Abstract:
A ball holder for a table tennis table designed for non-intrusive mounting under a corner of a table tennis table. The ball holder can be manufactured in two parts for ease of sale and construction, with the two halves being easily assembled and secured by the user. The two halves can connect using a set of male and female tabs, and secure using a set of bolts. The full assembly can attach to the table tennis table through the use of four screws. Properly assembled, the ball holder can contain multiple table tennis balls in an easily accessible position, but without obstructing the players&#39; range of motion or creating a hazard.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit to provisional patent application no. 61/906,318 filed Nov. 19, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The holder is used to keep a few table tennis balls connected to a table tennis table in a way that is convenient for use, but does not create interference with the players. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    During the game of table tennis, two players are positioned on opposite sides of a table and a ball is hit between the two players over a net. Often, when one of the players scores a point the ball travels to a location remote from the table, often becoming lost under furniture. When this happens the flow of the game is interrupted as one of the players must retrieve the ball before the game play can resume. 
         [0004]    Several ball storage devices have been designed to be solutions to this problem, such as the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,414,431 (Chung) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,677 (Chen). However, each of these designs has drawbacks that make their use less practical. For example, the Chung et al. patent (&#39;431) discloses a ball storage and holding device that is located along the bottom of the ends of the table tennis table. This location is convenient for a player to remove a ball for use, but the location can create interference with the player while they are playing as the device reduces the amount of space located below the end of the table. This change may not be expected by the user, resulting in the user&#39;s leg coming into contact with the holder, which can disrupt play or possibly even cause injury. 
         [0005]    The Chen patent (&#39;677) does not share this drawback with the Chung et al. patent (&#39;431) because the Chen holder is located on the side of the table. The holder is affixed adjacent to the net, which is located at the midpoint of the table, and can be used to hold both balls and paddles. This storage device is useful to hold loose elements that are used in the game while the game is not being played. However, a device that stores the balls at a location close to the net is not practical for use during a game. The flow of play would not be consistent if players had to reach all the way up to the net in order to get another ball to serve at the end of a point, as service occurs at the edges of the table rather than near the net. This solution would not be much more efficient than playing the game without a ball holder and retrieving the lost ball after each play. Therefore, although the holder disclosed in Chen will not create interference based on its location, it is not practical for use for ball storage during a game. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a ball storage device that is convenient for use during a table tennis game, but does not create interference with the player while the game is being played. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an aspect of the present device to perform as a ball holder that is convenient for use during a table tennis game, but does not create interference with the player while the game is being played. 
         [0008]    The above aspect can be achieved by a ball holder for a table tennis table comprising: a top piece wherein the top piece further comprises a flat-top surface with a missing corner, and an L-shaped underside, and a bottom piece wherein the bottom piece is L-shaped. 
         [0009]    The above aspect can also be achieved by a method of using a ball holder for a table tennis table, comprising the steps of: obtaining a table tennis table with at least one corner; 
         [0010]    obtaining a ball holder for a table tennis table having a top piece, and a bottom piece; affixing said top piece to said corner of said table tennis table; and attaching said bottom piece to said top piece. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present device, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top and front of an ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the top and rear of a ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the top piece of a ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the top piece of a ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the bottom piece of a ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the bottom piece of a ball holder for a table tennis table according to an embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an ball holder for table tennis affixed to a table tennis table according to an embodiment; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a ball holder for table tennis affixed to a table tennis table containing table tennis balls according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
         [0022]    The present device can be a ball holder that can be configured to hold one or more table tennis balls under one or more corners of a table tennis table. In an embodiment, the ball holder can be L-shaped with the inside of the L having a right angle and both legs having the same length. The distance between the inside and the outside edges and the length of each leg can be sufficient to hold a table tennis ball. A third ball can be secured at the point of the L, which would correspond to the corner of the table tennis table. In an embodiment, the entire ball holder can be secured to the table through the use of screws or any other suitable attachment device or system that can firmly hold affix the holder to the underside of the corner of the table tennis table. The location of the ball holder under the corner of the table tennis table ensures that it is out of the way and cannot interfere with the player during game play. Additionally, the ball holder can either be manufactured as part of a table tennis table, or can be configured to be an after-market accessory designed to be added to a table by an end use consumer. 
         [0023]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a front and top perspective view of a ball holder  100  for a table tennis table according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the present ball holder  100  can comprise two pieces, which can connect to form its body, a bottom piece  102  and a top piece  101 . The top piece  101  and bottom piece  102  can be comprised of plastic, wood, metal, or any other suitable material. In an embodiment, an opening can be created between the top piece  100  and the bottom piece  102 . The top piece  101  can have a flat top surface  103  that can be roughly square in shape with one corner of the square missing. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the top piece  101  of the ball holder  100  can comprise one or more screw holes  108 . These screw holes  108  can be used to affix the ball holder  100  to a table tennis table (not shown). Bolt holes  107  can be located at the outside corners of each of the L-shaped legs  105  of the underside  104 . Two slots  109  can be located in the part of the top piece  101  that is not located over the L-shaped underside  104 . 
         [0026]    The front corner of the top piece  101 , which is the corner opposite of the removed corner can comprise a reinforcing support member  110 . The reinforcing support member  110  can be comprised of a single molded piece of plastic that is affixed to the top piece  101  on the outside of the front corner. The reinforcing support  110  can extend up from the top of the top piece  101 . The purpose of this element is to cover the corner of the table tennis table (not shown) and provide additional support for the ball holder  100 . In an embodiment, the corner of the reinforcing support member  110  can be slightly rounded, so that it is not sharp and not cause injury to a player if he or she would come into contact with the corner of the ball holder  100  or table tennis table (not shown). In an alternative embodiment the reinforcing support member  110  can be comprised of or covered with a soft material, such as foam or rubber, which can provide further protection against injury. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the top and back of a ball holder  100  for a table tennis table according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the bottom piece  102  can be L-shaped and the bottom piece  102  and the underside of the top piece  101  can be aligned with one another and secured together to form the ball holder  100 . The male tabs  114  and female tabs  113  can be configured to securely connect with each other to hold the inside edges of the bottom piece  102  and the top piece  101  together. The outside edges of the bottom piece  102  and top piece  101  can be secured to one another through the use of bolts or other attachments devices (not shown in this figure) located in the bolt holes  107 . 
         [0028]    Affixed to the top piece  101  can be two female tabs  113 , one located on each edge, according to an embodiment. The female tabs  113  can be rectangular in shape with an open slot in the middle of the rectangle. Each tab  113  can extend away from the front corner and be located under the triangle  106  of the top surface  103  that does not cover the L-shaped underside. The female tabs  113  can be used to secure the top piece  101  to the bottom piece  102  and the screw holes  108  can be used to secure the entire ball holder  100  to the underside of the table tennis table (not shown). 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a ball holder  100  for a table tennis table according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the bottom piece  102  can form an L-shape with inside edges  153  and outside edges  154 . The length of the inside edges  153  can be equal to each other. The length of the outside edges  154  can be equal to each other. The length of each inside edge  153  can be approximately the equal to the length of a table tennis ball&#39;s (not shown) diameter. Additionally, the length of each of the outer edges  154  can be approximately equal to two times the diameter of a standard table tennis ball (not shown). The height of the bottom piece  102  can be smaller than the diameter of a table tennis ball (not shown). The combined heights of the top piece  101  and the bottom piece  102 , when added to each other, can be approximately equal to the diameter of a table tennis ball (not shown). 
         [0030]    A bolt hole  107  can be located at the outer corner of each outside edge  154 , according to an embodiment. Each bolt hole  107  can extend the entire height of the bottom piece  102 . Two male tabs  114  can be located along the topside of each inside edge  153 . One male tab  114  can be located approximately in the middle of each inside edge  153 . This location can correspond to the location of the female tabs (not shown) on the underside of the top piece  101 . 
         [0031]    The top piece  101  can be secured to the bottom piece  102  by interlocking the male tabs  114  with the female tabs (not shown). The bottom piece  102  and top piece  101  can be secured by inserting bolts  201  into the bolt holes  107 . The top piece  101  can be secured to the table tennis table  111  by inserting screws  200  into the screw holes  108 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the top piece  101  of a ball holder  100  for a table tennis table according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the top piece  101  can have a flat top surface  103  that can be square in shape. For attachment to a table tennis table  111 , the flat surface  103  of the top piece  101  can be held securely against the underside of the playing surface of a table tennis table  111  through the use of four screws (not shown) inserted through the four screw holes  108 . The reinforcing support member  110  can be pushed securely against the corner of the table tennis table  111 . From this view, the female tabs  113  can be seen through the two slots  109 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the top piece  101  of a ball holder  100  for a table tennis table according to an embodiment. The underside  104  of the top piece  101  can be L-shaped and mirror the image of the L-shape of the bottom piece (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). The underside  104  of the top piece  101  can have an L-shape with inside edges  150  and outside edges  151 . The length of the inside edges  150  can be equal to each other. The length of the outside edges  151  can be equal to each other. The length of the inside edges  150  can be approximately the equal to the length of a table tennis ball&#39;s (not shown) diameter. Additionally, the length of the outer edges  151  can be approximately equal to two times the diameter of a standard table tennis ball (not shown). The inside edges  150  and outside edges  151  of the underside  104  of the top piece  101  and the bottom piece (not shown) can be attached to each other. The height of the underside  104  of the top piece  101  can be smaller than the diameter of a table tennis ball (not shown). The height of the underside  104  of the top piece  101  and the height of the bottom piece (not shown) added to each other can be approximately equal to the diameter of a table tennis ball (not shown). 
         [0034]    The under surface  104  of the top piece  101  can be covered in a foam material (not shown), or any other material that has some elasticity, such that it can be compressed slightly to provide sufficient space for a table tennis ball  250  to be inserted into the ball holder  100 . The top piece  101  can be secured to the bottom piece (not shown) through the use of two bolts (not shown) that can be threaded through the two bolt holes  107 , located at the outer corners of the outside edges  151 . The top piece  101  can be secured to the table tennis table (not shown) by the use of four screws (not shown) inserted through the screw holes  108 . 
         [0035]    In an embodiment, the top piece  101  can have two female tabs  113 , which can be located on the midpoint of the inside edges  152 . The female tabs  113 , from this view, are in line with the two slots  109 . The inside edges  152  extend to touch the inside edges (not shown) of the bottom piece (not shown) when connected. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the bottom piece  102  of a ball holder  100  for table tennis, according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, the bottom piece  102  can be a rounded L-shape, and can have inside edges  153  and outside edges  154 . The inside edges  153  can extend such that they can connect with the inside edges (not shown) of the top piece (not shown) when connected. The inner surface  130  of the bottom piece  102  can be covered in a foam material (not shown), or any other material that has some elasticity, such that it can be compressed slightly to provide sufficient space for a table tennis ball  250  to be inserted into the device  100 . The bottom piece  102  can be attached to the top piece (not shown) by snapping the male tabs  114 , located at the midpoints of the inside edges  153 , to the female tabs (not shown) on the top piece (not shown). The bottom piece  102  can be secured using two bolts (not shown) inserted through the bolt holes  107 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a bottom piece  102  of a ball holder  100  for table tennis, according to an embodiment. The bottom piece  102  can be shaped like a rounded L and the underside  131  of the bottom piece  102  can be bounded by outside edges  154  and inside edges  153 . The bottom piece  102  can be attached to the top piece (not shown) by snapping the male tabs  114 , located at the midpoints of the inside edges  153 , to the female tabs (not shown) on the top piece (not shown). The bottom piece  102  can be secured using two bolts (not shown) inserted through the bolt holes  107 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a ball holder  100  for table tennis affixed to a table tennis table  111  according to an embodiment. The ball holder  100  can be attached to the table tennis table  111  during manufacture. Specifically, screws  200  (not shown) can be used to attach the top piece  101  to the underside of the table tennis table  111 . Additionally, the reinforcing support member  110  placed against the outside corner of the table tennis table  111  can provide additional securement of the ball holder  100  to the table  111 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a ball holder  100  for table tennis affixed to a table tennis table  111  and loaded with table tennis balls  250  according to an embodiment. The ball holder  100  can be attached to the table tennis table  111  during manufacture. Specifically, screws  200  (not shown) can be used to attach the top piece  101  to the underside of the table tennis table  111 . Additionally, the reinforcing support member  110  placed against an outside corner of the table tennis table  111  can provide additional securement of the ball holder  100  to the table  111 . 
         [0040]    At least three table tennis balls  250  can be secured in the ball holder  100  and easily accessible to the player (not shown). A ball  250  can be placed in the ball holder  100  by manually pushing it within the inside of the ball holder  100 . Foam material (not shown) lining the top  101  and bottom  102  of the inside can be compressed such that it allows the ball  250  to be placed within and easily removed from the holder  100 . The compression of the foam material (not shown) also can securely hold the ball  250  during play. 
         [0041]    The many features and advantages of the inventive concept are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the concept that fall within its true spirit and scope. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventive concept to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inventive concept.