Tennis ball holder

Claim 1

A tennis ball holder for removably grasping a regulation tennis ball by forcing together a tennis ball having a particular diameter and a nap surface and said holder characterized by: a one-piece molded cup having substantially the shape of a frustum of a cone with a substantially flat base at a smaller first end, a substantially conical slotted wall extending from the perimeter of said base to an open, larger, second end, said slotted wall including a plurality of first slots and second slots; said first slots coextensive with said open, second end and extending axially from said second end toward said base, each adjacent pair of said first slots defining a portion of wall therebetween having the form of a petal attached at said base and movable at said open end so that said petals forming said wall can spread apart at said open end when said open end is forced against said ball with sufficient elasticity to retract when said ball is removed, thereby providing said wall with an expansible diameter at said open end; at least one nap-engaging tooth means on said wall for releasably engaging said nap surface coextensive with each said petal at said open end and extending radially and inwardly into said cup for holding said ball in place; each of said second slots originating in said base and extending axially in said petal toward said open end and terminating at said nap-engaging tooth means, said second slot thereby providing means for molding said holder in one piece with a die with a simple rectilinear open and closing motion, said second slots further enhancing the flexibility of said petals.