VGEBY Mini Basketball Hoop Set

Technical Description

Ralph Godfrey

1.0 INTRODUCTION

            Basketball has become one of the most popular sports in the world, connecting athletes from various cultures around the world. Basketball did not always have this status however. Since the invention of the sport in 1891 from Canadian gym teacher James Naismith, the game has been developed and improved in all components from: skills, technique, and materials. These innovations to the game are what have led to the global impact it has on society today. Basketball fans have even found ways to express their passion for the game by incorporating the sport outside of the gymnasium and into their own homes and workspaces by applying mini basketball hoops on doors. Several toy companies such as VGEBY have innovated the mini basketball hoop to sell at reasonable prices while also being a good product. The mini basketball hoop innovated by VGEBY is currently the best mini basketball hoop currently on the online market.

            When James Naismith first invented basketball, it was originally played with wooden peach baskets at 10 feet tall (which is current regulation size on all levels) and a soccer ball as seen in (figure 1.) The hoop also did not have a backboard behind it. The goal has always been to get the ball in the opposing goal more than the opposite team can score in your own defending goal.

2.0 TARGET CONSUMER

            All age groups can use this product. It is great for toddlers and small children who have trouble shooting a real basketball due to lack of physical development. Since it is used inside of the house, parents will not have to worry about leaving the house. Teenagers and students can apply this mini hoop to their door bedroom as a pastime with friends. In addition, adults can also use this product in their work environments to make it friendlier for those that are passionate basketball fans.

Figure 1. Original basketball hoop from 1891.Figure. 16 VGEBY Mini Basketball hoop

3.0 MATERIALS

3.1 PLASTIC RIM

            The rim/goal is the most important part of the basketball hoop. This is where offensive players attempt to shoot the ball into to accumulate points. The mini basketball rim is a perfect circle that sits horizontally with a diameter of 9.05 inches and an area of 64.2inches square inches as seen in (figure 7.) It is made of a firm plastic, similar to the material of the backboard. The rim attaches to the backboard horizontally by screwing in the holes of the small flat connecter attached on the side of the rim as seen in (Figure 7.) The plastic material is better accustomed for a small indoor environment such as an office space or bedroom, as oppose to stiff metal rims which can create greater friction with the rubber ball, creating a higher potential for the ball to land in a random direction, damaging property.

Figure 7. Mini basketball hoop rim

3.2 NYLON NET

            Just like all basketball nets, this net was created using nylon & polyester material. The net is to makes it easier for players, officials and fans to tell when the ball has passed through the rim (McDougall 2011.) The net also makes, making a shot more astatically pleasing when the “swish” sound occurs every time the ball goes through the net and rim. The basketball net is long and thin resembling a polyester shoelace. It is tied into knots creating a cylinder shape with large threaded gaps in between as seen in (Figure 2.)  The net is then attached to the rim with 8-10 threads that loop into the hooks engraved on the bottom of the metal/plastic basketball rim as seen in (Figure 4.) In the case of the VGEBY mini hoop, there are only 8 threads. Sometimes outdoor nets will be made from plastic wire or metal chains, but since mini basketball hoops are strictly for indoor use, there is no need to make it out of these more durable materials.

 Figure 2. Basketball net by itself    Figure 4. Basketball net attached to regulation hoop

            This net is colored in patriotic red white and blue. It hangs under the basketball rim just as a basketball net would on a regulation size basketball rim. The net is attached to the rim using 8 red plastic net hooks. The 8 threads each attach to the 8 hooks simply by clicking the thread through the small gap of the red plastic hook as shown in (Figure 3,) providing enough security that the net will stay in place despite the constant contact it’ll make with the small rubber basketball.

                  Figure 3. Basketball net attached to mini hoop

3.3 PLASTIC BACKBOARD

            One of the largest and most fundamental modifications to the game of basketball since basketball was created is the backboard. It was add to the game 2 years after the initial invention of basketball to “keep fans from interfering,” as they would constantly come in contact with ball due to failed shot attempts that do not touch the rim. (Rockwell 2011.) Shortly after the invention, players adapted and understood ways to use the backboard to their advantage, creating new shooting techniques such as the bank shot and layup.

            The VGEBY backboard is thin and rectangular, sitting directly behind the rim. As can be seen in (figure 6,) backboards have greater length and height than the rim. The backboard is 13.38 inches wide and 9 inches in height. The backboard sits directly in front of the door it is attached to. This backboard is made of a thin plastic. It has the design of a basketball covering the entire backboard in colors orange and black with a white outline and a smaller white rectangle sitting directly above the rim, giving players something to aim at when attempting to use the backboard to make a shot.

Figure 5. Where rim and backboard connectFigure 6. Mini basketball hoop backboard

3.4 INSTALLING ACCESSORIES SET

            To assemble this mini basketball set in any environment the consumer chooses, all of the materials will be provided without having to use any additional tools.

                        3.4.1 SCREWS

            To assemble this mini basketball set, there will be three different sized pozidrive screws required to assemble the set (small medium and large.) All screws are metal and have the same head and butt. The head is mushroom shaped with an x engraved in it, and all three sizes have flat butts for the nuts to be properly inserted as shown in (Figure 13) and (Figure 12.) Each different sized screw serves a different purpose and is used in different parts of the set. All of these screws can be spun into their sections by hand. (Figure 14) shows the 3 different size screws next to each other standing up. (Figure 15) and (Figure 5) are images from the guidebook that come along with the package that tells the consumer how to utilize the screws to construct the mini basketball hoop without any tools.

Figure 14. All installtion accessories

            The smallest screw is used first to combine the rim and the backboard.  Under the flat surface connected to the rim, there are two small holes to fit in the small screws. After screws are spun to their capacity, there should be a small portion of the screw left for the nut on the other side.

            The medium sized screw is used to on the top of the backboard to combine the black hooks to the backboard.

            The large sized screw will be used between the black hooks and the door. These are applied on the L shaped portion of the black hook that faces down. Through this whole, the large screw is spun in facing the door to tightly attach the hoop to the door making it firm and stiff. This firmness can be adjusted by simply spinning the screw in the opposite direction and away from the black hook and door.

                        3.4.2 NUTS

  The metal nuts are used on all 6 screws. They finalize the adjustment of the screws so that they can stay in place and not be disturbed due to friction and movement. These can be seen in (Figure 14) lined up in rows of two, column of 3s.

                        3.4.3 RED NET HOOKS

 The red plastic hooks have no association to the screws or bolts, which can also be seen in (Figure 14) in the bottom left corner. These are applied to the rim so they can attach nets to replicate a regulation indoor basketball hoop. They are plastic and aren’t engraved into the original basketball rim like the metal outdoor basketball hoop.

Figure 12. Pozidrive screwFigure 13. Realistic pozidrive screw Figure 15. How to install

3.5 BLACK PLASTIC DOOR HOOKS

            One of the objects used to attach the hoop to the door are the 2 black plastic hooks. They are attached behind the plastic backboard on top. They are L shaped so they can be used to attach the basketball hoop at the top of any sized door. The L shaped hooks contain holes on the part that faces downward on the other side of the door to insert screws and adjust tightness depending on the size of the door. The width of the door is adjustable depending on how tight you insert the screws.

Figure 10. Plastic black hooksFigure 11. Black hooks attached to door with screw guide provided with product.

3.6 RUBBER INFLATABLE BASKETBALL

            The VGEBY mini hoop also comes with an inflatable rubber basketball. This basketball is approximately 5.9 inches in diameter as seen in (figure 8). When filled to capacity, it can be bounced on the floor and dribbled, replicating a real basketball. The mini basketball is light orange and has with 8 black slightly indented lines going across the ball for better grip.

 Figure 8. Mini basketball

3.7 AIR PUMP

            A key component to all sports that involve an inflatable ball such as football and soccer, both at the regulation and casual “mini” level require an air pump. This tool is used to inflate the ball with air so the ball can take its form in order to make the game playable. The air pump is almost the same length as the mini basketball. It has an orange base with a silver needle to penetrate the balls air hole to fill it with air as well as a black handle to inflate the ball. In (figure 9,) it is shown what a deflated basketball looks like next to an air pump. Despite still being able to fit in the hoop, the deflated ball is unusable since it cannot dribble on the ground.

                        3.7.1 Body

                        The body of the air pump is what connects the handle bar and the needle. Inside of the body is an air sack that regulates airflow, only allowing air to go into the ball without it leaving, allowing the ball to fill with as much air possible

                        3.7.2 Needle

                        The needle of the air pump is what impales the small hole of the basketball. This opens up the hole in the ball, allowing air from the body fill the ball with air.

                        3.7.3 Handle Bar

                        The handle bar is where the person will push and pull allowing air flow to reach inside of the basketball.

Figure 9 Deflated mini basketball with air pump

            4.0 CONCLUSION

            The VGEBY mini basketball hoop is durable and can be used for all age groups. With its features that identically replicate a regulation sized basketball hoop, it’ll provide a realistic feel with its great detail in design basketball experts can appreciate. It is easy to construct as consumers are given all necessary tools and instructions. The detail in all components is what makes this product stand out form other mini basketball hoops tha might break easily or become to troublesome to construct.

5.0 References

Ghare, Madhavi. A Fascinating Look at the History and Evolution of Basketball: March. 2018: Sports Aspire

Eitel, Joseph. The Basketball Hoop: A History: November. 2018: Sportsrec. Basketball, Sports.

Rockwell, Rick. The History of the Basketball Backboard. 2011: Sportsrec. Basketball, Sports.