Tennis ball retrieval and storage assembly

Abstract

A tennis ball retrieval and storage device comprised of a rigid tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a flexibly resilient first cap member slidably removably positioned on the tubular member, the first cap member having a unitary inner segmented flexibly resilient flange defining an aperture slightly less than the diameter of a tennis ball, the tubular member having an inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of a tennis ball, the second end of the tubular member having a second cap member secured thereto, the second cap member having a pivotal closure which is frictionally engageable in a closed secure position, there being positioned on the tubular member about its outer circumference at a predisposed point from the first end, a ring member having an integral hook member secured thereto for hanging the ball retrieval and storage device from a structure, the ring member being positioned at a distance from the first end so as to define the proper height of a tennis net when the first end of the tubular member is placed perpendicular to the ground adjacent the tennis net.

1 . A ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a hollow tubular member having a lower end and an upper end, said hollow tubular member having an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of a ball;    a first annular ring member, said first annular ring member being flexibly resilient and slidably removably received on said lower end of said hollow tube member, said first slidably removable annular ring member formed with an inner circumference and an outer circumference;    a segmented flexible flange member integrally formed to the inner circumference of said slidably removable annular ring member, said segmented flexible flange member defining an aperture, said aperture having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the ball;    a second annular ring member slidably received on said hollow tube member, said second annular ring member having a securing means for hanging said hollow tube member from a fence; and    a third annular ring member fixedly secured to said upper end of said hollow tube member, said third annular ring member having hingeably secured thereto, a cap member, said cap member having a depending arm, said depending arm selectively engageable with a friction stop member formed on said third annular ring member, said third annular ring member and said cap member selectively securing said upper end of said hollow tube member in an open or closed orientation.    
   
   
       2 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first annular ring member is slidably removable from said lower end of said hollow tube member and is engaged with said lower end of said hollow tube member by friction.  
   
   
       3 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first annular ring member is removably secured to said lower end of said hollow tube member by means of a bayonet mount.  
   
   
       4 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein tennis balls are removed from said hollow tube member by disengaging said cap member and turning said hollow tube member so that said upper end substantially faces the ground.  
   
   
       5 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said segmented flexible flange member is resiliently deformable when positioned over a ball on a surface, said segmented flexible flange member deforming upon compression on said ball to a point proximate an equator of said ball, said segmented flexible flange member then returning to its original orientation securing said ball within said hollow tube member.  
   
   
       6 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said hollow tube member is dimensioned to hold a plurality of balls.  
   
   
       7 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said plurality of balls comprise tennis balls.  
   
   
       8 . The ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said third annular ring member is fixedly positioned on said hollow tubular member at a height equal to the regulation height of a tennis net.  
   
   
       9 . A method of retrieving and dispensing balls from a ball retrieval storage and dispensing apparatus comprising the steps of: 
 a) positioning a hollow tubular member having an upper end and a lower end and having a removable flexibly resilient annular ring member with integral segmented flexible flange member positioned at said lower end of said hollow tube member, said segmented flexible flange member defining an aperture slightly smaller than the diameter of a ball, directly over the ball to be picked up;    b) forcing the hollow tube member downwardly so that the ball deforms the segmented flexible flange member, allowing the ball to enter the hollow tube member; and    c) repeating steps a and b until all of the balls are picked up.    
   
   
       10 . The method of retrieving and dispensing balls from a ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the steps of storing said balls further comprises fixedly positioning an annular ring member with hingeable cap closure member on said upper end of said hollow tube member retaining said balls within said hollow tubular member.  
   
   
       11 . The method of retrieving and dispensing balls from a ball retrieval, storage and dispensing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the steps of dispensing said balls further comprises: 
 a) unhinging said cap closure member;    b) rotating said upper end of said tubular member downwardly;    c) dispensing said ball selectively under the influence of gravity.