U.S. patent application number 10/613850 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for retainer for balls.
Invention is credited to Kershaw, Thomas.
Application Number | 20050006322 10/613850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33564310 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050006322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kershaw, Thomas |
January 13, 2005 |
Retainer for balls
Abstract
The invention discloses a ball retainer that is constructed of a
single rod. The rod is bent back on itself to form a substantial
U-shape form having two legs that are parallel to each other. The
two parallel legs are bent upon themselves to form a second
U-shaped form. The second U-shaped form is turned by about
90.degree. from the first U-shape form. The ends of the two legs
that extend from the second U-shaped form are fastened and retained
in a mounting plate. The mounting plate together with the ball
retainer can be fastened to different objects including round
poles.
Inventors: |
Kershaw, Thomas; (Cape
Coral, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas Kershaw
5626 Riverside Dr.
Cape Coral
FL
33904
US
|
Family ID: |
33564310 |
Appl. No.: |
10/613850 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/14 ;
211/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 47/00 20130101;
A63B 71/0036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/014 ;
211/106 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00; A47F
005/08 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A ball retainer comprising a single rod that is bent back on
itself into a first substantial u-shape form to thereby form two
substantially parallel legs in a plane, said parallel legs in said
plane are again bent into a second u-shaped form which is
substantially turned 90.degree. from said first u-shape form, free
ends of said legs at an end of said second u-shape form are
fastened to a mounting plate, means for fastening said mounting
plate to an object.
2. The ball retainer of claim 1, wherein said means for fastening
are two holes in said mounting plate.
3. The ball retainer of claim 1, wherein said means for fastening
is a metal strap having a tensioning buckle thereon.
4. The ball retainer of claim 1, wherein said object is a
substantially round pole.
5. The ball retainer of claim 4, wherein said mounting plate has
enlarged vertical bosses at each vertical edge to thereby form an
inner curvature substantially matching an outer surface of said
round pole including a belt for fastening said mounting plate to
said pole.
6. The ball retainer of claim 4 including a cleated belt for
adjustably fastening said ball retainer mounting plate to said
pole.
7. The ball retainer of claim 6, wherein said cleated belt is
constructed of a flat and flexible belt having spaced apart round
cleats thereon.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] (none)
STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R&D
[0002] (none)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The proposed invention generally relates to sports equipment
storage devices, more specifically to a simplified ball holder of
one continuously contoured structure to accept a nested storage of
a variety of ball shapes and sizes while providing means for
attachment to walls or poles.
[0004] Storing a wide assortment of basketballs, soccer balls,
kickballs, volley bails and the like is often problematic. Round
balls tend to roll aimlessly about closets, garages and play areas
when unattended or restrained from movement and, therefore, readily
become a hazard rolling about the floor area. Also during practice
sessions., often more than one ball are required for different
drill sessions. The bail holder readily can supply more than ball
because the balls are nested in one holder. During regulation games
it often happens that a badly thrown or kicked ball may end up in
the audience, never to be seen again. The ball holder readily
supplies another ball to be put into play.
[0005] Previous ball holding devices may dedicate themselves to
store a limited variety of bails by including features to contain
and secure specific sizes and shapes of particular balls. Some
storage devices become excessively large and bulky while attempting
to accommodate additional storage features for related sports
equipment other than balls. Previous devices often limit their
attachment to flat surfaces such as household walls, without
concern for other forms of attachment also previous devices may
include multiple piece parts that often defeat simplicity and are
difficult to clean and include protruding features that may cause
accidental injury to the unwary.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,105 describes a ball bracket of multiple
pieces, namely, a flat mounting plate and protruding tongs to
surround and secure a specific sized ball. With the device
dedicated to clinch and secure one specific sized ball. Another
ball size might require alteration and adjustment of the device for
acceptance of a different ball. The device includes a flat, rigid
mounting plate sufficient for attachment to a flat vertical
surface. This disclosed device has no specific features for
adapting to a rounded surface such as a round pole.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,462 describes a sport equipment rack for
multiple balls and related sport activities This device does not
offer the simplicity and limited size for holding a single ball and
is intended as a wall mounted station for assorted equipment.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,795 Describes a sport equipment support
rack that likewise includes additional features dedicated to items
other balls while becoming a larger utilitarian device requiring
increased space for the intended mounting to a wall. This device
lacks simplicity and becomes cumbersome while using unnecessary
space.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,550 describes a storage rack of threaded
pegs secured to a wall mounting plate this invention does not
address the function of storing variously sized balls.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The ball holder or retainer of the present invention has
specific design features which distinguishes it from prior devices.
These features allow for the use of the ball holder to nest
variously sized balls without required bracket adjustment. Further,
the device limited space, is easy to clean and does not include any
protruding parts to threaten accidental injury and likewise may be
made from flexible material to accept incidental impact.
[0011] The rod of the invention can be made of metal that can
easily be bent or from a plastic material hat can be formed under
heat or the ball retainer can be formed by injection molding The
device includes features to provide for mounting to conventional
poles as well as flat surfaces. Further, the device is convenient,
simple and inexpensive. The present invention provides a ball
retainer for holding various sizes and shapes of sports related
balls. The retainer includes a single piece member or rod that
contours to form nesting support for random sized balls and
provides means for supporting the device to either a flat or a
curved surface
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is side view of the ball retainer;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of the ball retainer;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a way of mounting the
ball retainer on a round pole;
[0015] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a belt by which the ball retainer is
mounted on a round pole;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a cleated adjustment belt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a side and a front view of the
inentive ball retainer. It is a very simple construction consisting
of a single rod 1 that is bent upon itself to form a U-shaped bend
or form of a half circle 2 to thereby form parallel double legs and
the double legs are once more bent upon themselves to form another
substantially circular bend or U-shaped form as shown at 3 the two
end legs are fastened to a mounting plate 6 which holes 4 and 5
therein so that the plate can be fastened to any desirable
location. It should be noted, when studying FIGS. 1 and 2, the
first U-shaped is turned by 90.degree. from the second U-shape
form.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view as the ball retainer is
fastened to a pole P. The same reference characters are applied as
were in FIGS. 1 and 2. The plate 6 has a center piece (not shown)
through which is threaded a mounting strap 7 having an adjustment
buckle 8. This strap and buckle is similar in construction as the
well known hose clamp. In this arrangement, the mounting holes 4
and 5 may be omitted because the strap, when tightened, is
sufficient to rigidly hold the ball retainer in place.
[0019] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the ends of the rod 1 positioned in a
different mounting plate or block. There are shown the mounting
straps or belts similar to the ones shown in FIG. 3. However, the
mounting plate 6 of FIG. 3 is formed into a contoured block having
bosses 11 at each side edge. In this way, a contoured mounting
block is formed that has an inner curvature 15 so designed to hug
the outer round surface of a pole. FIG. 5 again shows the mounting
holes 4 and 5 which, again, may be omitted.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows different and elongated mounting holes 12 and
13 which simply allow for a different technique for mounting the
ball retainer on a pole.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows an entirely different way of mounting the ball
retainer on a substantially round pole. In this construction, there
is rigid mounting plate 25 which receives the two ends of 1 of the
rod 1. At each side of the mounting plate 25, there are formed two
elongated receiving openings or slots 24. Beyond the two receiving
slots there are each a cutaway 20 for the purpose of separating the
cleated belt 21 from the mounting plate 25 by way of a tear or
separating line 20a. The belt itself has a multiple and evenly
spaced round cleats 22 thereon. This type of operates in the
following manner. Once a location of a round pole or even a tree
has been determined, one side of the belt next to the mounting
plate 25 is separated from the mounting plate 25 by way of the
cut-away 20 and the tear line 20a. The free end of the belt can now
be wrapped around the pole until tight and one of the flat areas 23
between the cleats 22 is slipped into the elongated slot 24 to be
held therein. This type of belt makes for a quick and secure
adjustment of the ball retainer on differently sized poles.
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