Pocketed catcher and projector

Claim 2

An article of sports equipment for catching and throwing a ball comprising: a. A body having a handle and two arms extending from one end of the handle in bifurcated, generally semi-annular configuration, and their outer ends being parallel, and b. a sheet of flexible material positioned between said arms and handle end and attached thereto, the sheet being wider and longer than the bifurcation so as to extend to one side of the plane of said arms thereby forming a scoop-like pocket which extends from said one end of said handle along said arms and between them to catch a ball.

Claim 3

The subject matter of claim 1 in which said sheet is attached continuously to said arms throughout the bifurcation.

Claim 4

The subject matter of claim 1 in which said body is laminated by a plurality of plies and the edges of said sheet are attached to said arms by being laminated between said plies of said body.

Claim 5

The subject matter of claim 3 in which said sheet is leather-like as to qualities of flexibility and said body is wooden and there are fasteners holding the laminates together.

Claim 6

The subject matter of claim 1 in which said sheet has sufficient rigidity to substantially hold its shape in scoop-like pocket configuration as against inversion or vigorous manual swinging movements, whereby, during use in play, the sheet tends to keep its general shape between catchings of the ball.

Claim 7

The subject matter of claim 1 in which said sheet is solid.

Claim 8

The subject matter of claim 1 in which the scoop-like pocket has a depth about half of the distance of the width between said arms, said space between said arms being wider across the bifurcation than the depth of said bifurcation.

Claim 9

The subject matter of claim 1 in which the inner end of the bifurcation has a shape generally parabolic that fairs into generally parallel arms at the outer end of the bifurcation.

Claim 10

The subject matter of claim 1 in which said handle bows to each side in its middle and said handle has an opening in its end, and a looped thong-like member extending through said opening to fit around the wrist of the player to retain the handle against loss.

Claim 11

An article of sports equipment for catching and throwing a ball comprising: a. A body having a handle and two arms extending from one end of the handle in befurcated, generally semi-annular configuration, and b. a sheet of flexible material between said arms and attached thereto, the sheet being normally wider and longer than the bifurcation so as to extend to one side of the plane of said arms thereby forming a scoop-like pocket to catch a ball, in which said sheet has pleats to accomodate formation of said sheet from normAl planar disposition to its scoop-like pocket configuration, the edge of said sheet between the ends of said arms ending at a plane normal to the ends of said arms, said sheet in said scoop-like, pocket configuration having a bottom portion which in cross-section in a plane extending longitudinal relative to said handle and normal relative to the plane of the bifurcation has a contour in its middle to outer portion which is substantially straight and parallel to said latter plane.

Claim 12

An article of sports equipment for catching and throwing a ball comprising: a. A body having a handle and two arms extending from one end of the handle in befurcated, generally semi-annular configuration, and b. a sheet of flexible material between said arms and attached thereto, the sheet being normally wider and longer than the bifurcation so as to extend to one side of the plane of said arms thereby forming a scoop-like pocket to catch a ball, in which said sheet has pleats to accomodate formation of said sheet from normAl planar disposition to its scoop-like pocket configuration, the edge of said sheet between the ends of said arms ending at a plane normal to the ends of said arms, said sheet in said scoop-like, pocket configuration having a bottom portion which in cross-section in a plane extending longitudinal relative to said handle and normal relative to the plane of the bifurcation has a contour in its middle to outer portion which is substantially straight and parallel to said latter plane.

Claim 13

An article of sports equipment for catching and throwing a ball, comprising: a. a body having a handle and two arms extending from one end of the handle in bifurcated, generally semiannular configuration, the inner end of the bifurcation being generally parabolic and fairing into generally parallel arms at the outer end of the bifurcation; b. a sheet of flexible material between said arms and attached thereto substantially throughout the bifurcation, the sheet being normally wider and longer than the bifurcation so as to extend to one side of the plane of said arms thereby forming a scoop-like pocket to catch a ball; c. said sheet being leatherlike as to qualities of flexibility and having sufficient rigidity to substantially hold its shape in scoop-like pocket configuration as against inversion or vigorous manual swinging movements, whereby, during use in play, the sheet tends to keep its general shape between catchings of the ball; and d. said sheet in said scoop-like, pocket configuration having a bottom portion which in cross-section in a plane extending longitudinal relative to said handle and normal relative to said plane of said arms has a contour in its middle to outer portion which is substantially straight and generally parallel to said plane of said arms.

Claim 14

An article of sports equipment for catching and throwing a ball, comprising: a. a body having a handle and two arms extending from one end of the handle in bifurcated, generally semiannular configuration, the inner end of the bifurcation being generally parabolic and fairing into generally parallel arms at the outer end of the bifurcation; b. a sheet of flexible material between said arms and attached thereto substantially throughout the bifurcation, the sheet being normally wider and longer than the bifurcation so as to extend to one side of the plane of said arms thereby forming a scoop-like pocket to catch a ball; c. said sheet being leatherlike as to qualities of flexibility and having sufficient rigidity to substantially hold its shape in scoop-like pocket configuration as against inversion or vigorous manual swinging movements, whereby, during use in play, the sheet tends to keep its general shape between catchings of the ball; and d. said sheet in said scoop-like, pocket configuration having a bottom portion which in cross-section in a plane extending longitudinal relative to said handle and normal relative to said plane of said arms has a contour in its middle to outer portion which is substantially straight and generally parallel to said plane of said arms.