U.S. patent application number 12/689708 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-22 for ball catching device.
Invention is credited to Tom Velardi.
Application Number | 20100184539 12/689708 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42337411 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100184539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Velardi; Tom |
July 22, 2010 |
BALL CATCHING DEVICE
Abstract
A ball catching device that can be formed from a single piece of
cardboard or other material is provided. Once formed by folding the
single piece of cardboard in a predetermined configuration, the
ball catching device has a ball receiving opening and a lower
portion that is sized to be handled by the hand of a user. During
use, the user extends the ball catching device upward (like a
glove) so as to extend the ball receiving opening into the air,
while holding the bottom or lower portion with their hand.
Inventors: |
Velardi; Tom; (Woodcliff,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TUTUNJIAN & BITETTO, P.C.
20 CROSSWAYS PARK NORTH, SUITE 210
WOODBURY
NY
11797
US
|
Family ID: |
42337411 |
Appl. No.: |
12/689708 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61145891 |
Jan 20, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/503 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/143 20130101;
A63B 2102/18 20151001; A63B 71/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/503 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. A ball catching device formed from a single piece of a paper
like material, the ball catching device comprising: a plurality of
panels folded along predetermined fold lines and secured to itself
using at least one receiving slot and corresponding tab; a ball
receiving opening formed in an upper portion of the folded panels;
and a ball cavity formed in a lower portion of the folded panels
and in direct communication with the ball receiving opening.
2. The ball catching device of claim 1, further comprising at least
one finger receiving indentation in an outer surface of one of the
folded panels of the ball cavity.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/145,891 filed on Jan. 20, 2009.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a device for catching
balls. More particularly, it relates to box configured to be folded
into a shape and faun suitable for catching a ball.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] When attending a baseball game, one of the thrills of being
a fan is the possibility of catching a foul ball, or even a home
run depending on your seat location in the stadium.
[0006] Often times, children will bring their baseball glove in the
hopes of a ball coming their way. The glove becomes another item of
the children's that must be watched after and carried both to and
from the game.
[0007] Adults often attempt to catch the ball with their bare
hands, which generally works, however can result in hand injuries
or the like.
SUMMARY
[0008] It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to
provide a ball catching device that is: 1) easy to operate; 2) can
be constructed from cardboard or other disposable/recyclable
material; and 3) that can be obtained at the ball park or stadium
for little or no money to the consumer.
[0009] This and other aspects are achieved in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention wherein the ball catching device
includes a single piece of cardboard or other flat sheet line
material having a plurality of panels folded along predetermined
fold lines and secured to itself using at least one receiving slot
and corresponding tab. A ball receiving opening is formed in an
upper portion of the folded panels, and a ball cavity is formed in
a lower portion of the folded panels and in direct communication
with the ball receiving opening.
[0010] Other objects and features of the present principles will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for
purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of
the present principles, for which reference should be made to the
appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings
are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise
indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the
structures and procedures described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote
similar components throughout the views:
[0012] FIG. 1 is perspective view of an assembled ball catching
device according to an implementation of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2a is cardboard cutout from which the ball catching
device of the present invention can be formed;
[0014] FIG. 2b is a cardboard cutout from which the ball catching
device of the present invention can be formed; and
[0015] FIGS. 3-5 show the steps of folding the cardboard cutout of
FIG. 2 to form the ball catching device according to an
implementation of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring generally to FIG. 1, there is shown the ball
catching device 100 according to an implementation of the
invention. The ball catching device has a ball receiving opening
120, a ball cavity 122 and includes at least one finger receiving
indentation or opening 105. As will be evident from the following
description, the ball receiving opening 120 is in the upper portion
of the catching device and is sized to fit the ball being caught.
The user holds the lower portion of the catching device 100 and
extends the ball receiving opening 120 into the air to catch a
ball. A caught ball will immediately fall into the ball cavity 122
which is in direct communication with the ball receiving opening
120.
[0017] The formation/creation of the ball catching device 100 is
now described with reference to FIGS. 2-5. As can be seen from FIG.
2, the ball catching device 100 can be formed from a single piece
of cardboard or other sufficiently rigid paper like material. The
dimensions of the single piece of cardboard can be a matter of
design choice. For purposes of this description a die cut piece of
cardboard approximately 16''.times.18'' is used.
[0018] The dotted lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 represent fold lines for
the cut cardboard. The ball catching device 100 is made up of
several panels 1-11 as shown. Panel 7 includes a slot 107
configured to receive the tab 108 situated on panel 8, while panel
9 includes a tab 109 configured to be inserted into slot 110.
Finger receiving portions 105a and 106a are disposed in the lower
portions of panels 5 and 6, respectively.
[0019] FIG. 2b shows a slightly different implementation where
finger receiving portions 105b and 106b) are flipped such that the
fold line is on the top side of the opening formed by the receiving
portion. In this configuration, the user's fingers that are within
the receiving portion will be covered by the tab protruding into
the ball catching device.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the first assembly step where panels 1 and 2
are brought inward into an overlapping arrangement by folding
panels 5 and 6 along the fold lines adjacent with back panel 11.
FIG. 4 shows when panels 1 and 2 are overlapped, panel 9 is folded
over overlapping panels 1 and 2 and secured by inserting tab 109
into slot 110. At this stage, panels 7 and 8 are folded inward
toward each other along the fold line adjacent panels 5 and 6,
respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower portions of panels 7
and 8 overlap in the front such that tab 108 is inserted into slot
107 so as to secure the ball catching device 100 into its operable
configuration. The finger receiving hole or slots 105 and 106 are
punched in to allow the user to hole the ball catching device
substantially as shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] In this manner, the ball catching device 100 can be used by
a patron to the sporting event to assist in catching a ball that
has left the playing field.
[0022] As shown throughout the embodiments, the ball catching
device 100 is generally tapered in design such that the lower
portion is narrower than the upper ball receiving portion. Those of
skill in the art will recognize that this taper can be modified
according to a particular design choice. In one contemplated
implementation, the lower portion can be sufficiently narrow such
that a ball that is caught engages the internal sides of the ball
catching device and does not necessarily fit in the bottom of the
device. Alternatively, the overall size can be such that the ball
being caught fits perfectly within the device and rests on the
bottom of the same. Again, the size of the device can be modified
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0023] In accordance with another contemplated implementation of
the invention, the outside (and even inside) surfaces of the ball
catching device 100 can be used to print material for the user. For
example, the ball catching device can be printed with relevant team
information (e.g., team roster, team program information, etc),
relevant league information (e.g., playoff runs, standings, etc),
or may simply be printed with sponsor advertisements and/or any
combination of both.
[0024] While there have been shown, described and pointed out
fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be
understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the
form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated,
and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is
expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or
method steps which perform substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within
the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be
recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps
shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or
implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any
other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a
general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to
be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *