Patent Publication Number: US-6213574-B1

Title: Baseball dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a baseball dispenser. More particularly, the invention relates to a baseball dispenser which employs a container for holding a large supply of baseballs or softballs and a pair or wheels attached thereto for facilitating easy transportation across the surface of the playing field. Further, the invention relates to a baseball dispenser which is designed to automatically elevate the balls retained therein to a level at which the balls located on the top can be easily grasped by a pitcher or coach during batting practice. 
     Baseball and softball players spend a great deal of time practicing and developing their bat swinging technique by swinging at balls that are thrown at a high speed. This form of training requires a pitcher or coach to repetitiously throw a large number of balls from the pitcher&#39;s mound to the catcher behind the home plate. Thus, it is desirable to have a baseball dispenser that is capable of holding a large supply of balls, and at the same time, helping pitchers and coaches to carry out batting practices by enabling retrieval of balls without having to stoop or bend over before each pitch. 
     Several references uncovered in the prior art describe various devices for dispensing playing balls. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,319 to James discloses a portable tennis ball caddy formed to vertically orient a plurality of spring biased balls towards an exit opening. While these units mentioned above may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which helps pitchers and coaches to carry out batting practice without having to stoop or bend over to pick up a baseball before each pitch. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which employs a cylindrical container for holding a large supply of baseballs or softballs, and a spring-biased platform vertically disposed within the container for automatically elevating the contained balls to a level at which the balls located on the top can be easily grasped, thereby eliminating the need to stoop and bend over to pick up a ball before each pitch. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which utilizes support columns and compression springs for guiding the platform as it travels in a vertical path along the interior of the container and, at the same time, provide a stable horizontal support to the platform so that the platform will not wobble during transportation of the dispenser. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a baseball dispenser which can be used for storage of baseballs, softballs, and the like. 
     The invention is a baseball dispenser for storing and dispensing a balls, comprising a cylindrical container which has an interior sized to hold a large supply of baseballs, softballs, and the like, and an opening at its top for receiving balls into the interior thereof. The baseball dispenser has a pair of handles secured to the upper end of the container and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the lower end thereof for facilitating easy transportation across the surface of the ground. One or more support columns extend vertically from the bottom of the container, wherein a compression spring is disposed about each of the support columns. A circular platform is vertically slidably disposed within the container and is engaged with the support columns such that the compression springs are constrained axially between the bottom of the container and the platform. The support columns serve to guide the platform as it travels in a vertical path along the interior of the container, and at the same time, the compression springs serve to automatically elevate the platform to a level at which the balls located on the top can readily be grasped for use as the balls are removed from the container. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a baseball dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the baseball dispenser, with parts broken away, illustrating a platform within the container which is shown lowered in a contracted position. 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the baseball dispenser, with parts broken away, illustrating the platform within the container raised to an expanded position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a baseball dispenser  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As will be seen in the following paragraphs, the baseball dispenser  10  of the present invention is designed to conveniently bring a large supply of baseballs or softballs to within easy reach of a pitcher or coach during batting practice so that the pitcher or coach can pick up the balls contained therein without having to stoop or bend over. 
     The baseball dispenser  10  includes a cylindrical container  33  having an interior which is sized to hold a large number of baseballs or softballs and an opening  35  at its top for receiving balls into the interior thereof. A pair of handles  37  are secured to the container  33  to facilitate manipulation of the baseball dispenser  10 , which are provided with ribbed hand grips  39  to allow a user to firmly grab the handles  37  during transportation of the dispenser. The baseball dispenser  10  is provided with an axle shaft  41  secured to the lower end thereof and a pair of wheels  43  rotatably mounted to the opposite ends of the axle shaft to facilitate easy transportation across the surface of the ground. A support stand  45  extends downwardly from the front edge of the container  33  for enabling the baseball dispenser  10  to be maintained in a vertical storage position. 
     As seen by referring to FIG. 2, the baseball dispenser  10  further comprises a platform  47  having a circular shape which is sized to coincide with the interior configuration of the container  33 . The platform  47  is vertically slidably disposed within the interior of the cylindrical container  33  and is moveable between expanded and contracted positions under the influence of the baseball retained therein and of opposing upward bias force. The platform  47  is upward biased to push the platform upwardly in the container to a level at which the balls located on the top can readily be grasped for use. 
     The means for upwardly biasing the platform  47  in the container may be carried out in a number of ways. Referring to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, one or more support columns  49  extend vertically from the bottom of the container and a compression spring  51  is disposed about each of the support columns  49  for biasing the platform  47  vertically upward. The platform  47  is provided with bores  53  through which the support columns  49  extend. The platform  47  is engaged with the support columns  49  such that the compression springs  51  are constrained axially between the bottom of the container  33  and the circular platform  47 . The support columns  49  serve to guide the platform  47  as it travels in a vertical path along the interior of the container and, at the same time, provide a stable horizontal support to the platform so that the platform will not wobble during transportation of the dispenser. 
     The operation of the baseball dispenser  10  will now be described. The platform  47  is upward biased such that when the container is vacant, the platform will rise to a predetermined level, as depicted in FIG.  2 . When a large number of baseballs are placed within the container  33 , the platform  47  will gradually be displaced vertically downward, as the weight of the contained baseballs is sufficient to overcome the upward bias force of the compression springs, as depicted in FIG.  2 . The compression springs  51  serves to automatically elevate the contained balls, as the balls are removed from the platform. In this manner, the balls located at the top are always within an easy reach of a pitcher or coach so as to eliminate the need to stoop or bend over to pick up a ball before each pitch. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates affixing one or more grid wall support members  55  to the exterior sides of the container  33  for releasably mounting a wire basket  57  and a first aid kit  59 . In addition, a plurality of accessory hooks  61  is affixed to the container  33  near the top for conveniently hanging uniforms, hats, and the like. 
     Many specific details contained in the above description merely illustrate some preferred embodiments and should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Many other variations are possible.