US-20260124514-A1 - Basketball Shooting Skills Training Device

US20260124514A1US 20260124514 A1US20260124514 A1US 20260124514A1US-20260124514-A1

Abstract

A basketball shooting skills training device, known as the “box blocker,” is disclosed for improving a player's ability to execute unconventional bank shots. The device is an assembly comprising panels, brackets, and a coupling system that attaches to a basketball rim. When installed, the panels are strategically positioned to obstruct preferred bank shot areas of the backboard, forcing players to adapt and practice shooting off less conventional, unobstructed backboard areas. The front side of the panels is preferably designed to be generally convex and irregular to discourage bouncing the ball off the device itself. For installation, the device may utilize an accessory pole that couples to apertures in the brackets, allowing the user to easily position the coupling system onto the rim from the ground.

Inventors

Ankoma Moore

Assignees

Ankoma Moore

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251105

Claims (15)

1 . A basketball shooting skills training device configured to be coupled to a basketball backboard assembly comprising: a) One or more panels, each panel having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to face a backboard, b) One or more brackets, the one or more brackets configured to couple with the one or more panels, the one or more panels configured to obstruct the backboard, c) A coupling system, the coupling system comprising one or more magnets, the one or more magnets attached to the one or more brackets such that when the brackets are coupled to the basketball backboard assembly the magnets magnetically couple to a metallic rim bracket of the basketball backboard assembly.
2 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The one or more panels comprises a first panel and a second panel.
3 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 2 , wherein: a) The first panel and a second panel are identical to each other.
4 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The front side of the one or more panels is an irregular convex shape, having a plurality of local peaks.
5 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The front side of the one or more panels is adapted with a plurality of fins.
6 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The one or more brackets comprises two brackets, and the two brackets are mirror images of each other.
7 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The height dimension of each panel is between 25 cm and 32 cm.
8 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The width dimension of each panel is between 23 cm and 28 cm.
9 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The one or more panels comprises a first panel and a second panel, and the distance between the inner edge of the first panel and the inner edge of the second panel is between 18 cm and 25 cm when the box blocker is assembled.
10 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The one or more panels comprises a first panel and a second panel, and the distance between the outer edge of the first panel and the outer edge of the second panel is between 68 cm and 80 cm when the box blocker is assembled.
11 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) 50% or more of each panel is disposed within the outer border of the shooters square.
12 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) Between 20%-100% of each panel is disposed above the top of the basketball rim when the box blocker is installed on the basketball backboard assembly.
13 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 1 , wherein: a) The one or more brackets are adapted with a box blocker coupler, the box blocker coupler configured to couple with an installation device.
14 . The basketball shooting skills training device of claim 13 , wherein: a) The box blocker coupler is one or more apertures through a bracket.
15 . A method for installing a basketball shooting skills training device on a basketball backboard assembly, the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing a basketball shooting skills training device comprising one or more brackets, one or more panels, and a coupling system, the one or more panels coupled to one or more brackets, the coupling system comprising one or more magnets attached to the one or more brackets, the one or more brackets further comprising a box blocker coupler; b) Providing an installation device having installation couplers which are configured to couple with the box blocker coupler; c) Coupling the installation couplers of the installation device to the box blocker coupler disposed on the brackets; d) Lifting the basketball shooting skills training device toward the basketball backboard assembly using the installation device; e) Positioning the training device such that the magnetic coupling system couples to the basketball backboard assembly; f) Lowering the training device such that the magnetic coupling system couples with the rim bracket; and g) Decoupling the installation device from the brackets.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/716,456, filed Nov. 5, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND Field of the Invention This disclosure relates to a sports training device, and more particularly to a basketball skills training device which couples to a basketball backboard assembly and helps players practice unconventional bank shots. Description of the Related Art Numerous training devices exist for improving a variety of basketball skills. Often basketball players need to practice their shooting skills. One type of shooting skill is a bank shot, where the player shoots the ball off the backboard and into the hoop. The shooter has to practice understanding where the ball needs to bounce off the backboard to make the ball into the hoop. However, in some circumstances the player may not be able to bounce the ball off the backboard in the preferred area. In such circumstances, the player would be well served by having practiced making unconventional bank shots where the ball bounces off less-preferred areas of the backboard. Unconventional bank shots may arise out of a variety of situations. Sometimes the player may be out of position or off balance while taking a shot. Sometimes a defender may be obstructing a shooter's view or path. Other times the shooter may be attempting to avoid a foul such as a double-dribble, causing them to attempt an unconventional bank shot. The present invention helps basketball players train for unconventional bank shots by obstructing one or more preferred bank shot areas of the backboard with panels. The panels obstruct the preferred bank shot areas of the backboard, such that players must practice bank shots using unobstructed areas of the backboard. This practice causes them to think creatively about where they aim their bank shot and what kind of spin/trajectory they apply to the ball as they shoot it. Therefore, there exists a need for a training device which obstructs preferred areas of the backboard for bank shots such that they can practice unconventional styles of bank shot. SUMMARY A basketball shooting skills training device, also referred to as the “box blocker,” is disclosed. The box blocker comprises one or more panels, one or more brackets. In preferred embodiments, the box blocker further comprises a coupling system. The brackets are attached or coupled to the panels. The brackets may be attached or coupled to the coupling system. The box blocker assembly of brackets, panels, and coupling system is coupled to a basketball rim. In some embodiments, the coupling system is a magnetic coupling system. The magnets in the magnetic coupling system are attracted to the metal basketball rim. When the magnetic coupling system is properly positioned and coupled to the rim, the brackets hold the panels such that they obstruct the specific areas of the backboard that are commonly preferred for making bank shots. Players are thus encouraged to practice bank shots without using the obstructed areas of the backboard. Brackets Brackets serve as the primary structural components of the training device, and they hold the panels in their desired location. In some embodiments, the brackets have two primary faces. The rim face of the bracket may be a substantially flat, horizontal face below part of a bracket. The backboard face of the bracket may be a substantially flat vertical face behind part of the bracket. The rim face may be more proximal to the coupling system. The backboard face may be more distal to the coupling system. In some embodiments, these two faces of the bracket are formed by a horizontal member and a vertical member which are attached to one another. The rim face may be disposed on the bottom side of the horizontal member. The backboard face may be disposed on the back side of the vertical member. Two Bracket Version In some embodiments, the bracket system comprises two brackets. In some two-bracket embodiments, the brackets may be mirror-images of each other. One side of the two-bracket system holds a panel over part of the left side of the backboard. The other side of the two-bracket system holds a panel over part of the right side of the backboard. In some two-bracket embodiments, the left bracket and the right bracket each have mounting apertures passing through the horizontal member. The mounting apertures through the horizontal member of a left bracket may align with the mounting apertures through the horizontal member of a right bracket. The pattern of mounting apertures of the left bracket and the pattern of the mounting apertures of the right bracket may align when the horizontal member of the left bracket is overlaid above or below the horizontal member of the right bracket. In some embodiments, the left bracket, right bracket, and the magnetic coupling system are assembled together by overlaying the horizontal member