REBOUND BASKETBALL TRAINING OEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to basketball rings and in particular to basketball rings and backboards incorporating rebound net for practicing passing and shooting

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Basketball is a game of skill that requires participants to train in a number of different arsas such as shooting, passing and dribbling

Each of these skill sets can be practised in any number of ways but often is best accomplished in the presence of another player so that the participants can engage in the passing activity with one another. Typically one player will pass the ball to the other who will then proceed to shoot the ball into the basketball ring. Passing practice is integral as basketball is a team sport and thus it is preferable that a player practice receiving the ball from another player prior to shooting so as to simulate real game conditions

Presently when a player is practising basketball by themselves they cannot practise the skill of passing and receiving unless they are throwing the ball up against a wall This is not considered satisfactory as the wall does not impart a realistic feel of return Moreover, there are many situations where a wall is not available to throw against, such as in domestic situations or indeed in open court set ups such as in schools or gymnasiums with little available wall space

If a player is practising the skill of shooting, then typically the player will throw the ball to themselves by lightly throwing the ball in the air with perhaps some back spin, then taking a small step in the direction of the ball This then permits the player to experience lightly catching the ball as it bounces back to the player after hitting the ground then shooting Whilst this may appear adequate, in game situations the ball is not always bounce passed, where the ball strikes the

ground prior to being received, but rather the ball is received "on the full", from one player to another without striking the ground.

In addition, it is not possible for the lone payer to practice passing the ball, such as "chest passing" where the ball is thrown out wards from the players' chest substantially parallel to the ground and then receiving the ball and then shooting.

Generally i: is known to have systems designed to return a ball to a player once the player has shoot the balJ through the hoop. Often these systems comprise a ball return set up, such as an angled net that is fastened to the pole supporting the ring These setups are very specifically designed at angles that allow the ball to be generally returned to the shooter and as such are positioned immediate y under neath the ring so as to deflect the ball dropping down through the ring.

One of the drawbacks of such return systems is that they are dangerous to players when practising skills such as lay-ups or dunking or any other manoeuvre where the player is required to move underneath or close to underneath the ring.

It is clear that the limitations of practising alone are significant but yet it is not always possible for players to practice together for any number of reasons. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a basketball practice apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a basket ball practice apparatus that allows the user to practice passing and shooting without presenting a hazard underneath the basketball ring.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a unitary ball practice apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According 1o the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, there is provided a basketball practice apparatus including a base, at least one support member and a backboard with ring, the at least one support member attached to the base and supporting the backboard above the base, the at least one support member having a main rebound surface positioned thereon, the mam rebound surface extending substantially between the backboard and the base. In preference, there are two support members substantially parallel to one another.

In preference, the rebound surface extends between the two support members.

In preference, there are at least two substantially perpendicular connecting members positioned between the two support members. In preference, the rebound surface is a net.

In preference, the net is removable secured to the supporting members,

In preference, the net is removable secured to the at least two substantially perpendicular connecting members positioned between the two support members. In preference, each of the two support members has an additional rebound surface separate to the rebound surface extends between the two support members.

In preference, the additional rebound surface is pivot-able about the support member so that the angle of the additional rebound surface can be varied relative to the main rebound surface.

In preference, the additional rebound surface is fixed relative to the mair rebound surface.

In preference, additional rebound surface is a net.

In preference the net is removably secured to a plurality of net securing locations on the support members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example, an employment of the invention is described more fully the renown for with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is front on view of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fronton view of the invention having additional side rebounding surfaces; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the present invention with a single additional rebound surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows the basketball practice apparatus 5 that includes a base 7, first and second support members 10 and 12 respectively, a backboard 14 having a basketball ring 15 located thereon and a main rebounding surface 8 positioned between first and second support members 10 and 12.

The supporting members 10 and 12 have at least two substantially parallel connecting members 17 and 16 positioned between one another. The connecting members 17, 18 and first and second support members 10. 12 have a plurality of rebound surface connecting means 20 positioned on them so that

a suitable rebound surface can be removably securely attached. Each supporting member 10 and 12 has a set of bracing members 13 to support and strengthen the connection of the supporting members to the base 7.

The base 7 is constructed in a manner that is suitable to the task of such a base in that it has to provide a substantially resilient yet removable anchoring location for the basketball ring. Such bases are well known to those skilled in the art and may be sand or water filled and incorporate rollers or wheels to facilitate movement of the apparatus.

As one skilled in the art would understand, the construction of a suitable rebound surface can take a number of different forms such as solid surface contracted from wood or plastic, or it can be a net material 22

The net material has the advantage of being able provide a more realistic feel in terms of rebounding the ball back to the thrower. The net 22 can be attached to the rebound surface connecting means 20 either directly or by the use of leads 24, which can be fastened to 20 by any manner of ways such as by clips, hook and loop fasteners or knots

One of the advantages of the present invention in that it provides a rebounding surface that is behind the plane of the backboard and thus does not provide an impedance to the player should they decide to perform a maneuver that would put them underneath the basketball ring.

In addition the present invention also encompasses at least one additional rebound surface 30 positioned and at an angle to the main rebound surface 8. The additional rebound surface 30 is positioned on the support members 10 and 12 preferably in the same manner as the main rebound surface 8. The actual angle of the main rebound surface 8 and the additional rebound surface 30 can either be fixed or movable depending on requirements such that the frame 32 can pivot about 12 and secured by a fastener such as a screw threaded clamping member. A further additional rebound surface 31 may also be attached to 10. The use of the two support members 10 and 12 provides for

a solid rebound surface support so that when a ball is passed to the rebound surface the apparatus does not unnecessarily or dangerously move about.

In use then, a player can be standing away from the basketball ring and throw the ball towards the main rebounding surface 8, the ball then being thrown back to the player who can then elect to shoot or pass back to the main rebounding surface. T ¹ IiS gives the player a more realistic game feel of throwing and catching prior to ether shooting or throwing again as in a game situation.

Should the player decide to receive the ball then move in for a lay-up maneuver, this can be down without any impedance by the rebounding surface as it is positioned behind the plane of the backboard and out of harms way.

With the additional rebound surface 30 in place, a player can be posited at an angle to the basketball ring, such as on the "45" and again throw the ball to the rebounding surface 30, receive the ball and either shoot or pass back to the rebound surface or dribble to another position around the basketball ring. What is now recognized is that the present invention allows the lone player to be able to practice a number of different maneuvers or drill about the basketball ring without requirement an additional player. The single player is then able to develop and maintain their skills in the game.

Although 1he invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but it is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.