These aids may be used in either professional or amateur basketball, in schools, or for training new and'upcoming players.

In recent years, as the sport of basketball has become increasingly popular and the defence side of the game and the role of defence tactics have come into the foreground, not enough attention has been paid to what is probably the most important aspect of the game : the completion of the attack, or the act of getting the ball into the basket with as much skill as possible, implying better accuracy and the mastering of various shooting methods.

In the game of basketball, as it stands today, well trained, skilled players are able to achieve exceedingly high score rates, up ot 85-95%, in training sessions where no defence is present. However, during actual games, even where accuracy is good results drop to 40-50%, that is, to the point where only half of the total number of throws hit their mark. This is probably due to the fact that as defence skills have improved and been made tighter, it has become increasingly difficult for shooters to get into a good scoring position, while during shooting practice, coaches generally still have players practice shooting techniques without the presence of any defence.

For the game of basketball to continue to grow and develop, therefore, it is necessary that coaches include the negotiation of situations that occur in actual games in their training programs.

Several types of aids are sometimes used to help a shooter improve his or her game.

An industrial sample bearing patent no. US D 321. 370, for example, offers one technical solution. This invention consists of the image of a defensive player holding both arms high in the air. The image, made of paper, is placed in front of the shooter at an appropriate location and at an appropriate distance. The deficiency in this solution is that the height of the arms is constant and thus does not interfere with the play of shooters of various heights in an equal fashion. Furthermore, the aid is static and thus cannot move as would a real player in a real garne.

Another technical solution, industrial sample no. US 370. 242, depicts an aid possessing a single arm, hefd verticaity on a rod. The deficiency in this solution is that it does not react to the movement of the offensive player, and its height may not be varied. Thus, though it does represent a source of interference for the shooter, it does not simulate the events of a real game.

One further technical solution is described by the specifications for a patent entitled "Movable basketball training device"and bearing number US 5.485. 993. The movable basketball training device is placed on the floor in front of and near the backboard to simulate the extended arms of a defensive player. To resist contact between the player and the movable stand and still remain fixed (keep from sliding across the floor), the device includes a support for each arm, fixed at an appropriate height. The spring-activated metal arms attempt to block the offensive player's arm in a manner that is not random, so that the offensive player's arm meets the device as if it were a real defensive player. The disadvantage of the device is that it is complicated in construction, it is costly to manufacture, and its high price therefore limits its general applicability. Moreover, its height is not adjustable, and therefore it does not reproduce real-game situations effectively enough.

Yet another technical approach is represented by the specifications for the "Basketball training aid"bearing patent number US 5.590. 985. This portable aid targets improvement of shooting accuracy, while employing restrictive movements in order to interfere with the shooter's view of the backboard, and hence his or her general powers of observation. These limiting movements imitate the conditions of the game in a realistic manner. The aid is placed on the floor near the backboard and consists of several flexible, extended arms, which protrude from the top of a hollow support column and move in a direction approximately parallel to the plane of the shooter's arm. The aid consists of an upper and'lower section: the lower section is affixed to a collapsible securing member that may be fashioned from any appropriate material in any form (a plastic cylinder, for example}. The collapsible securing member is enclosed in a stiff, hollow column, held fast by the friction arising between the node of the collapsible part and the inner wall of the column. Within the interior of the lower part, the inner width of the cavity is smaller than the width of the collapsible part. Each flexible arm has its own upper hand. A hollow cover keeps the securing member from jumping out of place. The arms, whose movement is designed to interfere with court vision, pass through this cover in a manner such that they are able to extend in a direction parallel to the plane of the offensive player. The material of these moving arms is sensitive to air movement, because of the way in which the arms pass through a bent support column. The bent support column enables the arms to move at the tiniest air disturbance, thus imitating the interference of a defensive player. This well-known solution simulates the technique of a defensive player only partially, as the extended, flexible arms move in a direction approximately parallel to the direction of the plane of the shooter's arm, but there is no way for them to move toward the shooter.

The invention presented in this specification is designed to address the deficiencies inherent in all other known solutions, enabling the creation of basketball aids of safe, simple construction and economical manufacture that take on the role of a defensive player in a shooting situation, and which may aid coaches in training players for real-game events by simulating the interference of the defence during shooting, resulting in improved accuracy, skiff, and technique, increased jump height, and thus the ability to take better advantage of a given shooting position.

The invention actually comprises two separate developmental aids that may be used in combination during a given phase of practice. The first aid is of a simpler construction and is designed to interfere with the shooter's play and improve accuracy ; while the second, utilising several components, serves to develop the shooter's feel for the basket, improve technique, and increase jump height.

The first invention is based on the realisation that if we create a developmental aid for shooters composed of two sections, a support section and a section intended to imitate the hands, raised arms, or upper body of a defensive player, depending on the skill level of the shooter, such that the upper part, made to imitate a defensive player, is fixed using a detachable joint to a supporting rod, which is raised into the air to an appropriate height and moved about by the coach or some other assistant, and the assistant simulates the action of the defender in the game by raising the supporting column and armature and moving it toward the player, then interference with the shooter's play and improvement of his or her scoring performance can be achieved using a simply constructed, economically produced aid, which results in players''being better able to take advantage of a scoring position.

The second invention is based on the reatisation that if we create a developmental aid for basketball shooters that is covered by a surface that can be affixed to a supporting structure : whose covering is collapsible and expandable and can be adjusted to different heights : the ! eft and right sides of whose upper section are equipped with antennas that may be folded down or raised to the vertical position, as desired ; whose supporting structure has a console-holding rod and n (first, second,..., nth) consoles placed at its centre at appropriate distances from each other : the upper part of whose screen is affixed to the first console and the lower part of whose screen is affixed to one of the second, third, (n-2) nd, or nth consoles ; into the lower part of whose console-holding rod the upper part of the supporting rod is inserted, such that it is secured using a catch set at the desired height ; that can be turned to the right and left and then returned to original position at its joint by means of a spring; whose supporting rod is inserted at its lower end into hole drilled into a base placed on the floor of the court ; and that includes a spring at its asymmetrically arranged lateral extreme at the lower part of the supporting rod on the side facing the base that allows the supporting rod to bend in any direction to avoid any accidents caused by contact with the offensive player ; and if we use a screen of adjustable height to simulate the presence of a defensive player, then the result is a safe aid assembled from simple components that may be produced economically and that may be used to develop the shooter's feel for the basket, improve shooting technique, and increase jump height, and thus to improve the shooter's ability to take advantage of a scoring position.

Thus the subjects of this invention are basketball shooting training aids.

The subject of one of the inventions is a basketball shooting training aid designed to interfere with the shooter's play for the basket and to improve score rates. This aid consists of a supporting rod joined to a section designed to imitate the presence of a defensive player. The aid is characterised by the manner in which the section designed to imitate the action of a section designed to imitate the defensive player, held in the air and moved about by the coach or other assistant, is attached to the upper end of the supporting rod using a detachable joint.

One possible and highly serviceable variation on this aid is characterised by a supporting rod section of circular cross-section, fashioned of hollow plastic, with a convenient length of supporting rod section of 100-140 cm, marked at distances of one cm.

Another highly serviceable variant of the aid described herein is characterised by the fact that the section designed to imitate the action of a section designed to imitate the defensive player is made conveniently of injection-moulded plastic, covered in soft sponge material, with a length of section designed to imitate the defensive player of 35 cm, a width of section designed to imitate the defensive player of 25 cm, and a thickness of 5 cm.

The subject of the second invention is a basketball shooting training aid designed to develop the shooter's feel for the basket, to improve shooting technique, and to increase jump height.

The aid is designed with a screen that can be attached to a supporting rod. The aid is characterised by the fact that its screen is collapsible and expandable, that its height is adjustable, and that the left and right sides of its upper section are equipped with antennas that may be folded down or raised to the vertical position, as desired. The model includes a console-holding rod and n (first, second,..., nth) consoles placed horizontally at its centre at an appropriate distance from one another. The upper part of the screen is attached to the uppermost console, as selected from the consoles (the second, third, (n-2) nd, or nth console) on the lower section. The upper end of the supporting rod is inserted into the lower end of the console-holding rod, with the desired height set using a catch. Finally, the lower part of the supporting rod is inserted into a hole drilled into a base placed on the floor of the basketball court.

Another highly serviceable variant on the aid described herein is characterised by the fact that the screen may be conveniently adjusted so that it ranges between 50 and 100 cm in height.

Another highly serviceable variant on the aid described herein is characterised by the fact that the supporting structure can be conveniently moved to the left and right using the spring placed at the joint between the console-holding rod and the supporting rod, and then returned to its original position.

A third highly serviceable variant on the aid described herein is characterised by the fact that its screen is moved mechanically or electronically.

A fourth highly serviceable variant on the aid described herein is characterised by the fact that the height of the supporting rod can, be conveniently adjusted to distances between 0 and 90 cm from base position using a series of telescopic or nested components.

The basketball shooting training aids described as part of this invention are shown in detail via the following drawings: Figure 1 : one practical variant on the first basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention : top view ; Figure 2: one practical variant on the second, basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention : front view, assembled ; Figure3 : one possible variant on the second basketbaii shooting training aid included as part of this invention that would be used primarily by defensive players and play maker for practising long-distance shots: front view ; Figure 4 : another practical variant on the second basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention that would be used primarily by shooters for practising medium-range and long-distance shots : front view ; Figure 5: another practical variant on the second basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention that would be used primarily by mid-court players for practising close to medìum-long range shots: front view.

Figure 1 shows the top view of one practical variant on the first basketball shooting training aid. This aid, which would be used to simulate interference with the shooter's scoring position and to improve overall score rates, has a supporting rod section 11, attached to a section designed to imitate a defensive player 12. This latter section designed to imitate a defensive player 12 is connected by a detachable joint to the supporting rod section 11 which is used by a coach or other assistant to raise the aid to an appropriate height and move it about. The supporting rod section T 1 is designed with a convenient circular cross-section and is made of hollow plastic. The length of supporting rod section L1 is designed at a practical 100-140 cm, and is marked at lengths of 1 cm. ! n this useful variant, the section designed to imitate a defensive player 12 is made conveniently of injection- moulded plastic, covered with soft sponge in order to prevent accidents. The length of section designed to imitate the defensive player L2 is a practical 35 cm, the width of section designed to imitate the defensive player SZ is 25 cm, and the thickness is 5 cm.

This aid, as part of the invention described in this document, can be used to simulate the action of the defensive player who jumps in the way of a throw or possibly attempts to steal the ball from a shooter. The upper section designed to imitate a defensive player 12 in this case represents the hand of the defensive player as it interferes with the shooter's play-at a height and distance determined by the coach height is set using the cm scale provided on the supporting rod section 11. The length of supporting rod section LI of the supporting rod 26 is designed conveniently at 100-140 cm, the optimum being a length of 120 cm. The length of the supporting rod section 11 actually utilised during play will depend on the height of the player.

A shorter defensive player will hold a'longer supporting rod section 11 in the air, while a taller defensive player will hold a shorter supporting rod section I'I in the air.

The coach or other assistant imitating a defensive player should interfere with the throw by raising the aid into the air to a height set according to the skill and capabilities of the players involved, and by moving it toward the shooter in an arc, thus simulating real-game play. This interference forces the shooter to select the ideal angle and height for the throw, helps the shooter become accustomed to the constant presence of defensive players who jump in the way of a throw, and assists in developing a feel for accurately judging the distance position of a defensive player.

Figure 2 shows the front view of one practical variant on the second basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention in its assembled state. The components not seen in the front view the console-holing rod 231 and n consoles 2321, 2322,..., 232n are shown using dashed lines. These aids, designed to develop the shooter's feel for the throw, improve technique, and increase jump height, consist of a screen 21 that can be attached to a supporting structure 23. The aid possesses a collapsible and expandable screen 21, while the left and right sides of its upper section are equipped with antennas 22 that may be folded down or raised to the vertical position, as desired. The supporting structure 23 includes a console- holding rod 231 and n consoles 2321, 2322,..., 232n, first, second,..., nth, placed horizontally at its centre at appropriate distances from each other. The upper part of the screen 21 is then mounted onto a selected console 2322,2323,..., 232 (n-2), 232 (n-1), or 232n ; second, third,..., (n-2) nd, n-Tst, or nth. The upper end of the supporting rod 26 is inserted into the lower end of the console-holding rod 231 and fixed by means of a catch 25 set at the desired height. The joint is equipped with a spring 24 that returns the supporting structure 23 to its original position whenever it is turned to the left or right. The lower end of the supporting rod 26 is inserted into a drill-hole 271 drilled into a base 27 placed on the floor of the basketball court. This drill-hole 271 1s driiied into the base 27 asymmetrically, to one of the sides, so that the aid may be approached without obstruction from any angle.

In one practical variant on this, the height of the screen 21 may be adjusted to between 50 and 100 cm, as needed.

In another practical variant, the screen 21 may be moved either by mechanical or electronic means. In yet a further practical variant the length of the supporting rod 2b may be adjusted by up to go cm from base position by pulling out or pushing in the telescopic or nested components that form it.

This aid, as part of this invention, may be used to develop the shooter's feel for the throw by limiting the amount of time available for aiming during execution, since the screen 21 will obstruct the shooter's view of the ring for a period of time determined by the coach. The aid is placed in front of the shooter at whatever distance from the backboard the coach wishes to practice. The height of the screen 21 is set according to the height and jump height of the shooter. The upper part of the screen 21 is mounted onto the uppermost console 2321., while its lower portion is mounted onto one of the other consoles 2322,..., or 232n ; the first,..., or nth, as desired. If, for example, n=7, the distance between the first console 2321 and the second console 2322 is 50 cm, and the distance between subsequent consoles 2322,..., 232n : the second,...., nth is lfl cm, then the height of the screen 21 can be adjusted in 6 steps by degrees of 10 cm from 50 cm to 100 cm. In one practical variant, the height of the aid measured from the floor, that is, to the top of the screen 21, is 200 cm when the supporting rod 26 is in base position, or 290 cm when the supporting rod 26 is fully extended.

The supporting rod 26 is set at the desired height, generally between 0 and 90 cm, by pulling out or pushing in the telescopic or nested components used in its construction. The upper end of the extended supporting rod 26 is inserted into the lower end of the console-holding rod 231, and the aid held at the desired height by means of a catch 25.

The screen 21 may be moved mechanically possibly manually, or electronically, utilising the dritl-hote 271 provided. Depending on the height and jump height of the shooter, the screen 21 is set to a height so that the shooter sees the ring at the moment he or she receives the ball, the loses it from view for a period of time during the jump, then sees it again at the top of the jump, when it is time to let go of the ball. In this way, the shooter develops a feet for the throw, since he or she is forced to throw the ball based on feel when the ring is out of sight, meaning that he or she must"feel"where the ring is and be able to execute the entire play as if the ring were in view. This situation occurs often during actual games. The shooter's feel for the throw can be developed even further by increasing the height of the screen 21, depending on the skill, capabilities, and physical performance of the payer, thus decreasing the time during which the payer is able to see the ring. This aid may be used not only to develop the shooter's feel for the basket, but also to force him or her to execute throws at maximum jump height, by changing the height of the screen 21 as necessary and as much as can be justified. This results not only in improved power for jumps, but also in improved throwing technique. Antennas 22 are mounted onto the left and right extremes of the upper part of the screen 21, and may be folded down or raised to the vertical position, as desired. Set vertically, these antennas 22 mark the area through which the shooter must pass the ball in executing the throw.

A spring 24 installed at the joint between the oonsole-holding rod 231 and supporting rod 26 allows the supporting structure 23 to be shifted to the right or left, then returning it to base position. This is necessary because it may occur that the shooter hits the aid after his or her jump upwards. In such a case the structure supporting 23 the screen 21 must be able to turn, otherwise the entire aid would be tipped over. After the jump, however, it must return to its original position, so that the shooter may make his or her next shot. The lower section of the supporting rod 26 is inserted into a drill-hole 271 drilled into a base 27 placed on the floor of the basketball court, and serving to maintain the stability of the entire structure. The base 27 is designed so that a player w ill not become injured upon returning to the floor after the throw, as the drill-hole 271 is drilled in an asymmetrical position to one side, and thus the base 27 may be set up such that the majority of its bulk falls behind the aid or to the side opposite the jump.

Figure 3 shows the front view of one possible and practical variant on the second basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention, used primarily by play maker and defensive players tor developing long-distance shooting. In this case, the screen 21 is mounted on the supporting structure 23 asymmetrically, such that the larger proportion of the surface of the screen 21 falls to the right side of the supporting structure 23. Thus, the aid may be used primarily by shooters located on the right half of the court. With this variant, as can be clearly seen on the drawing, the screen 21 is set at a height below maximum, to accommodate long-distance shooting.

Figure 4 shows the front view of a possible, practical variation on the second basketball shooting training aid included as part of this invention, which would be used primarily by shooters for practising mid-and long-range shooting. In this case, too, the screen 21 is mounted on the supporting structure 23 in an asymmetric fashion, this time on the left. The screen 21 is set at a height larger than in the previous case, so that shooters throwing from the left side of the court primarily can practice shooting from a closer position.

Figure 5 shows the front view of one further practical variation on the second basketball shooting training aid included as part of the present invention, for use primarily by mid-court players in practising close to medium-long range shots. The screen 21 is mounted on the supporting structure 23 in an asymmetrical manner and is extended to the maximum possible size, so that players throwing primarily from mid-court can practise shooting from a position near the backboard. Naturally, in ail three cases, the desired height for the entire device can be set in accordance with the appropriate position for the shot, the height of the player, and the technical skill level involved, by adjusting the height of the screen 21 and supporting rod 26 in concert.

The basketball shooting training aids described as part of this invention and designed to simulate the role of the defence succeed in fulfilling their appointed tasks, as they give players the opportunity to practice the types of situations that occur in real games during training session. Moreover, they represent a means of simple construction that may be manufactured economically and used safely, and that may be employed to simulate interference with a player's shot at the basket, improve shooting accuracy, develop feel for the shot, improve technique, and increase jump height, thus resulting in players'taking better advantage of scoring positions.

PARTS LIST 11 supporting rod section 12 section designed to imitate the defensive player L1 length of supporting rod section L2 length of section designed to imitate the defensive player SZ width of section designed to imitate the defensive player 21 screen 22 antenna 23 supporting structure 231 console-holding rod 2321 first console 2322 second console 232 (n-2) (n-2) nd console 232 (n-1) (n-1) st console 232n nth console 24 spring 25 catch 26 supporting rod 27 base 271 drill-hole