Patent Publication Number: US-5290039-A

Title: Ball throwing and catching scoop

Description:
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a ball hurling and catching scoop for amusement purposes and more particularly to a scoop adapted for use by a player in which his throwing vis-a-vis catching motion is emphasized. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various devices that combine ball throwing and catching capability in a single construction are known to those skilled in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,978, a ball can be hurled in the air on a curved trajectory by a device having an arcuate channel that terminates in a tossing end and a catching end. U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,129 discloses a device comprising a cylindrical main body in combination with a hollow handle in which the inside of the main body is provided with ribs which cooperate with a ball having concentric grooves to affect tossing and catching functions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,074 shows a bowl-shaped implement having a concave surface and handle. A ball with little elasticity is thrown in the air and caught on the down slope of the curved surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,184 discloses a device having a support, a ball-tossing ramp having side rail, a catching bucket at one end and a handle at the opposite end. U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,017 discloses a device for hurling a ball against a wall and then catching the rebound on a conventional racquetball or handball court. The device includes an elongated body member having an open end and closed end. The side wall of the body member is sliced open along one side to allow egress of the ball but still retains a fully closed end to affect stopping and retaining the ball. Other implements employed to hurl a ball against a wall by one player and caught by an opponent in a game known as Jai-Alai, are likewise known. Such devices are curved and include a tunneled handle with a strap for securing the player&#39;s hand to the body of the device. 
     While the above-described devices have various capability and functions depending primarily upon the nature of the game associated with the devices, none have placed emphasize upon the relationship of the player&#39;s grip vis-a-vis the handle and sloped sections to emphasize his throwing vis-a-vis catching motion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, the present invention includes an unitary ball hurling and catching scoop comprising a crescent-shaped receptacle and handle segments. 
     The receptacle segment includes a remote up-sloped section connected to an intermediately positioned pocket section. In shape, orientation and construction, the up-sloped and pocket sections are U-shaped in transverse cross section and include a curved floor and a pair of upright side walls terminating in a pair of coextensive and coplanar upper edges. Between the side walls, a continuous longitudinal entryway is formed. The entryway is coplanar of the upper edges of the side walls. The side walls and curved floor of the up-sloped and pocket sections define a series of formation centers. Such centers lie along a longitudinal axis. Between the side walls, the floor defines a nadir region at its interior and an apex region at its exterior--both being concave with respect to entryway. The nadir and apex region--in the transverse direction--are midway between the side walls; in the longitudinal direction, they extend the entire length of the up-sloped and pocket sections, beginning at the up-sloped section at an arcuate tip, then traveling in crescent-like paths to a laterally extending rear edge. The upper edges of the entryway mimicking the shape of the inner edge of a crescent and define different depths within the up-sloped and pocket sections wherein the resulting depth values change from a minimum at the up-sloped section to a maximum at the pocket section. 
     The handle segment has a triangular cross section and includes an upper substantially flat upper surface and a pair of sloped side surfaces. The surfaces are oriented with respect to the entryway of the receptacle segment such that the flat upper surface and the entryway face in a common direction. An apex of the pair of sloped side surfaces protrudes in an opposite direction. 
     The user grips the handle segment so as to emulate a throwing motion: his palm is placed so that the apex of the sloped side surfaces is along the longitudinal axis of his hand; the palm and entryway facing in the common direction and the back of his hand facing in the opposite direction. The index and middle fingers are placed on opposite sides of the apex. The ends of the remaining thumb and fingers contact the upper surface. In that way, the grip of a baseball pitcher&#39;s fingers on the seams of a baseball is emulated wherein the pronation efficiency of the wrist is utilized to allow the user to throw and catch a ball with increased flexibility and accuracy. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a reverse plan view of the scoop of the invention that includes a receptacle segment and a handle segment wherein the dominant, gloved hand of the user is shown in contact with the handle segment to either catch or throw a ball shown within the pocket section of the receptacle segment; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the scoop of FIG. 1 slightly rotated to show the cavity formed within the receptacle segment; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the scoop of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a true side view of the scoop, slightly enlarged, of the invention minus the hand of the user of FIGS. 1-3; 
     FIG. 5 is a section of the handle segment taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are transverse sections of the pocket section of the receptacle segment taken along lines 6--6 and 7--7, respectively of FIG. 4; 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are transverse sections of the up-sloped section of the receptacle segment along lines 8--8 and 9--9, respectively of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 10 is a detail in side elevation of the handle segment of FIGS. 1-3 in which a non-slip material has been added. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding elements, the scoop 10 of the invention is illustrated in three views. The scoop 10 comprises a crescent-shaped main receptacle segment 13 and a handle segment 14. 
     The receptacle segment 13 is U-shaped in cross section and includes an up-sloped section 15 and an pocket section 17 defining a complexly shaped longitudinally extending axis A1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Point P1 on the axis A1 marks the demarkation between the up-sloped section 15 and the pocket section 17. 
     Pocket section 17 is connected to handle segment 14 at arcuate end bulkhead 11. 
     The construction of the up-sloped section 15 and the pocket section 17 is as follows. Both are closed along a continuous curved floor 18a. Transversely projecting side walls 18b attach at the ends of the curved floor 18a and terminate in a pair of upper edges 18c. A cavity portion 19 is formed between the curved floor 18a and the side walls 18b. Between the side walls 18b, the floor 18a defines a nadir region 18d at its interior and an apex region 18e at its exterior--both being concave with respect to entryway 20. The entryway 20 is seen to be coplanar of the upper edges 18c. 
     Nadir and apex regions 18d, 18e--in the transverse direction--are midway between the side walls 18b; in the longitudinal direction, they extend the entire length of the up-sloped and pocket sections 15, 17, beginning at the up-sloped section 17 at an arcuate tip region 16, then traveling in crescent-like paths to a laterally extending upper edge 8 of the bulkhead 11. 
     Upper edges 18c of the entryway 20 mimic the shape of the inner edge of a crescent and define different depths within the up-sloped and pocket sections 15, 17. As a result, depth values within cavity portion 19 change from a minimum at the up-sloped section 15 to a maximum at the pocket section 17. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, heights H from the upper edges 18c to apex region 18e of the floor 18a change as a function of position along longitudinal axis A1 as explained below. Suffice to say, heights H from the upper edges 18c to the apex region 18e is maximum in the pocket section 17 and is minimum adjacent to the tip region 16 of the up-sloped section 15. 
     Orientation, shape and relationship of the floor 18a, the side walls 18b and upper edges 18c are best explained in the capture and manipulation of a ball 9 (within up-slope section 15 and pocket section 17), as depicted in more detail in FIGS. 4-9. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6-9, the curved floor 18a is defined in the transverse direction by a series of formation centers as follows: a center C1 of radius RO (FIG. 6), a center C2 of radius R2 (FIG. 7), a center C3 of radius R3 (FIG. 8) and a center C4 of radius R4 (FIG. 9), all transverse of and coincident with longitudinal axis A1. The curved floor 18a of the pocket section 17 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, while the same floor 18a of the up-slope section 15 is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     Now in more detail, note that formation centers C1 and C2 (FIGS. 6 and 7) relate to the pocket section 17 in the following fashion, viz.,center C1 relates to reverse-sloped segment 21 of the pocket section 17 of FIG. 4. Similarly, center C2 relates to bowl segment 22 of the pocket section 17 of FIG. 4. The pocket section 17 of FIG. 4 also includes an initializing segment 23 integrally connected to the bowl segment 22. The initializing segment 23 is joined with up-slope section 17 at a transverse plane coincident with point P1. 
     Returning to FIG. 6, note that the reverse-sloped segment 21 of pocket section 17 includes height H1 measured from the upper edge 18c to the apex region 18e of the floor 18a is about 3 times R1 where R1 is the radius of the ball 9. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7, height H2 (associated with bowl segment 22 annd measured from the upper edge 18c to the apex region 18e of the floor 18a is also about 3 times R1 where R1 is the radius of the ball 9 i.e., H1=H2. The side wall 18b heights associated with the initializing segment 23 (not shown) as well as the remainder of the up-sloped section 15 extending from the segment 23, progressive decrease until the tip region 16 is reached. 
     Radii of the transverse formation centers of the reverse-sloped segment 21 and bowl segment 22 change from a maximum at the center of formation C2 of the bowl segment 22 (FIG. 7) to a minimum radius R3, R4 at the center of formations C3, C4 of the up-sloped section 15 (FIGS. 8 and 9). In FIG. 6, the center C1 of the reverse-sloped segment 21 has a radius RO that is greater than the radius of the ball 9 so that capture of the ball 9 within the reverse-sloped segment 21 is by change in momentum of the ball 9 as the latter encounters the reverse slope of segment 21. 
     The radius R2 of the center of formation C2 associated with the bowl segment 22 is larger than the radius RO of the center of formation C1. Hence contact with ball 9 within the bowl segment 22 is point contact as it is within the segment 21. Capture within the pocket section 17 then occurs by change in angle of encounter that dynamically occurs between the floor 18a and the ball 9 as the latter rolls up the reverse incline of the reverse-sloped segment 21. 
     Now with regard to the up-slope section 15, note that formation centers C3 of radius R3 and C4 of radius R4 (FIGS. 8 and 9) relate as follows, viz., center C3 and radius R3 relate to a transition segment 25 of FIG. 4. Such segment 25 is seen to be longitudinally positioned adjacent to the point P1 of FIG. 4 that demarks the up-sloped section 15 from the pocket section 17). The center C4 and radius R4 relate to an entry segment 26 of the up-sloped section 15 and is longitudinal positioned adjacent to the tip 16. 
     Returning to FIG. 8, note that the transition segment 25 of the up-slope section 15 includes side walls 18b having a height such that the upper edge 18c relative to the apex region 18e is slightly greater than about 2 times R1 where R1 is the radius of the ball 9. But referring to FIG. 9, the side wall 18b of the entry segment 26 defines a height between upper edge 18c relative to the nadir region 18d that is slightly less than 2 times R1 where R1 is the radius of the ball 9. Also the width W4 of the entry segment 26 between edges 18c is larger than width W3 of the transition segment 25 of FIG. 8. Hence, the ball 9 has a better chance of entry into the up-sloped section 15 because of the width W4. 
     In similar fashion, the steepness of the wall 18b of the transition segment 25 prevents the ball 9 from climbing out from such segment 25 as does similar steepness construction in the wall 18b of the bowl segment 22 and of the reverse-sloped segment 21 of the pocket section 17. Moreover, the bowl segment 22 also has enlarged width W2 that allows manipulation to stop the momentum of the ball 9 exiting from the transition segment 25. 
     The width W2 of the bowl segment 22 relates to the widths of the entry segment 26, the transition segment 25 and the reverse sloped segment 21 as follows: 
     
         W2&gt;W1&gt;W4&gt;W3 
    
     where 
     W2 is the width of the bowl segment 22, 
     W4 is the width of the entry segment 26, 
     W3 is the width of the transition segment 25, 
     W1 is the width of the reverse sloped segment 21. 
     Note that the width W4 of the entry segment 26 between edges 18c is larger than width W3 of the transition segment 25 of FIG. 8 to ease initial entry but less than the width W1 of the reverse-sloped segment 21. 
     However, the radii of the formation centers C3, C4 of the transition and entry segments 25, 26 do not change substantially, that is, the radius R4 of the entry segment 26 is about equal to radius R3 of the transition segment 25. As shown in FIG. 8, the radius R3 of the transition segment 25 is slightly larger than the radius R 1 of the ball 9 so that contact between the ball 9 and the floor 18a is along sector S3. The sector S3 has an included angle of about 50 degrees. 
     Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, the radius R4 of the entry segment 26 is also slightly larger than the radius R1 of the ball 9 so that contact between the ball 9 and the floor 18a is along sector S4 where S4=S3. 
     FIG. 5 shows the handle segment 14 in more detail. As shown, the handle segment 14 is hollow and has an interior cavity 30 of triangular cross section measured in the transverse direction. The cavity 30 is symmetrically formed about axis of symmetry A2 terminating in a top wall 31 and sloping side walls 32, 33 meeting at a second apex 34. The side walls 32, 33 transversely extend and are slightly curved relative to the axis A2. The top wall 34 attaches to side walls 32, 33 at corners 35. 
     The handle segment 14 is oriented with respect to entryway 20 in the following specifics as shown in FIG. 4. An upper surface 36 of the top wall 34 face in a common direction say along arrow 37. The second apex 34 is seen to protrude in a direction opposite to arrow 37. 
     Height of handle segment 14 measured from the upper surface 36 of the top wall 31 to apex 34 progressively increase from its terminating tip 38 to its connecting end bulkhead 11 of the receptacle segment 13. But the lateral width of the wall 31 remains substantially constant in value during such progression (see FIG. 3). 
     Note that the shape of handle segment 14 permits the user to emulate a throwing motion during use of the scoop 10 of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, palm 40 is placed so that the apex 34 of the handle segment 14 is along the longitudinal axis 39 of his hand 41; the palm 40 and the entryway 20 of the scoop 10 face in the common direction, say in the direction of arrow 50 of FIG. 2, and the back 49 of his hand 40 faces in a direction opposite to arrow 50. The index and middle fingers 43, 44 are placed on opposite sides of the apex 34. The ends of the thumb 45 and remaining fingers 46, 47 of the hand 41 end up in contact with the relatively flat surface 36 of the handle segment 14 as shown. In that way, the grip of a baseball pitcher&#39;s fingers on the seams of a baseball is emulated wherein the pronation efficiency of the wrist 46 is utilized to allow the user to throw and catch a ball with increased flexibility and accuracy. 
     That is, the position of the index and middle fingers 43, 44 of the hand 41 (about the handle segment 14) resemble in the gripping position of a baseball pitcher&#39;s fingers on the seams of a baseball when the latter is attempting to throw a fastball (or split finger fastball) wherein wrist 46 has maximum pronation or flex. This permits the user of the scoop 10 of the invention to throw and catch a ball with increased flexibility. Hence it is relative easy for an unskilled person to throw ball 9 of FIGS. 8-9 against a wall using the scoop 10 of the invention. 
     While catching the ball 9 requires increased skill and dexterity, the increased flexibility provided by the manner in which the scoop 10 of the invention is gripped by the user allows him to learn such skill in a short period of time. This is especially true if the user has had previously experience in games emphasizing hitting a ball with a racket such as found in tennis and racketball. 
     To insure a firm grip, the handle segment 14 can be overlaid with a relatively thin band of a suitable non-slippery material 50 as shown in FIG. 10. Such material 50 can be fabric, rubber or the like and is attached to a suitable adhesive by winding such material 50 about the handle segment 14. 
     The ball 9 used in conjunction with scoop 10 of the invention should possess a good elasticity to be able to rebound from a wall after it is thrown against it. A conventional all-purpose rubber racketball is entirely satisfactory. 
     As previously mentioned, the height of the upper edges 18c  relative to the nadir region 18d of the floor 18a changes as a function of progression from the up-slope segment 15 toward the pocket segment 17 as set forth in conjunction with FIGS. 6-9. Assume in this regard that the ball 9 shown is a conventional racketball. In the up-sloped section 15 adjacent to the tip region 16, the diameter 2R1 of the ball 9 is seen to be greater than the height of the up-sloped segment 15 over much of its length. But at the intersection of the up-sloped section 15 and pocket section 17, the diameter 2R1 of the ball 9 is about equal to the depth of the cavity 19. 
     However, in the pocket section 17 adjacent to the up-sloped section 15, the depth of the cavity 19 is greater than the diameter 2R1 of the ball. Such depth remains in the reverse-sloped segment 21 further up-slope along the pocket section 15. 
     It will be apparent from the foregoing description that various modifications can be made to the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims which follow. For example, the handle segment 14 can be of solid construction in which the outer surface is of a triangular shape similar to that shown in FIG. 5. Also the cross section of the handle segment 14 could be varied to include other cross sectional shapes, such a tetragonal, pentigonal etc. cross sections so long as the user&#39;s index and middle fingers could be placed on the sides about an intersection to permit forward pronation of the user&#39;s wrist in the manner previously shown.