Tennis, golf and basketball training device having an adjustable hoop

Abstract

A portable training device to be used during sports and non-sports related practice activities. The training device includes a stand to rest on a surface, an adjustable hoop through which an object is moved during practice, and a hoop support extending between the stand and the hoop. In one embodiment, the adjustable hoop is rotatable between a vertical position, standing upwardly from and in axial alignment with the hoop support, and a horizontal position, facing the flat surface in perpendicular alignment with the hoop support. The length of the hoop support is adjustable so that the distance between the hoop and the stand can be correspondingly adjusted to meet the needs of the user.

1 . A training device, comprising:
 a stand to lay on a surface;   a hoop having an opening through which to move an object by one using the training device;   a hoop support extending between said stand and said hoop to hold said hoop above said stand, said hoop coupled to said hoop support such that said hoop is rotatable relative to said hoop support from a first location to a second location; and   a hoop connector pivotally connected between said hoop support and said hoop so that said hoop is rotatable relative to said hoop support at said hoop connector, said hoop connector being detachably connected to said hoop support so that said hoop is correspondingly detachable from said hoop support.   
     
     
         2 . The training device recited in  claim 1 , wherein said stand has a vertical upstanding member and plurality of legs, said legs being rotatable relative to said vertical upstanding member from a first position extending outwardly from said member to a second position extending alongside said member. 
     
     
         3 . The training device recited in  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of legs is pivotally connected to the vertical upstanding member of said stand by way of at least one leg bracket, said leg bracket having a set of locking holes formed therein, and each leg having at least one spring biased locking pin extending therefrom to be urged into removable receipt by different ones of said set of locking holes of said bracket when said legs are rotated relative to said vertical upstanding member between said first and said second positions. 
     
     
         4 . The training device recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hoop support includes at least a hollow first height-adjustment member interconnected with said stand and a second height-adjustment member interconnected with said hoop, said second height-adjustment member being slidable inwardly and out of said hollow first height-adjustment member to correspondingly adjust the length of said hoop support between said stand and said hoop, said training device further comprising a flexible locking collar surrounding said second height-adjustment member and coupled to said first height-adjustment member, said flexible locking collar adapted to apply a compressive force to said second height-adjustment member to prevent a displacement of said second height-adjustment member relative to said first height-adjustment member. 
     
     
         5 . The training device recited in  claim 4 , further comprising an end cap connected to said first height-adjustment member, said flexible locking collar coupled to said first height-adjustment member at said end cap thereof to prevent the displacement of said second height-adjustment member relative to said first height-adjustment member in response to the compressive force, applied by said flexible locking collar to said second height-adjustment member. 
     
     
         6 . The training device recited in  claim 5 , wherein said end cap is disposed below said flexible locking collar and in surrounding engagement with said first height-adjustment member. 
     
     
         7 . The training device recited in  claim 4 , wherein there is an open gap running through said flexible locking collar so that a first part of said locking collar is spaced from an adjacent part by said open gap, said training device further comprising means to apply the compressive force to said flexible locking collar such that said open gap between the first and adjacent parts of said flexible locking collar is closed to tighten said flexible locking collar around said second height-adjustment member. 
     
     
         8 . The training device recited in  claim 7 , wherein the means for applying the compressive force to said flexible locking collar includes a pair of spaced, axially aligned sleeves respectively connected to said locking collar at the first and adjacent parts thereof, said training device further comprising a fastener moving through said spaced sleeves to pull said sleeves together and close the open gap between the first and adjacent parts of said flexible locking collar. 
     
     
         9 . The training device recited in  claim 7 , wherein said fastener is a threaded bolt, said training device further comprising a threaded locking knob connected to one end of said threaded bolt, such that a rotation of said locking knob causes said threaded bolt to move through said spaced sleeves to thereby pull said sleeves together and close said gap. 
     
     
         10 . The training device recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hoop connector includes a first end connected to said hoop and an opposite end, said training device further comprising a pin extending laterally through said hoop support, the opposite end of said hoop connector being pivotally connected to said hoop support at said pin thereof so that said hoop is rotatable relative to said hoop support. 
     
     
         11 . The training device recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first end of said hoop connector includes a head having first and opposite projections, and said hoop includes a pair of receptacles that are spaced from one another, the first and opposite projections at the head of said hoop connector being received by respective ones of the pair of receptacles of said hoop, whereby said hoop is connected to said hoop connector. 
     
     
         12 . The training device recited in  claim 10 , wherein said pin is a threaded pin, said training device further comprising a threaded locking knob detachably connected to one end of said threaded pin, said locking knob being detachable from said pin to enable said pin to be removed from said hoop support and said hoop connector to be detached from said hoop support. 
     
     
         13 . The training device recited in  claim 10 , wherein said hoop connector includes a pair of ears located adjacent opposite sides of said hoop support, said pin extending through said pair of ears and said hoop support therebetween, each of said pair of ears having a slit formed therein, said hoop connector being detached from said hoop support in response to a pulling force applied to said hoop connector to cause said hoop connector to be pulled off said pin by way of the slits formed in said ears. 
     
     
         14 . The training device recited in  claim 1 , wherein said, hoop support includes a first vertical member standing upwardly from said stand, a horizontal member extending outwardly from said first vertical member, and a second vertical member extending downwardly from said horizontal member, said hoop connector being detachably connected to said second vertical member such that said hoop is suspended by said second vertical member above the stand. 
     
     
         15 . The training device recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a first elbow joint by which to connect said first vertical member to one end of said horizontal member, and a second elbow joint by which to connect said second vertical member to the opposite end of said horizontal member. 
     
     
         16 . The training device recited in  claim 14 , wherein said hoop connector is pivotally and detachably connected to said second vertical member by means of a pin removably received through each of said hoop connector and said second vertical member.