Basketball and soccer training device and associated method

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of athletic training aids, and more particularly, it relates to a comprehensive practice aid for use in the training of offensive and defensive skills of basketball and soccer players and a related method.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Since its inception in about 1891, the sport of basketball has primarily consisted of two basic and fundamental components: offense, i.e., having the basketball and attempting to score, and defense, i.e., not having the basketball and attempting the prevention of scoring. The concept of offense incorporates the possession of the basketball. Having the basketball in one\'s possession, a player has essentially three options with respect to the basketball. He or she can either attempt to shoot the ball at the basket, attempt to pass the ball to another player, or attempt to dribble or drive the basketball with the intention of performing one of the two prior options. Having the basketball in one\'s possession, prior to initiating any of these three options, is commonly known in the art of basketball as the triple threat. The concept of defense in basketball consists of preventing a player with the basketball in his or her possession from scoring, passing to another player, or dribbling with the intention of scoring or passing.

The offensive and defensive skill levels needed to successfully play the game of basketball require dedication, hard work, and many hours of practice with a basketball on a basketball court, or other suitable location, providing adequate surface and space. In particular, the development of a basketball player\'s shooting, passing, and dribbling skills requires a player to be able to practice the ability to shoot, pass, or dribble drive a basketball under the pressure of a defensive distraction. Often, the availability of another player to provide a defensive distraction to practice one\'s offensive skills is not an option, as many players must practice alone. Furthermore, most basketball practicing environments involving multiple or individual players, in an effort to improve the fundamentals of offensive basketball skills, have primarily utilized the basic traffic safety cone as a defensive distraction.

An example of such a defensive distraction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,273. Although not originally designed for use as a basketball training aid, such a cone, due to its shape and small size, has become the most popular and most utilized aid on a basketball court. However, beyond distracting an offensive basketball player\'s straight forward motion, the cone does very little to enhance an offensive basketball player\'s triple threat, i.e., shooting, passing, and dribble driving skills.

There has been a plethora of defensive devices, mechanisms, and contraptions designed to enhance the offensive skills of a basketball player—none of which have been visible in the general basketball community or are comprehensive in their approach to enhancing all three aspects of the offensive triple threat. None of these have successfully supplanted the popularity of the basic traffic cone despite its obvious shortcomings.

Many basketball training aids, which have been designed to provide an interactive distraction for an individual practicing basketball, have involved complex and expensive articulating systems, which limit their practicality, present a potential safety hazard to players, or pose a potential danger to the surfaces of a basketball court. Also, many involve complex, electronically-energized, mechanical systems. Players coming into contact with certain equipment can be injured.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,749 discloses a basketball practicing device with rotatable spokes driven by an electric-mounted motor and a gear train. In addition to being a safety hazard, the device is not capable of providing an adequate or realistic defensive posture as a distraction for an offensive triple threat. It also contributes little to a players\' defensive knowledge. The need for electrical power makes the device both cumbersome and impractical for use in certain locations.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,921 discloses a motor-driven device, as well. It discloses a player with a pair of upwardly-projecting arms, which may be moved up and down. This device is also not capable of providing a simulated triple threat defensive position.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,862 discloses a basketball device, which features a telescoping system involving a moveable mechanism of springs and coils to adjust torso height and rotate arms. In addition to inadequately providing a defensive posture for the offensive triple threat, this device also presents a potential safety concern.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,138 discloses a basketball training device featuring a carriage with at least one wheel and a shot-blocking projection extending from the carriage. The user is tethered to the moving device. This device is unsafe for young, developing basketball players and does not offer any assistance toward executing the triple threat offense.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,993 discloses a basketball training device having a pair of movable arms. A paramount problem with this design is safety. This device contains materials, such as springs, coils, and steel, which are unsuitable for a basketball court; especially a basketball court with young, developing basketball players. The device presents an inadequate simulation and an unrealistic defensive challenge.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,951 discloses a sport training device having a fluid-motive operating system for moving limbs. A fluid-containing actuating system presents a potential hazard for anyone playing basketball on a court. Although the patent indicates that the device may be configured to utilize a gas, such as air, the system employs a complex plumbing and activation system, which renders it cumbersome and impractical. The device also fails to provide a comprehensive defensive distraction for the offensive triple threat.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,185 discloses an athletic training device comprising a base, an upright supported by the base, and a planar training shape simulating a human athlete mounted on the upright. The height of the figure can be adjusted, and the arms can be articulated. This device presents obvious safety concerns for a young, developing basketball player on a basketball court because of the use of metal sheets and brackets. This device fails to provide a comprehensive challenge for the offensive triple threat, especially for the dribble drive penetration option. It does not simulate a realistic defensive posture for an offensive triple threat. It narrowly focuses on the blocking of an offensive shot.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,985 discloses a basketball training aid to improve a basketball player\'s shooting accuracy. It has a pair of hands secured to flexible supports. It is not a realistic game condition distraction. The device is severely limited in its ability to challenge the triple threat of an offensive basketball player. Such a device requires the aid of a second participant, which renders it useless to the individual attempting to practice alone. See also United States Patent Publication No. 2006/0199676.

United States Patent Publication No. 2006/0003856 discloses a basketball training device, wherein a wrist support is secured to a longitudinal, rod-like member, which may be reciprocated, so as to adjust the manner in which a player shoots the basketball.

United States Patent Publication No. 2003/0211906 discloses a device, which has a representation of a head and two upreaching arms, attached to a post and secured to a human being, so as to provide an adjustable means of defending against a second player who is shooting the basketball.

United States Design Pat. No. Des. 321,370 discloses a simulated basketball player. The design does not simulate the correct defensive posture to defend the triple threat of an offensive player, as it fails to provide an adequate challenge for the dribble drive option of the triple threat.

United States Design Pat. No. Des. 351,632 discloses a practice dummy for sports. This design has no apparent stabilization, is in an upright position, and does not represent the required position to adequately distract the triple threat of an offensive player.

United States Design Pat. No. Des. 516,629 discloses a sports mannequin. This design is in an upright position and does not represent the required position to adequately distract or simulate a defense against the triple threat of offensive player.

United States Design Pat. No. Des. 539,373 discloses a basketball training device having rotatable arms. This design also fails to address the comprehensive defensive position required to adequately challenge the three options of a triple threat offensive player.