| Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus -> Monitor Keywords |
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Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Playing Field Or Court Game; Game Element Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Practice Or Training Device, For Game Using Field Or Court Having Dividing Means Thereon For Separating Opponents (e.g., For Tennis, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Etc.), Projectile Collector For Field Or Court (e.g., Trough, Ball Sweeper, Etc.)Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060068948, Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] not applicable STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT: [0002] not applicable REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX [0003] not applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of the Invention [0005] The present invention relates to the field of sports equipment and more particularly, to apparatus for collecting, dispensing, and transporting tennis balls. [0006] 2. Description of the Related Art [0007] Practice for the game of tennis is necessary to develop the skills required. However the game requires at least two players, and is often played by four players, and one or three practicing player(s) may not be available to join another player for practice. Practicing alone on a regulation court can be accomplished, but one must be able to have immediately available a desired number of tennis balls and be able to retrieve these balls or the practice primarily turns into an exercise in obtaining and retrieving tennis balls, rather than a practice session devoted to service and playing skills development. [0008] As noted, retrieving tennis balls is an especially tedious, time consuming and unproductive task for a student or teacher or practicing player. One alternative is not to practice in a regulation tennis court, but rather, to practice against a wall with or without simulated net markings. This is not satisfactory to many players as it changes the character of the play in tennis ball practice service where placement strategy is of great importance, as well as tennis ball rebound characteristics that is completely unrelated to a tennis game played on a standard regulation court. Mechanical serving devices are also available, but again reloading the device and collection of balls is a time consuming process. [0009] The primary objectives for a tennis ball collection and practice aid are (1) easily used collection device for quickly collecting tennis balls laying at random on the tennis court or other practice surface, that is (2) readily portable, (3) having a desired capacity for the storage of tennis balls collected by the device, and (4) includes a tennis ball collection hopper that is conveniently within reach for reaching the so-collected tennis balls. Moreover, the tennis ball collection and practice aid should be small so that it will not interfere with the practice and not overly obstruct the court. It should also be light weight, rugged in construction, pleasing in appearance and low in cost. When the practice aid is deployed in each of the three modes (collection, storage and dispensing), a minimum of effort to convert from one mode to another mode is also desirable. [0010] Most of the current practice aids may do one of these objectives well, but others poorly or not at all. Ball hoppers conveniently provide access to dispense balls during practice, but many do not allow storage (covered) or transport. Others provide storage and access, but do not retrieve balls. [0011] Ball storage devices also tends to be separate, typically in the can in which purchased. Transport to and from the storage location requires lifting. Larger storage devices accommodate many balls but are difficult to lift and transport. [0012] Ball retrievers tend to be complex and cumbersome, limiting transport, access and use. Examples of ball collectors which do not function in the other modes and do not satisfy the other practice objectives include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,484,437; 4,318,654; and 3,717,371. All of these devices only collect balls and all require separate hinged/rotating and/or fixed fingers/projections to lift and/or remove balls for placement into a receptacle. Many of these devices also tend to get caught by nets and fencing. Since these locations are likely places for balls to come to rest, this can be a major problem. [0013] Prior art which attempts to accomplish all three of the primary objectives tend to be even more complex and cumbersome to lift, transport and use. U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,490 uses a spring loaded trapping mechanism, a non-rotating ball engaging surface mounted to a jointed frame which allows multiple positions, wheels and a handle. The handle also serves as one of the supports when the device is used to dispense balls, but fold out legs are also required. The cage is also separate from the structure which supports these folding, multi-position elements. In addition, the spring mechanism must be periodically actuated, i.e: the process is a batch type for each ball or group of balls, rather than a continuous process. [0014] In another approach to achieving a multi-mode practice aid, U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,533 uses a rotating drum, belt driven by traction wheels and axle, removable extension members to support the device in the dispensing position, a removable ball receptacle, a frame, a means to adjust the frame, an arcuate ball guide, and handle. The handle can be folded out of the way of the player during the dispensing mode and a ball guide with wheels can be used for partial support in the dispensing mode. [0015] These prior multi-mode approaches have many limitations. These are primarily related to the multiplicity of elements required to accomplish the three operating modes, creating added cost, weight and space. This multiplicity of elements, weight and space particularly detract from the storage and dispensing modes. In addition, they also tend to get caught by nets and fencing located within the court in the collecting mode of operation. [0016] None of the prior art cited incorporates positive collection (balls retained in a container with covered openings or openings smaller than the ball diameter) to allow immediate transport and storage without the use of additional movable elements in addition to traction wheels and an axle. None allows conversion to a dispensing mode without additional structure. Further, all also tend to get caught when in contact with nets or fences when in the collecting mode. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0017] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide tennis ball collection and practice aid that overcomes the shortcomings of the related art. [0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a tennis ball collection device for quickly collecting tennis balls laying at random on the tennis court or other practice surface [0019] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a readily portable tennis ball collection device that is easily transportable while securing a plurality of tennis balls collected therein. Continue reading about Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus... Full patent description for Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus 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 Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Pitching training mat and kit and associated method for training pitchers Next Patent Application: Advanced football game Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Tennis ball collection, dispensing, and transport apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.27253 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
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