Sport ball container

A container for storing an article includes a base, a top, at least one upright, and an elastically deformable member. The top has an opening sized to permit an article to pass through the opening. The at least one upright extends between the base and the top. The elastically deformable member is shift able between a substantially undeformed position and a deformed position. The base, the top, the upright, and the elastically deformable member cooperate to form a storage cavity sized to store the article. The elastically deformable member and at least one of the uprights cooperate to form a gap sized to prevent passage of the article through the gap when the elastically deformable member is in the substantially undeformed position, and the size of the gap is expandable in response to deflection of the elastically deformable member to the deformed position to permit the article to pass through the gap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present invention generally relates to a storage container, and more particularly to a storage container for sport balls and the like.

2. Description of Related Art

Storing sport balls is difficult for the typical homeowner, especially one with children. The options for storing sport balls such as footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, and the like, have traditionally been limited to large cardboard boxes, closets, or containers. A large box for storage not only takes up valuable floor space, but also forces one to dig through the box to find the particular ball that he or she desires. Because the balls are difficult to retrieve from the boxes, users dislike storing sport balls in this manner. Invariably, the balls end up laying on the floor of a garage, basement, or playroom. Typical homeowners tend to dislike a multitude of sport balls laying around on the floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, a first example of a sport ball container10is shown. The sport ball container10includes a base12, a plurality of uprights14, and a top16. The uprights14extend from the base12to the top16to connect the top16to the base12in a spaced relation. The base12, top16, and the uprights14combine to define a storage cavity18of the container10in which sport balls20can be stored.

Both the base12and the top16include cord holders22. A pair of elastic cords24are connected from the base12to the top16and secured at each end by the cord holders22, as will be detailed herein. A first gap26is defined between the pair of elastic cords24, and second gaps28are defined between the elastic cords24and the uprights14. The elastic cords24are maintained with enough tension in a substantially undeflected or undeformed position to ensure that the sport balls20do not fall out of the storage cavity18by slipping through either the first gap26or the second gap28.

The elastic cords24are also maintained in a state where a user can pull the cords24to a deflected or deformed position and expand either the first gap26or the second gap28(or both) so that a desired sport ball20can be removed from the storage cavity18through either the first gap26or the second gap28. While the weight of the sport balls20in the storage cavity18will deflect or deform the elastic cords24slightly in the substantially undeflected or undeformed position, the elastic cords24have enough resiliency to retain the sport balls20in the storage cavity18.

A hook30can be attached to the top16. As shown inFIG. 1, the hook30can be used to secure the sport ball container10to a rail32mounted on a wall34. Other hooks could be used to support the container10on a coat rack or any other suitable item. As will be noted herein, the container10can be secured to a wall in other ways.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, the base12is shown. The base12includes an outer ring36and a pair of cross bars37disposed across the outer ring36. The cross bars37can be mounted to the outer ring36in any known way, and here are spot welded. The cross bars37are spaced relative to the ring36so that the open spaces are small enough that the base12prevents a typical sport ball such as a basketball, soccer ball, or football from falling through the base12.

In a second example of the base12shown inFIG. 1, the base12includes the outer ring36and an inner ring38spaced apart and connected by a plurality of radially disposed spokes40. The space between the outer ring36and the inner ring38is small enough so that the base12prevents a typical sport ball from falling out of the container between the rings36,38. The diameter of the inner ring38is similarly sized to prevent a typical sport ball from falling through the inner ring38.

Referring back toFIGS. 4 and 5, the base12includes a plurality of locations42that are prestamped such that the locations42are flat. Further, the flat locations42each include an aperture44that passes through the base12. The apertures44permit threaded fasteners (not shown) to pass through and threadingly engage a corresponding upright14.

The base12is described in first and second embodiments and is shown to be made of tubular metal. However, any shape, configuration, or material able to support sport balls would be acceptable. For example, a sheet, a board, a plate, woven strips, or any other structure is acceptable. Materials such as metal, plastic, wood, or the like are also acceptable. Further, the base12and outer ring36are shown as circular in the top view. The base12and outer ring36could also be rectangular, square, oval, or any other shape.

Referring now toFIGS. 6,7, and8, the top16is shown in several views. In this example, the top16is a ring46with a break48defining two endpoints48a,48b. A pair of prongs50extend upwardly from the endpoints48a,48bof the top16. The prongs50include notches52and are adapted to connect the hook30to the top16. Similar to the base12, the top16includes several locations54that are stamped such that the locations54are flat. Apertures56are also formed in the flat locations54for threaded fasteners (not shown) to extend therethrough and engage with the uprights14. The top16has an opening58inside the ring46that is sized to allow passage of sport balls from outside to inside the container10and inside the storage cavity18.

The top16herein is shown as a broken ring46made of tubular metal with an opening58. However, any shape, configuration, or material able to support sport balls and allow passage of sport balls into the storage cavity18of the container10would be acceptable. For example, a sheet, a board, a plate, woven strips, parallel strips, or any other structure with an opening is acceptable. Materials such as metal, plastic, wood, or the like are also acceptable. Further, the top16is shown as circular in the top view. The top16could also be rectangular, square, oval, or any other shape.

In another example, the top16is configured such that it does not include an opening and sport balls cannot enter the storage cavity18through the top16. In this configuration, sport balls are both introduced into and removed from the storage cavity18through either the first gap26or the second gap28.

A pair of uprights14are shown inFIGS. 9-11. The uprights14extend between the base12and the top16of the container10as previously described. The uprights14are preferably stiff or rigid, but in certain applications may be flexible. The uprights14are assembled in coupled pairs joined together by a pair of cross bars60. The cross bars60can be mechanically attached to the uprights14with a threaded fastener or by welding and the like. The cross bars60can be arched and strengthen the structure of the container10by supporting the uprights14. The cross bars60for each pair of uprights14can include a flat portion62and a through aperture64. The cross bar60and aperture64function as a mounting bracket that permits a threaded fastener to extend therethrough and fasten the storage container10to a vertically disposed structure such as a wall.

Each upright14disclosed herein is made from tubular steel. Each end14a,14bof each upright14is internally threaded such that a fastener can be inserted through each of the apertures44,56of the top and base12,16and screwed into the threaded portion of the uprights14to secure the uprights14to the top and base12,16. Again, although the uprights14are shown as tubular steel, other materials, such as plastic, other metals, wood, or a composite can be used, and other methods can be used to connect the uprights14to the top and bases16,12. The uprights14should be strong enough to support the weight of the sport balls20or other articles stored in the container10. While rigid uprights14are shown, other non-rigid uprights can also be used, such as rope, flexible plastic, or the like.

Referring now toFIGS. 12-15, a cord holder22is shown in several views. The holder22is generally in the shape of a wire loop70attached to the base12. The holder22includes a pair of legs66and a flange68extending laterally out from the legs66. The holder22has a first width W1and further has a narrowed neck72with a width W2that is less than the width W1. The flange68of the wire loop70can hold the elastic cords24in a fixed position, as will be described herein. A separate holder22is required for each end portion74a,74bof the elastic cord24as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. While the wire loop70is shown to be arched, the loop can be other shapes such as rectangular, circular, or the like.

A plurality of holders22are disposed each on the top16and the base12as best shown inFIG. 2. The holders22are affixed to the top and base12,16by any method known, but in this example are affixed by welding the legs66of a holder22to either the top or base12,16. The legs66extend laterally outward from either the top16or the base12.

Referring now toFIGS. 16-18, one of the elastic cords24is illustrated. The elastic cords24can be of the type commonly known as bungee cords. The elastic cords24are strong enough to prevent the balls20from falling through the first gap26and the second gap28when the cords24are in the substantially undeflected position, yet flexible enough to allow a user to stretch or deform the elastic cords24into the deflected position so that the first or second gap26,28is enlarged enough to remove a ball from the container10, without removing other ball(s). While an elastic cord24is shown, other elastically deformable members can be used.

The elastic cord24includes end portions74a,74bpositioned on opposing ends of an elongate portion76. The end portions74a,74bof the elastic cord24have a larger diameter than the elongate portion76so as to engage the flange68of the holder22to prevent the elastic cords24from moving from a fixed position relative to the storage container10. To assemble an elastic cord24to a cord holder22, the elongate portion76nearest the end portion74aof an elastic cord14can be slipped through the neck72until the end portion74aof the elastic cord24engages the wire loop70. The wire loop70acts as a shoulder against the larger diameter of the end portion74asuch that the holder22maintains the end of the elastic cord24. The process is repeated with the other end portion74bof the elastic cord24and a cord holder22on the top16. This can be seen best inFIG. 3.

The disclosed example of the sport ball container10can be placed on the floor, mounted directly to a wall, or attached to a horizontal rail on a wall. The sport ball container10is a convenient way for storing and retrieving sport balls20. In this example, each ball20can be viewed from outside the container10and any one of the balls20can be retrieved without displacing other balls20as would be required with a box or the like. The sport ball container10can be shipped and stored in a disassembled condition to reduce the size of the shipping container, but can be assembled easily with one or more fasteners. The sport ball container10is simple and lightweight yet strong enough to hold several sport balls20. The sport ball container10can be made from any suitable material such as metal, wood, plastic, or composite. In the example illustrated herein, the majority of the container10is formed of hollow steel tubing, but could also be formed of a solid wire construction.

To use the container10, a user can insert a sport ball20through the opening58in the top16into the storage cavity18. The ball20will fall by gravity to the base12or on top of another ball20previously stored therein. The balls20stay stored within the container10due to the tension in the elastic cords24maintaining the cords24in a substantially undeflected position and the rigidity of the uprights14. Because the uprights14and elastic cords24are thin, the balls20stored in the container10can be visible to the user. A user may retrieve a ball20without having to pull the ball20through the opening58in the top16. Instead, the user can deflect or deform an elastic cord24by pulling the cord24laterally outward to increase either the first gap26or the second gap28, grasp the desired ball20, and pull the ball20through the first or second gap26,28and out of the container10. This system can be advantageous in that generally all balls20stored in the container10are accessible, not just the ball20located closest to the opening58in the top16. The system is also advantageous in that normally all balls20are visible, and therefore the user is not required to push the contents of the container10around to visually locate the desired ball20.

Other sport ball containers can be constructed in accordance with the teachings herein. In one example, the plurality of uprights can be replaced with a single upright that is a large tube with an elongate slot running the entire length. Elastic cords can be disposed in the slot. In this example, the tube conceals the contents of the container, while still allowing access to the contents stored therein. This may be desirable for those who believe this would create a more aesthetic storage unit. The tube could also include designs, pictures, logos, or the like. In another example, the uprights are replaced with a plurality of elastic cords. In this example, the storage cavity would vary with the weight of the objects stored in the container. This example would allow variation in the storage cavity of the container and would allow the container to expand its storage capacity. Variations in the top and bases have been described earlier.

Furthermore, the generally disclosed size of the container can be changed depending on what is to be stored. For example, many games are played with balls that are smaller than basketballs, such as baseball, tennis, and golf. The overall dimensions of the container can be scaled larger or smaller to be suited to the contents which it is intended to store. Further, the container may be used to store virtually any items, and is not limited in its functionality to the storage of sport balls.

Although certain aspects of a sport ball container have been described herein, in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.