System and method for improving a basketball player's shooting including a basketball capturing system
AssigneeShoot-A-Way, Inc.
InventorsJohn G. Joseph, Troy David Geiser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for gathering and returning basketballs thrown towards a basketball goal is disclosed. The device includes an ejector programmed to launch basketballs to a series of locations selected via an interface having a plurality of interactive indicia arranged in a spaced angular pattern. A basketball retrieval system associated with the basketball goal captures basketballs thrown towards the goal and guides them to the ejector. An upper edge of the basketball retrieval system extends above the rim of the basketball goal.
Claims20
An apparatus for gathering and returning basketballs thrown towards a basketball goal comprising:
- an ejector configured to launch the basketballs;
- an interface configured to program the ejector comprising a plurality of individually interactive indicia arranged in a spaced angular pattern corresponding to a basketball playing area;
- and
- a basketball retrieval system associated with the basketball goal configured to capture the basketballs thrown towards the basketball goal and guide them to the ejector;
- wherein an upper edge of the basketball retrieval system is configured to extend above the rim of the basketball goal when the basketball retrieval system is positioned beneath the basketball goal;
- and
- wherein the ejector launches the basketballs to the locations on the basketball playing area corresponding to the actuated indicia.
A system for collecting and returning a series of basketballs thrown towards a basketball goal having a rim comprising:
- a launcher positioned below the basketball goal configured to eject the series of basketballs;
- a control device comprising a plurality of individually selectable indicants arranged to correspond with angular spaced shooting locations on a basketball playing area, wherein said control device is configured to program the launcher to eject the series of basketballs to a series of locations based on the selection of said individually selectable indicants;
- a sensor associated with the basketball goal configured to detect if the basketballs pass through the basketball goal;
- a calculation device in communication with the control device and the sensor configured to calculate shooting data for each location the basketballs were ejected to;
- and
- a basketball collection assembly configured to collect the basketballs thrown towards the basketball goal and return the basketballs to the launcher wherein an upper edge of the basketball collection assembly is configured to extend above the rim when the basketball collection assembly is located beneath the basketball goal.
An apparatus for gathering and ejecting basketballs thrown towards a basketball goal comprising:
- a launcher configured to eject the basketballs;
- an interface having a plurality of selectable icons arranged to correspond with a plurality of spaced angular shooting locations on a basketball playing area, said interface configured to program the launcher to eject the basketballs in response to the selected icons, and wherein said selectable icons are highlighted upon selection;
- a net configured to gather the basketballs thrown towards the basketball goal and guide the basketballs to the launcher wherein the front upper edge of the net is configured to extend above the rim of the basketball goal and at least a portion of the rear upper edge of the net is configured to extend adjacent to or below the rim of the basketball goal when the net is positioned beneath the basketball goal;
- a plurality of support poles for supporting the net, wherein said plurality of support poles extend upwardly in a splayed configuration from the launcher;
- and
- a plurality of ties configured to secure the net to the plurality of support poles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.