Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
TITLE: BASKETBALL NET DEVICE AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREIN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a basketball hoop more
particularly, to a
device and method for mounting a net in a basketball hoop.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the well-known sport of basketball, a basketball hoop for
receiving a ball is
mounted at each end of a basketball court, and the hoop is configured for
supporting a
generally tubular netting through which the basketball can pass. Each hoop is
rigidly
mounted utili7ing one or more support arms and located in front of a
backboard. The
basketball hoop, typically a metal ring, has an inside diameter of eighteen
inches and is
normally positioned ten feet above the ground or court playing surface.
[0003] Because of the height of the basketball hoops, it can be
difficult under some
circumstances to install a new or replacement net on the hoop. Typically, a
ladder or
suitable platform is required to reach the hoop and install the new net.
[0004] There are many outdoor basketball courts and outdoor areas where
basketball
can be played. Although many of these courts have suitable basketball hoops
installed at
the end of the courts, often these hoops do not have any nets attached. The
lack of a net
may be due to several possible reasons including the height of the hoops from
the court or
playing surface, which heights make it difficult for maintenance personnel to
replace the
nets. Also, the heavy use of public courts may make the life expectancy of the
nets quite
short, and it may be too expensive for the owner to replace the nets
frequently. The nets
may also be stolen in such areas or simply destroyed because of improper use.
Despite
these problems with nets or the lack thereof, most basketball players prefer
to play
wSLEGAL\ 072598 \ 00003\ 27492812v1
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-13
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basketball with basketball hoops at each end with nets installed in place.
When a net is
mounted on each hoop, there can be little dispute as to whether the ball has
or has not
passed through the hoop when a shot is made. When a net is missing from the
basketball
hoop, the ball can pass so quickly through the hoop that disputes may arise as
to whether
or not the shot was actually made.
[0005] US Patent No. 5,584,479 described a novel basketball net device for
mounting
on a basketball hoop, and further configured for easily removing the
basketball net device
from an elevated basketball hoop without the use of a ladder or a pole.
[0006] The present invention is directed to a novel basketball net device
and
improvements therein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a basketball net device and a
method for
mounting the basketball net device on an elevated basketball hoop and a method
for
removing or dismounting the basketball net device from the elevated hoop.
[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention comprises a basketball net
device for
mounting on a basketball ring, said basketball net device comprises: a tubular
net having
upper net cords and configured to receive a basketball and permit passage of
the
basketball through said tubular net; a flexible annular member comprising a
generally
circular circumference and having a hoop engaging section comprising a channel
extending around a substantial portion of the flexible annular member and
configured for
receiving the basketball ring, and the flexible annular member further
comprising an
annular skirt section configured to be positioned inside of the basketball
ring; the annular
skirt section including a plurality of net attachment sections, each of the
net attachment
sections including an aperture configured to receive a hook ring clasp for
coupling a
section of one of said upper net cords to the annular skirt section, and the
aperture being
further configured to allow the hook ring clasp to pivot and rotate together
with the upper
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net cord relative to said flexible annular member; wherein a circumferential
section of the
annular member has an outer portion of the hoop engaging section cut away
forming a
narrow inner portion configured to engage an inner half of an upper surface on
the
basketball ring; and wherein, outside of the circumferential section, the
flexible annular
member includes an outwardly extending flange connected to the hoop engaging
section,
and the outwardly extending flange extending along the annular member for than
one half
of the circular circumference of the flexible annular member.
[0009] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a basketball net
device for
mounting on a hoop ring, the basketball net device comprises: a tubular net
configured to
receive a ball and permit passage of the ball through the tubular net; a
flexible annular
member comprising a generally circular circumference and having a hoop
engaging
section comprising a channel extending around a substantial portion of the
flexible
annular member and configured for receiving the hoop ring, and the flexible
annular
member further comprising an annular skirt section configured to be positioned
inside of
the hoop ring; the annular skirt section comprising a substantially uniform
wall thickness
and a plurality of net attachment sections, each of the net attachment
sections having a
thickness greater than the uniform wall thickness so as to provide a
reinforced section for
supporting the tubular net, and each of the plurality of net attachment
sections including
an aperture for receiving a fastener for coupling a section the tubular net to
the annular
skirt section; wherein a circumferential section of the annular member has an
outer
portion of the hoop engaging section cut away forming a narrow inner portion
configured
to engage an inner half of an upper surface on the hoop ring; and wherein,
outside of the
circumferential section, the flexible annular member includes an outwardly
extending
flange connected to the hoop engaging section, and the outwardly extending
flange
extending along the annular member for than one half of the circular
circumference of the
flexible annular member.
[00010] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become
apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of
embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00011] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by
way of example, embodiments of the present invention, and in which:
[00012] Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a basketball net device
according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[00013] Fig. 2 is a perspective top view of the basketball net device of
Fig. 1;
[00014] Fig. 3 is a perspective side view of the basketball net device of
Fig. 1:
[00015] Fig. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the basketball net device
of Fig. 1;
[00016] Fig. 5A is a front view of a hoop ring for the basketball net
device of Fig. 1
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[00017] Fig. 511 is a rear perspective view of the hoop ring of Fig. 5A;
[00018] Fig. 5C is a partial bottom perspective view of the hoop ring of
Fig. 5B;
[00019] Fig. 5D is a top perspective view of the hoop ring of Fig. 5A
with the hoop
ring flipped over;
[00020] Fig. 5E is partial bottom perspective view of the hoop ring of
Fig. 5D;
[00021] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hoop ring of Fig. 5A
taken along A-A;
[00022] Fig. 7A is a perspective view of a hoop ring clasp according to
an
embodiment of the present invention;
[00023] Fig. 7B is a side view of the hoop ring clasp of Fig. 7A in a
closed or engaged
position;
[00024] Fig. 8A is a side view of a net pin in an open position according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
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[00025] Fig. 8B shows a hoop ring configured with a pin clasp according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[00026] Fig. 9A shows in diagrammatic form a method for mounting the
basketball net
device of Fig. 1 on an elevated basketball hoop using a basketball;
[00027] Fig. 9B shows in diagrammatic form a method for dismounting or
removing
the basketball net device of Fig. 1 from an elevated basketball hoop; and
[00028] Figs. 10A to 10D show a method comprising a sequence of steps for
dismounting or removing the basketball net device of Fig. 1 from a basketball
hoop
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[00029] Like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding elements or
components in the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[00030] Reference
is first made to Figs. 1 to 4, which show a basketball net device
according to an embodiment of the present invention, and indicated generally
by
reference 100.
100031] The basketball net device 100 is mounted temporarily on a permanently
installed basketball net indicated generally by reference 10. As shown in Fig.
3, the
basketball net 10 comprises a basketball hoop or ring 20 and a backboard 30.
The
basketball hoop 20 is typically formed from a metal ring and mounted at ten
feet above
the basketball court or playing surface. The basketball hoop 20 is generally
mounted in
front of the backboard 30 which may be made of wood or plexi-glass. The
basketball net
typically includes a support bracket 40, which connects the back-end of the
hoop 20 to
the backboard 30. Often there arc respective brace members 42A and 42B that
extend
down from each side of the hoop 20 to either the bottom of the bracket 40 or
to a suitable
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location on the backboard 30. The inside diameter of the basketball hoop 20 is
normally
eighteen inches, or about 45.7 cm.
[00032] As shown in Fig. 1, the basketball net device 100 comprises a hoop
ring or
annular ring member 120 and a net indicated generally by reference 130. The
net 130
comprises upper net cords 132 and lower net cords at 134 spaced from the upper
net
cords 132. The net 130 is constructed according to a specific embodiment as
will be
described in more detail below. The net 130 is sized to receive a standard
basketball and
to permit passage of the basketball therethrough. It is normally open at both
a top end 131
and at a bottom end 133. It will be appreciated that in many basketball courts
the netting
is directly connected to the basketball hoop 20 by suitable means (for
example, using net
attachment coils 21 as shown in Fig. 4) but the netting can become damaged and
torn
away from the hoop so that the hoop is left with no net, a generally
undesirable state of
affairs for a proper game of basketball.
[00033] As shown in Fig. 3 and also in Figs. 5A and 58, the hoop ring or
annular
member 120 includes a hoop engaging section indicated generally by reference
122.
According to an exemplary implementation, the annular member or hoop ring 120
is
formed or made from a flexible and strong material, for example, ABS plastic,
or other
suitable material, as described in more detail below.
[00034] For a substantial portion of the circumference of the annular
member 120, the
hoop engaging section 122 is generally channel-shaped in cross-section as
shown in Fig.
6. The hoop engaging section 122 includes a radially inward section 124 that
extends the
entire circumference of the annular member and a radially outward section 126
that
extends more than half way around, but not entirely around, the circumference
of the
annular member 120. In use of the basketball net device 100, the radially
outward section
126 extends along a radially outer half 22 of the top half of the basketball
hoop 20. The
hoop engaging section 122 forms a channel 123 having a substantially open
bottom and a
semi-circular cross-section. As also shown in Fig. 6, the annular member 120
has an
outwardly extending flange 128, which is connected to the outer edge of the
hoop
engaging section 122 and extends along more than one half the circumference of
the
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annular member 120. The outwardly extending flange 128 is helpful in the
installation of
the net device 100 onto an elevated basketball hoop, for example, as described
in more
detail below. The outwardly extending flange 128 also helps to stiffen the
annular
member 120 and helps this member to retain a round shape. According to an
exemplary
implementation, the total width of the flange member 128 is approximately 2
cm.
[00035] As shown in Figs. 5C and 6, the hoop engaging section 122 includes a
bulge
or a positively displaced groove on the interior or net side indicated
generally by
reference 130. The bulge 130 extends substantially around the circumference of
the hoop
engaging section 122 that contacts the hoop ring 20 as shown in Fig. 5D. The
annular
member 120 also includes a corresponding bulge or positively displaced groove
on the
exterior side of the hoop engaging section 122 as shown in Fig. 6 and
indicated generally
by reference 132. The bulge 132 extends from the front section of the annular
member
120 and tapers down to a minimal protrusion at approximately the center of the
annular
member 120, for example, as depicted in Fig. 5D. This configuration provides
the annular
member or hoop ring 120 with purchase to grip the metal basketball ring 20,
and also
allows the hoop ring 120 to rotate or pivot upwards at the front end and
squeeze through
the basketball ring 20 in a rotating downward motion, for example, as
illustrated in Fig.
9B, as described in more detail below. According to another aspect, the bulge
or
positively displaced groove 130 can be formed as an integral element, e.g.
molded into
the wall of the hoop engaging section 122, and further function as a
reinforcement rib.
[00036] As shown in Figs. 2 and also in Figs. 5A and 5B, the hoop ring or
annular
member 120 includes an annular skirt section indicated generally by reference
140. The
annular skirt section 140 is configured to be positioned inside of the
basketball hoop 20,
when the basketball net device 100 is in the mounted position. As illustrated
in Fig. 1, the
upper net cords 132 are connected or affixed to the annular skirt section 140
utilizing a
plurality of fasteners indicated generally by reference 150. The annular skirt
section 140
also includes a number of spaced apart holes or apertures 142 distributed
evenly around
the circumference of the skirt section 140 and near the bottom portion of the
skirt 140
configured for receiving or attaching the fasteners 150.
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[00037] According to an embodiment, the fasteners 150 comprise a hoop ring
clasp as
shown in Fig. 7A and indicated generally by reference 700. The hoop ring clasp
700
comprises a body member 710, a clasp 720 and a locking barrel 730. The body
member
710 comprises a groove or channel 712 configured to receive and support a
section of one
of the upper net cords 132 (Fig. 1), for example, as illustrated in Fig. 7A,
and is
configured to close or lock in the manner of a "butterfly" mechanism as
described in
more detail below. The groove or channel 712 is configured to hold the section
of the
upper cord net 132 so as to minimize movement relative to the hoop ring clasp
700. The
locking barrel 730 is configured to be inserted through the hole or aperture
142 in the
annular skirt section 140 from one side, and the clasp 720 is configured to be
inserted
through the same hole 142 but from the other side of the annular skirt section
140 and
engages the locking barrel 730 in a locking or closed arrangement thereby
securing the
hoop ring clasp 700 and the section of the upper net cord 132 to the annular
skirt section
140 (and the annular or hoop ring member 120), for example, as illustrated in
Figs. 2. 3
and 4. According to an embodiment, the clasp 720 comprises one or more
deformable
hooks or protrusions indicated generally by reference 722. The hooks 722 are
inserted
through a bore or opening 732 in the locking barrel 730 and engaged or held in
place by
shoulder 734 inside the bore 732 of the barrel 730, and the body member 710
closes
around the upper net cord 132 (e.g. in a "butterfly" fashion) and the adjacent
section of
the annular skirt 140, as illustrated in Fig. 7B. It will be appreciated that
the configuration
of the hook ring clasp 700 comprises a mechanism for easily and securely
connecting the
basketball net 130 to the annular member 120 of the basketball net device 100,
either
during assembly at a manufacturer. or by a user replacing a net or assembling
a device
kit. According to another aspect, the hook ring clasp 700 is formed or
fabricated from a
material that is strong enough to withstand the usual wear and tear of
aggressive
basketball game play, but without adding undue weight. Suitable materials for
the hook
ring clasp 700 include Nylon, Nylon 6, Nylon 66 and polycarbonate. The
particular
manufacturing details for making the hook ring clasp 700 will be within the
understanding of one skilled in the art.
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1000381 According to another embodiment of the present invention, each of the
hook
ring clasps 700 are configured to rotate or pivot within the respective hole
or aperture 142
in the annular skirt section 140 in order to emulate the game play
characteristics as would
be found in a conventional basketball metal ring/net setup. According to an
exemplary
implementation, the apertures or holes 142 have a diameter sufficient to
receive the
locking barrel 730 of the hoop ring clasp 700 and provide a secure connection,
and also
to provide enough clearance to allow the hoop ring clasp 700 to pivot or
rotate together
with the upper net cord 132 about the axis or center of the locking barrel
730. According
to this embodiment, the hook ring clasp 700 is configured to hold the upper
net cord 132
in the groove or channel 712 to minimize movement of the net cord 132 relative
to the
clasp 700 (as described above), while at the same time allowing for rotational
movement
at each individual attachment point of the hook ring clasp 700 and the net 130
relative to
the annular skirt section 140 and therefore the metal hoop ring 20. It will be
appreciated
that this configuration will tend to minimize wear and tear on the net 130
itself
[00039] According to another embodiment, the annular inner skirt 140 includes
net
attachment sections comprising reinforced or thicker sections adjacent each of
the net
mounting holes or apertures 142 as shown in Figs. 5C and 5D, and indicated
generally by
reference 143. The thicker sections 143 are provided to strengthen and
reinforce the
annular skirt 140 around the attachment points associated with hook ring
clasps 700 and
the upper net cords 132, and may be formed as an integral component of the
annular
inner skirt 140 using fabrication techniques as will be understood by those
skilled in the
art. This configuration allows the wall thickness of the annular inner skirt
140 between
the holes 142/section 143 to be reduced, thereby providing an opportunity to
optimize
weight and strength characteristics of the annular member 120 according to
embodiment.
In an exemplary implementation, the annular skirt 140 comprises 12 equally
spaced net
mounting holes 142 and associated strength-reinforced sections 143. As
described above,
each the 12 respective hook ring clasps 700 can rotate or pivot independently
thereby
allowing rotational movement of the net 130 relative to the annular member or
hoop ring
120. According to another embodiment, two or more of the net sections 143 can
be
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formed as contiguous or continuous section in the wall of the annular inner
skirt 140, as
shown in Fig. 5B and indicated by reference 153.
[00040] According to another embodiment, the annular inner skirt 140
comprises a rib
146 at or near the base or bottom edge of the annular skirt 140. The rib 146
extends
around the circumference of the annular skirt 140, and is configured to
strengthen
increase the structural integrity of the skirt 140, and/or allow the wall
thickness of the
annular skirt 140 to be reduced based on the elastic strength and/or memory of
the
material or materials used in the fabrication of the annular member 120.
According to an
exemplary implementation, the annular member or hoop ring 120 is formed or
fabricated
as a unitary member using known molding techniques and the rib 146 is formed
in the
annular skirt 140 during the fabrication process. According to an exemplary
implementation, the wall thickness of the annular inner skirt 140 can be
approximately
2.0 mm, utilizing, for example, a polyurethane plastic material, as described
in more
detail below.
[00041] According to another aspect, the holes or apertures 142 in each of
the sections
143 is configured at angle as illustrated in Fig. 7B. As shown, the hole 142
has a base
section or lower edge 145 which is configured to be approximately at an angle
of 44
degrees relative to the annular or hoop ring member 120 as indicated by
reference 147.
According to one aspect, this configuration eliminates undercuts in the
tooling for
making the holes 142. According to another aspect, this elliptical
configuration of the
holes 142 provides additional clearance or relief between the hoop ring clasp
700, e.g. the
locking barrel 730, and the annular skirt section 140 allowing the hoop ring
clasp 700 and
attached net cord 132 to rotate or pivot without interference, for example,
during game
play.
1000421 As shown in Fig. 6, the annular skirt section 140 extends both
downwardly
and radially inwardly from its upper end located at about 143. At its upper
end 143, the
skirt section 140 is integrally connected to the inner perimeter of the hoop
engaging
section 122. According to an exemplary implementation, the annular skirt
section 140 has
height of approximately 4.5 cm as indicated by reference H in Fig. 6.
According to
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another aspect, the annular skirt section 140 is generally steeply sloped at
an angle to the
horizontal plane of about 70 degrees or more and substantially less than 90
degrees. The
provision of the skirt portion is desirable not only to increase the rigidity
and strength of
the annular member but also in assisting the device to locate itself properly
on the
basketball hoop when the device is being installed thereon. As clearly shown
in Fig. 6,
the annular skirt section 140 is configured to fit inside the metal basketball
hoop 20 and
its inner diameter defined by a bottom edge 144 is less than the inside
diameter of the
basketball hoop 20, which diameter is set at eighteen inches for a regulation
basketball
game.
1000431 Reference is next made to Figs. 5A and 5B, which show that the hoop
ring or
annular member 120 having an outer portion of its hoop engaging section 122
that is cut
away or removed, leaving only a narrow inner portion indicated by reference
121 that
engages the inner half 22 of an upper surface of the metal basketball hoop 20,
as
illustrated in Fig. 6. The cut-out or cut-away section 121 extends around the
circumference about half-way from the front 125 of the annular member 120 to
the rear
or back portion of the annular member 120, As described in more detail below,
the
narrow cut-away inner portion 121 in the hoop engaging section 122 permits the
basketball net device 100 to be readily removed from the metal basketball hoop
20 by
pulling down on the device 100 as illustrated in Fig. 9B. By grabbing on to
the bottom of
the net 130, as shown, one can pull the device 100, i.e. the annular ring 120
and net 130
through the circular opening formed by the metal hoop 20. This is due to the
fact that the
annular member or hoop ring 120 is sufficiently flexible, particularly in the
region where
hoop engaging section 122 has been reduced that it will bend and partially
collapse to
peimit the reduced hoop engaging section 122 indicated at 920 in Fig. 9B to
pass by the
inside of the metal basketball hoop 20. At the same time, the basketball net
device 100
commences a pivoting action so as to form an angle with the horizontal surface
of the
metal hoop 20 as shown in Fig. 9B. In order to assist in the removal of the
device 100, the
cut-away circumferential section 121 includes tapered end portions as
indicated by
reference 310 in Fig. 3 and also in Figs. 5B and 9B. The tapered end portions
310 regions
provide a transition from the reduced hoop engaging portion, the cross-section
for which
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is shown in Fig. 6 to the remainder of the annular member 120 which has a full
hoop
engaging portion indicated by reference 610 (as also shown in Fig. 5D). The
full hoop
engaging portion 610 extends for a substantial portion of the circumference of
the annular
member 120, and, in an exemplary implementation, extends through an angle of
about
270 degrees in the horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 5D. This leaves a
circumferential
section 620 as illustrated in Fig. 5D corresponding to the cut-away section
121 of the
outer portion of the hoop engaging portion section 122 extending an angle of
about 90
degrees around the circumference.
[00044] According to another aspect, the cut-away section 121 includes a
radius
indicated by reference 127 along the lower edge of the hoop engaging section
122 as
shown in Figs. 5D and 5E. The radius 127 reduces the otherwise sharp edge of
the cut-
away section 121 and lessens the possibility of injury.
[00045] Reference is next made to Fig. 8A, which show a net pin clasp
according to an
embodiment of the invention and indicated generally by reference 800.
According to an
embodiment, the net pin clasp 800 is configured to temporarily close off the
opening 133
(Fig. 2) at the bottom of the net 130 (Fig. 2) so as to prevent a basketball
from passing
completely through the net 130 for the purpose of mounting the basketball net
device 100
in the elevated metal basketball ring 10, for example, as illustrated in Fig.
9A and
described in more detail below. As shown in Fig. 8A, the net pin clasp 800
comprises a
body member 810 and a hook section indicated generally by reference 820. The
body
member 810 includes a clasp 830, a locking barrel 840 and a channel or groove
850. The
channel 850 is configured to receive or hold a portion of the netting 130, for
example, a
section 801 of the lower net 134. The clasp 830 is engaged with the locking
barrel 840 to
secure or lock the net pin clasp 800 onto a section 134a (as shown in Fig. 2)
of the lower
net 134. The hook section 820 of the net pin clasp 800 is configured to engage
or hold
another section 134b of the net 130 (as shown in Fig. 2) and temporarily close
of the
opening 133 of the net 130 as shown in Fig. 8B.
1000461 With the net opening 133 temporarily closed off using the net pin
clasp 800, a
standard basketball, indicated generally by reference 1, is inserted through
the annular
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member 120 and placed fully into the closed-off net 130 as shown in Fig. 8B.
It is then
possible for a user of the basketball net device 100 to throw both the device
100 and the
basketball 1 up and over the metal basketball hoop 20. Assuming that the user
has thrown
this combination with reasonable accuracy, the basketball 1 due to its weight
will tend to
pass first through the metal basketball hoop 20 and the annular member 120
will follow
behind it. However, because the outer circumference of the annular member 120
is
substantially greater than the interior diameter of the hoop 20, the annular
member 120
will engage the top of the metal hoop 20. Then the weight and momentum of the
basketball 1 and the fact that the basketball 1 will tend to center itself
relative to the metal
hoop 20 as it passes therethrough, will cause the hoop engaging section 122
(as shown in
Fig. 6) to be pulled around and into full engagement with the hoop 20. The cut-
away
section 121 of the annular member 120 will tend to engage the adjacent section
of the
hoop in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the downward force and
momentum of
the basketball 1 once the annular member 120 has become engaged with the hoop
20, will
generally force the net section 134b to disengage or separate from the hook
section 820
of the net pin clasp 800 (Figs. 8A and 8B), thereby opening the lower end of
the net 130
and allowing the basketball 1 to fall through the net 130 so that it can be
readily retrieved
by the user.
[00047] It will be
appreciated that the outwardly extending flange 128 (Fig. 6) that
extends a substantial distance around the circumference of the annular member
120 (as
shown in Fig. 5A) helps in the installation process in that the flange 128
will tend to slip
over the rounded top of the metal basketball hoop 20 and down the outside of
the hoop
20. Further, the engagement of the metal basketball hoop 20 with the bottom of
the
outwardly extending flange 128 will tend to pry open or open up the rounded
channel
(Fig. 6) formed by the hoop engaging portion 30. For this reason, the flange
128 extends
both outwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the hoop engaging section
122.
According to an exemplary implementation, the flange 128 extends at an angle
to the
horizontal that is greater than 30 degrees, but which is less than 60 degrees,
and is, for
example, typically about 45 degrees to the horizontal.
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[00048] Reference to next made to Figs. 10A to I OD, which comprise a
sequence of
screen shots illustrating another method for removing the basketball net
device 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this
embodiment, the
basketball net device 100 is pushed up and away from the metal hoop ring 20 to
disengage the device 100. The first step as shown in Fig. 10A and indicated by
reference
1010 comprises throwing or tossing a ball, e.g. a basketball, up through the
base of the
basketball net device 100. If the ball is thrown at a moderate velocity, for
example,
equivalent to the speed of a basketball shot, then the ball will catch the
outside of the net
130 and continue to catch or engage the inside of the net 130 thereby applying
a torque
like force on the attached hoop ring 120 as indicated by reference 1020 in
Fig. 10B, and
detaching or disengaging the hoop ring 120 from the metal basketball ring 20
in the
upward direction as indicated by reference 1030 in Fig. 10C. The disengaged
basketball
net device 100 and the basketball 1 can then be caught as indicated by
reference 1040 in
Fig. 10D. It will be appreciated that the method outlined above and
illustrated in Figs.
10A to 10D can be used to remove the basketball net device 100 without
requiring the aid
of a pole, ladder or the like.
[000491 In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the net 130
comprises net cords that are substantially stiffer than the net cords found in
conventional
basketball netting or nets. A stiffer net configuration can be achieved by
utilizing net
cords having a tight weave, or a stiffer, less flexible, material resulting in
stiffer net cords
and an overall stiffer net 130. By utilizing a stiffer net 130, the net cords
132, 134 remain
rigid and are less likely to catch on the attachment coils 21 on the metal
basketball ring
20, for example, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. According to another aspect,
a stiffer cord
configuration for the net 130 facilitates engagement of the moving basketball
1 (i.e.
increased torque and/or friction with the ball contact and/or less deformation
from contact
with the ball) for removing the basketball net device 100 from the metal
basketball ring
20, as described above with reference to Fig. 10.
1000501 The operational features of the hoop ring 120 as described herein
require a
material that exhibits durability and stiffness for game play, and
particularly aggressive
CA 02855282 2014-06-27
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game play, while at the same time exhibits sufficient flexibility to allow
removal
according to one or both of the methods as also described herein. Suitable
materials for
fabricating (e.g. forming) the hoop ring 120 include the polyurethane family
of plastic
materials. Polyurethanes exhibit good durometer characteristics, a balance
between
stiffness and elasticity, which will benefit the long term performance of the
hoop ring 120
which is subjected to repeated mounting and removal actions, and/or sustained
aggressive
game play. Other possible materials providing a general level of performance
include
polyethylene's, PVC, and the general family of synthetic elastomers, as will
be readily
understood by those skilled in the art.
[00051] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof Certain
adaptations and
modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the
presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not
restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
