← Back to Patent Explorer
US4877166A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for retaining a ball

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-05-02
•
Granted: 1989-10-31
•
Expires: 2008-05-02
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A device for holding an object is provided. The device includes a body for defining an interior cavity for securely retaining an object in surrounding relationship. The body includes an opening for insertion of the object into and removal of the object from the interior cavity. The device includes a member for attaching the device to a second object.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert C. Gelinas, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 18:45
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B47/00; A45; A45F; A45F5/00; A45F2005/006; A63B47/001; A63B57/00; A63B57/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A device for holding an object comprising a spherical body having walls that define a substantially enclosed interior cavity having a dimension substantially similar to the dimension of an object to be held by the device, the body including an opening in communication with the interior cavity and an exterior environment for allowing the object to be positioned in and removed from the interior cavity, the opening being so constructed and arranged that the object is retained by the interior cavity when received therein, the device further including means for coupling the device to a second object, the body being constructed from resilient material, the interior cavity being spherically-shaped, the opening of the body having the form of a wedge shaped slice and being so constructed and arranged that at least a portion of the object is visible through the opening when the ball is secured to the interior cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 150 words
A device for holding an object comprising a spherical body having walls that define a substantially enclosed interior cavity having a dimension substantially similar to the dimension of an object to be held by the device, the body including an opening in communication with the interior cavity and an exterior environment for allowing the object to be positioned in and removed from the interior cavity, the opening being so constructed and arranged that the object is retained by the interior cavity when received therein, the device further including means for coupling the device to a second object, the body being constructed from resilient material, the interior cavity being spherically-shaped, the opening of the body having the form of a wedge shaped slice and being so constructed and arranged that at least a portion of the object is visible through the opening when the ball is secured to the interior cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the body is constructed from a pliable rubber.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 230 words
An apparatus for playing a game wherein a first ball-like object is designed to cooperate with at least one second object comprising: a first ball-like object; a second stick-like object for cooperating with the first object, said second object including a handle; and a device for coupling the first object to the second object including a spherically shaped body constructed from a resilient material defining an interior cavity having a shape and size substantially similar to the shape and size of the first object for securely receiving the first object and retaining same in a surrounding relationship, the body including an opening having the form of a wedge shaped slice and communicating with the interior cavity and an exterior environment for allowing the first object to be received within and removed from the interior cavity, the opening being so constructed and arranged that at least a portion of the first object is visible when it is positioned within the interior cavity, the interior cavity being spherically-shaped, the device including means for coupling the device to the second object, the means for coupling the device including a ring member that is received within an opening in the handle in the second object and an elongated flexible member attached at one end to the ring and attached at another end to the body, the device being removably coupled to the second object.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 230 words
An apparatus for playing a game wherein a first ball-like object is designed to cooperate with at least one second object comprising: a first ball-like object; a second stick-like object for cooperating with the first object, said second object including a handle; and a device for coupling the first object to the second object including a spherically shaped body constructed from a resilient material defining an interior cavity having a shape and size substantially similar to the shape and size of the first object for securely receiving the first object and retaining same in a surrounding relationship, the body including an opening having the form of a wedge shaped slice and communicating with the interior cavity and an exterior environment for allowing the first object to be received within and removed from the interior cavity, the opening being so constructed and arranged that at least a portion of the first object is visible when it is positioned within the interior cavity, the interior cavity being spherically-shaped, the device including means for coupling the device to the second object, the means for coupling the device including a ring member that is received within an opening in the handle in the second object and an elongated flexible member attached at one end to the ring and attached at another end to the body, the device being removably coupled to the second object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said elongated flexible member is a chain.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 114 words
A device for holding one or more objects comprising: at least one spherically shaped body constructed from a resilient material and having an interior for receiving and securely holding one object in surrounding relationship and including an opening having the form of a wedge shaped slice for permitting insertion of said object into and removal of said object from said interior, said opening allowing visual inspection of at least a portion of said object when said object is retained in said body, said interior cavity being of a spherical shape; and means for attaching each said body to a second object, said means for attaching also removably securing the body to the second object.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 114 words
A device for holding one or more objects comprising: at least one spherically shaped body constructed from a resilient material and having an interior for receiving and securely holding one object in surrounding relationship and including an opening having the form of a wedge shaped slice for permitting insertion of said object into and removal of said object from said interior, said opening allowing visual inspection of at least a portion of said object when said object is retained in said body, said interior cavity being of a spherical shape; and means for attaching each said body to a second object, said means for attaching also removably securing the body to the second object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said second object is a belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said belt includes a plurality of bodies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 183 words
A transportable storage device for a ball-shaped object comprising: a spherical body having a flexible elastic wall means forming a spherical cavity of a shape which is essentially complemental to that of an object to be transported, said wall means having an opening in the form of a wedge shaped slice formed therein which is normally smaller than the object to be transported and which is elastically deformable to permit selective insertion and removal of the object into and out of the cavity, said opening being of a sufficient size to expose a discernible surface portion of the object when inserted in the cavity but having elastically returnable eges surrounding said opening to closely confine and retain the object in assembly with the enclosure, said opening being formed in less than one-half of the spherical wall means; and coupling means attached to said enclosure for selectively connecting the enclosure to a transporting means, said coupling means including a stud extending through said enclosure walls and a flexible member attached on one end to said stud and attached on another end to a ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 183 words
A transportable storage device for a ball-shaped object comprising: a spherical body having a flexible elastic wall means forming a spherical cavity of a shape which is essentially complemental to that of an object to be transported, said wall means having an opening in the form of a wedge shaped slice formed therein which is normally smaller than the object to be transported and which is elastically deformable to permit selective insertion and removal of the object into and out of the cavity, said opening being of a sufficient size to expose a discernible surface portion of the object when inserted in the cavity but having elastically returnable eges surrounding said opening to closely confine and retain the object in assembly with the enclosure, said opening being formed in less than one-half of the spherical wall means; and coupling means attached to said enclosure for selectively connecting the enclosure to a transporting means, said coupling means including a stud extending through said enclosure walls and a flexible member attached on one end to said stud and attached on another end to a ring.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1572383A Cited
GB326925A Cited
US1955559A Cited
US2598330A Cited
US2768775A Cited
US2932514A Cited
US3412897A Cited
US4061256A Cited
US4088251A Cited
US4296874A Cited
US4365804A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-30 1993-05-01 1993-10-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-10-30 1997-05-01 1997-10-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-10-30 2001-05-01 2001-10-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag