sept. 7, 1965
3,204,957
W. H. LOGUE:A
BASKETBALL TRAINING DEVICE
Filed March 1, 4lsaes
INVENTOR
`
BY
United States Patent ‘ Ó ” ICG
53,204,957
@Patented Sept. 7,V 1965
1.
2
3,204,957»
additionally, is intended to be connected to the ball
retainer 22 to suspend the ball retainer from the rim.
BASKETBALL TRAINING DEVICE
Moreover, the. net arrangement 20, in compliance with
William H. Logue, 323 S. BrittainSt., Shelbyville, Tenu.
Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,064
7` Claims'.> (6l. 273`--1.5)
a feature of the invention, is intended to be selectively
shortenable in order that the ball retainer 22 may be
raised and lowered relative to the rim 14. Accordingly,
the net arrangement 2li is made from a number of sub
This invention relates- generally to basketballV training
devices and more particularly to devices for teaching»
stantially vertical, flexible straps 24 fabricated from a
tensilely strong material such as canvas or heavy cotton
A general object of the invention is to provide a new 10 duck. Nylon cloth may also be used and is of special
advantage in outdoor installatio-ns because of its resistance
and improved basketball training device-_
to the elements. The straps 24l are provided with'female
Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a basket
properv rebounding techniques.
snap fasteners 26 and cooperating male snap fasteners
ball training device which develops proper mental and
physical habits relative> to rebounding.
28. The straps 24 are arcuately spaced to describe a
conical throat; and» the female snap fasteners 26 are at
Still another object of the invention is to» provide a
basketball training device which teaches a player- to focus
hisv eyes and his attention on both his hands- and the ball
in the act of rebounding.
And still another object of the invention is to provide
a basketball training device which teaches a player to take
a firm, two-handed grip ofthe ball at a position above
its center.
tached to the straps 24 adjacent the opposite. ends there
of, the male snap fasteners 2S being spaced along the
length of each of the straps.
Soprovided, the upper ends of the straps 24 may be
folded over the rim 14 bringingthe upper female fastener
2,6 into aligned position with the uppermost of the male
fasteners 28 for snapped assembly therewith whereby to
I
A further object of the invention is to provide a basket
ball training device which affords aU graduatedv challenge
to jumping ability.
secure the upper end of each strap to the rim. Similarly,
the> lower end of each strap may be folded over a por
25 tion of the ball retainer 22 bringing the lower female
fastener into alignment with the lowermost male fastener
A yet further object ofthe invention isY to provide a
basketball training device thatv is easy to mount and ad
for snapped engagementl whereby to connect the ball re
tainer to the net arrangement. As will be recognized,
just.
thedescribed arrangement of the straps 24 facilitates at
And a yet further objectof the invention isV to provide
a basketball training device that is both> rugged and' 30 tachment of- the training device 12 to the rim 14 and
permits ready disassembly of the ball retainer 22 from the
versatile.
net
arrangement whereby to allow the net arrangement
These and other objects and features of the invention
20 to- be used as a substitute for the conventional net of
will become more apparent from a consideration of the
following descriptions.Í
The invention, both to its structure and mode of o_pera
tion, will be better understood by reference to the follow
ing disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof; where.
1n:
35
netting material in regular play.
Furthermore, the described snap connections permit
either end of the strapsv to be detached and repositioned
in assembly with one of the intermediate male fasteners
for regulating the length of the straps and thereby the
height of the ball retainer above the door of the court.
FIG. 1 is a perspectivevview of a basketball goal in
corporating a training device constructed in accordance 40 Such a repositioning of the upper end of one of the
strapsY 2'4 is well illustrated in FIG. 4i This adjustment
with the~ present invention;
in the height of the ball retainer allows a coach to in
FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view in central cross
crease the jumping challenge provided by the training de
section showing the training device of FIG. 1 and' illus
vice 12 as the average skill of his squad increases; and in
trating in particular the retention of a.. basketball by
45 addition, this adjustability allows a single unit or model to
the ball retainer;
be produced for use in junior high school through college.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view ofthe ball
Moreover, this adjustability in the height of the ball
retainer showing extraction of the basketball by the hands
of a player; and
retainer provides a coach with means for accurately meas
uring the jumping ability of his players and means for
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view
in cross-section showing the training device.of the inven 50 precisely documenting the progress or lack thereof in the
tion, illustrating in particular the adjustment, of the net
' jumping skill of his team.
When the male snap fasteners îâ'are positioned on the
for raising the ball retainer into closer. proximity with the
straps 24 at six-inch intervals and when six of the fasteners
rimA of the goal.
Referring now in detail to the drawing, speciiically toy 55 2Sy are provided on each of the straps 24, the ball re
tainer 22 may be disposed at live different heights above
FIG. 1, a basketball goal indicated generally by the nu
meral 10v is s_een to be provided with a training device
indicated generally by thevnumeral 12. Thegoal 10, inv
conventional manner, includes a rim 14"which is. attached
to a backboardV 16 by a rim support 18. Since the ele
ments of the goal 1Q comprise no part of the present in
vention, they are not described inÁdetail herein.
In accordance with theV invention, the training device
12 comprises a net arrangement 20» anda ball retainer
22. The net arrangement 20 is intended to be secured'
the floor- ofthe court, these height positions Varying by
a three-inch interval. As will be recognized, the detach
ability ofthe ball retainer 22 permits the training device
12 to be mounted on a practice goal during the entire
60 season and rebounding drills `may be initiated or terminat
edmerely by attaching or removing the ball retainer.
The net arrangement 20 also includes one or more sub
tially horizontal straps 3U, each of which is closed upon
itself to encircle the vertical straps as is well seen in FIGS.
to1 the basketball rim 14- in depending relationship and, 65 l and 2. With reference to FIG. 4, the horizontal strap
3,204,957
4
3
a basketball coach can teach proper rebounding tech
30 is seen to be provided with female snap fasteners 32
spaced at intervals along the length thereof for use in
attaching the horizontal strap to each. of the vertical
straps. A cooperating male fastener 34 is provided at
one end of each of the straps 30 for use in closing the
strap upon itself. The horizontal straps 30 tend to hold
the vertical straps 24 in proper position and are readily
releasable to permit shortening of the vertical straps. Ad
vantageously, the horizontal straps 30 are connected to
the outside surface of the vertical straps in order that 10
niques to his players without the need for close coaching
surveillance since the device 12 allows retrieval of a
retained basketball only upon the application of the proper
rebounding techniques. Moreover, the teaching device 12
provides mute instruction, thus avoiding the need for
verbal instruction and criticism by the coach. The possi
bility -of developing anti-coaching reaction is correspond
ingly eliminated to a large degree.
The specilic example herein shown and described is, of
they may not impede passage of a basketball through
course, to be considered as being primarily illustrative.
the net arrangement 20. Either one or two snap fasteners
Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those
skilled in the art; and such changes are to be understood
may be provided at each location as is desired.
Considering FIG. 3 in detail, the ball retainer 22 is
seen to comprise a rigid ring throat means 36 and a num
ber of resilient lingers 35 attached to the ring 36 at equal,
arcuate intervals. The resilient lingers 38 may be attached
to the ring 36 by rivets, as shown, or by other suitable
as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A basketball training device comprising: net means
adapted to be secured to a basketball rim in suspended
means such as weldments. The ring 36 is provided with
relation therefrom and a basketball retainer connected to
appropriate rigidity by being fabricated from cold rolled
steel, and appropriate resiliency is provided in the lingers
38 by fashioning them from tempered spring steel. The
20 said net means in depending relationship, said retainer
ring 36 and the lingers 3S may also be made from various
resinous plastic materials, yeither with or without reinforc
ing such as glass fibers. în order that the ring 36 may
readily pass a basketball dll, the diameter of the ring is
selected to be larger than the diameter of a regulation
basketball. For example, a regulation basketball has a
for finger means, said retainer further including resilient
including rigid throat means having an opening suflicient
to pass a regulation size basketball and `defining a base
elongated linger means connected to said throat means to
depend beneath the lower end of said net means, said
linger means extending downwardly from said throat
means and being laterally spaced to admit a player’s hands
therebetween for forcible extraction of a basketball re
tained thereby, said finger means having portions con
in one useful embodiment, the ring 36 has been fashioned 30 verged inwardly of said throat means and located on a
circle of lesser diameter than the diameter of a regulation
to possess an inside diameter of approximately eleven
size basketball, said finger means being resiliently spread
inches. In order that the lingers 38 may retain the ball
able whereby releasably to retain a regulation size basket
40 after it has passed through the ring 36, the free ends
diameter of approximately nine-and-one-half inches; and
ball that has dropped through said rim and through said
diameter than that of the ring 36. For example, the tips 35 net means.
2. A basketball training device according to claim 1
of the fingers 38 have been usefully arranged to trace a
wherein said net means includes a plurality of substan
circle of approximately eight inches in diameter. As will
or tips of the lingers 38 are located on a circle of lesser
tially vertical straps and means on said straps for regu
be recognized, the fingers 38 as well as the ball 40 respond
lating the length thereof whereby selectively to raise and
resiliently to the application of withdrawing force on the
ball during release thereof; and regulation of the force 40 lower said retainer relative to said rim and thereby pro
vide a progressive challenge to the jumping ability of
necessary to withdraw the ball may be achieved by vary
players leaping to grasp and extract a basketball held by
ing the spring constant of the material for the lingers as
said retainer.
well as by varying the cross-section of the fingers and the
3. A basketball training device according to claim 2
size of the circle traced thereby.
wherein said net means further includes at least one hori
The resilient lingers 38 extend beneath the ring 36 in
zontal strap closed upon itself to encircle said vertical
converging relationship in order to situate a retained
straps; said net means additionally including releasable
basketball with the mid-section thereof below the ring.
fastener means cooperatively mounted on said horizontal
This permits a player’s hand access to the upper portion
strap and on said vertical straps for releasably connecting
of the ball for withdrawing the same from the retainer
said horizontal strap to a medial portion of each of said
22. With a slight angulation of the lingers 38 and with
vertical straps whereby said horizontal strap is made
the lingers selected to be approximately eight to eight
readily removable for facility in shortening said vertical
and-one-half inches long, the ball 49 is spaced sufficiently
straps.
beneath the rigid ring 36 to permit a player to reach
4. A basketball training device according to claim 1
eneath the ring and retrieve the ball, grasping the ball
wherein said finger means comprise equally arcuately
above its center. However, insuliicient space is afforded
spaced lingers of rigid metal spring material.
for insertion of the player’s forearm for one-handed re
5. A basketball training device according to claim 1
trieval of the ball. Thus, the retainer 22 is arranged to
which further comprises means releasably connecting said
force a player to take a lirm two-handed grip of the ball
retainer to said net means whereby to permit removal of
at a position above its center for successful retrieval of
the ball. Such a grip prevents an .opposing player from 60 the said retainer for ordinary use of the goal which in
cludes the said rim.
stealing the ball from beneath or tipping the ball out of
6. A basketball training device comprising: a ball re
the control of the original rebounder. Regular drills
tainer including a rigid ring of suliicient diameter to pass
using the training device 12 foster the habit of using the
a regulation size basketball and -a plurality of resilient
described grip. The possibilty of opposing players steal
lingers secured to said ring and extending therebeneath in
ing a rebound is thereby substantially eliminated.
laterally spaced relationship to admit a player’s hands
The ring 36 and the lingers 38 have been described
therebetween for forcible extraction of a basketball re
as being fabricated from metal, and such fabrication has
tained thereby, the free ends of said lingers being located
proved to be of advantage. Being metal, these parts pre
on a circle of lesser diameter than the diameter of a regu
sent a hazard to casually extended hands; and this hazard
forces a player to focus his eyes and his attention on both 70 lation size basketball whereby releasably to retain a
his hands and the ball during the act of rebounding. This,
basketball; and means mounting said retainer in position
in turn, tends to develop proper habits of mental concen
spaced above a basketball court.
7. A basketball training device comprising: a ball re
tration and physical coordination for successful rebound
ing.
Through the employment of the teaching device 12,
tainer including a rigid ring of sufficient diameter to pass
a regulation size basketball and a plurality of resilient
3,204,957
5
fingers secured to said ring and extended therebeneath
in laterally spaced relationship `to admit a player’s hands
5
ably to retain a basketball; and means mounting said re
tainer in position spaced above a basketball court.
therebetween for forcible extraction of a basketball re
tainer thereby and said fingers being disposed in converg-
References Cited by the Examiner
ing relationshing to retain a basketball with its mid-section 5
spaced below said ring whereby to permit a player’s hand
2,413,952
UNITED STATES PATENTS
1/47 Chervenka ________ «_ 273_1.5 X
access to the upper portion of said ball for withdrawing
the same from the retainer, the free ends of said ñngers
2,579,312
3,085,800
12/51
4/53
Garvey _____________ __ 273_1_5
Holstad _____________ __ 273-15
being located on a circle of lesser diameter than the
diameter of a regulation size baskeball whereby releas- l0 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.