Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a ball retrieval device, and specifically, a ball retrieval device capable of connecting to, or being incorporated as part of, a bat. The retrieval device is incorporated as part of a hitting device, such as a baseball bat, during the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the retrieval device is removably mounted on the hitting device or is more or less permanently joined with the hitting device by mounting the ball retrieval device in an opening created by the hitting device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/522,376, filed on Sep. 22, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/593,518, filed on Jan. 20, 2005. The benefit of the filing dates of these applications is hereby claimed, and the disclosures of each application hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a ball retrieval device, and specifically, a ball retrieval device capable of connecting to, or being incorporated as part of, a bat.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     Prior to a baseball or softball game, and during practices, it is customary for a coach or player to warm up the players on the field, and conduct infield/outfield fielding practice, by hitting balls to various locations on the baseball or softball field. The players catch or “field” the hit balls, and then return them to the coach or player so that he or she may continue the fielding practice.  
         [0004]     During the warm-up and fielding practice, there are significant numbers of balls being hit by the coach or player. As each ball is returned to the coach or player by the fielding player, the coach or player picks up the ball to be hit again out into the baseball or softball field. This necessarily requires the coach or player to repeatedly bend over and retrieve balls from the ground in order to continue the fielding practice.  
         [0005]     Baseball season typically starts in early Spring and lasts through Fall. Games and practice during this season are daily occurrences, which means that the coach or player in charge of fielding practice, game practice and/or ball retrieval is repeatedly bending over to retrieve baseballs and softballs on a daily basis. This kind of repeated bending movement can be damaging to the coach or player in that it results in body fatigue and, possibly, injury. The act of having to retrieve balls for fielding practice is also time consuming, in that it requires the coach or player to bend over to retrieve the ball and then stand back up. This change of body positioning from a hitting stance to a bending stance and back up to a hitting stance is inefficient and takes time away from fielding practice.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is directed to a ball retrieval device, and specifically, a ball retrieval device capable of connecting to, or being incorporated as part of, a bat. The ball retrieval device includes a first end having a plurality of retrieval fangs, a second end, and a collar that is located between the first end and the second end. The retrieval fangs are capable of expanding and encirculating an object. The second end may include an opening for connecting a bat to the ball retrieval device. Alternatively, the second end may operate to incorporate the ball retrieval device with a bat via a fastening mechanism, screw mechanism or plug mechanism.  
         [0007]     In use, the ball retrieval device is connected to, or incorporated, as part of a bat. The plurality of retrieval fangs are placed over a ball and pressure is placed on the bat downwards onto the ball. The retrieval fangs expand and encircle the ball, thereby retrieving the ball from its location on the ground or elsewhere.  
         [0008]     The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a drawing showing a perspective view of a first embodiment of the ball retrieval device in use.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing a top plan view of the first embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a drawing showing a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a drawing showing a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a drawing showing the first embodiment of the ball retrieval device being installed on a bat.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a drawing showing the first embodiment of the ball retrieval device in use as it is about to pick up a typical baseball or softball.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a drawing showing a typical baseball or softball picked up by a first embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a drawing showing a user removing the typical baseball or softball from the first embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a drawing showing a perspective view of a second embodiment of the ball retrieval device in use.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a drawing showing a side elevation, cross-sectional view of the plug mounted embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a drawing showing a side elevation, cross-sectional view of a screw mounted embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12A  is a drawing showing a top plan view of the plug embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12B  is a drawing showing a side elevation view of the plug embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12C  is a drawing showing a bottom plan view of the plug embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13A  is a drawing showing a top plan view of a screw mounted embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13B  is a drawing showing a side elevation view of a screw or barb mounted embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0025]      FIG. 13C  is a drawing showing a bottom plan view of a screw mounted embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a drawing showing the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device about to pick up a typical baseball or softball.  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  is a drawing showing a typical baseball or softball picked up by a second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0028]      FIG. 16  is a drawing showing a user removing the typical baseball or softball from the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device.  
         [0029]      FIG. 17  is a drawing showing a side elevation, cross-sectional view of a fastened embodiment of the second alternate embodiment of the second embodiment of the ball retrieval device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     This invention relates to a ball retrieval device  12 , and specifically, a ball retrieval device  12  capable of connecting to, or being incorporated as part of, a bat. The ball retrieval device  12  includes a first end  22 , a second end  24  and a collar  15 . The ball retrieval device  12  is connected to, or incorporated as part of, a bat  14 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 1-17  show various embodiments of the ball retrieval device  12  of the present invention.  FIGS. 1-8  detail a first exemplary embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12  and  FIGS. 9-17  detail a second exemplary embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12 , including several variations thereof. Generally, the ball retrieval device  12  includes a first end  22 , a second end  24  and a collar  15 .  
         [0032]     The first end  22  of the ball retrieval device  12 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-17 , defines the portion of the ball retrieval device  12  that allows for the encirculation of a ball  16 , such as a baseball or softball.  
         [0033]     The first end  22  includes a plurality of retrieval fangs  18 , or protuberances, extending away from the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12 . As discussed further below, and as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , in using the ball retrieval device  12 , the retrieval fangs  18  are placed on a ball  16 . As pressure is placed downward, the retrieval fangs  18  enlarge and encircle the object  16  being retrieved. Thus, the retrieval fangs  18  are preferably flexible, in that they should be capable of spreading sufficiently to encircle the diameter of the object  16  being retrieved.  
         [0034]     The first end  22  also includes an inner diameter that provides a location for the retrieved object to be located and encircled.  
         [0035]     The second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-17 , defines the portion of the ball retrieval device  12  that provides for the connection or the incorporation of the ball retrieval device  12  with a bat  14 . There are various embodiments by which the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12  is connected or incorporated as part of the bat  14 .  
         [0036]     The ball retrieval device  12  may be incorporated into a bat  14  at manufacture. Alternatively, it may be fitted by a consumer or intermediate by modifying existing batting devices.  
         [0037]     In the embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12  shown in  FIG. 5 , the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12  includes an opening having a diameter slightly less than the object upon which the ball retrieval device  12  is being located. If, for example, the object upon which the ball retrieval device  12  is being located is a bat  14 , the bat  14  is directly inserted into the opening of the second end  24 .  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12 , and specifically, the diameter of the opening of the second end  24  may be manufactured to fit into the opening for the end-cap of a metal or other non-wooden bat  14 .  
         [0039]     In an alternative embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12  shown in  FIG. 5 , the bat  14  includes an interior opening or notch. The second end of the ball retrieval device  12  is then formed so that the diameter of the second end is smaller than the interior opening or notch of the bat  14 . The second end of the ball retrieval device  12  is then removably or permanently inserted directly into the interior opening on the bat  14 .  
         [0040]     In the embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12  shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 A-C, the ball retrieval device  12  is connected to, or incorporated as part of, the bat  14  by a plug mechanism. With the plug mechanism embodiment, the second end of the ball retrieval device  12  is formed to include a groove  28 . The bat  14  is manufactured such that the end of the bat  14  encircles the groove  28 , thereby incorporating said ball retrieval device  12  with said bat  14 .  
         [0041]     In the embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 A-C, the ball retrieval device  12  is connected to the bat  14  via a screw mechanism. With the screw mechanism, the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12  includes a plurality of notches or “barbs”  32 . An interior opening or notch  22  is located on the top of the bat  14 , and the opening or notch  22  includes a plurality of grooves  26 . The grooves  26  located on the interior opening or notch  22  preferably correspond to the plurality of notches or “barbs”  32  on the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12 . The ball retrieval device  12  is then incorporated with the bat  14  by screwing the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12  into the interior opening or notch of the bat  14 .  
         [0042]     In the embodiment of the ball retrieval device  12  shown in  FIG. 17 , the ball retrieval device  12  is connected to the bat  14  using a fastening mechanism. The fastening mechanism operates to connect or incorporate the ball retrieval device  12  to the bat  14  by using a fastener such as a screw, rivet or screw washer mechanism  38 .  
         [0043]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17 , the second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12  includes an opening sufficient to house a fastener such as a screw or rivet  38 . The ball retrieval device  12  is placed directly on top of a bat  14 , and a fastener  38  is screwed through the second opening and directly into the top of the bat  14 , thereby incorporating the ball retrieval device  12  with the bat  14 . In an alternate embodiment, the second end  24  does not include a closed bottom, and a screw or rivet  38  is screwed directly through said second end  24  of the ball retrieval device  12  and the bat  14 , thereby incorporating the ball retrieval device  12  with the bat  14 .  
         [0044]     The collar  15  of the ball retrieval device  12 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-17 , is the supportive structure between the first and second ends.  
         [0045]     The ball retrieval device  12  may be constructed of elastomeric material. Alternatively, the ball retrieval device  12  may be manufactured from rubber, metal or wood. The ball retrieval device  12  may also be constructed of more than one material.  
         [0046]     The ball retrieval device  12  may be constructed as a one-piece mechanism, or may be constructed as several pieces. Alternatively, the ball retrieval device  12  may be manufactured along with a bat  14  as a one-piece mechanism. The ball retrieval device  12  and bat  14  may also be manufactured separately and the connected or incorporated with each other, as set forth herein.  
         [0047]     In optional embodiments, the ball retrieval device  12  may include metal, rubber or plastic springs. It may include soft elastomeric surfaces for gripping the ball  16 , and harder and stiffer surfaces for gripping the hitting device. The hardness of the material can be varied to provide and control the device&#39;s overall stiffness and strength.  
         [0048]     In another optional embodiment, the ball retrieval device  12  may be incorporated in a batting tee to be used as a ball rest or coupling.  
         [0049]     In use, as shown by reference numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , if not incorporated as part of the bat  14 , the ball retrieval device  12  is connected to the bat  14 . The first end of the ball retrieval device  12 , and specifically, the plurality of retrieving fangs  18 , is placed on top of the object to be retrieved, such as a ball  16 . As pressure is placed on the bat  14 , the retrieving fangs  18  push down on the ball  16 , which results in a widening of the retrieving fangs  18  and a subsequent encircling of the ball  16  by the retrieving fangs  18 . The retrieving fangs  18  then naturally constrict and the ball  16  is encircled by the retrieving fangs  18 .  
         [0050]     After he or she has picked up the object to be retrieved, the user  10  may lift the bat  14  and ball retrieval device  12  and remove the ball  16  from the retrieving fangs  18 . Although a “plurality of retrieving fangs”  18  may be defined as two or more, retrieving fangs  18 , in one embodiment, the ball retrieval device  12  include an even number of retrieval fangs  18 . The even number of retrieval fangs  18  allows a user  10  to optionally grasp the ball  16  from the ball retrieval device  12  using his or her thumb in opposition to his or her fingers.  
         [0051]     The length of the ball retrieval device  12 , as connected with, or incorporated as part of, the bat  14 , provides the mechanism by which the ball retrieval device  12  encounters a ball  16  laying on the ground. The length of the bat  14  with the ball retrieval device  12  allows the user  10  to reach the ground from a comfortable hand position, while the user  10  is standing up, as is typical for hitting balls  16  during fielding practice. The user  10  can hit practice balls  16  to players for a significant amount of time without the fatigue of stopping or bending over to retrieve balls  16 .  
         [0052]     The description and drawings generally describe a ball retrieval device  12  capable of encirculating and retrieving balls  16  such as baseballs or softballs. There should be no limitation, however, as to the types of objects or balls  16  used in connection with the present invention. For example, it can be envisioned that the ball retrieval device  12  may be manufactured such that a soccer ball or box may be encirculated and retrieved.  
         [0053]     Moreover, while the description and drawings generally describe a ball retrieval device  12  used by a coach or player  10 , it is to be understood that the present invention describes a ball retrieval device  12  that can be used by either male, female, child, or adult. Any limiting terms contained herein, such as “coach”, “player”, “he,” “his,” and “male” as used in the description of the invention are for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0054]     Further, although the description and drawings generally refer to retrieval of balls  16  in a softball or baseball context, it should be understood that the present invention describes a ball retrieval device  12  that can be used in any sport where a ball  16  or object is to be picked up or retrieved. Some exemplary sports for which this device  12  may be utilized are baseball, softball, football, basketball, volleyball, or soccer.  
         [0055]     Still further, even though the descriptions and drawings generally refer to the use of a baseball bat  14  in connection with the ball retrieval device  12 , it should be understood that a stick, board, or other similar apparatus, may be used in connection with the ball retrieval device  12 .  
         [0056]     The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoing specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and are not intended to exclude equivalents of the features shown and described or portions of them. The scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.