Snowball launching and batting apparatus

Abstract

A snowball launching and batting apparatus comprising a barrel member, a handle member, and a knob feature, the handle member further comprising a primary cradle structure configured to accept, form, and store snow or snowballs. The apparatus further comprises a secondary cradle structure capable of coupling the primary cradle structure and configured to accept, form, and store snow or snowballs. The knob feature may further comprise a depression configured to form snowballs. The apparatus is further configured to have an extended and retracted state. A user inserts snow into the barrel and cradle structure to form a snowball and inserts it into the apparatus while in an extended state. Launching the snowballs from the apparatus may comprise swinging the apparatus or applying a force to the handle member to quickly move it from an extended state to a retracted state.

Claims

1. A snowball launching and batting apparatus, comprising: a. a barrel member, the barrel member having a first opening and a second opening; b. a handle member, the handle member having a first end and a second end; c. a knob feature having an oblate ellipsoid structure and an elongate member; d. the first opening of the barrel member further configured to accept the first end and the second end of the handle member; e. the first opening of the barrel member further configured to accept an amount of snow or at least one snowball; f. the second opening of the barrel member further comprising a plurality of threading structures disposed along an interior surface thereof, configured to couple and retain the second end of the handle member; g. the second opening of the barrel member further comprising a plurality of threading structures disposed along an interior surface thereof, configured to couple and retain the first end of the handle member; h. the first end of the handle member comprises a primary cradle structure configured to accept an amount of snow or at least one snowball; i. the first end of the handle member further comprising a plurality of threading structures disposed along an exterior surface thereof and configured to couple and retain both the first opening of the barrel member and the second opening of the barrel member; j. the second end of the handle member further comprising a plurality of threading structures disposed along an exterior surface thereof and configured to couple and retain the second opening of the barrel member; and k. the primary cradle structure further configured to form a snowball when an amount of snow is pressed between the cradle member and a user's hand.

2. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has an extended state and a retracted state.

3. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to be locked in an extended state by coupling the plurality of threading structures of the second opening of the barrel member to the plurality of threading structures of the first end of the handle member.

4. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to be locked in a retracted state by coupling the plurality of threading structures of the first opening of the barrel member to the plurality of threading structures of the second end of the handle member.

5. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the barrel member comprises a plurality of threaded features disposed upon an interior surface and configured to couple and retain the primary cradle structure.

6. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the primary cradle structure further comprises threading features disposed upon an outward surface and configured to couple the plurality of threaded features of the barrel member.

7. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the handle member further comprises a secondary cradle structure removably coupled to the primary cradle structure and configured to accept an amount of snow or at least one snowball.

8. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the secondary cradle structure is further configured to form a snowball when an amount of snow is pressed between the secondary cradle structure and a user's hand.

9. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the secondary cradle structure further comprises a lip member extending radially from a central axis of the secondary cradle structure.

10. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lip member of the secondary cradle structure further comprises threading features disposed upon a surface and configured to couple the plurality of threading features of the barrel member.

11. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the handle member further comprises a handle stop structure coupled to and extending radially from a central axis thereof, configured to prevent the handle member from fully entering the barrel member.

12. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the handle member further comprises surface features configured to facilitate user grip.

13. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second end of the handle member comprises a threaded hole configured to couple the knob feature.

14. The snowball launching and batting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the knob feature further comprises a circular depression disposed upon a surface thereof.

15. A method of using a snowball launching and batting apparatus, comprising the steps of: a. twisting a handle member such that at least one plurality of threading structures of the handle member decouples at least one plurality of threading members of a barrel member, thereby unlocking the apparatus from an extended state; b. applying a force along a central axis of the apparatus, transforming the apparatus from an extended state to a compressed state; c. twisting the handle member of the apparatus such that at least one plurality of threading structures of the handle member engages at least one plurality of threading members of the barrel member, thereby locking the apparatus in the compressed state; d. inserting an amount of snow or at least one snowball into a cradle member of the apparatus; e. compressing and forming the amount of snow or at least one snowball between a user's hand and the cradle member; f. twisting the handle member of the apparatus such that at least one plurality of threading structures of the handle member decouples at least one plurality of threading members of the barrel member, thereby unlocking the apparatus from the compressed state; g. applying a force along the central axis of the apparatus, transforming the apparatus from the compressed state to the extended state; h. twisting the handle member of the apparatus such that at least one plurality of threading structures of the handle member engages at least one plurality of threading members of the barrel member, thereby locking the apparatus in the extended state; and i. swinging the apparatus in a radial fashion, such that the amount of snow or at least one snowball has a centrifugal force applied to it, launching the amount of snow or at least one snowball from the apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A illustrates perspective view the snowball launching and batting apparatus configured in a retracted state.

(2) FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of snowball launching and batting apparatus configured in an extended state.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates and exploded view of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded cutaway view of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the barrel member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of the handle member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 5B illustrates another perspective view of the handle member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 5C illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the handle member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the knob feature of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the coupled handle member and knob feature of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 8A illustrates a cutaway profile view of the barrel member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 8B illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the barrel member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 9A illustrates a perspective view of the uncoupled primary cradle structure and the secondary cradle structure of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 9B illustrates a perspective view of the coupled primary cradle structure and the secondary cradle structure of the snowball launching and batting apparatus of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the handle member of the snowball launching and batting apparatus with a coupled handle stop structure.

(16) FIG. 11A illustrates a cutaway profile view of the snowball launching and batting apparatus configured in an extended state.

(17) FIG. 11B illustrates a cutaway profile view of the snowball launching and batting apparatus configured in a retracted state.

(18) FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary profile views of the snowball launching and batting apparatus during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) The present invention is described in reference to the accompanying drawings and following embodiments that are presented for the purpose of illustration and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention thereto.

(20) FIGS. 1A-B illustrates perspective views of one embodiment of a snowball launching and batting apparatus 10. The snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 is configured to have an extended state 101, shown in FIG. 1A, and a retracted state 102, shown in FIG. 1B. The snowball launching and batting apparatus 10, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, comprises: a barrel member 105 comprising a cylindrical enclosure and having a first opening 106 and a second opening 107; a handle member 108 comprising a cylindrical structure and having a first and a second end 109; and a knob feature 112 coupled to the second end 109 of the handle member 108.

(21) The barrel member 105, shown in FIG. 4, comprises an overall ellipsoid shape, with the first opening 106 and the second opening 107 having a diameter differing from a diameter of a midpoint of the barrel member 105. The first opening 106 of the barrel member 105 is further configured with sufficient diameter to freely accept and allow movement of a snowball of a diameter and both the first end 110 and the second end 109 of the handle member 108. The second opening 107 of the barrel member 105 is configured to accept and allow movement of the second end 109 of the handle member 108 while also configured to retain the first end 110 of the handle member 108. The first opening 106 and the second opening 107 of the barrel member 105 further comprises a tapering section, wherein the diameters decrease in size when moving away from a center of the barrel member 105.

(22) The handle member 108, shown in FIGS. 5A-C, comprises an overall cylindrical shape with the first end 110 comprising a primary cradle structure 111 configured to accept and movably retain an amount of snow or at least one snowball and allow formation of a snowball when snow is pressed between the cradle and a user's hand. The primary cradle structure 111 may be configured in the shape of a cone, a semi-spherical ellipsoid, or any other shape known in the art facilitating snowball coupling and storage, and may also be configured with tapering surfaces. The second end 109 of the handle member 108 further comprises a hole disposed within the end and spanning a distance along a central axis of the handle member 108. The hole further comprises threaded features disposed along an interior surface of the hole, configured to couple and retain the knob feature 112 of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10.

(23) In some embodiments, the handle member 108 further comprises surface features disposed upon a surface, the features configured to facilitate a user's grip during use of the invention.

(24) The knob feature 112 of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10, shown in FIG. 6, comprises an oblate ellipsoid structure coupled to a cylindrical elongate member. The elongate member further comprises threading disposed along the cylindrical elongate member and configured to couple the hole of the second end 109 of the handle member 108, as shown in FIG. 7. A person ordinary skill will appreciate that the knob feature 112 may be coupled to the handle member 108 by way of other connection methods including but not limited to friction fitting, chemical bonding, or injection molding.

(25) In some embodiments, the knob structure may further comprise a circular depression 115 disposed in a surface of the oblate ellipsoid and configured to accept snow or at least one snowball and allow formation of a snowball when snow is pressed between the depression 115 and a user's hand.

(26) In another embodiment, the barrel member 105, shown in FIGS. 8A-B of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 further comprises a plurality of threading structures 114 disposed upon an interior surface of the barrel member 105 near the first opening 106 or the second opening 107 of the barrel member 105. The threading structures are further configured to removably couple and retain the primary cradle structure 111 of the handle member 108, such that rotating either the barrel member 105 or the handle member 108 along a shared axis will couple the threading structures of the barrel member 105 to the primary cradle structure 111; and that rotation in the opposite direction would facilitate decoupling.

(27) In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 9A-B, the primary cradle structure 111 of the handle member 108 further comprises threading features disposed along an externally-facing surface, the threading features configured to removably couple the plurality of threading structures 114 of the barrel member 105, such that rotating either the barrel member 105 or the handle member 108 along a shared axis will couple the threading structures of the barrel member 105 to the primary cradle structure 111; and that rotation in the opposite direction would facilitate decoupling.

(28) The handle member 108 of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10, shown in FIG. 9B, may further comprise a secondary cradle structure 113 removably coupled to the primary cradle structure 111, comprising a hollow semi-hemispheric structure configured to accept an amount of snow or at least one snowball and allow formation of a snowball when snow is pressed between the depression 115 and a user's hand. Extending radially outward from a central axis of the handle member 108, the secondary cradle structure 113 further comprises a lip member configured to couple the primary cradle structure 111. In some embodiments, the lip member extends outward and towards the second end 109 of the handle member 108, forming a channel spanning an equatorial circumference of the secondary cradle structure 113. In yet another embodiment, the channel may comprise threading disposed upon a surface of the secondary cradle structure 113 and within the channel, the threading configured to couple the threading features of the primary cradle structure 111, similar to a coupling between the primary cradle structure 111 and the barrel member 105 in other embodiments.

(29) In other embodiments, the lip member of the secondary cradle structure 113 may be configured to couple the primary cradle structure 111 through friction fit, snap fit, or other removable coupling means. The secondary cradle structure 113 may further comprise threading disposed along an outward facing surface of the lip member, configured to removably couple the barrel member's plurality of threading structures 114, similar to a coupling between the primary cradle structure 111 and the barrel member 105 in other embodiments.

(30) In some embodiments, shown in FIG. 10, the handle member 108 of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 further comprises a handle stop structure disposed along the surface of the member and extending radially outward from a central axis of the handle member 108. The handle stop structure is configured to prevent the handle member 108 from fully entering an interior of the barrel member 105, while also disposed along the handle member 108 at a distance such that a user may still grip the handle member 108 with at least one hand. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the handle stop structure may be coupled to the handle member 108 in such a way that the handle stop structure cannot be removed, in such a way that it can be removed, or in such a way that it can be adjusted but not removed.

(31) During some uses of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10, starting in the extended state 101, a user first twists the handle member 108 such that the threading of the primary cradle structure 111 or the secondary cradle structure 113 decouples the plurality of threading structures 114 of the second opening 107 of the barrel member 105, ensuring the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 is not locked in the extended state 101, as shown in FIG. 11A. The user then pushes the handle member 108 into the barrel member 105 until the primary cradle structure 111 or secondary cradle structure 113 abuts the plurality of threading structures 114 of the first opening 106 of the barrel member 105. Rotating either the barrel member 105 or the handle member 108 until the threading of the cradle structure engages and couples the plurality of threading structures 114 of the of the barrel member 105, thereby locking the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 in the retracted state 102, shown in 11B. The user then inserts an amount of snow or at least snowball and fully forms at least one snowball by pressing an amount of snow between the user's hand and the cradle structure coupled to the first end 110 of the handle member 108. The user then performs the reverse steps of retracting the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 in order to prepare the at least one snowball for launching. The user then has an option utilize the depression 115 of the knob structure to press and form snowballs for insertion into the barrel member 105 for launching. To launch the at least one snowball inserted into the barrel member 105, the user may swing the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10. The at least one snowball is then propelled out of the barrel member 105 through a centrifugal force applied by the user and sliding along an interior surface of the barrel member 105.

(32) In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the step of launching the inserted at least one snowball may comprise the user holding the barrel member 105 with a first hand and applying a force to the handle member 108 along a central axis of the snowball launching and batting apparatus 10 with a second hand while it is in the extended state 101, but not locked into the state. The force applied to the handle member 108 moves the handle member 108 through the barrel member 105 and into the retracted state 102. As a result, the inserted at least one snowball is propelled from the barrel member 105 and launched.

(33) In other embodiments of the invention, a user may skip the step of forming a snowball by pressing an amount of snow between a hand and the cradle structure of the handle member 108, instead inserting an amount of snow into the barrel member 105 that is in either a powdered or a non-structured form. The user then performs the steps of launching the amount of snow in said powdered or non-structured form.

(34) Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that the foregoing description of the invention has been made with reference to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, which describe a snowball launching and batting apparatus. Those of skill in the art will understand that obvious variations in construction, materials, dimensions or properties may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.