BALL RETRIEVING DEVICE

Abstract

A ball retrieving device is provided. The device includes a storage receptacle, and a collector tube attached to the storage receptacle. A cover includes a flange assembly connected to a disgorging tube. The ball retrieving device can be configured in a ball retrieving configuration, a stand configuration, and a storage configuration.

Claims

1. A ball retrieving device comprising: a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle including a first flanged portion and circular collection aperture; a collector tube, the collector tube being attached to the circular collection aperture, the collector tube including a circumferential groove for retaining a portion of an elastic band; a cover, the cover including second flanged portion for mating with the first flanged portion of storage receptacle, and a flange assembly centrally mounted to the cover, the flange assembly being connected to a disgorging tube; and wherein the ball retrieving device can be configured in a ball retrieving configuration, a stand configuration, and a storage configuration.

2. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the storage receptacle includes a handle.

3. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube includes a central aperture having a diameter D1, the diameter D1 being greater than a diameter D2 of a pickleball.

4. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the storage receptacle is attached to the collector tube with an adapter.

5. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the flange assembly includes a flat land having a diameter D4 for mating with the collector tube thereby allowing a user to maintain the device at a convenient height to access one or more collected pickleballs contained in the storage receptacle.

6. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the circumferential groove has a length L1, the length L1 being between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of a circumference of the collector tube.

7. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube includes a length L2, the length L2 being less than a diameter D2 of a pickleball.

8. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1 and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D3 being greater than 1.

9. The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1, a ball has a diameter D2, and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D2 being greater than 1 and the ratio of the diameter D3 to the diameter D2 being less than 1.

10. A ball retrieving device comprising: a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle including a first flanged portion; a collector tube being attached to a circular collection aperture and protruding therethrough, the collector tube including a circumferential groove for retaining a portion of an elastic band, the elastic band being mounted through one or more conical retainers; a cover including a second flanged portion for mating with the first flanged portion of storage receptacle; a flange assembly being centrally mounted to the cover and connected to a disgorging tube; and wherein ball retrieving device can be configured in a ball retrieving configuration, a stand configuration, and a storage configuration.

11. The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the storage receptacle includes a handle.

12. The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the collector tube includes a central aperture having a diameter D1, the diameter D1 being greater than a diameter D2 of a pickleball.

13. The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the storage receptacle is attached to the collector tube with an adapter.

14. The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the flange assembly includes a flat land having a diameter D4 for mating with the collector tube thereby maintaining the device at a convenient height for users to access one or more balls residing in the storage receptacle.

15. The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein circumferential groove has a length L1, the length L1 being between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of a circumference of the collector tube.

16. A method of retrieving and collecting balls comprising: positioning a storage receptacle having a collector tube attached thereto over a ball, the collector tube including a circumferential groove having an elastic band disposed at least partially therein, and a diameter D1; depressing the tube over the ball thereby temporarily deflecting the elastic band; capturing the ball within the collector tube; positioning the collector tube over a disgorging tube, the disgorging tube being mounted to a cover and having a diameter D3, wherein the diameter D3 is less than the diameter D1; and lowering the storage receptacle and the collector tube over the disgorging tube thereby urging the ball through the collector into the storage receptacle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the circumferential groove has a length L1, the length L1 being between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of a circumference of the collector tube.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the collector tube includes a length L2, the length L2 being less than a diameter D2 of a pickleball.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1 and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D3 being greater than 1.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1, a ball has a diameter D2, and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D2 being greater than 1 and the ratio of the diameter D3 to the diameter D2 being less than 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The drawings show embodiments of the disclosed subject matter for the purpose of illustrating the invention. However, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment on accordance with the present invention depicting the device is an upright stand condition;

[0035] FIG. 2 is isometric view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 3 is another isometric view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 4 is an isometric (side) view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 5 is an isometric view some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 7 is an isometric detail view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 8 is an is another isometric detail view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and

[0042] FIG. 9 is an isometric detail view of some of the elements of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention including a pickleball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIGS. 1-9 illustrate one exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a ball retrieving and storage device 100. As depicted in FIGS. 1-9, the ball retrieving and storage device 100 (shown in an upright stand configuration) includes a storage receptacle 2, which can be cylindrical in shape or can be any convenient shape sized to fit a plurality of balls. The storage receptacle 2 includes top aperture 4 having a first flanged portion 6. The first flanged portion 6 can be used to mate with a cover 8 having a corresponding second flanged portion 10. The first and second flanged portions 6, 10 can be used to mate the cover 8 with the top aperture 4 of the storage receptacle 2 to create a removeable snap fit to cover and uncover the top aperture as desired. The storage receptacle can be sized to store about 50 pickleballs. The height of the device and storage capacity can be adjusted, in one embodiment the height can be about 3 feet and the receptacle can be sized to store about 50 pickleballs.

[0044] In this embodiment, as detailed for example in FIGS. 4-6, the storage receptacle 2 includes an inner wall 2A, an outer wall 2B, a bottom wall 2C and a circular or cylindrical collection aperture 2D centered in the bottom wall 2C. Collection aperture 2D can be sized to allow a pickleball 50 to pass through it. The storage receptacle 2 can include a handle 12 attached to the outer wall 2B of the storage receptacle 2.

[0045] The storage receptacle 2 includes a collector tube 14. Collector tube 14 includes inner wall 14A, outer wall 14B which surround a central aperture 14C (as depicted in FIGS. 7-9). Collector tube 14 is sized so that central aperture 14C has a diameter D1 and pickleball 50 has a diameter D2. The ratio of diameter D1 to diameter D2 is greater than 1.0 as shown in FIG. 6. The collection aperture 2D is extends centrally through adapter 15 which is used to attach collector tube 14 to storage receptacle 2.

[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the cover 8 includes an outer surface 8A, and an inner surface 8B. A flange assembly 16 is mounted centrally to the inner surface 8B of the cover 8. The flange assembly 16 includes a first portion 16A that can be mounted to the cover 8 and is substantially parallel to the inner surface 8B of the cover and includes a plurality of apertures (not shown) for mounting fasteners 16B therethrough. The flange assembly 16 can be attached to the cover 8 by any known means such as fastener, or adhesive bonding or can be integrally molded for example, in one piece.

[0047] Flange assembly 16 includes a second portion 16C. The second portion 16C is substantially perpendicular to the first portion 16A. The second portion 16C of flange assembly 16 include a flat land 16D, having a diameter D4, being connected centrally to ball disgorging tube 18. Disgorging tube 18 has an outer wall 18A and inner wall 18B, a central aperture 18C and a diameter D3.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, collector tube 14 includes circumferential groove 20 having a length L1. Elastic band 22 is sized to fit within the groove 20 such that a portion having a length L2 of the central aperture 14C is not obstructed by a portion of the elastic band 22. The length L2 can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the length L1 of circumferential groove 20. The length L2 is less than the diameter D2 of a pickleball 50 thereby allowing the collector tube 14 to be placed over a pickleball 50 and lowered thereby urging the elastic band 22 to temporarily deflect in the region of L1 thus allowing a pickleball 50 to enter the collector tube 14. When the pickleball 50 has entered the collector tube 14, the elastic band 22 returns to its resting position thus capturing the pickleball 50 within the tube 14. Additional pickleballs 50 may be captured using the same process thus forcing each pickleball 50 captured along the collector tube 14 and eventually into the storage receptacle 2.

[0049] The device 100 can include one or more conical retainers 24 having an aperture therethrough. The elastic band 22 and be adjusted or circularized to maintain the proper tension, and friction on the elastic band 22 and to maintain the proper functional position of the elastic band 22 on the collector tube 14.

[0050] In one particular embodiment, the elastic band 22 is a 3/16″ diameter elastic band whose ends overlap and may be secured by one or more hog rings to produce a circular band about 3¼″ in diameter. The collector tube 14 can include a ¼″ wide groove 20 located about 1 1/16″ from the distal (collecting) end and being about ½″ deep. The interior edge of the distal end of the collector tube 14 can be modified to include a chamfer, for example a 22.5-degree×½″ chamfer. The union of the elastic band 22 and collector tube 14 produces an internal flexible barrier about 2″ in length (L1) and can requires about 1.6 lbs. force to temporarily deflect the elastic band 22 and to allow for rebound as a pickleball 50 passes into the collector tube 14. A backside radial relief about ⅛″ deep can be employed to assist in securing the elastic band 22 on the collector tube 14. The diameter of the storage receptacle can be about 12″ and the device height can be about 3 feet in the stand position.

[0051] In operation, the device 100 can be used in several configurations. In a storage configuration (FIG. 3), the cover 8 is attached to the storage receptacle 2 thereby nesting the disgorging tube 18 within the storage receptacle 2. Pickleballs 50 may be stored within the storage receptacle 2 in this configuration without falling out and the device 100 may be conveniently carried using the handle 12.

[0052] In a stand configuration (FIG. 1), the cover 8 is removed from the storage receptacle 2 and is placed on a hard surface, such as the ground with the outer surface 8A facing the ground. This configuration allows the device 100 to be used as a stand for collected pickleballs 50. By placing the inner wall 14A of the collector tube 14 over outer wall 18A of the disgorging tube 18 the device 100 becomes a self-supporting stand for the storage receptacle 2. In this configuration, when the user places the collector tube 14 over the disgorging tube 18, any pickleballs 50 that have been retained in the collector tube are forced up the collector tube 14 into the storage receptacle for immediate use or storage. The collector tube 14 can mate with the flat land 16D of flange assembly 16 thereby maintaining the device 100 at a convenient height for users to access collected pickleballs 50.

[0053] In a collecting configuration (FIG. 2), a user may collect balls using the storage receptacle 2 and collector tube (with or without the cover 8 attached). As discussed above, the user moves the collector tube 14 over each pickleball 50 to be collected and depresses the collector tube 14 so the elastic band 22 deflects and returns to its resting state once the ball 50 passes into the collector tube 14. A plurality of balls 50 can be collected in this manner. When the user is finished collecting balls 50, the user can position the collector tube 14 over the disgorging tube 18 and allow the device 100 to return (by gravity) to the stand configuration. Because the diameter D3 of the central aperture 18C of the disgorging tube 18 is smaller than the diameter D1 of the central aperture 14C of the collector tube, which is larger than D2, the diameter of a pickleball 50, the balls 50 are forced by the disgorging tube 18 along the collector tube 14 and into the storage receptacle 2.

[0054] In another embodiment, a second groove and a second elastic band can be added to the collector tube 14 proximate to the storage receptacle 2, so that when balls 50 pass the second elastic band they cannot exit the storage receptacle 2 and enter the collector tube 14.

[0055] The ball retrieving and storage device 100 can be made from known materials such as light weight metals or polymers, such as ABS or HDPE. The components can be integrally molded, for example, by using injection molding, compression molding, extrusion, blow molding, or the like, or can be made from separate components for example, by machining, and can be assembled by for example, bonding or fasteners.

[0056] In some embodiments, one or more of the collector tube 14 or the disgorging tube 18 can be made from multiple telescoping tube segments so that one or both of the tubes can be collapsed e.g. to fit within the storage receptacle 2. The tubes 14, 18 can also be attached to the storage receptacle and cover, respectively, with any known quick release components so that they may be easily assembled or disassembled.

COMPONENT LIST

[0057] 2 storage receptacle. [0058] 4 top aperture. [0059] 6 first flanged portion. [0060] 8 cover. [0061] 8A outer surface. [0062] 8B inner surface. [0063] 10 second flanged portion. [0064] 2A inner wall. [0065] 2B outer wall. [0066] 2C bottom wall. [0067] 2D collection aperture. [0068] 50 pickleball. [0069] 12 handle. [0070] 14 collector tube. [0071] 14A inner wall. [0072] 14B outer wall [0073] 14C central aperture. [0074] D1 diameter of central aperture 14C. [0075] D2 diameter of pickleball. [0076] 15 adapter. [0077] 16 flange assembly. [0078] 16A first portion. [0079] 16B fasteners. [0080] 16C second portion. [0081] 16D land. [0082] D4 diameter of land. [0083] 18 disgorging tube. [0084] 18A outer wall. [0085] 18B inner wall. [0086] 18C central aperture. [0087] D3 diameter of central aperture 18C. [0088] L1 length of elastic band in retaining region. [0089] Groove 20. [0090] Elastic band 22. [0091] L2 unobstructed length of aperture 14C. [0092] 24 conical retainer.

[0093] It should be appreciated that the devices disclosed herein although designed for pickleballs, can easily be modified to function for use in collecting or storing other balls such as for example, balls used in tennis, golf, racquetball, paddleball, etc.

[0094] Although the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it should be noted that other variations and modifications may be made, and it is intended that the following claims cover the variations and modifications within the true scope of the invention.