초록 ▼

A ball play system provides a confined play area that has a plurality of balls and a ball cleaning apparatus for cleaning the balls. A target structure is disposed in the play area so that balls which strike a target area pass through a ball supply outlet while balls that miss the target area reboun

A ball play system provides a confined play area that has a plurality of balls and a ball cleaning apparatus for cleaning the balls. A target structure is disposed in the play area so that balls which strike a target area pass through a ball supply outlet while balls that miss the target area rebound into the play area. The cleaning apparatus receives balls from a conveyor that communicates with the ball supply outlet of the play area. Cleaned balls from the cleaning apparatus are returned to the play area at a ball inlet by means of a ball return apparatus. The ball return apparatus is a chute, a blower to propel the balls upwardly in the chute to a chute outlet and a rail assembly that receives balls from the chute and returns them to the play area under gravity fee. The rail assembly is serpentine and of a sufficient length so that the cleaned balls undergo drying during transit. A method utilizing this ball play and cleaning system is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

A ball play system, comprising: (a) a confined play area of sufficient size so that children may play therein, said confined play area having a ball supply outlet and a ball inlet; (b) a plurality of balls disposed in said confined play area: (c) a target structure disposed in said confined play are

A ball play system, comprising: (a) a confined play area of sufficient size so that children may play therein, said confined play area having a ball supply outlet and a ball inlet; (b) a plurality of balls disposed in said confined play area: (c) a target structure disposed in said confined play area, with said ball supply outlet being associated with said target structure and constructed such that first balls that are accurately directed toward a target area of said target structure will be received by said ball supply outlet while second balls that are inaccurately directed toward the target area of said target structure will rebound into said confined play area; (d) a ball cleaning apparatus operative to clean the balls in a cleaning fluid to define cleaned balls; (e) a conveyor in communication with the ball supply outlet and operative to convey the balls from the ball supply outlet to said ball cleaning apparatus; and (f) a ball return apparatus in communication with said ball cleaning apparatus and operative to receive said cleaned balls from said ball cleaning apparatus and to return said cleaned balls into said confined play area at the ball inlet. A method for cleaning balls used in a confined play area sized and adapted for children to play therein, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing the balls contained in the confined play area into a ball supply outlet located in the confined play area; (b) mechanically conveying the balls to a cleaning apparatus located remotely of the confined play area; (c) cleaning the balls with a cleaning fluid associated with said ball cleaning apparatus to define cleaned balls; and (d) returning cleaned ones of the balls to the confined play area by pneumatically propelling said cleaned balls from the ball cleaning apparatus to a rail assembly that receives the cleaned balls and that is configured so that said balls travel to the confined play area under the force of gravity with said rail assembly having a serpentine path of sufficient length such that said cleaned balls at least partially dry during transit.