Ball Retriever and Holder
A ball holder and retriever includes a frame forming a receptacle for holding objects. A plurality of enclosures are disposed on an interior portion of the frame. A plurality of corresponding wheels are designed to retract substantially entirely into the enclosures.
Not applicable
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTINGNot applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Background
The present disclosure relates to a ball holder and retriever, and more specifically to a ball holder and retriever having enclosures on an internal surface thereof designed to receive wheel assemblies.
2. Description of the Background
Ball holders and retrievers of the prior art typically have a body comprising a wire cross-hatched frame that is spaced to be smaller than the balls that the device is designed to retrieve. The cross-hatched frame defines a receptacle that is adapted to store the retrieved balls. In use, a user places the retriever above a ball(s) and applies downward pressure thereto. As the retriever contacts the ball(s), the cross-hatched frame is forced apart to allow the ball(s) to slide through the frame into the receptacle. After entry, the wire frame flexes into the original position such that the balls are unable to escape from the receptacle.
Some ball holders and retrievers have utilized wheel assemblies to assist in pushing the ball holder and retriever. Typically, the wheel assemblies that have been utilized in prior art ball holders are attached to an outside portion of the frame. In some prior art systems, the wheel assemblies are attached to a spring system that allows the retriever to be pushed downwardly while the wheel assembly retracts such that the frame of the retriever is able to contact and retrieve the balls.
However, there are significant drawbacks with the ball holders that utilize a wheel assembly disposed on an outside portion of the frame. In particular, the wheel assembly, which is typically metal, is exposed to harsh conditions that quickly degrades the wheel assembly and causes it to break down and/or rust, which causes the assembly to stop working. Wheel assemblies disposed outside of the retriever also take up additional space and create a larger footprint for the retriever such that the retriever is blocked from abutting a wall or other surfaces and is more difficult to store because of its larger size and bulky nature.
Other prior art retrievers include permanent wheel assemblies that do not include a spring system. Such wheel assemblies do not allow the retriever to flex upwardly and downwardly in response to force applied by a user.
These prior art devices fail to provide a retrieval system that is designed to withstand weather and other environmental elements. It is an object of the present invention to address these disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment, a retriever includes a frame forming a receptacle for holding objects. A plurality of enclosures are disposed on an interior portion of the frame. A plurality of corresponding wheels are designed to retract substantially entirely into the enclosures.
According to another embodiment, a ball retriever includes a frame having an interior surface in communication with an enclosure disposed thereon for concealing a spring assembly. A wheel is in mechanical communication with the spring assembly. A mechanism for positioning the wheel is disposed within the enclosure, wherein the frame is directly adjacent a surface when the wheel is positioned within the enclosure.
According to a different embodiment, a ball retriever includes a frame having a bottom wall formed by a plurality of rods that extend in parallel with respect to each other. Four sidewalls extend upwardly from the bottom wall to define a receptacle. A plurality of enclosures are positioned on one or more internal surfaces of the sidewalls. A plurality of spring assemblies are mechanically coupled to the enclosures and a plurality of wheels extend from the spring assemblies.
Other aspects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the attached drawings, in which like elements are assigned like reference numerals.
As best seen in
The bottom wall 110 is preferably sized to receive objects that it is designed to retrieve. The spacing between the rods 118 is designed to be slightly smaller than that of a tennis ball 120 or object that the ball holder and retriever 100 is designed to store. In one embodiment, the bottom wall 110 is designed in a cross-hatch pattern as depicted in
In another embodiment, the bottom wall 110 is optionally made of elongate rods 118 disposed in parallel (see
The frame 102 of the retriever 100 may comprise different sizes and shapes consistent with the description herein. For example, in one embodiment, the frame 102 is substantially rectangular. In other embodiments, the frame 102 may be other shapes including square, circular, triangular, and the like.
As best seen in
The enclosures 130 may be attached to the frame 102 in numerous ways. For example, in one embodiment, the enclosures 130 are integral with the frame 102. In a different embodiment, the enclosures 130 are separate from and attached to the frame 102 via methods known in the art (i.e., injection molding, welding, and the like). The enclosures 130 are preferably made of a polymer. However, in other embodiments, the enclosures 130 may be made of other natural or synthetic materials, metal, plastic, combinations thereof, and/or the like.
As shown in
In particular, in one embodiment depicted in
Now turning to
The wheels 160 may be made from materials as known in the art consistent with the disclosure herein. In one embodiment, each wheel 160 is preferably made of a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and/or polypropylene. In a different embodiment, the wheels 160 are made of urethane, and more particularly high rebound urethane. In one particular embodiment, the wheels 160 are made from the same materials used for in-line skate wheels. In other embodiments, the wheels 160 are made of other materials known in the art. However, it should be appreciated that the wheels 160 and/or wheel assemblies 138 are preferably not made out of metal or similar materials that easily rust when exposed to various weather and environmental conditions (e.g., rain, snow, clay court surface, etc.).
The wheels 160 of the present invention may be characterized by hardness. For example, in one embodiment, wheels 160 suitable for use with the ball retriever and holder 100 are defined by a hardness of between about 70 A to about 100 A (as determined using the durometer A scale). In one embodiment, the wheels 160 are defined by a hardness of between about 75 A to about 95 A. In a different embodiment, the wheels 160 are defined by a hardness of between about 80 A to about 85 A. In still a further embodiment, the wheels 160 are characterized by a hardness of between about 82 A to about 84 A. It should be appreciated that other wheels 160 defined by other hardness characteristics may be used as known in the art consistent with the disclosure herein.
The wheels 160 are coupled to the spring assembly system 162 as shown in
Still referring to
In other embodiments, the spring assembly system 162 comprises other compression mechanisms known in the art. For example, the spring assembly system 162 may simply comprise a compression spring (not shown) and the requisite parts needed to attach an end of the spring to the frame 102 (inside of the enclosures 130) and a second end to the wheels 160. Indeed, the spring assembly 164 system may comprise any system that is designed to allow for the entire wheel 160, rod 182, and/or other portions of the spring assembly system 162 to be compressed (e.g., disposed) substantially entirely within the enclosures 130.
The ball holder and retriever 100 optionally includes one of more handles 190. In the embodiment shown in
In a different embodiment shown in
The ball holder and retriever 100, 200 may be utilized in a variety of ways. In particular, the ball holder and retriever 100, 200 may be positioned in an inactive state (see e.g.,
In use, the ball holder and retriever 100 may be grasped by the user utilizing the one or more handles 190 and moved to a position above the balls 120 to be picked up. Once in position, downward force is applied to a portion of the ball holder and retriever 100 (e.g., the handles 192 or a portion of the frame 102) to force the frame 102 downwardly (see
Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use what is herein disclosed and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of this disclosure are reserved.
Claims
1. A retriever, comprising:
- a frame forming a receptacle for holding objects;
- a plurality of enclosures disposed on an interior portion of the frame; and
- a plurality of wheels associated with the plurality of enclosures that are designed to retract substantially entirely into the plurality of enclosures.
2. The retriever of claim 1, wherein the objects comprise tennis balls.
3. The retriever of claim 1, wherein the plurality of enclosures have a height dimension of about half of the height dimension of the frame.
4. The retriever of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed by rods disposed in parallel on a bottom surface thereof.
5. The retriever of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wheels are mechanically connected to a spring assembly system.
6. The retriever of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels includes a break mechanism.
7. The retriever of claim 1, wherein the frame further includes at least one handle.
8. The retriever of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wheels are characterized by a hardness of between about 75 A to about 95 A.
9. A retriever, comprising:
- a frame having an interior surface in communication with an enclosure for concealing a spring assembly;
- a wheel in mechanical communication with the spring assembly; and
- a mechanism for positioning the wheel within the enclosure, wherein the frame is directly adjacent a surface when the wheel is positioned within the enclosure.
10. The retriever of claim 9, wherein the enclosure is defined by a plurality of walls forming a square.
11. The retriever of claim 9, wherein the wheel is made at least partially from urethane.
12. The retriever of claim 9, wherein the mechanism for positioning the wheel within the enclosure moves in a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the frame.
13. The retriever of claim 9, wherein the wheel is characterized by a hardness of between about 80 A to about 85 A.
14. A ball retriever, comprising:
- a frame having a bottom wall formed by a plurality of rods that extend in parallel with respect to each other;
- four sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a receptacle;
- a plurality of enclosures positioned on one or more internal surfaces of the sidewalls;
- a plurality of spring assemblies mechanically coupled to the enclosures; and
- a plurality of wheels extending from the spring assemblies.
15. The ball retriever of claim 14, wherein the plurality of the enclosures have a height dimension that is approximately half of the total height of the frame.
16. The ball retriever of claim 14, wherein the plurality of the enclosures are positioned in corners of the frame.
17. The ball retriever of claim 14, wherein the plurality of the wheels comprise a urethane material.
18. The ball retriever of claim 14, wherein the retriever further includes at least one handle extending therefrom.
19. The ball retriever of claim 18, wherein the at least one handle further includes a grip.
20. The ball retriever of claim 14 further including a cover on at least a portion thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: May 31, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 4, 2014
Inventor: Robert Budacsek (Wilmette, IL)
Application Number: 13/907,656
International Classification: A63B 47/02 (20060101);