Nestable ball retrieval and storage device

Abstract

A nestable ball retrieval and storage device for collecting balls from the ground is provided. The device includes a receptacle and a handle connected to the receptacle. The receptacle has a bottom grate with a plurality of elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball to define at least one bottom opening through which a compressed ball on the ground can be forced through. The receptacle further has a receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the bottom grate. The receptacle wall structure has an open top and converges inwardly from the open top to the bottom grate to establish a tapering cavity shaped to permit nesting therein of another device that is substantially identical to the ball retrieval and storage device. The handle is constructed and arranged to extend through a bottom opening defined by elongated members of a bottom grate of the another device when the another device is nesting in the tapering cavity of the ball retrieval and storage device.

1 . A nestable ball retrieval and storage device for collecting balls from the ground, comprising:
 a receptacle, comprising
 a bottom grate comprising a plurality of elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball to define at least one bottom opening through which a compressed ball on the ground can be forced through; and 
 a receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the bottom grate, the receptacle wall structure having an open top and converging inwardly from the open top to the bottom grate to establish a tapering cavity shaped to permit nesting therein of another device that is substantially identical to the ball retrieval and storage device; and 
   a handle connected to the receptacle, the handle constructed and arranged to extend through a bottom opening defined by elongated members of a bottom grate of said another device when said another device is nesting in the tapering cavity of the ball retrieval and storage device.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the distance by which the elongated members are spaced apart is slightly less than a diameter of a tennis ball. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated members define multiple bottom openings through which compressed tennis balls can be forced through into the tapered cavity. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle wall structure comprises opposite end walls interconnected to opposite side walls. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is connected to opposite sides of the receptacle wall structure and extends between the opposite sides of the receptacle wall structure in a direction generally parallel to the elongated members. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom opening of the bottom grate is free of any crossing members that would impair nestability. 
   
   
       7 . A nestable ball retrieval and storage device for collecting balls from the ground, comprising:
 a receptacle, comprising
 a bottom grate comprising a plurality of elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball to define at least one bottom opening through which a compressed ball on the ground can be forced through; and 
 a receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the bottom grate, the receptacle wall structure having an open top and converging inwardly from the open top to the bottom grate to establish a tapering cavity shaped to permit nesting therein of another device that is substantially identical to the ball retrieval and storage device; 
   a handle connected to the receptacle, the handle constructed and arranged to extend through a bottom opening defined by elongated members of a bottom grate of said another device when said another device is nesting in the tapering cavity of the ball retrieval and storage device; and   wheels connected to the receptacle for permitting rolling movement of the receptacle across the ground.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein by application of a rearward/downward force to the handle the receptacle is tiltable into a tilted rolling movement position, and wherein the wheels support the receptacle in the tilted rolling movement position. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the distance by which the elongated members are spaced apart is slightly less than a diameter of a tennis ball. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated members define multiple bottom openings through which compressed tennis balls can be forced through into the tapered cavity. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle wall structure comprises opposite end walls interconnected to opposite side walls. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the handle is connected to opposite sides of the receptacle wall structure and extends between the opposite sides of the receptacle wall structure in a direction generally parallel to the elongated members. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom opening of the bottom grate is free of any crossing members that would impair nestability. 
   
   
       14 . A method of retrieving balls from the ground and storing the balls, comprising:
 providing a device comprising a receptacle and a handle connected to the receptacle, the receptacle comprising a bottom grate comprising a plurality of elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball to define at least one bottom opening, the receptacle further comprising a receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the bottom grate, the receptacle wall structure having an open top and converging inwardly from the open top to the bottom grate to establish a tapering cavity shaped to permit nesting therein of another device that is substantially identical to the ball retrieval and storage device, the handle being constructed and arranged to extend through a bottom opening defined by elongated members of a bottom grate of said another device when said another device is nesting in the tapering cavity of the ball retrieval and storage device;   placing the device over a ball on the ground; and   pressing downward on the handle to compress the ball and force the ball through the bottom opening into the cavity.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the distance by which the elongated members are spaced apart is slightly less than a diameter of a tennis ball. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated members define multiple bottom openings through which compressed tennis balls can be forced through into the tapered cavity. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the device further comprises wheels connected to the receptacle for permitting rolling movement of the receptacle across the ground. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the handle is connected to opposite sides of the receptacle wall structure and extends between the opposite sides of the receptacle wall structure in a direction generally parallel to the elongated members. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom opening of the bottom grate is free of any crossing members that would impair nestability. 
   
   
       20 . A method of nesting ball retrieval and storage device for collecting balls from the ground with one another, comprising:
 providing a first device comprising a first receptacle and a first handle connected to the first receptacle, the first receptacle comprising a first bottom grate comprising a plurality of first elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball to define at least one first bottom opening through which a compressed ball on the ground can be forced through, the first receptacle further comprising a first receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the first bottom grate, the first receptacle wall structure having a first open top and converging inwardly from the first open top to the first bottom grate to establish a first tapering cavity,   providing a second device comprising a second receptacle and a second handle connected to the second receptacle, the second receptacle comprising a second bottom grate comprising a plurality of second elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than the diameter of the ball to define at least one second bottom opening through which the compressed ball on the ground can be forced through, the second receptacle further comprising a second receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the second bottom grate, the second receptacle wall structure having a second open top and converging inwardly from the second open top to the second bottom grate to establish a second tapering cavity shaped to permit nesting of the first receptacle in the second cavity;   inserting the second handle through an opening of the first bottom grate; and   nesting the first receptacle in the second cavity while the second handle extends through the opening of the first bottom grate.