Ball storage container mountable to a vertical planar surface

Abstract

A game ball storage retainer mountable to a vertical planar surface is an equatorially-split spherical container having a generally hemispherical upper lid portion that is hinged to a generally hemispherical base base portion. The base portion has an annular ring that fits within the upper portion to prevent water from flowing into the container. Each portion has a locking tab that aligns with the locking tab of the other portion. A padlock may be used to lock the lid and base portions together. The base portion also has a rectangular extension that fits flush against a vertical planar surface and by means of which the container may be bolted thereto. Lag bolts may be installed from inside the container to prevent their removal when the container is closed and locked. Preferably, the container is either blow molded or rotationally molded from a tough polymeric resin or copolymer.

1 . A storage retainer comprising: 
 a generally hemispherical base portion having an extension that fits flush against and is securable to a vertical planar surface; and    a generally hemispherical lid portion hingeably coupled to said base portion;    d to a generally hemispherical base portion, said lid portion and said base portion forming a generally sperical, enclosed chamber for the storage of a game ball when in a closed configuration, and providing access to a stored game ball when in an open configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The storage retainer of  claim 1 , wherein said lid portion is equipped with a downward-facing circumferential groove, and said base portion is equipped with an upward-facing circumferential ring that engages the circumferential groove when said storage retainer is in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The storage retainer of  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 a first locking tab on said base portion and a second locking tab on said lid portion, said first and second locking tabs being aligned when said storage retainer is in a closed configuration so that a padlock may be used to secure the lid portion to the base portion in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       4 . The storage retainer of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are manufactured from at least one polymeric resin.  
   
   
       5 . The storage retainer of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are both injection molded.  
   
   
       6 . The storage retainer of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are both blow molded.  
   
   
       7 . The strorage retainer of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion is coupled to said lid portion with at least one hinge that is riveted to both portions.  
   
   
       8 . A game ball storage retainer comprising: 
 a hollow chamber having generally spherical inner and outer surfaces, said hollow chamber being equitorially split into base and lid portions through a plane which makes an angle of less than 45 degrees from level;    at least one hinge coupling said lid portion to said base portion; and    an extension integal with said base portion that fits flush against and is securable to a vertical planar surface.    
   
   
       9 . The storage retainer of  claim 8 , wherein said base portion is equipped with an upward-facing circumferential ring that is inwardly offset from the outer surface thereof, and said lid portion is equipped with a circumferential recess that is inwardly offset from the outer surface thereof, said circumferential ring engaging circumferential recess when said storage retainer is in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The storage retainer of  claim 8 , which further comprises: 
 a first locking tab on said base portion and a second locking tab on said lid portion, said first and second locking tabs being aligned when said storage retainer is in a closed configuration so that a padlock may be used to secure the lid portion to the base portion in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       11 . The storage retainer of  claim 8 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are manufactured from at least one polymeric resin.  
   
   
       12 . The storage retainer of  claim 8 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are both injection molded.  
   
   
       13 . The storage retainer of  claim 8 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are both blow molded.  
   
   
       14 . The strorage retainer of  claim 8 , wherein at least one hinge is riveted to both the base and lid portions.  
   
   
       15 . A game ball storage retainer comprising: 
 a hollow chamber having generally spherical inner and outer surfaces, said hollow chamber being equitorially split into base and lid portions through a plane which makes an angle of less than 45 degrees from level, said base and lid portions being hingeably coupled together along an outer edge of each portion; and    means for securing said hollow chamber to an immovable object.    
   
   
       16 . The storage retainer of  claim 15 , wherein said base portion is equipped with an upward-facing circumferential ring that is inwardly offset from the outer surface thereof, and said lid portion is equipped with a circumferential recess that is inwardly offset from the outer surface thereof, said circumferential ring engaging circumferential recess when said storage retainer is in a closed configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The storage retainer of  claim 15 , which further comprises: 
 a first locking tab on said base portion and a second locking tab on said lid portion, said first and second locking tabs being aligned when said storage retainer is in a closed configuration so that a padlock may be used to secure the lid portion to the base portion in a closed configuration.    
   
   
       18 . The storage retainer of  claim 15 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are manufactured from at least one polymeric resin.  
   
   
       19 . The storage retainer of  claim 15 , wherein said base portion and said lid portion are both molded using a process selected from the group consisting of injection molding and blow molding.  
   
   
       20 . The storage retainer of  claim 15 , wherein said means for securing comprises an extension integral with the hollow chamber that fits flush against and is securable to a vertical planar surface.