Basketball goal assembly having obliquely truncated ball-directing net

Abstract

A basketball goal assembly has a truncated net with a front side shorter than the rear side. The net may be cylindrical or conical and may be concave or convex, and the bottom rim may be cylindrical or elliptical. A basketball passing through a basketball goal having a truncated net will be directed in the direction in which the net is truncated.

1 . A basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net comprising:
 a backboard;   a horizontal rim mounted on the backboard;   a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim and extending downward from the horizontal rim;   wherein a distance from the top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than a distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the opening is oblique.   
     
     
         2 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 1  wherein the bottom opening is circular. 
     
     
         3 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 2  wherein the net has a shape conforming to a truncated solid selected from the group consisting of a truncated cone, an oblique truncated cone, a truncated cylinder, an oblique truncated cylinder, a truncated right cylinder, an oblique truncated prism, a right truncated prism, a tapered truncated prism, and a curved truncated elliptical cone. 
     
     
         4 . A basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net comprising:
 a backboard;   a horizontal rim mounted on the backboard;   a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim and extending downward from the horizontal rim;   wherein a distance from the top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than a distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the bottom opening is oblique and elliptical.   
     
     
         5 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 4  wherein the top half of the net is convex. 
     
     
         6 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 5  wherein the bottom half of the net is concave. 
     
     
         7 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 6  wherein the net has a shape conforming to an oblique truncated cone. 
     
     
         8 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 4  wherein a material used to form the net consists essentially of flexible fibers woven together. 
     
     
         9 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 4  wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 30°. 
     
     
         10 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 9  wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 45°. 
     
     
         11 . The basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 4  wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim between 30° and 60°. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net comprising:
 providing a backboard;   attaching a horizontal, circular rim to the backboard;   affixing a net to the rim;   wherein the net comprises:   a truncated net having a circular top opening attached to the horizontal rim and extending downward from the horizontal rim;   a distance from the top opening to a bottom opening on a front side of the net is less than a distance from the top opening to the bottom opening on a rear side of the net, such that the bottom opening is oblique and elliptical.   
     
     
         13 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 12  wherein the top half of the net is convex. 
     
     
         14 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 13  wherein the bottom half of the net is concave. 
     
     
         15 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 14  wherein the net has a shape conforming to an oblique truncated cone. 
     
     
         16 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 12  wherein a material used to form the net consists essentially of flexible fibers woven together. 
     
     
         17 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 12  wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 30°. 
     
     
         18 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 17  wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim of at least 45°. 
     
     
         19 . The method manufacturing the basketball goal assembly having a ball directing net of  claim 12  wherein the oblique opening at the bottom of the net forms an angle with the horizontal rim between 30° and 60°.