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  Ball retrieverUSPTO Application #: 20070235942Title: Ball retriever Abstract: A ball retriever is provided for attaching to a ball catching frame with a ball catching aperture. The ball retriever includes a fabric cover that substantially covers the ball catching aperture, a fabric catch partially attached to the fabric cover to communicate with the first opening so as to stop and release a ball thrown through the first opening, one or more straps that connect a rear portion of the fabric catch to the ground or frame, a strap fixing device that is adapted to fix the straps to the ground or frame, and a cover fixing device that is adapted to fix the fabric cover to the ball catching frame. A central portion of the fabric cover is severed along a predetermined line to secure a first opening and a drapery corresponding to the first opening. The fabric catch is substantially sagged away from the ball catching aperture. (end of abstract) Agent: Park Law Firm - Los Angeles, CA, US Inventor: Kwang Han Cho USPTO Applicaton #: 20070235942 - Class: 273395000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Aerial Projectile Game; Game Element (e.g., Target, Etc.) Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Target, Having Means To Deliver Spent Projectile To Easily Accessible Location, Movable Conveyor Or Reprojecting Target The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070235942. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to an athletic ball retrieving net. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved ball retriever that is provided with straps stabilizing a fabric ball catch that stops and releases a ball thrown from in front of the retriever, and can be detachably attached to an existing fixed or portable frame. [0002] Conventional athletic ball game nets typically focus on catching balls to facilitate ball games in a limited area. For example, a portable ball net is used indoors to catch a chip shot for golf practice. [0003] A demand is to stabilize the ball catching net to observe shock from the ball catching so as to enhance ball recollecting characteristics. What is desperately required is to enable the ball catching net to stand robust against the ball thrown thereat while stopping and releasing the ball in a reliable manner. [0004] Another demand on the market is to provide a practice net that enables a ball pitching practice using, for example, a baseball. Such a market demand can be satisfied if a ball thrown off from a pitcher can be stably stopped and easily retrieved. Further, when in a baseball pitching practice if the person throwing a ball can easily retrieve the ball around the net, it would be a significant advantage to those that still want to practice a ball throwing game alone in a place like a backyard or a patio. [0005] One example of a ball retriever is described in the applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/906,197 for "Portable Ball Retriever", which was filed on Feb. 8, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. [0006] The present invention is related to extended application of one of the advantageous features of the-ball retriever disclosed in the application Ser. No. 10/906,197. The stable, light and easy-to-install ball catch is separately provided for an existing fixed or portable frame. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a detachable ball retriever that is used with an existing frame, and enhances ball recollecting characteristics by applying a strap tying mechanism between the frame or the ground and a ball catch that stops and retrieves the ball thrown thereto. [0008] Another object is to enable a person throwing a ball for practice to easily retrieve the thrown ball near the retriever. [0009] To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides a ball retriever for attaching to a ball catching frame. The ball catching frame includes a ball catching aperture, and the ball catching frame is positioned on the ground. [0010] The ball retriever includes a fabric cover that is adapted to substantially cover the ball catching aperture, a fabric catch partially attached to the fabric cover to communicate with a first opening of the fabric cover so as to stop and release a ball thrown through the first opening, and one or more straps that is adapted to connect a rear portion of the fabric catch to the ground or frame. [0011] The fabric cover includes a first opening that is adapted to pass a ball through. [0012] The fabric catch is adapted to be substantially sagged away from the ball catching aperture. [0013] The ball retriever further includes a cover fixing device that is adapted to fix the fabric cover to the ball catching frame. [0014] The cover fixing device includes a plurality of fixing strips that are provided on the periphery of the fabric cover. Each of the fixing strips includes an elastic band that is fixed to the fabric cover and an engaging part that is fixed to the elastic band and is adapted to engage with the frame. The engaging part comprises a hook. Alternatively, the engaging part includes a first band and a second band. The first band is detachably fixed to the second band. The first band and the second band are fixed with each other with fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. [0015] The ball retriever further includes a strap fixing device that is adapted to fix the straps to the ground or frame. The strap fixing device includes a hook. Alternatively, the strap fixing device includes a pile that is adapted to be driven into the ground. Alternatively, the strap fixing device comprises a first band and a second band. The first band is detachably fixed to the second band. The first band and the second band are fixed with each other with fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. [0016] The straps are elastic, and are detachably attached to the rear portion of the fabric catch. [0017] The fabric catch is shaped in a pouch. [0018] The fabric cover has a second opening below the first opening so that a ball stopped by and released from the fabric catch can be easily retrieved through the second opening. [0019] A central portion of the fabric cover is severed along a predetermined line to secure the first opening and a drapery corresponding to the first opening. [0020] The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the rear portion of the fabric ball catch of the ball retriever is stably pulled by the straps backwards and toward the ground so as to straighten the fabric catch shaped in a pouch while balancing the pulling between the fabric catch and the ground, thereby enhancing utility and marketability; (2) the portable ball retriever can be easily attached to and detached from an existing frame; (3) the portable ball retriever increases utility and versatility of an existing frame; and (4) the elastic bands of the portable ball retriever provides dimensional tolerance that allows to fit various sizes of the frame. [0021] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading... Full patent description for Ball retriever Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ball retriever patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Ball retriever or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Game table structure Next Patent Application: Drop target Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Ball retriever patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.99385 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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