Sports item cover and methods using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a removable sports item cover, preferably a ball or puck cover, and methods using the sports item cover that greatly facilitate the process of obtaining a autograph on the sports item at a sporting event. The ball cover can include a writing instrument attachment for removably securing a writing instrument such as a pen to the cover. The ball cover can include an autograph opening that allows the ball to be autographed without removing the cover. Therefore, the ball cover allows a fan to conveniently pass a sports item for signature to an athlete, along with an attached writing instrument, thereby facilitating the autograph process. The ball cover can also include a lanyard attachment that allows the ball to be worn around a fan's neck.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sports item cover comprising: 
 a) an autograph opening effective for providing access to a sports item that is enclosed by the sports item cover.    
     
     
         2 . The sports item cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sports item is a ball, puck, or hat.  
     
     
         3 . The sports item cover of  claim 2  further comprising a writing instrument attachment effective for removably securing a writing instrument to the sports item cover.  
     
     
         4 . The sports item cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sports item is a baseball, a softball, a football, a basketball, a soccer ball, or a volleyball.  
     
     
         5 . The sports item cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sports item is a baseball.  
     
     
         6 . The sports item cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sports item cover further comprises a lanyard attachment effective for removably securing the sports item cover to a lanyard.  
     
     
         7 . The sports item cover of  claim 1 , wherein the autograph opening is one of a series of autograph openings.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the autograph opening is one of a series of autograph openings.  
     
     
         9 . An autograph kit comprising: 
 a) a ball;    b) a ball cover having a writing instrument attachment and an autograph opening, wherein the ball cover removably covers the ball; and    c) a writing instrument.    
     
     
         10 . The autograph kit of  claim 9 , wherein the ball cover further comprises a lanyard attachment, and wherein the kit further comprises a lanyard.  
     
     
         11 . The autograph kit of  claim 9 , wherein the ball is a softball, a football, a basketball, a soccer ball, or a volleyball  
     
     
         12 . The autograph kit of  claim 9 , wherein the ball is a baseball.  
     
     
         13 . A method for obtaining an autograph on a ball comprising: 
 a) providing a ball, a ball cover, and a writing instrument, wherein the ball cover comprises a writing instrument attachment, and an autograph opening;    b) positioning the ball inside the ball cover, thereby providing access to a first location on the ball through the ball cover at the autograph opening;    c) attaching the writing instrument to the ball cover using the writing instrument attachment;    d) removing the writing instrument from the ball cover;    e) signing the ball at the first location through the autograph opening; and    f) reattaching the writing instrument to the ball cover using the writing instrument attachment.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising removing the ball from the ball cover after reattaching the writing instrument.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising rotating the ball relative to the ball cover, and repositioning the ball inside the ball cover, thereby providing access to a second location on the ball through the autograph opening.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising removing the writing instrument from the ball cover and signing the ball at the second location through the autograph opening.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising between the securing step and the removing step, transferring the ball from a first person to a second person to obtain the autograph of the second person on the ball.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising securing the ball cover to a lanyard.