Wastepaper basketball basket

Abstract

A wastepaper basketball basket comprises a cylindrical container and an upright, substantially rectangular barrier. The cylindrical container has a peripheral wall which extends between a closed end and an opposing open end. An arm protrudes from the open end of the container and detachably fits into a pocket in the rectangular barrier. Preferably, the cylindrical container and barrier are shaped to resemble a basketball net and backboard respectively. The barrier is adapted to attach to a vertical support member at any desired elevation. Waste paper or other trash items may be thrown into the container in a manner similar to that in which a basketball is typically directed towards a net.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A wastepaper basketball basket, comprising: 
 an upright barrier including front and rear sides, the front side having a pocket defined therein;    a cylindrical container having a peripheral wall extending between an open end and a closed end, the open end having a rim positioned about its periphery;    an arm extending from the rim, the arm having a horizontal portion extending radially outward from the rim for spacing said cylindrical container apart from said barrier, and an angled portion detachably inserted in said pocket; and    means for detachably mounting the wastepaper basketball basket upon a vertical support surface;    wherein wastepaper is directed through said open end both directly and upon rebound from said barrier.    
     
     
         2 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for detachably mounting the wastepaper basketball basket upon a vertical support surface comprises at least one hook attached to the rear side of said barrier.  
     
     
         3 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed end of said container is defined by a fixed bottom portion fixedly attached to the peripheral wall.  
     
     
         4 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a peripheral ledge disposed about a lower edge of the peripheral wall of said container; and    a detachable bottom portion removably positioned on said peripheral ledge and defining the closed end.    
     
     
         5 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 4 , wherein said detachable bottom further includes a plurality of tabs positioned about its periphery.  
     
     
         6 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , wherein said arm, said cylindrical container, and said barrier are made from a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         7 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , wherein said arm, said cylindrical container, and said barrier are made from fiberglass.  
     
     
         8 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical container and said barrier are shaped to resemble a basketball net and backboard respectively.  
     
     
         9 . The wastepaper basketball basket according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical container has apertures defined therein in order to simulate the appearance of a basketball net.