Shot making training apparatus and method

#The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for providing sports training and, in particular, to a shot making training apparatus and method such as for basketball.

#An essential skill in basketball is the ability to make field goal, two point and/or three point, and free throw shots. Improving the accuracy of field goal and free throw shots, therefore, is a continuing desire of most basketball players. Shooting a basketball at a hoop by oneself in an effort to improve one's shot-making ability, however, can be a tedious task at best and time-consuming and inefficient at worst. Missed shots are always a problem because the balls must be chased down. Successful shots, though, are also a problem because the net is designed to cause the ball to drop to the playing floor immediately below the rim. A player then is forced to move from his or her shooting location to the basket in order to retrieve the ball and then move to another shooting location, which is inefficient and time-consuming. A subsequent successful shot means the process outlined above begins again.

#The art has recognized these practice deficiencies and has provided numerous devices for improving the accuracy of a player's shots. Many of these devices are disadvantageously designed to be attached to basketball rims, limiting the use of the device to locations having an installed basketball rim. Those devices that are not designed to be attached to existing basketball rims are often bulky and difficult to transport and assemble. Other types of practice devices are targets or goals that reward the user for successful shots, and/or reduce the area of the hoop through which the basketball must pass, such as concentric hoops for improving accuracy. Many devices include a means to return the ball to the user after completion of a successful shot by the use of ramps, chutes or the like directing the ball to a single designated spot adjacent the basketball goal with the purpose of making shooting practice time more efficient. These devices return the ball to the same location after a successful shot thereby rendering them useless in practicing shots from other locations. Furthermore, in actual playing conditions, basketball shots are often taken while moving. Another essential skill in basketball, therefore, is the ability to move laterally, which is not an element of the prior art basketball training devices.

#The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a training apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is top plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration;

#Referring now to FIG. 1, a training apparatus in accordance with the present invention is indicated schematically at 10. The training apparatus 10 includes an upper ring 12 and a plurality of lower rings 14. Preferably, the upper ring 12 and the lower rings 14 are circular and of the same diameter as a regulation basketball hoop. However, the upper ring 12 and the lower rings 14 can be of any suitable size and shape for playing games and skill contests with different size balls or other objects. The upper ring 12 defines an upper opening and each of the lower rings 14 defines a respective lower opening extending therethrough. The upper ring 12 and the lower rings 14 are preferably constructed of a lightweight material that is both strong and light including, but not limited to, aluminum, high-strength injection molded plastic materials, and the like.

#Referring now to FIG. 2, the upper ring 12 is shown attached to each of the lower rings 14 at respective tangential points by respective attachment members 16. The attachment members 16 are preferably hook and loop straps or similar releasable attachment means. Each of the lower rings 14 is attached to the adjacent lower ring 14 by respective attachment members 18. The attachment members 18 are preferably hook and loop straps or similar releasable attachment means. When attached, each of the lower rings 14 extends downwardly and inwardly from the upper ring 12 to attach to a shock absorbing base member 20 by a bottom portion thereof.

#Referring now to FIG. 3, a top plan view of the base member 20 is shown. The base member 20 includes an upper plate 22 and a lower plate 32 preferably connected by a shock absorbing means such as a plurality of springs 34 interposed between a lower surface of the upper plate 22 and an upper surface of the lower plate 32. Alternatively, the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 32 are connected by a plurality of dampers 36, or by a combination of both springs 34 and dampers 36. The damper 36 can be any suitable device such as a fluid filled shock absorber or a body of resilient material. The base member 20 includes a projection 26 extending upwardly from a center portion of the upper surface of the plate 22. The projection 26 includes a rounded upper surface 28 and a side surface 30 that tapers downwardly and outwardly to the upper surface of the plate 22. The upper surface of the plate 22 also includes a plurality of attachment points 24 for attaching the lower rings 14 to the base member 20. The upper ring 12, the lower rings 14, and the base member 20, when connected together, form a goal assembly indicated generally at 21 in FIG. 2. The lower plate 32 of the base member 20 is preferably operable to be attached to a mounting surface (not shown). While the rings 12 and 14 and the upper plate 22 have been described as being releasably attached, they can be permanently secured together. Also, the upper plate 22 can be used alone, to function as a shock absorber, as the base member 20.