System for, and method of, indicating to a child the accuracy of shooting a basketball to make a basket

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a backboard, a rim on the backboard and a net extending from the rim are provided for a child shooting a basketball. A first sensor on the backboard produces a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard. A second sensor disposed relative to the rim produces a second signal when the basketball hits the rim. A third sensor disposed relative to the net produces a third signal when the basketball passes through the net. The first, second and third sensors may respectively include first, second and third switches which respectively close when the basketball hits the backboard, when the basketball hits the rim and when the basketball passes through the net and which respectively cause the first, second and third signals to be produced when they close. The first, second and third signals may be processed as by a microprocessor to provide an indication of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. The processing of the first signal relative to the second and third signals may be delayed to coordinate the operation of the microprocessor in indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. Similarly, the processing of the second signal may be delayed relative to the processing of the third signal. The path of movement of the basketball may be indicated on a sensory basis such as orally and in a manner to offer encouragement to the child.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player, 
 a basketball backboard,    a rim supported by the backboard,    a net supported by the rim,    a first member disposed on the backboard and responsive to the impingement of the basketball against the backboard for producing a first indication,    a second member disposed relative to the rim and responsive to the impingement of the basketball on the rim for producing a second indication,    a third member responsive to the passage of the basketball through the net for producing a third indication, and    a microprocessor responsive to the production of individual ones and combinations of the first, second and third indications for indicating whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net.    
     
     
         2 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 a sensory recorder responsive to the indications from the individual ones of the first, second and third sensors and responsive to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating whether the basketball has passed through the net and, if so, whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim before passing through the net.    
     
     
         3 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 a voice recorder responsive to the production of individual ones of the first, second and third signals and responsive to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating orally whether the basketball has passed through the net and, if not, whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim.    
     
     
         4 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein 
 the first, second and third members respectively include first, second and third switches.    
     
     
         5 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 delays respectively associated with the first and second members in introducing the signals from the first and second members to the recorder.    
     
     
         6 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and the rim but has not passed through the net.    
     
     
         7 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon an individual one of the backboard and the rim but not the other one of the backboard and the rim and has not passed through the net.    
     
     
         8 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without impinging upon the backboard and the rim.    
     
     
         9 . In a combination as set forth to  claim 1 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon an individual one of the backboard and the rim.    
     
     
         10 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from the individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and then the rim and has passed through the net.    
     
     
         11 . In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player, 
 a backboard,    a rim supported by the backboard,    a net extending downwardly from the rim,    a first sensor for providing a first signal when the basketball shot by the player hits the backboard,    a second sensor for providing a second signal when the basketball shot by the player hits the rim,    a third sensor for providing a third signal when the basketball shot by the player passes through the net, and    a processor responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals and to combinations of the first, second and third signals for indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.    
     
     
         12 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11 , including, 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from the processor for providing a sensory report of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.    
     
     
         13 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein 
 delays are provided in the responses of the processor to the signals from the individual ones of the first and second sensors relative to the response of the processor to the signal from the third sensor.  
 
     
     
         14 . In a combination as recited in  claim 12  wherein the sensory apparatus constitutes a voice recorder for providing an audible report of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net and wherein 
 delays are provided in the response of the processor to the signals from the individual ones of the first and second sensors relative to the response of the processor to the signal from the third sensor.  
 
     
     
         15 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 14  wherein 
 the first sensor includes a first switch disposed relative to the backboard to provide the first signal when the basketball impinges on the backboard and wherein  
 the second sensor includes a second switch disposed relative to the rim to provide the second signal when the basketball impinges on the rim and wherein  
 the third sensor includes a third switch disposed relative to the net to provide the third signal when the basketball passes through the net.  
 
     
     
         16 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 15  wherein 
 the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating the impingement of the basketball against individual ones of the backboard and the rim and the subsequent movement of the basketball relative to the net.  
 
     
     
         17 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein 
 the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net.  
 
     
     
         18 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein 
 the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has not passed through the net.  
 
     
     
         19 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein 
 the processor is responsive to the production of the third signal without the previous production of individual ones of the first and second signals for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without having previously impinged upon the backboard or the rim.  
 
     
     
         20 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein 
 the processor is responsive to the production of the third signal without the previous production of individual ones of the first and second signals for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without having previously impinged upon the backboard or the rim and wherein  
 the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net and wherein  
 the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has not passed through the net and wherein  
 the processor is responsive to the production of the third signal without the previous production of individual ones of the first and second signals for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without impinging upon the backboard or the rim and wherein  
 the processor is responsive to the individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and the rim and then has passed through the net.  
 
     
     
         21 . In combination for use with a basketball shot by a player, 
 a backboard,    a first sensor disposed relative to the backboard for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player hits the backboard,    a rim disposed on the backboard,    a second sensor disposed relative to the rim for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player hits the rim,    a net extending from the rim,    a third sensor disposed relative to the net for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player passes through the net, and    a processor operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating whether or not the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and whether or not the basketball has impinged upon the rim and whether or not the basketball has passed through the net.    
     
     
         22 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 21 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications of the processor for providing a sensory indication of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.    
     
     
         23 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 21 , 
 the processor being operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating the movement through the net of the basketball shot by the player and for indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball passes through the net.    
     
     
         24 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 21 , 
 the processor being operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating the failure of the basketball to pass through the net and for indicating the path of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball fails to pass through the net.    
     
     
         25 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 21 , 
 sensory apparatus responsive to the indications of the processor for providing a sensory indication of a failure of the basketball to pass through the net and of the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball fails to pass through the net,    the sensory apparatus being responsive to the indications of the processor for providing a sensory indication of a passage of the basketball through the net and of the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball passes through the net.    
     
     
         26 . In a method of indicating the flight path of a basketball when the basketball is shot by a player, the steps of: 
 providing a basketball backboard and a rim supported by the backboard and a net supported by the rim,    providing a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard,    providing a second signal when the basketball hits the rim,    providing a third signal when the basketball passes through the net, and    processing the production, or the lack of production, of respective ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate the flight path of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.    
     
     
         27 . In a method as set forth im  claim 26 , the step of: 
 providing a sensory indication of the path of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.    
     
     
         28 . In a method as set forth in  claim 26  wherein 
 the processing of the first and second signals is delayed to coordinate the processing of the first and second signals with the processing of the third signal to indicate the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.  
 
     
     
         29 . In a method as set forth in  claim 26 , the step of: 
 providing a sensory indication of the movement of the basketball through the net and the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the net before the movement of the basketball through the net.    
     
     
         30 . In a method as set forth in  claim 26 , including the step of: 
 providing a sensory indication of the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim without passing through the net.    
     
     
         31 . In a method as set forth in  claim 29  wherein 
 the processing of the first and second signals is delayed to coordinate the processing of the first and second signals with the processing of the third signal to indicate the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player and wherein the sensory indication is audible.  
 
     
     
         32 . In a method as set forth in claim  30  wherein 
 the processing of the first and second signals is delayed to coordinate the processing of the first and second signals with the processing of the third signal to indicate the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player and wherein the sensory indication is audible.