Ball launcher

Abstract

A ball launcher allows a user to retrieve a ball from the ground and launch the ball, with accuracy, farther than the user can throw the ball by hand. The ball launcher uses an elongate tubular member having a handle at one end and an open opposing end. An annular ring encompasses the inner surface of the tubular member proximate the open end. The annular ring has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball to be retrieved and when the ball launcher is pressed upon the ball, the ball slightly deforms allowing the ball to pass the annular ring and into the tubular member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a device that retrieves a ball from the ground and allows a user to propel the ball outwardly from the device.

[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art

[0004] Playing fetch with man's best friend is a tried and true endeavor played out daily by countless dog owners. The owner throws the ball and good old Rover runs and retrieves the ball and gives the ball back to the owner. This simple game is fun for man and dog alike. This game is not without drawbacks. Many dog owners lack the ability to throw the ball very far, and even those who do have the ability, they want ball to travel further than they can throw in order to give the dog a solid workout. Additionally, many times the ball will be returned covered in either mud or slobber and the owner will not want to handle the ball directly, or Rover will drop the ball at his master's feet requiring the owner to bend over to retrieve the ball, neither situation particularly desirable to many dog owners.

[0005] In order to address such concerns, devices have been proposed that assist in throwing the ball farther than can be thrown by hand. Such devices work with varying levels of efficiency yet lack an effective method for easily retrieving the ball from the ground without having to bend over to grasp the ball. Other devices have been proposed that allow retrieval of the ball from the ground yet offer the user limited accuracy in throwing the ball in a given direction.

[0006] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a device that will quickly and easily retrieve a ball from the ground and will allow the user to throw the ball, with accuracy, farther than the user can throw the ball by hand. Such a device must be of relatively simple design and construction and must be relatively easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The ball launcher of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The ball launcher allows a user to quickly and easily retrieve a ball from the ground and also allows the user to throw the ball, with high accuracy, farther than the user can throw the ball by hand. The device is of relatively simple design and construction and is relatively easy to use.

[0008] The ball launcher of the present invention is comprised of an elongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, a first end, and an open second end. A handle is attached to the first end of the tubular member, while an annular ring encompasses the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter. The annular ring has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the ball that is to be retrieved by the tubular member. The handle can threadably or otherwise removably attached to the first end of the tubular member or can be fixedly attached to the tubular member. A lanyard may be attached to the handle. An end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, can be attached to the open second end of the tubular member. The end cap can be threadably or otherwise removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ball launcher of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a side sectioned view of the ball launcher.

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates the various positions through which the ball launcher is articulated.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side sectioned view of the ball launcher employing an end cap commencing the retrieval of a ball.

[0014] FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a side sectioned view of the ball launcher employing an end cap having the ball enter the device.

[0016] FIG. 8 is an end view of FIG. 7.

[0017] Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the ball launcher of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of an elongate tubular member 12 having an outer surface 14, and inner surface 16, a first end 18, and an open second end 20. A handle 22, which can be multi-sectional, is attached to the first end 18 of the tubular member 12. The handle 22 can threadably or otherwise removably attached to the first end 20 of the tubular member 12. A lanyard 24 can be attached to the handle 22.

[0019] A single annular ring 26 encompasses the inner surface 16 of the tubular member 12, proximate the second end 20. The annular ring 26 has a diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball B that is to be retrieved by the tubular member 12.

[0020] In order to use the ball launcher 10 of the present invention, the device 10 is positioned, such that the open second end 20 of the tubular member 12 is positioned over the ball B to be retrieved. As the ball B has a diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of the annular ring 26, the ball B slightly deforms as it passes over the annular ring 26 when the device 10 is pressed upon the ball B. Once the ball B clears the annular ring 26, the annular ring 26 prevents the ball, which is relatively light, from falling out of the tubular member 12, and the device 10 is flipped so that the ball B can roll to the first end 18 of the tubular member 12. The annular ring 26 will hold all but the heaviest of balls B within the tubular member 12. Once the ball B clears the annular ring 26, the ball B, by being resilient, returns to its original form. The user swings the handle 20 of the device 10 causing the ball B to be ejected from the tubular member 12 toward the end of the swing due to the centrifugal and inertial forces exerted on the ball B by the swinging of the device 10. These forces are more than sufficient to overcome the frictional force exerted by the annular ring 26 as the ball B passes over the annular ring 26 on its way to being 10 expelled. The ball B is launched at a relatively large velocity and travels a relatively great distance. If used, the lanyard 24 helps keep the ball launcher 10 from being launched itself, should the user inadvertently let go of the handle 22 during ball B launch.

[0021] If the ball B to be retrieved by the device 10 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the annular ring 26, an optional end cap 28 can be employed. The end cap 28 has an outer periphery 30 and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers 32 and can be threadably or otherwise removably attached to the open second end 20 of the tubular member 12. The end cap 28 is made from an appropriate resilient material such as rubber, neoprene, plastic, etc. In this configuration, the ball launcher 10 is positioned over the ball B and pressed upon the ball B. The ball B pushes through the resilient fingers 32 of the end cap 28 and is held within the tubular member 12 by the fingers 32. The resilient fingers 32 will hold all but the heaviest of balls B within the tubular member 12. Thereafter, the ball B is launched in the usual fashion.

[0022] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A ball launcher for launching a ball, the ball being resilient and having a first diameter, the ball launcher comprising:

an elongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, a first end, and an open second end; and

a handle attached to the first end of the tubular member; and

an annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter.

2. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the handle is removably attached to the first end of the tubular member.

3. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the handle is threadably attached to the first end of the tubular member.

4. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

5. The ball launcher as in claim 1 further comprising a lanyard attached to the handle.

6. The ball launcher as in claim 1 further comprising an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

7. The ball launcher as in claim 6 wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

8. The ball launcher as in claim 6 wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

9. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the annular ring is a single annular ring.

10. A ball launcher for launching a ball, the ball being resilient and having a first diameter, the ball launcher comprising:

an elongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, a first end, and an open second end;

a handle attached to the first end of the tubular member; and

means for retrieving the ball into the tubular member.

11. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises an annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter.

12. The ball launcher as in claim 11 wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

13. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises a single annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter.

14. The ball launcher as in claim 11 wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

15. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

16. The ball launcher as in claim 15 wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

17. The ball launcher as in claim 15 wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

18. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball is selected from the group consisting of an annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter and an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

19. The ball launcher as in claim 18 wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

20. The ball launcher as in claim 18 wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

21. The ball launcher as in claim 18 wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

22. The ball launcher as in claim 1 wherein the handle is removably attached to the first end of the tubular member.

23. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the ball is selected from the group consisting of a single annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter and an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

24. The ball launcher as in claim 23 wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

25. The ball launcher as in claim 23 wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

26. The ball launcher as in claim 23 wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.

27. The ball launcher as in claim 10 wherein the handle is threadably attached to the first end of the tubular member.

28. The ball launcher as in claim 10 further comprising a lanyard attached to the handle.