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 either the inner surface of the tubular member proximate the open end, or the periphery of 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 or the annular ring slightly expands allowing the ball to pass the annular ring and into the tubular member. The tubular member is arcuately swung in order to launch the ball therefrom.

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, an inner surface, a first end, and an open second end;    a handle attached to the first end of the tubular member;    an annular ring encompassing either the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, or the periphery of the second end of the tubular member, the annular ring having a second diameter; and    wherein the second end of the tubular member is positioned over the ball and pressed onto the ball such that either ball deforms as the ball passes over the annular ring, or the annular ring expands as the ball passes over the annular ring, and the ball enters the hollow interior of the tubular member, the annular ring retaining the ball within the hollow interior upon either the ball's reformation or the annular ring's retraction, the tubular member is turned in order to allow the ball to gravitationally pass toward the first end of the tubular member, and thereafter the tubular member is swung arcuately in order to launch the ball out of the second end of the tubular member.    
     
     
         2 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  wherein the handle has a hollow compartment.  
     
     
         3 . The ball launcher as in  claim 2  further comprising an end cap removably attached to the handle in order to gain access to the hollow compartment.  
     
     
         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  wherein the annular ring is a single annular ring.  
     
     
         6 . The ball launcher as in  claim 1  further comprising at least one rib encompassing the tubular member proximate the second end.  
     
     
         7 . A method for launching a ball, the ball being resilient and having a first diameter, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an elongate tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, and an open second end;    providing a handle and attaching the handle to the first end of the tubular member;    providing an annular ring that encompasses either the inner surface of the tubular member, proximate the second end, or the periphery of the second end of the tubular member, the annular ring having a second diameter;    positioning the second end of the tubular member over the ball and pressing the tubular member onto the ball such that either ball deforms as the ball passes over the annular ring, or the annular ring expands as the ball passes over the annular ring, and the ball enters the hollow interior of the tubular member, the annular ring retaining the ball within the hollow interior upon either the ball's reformation or the annular ring's retraction;    turning the tubular member in order to allow the ball to gravitationally pass toward the first end of the tubular member; and    swinging the tubular member arcuately in order to launch the ball out of the second end of the tubular member.    
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the handle has a hollow compartment.  
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 8  further comprising the step of providing an end cap that is removably attached to the handle in order to gain access to the hollow compartment.  
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein the annular ring is a single annular ring.  
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 6  further comprising the step of providing at least one rib that encompassing the tubular member proximate the second end.