Apparatus for water basketball game

Sept. 30, 1969 j. a. sindelar

3,469,844 *

APPARATUS FOR WATER BASKETBALL GAME

Filed Oct. 14, 1966 >

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3,469,844

Patented Sept. 30, 1969

United States Patent Office

3,469,844 APPARATUS FOR WATER BASKETBALL GAME James A. Sindelar, Brookfield, Ill., assignor to Sindelar Water Basketball Co., Brookfield, HI., a partnership of Illinois

Filed Oct. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 586,827 Int. Cl. A63b 63/00

U.S. Cl. 273—105 8 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A water basketball apparatus comprising an annular flotation ring, preferably formed by an inflatable tube, and a basketball hoop supported on the flotation ring. There are a plurality of generally equally spaced support members extending upwardly from the flotation ring which are secured to and support the basketball hoop at their upper ends. The generally equally spaced support members have lower ends which cooperate with straps to secure the support members to the flotation ring.

This invention relates to an apparatus for playing a water sport, for example water basketball or the like.

A primary purpose of the invention is an apparatus of the type described which is simple in construction, rugged and easily assembled.

Another purpose is a water sport apparatus including a flotation ring, and a hoop, supported above and in spaced relation to the flotation ring for use in playing water basketball or the like.

Another purpose is a water sport apparatus in which a hoop is supported by a plurality of generally equally spaced support members secured to and resting upon an inner support surface of a flotation ring.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the apparatus disclosed herein,

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the net removed, and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section illustrating the connection between the hoop and the support members.

In FIGURE 1, a flotation ring is indicated at 10 and, for example, may be an inflatable rubber tube or the like. The invention should not be limited to any particular type of flotation ring as there are many plastics, for example foam polyurethane or foam polystyrene, which may provide a satisfactory flotation ring. The ring 10 may be inflatable or solid, rubber or a rubber substitute, for example vinyl. What is important is to have a large annulus, for example of the order of four feet in outside diameter, which will float high upon the water so as to provide a firm base for the apparatus described herein.

Extending upwardly from the flotation ring 10 are a plurality of support members 12, which as shown herein, may be metal rods or the like. There may be three such rods, or there may be more or less, and it is preferred that they be generally equally spaced about the circumference of the ring 10. Each of the supports 12 may have a lower end 14, which has a generally closed loop or closed opening 16. There may be a plurality of straps 18, one for each support member, which extend about the ring 10 and pass through the opening 16 to secure the support members to the ring 10. It is important that the lower ends of the support members be inside of or at least on the downwardly extending inner curved surface of the ring 10 so that there is support for the members 12 both in an upward direction and also in an outward direction.

For example, if the lower ends of the support members 12 were right at the top of the ring 10, there might be a tendency for the entire apparatus mounted on the ring 10 to shift. Also, if the support members were outside of the ₅ top center of the ring 10, there might be a tendency for the entire apparatus mounted on the ring 10 to shift. Also, if the support members were outside of the top center of the ring 10, there might be a tendency for the entire apparatus to shift. In any event, it is preferred to 10 have the support members 12 positioned and seated on the ring 10 in a manner to provide both horizontal and vertical support.

The upper ends of each of the support member 12 may be threaded, as at 20. There may be a hoop 22, 15 which may be a basketball hoop, and which has a plurality, in this case three, downwardly and outwardly extending sockets 24, welded or otherwise connected to the lower edge of the hoop 22. The internal surface of the sockets 24 are threaded for mating engagement with the 20 threaded ends 20 of the rods 12. In this way, there may be a secure connection between the rods and the hoop which they support. The threaded connection between the hoop and its support also provide adjustment of the supports 12 until the proper angle relationship between 25 the ring, supports and hoop have been obtained. There may be a net 26, as is conventional in basketball, which net is fastened to the lower edge of the hoop by brackets or the like 28.

There may be a plurality, in this case three, cords 30 30 which have loops through which the straps 18 pass for use in securing the outer ends of the cords 30 to the ring 10. The inner ends of the cords 30 are all fastened together, as at 32, and there may be an anchor rope 34 connected at the point 32. An anchor 36 may be on the 35 opposite end of the anchor cord 34. The anchor is not necessary in every application but is desirable to keep the entire apparatus in a particular location in either a pool, a section of a lake, pond, river or the like.

The invention should not be limited to any particular 40 materials for forming any of the members. Although an inflatable rubber tube has been found to be satisfactory and practical, other types of flotation rings may be used. In like manner, the material forming the straps may vary, although plastic coated straps have been found to be satis45 factory as they prevent stretching once the strap becomes wet. A polyethylene net is also advantageous in that it will not deteriorate as rapidly as would a cotton or cord net. The hoop, naturally, is of metal, although it may be otherwise, and the support members 12 are preferably 60 metal rods so that their ends may be threaded and so that they may help to support in a rugged and wearable manner the hoop 22. The invention should not be limited to a basketball hoop nor use of the apparatus in a basketball game. The structure obviously has other 65 water sport uses.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.