Tennis ball retriever and racquet

Claim 2

A tennis ball retriever device, for use at the handle end of a tennis racquet, for retrieval of tennis balls having a nap surface, which device removably grasps a tennis ball by contacting a tennis ball with the tennis ball retriever device, and which device comprises: a) a cap, adapted to be secured to the handle end of a tennis racquet, and having an axis and having an open end with a recess defined by a peripheral wall of the cap; b) teeth means to grasp removably the surface nap of a tennis ball, and which teeth means comprises a plurality of teeth elements, extending inwardly a short distance toward the axis of the cap from the peripheral wall of the cap and generally positioned perpendicular to the axis of the cap to grasp or catch the nap of a tennis ball in use; and c) a compressible means within the recess of the cap and extending generally to the teeth means, the compressible means adapted to move between an extended screening position which prevents casual contact of the teeth means with objects, and an inwardly compressed position created by a tennis ball to expose the teeth means and to permit the teeth means to grasp the nap of a tennis ball.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein the cap comprises an integrally molded plastic cap.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein the cap defines a generally polygonal wall and a truncated, conical recess at the one end.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein the teeth means comprises at least a single row of generally uniformly spaced teeth positioned just below the rim of the peripheral wall.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein the teeth means comprises a plastic ring having a plurality of inwardly-extending teeth therein, the plastic ring and teeth integrally molded of plastic and adapted to be inserted and secured within the recess.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein the compressible means comprises a lightweight, flexible, foam material.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein the compressible means comprises a lightweight, flexible urethane foam which foam substantially fills the recess.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a compressible means of a lightweight, flexible foam material having an inwardly-extending groove around the periphery of the foam, generally adjacent to and extending the length of the teeth means.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1 wherein the compressible means includes on an exterior surface outwardly exposed surface indicia means for display.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1 which includes a thin sheet of lightweight flexible material containing on one surface indicia means for display, and wherein the lightweight sheet material is placed adjacent to the compressible means at an open recess end of the device.

Claim 12

A tennis racquet which comprises: a) a tennis racquet head and a handle having a one and an other end, one end of the handle secured to the racquet head and the other end of the handle secured to a tennis ball retriever device; and b) which tennis ball retriever device comprises: i) a cap, adapted to be secured to the handle end of a tennis racquet, and having an axis and having an open end with a recess defined by a peripheral wall of the cap; ii) teeth means to grasp removably the surface nap of a tennis ball, and which teeth means comprises a plurality of teeth elements, extending inwardly a short distance toward the axis of the cap from the peripheral wall of the cap and generally positioned perpendicular to the axis of the cap to grasp or catch the nap of a tennis ball in use; and iii) a compressible means within the recess of the cap and extending generally to the teeth means, the compressible means adapted to move between an extended screening position which prevents casual contact of the teeth means with objects, and an inwardly compressed position created by a tennis ball to expose the teeth means and to permit the teeth means to grasp the nap of a tennis ball.

Claim 13

A tennis racquet which comprises: a) a tennis racquet head and a handle having a one and an other end, one end of the handle secured to the racquet head and the other end of the handle secured to a tennis ball retriever device; and b) which tennis ball retriever device comprises: i) a cap, adapted to be secured to the handle end of a tennis racquet, and having an axis and having an open end with a recess defined by a peripheral wall of the cap; ii) teeth means to grasp removably the surface nap of a tennis ball, and which teeth means comprises a plurality of teeth elements, extending inwardly a short distance toward the axis of the cap from the peripheral wall of the cap and generally positioned perpendicular to the axis of the cap to grasp or catch the nap of a tennis ball in use; and iii) a compressible means within the recess of the cap and extending generally to the teeth means, the compressible means adapted to move between an extended screening position which prevents casual contact of the teeth means with objects, and an inwardly compressed position created by a tennis ball to expose the teeth means and to permit the teeth means to grasp the nap of a tennis ball.