Abstract:
The retrieval device for tethered articles is a portable, compact device well suited for use by solo players practicing various aspects of sports. For example, the device may be used by a football kicker to retrieve a tethered ball after each kick, thereby saving the player considerable time in retrieval efforts and precluding the need for a second person to return the ball. The device may also be used by baseball or softball players for pitching, batting, and/or throwing practice, soccer players, etc. as desired. The device may also be used to retrieve articles other than sports balls. The device includes an electrically powered reel which allows the tether line to pay out with virtually no restriction when the electrical circuit is inactive, but which engages a retrieval reel when activated. Automatic and emergency stop switches are also provided. The device is preferably powered by one or more rechargeable batteries.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/702,988, filed Jul. 28, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to reels and line dispensing and rewinding devices. More specifically, the present retrieval device relates to a retrieval device for tethered articles that is particularly well adapted for use by solo players practicing various sports for mechanized retrieval of a ball or other article, e.g., an arrow, having a tether attached thereto. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   So-called “stick and ball” sports, e.g., baseball and softball, football, soccer, etc., require a certain amount of ball handling skill on the part of participants. Players must be able to throw, pitch, hit, and/or kick the ball with reasonable accuracy, depending upon the specific game. The only real way to develop such skills is through practice, of course. While such activities are all team sports, there are many times when a player is unable to get together with others to practice such activities, and therefore must practice alone. Such solo practice oftentimes results in the player spending much more time retrieving the ball after hitting, kicking, or throwing it than is spent in the actual ball-handling activity itself. 
   This problem has been recognized by others in the past. Nets and the like are well known for restricting the travel of a kicked football during practice, and similar devices (backstops, targets, etc.) are used for pitching and throwing practice in baseball and softball. A problem with such restraining devices is that they often do not allow the ball to travel through its complete flight path, thereby preventing the player from observing the flight path of the ball and the point at which it comes to rest. This greatly restricts the utility of such devices as training aids, as the player does not receive the necessary feedback. 
   Still other devices have been developed in the past that allow a tethered ball to be hit, kicked, or thrown, and then retrieved by means of the tether. Many, if not most, such devices have been developed for use by golfers, although they might be adapted for use in retrieving other sports balls as well. A problem with most such devices is the orientation of the reel. If the reel axis is normal, to the path of the line dispersal, i.e., the line pays out generally horizontally from a reel with a vertical axis, then the reel must rotate in order to pay out the line. The inertia of the reel greatly restricts the momentum of the ball, particularly in the case of a relatively light ball, such as a golf ball. Moreover, the retrieval drive systems are generally relatively complex, incorporating belts, gears, and/or other intermediate mechanical components between the motor and the reel. In many cases, such devices have employed spring-actuated motors. Such devices are incapable of storing sufficient energy to provide more than a few retrievals, at best, before requiring rewinding of the spring by the user. 
   Thus, a retrieval device for tethered articles solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The retrieval device for tethered articles is a relatively small and lightweight portable device using an electric motor as the rewinding power. The motor is powered by one or more electrical storage cells or batteries, with the batteries preferably being rechargeable. The axis of the reel assembly is concentric with the rewind motor, thereby permitting direct drive operation and eliminating the need for intermediate mechanical componentry and simplifying the assembly. The rotational axis of the reel is concentric with the direction of the line as it pays out from a stationary spool, thereby allowing the line to be stripped from the spool without need to spin a rotating reel or to unwind from the spool or reel. The present retrieval device has no moving parts whatsoever during the period of line payout or dispersal. 
   When the line and tethered article are to be retrieved, a single rotating reel is actuated by the motor to rewind the line onto the stationary spool. The reel includes a centrifugally actuated catch or finger, which extends from the reel as it spins up to speed. The catch or finger catches the line as it passes around the circumference of the rotating reel, and rewinds the line back onto the stationary spool for the next use. The present retrieval device also incorporates automatic shutoff and emergency shutoff systems, as well as a resilient extension arm, which absorbs the shock of the returning tethered article when it reaches the retrieval device. The extension arm is removable from the front of the housing for compact storage along the side of the housing when the device is not in use. 
   These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF-DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a kicker using the retrieval device for tethered articles according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective view of the retrieval device in operation, retrieving the tethered article. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the main housing and extension of the retrieval device of the present invention, showing certain internal components within the main housing. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view in section of the main housing of the retrieval device of the present invention, showing further details of the internal structure thereof. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view in section of the extension component of the retrieval device of the present invention, showing the internal structure thereof. 
       FIG. 6  is a detail perspective view of the rotating line retrieval reel of the retrieval device of the present invention, showing the operation of the centrifugal line retrieval catch. 
       FIG. 7  is an electrical schematic for the retrieval device for tethered articles according to the present invention. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention is an electrically powered device for retrieving an article (e.g., sports ball, etc.) tethered thereto. The device is particularly useful in assisting solo players practicing various kicking, throwing, hitting, or other ball-handling skills in various so-called “stick and ball” type sports, as the device retrieves the tethered ball back to the player without need for the player to take the time to chase down the ball and return to the original location to repeat the exercise. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the basic operation of the present retrieval device  10  for tethered articles. In  FIG. 1 , a sports player, e.g., football kicker K has kicked a football F toward a goal G in solo practice. The structure of the present retrieval device  10  allows the tether line  12  to pay out freely from the device without undue friction or inertia from a rotating reel or spool, thus allowing the football F (or other article) to travel an essentially free path without undue drag or restriction. The result is a travel path that closely approximates free, untethered flight for the tethered article. In  FIG. 2  the player or kicker K has activated the return switch (discussed in detail further below) to actuate the rewind motor within the device, thereby rewinding the tether line  12  into the device to draw the football F (or other tethered article) back to the device  10  for the player to repeat the exercise. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  also illustrate the general configuration of the retrieval device  10 . The retrieval device includes a motor and reel assembly housing  14  with an elongate extension tube assembly  16  extending therefrom. The extension tube assembly includes a spring housing portion  18  containing an shock absorbing spring and shutoff switch (shown in  FIG. 5  and discussed further below) and a line guide tube  20  telescopically extending from the spring housing  18 . The article tether line  12  extends from a guide grommet or sleeve in the distal end  22  of the telescoping guide tube  20 , with the distal end  24  of the line  22  being connected to the football F or other tethered article as desired. A swivel  26  may be provided at the distal end of the line  22  to permit the line and tethered article to twist relative to one another, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  provide more detailed views of the internal structure of the motor reel and assembly housing  14 . The housing  14  of the retrieval device  10  includes a line passage end  28  having a line passage  30  therethrough, with the line  12  extending from the interior of the housing  14  and through the passage  30  and extension tube assembly  16 . The interior of the housing  14  includes a take-up reel drive motor  32 , which selectively rotates a reel drive shaft  34 , which, in turn, drives a rotary reel  36  affixed to the distal end  38  of the shaft  34 . The reel drive shaft  34  has a rotary take-up reel  36  fixed onto the shaft for rotation therewith, the reel  36  comprising a flat disc with an upturned peripheral flange, with the flange oriented toward the drive motor  32 . The reel  36  includes a mechanism for rewinding the line  12  back on to a stationary spool  40 , shown in  FIG. 4  and discussed further below. 
   The stationary spool  40  stores the rewound line  12  thereon when the line is not deployed from the device  10 . The stationary spool  40  includes a drive shaft passage  42  therethrough, with the drive shaft  34  passing freely through the drive shaft passage  42  of the spool  40 , the stationary spool  40  being disposed between the motor  32  and the rotary reel  36 . The stationary spool  40  includes a relatively wide front flange  41  having an outer diameter that fits closely within the inner diameter of the rotating reel flange. A low friction seal  43  may be provided about the periphery of the spool front flange  41  to prevent the line  12  from working between the stationary spool  40  and the rotating reel  36  during line retrieval operation. 
   The rotating line take-up reel  36  and stationary spool  40  comprise a line spool and line rewind reel assembly. The motor  32  defines a rotary axis A, with the motor  32 , drive shaft  34 , rotary reel  36 , and stationary spool  40  with its drive shaft passage  42  all being concentric to one another about the axis A. The line  12  passes from the stationary spool  40  over or around the peripheral flange of the rotary take-up reel  36 , through a generally conical reducer and guide  44 , and exits the housing  14  through the line passage  30 , whereupon it passes through the extension tube assembly  16  (discussed further below) for attachment to the tethered article. The reducer and guide  44  may be hinged (as shown at hinge  46  in  FIG. 4 ), in order to access the reel and spool assembly for maintenance as needed (e.g., replacement of broken tether line, etc.). 
   Details of the elongate extension tube assembly  16  are shown in the side elevation view in section of  FIG. 5 . The extension tube assembly  16  includes a spring housing portion  18  having a motor and reel assembly housing attachment end  48  providing for the removable attachment of the extension tube assembly  16  to the motor and reel assembly housing  14 . The attachment end  48  of the spring housing  18  includes an externally depending attachment tab  50 , which removably installs within a slotted attachment bracket  52  disposed upon the line passage end  28  of the motor and reel assembly housing  14  ( FIG. 4 ). The tab  50  extending from the spring housing  18  slides into the slot of the attachment bracket  52  of the motor and reel assembly housing  14 , to removably secure the extension tube assembly  16  concentrically with the motor and reel assembly housing  14 . 
   The extension tube assembly  16  may be secured laterally to the motor and reel assembly housing  14  for more compact storage, generally as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The spring housing  18  of the extension assembly  16  includes a pair of gripping tabs  54  extending laterally therefrom, which engage a corresponding pair of recesses  56  along the selectively open edge  58  of one wall of the motor and reel assembly housing  14 . The housing  14  includes a laterally hinged lid  60 , with a capture edge  62  of the lid  60  closing along the selectively open edge  58  of the housing  14 . When the lid  60  is closed, it captures the tabs  54  of the spring housing  18  between the capture edge  62  of the lid  60  and immediately adjacent edge  58  of the housing  14 , thereby securing the extension tube assembly  16  to the motor and reel assembly housing  14  in a storage configuration. When the lid  60  is opened, the extension tube assembly  16  may be removed and installed on the line passage end  28  of the housing  14  as described further above, with the lid  60  also permitting access to the internal components within the housing  14 . 
   Again referring to  FIG. 5 , the interior of the spring housing  18  contains an elongate helical compression spring or tethered article shock take-up spring  64 , which is contained within a concentric spring guide tube  66 . The spring  64  and spring guide tube  66  are anchored within the spring housing  18  at their base ends by a seat  68 , with a collar or sleeve  70  located at the opposite end of the spring guide tube  66 . The line guide tube  20  passes through an outlet guide  72  in the distal end of the spring housing  18 , and through the collar or sleeve  70  of the spring guide tube  66 . The internal end of the line guide tube  20  has a line guide tube collar  74  affixed thereto, with the collar  74  bearing against the movable end of the spring  64 . Thus, as a sports ball (or other tethered article) is retrieved by the retrieval device  10  and drawn up against the distal end  22  of the line guide tube  20 , the tube  20  telescopes rearwardly into the spring guide tube  66  and is resiliently cushioned by the spring  64 . This operation cushions any shock imposed by the tethered article as it hits the distal end  22  of the line guide tube  20  at the end of the retrieval operation. 
   An automatic shutoff switch  76  is installed in the wall of the spring housing  18  with its contact finger  78  normally resting upon the line guide tube collar  74  through a slot  80  formed in the spring guide tube  66  wall. As the line guide  20  is pushed into the spring housing  18  and spring guide tube  66 , the collar  74  is also pushed farther into the spring guide tube  66 . This allows the contact finger  78  of the automatic shutoff switch  76  to drop or extend past the diameter of the collar  74  down to the underlying wall of the line guide tube  20  as the collar  74  is pushed beyond the switch contact finger  78 , thereby opening the shutoff switch  76  to shut off power to the motor  32  within the motor and reel assembly housing  14 . The circuitry for this system, as well as other electrical circuitry of the retrieval device  10 , is shown in  FIG. 7  and discussed further below. 
   When a sports ball (or other tethered article) is thrown, hit, kicked, etc. away from the retrieval device  10 , the retrieval line  12  pays out from the stationary spool  40  by pulling off the end of the spool, around the smooth circumferential flange of the take-up reel  36 , and outwardly through the reducer  44  and line passage  30  of the motor and reel assembly housing  14 , passing through the spring housing  18  and its line guide tube  20 . The stripping of the line  12  from the stationary spool  40  in this manner results in very little friction or drag on the line, with the flight of the tethered article not being appreciably affected by the minimal line drag. Moreover, this is accomplished without need for any electrical power or mechanical movement of any components of the retrieval device  10 , other than the extension of the tether line  12 . 
   However, it will be seen that some means of retrieving the line  12  and rewinding it onto the stationary spool  40  is required for operation. This is accomplished by means of the selectively rotating take-up reel  36 , which captures the line  12  and rewinds it back onto the stationary spool  40  for retrieval by means of a mechanism shown in  FIG. 6 . The take-up reel  36  includes a centrifugally actuated line catch finger  82  disposed therein, which extends through a circumferential slot  84  in the flange of the reel  36  when the reel  36  is spun rapidly. The line catch finger  82  extends from a pivotally attached arm or mass  86  within the reel  36 , and is normally retained in a retracted position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6 ) by a resilient member  88  (e.g., small rubber band, belt, tension spring, etc.). 
   When the motor  32  is actuated for the retrieval operation, it spins the take-up reel  36  by means of the drive shaft  34 . The mass of the pivot arm  86  is thrown radially outward, overcoming the bias of the resilient tension member  88 . The line catch finger  82  extends from the slot  84  (as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 6 ) to capture or snag the retrieval line  12 , which passes around or over the flange of the reel  36 , causing the line  12  to rotate around in unison with the spinning reel  36 . As the captured end of the line  12  is anchored to the stationary spool  40 , it will be seen that this operation will guide the line to wrap about the spool  40 , thus drawing the line  12  back into the motor and reel assembly housing  14  and retrieving the tethered article attached to the distal end  24  of the line  12 . 
   A series of electrical switches, including a start or retrieve switch, an emergency shutoff switch, and the automatic shutoff switch  76  discussed further above, are provided with the retrieval device  10 . These switches, as well as the remaining electrical componentry of the retrieval device, are shown schematically in the electrical circuit diagram of  FIG. 7 . The heart of the circuit is a relay  90 , which serves as an interface and switching device between the relatively high amperage demands of the motor  32  and the lower amperages handled by the various switches of the system. The motor  32  is powered by an electrical power source or supply, e.g., an electrical storage battery or batteries  92  which may be enclosed within the motor and reel assembly housing  14 . Preferably, the battery or batteries  92  is/are rechargeable. A recharging receptacle  94  may be included in the circuit of  FIG. 7 , or alternatively a small charger may be installed in the housing  14  and integrated with the circuitry in place of the recharging receptacle  94 . 
   The retrieval operation is actuated by a “start” or retrieve switch  96 , which serves to actuate the motor  32 . This switch  96  (also shown as one of the pushbuttons in the perspective views of  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) is a normally open switch, which must be physically manipulated to close the circuit and operate the motor  32 . This may be accomplished by hand, or with a touch of the toe when the device  10  is resting on the ground, as shown in the retrieve operation illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The retrieve switch  96  is held to keep the circuit closed until the tethered article completes its return, whereupon the tethered article compresses the line guide tube  20  into the spring guide tube  66  to open the normally closed automatic shutoff switch  76 , as described further above. 
   There may be occasions when the tethered article or the tether line  12  becomes caught or snagged upon some other object, e.g., as the football F passes over the goal post G as shown in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, the user of the device  10  will note such an imminent problem before it occurs during the retrieve, and actuate the emergency stop switch  98 . This stops the motor  32 , which allows the centrifugal line catch finger  82  ( FIG. 6 ) to retract into the now stationary rewind spool  36 , thereby releasing any strain on the retrieve line  12 . The operator of the retrieve device  10  may alternately actuate the retrieve switch  96  and emergency stop switch  98  to alternately apply retrieval tension and slack to the line  12 , to work the tethered article and/or its tether line  12  loose from the restraining object. 
   In conclusion, the present retrieval device greatly facilitates sports practice by solo players in various sports, where the player desires to have repetitious practice in kicking, hitting, pitching, and/or throwing a ball. However, it should be noted that while the present retrieval device has been described as being particularly well suited for use by athletes or players engaged in solo practice with a ball, it should be understood that the present retrieval device is useful in retrieving virtually any form of tethered article, e.g., an arrow shot from a bow. The retrieval device greatly reduces the time otherwise required for the player to retrieve the ball when practicing solo, particularly where no backstop, net, etc. is used to curtail the flight of the ball. Thus, the player may observe the essentially unimpeded, natural flight of the ball and note its flight in order to perfect his or her performance. The relatively rapid retrieval of the ball enables the player to practice the ball-handling action much more frequently than would otherwise be the case if the ball were manually retrieved after each action, thereby further increasing the skills of the player. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.