Collapsible ball game practice device

Abstract

A collapsible ball game practice device is comprised of a plurality of sections, each section above a lower section being substantially collapsible into the lower section. Detent structure is provided on an upper portion of each lower section and a lower portion of each upper section to secure each upper section when raised to its raised condition. A mounting structure is provided on the bottom of the lowermost section for releasably securing the device to a basketball playing surface. Arms may be angularly adjusted to various positions in two orthogonal directions. These adjustments may be made by two angularly adjustable structures located near the upper end of the arms. The arms may be collapsed and slid on a carrier into the uppermost section. A head structure may also be slid into the uppermost section. The sections may be collapsed such that all of them may be collapsed into the lowest section. A handle is provided in the top of the head structure for carrying the entire assembly. The collapsed device may be easily transported and/or stored. The device is particularly useful as a defensive dummy in practicing the games of basketball and volleyball.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of dummy basketball or volleyball body sections, each body section above a lower body section being substantially slidably collapsible into the lower sections;   a head section having a cross sectioned dimension smaller than a dimension of said body sections;   an uppermost dummy body section being provided with a recess for receiving said head section corresponding to a dummy head;   means for securing said head section in an extended position and in a contracted position;   said uppermost body section being provided with means for slidably receiving at least one arm, said at least one arm being comprised of a plurality of slidably collapsible section, said at least one arm being slidably collapsible into said uppermost body section;   means for securing said dummy body sections in an extended position and in a contracted position;   means for securing said arm sections in an extended condition and in a contracted condition;   said at least one arm being angularly positionable in various positions in two orthogonal directions to act as a defensive basketball or volleyball arm;   a handle for carrying said apparatus when said body sections are in a collapsed condition; and   wherein said apparatus may be extended with said at least one arm positioned in two orthogonal directions for use as a dummy in the practice of basketball or volleyball and contracted for carriage by said handle and storage.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  including a first means and a second means for angularly positioning said at least one arm in various positions in two orthogonal directions, said first means including pivot means for pivoting in a first plane with detents at an upper end of said at least one arm and said second means including angular adjustable structure near said upper end of said at least one arm for angular adjustment in a second plane which is orthogonal to said first plane. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said second means includes a pair of members, one member having projections which rides in a track in a second member and wherein said projections are releasably lockable in recesses formed in said track. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said track is substantially U shaped. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said second means includes a pair of U shaped tracks. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each body section has a height in the range of approximately 10 to approximately 18 inches. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said means for securing said dummy body sections in an extended condition comprises means on the upper portion of each lower body section and the lower portion of each upper body section to secure each upper section when raised in the form of a detent mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said detent mechanism is comprised of an opening in the upper portion of each lower body section and a projection on the lower portion of each upper body section. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said projection may be depressed to unsecure and lower an upper section. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said mounting means on the bottom of the lowest body section is comprised of suction cups. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said collapsible sections of said arm may be secured in an extended position by a detent mechanism. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said collapsed arms may be slid into the upper section and the upper section slid into the section below it with the entire device being collapsed to the height of a single body section. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of sections is matingly non-round in plan cross section. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  including a second detent mechanism for securing the plurality of body sections in a contracted condition wherein all of the upper body sections are collapsed into a lowermost section.