System for picking up, tossing, and striking a ball

Abstract

A ball lifting, tossing and striking system, by which a user can pick up, toss and strike a ball in such a way that the ball does not come in contact with the user's hands, includes a ball and a multi-purpose implement that may be carried by a user in one or both hands. The multi-purpose implement includes a striking implement, having a handle portion and a striking portion, and a ball basket attached to the striking implement and adapted to lift the ball from the ground. To use the multi-purpose implement, a user may grasp the handle portion of the striking implement, lift the ball from the ground with the ball basket, and without touching the ball with either of the user's hands, toss the ball from the ball basket into the air such that it may be struck by the striking portion.

1 : A ball lifting, tossing and striking system by which a user can pick up, toss and strike a ball in such a way that the ball does not come in contact with the user's hands, comprising:
 (a) a ball; and   (b) a multi-purpose implement that may be carried by a user in one or both hands, including:
 (i) a striking implement, having a handle portion and a striking portion, and 
 (ii) a ball basket attached to the striking implement and adapted to lift the ball from the ground; 
   (c) wherein a user may grasp the striking implement, lift the ball from the ground with the ball basket, and without touching the ball with either of the user's hands, toss the ball from the ball basket into the air such that it may be struck by the striking portion.   
   
   
       2 : The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ball basket is a scoop adapted to be inserted underneath the ball to lift the ball from the ground and adapted to cradle the ball until the ball is tossed into the air. 
   
   
       3 : The system of  claim 2 , wherein the striking implement has a generally round cross-section. 
   
   
       4 : The system of  claim 3 , wherein the striking implement is a baseball bat. 
   
   
       5 : The system of  claim 2 , wherein the striking implement is a racquet. 
   
   
       6 : (canceled) 
   
   
       7 : The system of  claim 2 , wherein the striking implement has a generally rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       8 : The system of  claim 2 , wherein the striking implement is a cricket bat. 
   
   
       9 : The system of  claim 2 , wherein the scoop is detachable from the striking implement. 
   
   
       10 : The system of  claim 2 , wherein the scoop is permanently attached to the striking implement. 
   
   
       11 : The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ball basket includes a press-fit ball grabber adapted to be pressed onto the ball to lift the ball from the ground and adapted to cradle the ball until the ball is tossed into the air. 
   
   
       12 : The system of  claim 11 , wherein the press-fit ball grabber includes an end that snaps around the ball for the purpose of picking up the ball from the ground. 
   
   
       13 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 : A multi-purpose implement, that may be carried by a user in one or both hands, for lifting, tossing and striking a ball in such a way that the ball does not come in contact with the user's hands, comprising:
 (a) a striking portion having a proximal end and a distal end;   (b) a handle portion disposed at the proximal end of the striking portion; and   (c) a ball basket attached to the distal end of the striking portion and adapted to lift a ball from the ground;   (d) wherein a user may grasp the handle portion, lift the ball from the ground with the ball basket, and without touching the ball with either of the user's hands, toss the ball from the ball basket into the air such that it may be struck by the striking portion.   
   
   
       19 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 18 , wherein the ball basket is a scoop adapted to be inserted underneath the ball to lift the ball from the ground and adapted to cradle the ball until the ball is tossed into the air. 
   
   
       20 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 19 , wherein the striking portion has a round cross-section. 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 19 , wherein the striking portion includes a planar area. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 19 , wherein the striking portion has a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 19 , wherein the scoop is detachable from the striking portion. 
   
   
       27 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 19 , wherein the scoop is permanently attached to the striking portion. 
   
   
       28 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 19 , wherein the handle portion is detachable from the striking portion. 
   
   
       29 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the striking portion is hollow, and the handle portion may be inserted into the striking portion for storage. 
   
   
       30 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 18 , wherein the ball basket includes a press-fit ball grabber adapted to be pressed onto the ball to lift the ball from the ground and adapted to cradle the ball until the ball is tossed into the air. 
   
   
       31 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 30 , wherein the press-fit ball grabber includes a ring-shaped end defining a ball inlet. 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 30 , wherein the press-fit ball grabber includes a square-shaped end defining a ball inlet. 
   
   
       34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 30 , wherein the ball basket further includes a side defining a ball outlet. 
   
   
       36 : The multi-purpose implement of  claim 35 , wherein the ball basket is arranged to permit the ball to be tossed upward through the ball outlet by the user. 
   
   
       37 : A method of lifting, tossing and striking a ball, comprising:
 (a) providing a multi-purpose implement, including:
 (i) a striking implement, having a handle portion and a striking portion, and 
 (ii) a ball basket attached to the striking implement and adapted to lift a ball directly from the ground; and 
   (b) without contacting the ball with one's hands:
 (i) holding the handle portion in one or both hands, 
 (ii) maneuvering the ball basket beneath a ball lying on the ground, 
 (iii) lifting the ball directly from the ground with the ball basket, 
 (iv) tossing the ball from the ball basket into the air, and 
 (v) while the ball is in the air, striking the ball with the striking portion.