Abstract:
The present invention is a foldable device for retrieving golf, tennis, or other balls. The invention comprises an elongated shaft having handles at one end and a pair of elongated arm members hinged to the shaft at an opposite end. When fully deployed, the arm members form a V-shaped collection member adapted to be moved along the surface of a putting green or tennis court to gather scattered balls within a first region of the collection member and then collect the gathered balls within a second region of the collection member for eventual lifting and transport.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns hand held apparatus for collecting and retrieving a number of balls scattered on a surface, for example, a practice green or tennis court. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sports such as golf and tennis require practice in order for a player to improve his or her skills. In golf, this may take the form of putting or chipping golf balls onto a practice green. In the case of tennis, practice often comprises repeatedly serving and volleying tennis balls, with or without a partner. As is apparent, the task of retrieving the scattered balls from a practice green or tennis court is both cumbersome and time consuming. 
     Although manually operated golf and tennis ball collection devices are known, the prior art devices are inefficient, complicated to operate, bulky in construction or not easily transported. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a collapsible device for retrieving golf, tennis, or other balls, the device comprises an elongated handle member provided with hand grips at one end and a V-shaped collection member at an opposite end, the collection member comprising a pair of foldable arm members that are hinged together at the handle member at one end thereof and including a collapsible brace member near an opposite ends thereof, the collapsible brace member generally extending transverse to the foldable arm member to interconnect the same whereby the arm members are adapted to be secured into an open position having first and second regions for gathering and collecting balls, the second region including a sheet of netting, cloth or other material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a ball retrieving apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective of the ball retrieving apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  when in a partially folded position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective of the ball retrieving apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  when in a fully folded position; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the hinge member shown within area B of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the hinge member taken along lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective of the ball retrieving apparatus according to the present invention when in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , the ball retrieving apparatus A according to the present invention is shown when in a fully deployed position. The apparatus has a central shaft member  2  having a top end region  4  and bottom end region  6 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , a smooth, hard, convex end cap  7  is provided at the terminus of bottom end region  6 . The end cap  7  is provided to resists wear against the bottom of the shaft member  2  during use of the device. 
     A pair of hand grips  8  is secured to the shaft member  2  along the top end  4  of shaft  2 . As is apparent, the device A is operable without hand grips  8  and it is within the scope of the invention to provide other gripping members. For example, gripping regions may be integrally formed within the top end of the shaft member  2 . 
     A pair of cooperating arm members  10  are connected at the bottom end  6  of shaft  2 . Each of the arm members  10  has a first end  12  and second end  14 . 
     A collapsible brace member  16  extends between the arm members  10  to maintain the arm members in a V-shaped open position during operation of the device. When in an open position, the arm members  10  in combination with the brace member  16  form a ball collection member having first and second regions for respectively gathering and collecting balls. Brace member  16  comprises a pair of hinged legs  18  and  20  adapted to be locked into an open and fixed position. One leg  18  of brace member  16  is pivotally secured (not shown) at its first end to the underside of one of the arm members  10  and at a location approximately two thirds of the way between the first end  12  and second end  14  of arm member  10 . A second leg  20  of brace member  16  is pivotally secured (not shown) at its first end to the underside of the other of the arm members  10  and also at a location approximately two thirds of the way between the first end  12  and second end  14  of arm member  10 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a connection member  22  in the form of a wing nut with screw, interconnects brace legs  18  and  20  at their respective second ends. Other types of fasteners are within the scope of the present invention so long as they secure the brace member  16  in a fixed or deployed position as will be fully explained below. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , brace leg  20  includes a stop member  24  for limiting the range of motion of brace member  16  between its open and collapsed positions. 
     As is apparent, other collapsible brace members are within the scope of the present invention so long as, when deployed, it maintains the arm members  10  in an open position and it does not interfere with folding of the apparatus. For example, the arms of the brace member could extend telescopically or via pneumatic piston members. 
     The region between the shaft member  2 , arm members  10  and brace member  16  forms an equilateral triangle when the device is fully deployed and as best shown in  FIG. 1 . As is apparent, the device will nevertheless function when the angle between any two sides is greater than or less than sixty degrees. In one embodiment, brace member  16  is positioned approximately thirteen inches from the hinge region identified as B in  FIG. 1 . That distance is preferred when the device is primarily used for collecting golf balls. When the device is primarily used for collecting tennis balls, the preferred distance between the brace member  16  and the hinge region B is about twenty five inches. Either distance will enable the device to function for collection of both golf and tennis balls. The preferred distances between the brace member and the hinge region provide a larger or smaller collection region  26 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , collection region  26  includes a two ply layer of nylon netting or mesh material  28  having a triangular shape and being secured to each of the arm members  10 . It is within the scope of the invention to use a sheet material formed from a different material such as, for example, cloth or plastic. The area forward of the brace member  16  and between arm members  10  is a gathering region  30  that will be further described below. 
     A strap or length of cord  32  formed from nylon or another resilient material is secured to a side of the mesh material  28  adjacent brace member  16  and forms a loop  34  or lifting handle as best shown in  FIG. 2 . A pair of wheels or castors  36  is secured to the undersides of arm member  10  and at the first ends  12 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , hinge region B is shown in greater detail. Arm members  10  are secured to shaft member  2  by a pair of grommet members  36 , each of which extends through a separate one of the pair of arm members  10 . An insert nut  38  is shown to extend through the shaft member  2 . A post screw  40  having end caps  42  extends through the insert nut  38  and though each of the grommets  36 . This arrangement allows the arm members  10  to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to shaft member  2  and in a direction as indicated by arrows  44  of  FIG. 1 . The arrangement also allows the arm member  10  to pivot toward shaft member  2  and in a direction as indicated by arrows  46  of  FIG. 2 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the length of the post screw  40  is about two and one quarter inches for a golf ball lifting device and two and a half inches for a tennis ball lifting device. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide other lengths for the post screw depending upon the nature of the balls to be collected. 
     Additional features include hook and loop connector strips  48  and  50 , sold under the trademark VELCRO, which are provided on shaft member  2  and arm members  10  and as best shown in  FIG. 1 . These connectors maintain the device in a folded position as will be further explained below. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , the ball retrieving apparatus of the present invention is seen in a fully folded position. To unfold the device for use, the VELCRO strips  50  are separated from VELCRO strip  48  disposed on shaft member  2 . This enables the arm members  10  to swing outwardly and away from shaft member  2  as best by arrows  46  in  FIG. 2  and into a fully expanded position so that brace legs  18  and  20  can be interlocked together by rotating connection member or wing nut  22 . 
     The fully expanded arm members  10  are then rotated downwardly in the direction of arrows  44  of  FIG. 1  and into an operational position whereby the arm members  10  extend generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of shaft member  2 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 6 , a number of golf balls GB scattered along a surface may be collected by grasping the shaft  2  at hand grips  8  and wheeling the device so that the open faced gathering region  30  is moved adjacent the golf balls GB where they can be deposited within collection region  26  by brushing them in by hand, foot or using a tennis racquet of golf club. 
     After a number of balls have been accumulated within collecting region  26 , the user grasps handles  34  and lifts the group of collected balls so that they may be carried to a separate location for deposit (not shown). 
     The present invention permits collection of about two dozen golf balls or three dozen tennis balls scattered along a surface. Collection is easily achieved as the device may be conveniently wheeled along the ground to the balls where they may be manually brushed into the collection region  26 . After use, the device is easily returned to a folded position by loosening the brace connection member and swinging the arm members upwardly and against the shaft for securement by connectors  48  and  50 . 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth and within the scope of the invention.