Abstract:
An object throwing and catching apparatus includes a flexible web having a first tubular end, a second tubular end, a first side edge, a second side edge, a pair of handles for inserting into the first and second tubular edges, and two pieces of an elongate, stretchable component, one attached to the first side edge and another attached to the second side edge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for throwing and catching objects. Particularly, the present invention relates to a game or sports apparatus for throwing and catching balls, water balloons and the like that can be propelled. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-operated apparatus for tossing and catching a ball for play by one, two or more persons.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Games that require manual dexterity and manipulation have always been of great interest. These games offer the opportunity to develop skills that afford much satisfaction and pleasure to the player and spectators. They also promote good physical conditioning and health. Generally, the simpler the equipment needed to play a game, the more quickly and widely accepted it will be. Of these games, those that require the throwing and catching of a ball have always enjoyed considerable popularity. Some require equipment for propelling a ball such as a glove or net. Usually, the participants alternately assume the offensive and defensive positions.  
           [0005]    Many different types of game devices are known for tossing or launching objects such as balls and the like. Typically, at least two such devices are used so a number of people may pass the object between one another to enhance enjoyment and interest in the game.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,491 (1963, Padovani) discloses a projecting and catching device which employs two handles with a resilient net disposed therebetween. The resilient net provides the surface for contacting the ball during play. The net has an overall shape that is fixed and predetermined at the time of manufacture. The netting simply bridges the two handles to provide a flat netting surface that may be spread flat according to the desire of the user.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,183 (1980, Stephens) discloses a game apparatus having a central, generally rectangularly outlined net portion with obliquely outlined comfort handles disposed at each end. A centrally positioned ball locating opening is provided in the net portion between the handles.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,954 (1994, Wotring) discloses a throwing and catching apparatus having a strap with handles and bridging members to define an object receiving area around netting or solid material. Elastic strips are present in the bridging members to cause them to contract creating a cradle effect in the netting.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,839 (1998, Kay) discloses a ball tossing and catching apparatus that includes a sling having a generally rectangular web suspended between a pair of rigid handles. A cord loop runs slidingly through each tubular handle such that when the handles are parallel and drawn apart from one another to the maximum distance the cord loop&#39;s length will allow, parallel, first and second taut cord portions run between the first ends of the handles and between the second ends of the handles, respectively. The web is constructed of either foraminous or nonforaminous fabric, and includes hemmed, parallel side edges constructed as tubes through which the parallel cord portions easily slide.  
           [0010]    The above structural limitations of the prior art render these devices cumbersome and unwieldy to operate. In addition, they render the prior art devices expensive to manufacture. The prior art devices, in many instances, are not suitable for use by persons of average athletic ability or by younger adults or children. The complexity of design and other drawbacks are believed to contribute to the lack of utility that has prevented such devices from becoming acceptable to the sports minded public. Further, the prior art devices include a space between the handles and the netting such that a ball could pass therethrough. This spacing requires much greater eye-hand coordination when catching the ball.  
           [0011]    Therefore, what is needed is a ball throwing and catching apparatus that is easily constructed and economical. What is also needed is a ball throwing and catching apparatus that can be used by a person of average athletic ability, including use by young adults and children. What is still further needed is a ball throwing and catching apparatus that has a ball throwing and catching portion that lacks any open spacing between the handles and the ball throwing and catching portion. What is yet further needed is a ball throwing and catching apparatus that allows a user to easily alter the throwing direction and force.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball throwing and catching device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ball throwing and catching device that can be easily used by persons of average athletic ability and by young adults and children. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a ball throwing and catching device that allows a user to easily alter the throwing direction and force. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a ball throwing and catching device that has no spacing between the handles and the ball throwing and catching portion allowing the ball to be more easily caught and thrown.  
           [0013]    The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a flexible web with tubularly-hemmed ends, two handles for insertion into the tubularly-hemmed ends and an elastic material attached along each side of the flexible web between the tubularly-hemmed ends. The two handles are approximately the same lengths as the tubular ends of the flexible web. They may be tubular or solid so long as their construction is sufficient such that the handles remain substantially rigid during use.  
           [0014]    The diameter of the handles is not critical, but should be easily and comfortably grasped and manipulated by the hands of the intended user. The overall length of the handles is not critical although the lengths of both handles should be identical. The elastic material may be elastic cord or ribbon and is secured to the flexible web such that the maximum extension of the elastic material will cause the flexible web to be taut. The elastic material along each edge of the flexible web between the handles allows one edge to be pulled taut between the handles while the opposite edge is in a relaxed position. When the flexible web and elastic material are in a relaxed state, the flexible web provides a pocket-like shape for catching a ball. The relaxed, pocket-like shape of the flexible web absorbs a considerable amount of the ball&#39;s energy upon impact, preventing the ball from easily rebounding off of the flexible web.  
           [0015]    In one embodiment, the flexible web may be constructed from a panel of any flexible, durable, nonresilient, nonforaminous material. Natural or synthetic, woven or nonwoven fabrics may suffice, although a woven synthetic such as nylon or polyester is preferred. Single or double layers of material may be used to give the device a sufficient useful life. The flexible web is generally rectangular. In another embodiment, the flexible web may be a net-like web constructed from a panel of single or double layers of durable, flexible, woven netting or some similar foraminous material. Nylon net material woven of multiple-fiber strands or other durable, foraminous constructions such as sheets of highly perforated rip-stop nylon with punched-out apertures may also work satisfactorily. The relative benefits of foraminous versus nonforaminous materials for different purposes are discussed below.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a nonforaminous flexible web with a higher density ball.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention showing the invention being pulled fully taut.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention showing the elastic material and the flexible web in a relaxed state.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a horizontal section of the tubularly-hemmed ends taken in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  in FIG. 2.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a foraminous flexible web with a lower density ball.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a kit of the present invention showing the elements necessary for constructing and using the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 6 . FIGS.  1 - 5  show a first embodiment of the ball throwing and catching apparatus  10  of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a flexible web  20  that includes first and second opposed hollow, tubularly-hemmed ends  22  and  24 , first and second opposed elastic-like parallel components  26  and  28 , and first and second opposed, hollow, rigid handle tubes  30  and  32 .  
         [0023]    Flexible web  20  is constructed of a generally rectangular piece of textile fabric material. Flexible web  20  has first and second opposed short edges  21  and  23  and first and second longer, opposed side edges  25  and  27 . First and second short edges  21  and  23  are each folded and sewed to define a tubular hem of uniform width along its respective length forming tubularly-hemmed ends  22  and  24 . First and second short edges  21  and  23  may also be folded and secured using rivets (not shown) or other fastening method to define a tubular hem. A flexible web  20  approximately 18 inches long and 10.75 inches wide, after hemming, was found to work satisfactorily. Strong, but conventional, thread and stitches are used in constructing tubularly-hemmed ends  22  and  24 .  
         [0024]    Flexible web  20  in one embodiment of the present invention may be constructed from a panel of any flexible, durable, nonresilient, nonforaminous material. Natural or synthetic, woven or nonwoven fabrics may be used, although a woven synthetic such as nylon or polyester is preferred. Single or double layers of material may be used, as needed, to give the present invention a sufficient useful life.  
         [0025]    First and second opposed parallel components  26  and  28  are resilient, elastic-like material preferably approximately 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches wide and approximately equal in length, when stretched taut, to side edges  25  and  27 . First and second parallel components  26  and  28  may be constructed of natural or synthetic, woven or nonwoven, elastic ribbon or cord. First and second parallel components  26  and  28  are secured in their fully taut position to side edges  25  and  27 , respectively, using strong but conventional thread and stitches. Such a construction is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When in a relaxed state, first and second parallel components  26  and  28  pull handle tubes  30  and  32  towards each other causing flexible web  20  to “shrink” to a dimension of about 9.5 inches long by about 10.75 inches wide forming a pocket  36  between side edges  21 ,  23 ,  25 , and  27 , as illustrated in FIG. 3. First and second parallel components  26  and  28  may also be positioned within a hem created along side edges  25  and  27 .  
         [0026]    Handle tubes  30  and  32  may be any rod or tube but are preferably constructed of rigid tubular material such as PVC pipe or heavy-duty paper tube. The diameter of handle tubes  30  and  32  is not critical. They should, however, be easily and comfortably grasped and manipulated by the hands of the intended user. A diameter of about 1.25 inch, or so, has been found satisfactory for adult use and may be found acceptable for children as well.  
         [0027]    Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an enlarged view of a tubularly-hemmed end  22  taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 2. First edge  21  is folded and sewn to define a tubular hem of uniform width along its length forming tubularly-hemmed end  22 . Elastic-like component  28  is placed along edge  27  and sewn using conventional thread and stitches  29 . Elastic-like component  28  may be attached to either side of edge  27  or may be secured within a hem or there may be an elastic-like component  28  and  28 ′ (not shown) attached to opposite edge faces of edge  27 .  
         [0028]    Another embodiment  50  of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 showing an alternative flexible web construction. Alternative embodiment  50  includes a net-like flexible web  60 , which has dimensions similar to those of first flexible web  20 . Flexible web  60  is constructed of single or double layers of durable, flexible, woven netting or similar foraminous material. Nylon net material woven of multiple-fiber strands of roughly {fraction (1/16)} inch width separating roughly ¼ inch apertures may be used. Other durable, foraminous constructions such as sheets of highly perforated rip-stop nylon with punched-out apertures may also work satisfactorily.  
         [0029]    In operation, for example with the first embodiment of the present invention having a flexible web constructed of tightly-woven, nonforaminous material, the user brings opposed handle tubes  30  and  32  close together allowing opposed, elastic-like material components  26  and  28  to be in their relaxed state and allowing flexible web to hang downward in a sling-like posture. A relatively dense ball such as regulation tennis ball  40 , or ball of similar density and diameter, is then placed in the downward-depending flexible web  20 . The user then grasps each handle tube  30  and  32  with one hand, respectively, and “aims” the device by orienting handle tubes  30  and  32  such that they are generally perpendicular to the direction of intended travel of ball  40 . Then, while keeping this orientation of handle tubes  30  and  32 , the user draws handle tubes  30  and  32  quickly apart. This causes elastic-like components  26  and  28  and flexible web  20  to become quickly taut causing ball  40  to be rapidly ejected from flexible web  20 . Elastic-like components  26  and  28  enhance the throwing speed and directional control of ball  40 .  
         [0030]    To catch a ball, a user grasps handle tubes  30  and  32  and places the pocket  36  formed by flexible web  20  in the path of, and in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of ball  40 . As ball  40  makes contact with pocket  36  of flexible web  20 , the user reduces the distance between handle tubes  30  and  32 , thus absorbing the kinetic energy of ball  40  in flexible web  20 . As handle tubes  30  and  32  are drawn closer together, pocket  36  converges around ball  40 , thus nesting ball  40  within flexible web  20 .  
         [0031]    Balls having a variety of weights, diameters and materials may be used with ball throwing and catching apparatus  10 . Typically, ball  40  may have a diameter of about ⅞ inch to about 5½ inches, a weight of about {fraction (1/16)} ounces to about 6½ ounces, and material such as, for example, polyester, bean-fill (e.g. Hackey-Sac®), hollow plastic, foam-like (e.g. Nerf® or Pool®), solid rubber, hollow rubber, or balls such as tennis ball, racquetball, softball, golf ball, a 1-inch marble, water balls (e.g. Splash Bomb™), Whiffle® ball, and Koosh® ball. For use by a child, it is desirable to use a light-weight, low-density ball. Balls of this construction are typically made of low-density sponge rubber, a hollow rubber shell, Styrofoam, polyester fiber, or a light-weight plastic, Whiffle-type construction.  
         [0032]    Turning now to FIG. 5, second embodiment  50  includes flexible, foraminous web  60  and low-density ball  68 . Low-density ball  68  is preferably half, or less than half, the weight of a regulation tennis ball. Flexible, foraminous web  60  creates very little wind resistance as handles  62  and  64  are drawn rapidly in opposite directions. This permits low-density ball  68  to reach a sufficient velocity for flight of significance distance.  
         [0033]    The above-described elements may also be assembled to form a kit  70  for constructing a ball throwing and catching device of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates such a kit that includes at least handles  72  and  74 , and flexible web  20  or  60 . Ball  40  or  68 , as appropriate for the kit&#39;s web, may also be included. A kit providing maximum versatility preferably includes both nonforaminous and foraminous flexible webs  20  and  60 , and both high-density and low-density balls  40  and  68 . A ball throwing and catching device constructed from such a kit is easily converted back and forth between the two embodiments of the present invention by simply exchanging handles  30  and  32  from flexible web  20  to  60 , and vice versa.  
         [0034]    It should be understood that larger or smaller webs may be used for tossing different-sized balls or other objects, such as water balloons. Further, web materials having ribbed or textured surfaces may be employed to permit the user to have more control over the action of a tossed ball.  
         [0035]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.