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US 7,740,548 B2Granted
Basketball training apparatus
OwnerAnthony Lenardinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the sports training aids, in particular a improved apparatus for providing drills for new basketball players to practice rebounding skills, not having a platform or base below the players as they jump which can twist an ankle or knee. Further an improved mechanism for tuning the action in the recoil assembly is provided.
Claims15
A training apparatus for practicing basketball drills comprising:
- (i) means for receiving basketballs being mounted on a wall surface in a substantially overhead position above a playing floor;
- (ii) means for arranging and moving basketballs from receiving means in a substantially orderly manner;
- (iii) means for positioning basketballs from arranging means substantially above a player, said positioning means being operatively coupled with said means for arranging and moving basketballs;
- (iv) a recoil assembly, having a primary and a secondary position, being operatively coupled with a shock for controlling movement of said recoil assembly said shock comprising:
- a cylinder being fitted with a piston such that said piston substantially fills the cross sectional area of the cylinder, said piston being slidably attached to a rod;
- said piston further having a top side and a bottom side being separated by a middle portion,
- the top side further comprising a confluence being substantially void and of predetermined form;
- the piston having at least one port for moving air between the top side and the bottom side;
- wherein at least one of said ports terminates in the confluence,
- said rod being operatively coupled with a bushing such that the bushing blocks the movement of air when the piston travels in a predetermined direction;
- (v) such that when a basketball, positioned by said recoil assembly being in said primary position, is grabbed by the player said recoil assembly moves to said secondary position thus releasing the basketball when a predetermined amount of force is supplied;
- (vi) means for returning said recoil assembly to the primary position.
9 more elements
A training apparatus for practicing basketball drills having a shock assembly having minimal resistance in one direction of travel with a pre-set resistance when traveling in another direction, comprising;
- (i) a ball receiver and means for delivering basketballs to the ball receiver positioned substantially above a player;
- (ii) the ball receiver having at least one end coupled with a hinge;
- said hinge attached to a lever adapted toward receiving the rotational force applied to said hinge;
- (iii) a spring being operatively coupled with said hinge for forming a recoil assembly;
- (iv) a shock, which serves to moderate resistance depending upon direction of rotation;
- (v) said shock comprising;
- (vi) a proximal tie member attached to an end and adapted for mounting the shock to a training apparatus housing;
- (vii) coming substantially orthogonally from the end is a cylinder which houses a piston;
- (viii) the piston being mounted on a rod, and arranged so as to divide the cylinder into an air chamber and a secondary air chamber and having at least one port for moving air between said chambers;
- (ix) a stop being slidably mounted behind the piston, such that when the piston is being extended, air moves freely between said chambers allowing the rod to move with little resistance;
- (x) as the piston is being compressed, the stop being designed to block at least one port thus increasing resistance of air flow between said chambers, causing the rod to move with greater resistance.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.