WO2011025362A1

WO2011025362A1 - Basketball game apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011025362A1
Application number: PCT/MY2010/000155
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seng Lee Koo
Original assignee: Seng Lee Koo
Priority date: 2009-08-27
Filing date: 2010-08-25
Publication date: 2011-03-03
Also published as: MY158403A; TW201107015A

Abstract

A basketball apparatus for both basketball game or practice is presented herein. The apparatus has a ball return structure (32) and a ball return channel (30) that returns basketballs thrown by the players in the general direction of the basketball hoop. More than one basketball hoop (24a, 24b) at different height is provided and can be selected by the player to vary the level of difficulty. A height-adjustable barricade (18) and a retractable ball return means (38) are included and used together with basketball hoops (24a, 24b) at different heights to provide further variation of levels of difficulty.

Description

BASKETBALL GAME APPARATUS

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention described herein is an apparatus for playing or practicing basketball game. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus that provides an automatic return of the basketball to its player after it is thrown to a basketball hoop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basketball being a favorite game and past time with many has been played at homes using basketball hoop and its backboard installed on walls. However, it is often desirable for a person to focus on the ball shooting aspect of the game when he or she is playing alone.

Therefore it is the general objective of the invention to provide a basketball apparatus that returns a basketball to its player after it is thrown to the basketball hoop. This will reduce the time that the player required for retrieving the basketball by moving his/her position, thus enable the player to shoot more balls in a shorten time. In the meantime, the player also use plurality of basketballs for shooting practice in the same time.

Specifically, it is the objective of the invention to do the foregoing while providing different levels of difficulty to its player.

The general objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus for a player to train his or her skill in shooting a ball at different distance, height and angle. It also provides multiple players to train their shooting skill at the same time. Further, the objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus for basketball game or practice adaptable to both child, adult player and disabled people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for a basketball game, comprising an enclosed area, wherein the enclosed area is defined by a back wall, two side walls, and a ball return channel extending from the back wall to a player end located at the basketball apparatus front end, facing the back wall; a vertical support, wherein the vertical support is located near to the back wall; a first basketball hoop and an accompanying first backboard are mounted on the vertical support; and a ball return structure disposed above the ball return channel and in the space surrounding the first basketball hoops for a jam-free return of basketballs into the ball return channel.

Notwithstanding the above, the apparatus further comprising a second basketball hoop and an accompanying second backboard, wherein the first basketball hoop and the accompanying first backboard are mounted higher than the second basketball hoop and the accompanying second backboard on the vertical support and are oriented to a direction different from the second basketball hoop and the accompanying backboard; a means for rotating the vertical support for selecting the first basketball hoop or the second basketball hoop to be used; a height-adjustable barricade; and a retractable ball returning means, extendably located at the front end of the ball return channel so as to be an extension of the ball return channel.

The present invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that various changes in the details may be without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an illustration showing the perspective view of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an illustration showing the side cross-section view of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invented apparatus for a basketball game is described in conjunction with Figures 1 to 2 in its preferred embodiments which shall by no means be a limiting scope of the invention. The invented apparatus for basketball game (10), which can be used both for playing or practicing basketball game, comprises an enclosed area (12) that keeps the ball used for the game therein so that the player need not run after a ball every time after it is thrown to the basketball hoop. As will be explained further, the enclosed area (12) functions together with a first ball return structure (32) and a ball return channel (30) to return every ball thrown at the basketball hoop to the player. The enclosed area (12) is defined by a back wall (14), two side walls (16a, 16b), and a ball return channel (30). The ball return channel (30) extends in a downward slanting direction, starting from a higher level at the back wall (14) toward a lower level at a player end which is located at the basketball apparatus front end (19). Further, the ball return channel (30) is formed by a pair of slopes (31a, 31b) that are sloping down toward each other. Preferably, the upper part of the back wall and the side walls are constructed in a manner that allows people standing around the apparatus to look into it such using nets or wire fencing upheld by frames. This allows everybody to see the game while it is going on yet at the same time keeps the ball within the apparatus. A vertical support (20) is located near to the back wall upon which a first basketball hoop (24a) and its accompanying first backboard (22a) are mounted thereon. A first ball return structure (32) is disposed above the ball return channel (30) and in the space surrounding the first basketball hoop for a jam-free return of basketballs into the ball return channel (30). The first ball return structure (32) comprises an upward slanting ball return barricade (36) and a first lower wall (33) joined to the ball return barricade, and a downward slanting wall (34) and a second lower wall (35) joined to the downward slanting wall. The downward slanting wall (34) and the second lower wall (35) are disposed in vicinity of the vertical support (20) and faced the upward slanting ball return barricade (36) and the first lower wall (33). The second lower wall (35) is positioned at an altitude higher than the first lower wall (33).

The first lower wall (33) and the second lower wall (35) are spaced apart so as to have a gap between them. The downward slanting wall (34) and the upward slanting ball return barricade (36) are positioned at angles so that a basketball that enters into the basketball hoop, or bounces off the backboard or misses the backboard still will be guided into the gap between the first lower wall (33) and second lower wall (35). The upward slanting ball return barricade (36) and the first lower wall (33) are also appropriately spaced away from the downward slanting wall (34) and the second lower wall (35). This and an appropriately dimensioned opening disposed at the lower end of the first lower wall (33) ensure jam-free return of basketballs to the basketball return channel (30).

Since the basketball return barricade (36) is disposed at a position between the vertical support (20) and the player end of the basketball apparatus, it is preferably constructed in similar manner as the upper part of the side (16a, 16b) and back (14) walls, having netting or wire fencing upheld by frames so that it does not obstruct the basketball hoop from the player's view.

The vertical support (20) of the apparatus preferably is rotatable about its vertical axis and further mounted with a second basketball hoop (24b) and its accompanying second backboard (24a) on the other side opposite the first basketball hoop (24a). In this embodiment, the first basketball hoop (24a) and its accompanying first backboard (22a) are mounted higher than the second basketball hoop (24b) and its accompanying second backboard (22b) on the vertical support (20). Both sets of basketball hoops and its backboards are oriented to different directions such as 180 degrees from each other. A means for rotating the vertical support (40) is included in the apparatus for selecting the basketball hoop to be used. The vertical support can be rotated 360 degree and enable the player to practice the shooting at different angles. This embodiment allows the apparatus to be used for during games or practices with different levels of difficulty.

In conjunction with two basketball hoops at different heights, a height-adjustable barricade such as a pair of panels (18a, 18b) can be installed in the vicinity space of the player end to complement the different levels of difficulty. Each of the panel can be hingedly fixed at the top-front edge of each of the side wall (16a, 16b). The apparatus further comprises a second upward slanting ball return barricade (26) disposed above the other end of the ball return channel (30) adjacent to the height- adjustable barricade (18).

In addition, a retractable ball returning means (38) is extendably located at the front end of the ball return channel (30) so as to be an extension of the ball return channel.

The retractable ball returning means (38) can comprise a suitable structure such as a pair of rails having a support joined to its distal end. With the retractable ball returning means (38) fully extended, the player has the option to throw a basketball at the furthest distance. This and the higher basketball hoop (24a) pose the highest level of difficulty to a player.

It is therefore apparent to anyone skillful in the art as to the practicality and usefulness of such an apparatus. Therefore, the above description is descriptive and is by no means limitation of the essence of the invention itself which scope and embodiment is claimed as below.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for a basketball game comprising:

an enclosed area (12), wherein the enclosed area (12) is defined by a back wall (14), two side walls (16a, 16b), and a ball return channel (30);

a vertical support (20) located near to the back wall (14) and carrying a first basketball hoop (24a) and an accompanying first backboard (22a); and

a ball return structure (32) disposed above the ball return channel (30) and in the space surrounding the first basketball hoops (24a) for a jam-free return of basketballs into the ball return channel (30), wherein the first ball return structure (32) comprises a first upward slanting ball return barricade (36) and a first lower wall (33) joined to the ball return barricade (36), a downward slanting wall (34) and a second lower wall (35) joined to the downward slanting wall (34) disposed in vicinity of the vertical support (20) and facing the upward slanting ball return barricade (36) and the first lower wall (33) so as to have a gap between the first lower wall (33) and the second lower wall (35), and the ball return channel (30) extending from the second lower wall (35) to a player end located at the basketball apparatus front end.

2. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basketball return barricade (36) is disposed at a position between the vertical support (20) and the player end of the basketball apparatus (10).

3. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upward slanting wall (36) and the first lower wall (33) are appropriately spaced away from the downward slanting wall (34) and the second lower wall (35) and the first lower wall (33) has an appropriately dimensioned opening disposed at its lower end for ensuring return of basketballs to the basketball return channel (30).

4. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertical support (20) also carries a second basketball hoop and associated backboard, and is rotatable about its vertical axis.

5. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first basketball hoop (24a) is mounted higher than the second basketball hoop (24b) and is oriented in a direction different from that of the second basketball hoop (24b).

6. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a means for rotating the vertical support (40) for selecting the first basketball hoop (24a) or the second basketball hoop (24b) to be used.

7. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a height-adjustable barricade (18).

8. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the height-adjustable barricade (18) is a pair of panels (18a, 18b), each panel hingedly fixed at the top-front edge of each of the side wall (16a, 16b) in the vicinity space of the player end.

9. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a second upward slanting ball return barricade (26) disposed above the other end of the ball return channel (30) adjacent to the height-adjustable barricade (18).

10. An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a retractable ball returning means (38), extendably located at the front end of the ball return channel (30) so as to be an extension of the ball return channel (30).

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retractable ball returning means (38) comprises a pair of rails having a support joined to its distal end.