Tennis ball retrieval device

Claim 2

A tennis ball retrieval device, comprising receptacle means having an open top and a substantially open bottom for holding a plurality of tennis balls; and access means normally in substantially horizontal planar position in the bottom of the receptacle means for admitting tennis balls into the receptacle means and for preventing balls in the receptacle means from falling out, said access means comprising an access device yieldable under the pressure of a tennis ball in a direction into the receptacle means to permit the entry of a tennis ball thereinto and instantly returnable to its normal position to prevent the egress of a tennis ball from the receptacle means; and bidirectionally extendable support means movably affixed to the receptacle means and being securable in one position for supporting the receptacle means at a predetermined distance above the ground to facilitate manual removal of tennis balls via the open top of receptacle means and being securable in another position for facilitating manually carrying of the receptacle means in suspension from the support means.

Claim 3

A tennis ball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a pair of substantially U-shaped members each rotatably mounted on a corresponding side of the receptacle means for rotation to a position in which it extends substantially full length beneath the receptacle means and to another position in which it extends substantially full length above the receptacle means, and securing means affixed to the receptacle means for securing the U-shaped members in each position.

Claim 4

A tennis ball retrieval device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle means comprises a wire frame having a sleeve of plastic material affixed thereto.

Claim 5

A tennis ball retrieval device, comprising receptacle means having an open top and a substantially open bottom for holding a plurality of tennis balls; and access means normally in substantially horizontal planar position in the bottom of the receptacle means for admitting tennis balls into the receptacle means and for preventing balls in the receptacle means from falling out, said access means comprising an access device yieldable under the pressure of a tennis ball in a direction into the receptacle means to permit the entry of a tennis ball thereinto and instantly returnable to its normal position to prevent tHe egress of a tennis ball from the receptacle means, the access device comprising a central rod affixed to and extending across the bottom of the receptacle means equidistantly from the sides thereof, two groups of a plurality of hinges coaxially pivotally mounted on the central rod in juxtaposition for axial rotation thereabout, one group of hinges extending toward one side of the receptacle means and the other group of hinges extending toward the other side of the receptacle means, a first pair of retention rods substantially parallel to and spaced from the central rod on each side thereof in the receptacle means and affixed thereto for limiting the rotation of the hinges into the receptacle means to a predetermined extent and a second pair of retention rods substantially parallel to and spaced from the central rod on each side thereof affixed to the receptacle means for limiting the rotation of the hinges in the opposite direction to a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 6

A tennis ball retrieval device, comprising receptacle means having an open top and a substantially open bottom for holding a plurality of tennis balls; and access means normally in substantially horizontal planar position in the bottom of the receptacle means for admitting tennis balls into the receptacle means and for preventing balls in the receptacle means from falling out, said access means comprising an access device yieldable under the pressure of a tennis ball in a direction into the receptacle means to permit the entry of a tennis ball thereinto and instantly returnable to its normal position to prevent tHe egress of a tennis ball from the receptacle means, the access device comprising a central rod affixed to and extending across the bottom of the receptacle means equidistantly from the sides thereof, two groups of a plurality of hinges coaxially pivotally mounted on the central rod in juxtaposition for axial rotation thereabout, one group of hinges extending toward one side of the receptacle means and the other group of hinges extending toward the other side of the receptacle means, a first pair of retention rods substantially parallel to and spaced from the central rod on each side thereof in the receptacle means and affixed thereto for limiting the rotation of the hinges into the receptacle means to a predetermined extent and a second pair of retention rods substantially parallel to and spaced from the central rod on each side thereof affixed to the receptacle means for limiting the rotation of the hinges in the opposite direction to a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 7

A tennis ball retrieval device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the rods of the first pair of retention rods is so positioned relative to the central rod and each of the hinges is so dimensioned that when the hinges are rotated to the predetermined extent into the receptacle means, the maximum ingress space provided between each hinge and the corresponding side of the receptacle means is equal to or slightly larger in width than the diameter of a tennis ball and a tennis ball enters the receptacle means without distortion.

Claim 8

A tennis ball retrieval device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising bidirectionally extendable support means affixed to the receptacle means and being securable in one position for supporting the receptacle means at a predetermined distance above the ground to facilitate manual removal of tennis balls via the open top of receptacle means and being securable in another position for facilitating manually carrying of the receptacle means in suspension from the support means, said support means comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped members each rotatably mounted on a corresponding side of the receptacle means for rotation to a position in which it extends substantially full length beneath the receptacle means and to another position in which it extends substantially full length above the receptacle means, and securing means affixed to the receptacle means for securing the U-shaped members in each position.