Tennis Ball Retrieving Apparatus
A tennis ball retrieving apparatus includes a storage tube, a ball capturing system, a release cap, and a shoulder strap. The intake tube and the release cap are oppositely positioned from each other along the storage tube, where the ball capturing system is connected with the storage tube and the release cap is removably attached with the storage tube. The user can utilize the tennis ball retrieving apparatus to collect tennis balls as the tennis balls are collected through the ball capturing system and stored within the storage tube. The release cap allows the users to unload the tennis balls from the storage tube once the storage tube is filled with the tennis balls. The shoulder strap is connected with storage tube so that the tennis ball retrieving apparatus can be easily transported by the users.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/811,963 filed on April 15, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a sporting goods device. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus for retrieval of tennis balls during recreational activities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe concept of tennis ball retrieval tube is a new type of accessory for tennis players, coaches, and anyone wanting to pick up tennis balls on the court without bending over. This saves time and effort and enhances comfort by minimizing stress on the back, legs, and joints. Currently, there are other tennis ball retrieving devices on the market that are quite stressful to the wrist, elbow, and arm. These existing devices utilize a rubber-insert as the intake mechanism so that the tennis balls can be collected through the rubber-insert. In general, the intake mechanism of the existing devices creates much more wear and tear on tennis balls especially when it is new and later on it becomes an unreliable device as the worn out rubber fails to keep retrieved tennis balls inside the tube.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to introduce a durable tennis ball retrieving apparatus that can be easily used to compare different existing devices. The main advantage of the present invention is the durability of the tennis ball retrieving apparatus as the present invention comprises a unique ball capturing system. A release cap of the present invention allows the users to easily unload the tennis balls from the present invention as the release cap is removably attached with the present invention opposite of the ball capturing system.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
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In order to collect tennis balls, the users need to simply press ball capturing system 4 over each of the tennis balls from the first edge 5. The space in between the pair of retaining wires 8 enables the tennis balls to squeeze in between the pair of retaining wires 8 so that the tennis balls can be pushed into the storage tube 1 by the users. After the tennis balls are squeezed through the pair of retaining wires 8, the pair of retaining wires 8 also prevents the tennis balls from exiting through the ball capturing system 4 as the tennis balls rest on the pair of retaining wires 8. Since the tennis balls are contained within the storage tube 1 by the pair of retaining wire, the users can easily collect additional tennis balls through the ball capturing system 4 as the stored tennis balls within the storage tube 1 only apply insignificant amount of pressure towards the tennis ball that needs to be collected. The pair of retaining wires 8 is preferably made from steel or any other high strength materials that can withstand the pressure applied from the tennis balls so that the pair of retaining wires 8 does not deform or stretch overtime.
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In order to unload the tennis balls from the storage tube 1, the users need to remove the release cap 9 from the storage tube 1 so that the second end 3 can be opened. Once the second end 3 is opened, the tennis balls can be unloaded from the storage tube 1 as the storage tube 1 is positioned upside down. After the storage tube 1 is completely emptied, the release cap 9 is attached back into the storage tube 1 so that additional tennis balls can be collected through the present invention.
The present invention further comprises a shoulder strap 14 and a pair of hooks 16. In reference to
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Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A tennis ball retrieving apparatus comprises:
- a storage tube;
- a ball capturing system;
- a release cap;
- the storage tube comprises a first end and a second end;
- the ball capturing system comprises a first edge, a second edge, an inner sleeve rim, and a pair of retaining wires;
- the release cap comprises a lateral wall, a base, and an inner cap rim;
- the ball capturing system being concentrically connected with the storage tube; and
- the release cap being concentrically attached with the storage tube opposite of the ball capturing system.
2. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the first end and the second end being oppositely positioned from each other along the storage tube.
3. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the first edge and the second edge being oppositely positioned from each other along the ball capturing system;
- the first edge and the second edge being concentrically positioned with each other;
- the inner sleeve rim internally traversing into the ball capturing system from the second edge;
- the inner sleeve rim being concentrically positioned with the second edge;
- the pair of retaining wires being internally connected with the ball capturing system;
- the pair of retaining wires being adjacently positioned with the first edge; and
- the pair of retaining wires being extended parallel with the first edge and the second edge.
4. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the base;
- the base being concentrically positioned within the lateral wall;
- the inner cap rim traversing into the lateral wall opposite of the base; and
- the inner cap rim being concentrically positioned with the lateral wall.
5. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the inner sleeve rim being connected around the first end; and
- the inner cap rim being removably attached around the second end.
6. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- a shoulder strap; and
- the shoulder strap being connected with the storage tube through a pair of pivotable connectors.
7. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the ball capturing system being integrated into the first end; and
- the lateral wall being connected with the second end through an extension strap.
8. A tennis ball retrieving apparatus comprises:
- a storage tube;
- a ball capturing system;
- a release cap;
- the storage tube comprises a first end and a second end;
- the ball capturing system comprises a first edge, a second edge, an inner sleeve rim, and a pair of retaining wires;
- the release cap comprises a lateral wall, a base, and an inner cap rim;
- the first edge and the second edge being oppositely positioned from each other along the ball capturing system;
- the first edge and the second edge being concentrically positioned with each other;
- the inner sleeve rim internally traversing into the ball capturing system from the second edge;
- the inner sleeve rim being concentrically positioned with the second edge;
- the pair of retaining wires being internally connected with the ball capturing system;
- the pair of retaining wires being adjacently positioned with the first edge;
- the pair of retaining wires being extended parallel with the first edge and the second edge;
- the ball capturing system being concentrically connected with the storage tube; and
- the release cap being concentrically attached with the storage tube opposite of the ball capturing system.
9. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- the first end and the second end being oppositely positioned from each other along the storage tube.
10. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the base;
- the base being concentrically positioned within the lateral wall;
- the inner cap rim traversing into the lateral wall opposite of the base; and
- the inner cap rim being concentrically positioned with the lateral wall.
11. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- the inner sleeve rim being connected around the first end; and
- the inner cap rim being removably attached around the second end.
12. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- a shoulder strap; and
- the shoulder strap being connected with the storage tube through a pair of pivotable connectors.
13. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- the ball capturing system being integrated into the first end; and
- the lateral wall being connected with the second end through an extension strap.
14. A tennis ball retrieving apparatus comprises:
- a storage tube;
- a ball capturing system;
- a release cap;
- the storage tube comprises a first end and a second end;
- the ball capturing system comprises a first edge, a second edge, an inner sleeve rim, and a pair of retaining wires;
- the release cap comprises a lateral wall, a base, and an inner cap rim;
- the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the base;
- the base being concentrically positioned within the lateral wall;
- the inner cap rim traversing into the lateral wall opposite of the base;
- the inner cap rim being concentrically positioned with the lateral wall;
- the ball capturing system being concentrically connected with the storage tube; and
- the release cap being concentrically attached with the storage tube opposite of the ball capturing system.
15. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
- the first end and the second end being oppositely positioned from each other along the storage tube.
16. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
- the first edge and the second edge being oppositely positioned from each other along the ball capturing system;
- the first edge and the second edge being concentrically positioned with each other;
- the inner sleeve rim internally traversing into the ball capturing system from the second edge;
- the inner sleeve rim being concentrically positioned with the second edge;
- the pair of retaining wires being internally connected with the ball capturing system;
- the pair of retaining wires being adjacently positioned with the first edge; and
- the pair of retaining wires being extended parallel with the first edge and the second edge.
17. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
- the inner sleeve rim being connected around the first end; and
- the inner cap rim being removably attached around the second end.
18. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
- a shoulder strap; and
- the shoulder strap being connected with the storage tube through a pair of pivotable connectors.
19. The tennis ball retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
- the ball capturing system being integrated into the first end; and
- the lateral wall being connected with the second end through an extension strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 16, 2014
Inventor: Rafael Vital, JR. (San Antonio, TX)
Application Number: 14/253,586