Patent ID: 6171202
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A ball retrieval apparatus, comprising:(a) a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first and a second end, a hollow portion at least at said second end of said shaft, said hollow portion extending longitudinally within said shaft, said shaft having an opening at said second end of the shaft which opens into said hollow portion of said shaft,(b) a first plug being located in said hollow portion of said second end of said shaft and being dimensioned to enable said first plug to be inserted through said opening into said shaft and into said hollow portion, said first plug being capable of moving longitudinally within said hollow portion of said shaft,(c) a plurality of wires of generally equal length wherein said plurality of wires is greater than four, all of which have a first and a second end with said first end being anchored in said first plug and the second end extending outwardly of said shaft through said opening in said shaft, said wires being capable of moving longitudinally within said hollow portion of said shaft to two positions, said first position exposing said wires outside of said second end less than fifty percent of their length, and said second position exposing said wires outside said second end more than fifty percent of their length, said wires in said second position being capable of being extended sufficiently out of said shaft to enable them to be pressed over and around a ball to grip said ball and pick up said ball by lifting said shaft, and(d) a second plug, said second plug being fixedly located in said hollow portion of said second end at a distance from said opening in said second end to prevent said first plug and wires from penetrating into said hollow section more than that which will place said wires in said first position within said second end.