Patent Publication Number: US-6216933-B1

Title: Tennis ball holding accessory

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon provisional application Ser. No. 60/109,373 filed Nov. 23, 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The average tennis player wants to be able to spend most of his/her time on the court in actually playing, rather than collecting balls, trying to find his or her keys or cell phone, or worrying about them being stolen, etc. According to the present invention an accessory for tennis players is provided which holds tennis balls in association with the user while the user is playing tennis in an optimum manner, and provides additional functionality. The accessory according to the invention comfortably holds enough balls (typically at least four, preferably exactly six regulation tennis balls) to play a typical game without having to stop to search for or collect balls, so that the game keeps moving; but not so many balls as to crowd the user&#39;s stroke. The accessory according to the invention can be worn on the front, side, or wherever it feels most comfortable. 
     The accessory according to the present invention is constructed of rugged material, and in an effective manner, so that it will have the maximum life, washability, and resistance to tearing or wear, while being as light as possible. Also, a key ring can be mounted in the interior volume of the accessory so that one can readily keep his/her keys (such as a key to a locker, house, or car) on the court, and doesn&#39;t have to worry about them being lost or stolen. Similarly, a hidden pouch may be provided on the back of the accessory which fits a cell phone, eyeglasses, pager, credit cards, ID or the like. This enhances the versatility and functionality of the accessory even more. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention an accessory for holding tennis balls in association with a tennis player (user) while the user is playing tennis is provided. The accessory comprises the following components: a bag formed of nylon and comprising: A back panel with a top and a bottom and first and second sides, and a first length from the top to the bottom thereof; a front panel having a top and a bottom and first and second sides and a second length from the top to the bottom thereof, the second length less than the first length so that the top and bottom of the front and rear panels are spaced from each other; and attachment means for holding the front panel to the back panel along or adjacent the first and second side edges of the front panel. The front and back panels are integral at the bottoms thereof. An interior volume of the bag defined between the front and rear panels, and an opening being provided at the top of the front panel large enough for passage of a regulation tennis ball therethrough, and the interior volume being large enough to hold at least four regulation tennis balls therein with ready access through the opening. Elastic at the opening associated with the front panel for biasing the front panel to partially close the opening. And a belt attachment at the top of the back panel. 
     For example, the volume may be large enough to hold exactly six regulation tennis balls. Preferably, there also is provided a nylon cord (which may be elastic) attached to at least one of the front and back panels, and to a key ring, so that the key ring extends into the interior volume adjacent the opening. Keys on the key ring do not interfere with access to the balls or play, but can be retained in association with the player. The nylon cord typically may be sewn to both the front and back panels adjacent the side edges thereof. 
     Typically, the attachment means comprises stitching, and in order to provide maximum strength and durability, the front and back panels are folded to define a first fold at said side edges thereof, and wherein said stitching comprises first stitching not visible from the exterior of said bag at said first fold, and second stitching spaced from said first fold and visible from the exterior of said bag. 
     Typically, the belt attachment comprises an elongated belt loop formed in the back panel; and further comprises a belt extending through the elongated belt loop and having a plastic male fastener at or adjacent a first end thereof, and a cooperating plastic female fastener at or adjacent a second end thereof. Also, preferably the accessory further comprises a nylon pouch large enough to hold a cell phone or eyeglasses attached to the back panel opposite the front panel so that the pouch is hidden when the bag is worn on a belt around a human&#39;s waist with the front panel facing outwardly from the human. 
     The accessory is preferably dimensioned so that the bag interior volume is, at the bottoms of said front and back panels, about 9 inches wide, and has a height of about 7 inches, and the bag is preferably made from a single piece of nylon fabric having dimensions of about 10 by 20 inches, and the attachment means comprises stitching. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an accessory for holding tennis balls comprising: a bag formed of nylon and comprising: A back panel with a top and a bottom and first and second sides, and a first length from the top to the bottom thereof; a front panel having a top and a bottom and first and second sides and a second length from the top to the bottom thereof, the second length less than the first length so that the top and bottom of the front and rear panels are spaced from each other; and attachment means for holding the front panel to the back panel along or adjacent the first and second side edges of the front panel. The front and back panels are integral at the bottoms thereof. An interior volume of the bag defined between the front and rear panels, and an opening being provided at the top of the front panel large enough for passage of a regulation tennis ball therethrough, and the interior volume being large enough to hold at least one regulation tennis ball therein with ready access through the opening. Elastic at the opening associated with the front panel for biasing the front panel to partially close the opening. A nylon cord attached to at least one of the front and back panels, and to a key ring, so that the key ring extends into the interior volume adjacent the opening. And a belt attachment at the top of the back panel. The details of the accessory are preferably as described above. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an accessory for holding tennis balls comprising: A bag formed of nylon and comprising: a back panel with a top and a bottom and first and second sides, and a first length from the top to the bottom thereof; a front panel having a top and a bottom and first and second sides and a second length from the top to the bottom thereof, the second length less than the first length so that the top and bottom of the front and rear panels are spaced from each other; and attachment means for holding the front panel to the back panel along or adjacent the first and second side edges of the front panel. The front and back panels are integral at the bottoms thereof. An interior volume of the bag defined between the front and rear panels, and an opening being provided at the top of the front panel large enough for passage of a regulation tennis ball therethrough, and the interior volume being large enough to hold at least one regulation tennis ball therein with ready access through the opening. Elastic at the opening associated with the front panel for biasing the front panel to partially close the opening wherein the front and back panels are folded to define a first fold at the side edges thereof, and wherein the stitching comprises first stitching not visible from the exterior of the bag at the first fold, and second stitching spaced from the first fold and visible from the exterior of the bag. And a belt attachment at the top of the back panel. The details of the accessory may be as described above. 
     The present invention provides a more durable and/or functional construction than in the prior art, allowing a tennis match to proceed more smoothly, without interruption, while still not interfering with the player&#39;s stroke, and providing additional functionality of holding important other items directly on the player&#39;s body without significant interference with his or her ability to play a match. In this regard the invention has advantages compared to conventional constructions for similar purposes, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,259,541, 5,289,960, and 4,079,871 (the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein). 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an advantageous accessory for holding tennis balls while a user is playing tennis. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of an exemplary tennis player&#39;s accessory according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic cross sectional view showing the preferred attachments along the sides of the front and back panels; 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic cross sectional view showing the elastic band fit in the opening at the top of the interior volume of the bag according to FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the bag FIG.  1  and showing an additional pouch associated therewith; and 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of another embodiment of the bag with pouch of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An accessory for holding tennis balls in association with the user while the user is playing tennis is illustrated schematically at reference numeral  10  in FIGS. 1 and 4. The accessory comprises a bag  11  formed of nylon (such as from a 10″×20″ piece of 100% DuPont nylon) and has a back panel  12  with a top  13  and a bottom  14 , and first and second sides  15 ,  16  (see FIGS. 2 and 4) and a first length  17  from the top  13  to the bottom  14  thereof; and a front panel  18  having a top  19  and a bottom  14  (in the preferred embodiment the bottoms of the panels  12 ,  18  are integral, as seen in all of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 ), first and second sides  20 ,  21  (see FIGS.  1  and  2 ), and a second length  22  between the top  19  and bottom  14  thereof less than the length  17 . Attachment means are provided for holding the panels  18 ,  12  together along the edges  20 ,  21  of the front panel  18  thereof. The attachment means may comprise ultrasonic welds, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or—in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings—stitching indicated schematically at  24  in FIGS. 1 and 4, or any other suitable conventional mechanism for holding two panels of nylon together. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates particular stitching that may be provide as the attachment means so as to provide the best aesthetics and strength. As seen in FIG. 2, both the free ends  25 ,  26  of the edges  15 ,  20  of the panels  12 ,  19 , respectively, are folded over to provide a first fold  27 ,  28 , respectively. A line of stitching—shown schematically at  29  in FIG.  2 —is provided adjacent the first fold lines  27 ,  28 , but not visible from the exterior of the panels  12 ,  19  to hold the panels  12 ,  19  together at the fold  27 ,  28 . Then second stitching—shown schematically at  30  in FIG.  2 —is provided between the stitching  29  and the free ends  25 ,  26 , and extends through the four layers of nylon fabric formed at the edges  15 ,  20 —as seen in FIG. 2, and is visible from the exterior. The stitchings  29 ,  30  preferably are of a strong thread, such as nylon. 
     An interior volume—see  32  in FIG.  3 —the bag  11  is defined between the front and rear panels  18 ,  12  with an opening  33  (see FIGS. 1 and 3) being provided between the panels  12 ,  18  at the top  19  of the front panel  18 . The opening  33  is large enough for passage of a regulation tennis ball therethrough. Preferably the interior volume  32  is large enough to hold at least one regulation tennis ball therein, preferably at least four regulation tennis balls, and most preferably exactly six regulation tennis balls. When holding six regulation tennis balls for the average player enough balls are provided so that the player need not undesirably interrupt his/her match to collect balls, but yet does not provide such a bulge or mass as to interfere with the player&#39;s stroke or movement. 
     Further, the accessory  10  also comprises elastic—seen at  35  in FIG. 3, and the deforming effective of the elastic being readily apparent in FIG.  1 —at the opening  33  associated with the front panel  18  for biasing the front panel  18  to partially close the opening  33 , so that balls within the interior volume  32  do not have a tendency to move out of the volume  32 , yet the player can easily insert his/her hand, or another ball through the opening  33  (deforming the elastic  35 ) into the interior volume  32 . In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the elastic  35  is provided within a folded over loop at the top  19  of the front panel  18 , with stitching  36 —or other attachment means—holding the loop closed and maintaining the elastic  35  therein. The ends of the elastic  35  are also preferably stitched in place by the stitching  24 . 
     Also, a belt attachment is provided at the top of the back panel. The belt attachment in the preferred embodiment is seen schematically at  38  in FIGS. 1 and 4. In this embodiment the belt attachment comprises a looped over portion of the back panel  12 , seen at  39  in FIG. 4, which is stitched or otherwise attached in place to another portion of the panel  12  as illustrated schematically by the stitching  40  in FIGS. 1 and 4. The elongated loop  41  so formed is large enough to receive a conventional belt of the type used in fanny packs, and/or such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,289,960 and 5,259,541. The loop  41  is elongated, preferably extending the entire width of the top  13  of the back panel  12 . Also, the belt attachment, in this embodiment, preferably comprises the belt  42  extending through the elongated loop  41 , and having a conventional plastic male fastener  43  (see FIG. 1) at or adjacent a first end thereof, and a cooperating plastic female fastener  44  at or adjacent a second end thereof. The fasteners may be as illustrated in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,960 patent. 
     Although the belt attachment described above is preferred, especially since the accessory  10  can be removed from the belt  42  and washed or cleaned, or put with another belt, if desired instead of the elongated loop  41  two or more individual spaced loops can be provided, or a belt like the belt  42  can be stitched or otherwise permanently attached to the panel  12  adjacent the top  13  thereof, or different belt segments may be attached to either end of the panel  12  adjacent the top  13  thereof, etc. 
     While dimensions may vary depending upon particular functions desired, typically the bag  11  is made from a piece of nylon 10″×20″, and the interior volume  32  (when the elastic  35  is stretched out) has a width (that is along the bottom  14 ) of about 9 inches, and a height (the height  22 ) of about 7 inches. 
     Another highly desirable feature of the accessory  10  according to the invention is the provision of the key ring  44  (see FIG.  1 ). The key ring  44  is conventional, and has looped therethrough a cord or band  45  which is attached to the bag  11 . Preferably the cord or band  45  comprises a nylon (which may be elastic) cord which is stitched or otherwise attached to one or both of the panels  18 ,  12 . In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, both the stitching  36  and  24  stitches the ends of the cord  45  (which may be about 3 inches long) to both the panels  12 ,  18 . While the ring  44  is shown above the opening  33  in FIG. 1 for clarity of illustration, typically during use it extends into the interior volume  32 , as seen in FIG.  4 . The key ring  44  allows the user to place his/her keys on the ring  41  (such as for a locker, car, or house) so that they stay with the player—but do not interfere with his or her movements—while playing tennis. 
     Another desirable feature according to the present invention that optionally may be provided is illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a nylon pouch shown schematically at  50 , large enough to hold a cell phone, eyeglasses, credit cards, pager and/or ID. The pouch  50  is attached to the back panel  12  by any suitable attachment mechanism or means, opposite the front panel  18 , so that the pouch  50  is hidden when the bag  11  is worn on a belt  42  around a human user&#39;s waist with the front panel  18  facing outwardly from the human user (as seen in FIG.  1 ). 
     The pouch  50  may have a wide variety of constructions as long as it performs the function indicated above. In the exemplary (only) embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the pouch  50  is attached only by the double stitching rows  51  adjacent the top thereof to the back panel  12 , above the top  19  of the front panel  18 , so that it has freedom of movement; or the stitching  40  may be the only stitching attaching the pouch  50  to the panel  12 . Alternatively, it could be stitched along its entire length, or otherwise attached, to the back panel  12 , including the belt attachment portion  38  thereof (by stitching  40 ). See the FIG. 5 embodiment for pouch  50 ′. The pouch  50  schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 has a flap  52  (cut away in a number of instances in FIG. 4 to reveal underlying structures) which covers an opening  53  into the interior of the pouch  50 . The flap  52  may be secured in place by any conventional suitable mechanism, such as cooperating conventional hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro) illustrated schematically at  54  in FIG. 4, one of the hook or loop fasteners attached to the inside of the flap, and the other attached to the outside surface  55  of the pouch  50 . Completed, the pouch  50 ,  50 ′ preferably measures about 8½″×about 4u with the pocket size as 4″×6″. The seam allowance within the garment sides is ¼″ with a ½″ allowance for the top attachment leaving a 2″ smooth drop before the approximate 2½″ pocket opening  53 . (The standard cell phone measures approximately 5¾″-6″ length, 2″ to 2¼″ width, and approximately 1½″ to 2¼″ in depth—the same approximate measurements for a standard eyeglass case.) The pouch  50 ,  50 ′ opening  53  may face toward the rear panel  12  of the accessory  10 , because to use it easily the user must lift up the accessory  10  and there find the front opening  53  (e.g. not covered by a flap). 
     It will thus be seen that according to the present invention a highly function, aesthetic, and advantageous accessory for tennis players has been provided. While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and devices.