Ball launcher

Abstract

A ball launcher allows a user to retrieve a ball from the ground and launch the ball, with accuracy, farther than the user can throw the ball by hand. The ball launcher uses an elongate tubular member having a handle at one end and an open opposing end. An annular ring encompasses the inner surface of the tubular member proximate the open end. The annular ring has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball to be retrieved and when the ball launcher is pressed upon the ball, the ball slightly deforms allowing the ball to pass the annular ring and into the tubular member.

I claim  
     
         1 . A ball launcher for launching a ball, the ball being resilient and having a first diameter, the ball launcher comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, a first end, and an open second end; and    a handle attached to the first end of the tubular member; and    an annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter.    
     
     
         2 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  wherein the handle is removably attached to the first end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         3 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  wherein the handle is threadably attached to the first end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         4 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
     
     
         5 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  further comprising a lanyard attached to the handle.  
     
     
         6 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  further comprising an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         7 . The ball launcher as in  claim 6  wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         8 . The ball launcher as in  claim 6  wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         9 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  wherein the annular ring is a single annular ring.  
     
     
         10 . A ball launcher for launching a ball, the ball being resilient and having a first diameter, the ball launcher comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having an outer surface, and inner surface, a first end, and an open second end;    a handle attached to the first end of the tubular member; and    means for retrieving the ball into the tubular member.    
     
     
         11 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises an annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter.  
     
     
         12 . The ball launcher as in  claim 11  wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
     
     
         13 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises a single annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter.  
     
     
         14 . The ball launcher as in  claim 11  wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
     
     
         15 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  wherein the means for retrieving the ball comprises an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         16 . The ball launcher as in  claim 15  wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         17 . The ball launcher as in  claim 15  wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         18 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  wherein the means for retrieving the ball is selected from the group consisting of an annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter and an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         19 . The ball launcher as in  claim 18  wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
     
     
         20 . The ball launcher as in  claim 18  wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         21 . The ball launcher as in  claim 18  wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         22 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  wherein the handle is removably attached to the first end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         23 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  wherein the means for retrieving the ball is selected from the group consisting of a single annular ring encompassing the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, the annular ring having a second diameter and an end cap having an outer periphery and a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the end cap attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         24 . The ball launcher as in  claim 23  wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
     
     
         25 . The ball launcher as in  claim 23  wherein the end cap is removably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         26 . The ball launcher as in  claim 23  wherein the end cap is threadably attached to the open second end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         27 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  wherein the handle is threadably attached to the first end of the tubular member.  
     
     
         28 . The ball launcher as in  claim 10  further comprising a lanyard attached to the handle.