FIG. 3B illustrates a view of an embodiment having 8 rows of openings and supporting a basketball.

[0048] FIG. 3C illustrates a view of an embodiment having 9 rows of openings and supporting a basketball.

[0049] FIG. 3D illustrates a view of an embodiment having 10 rows of openings and supporting a basketball.

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates a cut-out of a portion of the basketball net showing the diamond-shaped openings.

[0051] FIGS. 5-6 illustrate detail views of the diamond-shaped openings.

[0052] FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate lateral view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate top and lateral view depicting the smallest diameter of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 9 illustrates a lateral view depicting a ball-contacting portion of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 10A illustrates a cut-out of a portion of the basketball net with shaded areas showing surface area occupied open space.

[0056] FIG. 10B illustrates an overlay showing how the area of the shaded areas in FIGS. 8A-8B was approximated.

[0057] FIG. 10C illustrates the overlays of the diamond-shaped opening in FIG. 8B.

[0058] FIG. 10D illustrates the overlays of the end portion in FIG. 8B.

[0059] FIG. 11 illustrates a cut-out of a portion of the basketball net with shaded areas showing surface area occupied by one or more fibers of the net.

[0060] FIG. 12 illustrates a lateral view depicting a rim attachment angle of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 13 illustrates a lateral view depicting an overall curvature angle of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 14 illustrates a side-by-side comparison of an embodiment of the present invention and an embodiment of the background art (NBA basketball net).DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,”“comprising,” or “having,”“containing”, “involving”, and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 1A-1B, a conventional basketball net is illustrated. FIG. 1A illustrates the basketball net in a resting configuration, unsecured to a standard basketball rim, a configuration hereinafter referred to as a rim-detached configuration. FIG. 1B illustrates the basketball net of FIG. 1A secured to a basketball rim, a configuration hereinafter referred to as a rim-attached configuration. The basketball net of FIGS. 1A-1B depicts a standard basketball net as used by the National Basketball Association (NBA). In order to highlight the unique characteristics of an improved basketball net according to the present invention, the differences between an example embodiment of the invention and the standard NBA basketball net of FIGS. 1A-1B are summarized in Table 1 at the end of the specification. While the standard NBA basketball net is used for comparison, this example is not intending to be limiting. Basketball nets by manufactured by various manufacturers under various brand names are used by other organizations or associations, such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and may differ from the standard NBA basketball net of FIGS. 1A-1B. However, despite variances in conventional or traditional basketball nets, the basketball net parameters disclosed herein or which provide for the objects of the invention disclosed herein are unique and provide significant and surprising advantages over traditional basketball nets and their many variations. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide significant improvements upon currently used basketball nets by providing a construction optimized to increase contact with a basketball during play to facilitate the removal of sweat and moisture from surface of a basketball. The unique parameters of the basketball net as disclosed also serve to increase the durability and the stiffness of the basketball net. The increased stiffness, coupled with the increased ball contact, has the surprising and unexpected advantage of providing a louder and more satisfying “swish” as a basketball passes through the inventive net of the present disclosure.

[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2E, a basketball net 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. FIG. 2A illustrates the basketball net 10 in the rim-detached configuration. FIG. 2B illustrates the basketball net 10 of FIG. 2A in the rim-attached configuration. The basketball net 10 is knitted from one or more fibers to form an approximately cylindrical structure extending along a longitudinal axis from a top end 12 to a bottom end 14. The basketball net 10 includes a body portion 16 and a plurality of loops 18 attached to the body portion 16, the loops 18 defining the top end 12 of the basketball net 10 and the body portion 16 extending from the bottom end 14 to the loops 18. In embodiments, there may be 12 loops for attachment to a standard basketball rim. In further embodiments, the basketball net 10 may be modified to include differing numbers of loops to attach to non-standard basketball rims as may be appropriate while maintaining all other features disclosed herein. FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of the basketball net 10 of FIG. 2B showing the entire circumference of the basketball net 10 and the attachment of the loops 18 to the rim.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2A, the basketball net 10 forms a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially constant diameter along the longitudinal axis when in the rim-detached configuration. As shown in FIG. 2B, the basketball net 10 assumes a funnel structure when in the rim-attached configuration. In the rim-attached configuration, the loops 18 form hollow frustoconical shape with respect to the basketball rim. The frustoconical shape has a first diameter at its top defined by the basketball rim and a second diameter at its bottom that corresponds to a diameter of the body portion 16. The body portion 16 extends downward from the bottom of the frustoconical shape of the loops 18 in an approximately cylindrical shape. In embodiments, the body portion 16 may extend downwards in a hollow frustoconical shape with a first larger diameter at the top where it meets the loops 18 and a second smaller diameter at the bottom. The overall aspect of the basketball net 10 represents the funnel structure, with the hollow frustoconical shape of the loops 18 at the top and the approximately cylindrical shape of the bottom portion 16 at the bottom. The overall funnel structure has a larger diameter towards the direction of the top end 12 of the basketball net 10. FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate a further embodiment of the basketball net 10 consistent with the present disclosure. While FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a basketball net 10 having seven rows 20 of openings, FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate a basketball net 10 having nine rows 20 of openings, as further described below.

[0067] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3B, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 is formed with a plurality of rows 20 of openings. In embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the plurality of rows 20 includes seven rows. In embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, the plurality of rows 20 includes eight rows. In embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3C, the plurality of rows 20 includes nine rows. In embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3D, the plurality of rows 20 includes ten rows. In other embodiments, the plurality of rows 20 may include more than eight rows, such as nine, ten, or eleven. Each row 20 extends circumferentially around the basketball net 10 and is comprised of diamond-shaped openings 22, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. The present disclosure includes various illustrations of the basketball net 10 having seven, eight, or nine rows. The illustrations provided herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The various features of the embodiments described herein are understood to be combinable with a basketball net 10 having seven, eight, nine, or ten rows without limitation unless explicitly noted. The illustration or description of a particular feature with respect to a basketball net 10 having a specific number of rows does not limit that feature to use with only basketball nets 10 having that specific number.

[0068] The standard basketball rim has twelve hooks for attaching a net, and most basketball nets are provided with twelve loops for attaching to the hooks of the rim. The loops are formed by securing a fiber to the top of two adjacent openings. Accordingly, basketball nets typically have twelve openings extending circumferentially in one row of openings, corresponding to the same number of loops. Similarly, basketball nets 10 depicted herein include twelve diamond-shaped openings 22 in each row 20 of the basketball net 10. However, in embodiments (not shown), the basketball net 10 may be constructed with a different number of diamond-shaped openings 22 in each of the plurality of rows 20. In embodiments, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 includes 84 total diamond-shaped openings 22, e.g., 7 rows of 12 openings. In embodiments, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 includes 96 total diamond-shaped openings 22, e.g., 8 rows of 12 openings. In embodiments, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 includes 108 total diamond-shaped openings 22, e.g., 9 rows of 12 openings. In embodiments, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 includes 120 total diamond-shaped openings 22, e.g., 10 rows of 12 openings. It is to be noted that basketball nets 10 consistent with embodiments hereof, in addition to the diamond shaped openings 22, include a row of larger openings formed by the loops 18 above the body portion 16. In other embodiments, the body portion 16 may include more or less than 96 total diamond-shaped openings 22. In embodiments, there may be 12 loops for attachment to a standard basketball rim. In further embodiments, the basketball net 10 may be modified to include differing numbers of loops to attach to non-standard basketball rims as may be appropriate while maintaining all other features disclosed herein.

[0069] Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1B, the body portion of the standard NBA basketball net includes 6 rows of openings and 72 total openings. In embodiments of the present invention, the basketball net 10 includes at least one more row 20 of diamond-shaped openings 22 compared to the standard NBA basketball net. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 includes at least two more rows 20 or at least 3 more rows 20 of diamond-shaped openings 22 than the standard NBA basketball net.

[0070] Now referring now to FIG. 4, a cut-out of the body portion 16 is shown depicting the pattern of the fibers of a basketball net 10. The diamond-shaped openings 22 are defined by struts 24 and knots 28 formed in the body portion 16. The one or more fibers of the basketball net 10 are knitted to form the struts 24 and knots 28 which form the diamond-shaped openings 22. Each of the diamond-shaped openings 22 of the basketball net 10 includes a top point 26a, left point 26b, right point 26c, and bottom point 26d, and struts 24 extending therebetween, to form the diamond shape. In embodiments, each diamond-shaped opening 22 includes a knot 28 formed at the points 26a-d. In embodiments, each diamond-shaped opening 22 includes at least a knot 28 formed at the points 26a-c. For example, In embodiments, the diamond-shaped openings 22 in the bottommost row 20 may not include knots 28 at the bottom point 26d. In the depicted embodiments, the knots 28 of the basketball net 10 are ‘shared’ by adjacent diamond-shaped openings 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a knot 28 is formed at the right point 26c of the left labeled diamond-shaped opening 22, the left point 26b of the right labeled diamond-shaped opening 22, and the bottom point 26d of the upper labeled diamond-shaped opening 22.

[0071] FIG. 5 depicts a detail view of the diamond-shaped openings 22 and illustrates the strut length Lstrut which measures the length of each strut 24 between two knots 28. The strut length is measured from the edge of one knot 28 to the edge of an adjacent knot 28. The ‘openness’ of a basketball net is primarily determined by the strut length Lstrut. Longer struts 24 create larger diamond-shaped openings 22 which increases the ‘openness’ of the net and a more open net will have greater flexibility and stretch in both axial and circumferential directions and generally have more freedom of movement. Conversely, smaller struts 24 and diamond-shaped openings 22 create a less open net with decreased flexibility and less stretch in axial and circumferential directions. Furthermore, the less open the net, the more fiber surface area is available to contact the surface of a basketball. For example, shortening the strut length Lstrut and making smaller diamond-shaped openings 22 will reduce all dimensions of a basketball net 10 including the overall length. However, additional rows of openings can be added such that the overall length of the net remains the same. Such a basketball net will have more surface area of fibers compared to a more open net of the same length. The present invention aims to increase the fiber surface area and reduce the flexibility and stretch of a basketball net 10 to increase the amount of contact between the fibers of the basketball net and the surface of a basketball passing through the net.

[0072] Referring now to FIG. 6, the basketball net 10 is constructed of one or more fibers in the body portion 16 having a fiber thickness T. The knots 28 defining the diamond-shaped openings 22 have a diameter Dknot. In embodiments, the fibers of the basketball net 10 are thicker than traditionally used in basketball nets. In embodiments, the one or more fibers in the body portion 16 may have a thickness T (sometimes referred to as diameter) of at least 1.0 cm. In particular embodiments, the one or more fibers in the body portion 16 may have a thickness T in the range of approximately 0.7-2.0, or in the range 1.0-2.0 cm, or in the range of 1.3-1.7 cm, or in the range of 1.4-1.6 cm, or approximately 1.5 cm. In some embodiments, the one or more fibers in the body portion 16 may have a thickness T in the range of approximately 0.7-1.3, 0.8-1.2, or 0.9-1.1. The fibers may have a circumference in a range between 2.0 and 3.0 cm. The standard NBA basketball net of the background art is constructed with a fiber in the body portion having a thickness of less than approximately 1.0 cm. In some cases, a standard NBA basketball net may have fibers in the body portion having a thickness of approximately 0.5-0.6 cm. In embodiments, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 is constructed of one or more fibers having thickness at least 0.1 cm greater than in a standard NBA basketball net. In embodiments, the body portion 16 of basketball net 10 is constructed with of one or more fibers having thickness at least 0.4 cm greater than in a standard NBA basketball net.

[0073] The thickness T of the one or more fibers may refer to the overall width of the one or more fibers. In embodiments wherein the one or more fibers have a circular cross-section, the thickness T may be equivalent to a diameter of the fiber. In embodiments wherein the one or more fibers have a flattened, oval, or other cross-section, the thickness T is measured by its widest thickness, or the widest distance in the cross-section of the fiber.

[0074] The greater thickness of the one or more fibers also causes the diameter of the knots Dknot to increase. The greater thickness of the one or more fibers and the knots results in increased contact with a basketball and an improved wicking capacity and improved wicking ability of the one or more fibers compared to the standard NBA basketball net since the larger fibers and knots will increase the area of contact between the fibers and the surface of a basketball. Accordingly, the one or more fibers, having a greater thickness T, are configured to enhance moisture removal from the surface of a basketball passing through the net.

[0075] In embodiments, the one or more fibers may be constructed according to one or more aspects or techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,865,422, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0076] In embodiments, the one or more fibers may be constructed from a yarn having a linear density in the range of 150-350 denier. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a total weight of in the range of 180-400 grams, in the range of 190-240 grams, or approximately 200 grams in some embodiments. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 is configured to hold up to between 80% and 120%, between 90% and 110%, or approximately 100% of its own weight in water. In embodiments, the one or more fibers may be constructed with a thread count of between 30 and 120 threads.

[0077] In embodiments, the one or more fibers may be constructed from a yarn having increased moisture wicking and / or increased antimicrobial properties as compared to traditional materials. Such yarns may include infused materials having antimicrobial properties. For example, a yarn having copper and / or silver infused may increase germ reduction properties. In particular embodiments, yarn infused with copper, such as a bleached copper yarn may be used in the manufacture of basketball nets consistent with embodiments hereof.

[0078] In embodiments, different components of the basketball net 10 may be constructed of different fibers. For example, the loops 18 of the basketball net 10 may be constructed from a first fiber while the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 may be constructed from a second fiber, wherein the material, density, thickness, thread count, and / or any other parameter of the first fiber may be different from the second fiber.

[0079] A fiber having a given thickness tends to have decreased flexibility and increased strength compared to a similar fiber of decreased thickness. Thus, embodiments of the present invention constructed of one or more fibers having increased thickness compared to a standard NBA basketball net will have further decreased flexibility and increased strength. Beyond increasing the contact area and moisture-wicking capacity of the one or more fibers, such changes have that additional secondary benefits of increasing the durability and longevity of the basketball net 10, increasing the stiffness and resistance to bounce back, and providing an improved swish sound. Embodiments of the present invention are found to maintain their shape and quality over significant periods of time and play leading to cost-savings by less frequent replacement of the basketball net 10.

[0080] Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7B, the basketball net 10 has a total length Loff and a diameter Doff in the rim-detached configuration. The diameter Doff is substantially constant along the longitudinal axis in the rim-detached configuration. The basketball net 10 has a total length Lon in the rim-attached configuration. The diameter of the basketball net 10 varies along the longitudinal axis in the rim-attached configuration. The loops have a loop height Hoff in the rim-detached configuration and a loop height Hon in the rim-attached configuration.

[0081] In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a total length Loff in the range of approximately 38.1-58.4 cm, or approximately 15-23 inches. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a diameter Doff in of less than less than 24.1 cm, or less than 9.5 inches. In further embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a diameter Doff in the range of 15.24-22.86 cm, or 6-9 inches. In some example embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a diameter Doff in the range of 16.51-19.05 cm, or 6.5-7.5 inches. In some embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a diameter Doff of approximately 19.685-20.32 cm, or approximately 7.75-8.0 inches.

[0082] In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a total length Lon in the range of approximately 38-50 cm, or approximately 15-20 inches. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a total length Lon in the range of approximately 15-18 inches or 38.1-45.72 cm, to comply with NCAA regulations which specify a net length in the range of 15-18 inches. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a total length Lon of approximately 18 inches or 45.72 cm, to comply with NBA regulations which specify a net length of 18 inches. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 can be configured with a different total length Lon to meet the regulations of any other basketball association or organization.

[0083] In embodiments, the loops 18 have a loop height Hoff of less than approximately 18 cm, or less than approximately 7 inches. In embodiments, the loops 18 have of loop height Hoff in the range of 10-18 cm. In a particular embodiments, the loops 18 have a loop height Hoff in the range of approximately 11-14 cm, or 12-13 cm. Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1B, the standard NBA basketball net of the background art has a loop height Hoff of approximately 18 cm. In embodiments of the present invention, the shorter loop height Hoff relative to the standard NBA net results in a more proportional appearance when combined with other design changes discussed herein and improves the performance of the basketball net 10. The shorter loop height Hoff relative to the standard NBA net also results in smaller interior diameter of the basketball net 10, which serves to increase ball contact.

[0084] Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8B, an embodiment of the invention is depicted in a rim-attached configuration from a top view and a lateral view. The rim is a standard basketball rim having a diameter of 18 inches, or 45.72 cm. In embodiments, a section of the body portion 16 may have an approximately constant diameter wherein the entire section represents the minimum diameter Dmin (e.g., as measured in a plane orthogonal to the basketball rim) of the basketball net 10. In other embodiments, there may be a single point wherein the body portion 16 reaches the minimum diameter Dmin. In an embodiment, when in the rim-attached configuration, the basketball net 10 has a minimum diameter Dmin of less than 15 cm. In further embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a minimum diameter Dmin in the range of 5-15 cm, in the range of 6-12 cm, or in the range of 7-10 cm. In a particular embodiment, the basketball net 10 has a minimum diameter Dmin of approximately 8 cm. A reduced minimum diameter Dmin of the basketball net 10 is preferable for further increasing the contact between the fibers of the basketball net 10 and the surface of a basketball by increasing the area of a ball-contacting portion of the basketball net 10, as discussed in detail below. In embodiments, a reduced minimum diameter Dmin corresponds with a generally reduced diameter at all or most points along the body portion 16. In other embodiments, the funnel shape at the top of the body portion 16 may be more angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the basketball net 10, and the minimum diameter Dmin will not correspond to a reduced diameter at all points along the body portion 16. In some embodiments, the body portion 16 may have a diameter less than 12 cm, less than 10 cm, or approximately 8 cm for a significant portion (e.g., greater than 60% or greater than 80% of its length). A reduced minimum diameter Dmin increases the resistance to the basketball passing through the net which is also found to effectively increase the moisture-wicking performance of the basketball net 10. With a sufficient compressive or resistive force, the one or more fibers of the basketball net 10 are able to more effectively conform to the crevices of the surface of the basketball such as the seams of the ball in order to wick moisture from the crevices. Furthermore, the increased compressive or resistive forces also compress the one or more fibers in contact with a basketball passing through the net. This compression further increases the contact area between the one or more fibers of the basketball net 10 and the basketball. Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1B, the standard basketball NBA net has a smallest diameter of approximately 15 cm. This large diameter, coupled with the loose and flexible weave of the standard basketball net, decreases ball contact significantly with in comparison to the basketball net 10.

[0085] Referring now to FIG. 9, a lateral view of an embodiment of the invention is depicted in a rim-attached configuration. FIG. 9 includes dashed lines depicting the approximate diameter of a basketball. The portion of the basketball net 10 having a diameter equal to or smaller than the diameter of a basketball may be considered the ball-contacting portion 17 of the basketball net 10, since a basketball passing through this portion must be in contact with the one or more fibers of the net. Furthermore, provided that the basketball net 10 has a sufficient stiffness, a basketball in the ball-contacting portion of the basketball net 10 must be in contact with the one or more fibers of the net around the entire circumference of the basketball. The portion of the basketball net 10 below the point where the diameter is the same as a basketball is herein considered the ball-contacting portion of the basketball net 10. In embodiments, the ball-contacting portion of the basketball net 10 may include a portion of the bottom portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In embodiments, the ball-contacting portion of the basketball net 10 may include all of the bottom portion 16 of the basketball net 10 and a portion of the loops 18 of the basketball net 10.

[0086] A standard men's basketball has a diameter of between approximately 23.8 and 24.3 cm, or approximately 24.1 cm, depending on an amount of inflation. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 has a diameter within this range, e.g., of approximately 24.1 cm at less than approximately 20 cm vertical distance from the rim, or between approximately 8-18 cm vertical distance from the rim. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the basketball net 10 has a diameter of approximately 24.1 cm at approximately 11 cm vertical distance from the rim. In the particular embodiment, the basketball net 10 has a total length Lon of approximately 33 cm, or 13 inches. In this example embodiment, the ball-contacting portion 17 of the basketball net 10 has a length of approximately 22 cm. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the ball-contacting portion 17 comprises approximately 67% of the overall length of the basketball net 10. In other embodiments, a ball-contacting portion 17 may comprise at least 60% of the overall length of the basketball net 10. In still further embodiments, the basketball net 10 may have a length Lon of between approximately 38-48.5 cm, or approximately 15-19 in, and the ball-contacting portion 17 may comprise between approximately 60-90% of the overall length of the basketball net 10, or more particularly 70-80% of the overall length of the basketball net. In contrast, a standard NBA net, having an Lon measurement of approximately 45.7 cm may a vertical distance of at least 22.85 cm between the rim before it narrows enough to have a diameter of approximately 24.1 cm. Thus, a standard NBA net may have a ball-contacting portion of less than 50% of its overall length.

[0087] A standard women's basketball has a diameter of between approximately 23.04 and 23.44 cm, or approximately 23.24 cm, depending on inflation. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 may be configured to have the same ball-contacting portion for a women's basketball. For example, it may be desirable to provide a basketball net 10 having a ball-contacting portion comprising 85% of the overall length of the basketball net 10. In such a case, a basketball net 10 may be provided with dimensions such that for the standard men's basketball, the ball-contacting portion comprises 85% of the overall length of the basketball net 10. Additionally, a basketball net 10 may also be provided such that for a standard women's basketball, the ball-contacting portion still comprises 85% of the overall length of the basketball net 10. This example is not intended to be limiting, and basketball nets according to the present invention may be configured with a ball-contacting portion, for a men's or women's basketball, of any of the lengths or percentages disclosed herein. In some cases, it may be preferable to provide a single basketball net 10 intended for use in both men's and women's basketball games. In other cases, it may be preferable to provide separate men's basketball nets and women's basketball nets adapted for the different basketballs and intended to provide equivalent moisture-wicking performance.

[0088] Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1B, the standard NBA basketball net may have a ball-contacting portion of 56.2% or less, or 50% or less for a standard men's basketball and 51.8% or 45% or less for a standard women's basketball.

[0089] In some cases, the smaller diameters, more closed net, and / or combination of other features of the present invention allow the basketball net 10 to support a basketball. In embodiments herein, a basketball net 10 in its rim-attached configuration may be further configured to support at least the weight of basketball, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, for example. Accordingly, a basketball placed gently into the basketball net 10 will not pass through the basketball net 10, but will remain suspended as the basketball is hugged by the net. There are several elements of the design of the basketball net 10 which contribute to this feature. As discussed elsewhere in the application, a basketball net 10 according to the embodiments discussed herein may have thicker fibers, a smaller diameter, a larger ball-contacting portion, smaller diamond-shaped openings, and / or more surface area occupied by the fibers of the net rather than by the open space, when compared to other typical basketball nets, and in particular when compared to an NBA basketball net. All of these parameters generally increase the amount of contact between a surface of a basketball passing through the net and the one or more fibers of the net. Embodiments of basketball nets 10 having various combinations of these parameters disclosed herein will produce an increased normal force and frictional force directed from the one or more fibers of the net onto a basketball passing through the net. Accordingly, when in a rim-attached configuration, the funnel structure of a basketball net 10 according to embodiments herein is configured to exert a resultant force on a standard men's basketball passing through the basketball net 10, the resultant force having a vertical component aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a value of at least about 6 N, which is approximately the same as the gravitational force applied to an inflated NBA basketball. In embodiments, the resultant force may have a vertical component in the range of 10-20 N, or at least 10 N. Thus, the basketball net 10 may exert a force of at least 10 N on a men's basketball having a diameter of approximately 41.1 cm. In embodiments, the resultant force may have a vertical component greater than 6 N and less than 30 N.

[0090] Accordingly, in embodiments disclosed herein, a standard men's basketball placed gently into the basketball net 10 remains suspended by the basketball net 10. In addition to the gravitational force on the basketball, which may be approximately 6 N, an additional force is required to push the basketball through the basketball net 10. In use, the additional force may be provided by the kinetic energy of the basketball moving through the basketball net 10. In embodiments, an additional force of at least 5 N may be required to push the basketball through the basketball net 10. In embodiments, an additional force of between 10 and 20 N is required.

[0091] Additionally, a basketball net 10 may also be provided such that a standard women's basketball placed gently into the basketball net 10 remains suspended by the basketball net 10. In addition to the gravitational force on the basketball, an additional force is required to push the basketball through the basketball net 10. In use, the additional force may be provided by the kinetic energy of the basketball moving through the basketball net 10. In embodiments, an additional force of at least 5 N is required to push a women's basketball through the basketball net 10. Accordingly, the basketball net 10 may exert a force of at least 10 N on a women's basketball having a diameter of approximately 23.24 cm. In embodiments, an additional force of between 10 and 20 Nis required. These examples are not intended to be limiting, and basketball nets according the present invention may be configured to support a men's (weight 22 ounces) or women's basketball (weighing 20 ounces) such additional forces of at least 5 N are required to push the basketball through the net. In some cases, it may be preferable to provide a single basketball net 10 intended for use in both men's and women's basketball games, wherein the additional force required to push the basketball through the net is slightly greater for the men's basketball. In other cases, it may be preferable to provide separate men's basketball nets and women's basketball nets adapted for the different basketballs and intended to provide equivalent resistance.

[0092] Referring back to FIGS. 1A-B, the standard NBA basketball net is incapable of supporting a men's basketball or a women's basketball. The standard NBA basketball net has an average strut length of approximately 5 cm and the longer strut lengths and larger diameters of the standard NBA basketball nets are primary reasons why the nets are incapable of supporting a basketball. As the basketball passes through the net, the net is too wide and too flexible to exert a sufficient force back on the basketball. In addition to other parameters described herein, the flexibility and stretch limits of a basketball net are found to be important factors for creating a basketball net which is effective at removing moisture from a basketball.

[0093] Embodiments of the present invention are formed with shorter strut lengths Lstrut compared to the traditional basketball nets and to the standard NBA basketball net, leading to smaller diameters in the rim-detached and rim-attached configurations for the present invention. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 is constructed with an average strut length Lstrut of less than approximately 5 cm, or in the range of approximately 2.5-5 cm, or in the range of approximately 2.5-3.5 cm. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the basketball net 10 is constructed with an average strut length Lstrut of approximately 3.0 cm. In other embodiments, the average strut length Lstrut may be approximately 2.5 cm, 2.6 cm, 2.7 cm, 2.8 cm, 2.9 cm, 3.1 cm, 3.2 cm, 3.3 cm, 3.4 cm, or 3.5 cm. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 is constructed with substantially constant strut lengths Lstrut for the entire body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 is constructed with longer strut lengths Lstrut in some regions of the basketball net 10 in order to create control particular shapes of the basketball net 10. For example, the basketball net 10 may be constructed with longer strut lengths Lstrut towards the top of the body portion 16, such as in the topmost row 20 of diamond-shaped openings 22, where contact with the basketball is less frequent. The average strut length of approximately 3.0 cm, when combined with an average knot diameter of 1.5 cm, or in the range of 1.3 cm to 1.7 cm, provides a knot-to-knot (e.g., center of knot to center of knot) distance of approximately 4.5 cm, or approximately 1.77 inches.

[0094] Furthermore, it is also found that the smaller diameters, thicker fibers, more closed net, and / or combination of other features of the present invention change how the basketball net 10 reacts to a basketball travelling through the net. In particular, each of the described parameter changes causes the basketball net's stiffness to increase. A loose and flexible net such as the standard NBA basketball net tends to be more reactive to a basketball, especially for a “swished” shot which does not hit the rim and enters the net with the full kinetic energy of the descending basketball. This causes the bottom end of the net to flick up, and sometimes the net will flick with enough force that the bottom end of the net travels up and wraps around the rim. Usually, a subsequent made shot will unwrap the net as the ball travels through the net. However, in some infrequent cases, the wrapped net will become tangled and require a stoppage in play to detangle. Even if the wrapped net is only loosely attached to the rim, a stoppage in play to detangle the net is required to maintain competitive balance.

[0095] The increased stiffness of embodiments of the present invention prevents the basketball net 10 from flicking upwards to wrap around the rim. Accordingly, basketball net 10 according to embodiments herein have the additional advantage of avoiding further stoppages in play to untangle the net.

[0096] Furthermore, the basketball net 10 according to embodiments herein also has a different sound compared to a standard NBA basketball net. The smaller diameters, thicker fibers, more closed net, and / or combination of other features of the present invention alter both the pitch and loudness of the sound of a “swish” compared to a standard NBA basketball net. In particular, “swished” shots in embodiments according to the present invention have a reported lower pitch, increased loudness, etc., and a different sound quality. During testing, players have reported a preference for the sound of basketball nets according to embodiments herein over the standard NBA basketball net.

[0097] Referring now to FIG. 10A, a detailed view of a cut-out of a basketball net 10 is shaded to highlight a particular surface area of the basketball net 10. In particular, FIG. 10A shows a shading of the surface area occupied by open space 75 in the cut-out portion of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In the cut-out portion shown in FIG. 10A, shaded end portions 32 are formed below the bottommost row 20 of diamond-shaped openings 22 at the bottom end 14 of the basketball net 10. Similarly shaped end portions (not shown) are also formed above the topmost row 20 of diamond-shaped openings 22 and below the loops 18. Extending to the entire body portion 16 of the basketball net 10, the total surface area occupied by open space in the body portion 16 can be estimated by the summing the surface area of all of the diamond-shaped openings 22, and the surface area of all of the end portions 32 formed at the top and bottom of body portion 16. As shown in FIG. 10B, the area of the diamond-shaped openings 22 and the end portions 32 can be approximated with a combination of squares, triangles, and trapezoids. In embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 10B, the diamond-shaped openings 22 may be approximated by a trapezoid, a rectangle, and a triangle, while the end portions 32 may be approximated by a rectangle and a trapezoid. Although a particular approximation is used in this disclosure, any appropriate approximation or measurement of the open space 75 may be used.

[0098] Referring now to FIG. 10C, the approximations of the diamond-shaped openings 22 are illustrated.

[0099] Referring now to FIG. 10D, the approximations of the end portions 32 are illustrated.

[0100] Now referring to FIG. 11, a detailed view of a cut-out of a basketball net 10 is shaded to highlight a particular surface area of the basketball net 10. In particular, FIG. 11 shows a shading of the surface area occupied by one or more fibers in the cut-out portion of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. The one or more fibers occupy the total surface area of the body portion 16 less the surface area of the open space. The overall total surface area of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 in the rim-detached configuration can be approximated by the formula for a cylinder, Surface Area (SA)=2πrL; or SA=πDL, where r, D represent the radius or diameter of the body portion 16, and L represents the length of the body portion 16.

[0101] In an example embodiment having 7 rows of diamonds, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 has a length of approximately 28.5 cm and a diameter of approximately 17 cm, for a total surface area of approximately 1522 cm2. In this example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately (1522 cm2-785) cm2 for a total of 738 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 following the approximations given above. In this first example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 48.5% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In other embodiments, the one or more fibers may occupy at least 30% of the total surface area of the body portion 16, or between approximately 30-60% of the total surface area of the body portion 16, or more particularly approximately 45-50% of the total surface area of the body portion 16. In a particular embodiment, the one or more fibers may occupy approximately 48.5% of the total surface area of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In embodiments, the total surface area in the body portion may have between a 2:1 and 1:1 ratio of the area occupied by open space to the area occupied by the one or more fibers.

[0102] In another example embodiment, having eight rows of diamonds, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 1712 cm2-877 cm2 for a total of 834 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In this example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 48.7% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0103] In another example embodiment, having 9 rows of diamonds, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 1902 cm2-970 cm2 for a total of 932 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In this example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 48.9% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0104] In another example embodiment, having 10 rows of diamonds, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 2093 cm2-1063 cm2 for a total of 1029 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10. In this example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 49.1% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0105] Referring back to FIGS. 1A-B, the body portion of the standard NBA basketball net is approximately 35.5 cm in length with a diameter of approximately 21.5 cm in a rim-detached configuration. Thus the total surface area of the body portion of the standard NBA basketball net is therefore approximately 2398 cm2. The standard NBA basketball net of FIGS. 1A-1B has 72 openings and 24 end portions, the open space in each opening occupying approximately 20.2 cm2 and the open space in each end portion occupying approximately 11.2 cm2. The open space occupies a total of approximately 1723 cm2 in the body portion of the standard NBA basketball net. The one or more fibers occupy the total surface area of the body portion less the surface area of the open space, so the one or more fibers occupy approximately 2398 cm2-1723 cm2 for a total of approximately 675 cm2 in the body portion of the basketball net. The one or more fibers occupy approximately 28.1% of the total surface of the body portion of the standard NBA basketball net of FIGS. 1A-1B.

[0106] Now referring to FIG. 12, a frontal view of an embodiment of the invention is depicted in a rim-attached configuration. In the rim-attached configuration, the basketball net 10 forms a funnel structure. At the top of the funnel structure, the loops 18 attached to the basketball rim have an initial angle 95 relative to the basketball rim. A basketball net 10 constructed with a narrower body portion 16 and / or with shorter loops 18 will exhibit a smaller angle formed between the loops 18 and the rim. In embodiments, the basketball net 10 will form an angle in the range of approximately 30-50°. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the basketball net 10 forms an angle of approximately 40° between the loops 18 and the rim. Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1B, the NBA net forms an angle of approximately 56° between the loops and the rim in a rim-attached configuration. The greater acuteness of the initial angle 95 in comparison to a standard basketball net serves to reduce the length of the loop portion of the basketball net and increase the proportionate length of the bottom portion 16 of the basketball net. Because the bottom portion 16 of the basketball net 10 has a narrower diameter, this feature serves to increase the overall ball-contacting portion of the basketball net 10.

[0107] Referring now to FIG. 13, an embodiment of the invention is depicted in a rim-attached configuration from a frontal view. The bottom end 14 of the net forms the bottom of the funnel structure. An approximate funnel angle 96 of the bottom of the funnel structure can be measured. In embodiments, the bottom of the funnel structure is parallel or approximately parallel (e.g., within 5-10 degrees of parallel) to the central longitudinal axis. In other embodiments, the bottom of the funnel structure may be angled inwards towards the longitudinal axis, or angle and flare outwards away from the longitudinal axis. In any case, the funnel angle 96 formed between top of the funnel structure and the bottom of the funnel structure can be measured to characterize the overall curvature of the funnel structure. The weight of the net, diameter of the net, stiffness of the fibers, and overall construction can influence the curvature of the funnel structure formed in the rim-attached configuration. In embodiments, the angle formed between top of the funnel structure and the bottom of the funnel structure may be less than 145°. In some particular embodiments, the angle formed between top of the funnel structure and the bottom of the funnel structure may be less than 150°, or in the range of approximately 120-140°. In a particular embodiment, the angle formed between top of the funnel structure and the bottom of the funnel structure is approximately 130°. Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1B, the standard NBA net forms a gradual curve between the top and the bottom of the funnel structure formed in a rim-attached configuration.Comparison to the Background Art

[0108] The following table includes a comparison between certain measurements of the disclosed basketball net and a traditional basketball net. The inventive basketball net of the present disclosure differs from a traditional basketball according to many different parameters. Each of the differing parameters contributes to overall advantages of the inventive basketball net as compared to a standard basketball net. The fiber occupied surface area of the inventive basketball net is larger than a traditional basketball net across a larger portion of the net, thus providing a significant proportional increase in the total portion of fibers that contact the ball. Further, due to the increased stiffness of the fibers used, the inventive basketball net is less flexible and hugs a basketball passing through it to a greater degree, thus permitting the fibers of the inventive basketball net to generate more friction and wick significantly more moisture than a traditional basketball net.TABLE 1All Measurements ApproximateExampleExampleExampleNBAEmbodiment 1Embodiment 2Embodiment 3basketball netNumber of Rows7896Total Diamond Openings849610872Minimum Diameter (cm)88815Fiber Thickness (cm)1.01.01.00.8Knot Diameter (cm)1.51.51.51.0Strut Length (cm)3335Loop Height (cm)12121218Fiber occupied surface area (%)approximately 48.5%approximately 48.7%approximately 48.9%28.1%Ball-contacting Portion [men'sgreater than 66%greater than 66%greater than 66%less than 56%ball] (%)Loop Attachment Angle (°) 40° 56°Total Curvature Angle (°)130°148°Additional force required to14.3N / A (does notadvance a basketballsupport a[men's ball] (N)basketball)Example Embodiment 1

[0109] In a first example embodiment, the following measurements and approximations were made.Referring to FIGS. 10C-D:X1 is approximately 3.5 cm

[0111] X2 is approximately 0.75 cm

[0112] X3 is approximately 3.0 cm

[0113] X4 is approximately 3.5 cm

[0114] X5 is approximately 4.0 cm

[0115] X6 is approximately 0.75 cm

[0116] X7 is approximately 4.0 cm

[0117] Y1 is approximately 1.5 cm

[0118] Y2 is approximately 0.41 cm

[0119] Y3 is approximately 0.5 cm

[0120] Y4 is approximately 1.75 cm

[0121] Y5 is approximately 1.5 cm

[0122] Y6 is approximately 0.35 cm

[0123] Y7 is approximately 0.5 cm

[0124] In the first example embodiment, having 7 rows, the open space in each of the diamond-shaped openings 22 occupies approximately 7.75 cm2, while the open space in each of the end portions 32 occupies approximately 5.56 cm2. In this example embodiment, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 has eighty-four total diamond-shaped openings 22 and twenty-four total end portions 32. Thus, the open space occupies a total of approximately 785 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0125] In the first example embodiment, the body portion 16 has a length of approximately 28.5 cm and a diameter of approximately 17 cm, for a total surface area of approximately 1522 cm2. In the first example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 1522 cm2-785 cm2 for a total of 738 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 following the approximations given above. In the first example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 48.5% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0126] In the second example embodiment, the open space in each of the diamond-shaped openings 22 occupies approximately 7.75 cm2, while the open space in each of the end portions 32 occupies approximately 5.56 cm2. In this example embodiment, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 has ninety-six total diamond-shaped openings 22 and twenty-four total end portions 32. Thus, the open space occupies a total of approximately 877 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0127] In the second example embodiment, having 8 rows, the body portion 16 has a length of approximately 32 cm and a diameter of approximately 17 cm, for a total surface area of approximately 1712 cm2. In the second example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 1712 cm2-877 cm2 for a total of 834 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 following the approximations given above. In the second example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 48.7% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0128] In the third example embodiment, the open space in each of the diamond-shaped openings 22 occupies approximately 7.75 cm2, while the open space in each of the end portions 32 occupies approximately 5.56 cm2. In this example embodiment, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 has one hundred and eight total diamond-shaped openings 22 and twenty-four total end portions 32. Thus, the open space occupies a total of approximately 970 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0129] In the third example embodiment, having 9 rows of diamonds, the body portion 16 has a length of approximately 35.6 cm and a diameter of approximately 17 cm, for a total surface area of approximately 1902 cm2. In the third example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 1902 cm2-970 cm2 for a total of 932 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 following the approximations given above. In the third example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 48.9% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0130] In a fourth example embodiment, the open space in each of the diamond-shaped openings 22 occupies approximately 7.75 cm2, while the open space in each of the end portions 32 occupies approximately 5.56 cm2. In this example embodiment, the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 has one hundred and twenty total diamond-shaped openings 22 and twenty-four total end portions 32. Thus, the open space occupies a total of approximately 1064 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0131] In the fourth example embodiment, having 10 rows of diamonds, the body portion 16 has a length of approximately 35.6 cm and a diameter of approximately 17 cm, for a total surface area of approximately 2093 cm2. In the fourth example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 2093 cm2-1063 cm2 for a total of 1030 cm2 in the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10 following the approximations given above. In the fourth example embodiment, the one or more fibers occupy approximately 49.2% of the total surface of the body portion 16 of the basketball net 10.

[0132] Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that each of the parameters discussed herein relating to the construction of a basketball net have been found to be associated with enhanced moisture removal from the surface of a basketball by increasing the surface area of the fibers of the net and / or improving contact between the fibers of the net and the surface of a basketball. It is to be further appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims, and that the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

[0133] The term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment.

[0134] Similarly, when used herein, the term “comprises” and its derivations (such as “comprising,” etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc. Meanwhile, when used herein, the term “approximately” and terms of its family (such as “approximate,” etc.) should be understood as indicating values very near to those which accompany the aforementioned term. For example, 10% of the given value. That is to say, a deviation within reasonable limits from an exact value should be accepted, because a skilled person in the art will understand that such a deviation from the values indicated is inevitable due to measurement inaccuracies, etc. The same applies to the terms “about” and “around” and “substantially”.

[0135] As used herein, unless expressly stated to the contrary, use of the phrase “at least one of,”“one or more of,”“and / or,” variations thereof, or the like are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation for any and all possible combination of the associated listed items. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of X, Y and Z,”“at least one of X, Y or Z,”“one or more of X, Y and Z,”“one or more of X, Y or Z” and “X, Y and / or Z” can mean any of the following: 1) X, but not Y and not Z; 2) Y, but not X and not Z; 3) Z, but not X and not Y; 4) X and Y, but not Z; 5) X and Z, but not Y; 6) Y and Z, but not X; or 7) X, Y, and Z.

[0136] Embodiment 1 is a net for a basketball hoop, the net may comprise one or more fibers extending coaxially about a vertical axis from a top end to a bottom end. The net may comprise a body portion including a plurality of rows of diamond-shaped openings constructed from the one or more fibers. The net may comprise a plurality of loops attached to the body portion, wherein the plurality of loops define the top end of net. The net may be configured to remove moisture from a surface of a basketball passing through the net.

[0137] Embodiment 2 is the net of any of embodiments 1, wherein the one or more fibers may have a circumference of at least approximately 2.0-3.0 cm.

[0138] Embodiment 3 is the net of any of embodiments 1-2, wherein the one or more fibers may have a thickness in a range of approximately 0.9-1.1 cm.

[0139] Embodiment 4 is the net of any of embodiments 1-3, wherein the one or more fibers may be composed from a yarn having a weight in the range of approximately 150-350 denier.

[0140] Embodiment 5 is the net of any of embodiments 1-4, wherein the net may have a total weight in a range of approximately 180-400 g.

[0141] Embodiment 6 is the net of any of embodiments 1-5, wherein the net may be configured to hold up to 100% of its own weight in water.

[0142] Embodiment 7 is the net of any of embodiments 1-6, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may include seven off-set rows of diamond-shaped openings, each row having twelve diamond-shaped openings, and the rows having 84 diamond-shaped openings.

[0143] Embodiment 8 is the net of any of embodiments 1-7, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may include eight off-set rows of diamond-shaped openings, each row having twelve diamond-shaped openings, and the rows having 96 diamond-shaped openings.

[0144] Embodiment 9 is the net of any of embodiments 1-8, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may include nine off-set rows of diamond-shaped openings, each row having twelve diamond-shaped openings, and the rows having 108 diamond-shaped openings.

[0145] Embodiment 10 is the net of any of embodiments 1-9, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may comprise 84 diamond-shaped openings.

[0146] Embodiment 11 is the net of any of embodiments 1-10, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may comprise 96 diamond-shaped openings.

[0147] Embodiment 12 is the net of any of embodiments 1-11, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may comprise 108 diamond-shaped openings.

[0148] Embodiment 13 is the net of any of embodiments 1-12, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings may comprise 120 diamond-shaped openings.

[0149] Embodiment 14 is the net of any of embodiments 1-13, wherein each diamond-shaped opening in the rows of diamond-shaped openings may include an upper point, a lower point, a left point, and a right point, and wherein each diamond may include knots formed at least at the upper point, left point, and right point.

[0150] Embodiment 15 is the net of any of embodiments 1-14, wherein each diamond may further comprise struts connecting the knot at the upper point to the knots at the left and right points, and wherein a length of a strut between two adjacent knots may be in the range of approximately 2.5-4.0 cm.

[0151] Embodiment 16 is the net of any of embodiments 1-15, wherein each knot may have a diameter of approximately 1.5 cm.

[0152] Embodiment 17 is the net of any of embodiments 1-16, wherein the loops of the net may be configured to be secured to a standard basketball rim wherein the net assumes a rim-attached configuration.

[0153] Embodiment 18 is the net of any of embodiments 1-17, wherein the net may be configured to form a funnel structure in the rim-attached configuration.

[0154] Embodiment 19 is the net of any of embodiments 1-18, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the body portion of the net may have a minimum diameter in the range of approximately 7-10 cm in an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.

[0155] Embodiment 20 is the net of any of embodiments 1-19, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the bottom end of the net may have a diameter of 7-10 cm in an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.

[0156] Embodiment 21 is the net of any of embodiments 1-20, wherein the funnel structure may include a ball-contacting portion wherein, at each point along the vertical axis in the ball-contacting portion, the funnel structure may have a diameter of less than 24.1 cm in an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.

[0157] Embodiment 22 is the net of any of embodiments 1-21, wherein the ball-contacting portion of the funnel structure may comprise at least 60% of the funnel structure.

[0158] Embodiment 23 is the net of any of embodiments 1-22, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, at the top end of the net, the funnel structure may form an initial angle of less than 50° with respect to an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.

[0159] Embodiment 24 is the net of any of embodiments 1-23, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the funnel structure may comprise an angle of less than approximately 140° between the top end of the funnel structure and the bottom of the funnel structure.

[0160] Embodiment 25 is the net of any of embodiments 1-24, wherein the net may be configured to assume a rim-detached configuration when the loops of the net are not secured to any structure.

[0161] Embodiment 26 is the net of any of embodiments 1-25, wherein the net may be configured to form an approximately cylindrical structure in the rim-detached configuration.

[0162] Embodiment 27 is the net of any of embodiments 1-26, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the loops may have a total length of less than approximately 18 cm.

[0163] Embodiment 28 is the net of any of embodiments 1-27, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the net may have a total length in the range of approximately 38.1-58.4 cm.

[0164] Embodiment 29 is the net of any of embodiments 1-28, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the body portion of the net may comprise at least 65% of the total length of the net.

[0165] Embodiment 30 is the net of any of embodiments 1-29, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the net may have a diameter of less than approximately 20 cm.

[0166] Embodiment 31 is the net of any of embodiments 1-30, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the net may have a total surface area of less than 2250 cm2 in the body portion of the net.

[0167] Embodiment 32 is the net of any of embodiments 1-31, wherein the one or more fibers may occupy at least approximately 35% of the total surface area in the body portion.

[0168] Embodiment 33 is the net of any of embodiments 1-31, wherein the one or more fibers may occupy at least approximately 45% of the total surface area in the body portion.

[0169] Embodiment 34 is the net of any of embodiments 1-33, wherein the total surface area in the body portion may comprise a between a 2:1 and 1:1 ratio of the area occupied by open space area to the area occupied by the one or more fibers.

[0170] Embodiment 35 is the net of any of embodiments 1-34, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the net may be configured to support the weight of a standard men's basketball having a diameter of approximately 24.1 cm and weighing 22 ounces.

[0171] Embodiment 36 is the net of any of embodiments 1-35, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the net may be configured to support the weight of a standard women's basketball having a diameter of approximately 23.4 cm and weighing 20 ounces.

[0172] Embodiment 37 is the net of any of embodiments 1-36, wherein the funnel structure may be configured to exert a force on a basketball having an approximately 23.24 cm diameter passing through the net, the force having an upwards component aligned with the vertical axis in the direction of the top end, and having a value of at least 10 N.

[0173] Embodiment 38 is the net of any of embodiments 1-37, wherein the funnel structure may be configured to exert a force on a basketball having an approximately 24.1 cm diameter passing through the net, the force having an upwards component aligned with the vertical axis in the direction of the top end, and having a value of at least 10 N.

[0174] Embodiment 39 is the net of any of embodiments 1-38, wherein the one or more fibers may have anti-microbial and moisture wicking properties.

Claims

1. A net for a basketball hoop, the net comprising one or more fibers extendingcoaxially about a vertical axis from a top end to a bottom end and comprising:a body portion including a plurality of rows of diamond-shaped openings constructed from the one or more fibers; anda plurality of loops attached to the body portion, wherein the plurality of loops define the top end of net, andwherein the net is configured to remove moisture from a surface of a basketball passing through the net.

2. (canceled)3. The net of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers have a thickness in a range of approximately 0.9-1.1 cm,wherein the one or more fibers are composed from a yarn having a weight in the range of approximately 150-350 denier, andwherein the net has a total weight in a range of approximately 180-400 g.4-5. (canceled)6. The net of claim 1, wherein the net is configured to hold up to 100% of its own weight in water.

7. (canceled)8. The net of claim 1, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings include eight off-set rows of diamond-shaped openings, each row having twelve diamond-shaped openings, and the rows having 96 diamond-shaped openings.

9. The net of claim 1, wherein the rows of diamond-shaped openings include nine off-set rows of diamond-shaped openings, each row having twelve diamond-shaped openings, and the rows having 108 diamond-shaped openings.10-13. (canceled)14. The net of claim 1, wherein each diamond-shaped opening in the rows of diamond-shaped openings includes an upper point, a lower point, a left point, and a right point, and wherein each diamond includes knots formed at least at the upper point, left point, and right point,wherein each diamond further comprises struts connecting the knot at the upper point to the knots at the left and right points, and wherein a length of a strut between two adjacent knots is in the range of approximately 2.5-4.0 cm, andwherein each knot has a diameter of approximately 1.5 cm.

15. (canceled)16. (canceled)17. The net of claim 1, wherein the loops of the net are configured to be secured to a standard basketball rim wherein the net assumes a rim-attached configuration,wherein the net is configured to form a funnel structure in the rim-attached configuration,wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the body portion of the net has a minimum diameter in the range of approximately 7-10 cm in an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.18-19. (canceled)20. The net of claim 17, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the bottom end of the net has a diameter of 7-10 cm in an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.

21. The net of claim 17, wherein the funnel structure includes a ball-contacting portion wherein, at each point along the vertical axis in the ball-contacting portion, the funnel structure has a diameter of less than 24.1 cm in an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis.

22. The net of claim 21, wherein the ball-contacting portion of the funnel structure comprises at least 60% of the funnel structure.

23. The net of claim 17, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, at the top end of the net, the funnel structure forms an initial angle of less than 50° with respect to an orthogonal plane to the vertical axis, andthe funnel structure comprises an angle of less than approximately 140° between the top end of the funnel structure and the bottom of the funnel structure.

24. (canceled)25. The net of claim 1, wherein the net is configured to assume a rim-detached configuration when the loops of the net are not secured to any structure,wherein the net is configured to form an approximately cylindrical structure in the rim-detached configuration,wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the loops have a total length of less than approximately 18 cm.26-27. (canceled)28. The net of claim 25, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the net has a total length in the range of approximately 38.1-58.4 cm, and.the body portion of the net comprises at least 65% of the total length of the net.

29. (canceled)30. (canceled)31. The net of claim 25, wherein in the rim-detached configuration, the net has a total surface area of less than 2250 cm2 in the body portion of the net, andwherein the one or more fibers occupy at least approximately 35% of the total surface area in the body portion.

32. (canceled)33. (canceled)34. The net of claim 28, wherein the total surface area in the body portion comprises a between a 2:1 and 1:1 ratio of the area occupied by open space area to the area occupied by the one or more fibers.

35. The net of claim 17, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the net is configured to support the weight of a standard men's basketball having a diameter of approximately 24.1 cm and weighing 22 ounces.

36. The net of claim 17, wherein in the rim-attached configuration, the net is configured to support the weight of a standard women's basketball having a diameter of approximately 23.4 cm and weighing 20 ounces.

37. The net of claim 17, wherein the funnel structure is configured to exert a force on a basketball having an approximately 23.24 cm diameter passing through the net, the force having an upwards component aligned with the vertical axis in the direction of the top end, and having a value of at least 10 N.

38. The net of claim 17, wherein the funnel structure is configured to exert a force on a basketball having an approximately 24.1 cm diameter passing through the net, the force having an upwards component aligned with the vertical axis in the direction of the top end, and having a value of at least 10 N.

39. The net of claim 1, wherein the one or more fibers have anti-microbial and moisture wicking properties.

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