Patent Description:
During the playing of the game of tennis, or during tennis coaching activities, it is common for many tennis balls to be left on the ground. Picking up such balls by hand can necessitate repeatedly bending down to pick up the balls, in order to place them in a bag, basket, or other container for reuse later on. This is labour intensive and inconvenient, and can place strain on the back of a person picking up balls in this manner.

Known ball retrieval devices make use of metal baskets with lower bars with spaces between the bars. Such a basket is forced onto a tennis ball, so that the ball is squeezed between the bars before popping through the bars into the basket. This involves compression of the ball and necessitates deformation of the bars. After repeated use, this can result in damage to the ball and, depending on the type of basket, even wearing and breakage of the basket. In addition, the need to apply force to urge the ball into the basket is inconvenient.

One known ball retrieval apparatus, disclosed in <CIT>, includes rods mounted with ends in substantially inverted-triangular apertures, with the apexes of the triangles pointing downwards, and the triangles broadening in an upward direction, from the downwardly pointing apexes, to flat, upwardly facing bases of the inverted triangles. Because ends of the rods are received in these apertures, as the rod ends are moved upwards from the apexes of the inverted triangles to the wider bases thereof, for example by the reaction forces of a ball onto which the apparatus is forced, the ends of adjacent rods are allowed to move apart from each other to widen the space between them. This can provide sufficient room for the ball to pass between the rods, and into the apparatus. In this ball retrieval apparatus, the opening between the rods may be equal to or greater than the diameter of the ball. The ball can thus pass into the apparatus without being compressed and without deformation of the bars.

However, the cross-sections of the rods is such that they have convexly-rounded outer surfaces. Thus, if there are balls within the apparatus and resting on top of the rods, the rounded nature of the surfaces of the rods can facilitate sliding of those balls along those surfaces. This is disadvantageous as is can increase risk of the balls falling from the apparatus between the rods. This may occur, for example as the apparatus is subjected to vibrations during movement that cause the rods to move, or as a result of some deformation of the balls, especially if they are under load from other balls above.

Another disadvantage of such known baskets is the space taken up by them, as this limits the number of baskets that can be transported from one location to another. For example, in a case where there are two baskets present, but all of the balls available can be stowed in one of the baskets while the other basket remains empty, the full volume of space required to accommodate both baskets is needed even though one of the baskets is unused.

A known ball retriever and storage cart disclosed in <CIT> includes a wheeled trolley and ball retrieval basket. The basket can be supported in two different positions on the trolley, one being a lower, ball retrieving position for retrieving balls from the ground, and the other being a raised position where the balls can be easily accessed. While this invention discloses two different positions of the basket in which balls can be held, it does not disclose balls being held in two different baskets simultaneously, and therefore fails to address the above disadvantage. In addition, the basket suffers from the same deficiency as that of the prior art mentioned above with reference to <CIT>.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more disadvantage of the prior art or to provide a useful alternative thereto.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a ball retrieval apparatus adapted for use in retrieving a ball having a ball diameter, the apparatus having an apparatus weight and an upright operational orientation and including:.

wherein the rod has at least one upper corner edge that extends longitudinally relative to the rod, the corner edge being adapted to engage the ball immediately on entry of the ball into the receptacle;.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rod extends horizontally in said rod longitudinal direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rod has two lower faces each facing transversely relative to the rod, and extending longitudinally relative to the rod, the two faces each being at an acute angle relative to the horizontal when the apparatus is in its operational orientation, so as to be adapted to facilitate said upward and lateral movement of the rod by engagement of the ball with at least one of said lower faces.

Preferably, the rod has an upper flat face extending longitudinally relative to the rod, wherein one of said lower faces intersects said upper face at a first intersection which constitutes one said corner edge, and the other of said lower faces intersects said upper face at a second intersection spaced from said first intersection, the second intersection constituting another said corner edge, such that in a transverse section of the rod, said upper face and lower faces are in at least a partial triangular configuration relative to one another.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each rod retention aperture is of substantially the same shape as the shape of a transverse section of the rod.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes a plurality of said rods and the first receptacle portion defines a respective pair of rod retention apertures for each rod, wherein each rod constitutes, with respect to the or each adjacent rod, a said opposing portion of the apparatus, and wherein said distance between each rod and the or each adjacent rod is less than said ball diameter when the adjacent rods are in their respective first positions and is at least as big as said ball diameter when the adjacent rods are in their respective second positions.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receptacle has side walling and is moveable from an erected condition to a collapsed condition by means of the walling being collapsible.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a resilient biasing component adapted to exert an urging force to urge the receptacle towards the erected condition, the biasing component being adapted to enable the receptacle to be moved from the erected condition to the collapsed condition by the applying of a force to the receptacle to overcome the urging force.

Preferably, the biasing component includes a spiral spring traversing at least part of the walling from a first location along the walling to a second location which, when the apparatus is in its erected condition and in its operational orientation, is higher than the first location.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a releasable locking component for releasably locking the receptacle in its collapsed condition.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a ball retrieval system including:.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trolley includes a lower support which constitutes at least part of said at least one apparatus engagement portion, wherein the ball retrieval apparatus is adapted to be supported by the trolley by being supported on the lower support.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trolley includes at least one hook formation which constitutes at least part of said at least one apparatus engagement portion, and the ball retrieval apparatus includes at least one trolley engagement formation, wherein the ball retrieval apparatus is adapted to be supported by the trolley by means of the at least one trolley engagement formation engaging the at least one hook formation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ball retrieval system includes two said ball retrieval apparatuses, wherein trolley is adapted to simultaneously support the ball retrieval apparatuses one above the other, so that the upper one of the ball retrieval apparatuses is adapted to constitute a ball basket.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trolley is moveable between a trolley erected condition and a trolley folded condition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a ball retrieval apparatus <NUM>, which includes a receptacle <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> has an upright operational position as best seen, for example, in <FIG>.

The receptacle <NUM> has fabric walling <NUM> in the shape of a cylinder. A rim-forming, metal upper frame <NUM> extends around the perimeter of the walling <NUM> at its upper extremity, in a hem formed by the walling. The frame <NUM> (and hem in which it is disposed) constitutes a rim which defines an upper opening <NUM> to the receptacle <NUM>.

The upper frame <NUM> has a number of outwardly curved formations <NUM>, which protrude through gaps <NUM> defined in the walling <NUM>.

Attached to the fabric walling <NUM> are fabric receptacle handles <NUM> that can be used to lift the receptacle <NUM>.

The receptacle <NUM> further includes a base component <NUM>. The base component <NUM> includes a frame portion <NUM>, which in turn includes a double wall <NUM>, having an inner wall portion <NUM> and an outer wall portion <NUM>.

The base component <NUM> defines a lower opening <NUM> to the receptacle <NUM>.

The frame portion <NUM> defines L-shaped engagements slots <NUM> which are adapted for receiving the curved formations <NUM> of the upper frame <NUM>, as described in more detail below.

The inner wall portion <NUM> defines a series of substantially triangular apertures <NUM> on opposing sides of the receptacle <NUM>. The number of apertures <NUM> is the same on the two opposing sides so that each aperture on one side has a corresponding aperture on the opposing side, these two apertures constituting a pair of apertures.

A series of rigid rods <NUM> extends across the base assembly <NUM>, with ends of each of the rods being received in respective apertures <NUM> of a pair of opposing apertures. The rods <NUM> extend horizontally or close to horizontally (or at least at a narrow acute angle relative to the horizontal), when the receptacle <NUM> is in its upright operational position.

As best seen in <FIG>, each rod <NUM> has an upper face <NUM> extending along the length of the rod, and two lower faces <NUM>, also extending along the length of the rod, and which face downwards and outwards relative to the rod. The upper face <NUM> intersects each of the lower faces <NUM> at a respective corner edge <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the configuration of the upper face <NUM> and lower faces <NUM> when the rod <NUM> is viewed in transverse cross-section is such that those faces form part of an imaginary triangular shape <NUM> indicated in dashed lines (oversized relative to the rod, to facilitate visibility of the features in <FIG>).

The rods are <NUM> spaced apart from one another by distances <NUM>, so as to define spaces <NUM> between each pair of successive rods (adjacent rods).

As can best be seen in <FIG>, the cross-sectional shape of each of the rods <NUM> is the same as the shape of each of the apertures <NUM>, although the area covered by the cross-sectional shape of each of the rods <NUM> is smaller than the area of each of the apertures <NUM>.

Because of the corresponding shapes of the apertures <NUM> and rods <NUM>, when an end of a rod is accommodated within an aperture, the rod can be positioned in a first position at the lower extremity <NUM> of the aperture, as seen in <FIG>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the lower extremities <NUM> of the apertures are rounded as are the lower extremities of the cross-sectional shapes of the rods <NUM>. Therefore, when in their first, lowermost positions as shown in <FIG>, the rods <NUM> conform exactly to the lower portions of the apertures <NUM>, with a portion <NUM> of each aperture not being filled by the respective rod, and thus constituting an open space.

Because of this configuration of each of the rods <NUM> and apertures <NUM>, each rod is movable within the corresponding apertures, from its first position as shown in <FIG> to a raised, second position as shown in <FIG>. In the second position shown in <FIG>, the rod <NUM> is not only raised, but is also laterally displaced, relative to its first position as shown in <FIG>. In this second position, the rod <NUM> conforms to the upper left portion of the aperture <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In this position of the rod <NUM>, the right hand and lower portions <NUM> and <NUM> respectively, of the aperture <NUM>, which are not filled by the rod, constitute open spaces.

Just as the rod <NUM> can be at the upper left portion of the aperture <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, it can alternatively be in its second position at the upper right portion of the aperture.

As a result of this capability of the rods <NUM> to move relative to the rod apertures <NUM> and hence relative to the receptacles <NUM>, it will be understood that two successive (adjacent) rods can be lifted in this manner, and moved laterally in opposite directions to each other, so as to increase the distance <NUM> between those two rods.

The receptacle <NUM> is collapsible as described further below, but is provided with at least one biasing element to keep the receptacle in an erected condition as shown. According to one preferred embodiment, the biasing element includes a length of spring metal <NUM> which is attached to the fabric walling <NUM> and arranged in a spiral configuration as shown in dashed lines in <FIG>. While the biasing element <NUM> urges the receptacle <NUM> into the erected condition, it also allows the receptacle to be collapsed by means of a force applied, preferably by hand, to the top of the walling <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a trolley <NUM>, which is adapted for facilitating the movement, from one location to another, of one or more apparatuses <NUM>.

The trolley <NUM> includes a trolley frame <NUM>, which in turn includes a lower frame portion <NUM>, frame uprights <NUM>, and a frame handle portion <NUM>.

A pair of hooks <NUM> is provided, and, in the present embodiment, is attached to the handle portion <NUM>, as can best be seen in <FIG>.

Attached to the lower frame portion <NUM> is a pair of rear wheels <NUM> and a pair of front wheels <NUM>.

The retrieval apparatus <NUM> can be used to retrieve a ball <NUM> such as a tennis ball, from a ground surface <NUM> on which the ball is resting as indicated, by way of example, in <FIG>. The rods <NUM> are freely movable within the apertures <NUM> as described above. Thus, when the apparatus <NUM> is placed over the ball <NUM>, such that the ball engages with two adjacent rods <NUM>, part of the ball protrudes into the space <NUM> between those two rods, so as to engage with the lower faces <NUM> as the distance <NUM> between the rods, when they are in their respective first positions as described, is less than the diameter of the ball.

The apparatus <NUM> can then be lowered on the ball <NUM>, in the direction of the arrow A in <FIG>, until the apparatus engages the ground surface <NUM>. When the apparatus <NUM> engages, and is allowed to rest on, the ground surface <NUM>, the apparatus is in its upright operational orientation.

Because of the downward, outward angles of the faces <NUM> of the rods <NUM>, as the apparatus <NUM> is lowered in this manner, the ball <NUM> forces the rods upwards and laterally relative to the apertures <NUM> into which those rods extend, and apart from each other. In this process, the rods <NUM> are moved towards their respective second positions as described above, but in opposite lateral directions.

In this manner, the distance <NUM> between the two rods <NUM> increases until it is at least as big as the diameter of the ball <NUM>. The ball <NUM> then passes between the rods <NUM> into the receptacle <NUM>. Once the outermost parts of the ball <NUM> move past the rods <NUM>, the ball no longer urges the rods upwards, and the rods drop under the effect of gravity to their first positions as illustrated in <FIG>.

As the rods <NUM> drop, they once again move towards each other thus reducing the distance <NUM> between them, thereby preventing the ball <NUM> from falling through the space <NUM>. The ball <NUM> is thus retained in the receptacle <NUM>. The retaining of the ball <NUM> in the receptacle <NUM> is facilitated by engagement of the corner edge <NUM> of each of the two adjacent rods <NUM>, with the ball. This is at least because these corner edges <NUM>, due to being relatively sharp in shape, can dig into, and firmly engage the balls.

The weight of the apparatus <NUM> is such that simply lowering it under its own weight onto a ball <NUM> as described above is sufficient to cause the ball to displace the rods <NUM> such that the ball passes into the receptacle <NUM>, without additional force having to be applied to the apparatus.

Because of the freedom of the rods <NUM> to move, and the fact that the distance <NUM> becomes at least as large as the diameter of the ball <NUM>, the movement of the ball into the receptacle <NUM> does not require any compression of the ball or deformation of the rods.

In this manner, multiple balls <NUM> can be retrieved using the apparatus <NUM>, so that the balls enter the receptacle <NUM>, simply by placing the apparatus <NUM> on the balls, and lowering the apparatus, to allow the balls to pass the relevant rods <NUM>. This process can be carried out in relation to a single ball <NUM> or multiple balls, at a time or successively, which are guided into suitable positions by the rods <NUM>. If it is desired to carry out this process with a greater number of balls, in order to position the balls appropriately relative to the rods <NUM>, it may be necessary to move the apparatus <NUM> around on the balls until the balls are suitably aligned with the spaces <NUM>.

The base component <NUM> is provided with chamfers <NUM> for assisting to deflect balls <NUM> that might otherwise become trapped under the apparatus <NUM> as it is lowered onto the balls, and which might prevent the apparatus from being fully lowered.

Once a ball <NUM> (or more than one ball) has been captured by the receptacle <NUM> as described, the ball can be extracted from the receptacle, by simply removing it from the opening <NUM> at the top of the receptacle.

The receptacle <NUM> can be collapsed for storage or transport, by applying a force to the top of the walling <NUM> as mentioned above. Once the walling <NUM> has been collapsed in this manner, the curved formations <NUM> can be inserted into the L-shaped engagement slots <NUM> and the walling can then be twisted to lock the curved formations in place, bayonet fashion, in the slots. This ability of the receptacle <NUM> to collapse can be advantageous in situations where a number of apparatuses <NUM> need to be transported from one location to another, as once collapsed, they require far less volume of space.

According to the embodiment shown, two apparatuses <NUM> can be supported on the trolley <NUM>. One apparatus <NUM> can be placed on the lower trolley frame portion <NUM>, as that lower portion is shaped as to be complementary to, or at least appropriately dimensioned to accommodate, the base assembly <NUM>.

Another apparatus <NUM> can be supported on the trolley <NUM> by hooking two of the curved portions <NUM> of the upper frame of the receptacle <NUM> on the hooks <NUM> of the trolley.

One or two apparatuses <NUM>, supported on the trolley <NUM> as described, can be moved from place to place by moving the trolley on its wheels <NUM>, <NUM>. This is especially useful after the apparatus <NUM> (or two apparatuses if applicable) has been used to retrieve a large number of balls which are retained in the receptacle <NUM> thereby adding to its weight.

To move the trolley <NUM> around, it can be tilted back by pulling on the frame handle portions <NUM>, so that the trolley rests only on its rear wheels <NUM>.

However, the presence of the front wheels <NUM> enables the trolley <NUM> to be parked at a particular location by returning it to its upright, non-tilted position so that it rests on both the rear wheels <NUM> and front wheels <NUM>. Even in this orientation, it can be moved on the two sets of wheels <NUM>, <NUM>.

As a result of the ability to position the upper apparatus <NUM> at a raised position relative to the ground surface <NUM> on the trolley <NUM>, the apparatus can be used as a ball basket. The ability to move the trolley <NUM> on its front and rear wheels <NUM>, <NUM> enables the apparatus, when being used as a ball basket, to be positioned as desired by a user.

In addition, where the upper apparatus <NUM> is being used as a ball basket, the ability to position it at a raised position on the trolley <NUM> also means that it can be at an ergonomically suitable height to minimise or avoid the need for a person, such as a tennis coach, to repeatedly bend over to retrieve balls from the ball basket.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a ball retrieval apparatus <NUM> and trolley <NUM>, according to different embodiments to those shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, parts corresponding to parts in <FIG> are referenced with the same reference numbers as in those earlier figures, but with the prefix "<NUM>". Thus, for example, the component referenced "<NUM>" in the description pertaining to <FIG> has a corresponding component or feature referenced "<NUM>" in the description pertaining to <FIG>. Conversely, in <FIG>, each component referenced by a reference number beginning with "<NUM>" where that number is followed by a number corresponding to a reference number in <FIG>, corresponds to the component in <FIG> to which that corresponding reference number relates.

The manner of operation of the ball retrieval apparatus <NUM> in relation to retrieving balls is the same as that described with reference to <FIG>, including the operation of the rods <NUM> relative to the apertures <NUM>, and the manner of retrieving a ball <NUM>.

The receptacle <NUM> of the ball retrieval apparatus <NUM> can be collapsed in a similar manner to that described in relation to the ball retrieval apparatus <NUM> above. However, in order to lock the receptacle <NUM> in its collapsed condition, instead of inserting curved formations of the upper metal frame <NUM> into L-shaped engagement slots in the frame portion <NUM>, there are provided locking elements <NUM>. The locking elements <NUM> have rotation portions <NUM> which are curved to as connect the locking elements to the metal frame <NUM> such that the locking elements can be rotated relative to that frame.

The locking elements <NUM> further have hooking portions <NUM> which are adapted to releasably hook onto lower edges of the base component <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> when the receptacle is in its collapsed condition as shown in <FIG> (in which the fabric walling <NUM> and spring metal <NUM> are not shown).

Thus, when the receptacle <NUM> is forced into a collapsed condition in a similar manner to that described above in relation to the receptacle <NUM>, the locking elements <NUM> can be rotated relative to the metal frame <NUM> and hooked onto the base component <NUM>.

In particular, when the locking elements <NUM> are rotated in this manner, the hooking portions <NUM> are adapted to hook onto downwardly projecting studs <NUM> near the bottom of the base component <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

When it is desired to move the receptacle <NUM> to its erected condition, the locking elements <NUM> can be rotated in an opposite direction relative to the metal frame <NUM> and unhooked from the base component <NUM>.

The fabric receptacle handles <NUM> of the ball retrieval apparatus <NUM> include side portions <NUM> secured to the receptacle <NUM>, and a connection portion <NUM> joined to and interconnecting the side portions <NUM>.

Instead of the ball retrieval apparatus <NUM> being adapted to be supported on the trolley <NUM> by means of curved portions of the upper frame <NUM> being hooked on the hooks <NUM> (as was done with the curved portions <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> in relation to the hooks <NUM>), there are provided trunnion formations <NUM> which are adapted to be seated on, and supported by, the hooks <NUM>. Where two ball retrieval apparatuses <NUM> are supported on the trolley <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the upper apparatus is supported in this manner, while the lower apparatus is supported on the lower trolley frame portion <NUM>.

The frame uprights <NUM> include front frame uprights <NUM> and rear frame uprights <NUM>.

The front frame uprights <NUM> have lower frame portions <NUM> and upper frame portions <NUM>, where the upper portions are adapted to slide telescopically into the lower portions. For each front upright <NUM>, a lock <NUM> is provided for locking the upper and lower portions <NUM>, <NUM> in position relative to each other, for example in the extended position as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and the retracted position as shown in <FIG>.

The front frame uprights <NUM> and rear frame uprights <NUM> on each side of the trolley <NUM> are connected to each other by hinge connections <NUM>. The hinge connections <NUM> enable the front and rear frame uprights <NUM>, <NUM> to rotate relative to each other between the relative position as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and the relative position as shown in <FIG>.

Such relative rotation together with telescopically sliding the upper frame portions <NUM> into the lower frame portions <NUM> can be effected to move the trolley from its erected condition shown in <FIG>, <FIG> to the collapsed condition as shown in <FIG>.

The trolley <NUM>, when in its erected condition, is adapted to be moved from place to place on both its rear and front wheels <NUM>, <NUM>.

Upright ball tubes <NUM> are provided for storing balls as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. This can be useful especially when the receptacle <NUM> (or receptacles if there are two supported on the trolley <NUM>) become full. These ball tubes <NUM> simply rest on positioning guides (not shown) on the lower frame portion <NUM> and can easily be removed.

Although the invention has been described with reference to one or more specific embodiment above, it is not limited to those embodiments but may be embodied on other forms as would be understood by a person skilled in the art.

Claim 1:
A ball retrieval apparatus (<NUM>) adapted for use in retrieving a ball (<NUM>) having a ball diameter, the apparatus having an apparatus weight and an upright operational orientation and including:
a ball receptacle (<NUM>) having a lower end when the apparatus is in the operational orientation, and a receptacle opening (<NUM>) at the lower end;
a first receptacle portion (<NUM>) adjacent to the lower end defining a pair of rod retention apertures (<NUM>);
an elongate rigid rod (<NUM>) extending in a rod longitudinal direction, across the receptacle opening at an acute angle relative to the horizontal when the apparatus is in the operational orientation, and having two opposite rod ends, each of the rod ends being received in a respective one of the rod retention apertures, wherein each rod retention aperture is oversized relative to the respective rod end received in that aperture such that the rod is free to move from a lowermost first position relative to each of the rod retention apertures, upwardly relative to the ball receptacle and laterally relative to the rod longitudinal direction, to a raised second position, while the rod ends remain in the respective rod apertures;
wherein the rod has at least one upper corner edge (<NUM>) that extends longitudinally relative to the rod, the corner edge being adapted to engage the ball immediately on entry of the ball into the receptacle;
wherein the rod is disposed at a first distance from an opposing portion of the apparatus such that a space (<NUM>) is defined between the rod and said opposing portion,
wherein the ball retrieval apparatus is such that
the diameter of the ball for which the apparatus is adapted to be used is greater than the first distance when the rod is in its first position and is at most the same as said first distance when the rod is in its second position, and
the apparatus weight is sufficient to enable the apparatus to be lowered onto the ball such that the rod can be moved by the ball from the first position towards the second position to enable the ball to pass between the rod and said opposed portion of the apparatus, into the receptacle without deformation of the rod or compression of the ball.