Abstract:
A ball holder for supporting a ball includes a hoop portion and a bracket portion. A preferred embodiment includes means for supporting a football, means for mounting to various support surfaces, means for supporting an air pump, and means for storing needle valves.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/353,969, filed Jan. 31, 2002. The present invention relates to devices for holding balls, and, in particular, to a hoop adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal orientation to support a ball. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the hoop is less than the diameter of a standard volleyball, soccer ball, and basketball, so that the same hoop can receive and support any of those balls. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the hoop defines opposed depressions which also make it adapted to receive and support a football. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the ball holder includes an integral bracket which includes a mounting arrangement adapted to mount onto a pole having a circular cross-section, onto a pole having a square cross-section, and onto a flat wall or large pole having a flat surface. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the ball holder has an elongated, arcuate cross-section depression for retaining an air pump as well as defining holes for holding the needle valves that are used with the pump to inflate the balls. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an example of a ball holder made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the ball holder of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ball holder of FIG. 1, with balls shown in phantom, a wall shown in phantom, and an air pump shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the ball holder of FIG. 1, with two sizes of balls and an air pump shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ball holder of FIG. 1 including mounting ties for mounting the ball holder onto a circular cross-section post, shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 7 but with a square cross-section post. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-8 show one example of a ball holder  10  made in accordance with the present invention. The ball holder  10  includes a hoop portion  12  and a bracket portion  14 . 
     The hoop portion  12  has a substantially circular opening, which preferably has a smaller diameter than a volleyball, soccer ball or a basketball, thereby permitting any of those balls to extend partially into the circular opening and to be supported by the hoop, as shown in FIG.  4 . The top surface of the hoop portion  12  defines first and second diametrically opposed, tapered depressions  16 , which permit a football to. be supported horizontally on the top surface of the hoop portion  12  as shown in FIG.  3 . The diameter of the hoop opening preferably is larger than the diameter of a standard football, in order for the soccer ball or basketball to be seated far enough down to be well-supported by the hoop, and it is for that reason that the football is supported horizontally on the tapered depressions  16 . Alternatively, if the diameter of the hoop opening were small enough, the football could be supported vertically in the hoop. 
     The bracket portion  14  projects rearwardly from the hoop portion  12 . This bracket portion  14  is designed to permit the ball holder  10  to be mounted on a large flat surface, such as a wall or large post, or on a circular cross-section post, or on a rectangular cross-section post. The portion of the bracket  14  that projects rearwardly the greatest distance includes first and second flat portions  18 ,  20 , each of which defines a vertical slot  22 , which is open at the bottom and closed at the top. These first and second flat portions  18 ,  20  can be used to mount the ball holder  10  to a wall or other large, flat surface, as shown in phantom in FIG.  3 . Screws  24  or other fasteners are secured to the wall at the proper height and separated by a distance corresponding to the distance between the slots  22 , and the bracket  14  can then be slid down over the screws  24 , until the top of the slots  22  hit the screws  24 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. 
     The rear surface of the bracket  14  also defines first and second recessed flat portions  26 ,  28 , recessed from said first and second flat portions  18 ,  20 . Side walls  30  extend from said first and second flat portions  18 ,  20  to said first and second recessed flat portions  26 ,  28 , and the side walls  30  preferably are spaced apart approximately four inches in order to permit the bracket to fit onto the front and to wrap around a portion of the sides of a four-inch square cross-section post, as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The rear surface of the bracket  14  also defines an arcuate recessed portion  32 , which permits the bracket  14  to wrap partially around a circular cross-section post, as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The bracket portion  14  also has first and second upwardly-projecting ears  34 , which define first and second openings  36  at a first elevation, for receiving a first strap  38  for securing the bracket  14  to a post. It also defines third and fourth openings  38  at a second elevation, for receiving a second strap  40  to secure the bracket  14  to a post. Only one of the openings  38  is shown clearly, but it is understood that the ball holder  10  is symmetrical, so the other opening  38  is a mirror image of the opening  38  that is shown. The straps  38 ,  40  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are well-known plastic straps that can simply be pulled tight and automatically lock in position. Alternatively, a metal pipe clamp or other type of strap could be used. It is anticipated that a plurality of straps  38 ,  40  will be supplied with the ball holder  10  when it is sold, and two of the straps  38 , 40  will be threaded through the appropriate openings  36 ,  38  wrapped around the post, and tightened in place in order to mount the ball holder  10  to a post. 
     The bracket portion  14  also defines a top surface  42 , which defines two small diameter holes  44 , for receiving a needle valve  46 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The needle portion of the needle valve  46  extends through the hole  44 , and the remainder of the needle valve  46  rests on the top surface  42 . The top surface  42  also defines an elongated recess  48  having an arcuate cross-section, for receiving an air pump horizontally, as shown in FIG.  3 . In this particular embodiment, upwardly-projecting ears  50  extend the arcuate cross-sectional shape of the recess  48 , so as to wrap greater than 180°, or more than half-way around the air pump, in order to secure it in the recess  48 . If the ears  50  are flexible enough, the air pump may be inserted down vertically, spreading the ears  50  apart and then allowing them to snap back into position to retain the air pump. Alternatively, if the ears  50  are not very flexible, the air pump may be slid lengthwise into the recess  48 . 
     In the embodiment shown in these drawings, the bracket portion  14  and the hoop portion  12  are molded as a single piece. FIG. 2 shows ribs  52  that are molded into the ball holder  10  to provide strength and support. While the single piece design is preferred, it will be obvious that various portions of the ball holder  10  could be made as individual pieces that are later fastened together. 
     It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the embodiment described above is only one example of a ball holder made in accordance with the present invention. Many modifications may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.