초록 ▼

A sports ball retrieval and storage device includes a receptacle, a pair of support members and a lid. The receptacle is in the form of a molded one-piece body made of substantially rigid material and having a plurality of side walls and a bottom grate integrally connected together so as to define a

A sports ball retrieval and storage device includes a receptacle, a pair of support members and a lid. The receptacle is in the form of a molded one-piece body made of substantially rigid material and having a plurality of side walls and a bottom grate integrally connected together so as to define an open top and an interior chamber of the receptacle. The side walls and bottom grate are formed of respective upper and lower annular perimeter members and laterally spaced apart elongated members extending between and integrally connected at opposite ends with opposite portions of the upper and lower annular perimeter members. The side walls converge toward one another from the open top to the bottom grate of the receptacle and thereby provide the molded one-piece body of the receptacle with a tapered configuration permitting receptacles of multiple devices to nest with one another. The elongated members of the bottom grate are spaced apart at a distance slightly less than the diameter of a tennis ball so as to define at least one opening therebetween through which a compressed tennis ball can forced into the interior chamber. The support members are pivotally mounted to the receptacle and convertible relative thereto between stand and handle positions. The lid is mounted to the receptacle for opening and closing the open top thereof.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A sports ball retrieval and storage device, comprising:(a) a receptacle in the form of a molded one-piece body made of a substantially rigid material and having a plurality of side walls and a bottom grate integrally connected together so as to define an open top and an interior c

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A sports ball retrieval and storage device, comprising:(a) a receptacle in the form of a molded one-piece body made of a substantially rigid material and having a plurality of side walls and a bottom grate integrally connected together so as to define an open top and an interior chamber of said receptacle;(b) said side walls and bottom grate of said molded one-piece body being formed by respective upper and lower annular perimeter members and laterally spaced apart elongated members extending between and integrally connected at opposite ends with opposite portions of said annular perimeter members;(c) said side walls converging toward one another from said open top to said bottom grate of said receptacle and thereby providing said molded one-piece body of said receptacle with a tapered configuration permitting receptacles of multiple devices to nest with one another;(d) said elongated members of said bottom grate being spaced apart at a distance slightly less than a diameter of a tennis ball so as to define at least one opening therebetween through which a compressed tennis ball can be forced into said interior chamber of said receptacle; and(e) a pair of support members each separately pivotally mounted to one of said side walls of an opposite pair of said side walls of said receptacle and being convertible to said receptacle between a stand position and a handle position;(f) said receptacle further including upper means integrally formed on each side wall of said opposite pair of side walls of said receptacle for releasably securing each of said support members in said handle position, said upper securing means including two pairs of laterally spaced apart upper projections, each of said pairs of upper projections being integrally formed as part of said molded one-piece body of said receptacle on one side wall of said opposite pair of said side walls of said receptacle, each of said upper projections being of a substantially tubular configuration and having opposite ends and defining a recess open lengthwise between said opposite ends for receiving and releasably retaining therein a section of one of said support members when said one support member is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to said one side wall and aligned with said recess from said stand position to said handle position.