US 20070082759A1
(19) United States
(2) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0082759 A1
Burkhardt
(43) Pub. Date:
(54) DEVICE FOR THE REDUCTION IN THE
Apr. 12, 2007
(52) U.S. Cl. … 473/448
DIAMETER OF A BASKETBALL RIM
(76) Inventor: Matthew Burkhardt, Oyster Bay, NY
(US)
Correspondence Address:
Miº A. Stein. Es
STEIN L,Aw P o
Suite 4
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(57)
ABSTRACT
A basketball rim attachment device for decreasing the diam
eter of the circular rim to increase shooting accuracy, having
an annular rim insertion device for insertion onto the circular
rim; and a plurality of hooking apertures upon the annular
rim insertion device for attachment to the rim in a manner
24 Woodbine Avenue
that provides substantially rigid conformity with the rim
Northport, NY 11768 (US)
port,
when applied and removability when not applied. The
device is made from materials selected from the group
21) Appl. No.:
(21) Appl. No
(22) Filed:
11/245.236
s
Oct. 6, 2005
Publication Classification
consisting of plastics, polvinyls, polyurethanes, rubber, and
metallic materials. The hooking apertures are generally
between 110 degrees and 270 degrees in cross-section. Also
shown are other embodiments in which the hooking assem
blies are perpendicularly mounted below the rim device, as
well as a flexible version with an inner and outer tube for
(51) Int. Cl.
A63B 69/06)
(2006.01)
changing the size of the aperture to meet the demands of
differently sized basketball rims.
Patent Application Publication Apr. 12, 2007 Sheet 1 of 4
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Patent Application Publication Apr. 12, 2007 Sheet 2 of 4
Fig. 3
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Patent Application Publication Apr. 12, 2007 Sheet 3 of 4
US 2007/0082759 A1
Patent Application Publication Apr. 12, 2007 Sheet 4 of 4
US 2007/0082759 A1
Apr. 12, 2007
US 2007/0082759 A1
DEVICE FOR THE REDUCTION IN THE
DIAMETER OF A BASKETBALL RIM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bas
ketball, and more particularly to an insertion device for the
reduction in the diameter of the basketball ring for, among
other things, improved basketball shooting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The various features of novelty which characterize
the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and
specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had
to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are
illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the
invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The instant invention relates to improving the game
of basketball. Generally the game entails a rim of generally
fixed diameter of 18 inches through which a ball, generally
of fixed diameter 9.39 inches is passed. The rim is cantile
vered from a backboard, enabling bank shots (wherein the
ball first hits the backboard to which the rim is attached) and
either passes through the rim or bounces away, and
“swoosh” shots wherein the ball passes through the rim
directly. In the game, hung from hooks on the rim is a net
through which a successful shot passes.
[0003] The improvement sought by the instant invention is
a removably mounted ring assembly that is inserted into the
rim, clippably attached thereto for ease of attachment and
detachment, and decreases the diameter of the ring. In this
manner, the shooter is required to improve both the bank
shot and the “swoosh” inasmuch as the ring is smaller in
aperture when the device of the instant invention is attached.
[0004] There is nothing in the prior art known-to the
inventor that actually changes the size of the rim diameter.
Rather the prior art shows various hoop assemblies for a
plethora of other purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,858,920 shows a sensor arrangement for indicating a
successful shot wherein the ball passes through the rim and
hence constitutes a “score.” U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,050 shos a
detachably mounted pin for striking by the shooter to
improve accuracy, but fails to indicate any change in the size
of the rim. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,707 shows a strapping
assembly to enable the shooter to strap a hand to the ball
thereby improving dunking of the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,
139 shows a device designed to improve with interchange
able basketball hoops, but does suggest nor reveal a mecha
nism for utilizing a standard rim and decreasing its diameter,
as is the case herein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,507 shows a
basketball goal protector to prevent use of the field by
blocking access to the rim and net. U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,269
shows a net installation device wherein the net attaches to an
annular rim for insertion into the rim to provide the net,
thereby eliminating the hooks typically present on the rim in
known devices. It does not, however, show a reduction in the
diameter of the rim to improve shooting ability; rather the
device is intended to maintain the universal rim regulation
rim size.
[0005] Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,560 shows an exten
sion device for extension into the center of the rim, for
increasing shooting accuracy, but does not reveal a change
in the rim diameter, as is the case herein.
[0006] It is thus an object of the instant invention to
change the diameter of the rim in a basketball gaming
backboard-mounted, cantilevered rim assembly, while main
taining the rim’s overall resiliency and other typical facets,
to increase the accuracy of the shot taken by the shooter for
either practice or regulation play.
[0008] The foregoing objects and other objects of the
invention are achieved through A basketball rim attachment
device for decreasing the diameter of the circular rim to
increase shooting accuracy, having an annular rim insertion
device for insertion onto the circular rim and a plurality of
hooking apertures upon the annular rim insertion device for
attachment to the rim in a manner that provides substantially
rigid conformity with the rim when applied and removability
when not applied.
[0009] The device is made from materials selected from
the group consisting of plastics, polvinyls, polyurethanes,
rubber, and metallic materials.
[0010] The hooking apertures are generally between 110
degrees and 270 degrees in cross-section.
[0011] Also shown are other embodiments in which the
hooking assemblies are perpendicularly mounted below the
rim device, as well as a flexible version with an inner and
outer tube for changing the size of the aperture to meet the
demands of differently sized basketball rims.
[0012] Other features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description considered
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely
for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the
limits of the invention, for which reference should be made
to the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the drawings, wherein similar reference charac
ters denote similar elements through the several views:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective showing the direc
tion for insertion of the device into a pre-existing basketball
rim, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
subject invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an overall perspective showing the device
of FIG. 1 fully inserted into a basketball rim with a basket
ball shot to pass therethrough, in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the subject invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a downwardly projected view of the
device shown in FIG. 1 containing a plurality of hooking
apertures shown in FIGS. 4 through 9, employed in accor
dance with the preferred embodiment of the subject inven
tion;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the
hooking apertures shown in the lines indicated in FIG. 3, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one of the
hooking apertures shown in the lines indicated in FIG. 3, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
Apr. 12, 2007
US 2007/0082759 A1
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the
hooking apertures shown in the lines indicated in FIG. 3, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one of the
hooking apertures shown in the lines indicated in FIG. 3, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of one of the
hooking apertures shown in the lines indicated in FIG. 3, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of one of the
hooking apertures shown in the lines indicated in FIG. 3, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view, including a cross
sectional view, of the device of the subject invention hooked
to a rim and contacting a basketball when used for its
intended purpose, in accordance with the preferred embodi
ment of the subject invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is an additional perspective view, including
a cross-sectional view, of the device of the subject invention
hooked to a rim and contacting a basketball when used for
its intended purpose, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the subject invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment wherein the
hooking apertures are hooking assemblies distended down
wardly from the device, in accordance with another embodi
ment of the subject invention;
[0026] FIG. 13 is one of a number of hooking assemblies
shown in order to be attached to the planar underlying
surface of the device shown in FIG. 12 along line 13-13, for
hookable attachment to an ordinary basketball rim, in accor
dance with the another embodiment of the subject invention;
[0027] FIG. 14 is another type of hooking assembly shown
in order to be attached to the planar underlying surface of the
device shown in FIG. 12 along line 14-14 for hookable
attachment to an ordinary basketball rim, in accordance with
the another embodiment of the subject invention;
[0028] FIG. 15 is an alternative embodiment of the subject
invention showing a flexibly extendable rim-insertion
device and attachment of the ends therefor, in accordance
with another embodiment of the subject invention;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the attachment of
the flexibly extendable device of FIG. 15, in accordance
with the embodiment of the subject invention as shown in
FIG. 15; and
[0030] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the attachment of
the flexibly extendable device of FIG. 15 showing diameter
expansion and/or contraction in order to meet the dimen
sional needs of a basketball rim, in accordance with the
embodiment of the subject invention as shown in FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] In accordance with the subject invention, FIG. 1
shows rim insertion device 4 for insertion into typical
basketball rim 8 such that the assemblage of device 4 and
rim 8 form a unified structure as provided by a plurality of
hooking apertures and/or hooking assemblies, as shown in
further detail hereinbelow, one of which is shown as hooking
aperture 14A in FIG. 1. As is shown by the dotted line in
FIG. 1, rim insertion device 4 is inserted and hookably
attached to rim 8. In a typical basketball rim conglomerate,
as shown in FIG. 1, for which the subject invention is an
addition, rim 8 possesses hooks 10 for engaging a net (not
shown but known to one of ordinary skill in the art), and is
cantilevered from backboard 2 via right-angled mounting 6
which annexes from background 2 to rim 8.
[0032] As is observable via FIG. 1, once rim insertion
device 4, in accordance with the subject invention is rigidly
mounted to rim 8 (via apertures and/or hooking assemblies
as shown in further detail hereinbelow) the size of the
aperture through the which the ball travels is reduced. In this
manner, the shooter is caused to improve the accuracy of the
shot for a typical “swoosh” wherein the ball neither touches
rim 8 nor the net (not shown) or a bank shot wherein the ball
banks from backboard 2 through rim insertion device 4 (and
hence rim 8).
[0033] It should be observed that rim insertion device 4 is
rendered of a comformable yet rigid material such that when
assembled to rim 8 it essentially becomes “one” with rim 8
and does bounce between the two. Typically such materials
include, but are not limited to a polyvinyl (e.g., “PVC’’ or
polyvinylchloride) or metal, or metal-coated materials that
have rigidity and flexibility that does not substantially
change the characteristics of original rim 8. Observably, the
preferred material is a plastic of sorts inasmuch as such
material is lightweight and will not substantially change
either the characteristics of original rim 8 nor its overall
cantilevered weight such that the game, itself, does not
substantially change by way of a difference in bounce, save
for a difference in the diameter of the hole through which the
ball will pass.
[0034] Typical regulation rims are generally 18 inches in
diameter; rim device 4 provides any of a number of smaller
apertures (18.1 through about 10 inches) through which the
ball (generally having a regulation diameter of 9.39 inches)
must pass, and therefore large enough to enable the ball of
such fixed diameter to pass therethrough.
[0035] FIG. 2, showing a perspective view of rim device
4 with ball 12 passing therebetween, also shows rim device
4 fixedly, yet removably attached to rim 8 (covered in the
view by device 4), via plurality of apertures and/or hooking
assemblies, as further discussed hereinbelow. All other items
of the view conform with those shown in FIG. 1.
[0036] FIG. 3 reveals the downward view of rim device 4
having an extended portion 4A for overlapping the cantile
ver mount 6 (see FIG. 1) and a plurality of hooking apertures
below the top surface, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 9.
[0037] In particular, FIG. 4 shows cross-sectional view of
a hooking aperture 14A which engages rim 8 (not shown) via
its aperture 18A of a diameter of sufficient angulature 22
such that rigid conformation may occur, together with
removal and attachment via its aperture 18A. Relatively
planar surface 16 is actually a view, in this embodiment, of
the surface of rim device 4, as shown in FIG. 3, and is
identical in each of FIGS. 3 through 9.
US 2007/0082759 A1
Apr. 12, 2007
4
(c) a plurality of hooking apertures disposed outwardly
from said annular outer tube to engage the rim for
flexible attachment and detachment thereto.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said engagement
device is a cotter pin, and said inner and outer tubes possess
apertures for engagement therewith.
13. The device of claim 11 comprising a material selected
from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl, polyvinyl
chloride, polyurethane, rubber, metallically coated materi
als, metals, and combinations thereof.
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