Basketball shooting training device

Abstract

A basketball shooting training device includes a base and a main post coupled to and extending upwardly from the base. The main post is telescopic such that a length the main post extends from the base is adjustable. A target frame is coupled to the main post for positioning at a selectable elevation between a shooter and a basketball goal such that the target frame provides guidance for a shooting path for a basketball being shot from the shooter to the goal.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not Applicable(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not Applicable(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not Applicable(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to basketball training devices and more particularly pertains to a new basketball training device for training an individual to shoot a basketball with accuracy and consistency.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

[0007] The prior art relates to basketball training devices. Known basketball training devices can be relatively difficult to position relative to or connect to a basketball goal. Known basketball training devices can also be bulky making them difficult to transport or store.(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base and a main post coupled to and extending upwardly from the base. The main post is telescopic such that a length the main post extends from the base is adjustable. A target frame is coupled to the main post for positioning at a selectable elevation between a shooter and a basketball goal such that the target frame provides guidance for a shooting path for a basketball being shot from the shooter to the goal.

[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.(i) 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 top front side perspective view of a basketball shooting training device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

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

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

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure with an alternate base structure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the disclosure.(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new basketball training device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the basketball shooting training device 10 generally comprises a base 12. A main post 14 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base 12. The main post 14 is telescopic such that a length of the main post 14 extending from the base 12 is adjustable. A target frame 16 is coupled to the main post 14. The target frame 16 is configured for positioning at a selectable elevation between a shooter 18 and a basketball goal 20 such that the target frame 16 provides guidance for a shooting path for a basketball 22 being shot from the shooter 18 to the goal 20. A plurality of wheels 24 is coupled to the base 12 to facilitate positioning of the base 12 on a support surface. Each of the wheels 24 may be a caster wheel.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the base 12 has a central section 26 and a pair of shoulders 28 coupled to and extending laterally from the central section 26. Upper surfaces 30 of the shoulders 28 are coplanar and downwardly offset from a top surface 32 of the central section 26. A peg 34 extends upwardly from the base 12. A socket 36 is positioned at a bottom 38 of the main post 14. The socket 36 receives the peg 34 such that the main post 14 is coupled to the base 12 in a position extending perpendicular to the top surface 32 of the central section 26. This same structure can be used for the alternative embodiments described below. A weight 40 is positioned within the central section 26 of the base 12 to inhibit tipping during use. Each of the wheels 24 is positioned under an associated one of the shoulders 38.

[0021] The main post 14 includes a plurality of nested main post sections 42. The nested main post sections 42 have spaced aligned aperture pairs 44. A pin 46 is insertable through the aperture pairs 44 of adjacently positioned nested main post sections 42 to inhibit movement of the adjacently positioned nested main post sections 42 relative to each other. Separate pins 46 are provided to secure the nested main post sections 42 as needed to maintain a selected overall length of the main post 14.

[0022] The target frame 16 may include a pair of lateral target posts 48 and a base post 50 extending between bottom ends 52 of the lateral target posts 48. A horizontal bar 54 is coupled to the main post 14. The horizontal bar 54 is positioned at a top end 56 of the main post 14 and facilitates holding the main post 14 at a desired length when adjusting the height of the target frame 16 from the base 12. A target frame extension 58 extends between the base post 50 and the horizontal bar 54. For optimal alignment of the target frame 16, the horizontal bar 54 provides a reference point for positioning in the line of sight of the shooter 18 and the basketball goal 20. Thus, the horizontal bar 54 provides guidance as to proper elevation of the target frame 16 relative to the shooter 18 and the basketball goal 20.

[0023] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a collar 60 is coupled to the main post 14 spaced downwardly from a top end 62 of the main post 14. A lateral extension post 64 is coupled to and extends from the collar 60, A vertical target post 66 extends perpendicularly upward from a distal end 68 of the lateral extension post 64 relative to the collar 60 wherein the vertical target post 66 is spaced from and parallel to the main post 14. A height of a top end 70 of the vertical target post 66 is lower than the top end 62 of the main post 14. This allows for positioning of the vertical target post 66 in alignment with a center of the goal 20 while the main post 14 is laterally offset but extending higher than a bottom of a net of the goal 20.

[0024] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 5, The main post 14 is one of a pair of main posts 14A spaced apart on the base 12. A brace 72 has opposite ends 73 coupled to the pair of main posts 14A such that the brace 72 extends perpendicularly between the main posts 14A. A central indicator post 77 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly upward from the brace 72. A pair of elbow sections 74 each have a horizontal segment 76 coupled to and extending from a top end 78 of a respective one of the main posts 14A. The horizontal segments 76 extend towards the each other from the respective main posts 14A. Each of the elbow sections 74 has a vertical segment 80 coupled to and extending from the horizontal segment 76 such that the vertical segments 80 are parallel, coplanar, and spaced apart. The central indicator post 77 has a top end 82 positioned in linear alignment with the horizontal segments 76 of the elbow sections 74. The central indicator post 77 is equidistant from and parallel to each of the main posts 14A. In this embodiment, the base 12 is positionable such that the central indicator post 77 is aligned with a center of the goal 20 and each vertical segment 80 frames a respective side of the net of the goal 20.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, a base 12A shown in FIG. 4, includes a main section 86 which is elongated and extends laterally away from the main post 14. Each of a pair of arms 88 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from respective ends 90 of the main section 86. Each of a pair of wheels 92 is coupled to a respective one of the arms 88 proximate a distal end 94 of the respective one of the arms 88 relative to the man section 86. A storage compartment 96 may be incorporated into the main section 86 of the base 12A. It is contemplated that disclosed alternative structures can be combined in various permutations where the structures are not mutually exclusive. For example, each of the bases 12, 12A, may be employed with each of the different elements for the alternative embodiments of the target frame 16.

[0026] In use, the main post 14, or main posts 14A, are adjusted to a desired height for a particular position of the device 14 relative to the goal 20. The shooter 18 may then repeat shooting with the target frame 16 in the desired position as a guide to establish consistency in a desired shooting arc and shooting path from the shooter 18 to the goal 20.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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 shooting training device comprising:a base;a main post coupled to and extending upwardly from said base, said main post being telescopic such that a length of said main post extends from said base is adjustable;a target frame coupled to said main post, said target frame being configured for positioning at a selectable elevation between a shooter and a basketball goal such that the target frame provides guidance for a shooting path for a basketball being shot from the shooter to the goal.

2. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels coupled to said base.

3. The basketball shooting training device of claim 2, further comprising said wheels being caster wheels.

4. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1, further comprising said base having a central section and a pair of shoulders coupled to and extending laterally from said central section, upper surfaces of said shoulders being coplanar and downwardly offset from a top surface of said central section.

5. The basketball shooting training device of claim 4, further comprising:a peg extending upwardly from said base; anda socket positioned at a bottom of said post, said socket receiving said peg wherein said post is coupled to said base in a position extending perpendicular to said top surface of said central section.

6. The basketball shooting training device of claim 4, further comprising a weight positioned within said central section of said base.

7. The basketball shooting training device of claim 2, further comprising:said base having a central section and a pair of shoulders coupled to and extending laterally from said central section, upper surfaces of said shoulders being coplanar and downwardly offset from a top surface of said central section; andeach of said wheels being positioned under an associated one of said shoulders.

8. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1, further comprising:said main post including a plurality of nested main post sections, said nested main post sections having spaced aligned aperture pairs; anda pin being insertable through said aperture pairs of adjacently positioned nested main post sections whereby said pin inhibits movement of said adjacently positioned nested main post sections relative to each other.

9. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1, further comprising said target frame including a pair of lateral target posts and a base post extending between bottom ends of said lateral target posts.

10. The basketball shooting training device of claim 9, further comprising a horizontal bar coupled to said main post, said horizontal bar being positioned at a top end of said main post.

11. The basketball shooting training device of claim 10, further comprising a target frame extension extending between said base post and said horizontal bar.

12. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1, further comprising said target frame including:a collar coupled to said main post spaced downwardly from a top end of said main post,a lateral extension post coupled to and extending from said collar, anda vertical target post extending perpendicularly upward from a distal end of said lateral extension post relative to said collar wherein said lateral extension post is spaced from and parallel to said main post.

13. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1 further comprising:said main post being one of a pair of main posts spaced apart on said base;a brace having opposite ends coupled to said pair of main posts such that said brace extends perpendicularly between said main posts;a central indicator post coupled to and extending perpendicularly upward from said brace.

14. The basketball shooting training device of claim 13, further comprising a pair of elbow sections, each of said elbow sections having a horizontal segment being coupled to and extending from a top end of a respective one of said main posts, said horizontal segments extending towards said each other from said respective main posts, each of said elbow sections having a vertical segment coupled to and extending from said horizontal segment such that said vertical segments are parallel, coplanar, and spaced apart.

15. The basketball shooting training device of claim 14, further comprising said central indicator post having a top end positioned in linear alignment with said horizontal segments of said elbow sections.

16. The basketball shooting training device of claim 13, said central indicator post being equidistant from and parallel to each of said main posts.

17. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises:a main section being elongated and extending laterally away from said main post,a pair of arms coupled to and extending perpendicularly from respective ends of said main sectiona pair of wheels, each wheel being coupled to a respective one of said arms proximate a distal end of said respective one of said arms relative to said man section.

18. The basketball shooting training device of claim 17, further comprising a storage compartment incorporated into said main section of said base.

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