Other

Shoot-a-way, Inc.

John Michael Joseph

Albert Charles Abnett

Detectors and related systems and methods for automatically detecting made and missed basketball shots using ultrasonics are provided. A launcher is connected to a structural subassembly and passes basketballs to locations about a basketball playing area having a basketball goal. A detector having at least one ultrasonic sensor is selectively positioned below and adjacent to a rim of the basketball goal and transmits bursts of ultrasonic signals. A processor monitors for reflections of the transmitted bursts occurring within a specified time period after transmission excluding an initial time period and time after the specified time period, and records a made shot where reflections of the transmitted bursts are detected within the specified time period. An accelerometer may optionally be included for determining if the made shot was a swish.

Ultrasonic shots-made detector for basketball launching device

An improved gripping member for a weight bearing container. The gripping member is specifically designed to either replace an existing gripping member, or improve a two part handle for a weight bearing container by providing a larger diameter gripping surface. The improved gripping member is formed of two identical mating halves that can be releasably attached to form a cylindrical gripping surface with a relatively large diameter. When attached about an existing gripping member or wire handle portion of a two part handle the inventive gripping member provides a large diameter gripping surface to distribute the weight of the container about a larger portion of the user's palm.

Replacement gripping member

An improved gripping member for a weight bearing container. The gripping member is specifically designed to either replace an existing gripping member, or improve a two part handle for a weight bearing container by providing a larger diameter gripping surface. The improved gripping member is formed of two mating halves that can be releasably attached to form a cylindrical gripping surface with a relatively large diameter. When attached about an existing gripping member or wire handle portion of a two part handle the inventive gripping member provides a large diameter gripping surface to distribute the weight of the container about a larger portion of the user's palm.

An improved cable tie arrangement includes a flexible strap and a locking head. The flexible strap has a series of spaced apertures formed therein. A first group of apertures extending from one end and extending over at least half of the strap, the first group serving to allow for adjustably securing the strap over a cable or other object to be bundled. A second group of apertures extends from an opposing end of said strap, two of the apertures may be used in combination with the locking head to secure a portion of the strap about one loop of a cable to be bundled. The locking head has a central post terminating at opposing ends with radially extending, axially aligned discs sized for locking engagement with the apertures. A third axially aligned disc positioned intermediately along the axis of the post and also radially extending therefrom separates the opposing end discs so that apertures on either end of the strap may be selectively and discretely engaged and disengaged from said discs. The portion of the strap secured to the single loop of the cable may remain attached as the cable is unbundled, thus obviating the need to locate the cable tie when the cable is to be rebundled.

Cable tie

An improved cable tie apparatus includes a flexible strap and a locking head. The flexible strap has a series of spaced apertures formed therein. A first group of apertures extending from one end and extending over at least half of the strap, the first group serving to allow for adjustably securing the strap over a cable or other object to be bundled. A second group of apertures extends from an opposing end of said strap, two of the apertures may be used in combination with the locking head to secure a portion of the strap about one loop of a cable to be bundled. The locking head has a central post terminating at opposing ends with radially extending, axially aligned discs sized for locking engagement with the apertures. A third axially aligned disc positioned intermediately along the axis of the post and also radially extending therefrom separates the opposing end discs so that apertures on either end of the strap may be selectively and discretely engaged and disengaged from said discs. The portion of the strap secured to the single loop of the cable may remain attached as the cable is unbundled, thus obviating the need to locate the cable tie when the cable is to be rebundled.

Cable tie apparatus

A safety pin attachment has a contoured longitudinal center channel and at least three retainer members. The contour of the center channel allows for insertion of a wide range of safety pins therein. Once positioned within the center channel, the retainer members may be urged together about the stationary wire of the safety pin, and an adhesive may be used to permanently secure the attachment to the safety pin. The attachment provides a gripping mass for the safety pin thereby facilitating handling of the safety pin. The attachment may have identifying indicia such as letters or numbers, or may have indicia having a tactile characteristic such as braille or a series of raised portions.

Safety pin attachment

A safety pin attachment which is capable of being releaseably locked about a conventional safety pin. The attachment has a male half and a female half which are adapted for mutual locking engagament. In one embodiment, the male half and the female half are injection molded adjacent each other and lying in the same plane, connected by a living hinge. The living hinge allows the two halves to be folded together until they are releaseably locked about the safety pin.

Attachment for a safety pin

A safety pin attachment which is capable of being releaseably locked about a conventional safety pin. The attachment has a male half and a female half which are adapted for mutual locking engagement. In one embodiment, the male half and the female half are injection molded adjacent each other and lying in the same plane, connected by a living hinge. The living hinge allows the two halves to be folded together until they are releaseably locked about the safety pin.

Attachment for safety pin with identifying indicia

A free-standing, portable basketball retrieval and return apparatus for collecting and returning a succession of shot basketballs to a practicing player includes a vertically-extensible and collapsible support frame, support arms pivotally connected to the support frame, and netting material attached to the support arms for retrieving and collecting shot basketballs and a chute permanently secured to the netting material for directing retrieved basketballs therethrough to a guideway. The basketballs are then directed from the guidewall to an elongated, extensible ramp and therealong to a ramp barrier whereupon the practicing player can retrieve the returned basketballs in order to continue uninterrupted practice shooting. Means are provided, preferably in the form of wheels, which, in combination with the collapsible support frame, enables movement of the apparatus as a unit between its operative position and a storage location as a one-man operation. The apparatus is adapted for use with a pole- or wall-mounted backboard or, alternatively, with a backboard member which is removably secured to the top of the support frame in a position substantially in the same vertical plane as the support frame.

Portable basketball retrieval apparatus

A portable apparatus having a funnel-like ball collector for disposition generally circumjacent a mounted basketball hoop on a basketball court and including a diverter mechanism beneath the collector for receiving successive basketballs from the collector and diverting them outwardly to one or more player positions on the court to enable such players to continually practice throwing the balls to the hoop without having to change position.

Basketball retrieval apparatus

The disclosure is of a game which comprises a planar sheet having an upper playing surface with designated playing zones. A plurality of indicia is mounted on designated zones of the playing area. A plurality of game pieces are provided, one per each of the indicia. The game pieces are marked to correspond to the indicia which they represent. Additional game pieces are provided which do not bear indicia corresponding to the indicia on the playing surface. Also a game piece is provided designated with a winning symbol. A means is also provided for randomly selecting one of the game pieces. In operation, from two to four players, in a designated order, randomly select game pieces. If the game piece selected corresponds to indicia on the playing surface assigned to that player, the player receives credit for such selection. After receiving credit for all of the indicia assigned to that player, should the player then select the winning game piece, he is acclaimed as the winner of the game. The game is recreational in nature but also assumes an educational function in that it can be used to train players to calculate probabilities of selecting desired game pieces.

Game playing method

A skimmer aid device that is detachably secured to the skimmer inlet of a swimming pool. The device directs surface debris to the skimmer for removal from the swimming pool and the ultimate collection of said debris.

Growing community of inventors

Sacremento, CA, United States of America

John Michael Joseph