Basketball Hoop Shot Detection System

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

The disclosure relates to basketball hoop accessories and more particularly pertains to a new basketball hoop shot detection system for detecting made shots and playing an audio sound in response to the made shots, such as music, sound effects, and messages, which would enhance the basketball playing experience. The basketball hoop shot detection system is portable for use on any basketball hoop.

The prior art relates to basketball hoop accessories. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose a basketball hoop shot detection system that includes a detection assembly and a computer application, wherein the detection assembly is removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and is designed to detect made shots and transmit the information to a personal electronic device on which the computer application is installed, wherein the computer application is programmed to play audio sounds on a portable audio speaker paired to the personal electronic device in response to made shots.

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a basketball hoop shot detection system generally comprising a detection assembly and a computer application. The detection assembly is removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracket and includes a motion sensor and a wireless transmitter to transmit information received from the motion sensor to a personal electronic device. The computer application is installable on a personal electronic device and designed to receive information from the motion sensor regarding movement of a shot basketball through a basketball hoop and past the motion sensor, and designed to send audio information that includes at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular tothereof, a new basketball hoop shot detection system embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeralwill be described.

As best illustrated in, the basketball hoop shot detection systemgenerally comprises a detection assemblyand a computer application. The detection assemblyis removably attachable to a basketball hoop mounting bracketand includes a motion sensorand a wireless transmitterto transmit information received from the motion sensorto a personal electronic device. The computer application is installable on a personal electronic device and designed to receive information from the motion sensorregarding movement of a shot basketballthrough a basketball hoopand past the motion sensor, and designed to send audio information that includes at least one of music, sound effects, and messages to a portable audio speaker to be played.

In one possible embodiment, the computer application is designed to receive and display the number of shot basketballsdetected by the motion detector. The computer application can be programmed with a pre-selected set of audio files, or can be customized by the user with audio files selected by the user.

As best seen in, the detection assemblyincludes a housingcontaining the motion sensorand the wireless transmitter. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the housinghas a box-shaped portionand a dome portionextending out from the box-shaped portion, which dome portioncontains the motion sensor. Also as shown in, the detection assemblyfurther includes a microprocessorpositioned in the housingand operatively connecting the motion sensorand the wireless transmitter. The detection assemblyincludes a rechargeable power sourcepositioned in the housingand operatively connected to each of the microprocessor, the wireless transmitter, and the motion sensor, as also shown in. The power sourcecould be a battery that could be replaced or recharged, such as by a USB charger. As shown in, the detection assemblyincludes a magnetic layerattached to a back surface of the housingto permit removable attachment of the housingto the basketball hoop mounting bracket. A peel-away covercould be used to protect the magnetic layerprior to its first use, though this is optional.

In one possible embodiment, as shown in, the motion sensorhas a limited field of detectiondirected at an area below a rimof the basketball hoopto minimize detection of a shot basketballnot passing through a netof the basketball hoop. The field of detectioncould essentially cover the area encompassed by the net, such that missed shots or shots that travel partially below the rimand bounce out would not be counted as made shots.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in, the basketball hoop shot detection systemcan also include an installation deviceto permit attachment and removal of the detection assemblyto and from the basketball hoop mounting bracketby a user standing at ground level. The installation deviceincludes an elongated memberand an engagement structureto engage the detection assembly. In the exemplary embodiment, the elongated memberis in the form of a telescoping rod assembly, though a solid rod could be used. As best seen in, the engagement structureincludes a threaded projection. With reference to, the threaded projectionis designed to be screwed into a threaded receptaclein the housingof the detection assembly.

The basketball hoop shot detection systemis used to enhance practicing or playing a game of basketball. As shown in, the user first installs the detection assemblyon the basketball hoop mounting bracket, which can be accomplished using the installation device. The user connects the end of the installation device, in this case the threaded projection, to the detection assembly, in this case the threaded receptaclein the housing. The user then lifts and places the magnetic layeradjacent the basketball hoop mounting bracket. Once temporarily attached to the basketball hoop mounting bracketby the magnetic layer, the user disconnects the installation device, in this case by unscrewing the threaded projection. The user can now activate the computer application of a personal electronic device, such as a smartphone, which is paired to an audio speaker, such as a portable speaker or boombox. The user can now shoot basketballsinto the hoop. When a shot is successfully made, i.e., the basketballpasses through the rimand into the net, the motion detector detects this event and the information is transmitted to the personal electronic device. The personal electronic devicethen plays an audio file through the audio speaker. The audio file can be virtually any sound, such as music, sound effects, and messages, which will enhance the enjoyment of playing basketball. When the user is done playing, he can remove the detection assemblyfrom the basketball hoop mounting bracket, again using the installation device. The user can thereby use the detection assemblyin a portable manner on any basketball hoopanywhere.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.