Basketball training device

Abstract

A training device for removable attachment to a basketball rim produces a smaller effective rim diameter. The device is of monolithic plastic construction, having a flat upper surface bounded by concentric outer and inner circular perimeters. Associated with the outer perimeter are guidance and stabilizer clips. The guidance clip facilitates placement of the device on the basketball rim, and the stabilizer clips secure the device upon the basketball rim by a snap-on effect with application of downward force.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A device of monolithic plastic construction for removable attachment to a circular basketball rim of regulation inside and outside diameter and circular cross sectional configuration, said device comprised of: 
 a) a panel of ring configuration bounded by upper and lower surfaces and concentric outer and inner circular perimeters, said outer perimeter having a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said basketball rim, and said inner perimeter having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said outer perimeter,    b) a guidance clip emergent from said outer perimeter as a continuous integral extension and having an operational center axis of elongation disposed upon a circle concentric with said outer perimeter, said guidance clip having an interior gripping surface of circular arc configuration matching the curvature of said basketball rim with a gap directed radially outward from said outer perimeter, and    c) resilient stabilizer clip means emergent from said outer perimeter as an integral extension thereof and having a center axis of elongation coextensive with the operational axis of said guidance clip, said stabilizer clip means having an interior gripping surface of circular arc configuration with a downwardly directed gap representing between 110 and 140 degrees of an otherwise complete circle of said circular arc, said clip means adapted to tightly embrace said rim when said device is forced downwardly upon said rim.    
     
     
         2 ) The device of  claim 1  containing phosphorescent materials which cause the device to be self-illuminating at night.  
     
     
         3 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of said inner perimeter is about 13.5 inches.  
     
     
         4 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein said upper surface is flat and has a slight downward incline travelling from the outer to inner perimeter.  
     
     
         5 ) The device of  claim 4  wherein said upper surface meets said inner perimeter so as to form a rounded edge having a radius of curvature identical to the transverse curvature of said basketball rim taken in the vertical plane.  
     
     
         6 ) The device of  claim 5  wherein the elevation of said rounded edge is identical to the elevation of the top of a basketball rim upon which said device is functionally emplaced.  
     
     
         7 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the structural strength of the device is enhanced by radially oriented reinforcing ribs incorporated into said lower surface.  
     
     
         8 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the gap of said stabilizer clip means is centered upon a line downwardly directed from horizontal by an angle of between 40 and 60 degrees.  
     
     
         9 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein said stabilizer clip means terminate in a distal lip whose thickness is selected so as to permit resiliency while maintaining adequate strength.  
     
     
         10 ) The device of  claim 9  wherein the thickness of said lip is between 0.17 and 0.20 inch.  
     
     
         11 ) The device of  claim 1  configured in a manner such that said guidance clip facilitates placement of the device upon a basketball rim, whereby downward force applied to the device causes said stabilizer clip means to snap onto said rim.