Abstract: A portable basketball rim rebound testing device 10 is illustrated in two preferred embodiments for testing the rebound or energy absorption characteristics of a basketball rim 12 and its accompanying support to determine likely rebound or energy absorption charcteristics of the system. The apparatus 10 includes a depending frame 28 having a C-clamp 36 for releasably rigidly connecting the frame to the basketball rim 12. A glide weight 60 is mounted on a guide rod 52 permitting the weight 60 to be dropped against a calibrated spring 56 held on an abutment surface on the rod to generate for deflecting the basketball rim and then rebounding the weight upwardly. A photosensor 66 is mounted on the depending frame 28 to sense passage of reflective surfaces 75 on the weight to thereby obtain sufficient data to enable a processing means 26 to calculate the rebound velocity and relate it to an energy absorption percentage rate of the rim system 12. A readout is provided to display the energy absorption percentage.

Abstract: A portable basketball rim rebound testing device 10 is illustrated as a preferred embodiment for testing the rebound characteristics of a basketball rim 12 and its accompanying support system to determine the rebound characteristics of the system. The apparatus 10 includes a depending frame 28 having a "C" shaped hook 36 for releasably rigidly connecting the frame to the basketball rim 12. A free weight 60 is mounted on a guide rod 52 permitting the free weight to be dropped and impacting against face plate 56 and ceramic washer 58 to generate a sharp force impulse for deflecting the basketball rim downwardly and then permitting the rim to vibrate. A transducer 24 is mounted on the depending frame 28 to sense either the acceleration or the force being applied to the basketball rim 12 for a period of approximately 50 milliseconds to obtain sufficient information to calculate the rebound characteristics.