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EP-4308258-B1 - ANTIMICROBIAL BASKETBALL NET

EP4308258B1EP 4308258 B1EP4308258 B1EP 4308258B1EP-4308258-B1

Inventors

  • GOODMAN, TAMIR
  • WARSCHAWSKI, David
  • RONKIN, Amit

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220224

Claims (13)

  1. A basketball net (205; 305; 525; 640), comprising: a string (206; 316; 526) formed of fiber having antimicrobial and moisture wicking properties, wherein: the string defines the basketball net having a plurality of knots (208, 209; 528, 530, 531) and a plurality of openings (210; 319; 529), the basketball net includes a plurality of loops at a first end thereof configured for attachment to a basketball rim, the basketball net is configured in a conical shape having a central opening, a first diameter of the basketball net at the first end thereof is larger than a second diameter of the basketball net at a second end thereof, and wherein the basketball net is configured to wipe moisture from a surface of a basketball passing through the basketball net.
  2. The basketball net of claim 1, wherein the string is a multi-layer cord having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is formed from a first antimicrobial, moisture wicking yarn, and wherein the second layer is formed by a second moisture wicking yarn.
  3. The basketball net of claim 2, wherein the string includes a plurality of cords including a first cord formed by the second moisture wicking yarn and a second cord including a third moisture wicking yarn.
  4. The basketball net of claim 3, wherein the plurality of cords includes: the first cord; the second cord including the third moisture wicking yarn and at least one monofiber yarn; and a third cord formed by a plurality of monofiber yarns.
  5. The basketball net of claim 2, wherein the first antimicrobial, moisture wicking yarn includes a first yarn having antimicrobial, moisture wicking characteristics covered by a second yarn having antimicrobial, moisture wicking characteristics.
  6. The basketball net of claim 5, wherein the first antimicrobial, moisture wicking yarn includes a first linear density and a first thread count, wherein the second yarn has a second linear density that is the same as the first linear density, and wherein the second yarn has a second thread count that is the same as the first thread count.
  7. The basketball net of claim 1, wherein the fiber having antimicrobial and moisture wicking properties includes a first synthetic fiber including a first antimicrobial nanoparticle, and a second moisture wicking fiber including a second synthetic fiber.
  8. The basketball net of claim 7, wherein the first antimicrobial nanoparticle is a first metal nanoparticle including at least one of silver and copper; or wherein the first antimicrobial nanoparticle is distributed substantially uniformly throughout the first antimicrobial, moisture wicking fiber.
  9. The basketball net of claim 1, wherein the string is sprayed with an antimicrobial solution.
  10. The basketball net of claim 1, wherein the basketball net is dipped in an antimicrobial solution.
  11. The basketball net of claim 1, wherein the string is a multi-layer cord having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is an outer layer that defines a hollow outer cord, and wherein the second layer is an inner layer located within the hollow outer cord.
  12. The basketball net of claim 1, wherein the string is a multi-layer cord having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is configured to wipe the moisture from the surface of the basketball and the second layer is configured to wick the moisture from the first layer.
  13. A basketball goal (200; 300), comprising: a backboard (204; 314); a rim (202; 312) configured to secure to the backboard; and a basketball net (205; 305; 525; 640) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 configured to hang from the rim.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally to basketball nets. More specifically, at least one embodiment, relates to a basketball net that removes moisture and germs from a basketball as the basketball drops through the net. 2. Discussion of Related Art Referring to FIG. 1, a traditional basketball goal 100 is illustrated. The basketball goal 100 includes a rim 102, a basketball net 103 and a backboard 104. The basketball goal 100 can be secured in place such that the rim 102 is located at the desired elevation, for example, at a regulation height, or perhaps a lower height when used by children. While the basketball goal 100 may be wall mounted, ceiling suspended or secured in place by other means, basketball goals are most often secured to a pole for use in recreational basketball. The basketball net 103 is traditionally constructed to provide an overall conical shape. The materials of construction can include cotton, polyester or metal (chain link). Regardless of the materials of construction, the typical basketball net 103 includes a series of openings having a generally overall triangle or diamond-like shape where the upper part of the net 103 includes larger openings and the lower part of the net 103 includes smaller diamond-shaped openings. The loops that form the uppermost openings in the basketball net 103 are attached to the rim 102. When a basketball is thrown through the net 103, the descent of the ball is slowed and partially guided as the ball passes through the net 103. During a game, the basketball is constantly changing hands. During play some basketball players find the basketball slippery due to moisture and sweat that gets transferred from the players' hands to the ball while handling it. A slippery feeling basketball gives the athlete less control of the ball while dribbling, passing and shooting. To improve the precision of their ball handling, athletes may run to the sidelines and wipe their hands on a towel, or alternatively, wipe their hands on their shorts or jersey to wipe off some of the moisture. These practices are routine at all levels of competition. Further, while the effort may temporarily give the athlete dry hands it does not remove any of the moisture from the basketball. As a result, the fundamental problem caused by sweat on the basketball remains. Sometimes, a game or practice is temporarily halted so that the ball can be wiped down with a towel to dry it. However, these interruptions stop the flow or momentum of the game and are frustrating to players, coaches, referees and fans. In addition to moisture, germs are also transferred onto the ball from the sweat and contact with the hands of the athletes. This leads to an accumulation of germs as the ball continually changes hands during a game or practice. As the germs accumulate, the basketball continues to change hands leading to an increasingly unhygienic situation. These circumstances create an environment that can easily transmit infections among the participants. Further, the towels that are available courtside during a basketball game are unsanitary because they are thrown on the bench or the gym floor and because the same towel is used repeatedly to remove sweat. As a result, wiping the ball down with a towel does not reduce germs. Instead, the towel may actually transmit germs to the surface of the ball. EP 3683788 discloses a basketball net cover comprising; a sheet of fabric having a top end, a bottom end, a first edge, and a second edge, the top end corresponding to a first radius and the bottom end corresponding to a second radius, at the top end a plurality of openings are positioned a predetermined distance from one another and are of a predetermined length, the first edge and the second edge are secured together a frustum of a cone is formed and the top edge has a first circumference and the bottom edge has a second circumference. US 5,735,760 discloses a basketball net constructed from fabric including knit fabrics made from durable materials, such as nylon thread. The net is manufactured of a fabric selected to provide a substantial fraction of its overall area in a surface for receiving an image and having a substantial portion of the overall area of the fabric of the net comprising voids for providing resilient stretching and service. JP 2016 198481 discloses a shoe upper for a sports shoe comprising yarn sections having antimicrobial properties. CN212247326U discloses a high-elasticity antibacterial yarn which comprises a base layer, four elastic yarn cores are arranged in the base layer, the elastic yarn cores make contact with each other and are arranged symmetrically, polypropylene fiber layers wrap the elastic yarn cores, an antibacterial layer is arranged on the outer side of the base layer, and the antibacterial layer comprises net-shaped silver fiber layers and bamboo charcoal fiber layers which are laid alternately. CN111249711 discloses an automatic bas