Collapsible ball game practice device

This application is a continuation in part of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/214,463 filed Jun. 19, 2008 by the inventors herein and entitled COLLAPSIBLE BALL GAME PRACTICE DEVICE which application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/472,956 filed Jun. 22, 2006 by the inventors herein and entitled “COLLAPSIBLE BALL GAME PRACTICE DEVICE.”

The present invention relates to a collapsible ball practice device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a collapsible game practice device particularly used for basketball and volleyball wherein portions representing a head and arms may be collapsed into an upper section and all of the sections above a bottom section collapsed into the bottom section for transport and/or storage.

To become an accomplished basketball player, many hours of practice are required under conditions simulating as closely as possible actual playing conditions. A person practicing basketball proficiency needs to practice not only making basketball shots from a fixed position into an unobstructed manner, but also practicing shots when there is an obstruction, such as a defensive player in front of him or her. It is often difficult to find a person who will act as a defensive player for extended periods of time and sometimes it is difficult to even find anyone available to participate in a practice session. Accordingly, there is a need for a dummy basketball defensive player for use in practicing the game of basketball. A previous attempt has been made in this area, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,862—Curtis. Curtis discloses the use of a basketball dummy player. However, there is also a need to be able to easily transport such a dummy player to a place of basketball game practice. There is also a need to be able to store such a dummy when not in use in a manner which does not take up an inordinate amount of space.

Another ball game where a dummy is particularly useful for practice is that of volleyball. The present invention may be particularly useful in volleyball practice.

The present invention provides a defensive dummy or ball game practice device particularly useful for basketball and volleyball practice which may be collapsed for transporting the device to and from the place of basketball or volleyball practice and collapsed for storing the device when it is not in use.

In accordance with the present invention, the ball game practice device may be quickly and easily extended or raised to the full height of a normal player and provided with a head and moveable positionable arms.

An advantage of the present invention is that the arms may be positioned in two orthogonal directions thereby allowing the arms not only to be raised and lowered but also to be extended outwardly from the main body to provide a more realistic representation of a defensive player.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the arms may be locked in position by detent mechanisms.

An advantage of the present invention is that the entire device may be quickly and easily collapsed into one of a plurality of sections making up the device.

Briefly and basically, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, a device is provided for use by practicing ball players which comprises a plurality of sections, each section above a lower section being substantially collapsible into the lower section. Means are provided on an upper portion of each lower section and a lower portion of each upper section to secure each upper section when raised. Mounting means are provided on the bottom of the lower section for releasably securing it to a ball playing surface. Each upper section may be raised and secured for play, and collapsed substantially completely into the lowest section for transport and/or storage.

Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, the collapsible ball game practice device of the present invention may be provided with a head which may be collapsible into the uppermost portion. Additionally, the collapsible ball game practice device of the present invention may be provided with collapsible rotatable arms which may be rotatably mounted to the uppermost section and the arms may be collapsed and slid into the uppermost section such that the arms and head are contained within the uppermost section and all of the upper sections are collapsible into the lowermost section. The arms may be rotatable in two orthogonal directions to provide positioning upwardly, downwardly and outwardly from the main body, and locked in position by detent mechanisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a collapsible ball game practice device in accordance with the present invention.

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