Patent Application
20230310952
Ball retrievers are used to assist in the recovery of balls such as a golf ball or tennis ball especially when the ball is out of reach. Ball retrievers are frequently used during golf play when a ball lands in waters, creek beds, mud patches, rough terrain or tall grasses. Other times they are used to gather up practice balls or for health purpose to limit the bending required by hand recovery.
There are activities such as golf and tennis where ball retrievers have been a useful tool in assisting in recovering balls that fall out of the play area landing in water, tail grasses, brushes, mud patches or other difficult terrain. Balls are an important piece of the game and players make a substantial investment in quality balls to help them improve their game. Therefore, a player may choose to use a ball retriever to prevent a loss and the expense of replacing a ball. Additionally with a good ball retriever many players have made it a habit to collect any lost ball they may come across which helps lower their cost of play.
There are many bail retrievers on the market, some are mechanical with moving parts including springs or use friction to hold a ball but they require much too difficult alignment to work in all situations. Some are designed like a rake for multiple ball gathering, but they are bulky and difficult to store. While some maybe somewhat effective, many tend to be flimsy or fail in certain applications
There is a need for a more optimal compact design with improved performance and durability. One that reduces the resistance on a ball entering the retriever while allowing for an easier and faster ball recovery from many reaching angles and in most ball retrieving situations.
A ball retriever that extends the users reach for gathering balls or recovering balls from difficult areas such as water hazards, tall grass, shrubs or mud. A preferred ball retriever will use just a few parts to keep it cost effective and easy to assemble.
Handles both telescopic or fixed length type, have first and second opposing ends that can receive attachment. Typically, the first end of the handle includes a hand grip which gives the user more control of the handle while reducing slippage and fatigue. Other types of attachments can be plugs or end caps, all the forementioned attachments can add a finished look and feel to both first and second handle ends.
The second opposing end of the handle has a ball retriever scoop attached allowing the user to easily reach and recover balls in play. The ball retriever scoop can be affixed to the handle end using common fastener systems such as adhesives, rivets or crimping etc. Additionally, couplers, end caps or plugs can be used and are a decorative way to secure the ball retriever scoop to the handle end. Design is an important element in a ball retriever, users are depending on it to speed up the gathering or recovery process without begin cumbersome.
In one embodiment, the ball retriever scoop is formed from a single length of hard wire to retain its shape under heavy use, however different wire gages or wire types such as; stainless steel, galvanized, brass or newer composite wire can be used for different ball types and sizes. Finish coatings maybe applied to the wire scoop for a decorative or functional purpose.
The ball retriever scoop starts with a furcation within the middle section of the wire length, the wire is formed into a circular rim having an open front section. The rim inside diameter is slightly larger than the balls widest circumference, allowing the ball to enter through the rims top. The rims open front section allows the ball to enter the rim through the top with less restriction from the rim and with minimal alignment.
The rims open front section continues with downward bends and form mirroring curvilinear support elements running rearwardly and angled slightly inward and substantially under the rim for supporting and holding the ball within a defined area which includes a portion of the rims inside diameter. These downward bends act as knuckles to help align the rim over the ball, additionally, they assist when digging out embedded balls.
The support elements continued their curvilinear path upward towards the center section of the rim’s backside where they straighten and angle outward substantially near the top of the rim, with both wire ends terminate with a length sufficient for securing to a handle end directly or indirectly using a coupler, end cap or plug.
In additional embodiments, the ball retriever scoop may have an elongated rim having an open front section with downward bends that form mirroring curvilinear support elements running rearwardly and angled slightly inward and substantially under the rim for supporting and holding the ball within a defined area which includes a portion of the rims inside diameter.
Another aspect of the embodiment, the support elements bend downward substantially below the rim rearwardly mirroring in a curvilinear form while angling slightly inward towards the backside of the rim’s top center where they bend on an angle outward near the top of the rim. Both wire ends terminate with a length sufficient to secure to a handle end directly or indirectly with the use of a coupler, end cap or plug.
Another aspect of the embodiment, is when directly attaching the ball retriever scoop to the handles second opposing end. The wire ends maybe crimped, clamped, friction fit, bonded or fastened. Bonding with an epoxy adhesive is a particularly efficient way to affix the scoop to the handle. When indirectly affixed, the use of a coupler, end cap or plug can offer a solution for incompatible materials to be affixed as well as offering a decorative element to the finished product. The retriever scoop is affixed to the coupler using some of the above-mentioned options, but may also be insert molded where the coupler is formed around a portion of the retriever scoop wire ends.
Ball retrievers are an essential tool used to assist in the recovery of a ball from difficult or hazard areas such as ponds, mud, tail grasses or other hard to reach areas.
Embodiments of the ball retriever comprise of a handle and a wire scoop. The Handie length is chosen based on the user’s preference and the distance desired for ball retrieval. Further, embodiments of the handle may be a fixed length or Telescopic type handle, allowing for adjustable length and compact storage. Embodiments of the fixed handle length allow for easy handling with less complexity while offering a more cost-effective retriever. Telescopic handles have multiple articulating segments. They may extend and retract independently which offers the user greater distance of reach while still being able to reduce to a compact size for easy storage.
Preferred embodiment seen in
The curvilinear support elements 26 & 28 continue mirroring upward towards the center section 18 of the rim’s backside where they straighten and angle outward 30 & 32 near the top of the rim, where both wire ends 36 & 38 terminate with lengths sufficient for securing to a handle end 6 directly using standard attachment means, including adhesives, crimping or even welding.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63268766 | Mar 2022 | US |
