ILLUMINATED BASKETBALL HOOP ACCESSORY

Abstract

An illuminated basketball hoop accessory for removably securing to a basketball hoop mounted at a desired height above a playing surface. An illuminated member forms a hoop approximating a size and shape of the rim. The illuminated member has a plurality of securing members, for example clamps or magnets, for removably securing the illuminated member to the rim. An illuminated member mounting tool is provided for engaging the illuminated member to and disengaging the illuminated member from the rim. The illuminated member thus illuminates the rim to allow for visual identification of the position of the rim in a dark environment, and during daytime provides a convenient means of mounting a net to the basketball hoop.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to basketball hoops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basketball is a very popular sport in North America and gaining popularity elsewhere. It is a sport suitable for all ages, and a particularly suitable activity for the young, providing a fun way to exercise and challenging both physically and mentally, but requiring minimal gear and equipment. Basketball is often played as a team sport on a basketball court. Basketball courts can exist either indoor or outdoor there are often many in a typical neighbourhood. Common locations include recreational parks, schoolyards, gymnasiums and other athletic facilities. Both individual practice as well as variations in the traditional game of basketball can be played in a smaller area. For example, games of “one-on-one”, “three-on-three”, “horse” and “twenty-one” which pits a smaller number of players against another utilizing a single basketball hoop.

The only equipment required to practice or play basketball is a basketball hoop mounted over a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt at a desired height, typically 10 feet (3.048 metres) which is “regulation” height, and a ball. This makes the game of basketball ideal for youths and adolescents, many of whom do not have the means to purchase expensive equipment such as protective gear, specially designed footwear like skates and ski boots, and other types of equipment and accessories needed to play many other types of sports.

Basketball hoops are almost universally of a standard size, which by regulation is 18 inches (47 cm) in diameter. The basketball hoop may be mounted to a post, to a wall or to some other structure over a hard surface. Beyond this, the only requirements for playing basketball are a ball (also typically of a regulation size) and the ability to see the basketball hoop.

The lack of visibility of a basketball hoop poses a considerable hurdle to those wishing to play basketball on an unlit outdoor court after dark. Indoor basketball courts such as those at schools and athletic facilities are usually closed and therefore typically inaccessible overnight. Outdoor courts are may not be illuminated, which means that many accessible basketball courts which could otherwise be used by players at night, providing a positive, constructive activity for youths and adolescents that might otherwise be inclined to find mischief or less physically beneficial pursuits such as computer gaming or watching television, cannot be used by would-be basketball players for the sole reason that the basketball hoop is not sufficiently visible to allow players to assess the position of the hoop and score a goal.

To make the basketball hoop more visible, a mesh known as a “basketball net” is mounted on the perimeter of the hoop which allows the basketball to pass through to the ground. In many situations, particularly on an outdoor area, the basketball net is worn out, missing or, through vandalism, removed or destroyed.

It would accordingly be beneficial to provide a means for illuminating a basketball hoop that is inexpensive and easy to use. It would accordingly be beneficial to provide a means for easily affixing any standard type of basketball net to the hoop, to improve the visibility of the hoop and reduce the incidence of stray balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the illuminated basketball hoop accessory affixed to a basketball hoop.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the illuminated basketball hoop accessory and basketball hoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a securing member for the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a side elevation of an illuminated member mounting tool for the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a partial side elevation of the illuminated member mounting tool showing the manner of grasping an actuator on the securing member.

FIG. 4C is a partial perspective view of a temporary suspending member for facilitating mounting of the illuminated basketball hoop accessory to a rim.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the temporary suspending member of FIG. 4C mounted to a basketball hoop as an optional first step in a method of mounting the illuminated basketball hoop accessory to a rim.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views showing steps in an embodiment of the method of mounting the illuminated basketball hoop accessory of FIG. 1 to the rim of a basketball hoop.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a battery compartment portion of the illuminated accessory hoop.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the illuminated basketball hoop accessory.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the illuminated basketball hoop accessory of FIG. 8 attached to a rim.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are elevational and perspective views, respectively, of a hook attachment for the securing member engaging tool for mounting a control box in the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the hook attachment mounting a control box.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the hook attachment de-mounting the control box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an illuminated basketball hoop accessory 20 for removably securing to a basketball hoop 10. The basketball hoop 10 comprises a rim 12 mounted at a desired height above a playing surface 2 so as to be generally parallel to the playing surface 2, which may for example be a concrete or asphalt pad. The rim 12 is typically mounted, for example at the top of a post 4 as shown, to a generally vertical backboard 14 which provides a backstop allowing a shot to deflect into the hoop 10, thereby considerably increasing the types of shots that a player can make in order to score a goal. The rim 12 is often (but not necessarily) provided with a mesh 16, which improves the visibility of the hoop 10 and controls the descent of the basketball 6 for the players' convenience by preventing the basketball 6 from bouncing wildly off the rim 12 after a goal is scored.

The basketball hoop accessory 20, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5A, comprises an illuminated member 22 formed or capable of being formed into an illuminated hoop approximating a size and shape of the rim 12. The illuminated member 22 may for example be formed from a battery-operated ‘rope light’ comprising a durable and flexible transparent or translucent tube filled with a string of generally evenly-spaced apart lights, for example LEDs. The LEDs may be of a single colour or multiple colours, and any other suitable type of lights may be used such as incandescent ‘flashlight’ bulbs. The LEDs may be augmented or enhanced by fluorescent or phosphor dots, patches or coatings on the translucent tube, or by reflectors, diffusers or any other means of improving the visibility of the illuminated member 22 from the vantage point of the playing surface. Suitable circuitry may be provided to make the light colours programmable by the user.

The battery (or batteries) may be rechargeable or replaceable. A recharging port, for example a USB port 42 opposite a closed end of the illuminated member 22 as shown in FIG. 7, may be provided for recharging a rechargeable battery (not shown) contained in the battery compartment 40. The battery compartment 40 may be provided with one or more light sensors 46 adapted to switch on the LEDs when the ambient light decreases to a set level. A conventional remote control 45 activating a sensor 43, for example disposed on the battery compartment 40 so as to be visible from the playing surface 2 as shown in FIG. 1, may be provided for switching the illuminated member 22 on and off when the user is standing on the playing surface 2.

The illuminated member 22 may have an opening as shown, for example between the battery compartment 40 and the closed end 44, as best seen in FIG. 7. This allows the mouth of a net 16 to be threaded onto the illuminated member 22 before it is attached to the rim 12. Although the illuminated member can be attached to a hoop 10 that has a net attached to the hoop 10, this is useful in cases where the basketball hoop 10 does not already have a mesh or net 16 attached to the rim 12. For example, FIG. 2 shows the illuminated member 22 positioned for mounting to a rim 12 that has a net 16 already attached to the hoop 10, while FIG. 1 shows the net 16 attached to the illuminated member 22 suspended from the rim 12 of a hoop 10 that does not have a net 16 attached.

In the embodiment shown the illuminated member 22 is removably secured to the rim by a plurality of securing members 30 comprising releasable clamps. The securing members 30 are affixed to the illuminated member 22 by a base 32 through which the illuminated member 22 extends, and may optionally be glued, clinched or otherwise fixed in position to the illuminated member 22 so that the plurality of securing members 30 are retained generally evenly spaced about the illuminated member 22. A pair of opposed securing arms 34 configured to wrap around and/or grasp the rim 12 are preferably biased to a closed position, for example by a torsion spring (not shown), and opened by an actuator, for example as shown a pair of pushbuttons 36 (best seen in FIG. 4B) which when pinched together overcome the biasing force of the spring to open the arms 34 and allow the rim 12 to be inserted between the arms 34 of the securing member 30 as the illuminated member 22 is mounted to the rim 12. The illuminated member 22 can be mounted manually, but this may require a ladder so that the user can reach the hoop 10. In the embodiment shown mounting may be effected by an illuminated member mounting tool 50, shown in FIG. 4A, which allows the securing members 30 to be engaged to and disengaging from the rim 12 by a person standing on the playing surface 2. The illuminated member mounting tool 50 may for example be similar to a conventional ‘pick-up tool’ having a pair of opposed fingers 52 mounted to one end of a pole 54, the fingers 34 being biased to the open position and closed by an actuator such as a handle 56 (pushbutton, lever or other securing member engaging tool actuator) mounted to the other end of the pole 54. As shown in FIG. 4B, the fingers 52 are closed against the buttons 36 to open the securing arms 34, to either mount the securing member 30 to the rim 12 or detach the securing member 30 from the rim 12. The handle 56 may be any suitable length, but is preferably long enough to reach the rim 12 when used by a child.

The illuminated basketball hoop accessory 20 may be affixed to the rim 12 before play begins. Optionally a net 16 may be engaged to the illuminated member 22 by threading the illuminated member 22 through the holes about the mouth at one end of the mesh as shown in FIG. 6A.

As in the embodiment shown an optional temporary suspending member may be provided, for example a hook 60 affixed to the illuminated member 22 as best seen in FIG. 4C, which may be pivotally affixed as shown to avoid impinging into the goal area defined by the rim 12 when the illuminated member 22 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 6A, to assist in the mounting of the illuminated basketball hoop accessory 20. In this embodiment the illuminated member 22 is suspended from the rim 12, as shown in FIG. 6B, by using the illuminated member mounting tool 50 to lift the illuminated member 22 up to the rim 12. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the subsequent steps in a method of mounting the illuminated basketball hoop accessory 20 to a rim 12, comprising manipulating the illuminated member mounting tool 50 over the buttons 36 of one of the securing members 30, for example (for ease of mounting) the securing member 30 generally diametrically opposite to the hook 60, to lift the illuminated member 22 up to the rim 12. The illuminated member mounting tool 50 is positioned in alignment with the buttons 36, and actuated to close the fingers 52 and thereby pinch the actuator buttons 36, which in turn opens the arms 34, and then position the arms 34 over the rim 12 as shown in FIG. 6B. The handle 56 is released to allow the arms 34 to close over and grasp the rim 12. The remaining securing members 34 are engaged to the rim 12 in the same fashion.

In the described embodiment, the illuminated member 22 is activated to illuminate the rim 12 when the light sensor 46 detects the preset lower limit of ambient light to trigger the light sensor 46, using conventional circuitry to close the LED string circuit and power the illuminated member 22. Other embodiments may utilize a manual light switch (not shown), which may be activated before mounting the illuminated member 22 or positioned so as to be accessible to the illuminated member mounting tool 50 and activated manually during play as darkness falls.

In other embodiments the illuminated member 22 may be removably secured to the rim 12 by a plurality of magnets, for example rare earth magnets embedded into or otherwise suitably affixed to the illuminated member.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 an illuminated member 70 comprises a plastic (for example ABS) shell 71 in the form of a hoop having LEDs 72 generally evenly spaced about its inner face. In this embodiment projections 74 along the top of the illuminated member 70 support magnets 76 which affix the illuminated member 70 to the rim 12. This embodiment is more readily mounted to a rim 12 that already has a net 16 attached, but as in the previous embodiment can be used to support a net 16 provided by the user and affixed to the illuminated member 70 by any suitable means before mounting. It will be appreciated that the LEDs 72 do not need to be evenly spaced about the illuminated member 70, and can be provided on any surface visible to a player standing on the court.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 a control box 78 that can be magnetically mounted to the bracket 11 supporting the rim 12 may contain the batteries, and optionally circuitry provided to make the light colour(s) programmable by the user and a light sensor 46. The circuitry, which may be connected by a cable 79 to the illuminated member 70 permanently or via a detachable connector 79a, may optionally include a power switch (not shown); a charging port, for example USB or any other desired configuration (not shown); and a ball sensor 95, for example a proximity sensor, photosensor or motion sensor, to detect when a ball has passed through the rim 12. Optionally a light on the control box (not shown) visible to the player illuminates when a goal is scored.

The addition of a ball sensor 95 allows for the generation of analytics. Circuitry in the control box 78 which counts goals allows users to track their performance during a playing session. Performance can be measured over time or by percentage accuracy. In the latter case, for example, the control box 78 may contain a vibration detector (not shown) which increases a ‘hit’ count incrementally each time the ball hits the rim 12 or the backboard 14 and the circuitry detects whether or not the basketball 6 passes through the rim 12 within a certain pre-set time after the vibration detector has detected a ‘hit’; if YES, the circuitry incrementally increases a ‘goal’ counter, and if NO the circuitry increments a ‘miss’ counter. This allows the player to determine the percentage of shots that become goals.

In some embodiments players can register online using a (preferably platform- and operating system-independent) Smartphone app that tracks performance and optionally measures performance against other players in remote locations. Where performance is measured on a goals-over-time basis, a timer begins when the first successful goal is detected. In this embodiment a player can preferably select the timeframe (1 minute or 5 minutes, for example), and offer the option to play other players worldwide in real time. The app may store analytics locally. Optionally a player can create an online player character (for example including physical attributes such as height, weight, gender etc.) and the app may automatically transmit the player's performance metrics over the Internet to allow for competition with other players.

Optionally, using body motion sensor and tracking technology the player can wear wrist and/or ankle bands to sense their activity. These analytics can be used for more detailed performance analyses.

The illuminated member may be mounted to the rim using a mounting tool 50 similar to that in the previous embodiment, but with fingers 52 being adapted to grasp the shell 71. In the embodiment shown the control box 70 has a back surface with projecting bosses 82 containing magnets 84, and a portion 86 recessed relative to the projecting bosses 82, as best seen in FIG. 11. A hook attachment 90 which can be removably secured (for example, threaded) to the illuminated member mounting tool 50, shown in FIG. 9, can be used to mount and de-mount the control box 70 once the illuminated member 70 has been mounted to the rim 12. As shown in FIG. 10, the hook 90 comprises a channel 92 into which a portion of the cable 79 fits to temporarily stabilize the control box 70 as the magnets are affixed to the bracket 11, as shown in FIG. 11. To de-mount the control box 70 arms 94 of the hook 90 slip into the recessed portion 86 between the bracket 11 and the control box 70 to pry the control box 70 away from the bracket in preparation for removal of the illuminated member 70 from the rim 12, as shown in FIG. 12.

The illuminated member 22 thus allows for the visual assessment of a position of the rim 12 in a dark environment, thereby permitting players to score goals, rendering an otherwise unusable basketball hoop 10 to be used after dark.

Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An illuminated basketball hoop accessory for removably securing to a basketball hoop comprising a rim mounted at a desired height above a playing surface, comprising

an illuminated member formed or capable of being formed into a hoop of substantially a size and shape of the rim, and

a plurality of securing members associated with the illuminated member for removably securing the illuminated member to the rim,

whereby the illuminated member illuminates the region about the rim to allow for visual assessment of a position of the rim in a dark environment.

2. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 1 wherein the illuminated member is illuminated by LEDs generally evenly spaced about the illuminated member.

3. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 2 wherein the member is removably secured to the basketball hoop by a plurality of magnets.

4. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 1 wherein one or more batteries is contained in a control box in electrical communication with the illuminated member.

5. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 4 wherein activation of the illuminated member is controlled by a light sensor.

6. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 4 comprising a goal sensor for detecting when a basketball passes through the rim and incrementally increasing a goal counter in response.

7. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 4 wherein the illuminated member is affixed to the rim by releasable clamps.

8. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 7 further comprising an illuminated member mounting tool adapted to open the clamps for engaging the securing members to and disengaging the securing members from the rim

9. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 1 further comprising an illuminated member mounting tool adapted to releasable secure the illuminated member and mount it to the rim.

10. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 4 wherein the control box is detached from the illuminated member and comprises magnets for mounting the control box to a bracket supporting the rim.

11. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 10 wherein the illuminated member mounting tool comprises a hook attachment for mounting and demounting the control box.

12. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 6 comprising circuitry for transmitting data relating to the goal count to a digital device.

13. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 12 comprising a sensor for detecting when a shot does not pass through the rim and incrementally increasing a miss counter in response, comprising circuitry for transmitting data relating to the miss count to a digital device.

14. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 12 comprising an Internet site for acquiring data relating to one or more players utilizing the accessory in different locations.

15. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 1 comprising a remote control for activating the illuminated member.

16. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 2 wherein the lights comprise multiple colours.

17. The illuminated basketball hoop accessory of claim 16 wherein the colours emitted by the lights are programmable by the user.

18. A method of removably securing an illuminated basketball hoop accessory comprising an illuminated member formed or capable of being formed into a hoop of substantially a size and shape of the rim and a plurality of securing members for removably securing the illuminated member to the rim, and an illuminating member mounting tool for mounting the accessory to and demounting the accessory from a basketball hoop comprising a rim mounted at a desired height above a playing surface, comprising the steps of:

a. engaging the illuminating member mounting tool to a portion of the illuminated accessory to position the illuminated member adjacent to the rim,

b. engaging the illuminating member mounting tool to one of the plurality of securing members, to secure the one of the plurality of securing members to the rim,

c. engaging the illuminating member mounting tool to each of the remaining securing members, to secure each of the remaining securing members to the rim.

19. The method of claim 2 comprising, before step a., the step of suspending the illuminated member from a hook.

20. The method of claim 3 comprising, before the step of suspending the illuminated member from a hook, the step of threading a net over the illuminated member.