Basketball training aid

Abstract

A basketball training device is adapted to be detachably mounted on a rim of a standard basketball goal to improve a player's ability to make successful shots into the goal. The device comprises an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall protruding from an arcuate, semi-cylindrical base that is adapted to fit over the rim. The device is secured in place on the rim by hooks and straps located at each end of the base. The hooks extend under the rim to prevent horizontal movement and straps wrap around the rim and the base and are secured by hook and loop material to prevent vertical movement. Once the device is secured on the rim, the vertical wall extends above the horizontal plane of the rim to deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A basketball training device for attachment to a rim of a standard basketball goal, comprising: 
 (a) an arcuate, semi-cylindrical base defining a convex surface and a concave surface forming a groove;    (b) an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall extending from the convex surface of said semi-cylindrical base, said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall describing a circular arc, the groove defined by said semi-cylindrical base being adapted for closely conforming to the top front of a rim of a basketball goal; and    (c) means for attaching said semi-cylindrical base to the rim of the basketball goal.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching comprises a pair of straps attached to opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising mating patches of hook and loop fastening material attached to opposite surfaces of each said strap, each said strap having a first end attached to said circular base and an opposite end adapted for being wrapped around said semi-cylindrical base and the rim and secured by said mating patches of fastening material.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for preventing lateral rotation of said semi-cylindrical base about the rim of the basketball goal.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said means for preventing lateral rotation comprises two C-shaped hooks, each extending below said base, said hooks being spaced apart at opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base and being adapted for abutting net-holding loops depending from the rim.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall are formed in one piece from a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said thermoplastic material is polypropylene.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said thermoplastic material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said vertical wall extends about 3.75 inches in height and about 13 inches circumferentially.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said base extends about 1.25 inches in height and about 18.25 inches circumferentially.  
     
     
         11 . A basketball training device for attachment to a rim of a standard basketball goal, comprising: 
 (a) an arcuate, semi-cylindrical base defining a convex surface and a concave surface forming a groove;    (b) an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall extending from the convex surface of said semi-cylindrical base, said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall describing a circular arc, the groove defined by said semi-cylindrical base being adapted for closely conforming to the top front of a rim of a basketball goal; and    (c) means for preventing lateral rotation of said semi-cylindrical base about the rim of the basketball goal.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said means for preventing lateral rotation comprises two C-shaped hooks, each extending below said base, said hooks being spaced apart at opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base and being adapted for abutting net-holding loops depending from the rim.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising means for attaching said semi-cylindrical base to the rim of the basketball goal.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said means for attaching comprises a pair of straps attached to opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising mating patches of hook and loop fastening material attached to opposite surfaces of each said strap, each said strap having a first end attached to said circular base and an opposite end adapted for being wrapped around said semi-cylindrical base and the rim and secured by said mating patches of fastening material.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall are formed in one piece from a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said thermoplastic material is polypropylene.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said thermoplastic material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said vertical wall extends about 3.75 inches in height and about 13 inches circumferentially.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said base has a height of about 1.25 inches and extends about 18.25 inches circumferentially.