Ball retrieval and storage device

Abstract

A ball retrieval and storage device including a receptacle having a sidewall assembly and a bottom wall. The bottom wall has openings with a dimension less than the diameter of a ball and through which a compressed ball may be forced through the openings. The device has wheels positioned at a lower portion of the receptacle for rolling transport of the device. The device has handle members hingeably connected to the receptacle. The handle members are adjustable and formed of telescoping segments. The handle members are moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The device also has at least one locking lug on each handle member that engages a surface of said receptacle. The receptacle has at least one projection configured to provide an engagement surface for supporting a second device removably positioned on and transportable with the first device.

1 . A ball retrieval and storage device, the device comprising:
 a receptacle having a sidewall assembly and a bottom wall, the sidewall assembly and bottom wall defining an inner chamber, said bottom wall having at least one opening with a dimension less than the diameter of a ball and through which a compressed ball may be forced through the opening and into the inner chamber, and having at least two wheels positioned at a lower portion of the receptacle for rolling transport of the device;   at least two handle members hingeably connected to the receptacle, the handle members each having a length and being formed of telescoping segments such that the lengths of the handle members are adjustable;   the handle members are moveable between a first configuration wherein an extent of the handle members are located above the receptacle body, and a second configuration wherein at least an extent of the handle members are located below the receptacle body to support the receptacle, and said handle members having a section that engages a surface located under the receptacle;   at least one locking lug on each handle member that engages a surface of said receptacle when the handle member is in the second configuration;   the receptacle further having at least one projection configured to provide an engagement surface for supporting a second receptacle removably positioned on and transportable with said device.   
     
     
         2 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 1  wherein said sidewall assembly includes at least two recesses positioned in alignment with said handle members to provide a passageway into the inner chamber for the handle members when moved into said first configuration. 
     
     
         3 . A ball retrieval and storage system, the system comprising:
 a first ball retrieval and storage device and a second ball retrieval and storage device;   said first ball retrieval and storage device having a receptacle with a sidewall assembly and a bottom wall, the sidewall assembly and bottom wall defining an inner chamber and said bottom wall having an opening with a dimension less than the diameter of a ball to allow a compressed ball to be forced through the opening and into the inner chamber, the first ball retrieval and storage device further having a handle connected to the receptacle;   at least one projection is positioned on one of either the first device or second device;   at least one receiver is positioned on the other of said either first device or second device;   the projection releaseably engages the receiver such that the second device is removably connected to the first device.   
     
     
         4 . The ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 3  wherein the engagement of the projection and receiver secures the second device to the first device such that the first and second devices are transportable together. 
     
     
         5 . The ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 4  wherein the first device has at least two wheels for rolling transport of the first and second devices. 
     
     
         6 . A ball retrieval and storage device, the device comprising:
 a receptacle having a bottom having at least one opening with a dimension less than the diameter of a ball and through which a compressed ball may be forced through the opening;   at least two handle members hingeably connected to the receptacle, the handle members each having a length and are formed of telescoping segments such that the lengths of the handle members are adjustable;   the handle members are moveable between a first configuration wherein an extent of the handle members are located above the receptacle and a second configuration wherein at least an extent of the handle members are located below the receptacle to support the receptacle and having a section that engages a surface located under the receptacle.   
     
     
         7 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 6  wherein the length of each handle member is substantially linear. 
     
     
         8 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 7 , wherein said sidewall assembly includes at least two recesses positioned in alignment with said handle members to provide a passageway into the inner chamber for the handle members when moved into said first configuration such that at least an extent of each handle member resides within said inner chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A ball retrieval and storage device, the device comprising:
 a receptacle having a sidewall assembly connected to a bottom wall to form an inner chamber;   at least two handle members hingeably connected to the receptacle and moveable between a first configuration wherein an extent of the handle members are located above the receptacle and a second configuration wherein at least an extent of the handle members are located below the receptacle to support the receptacle and having a section that engages a surface located under the receptacle;   when said handle members are in the first configuration an extent of each handle member resides within said inner chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 9 , wherein said sidewall assembly includes at least two recesses positioned in alignment with said handle members to provide a passageway into the inner chamber for the handle members when moved into said first configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 10 , wherein said recesses have an inner surface forming a stop that engages a mating surface of the handle members to support the handle members in the first configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 9  wherein each handle member has at least one locking lug that engages with a surface of said receptacle when said handle member is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A ball retrieval and storage device, the device comprising:
 a receptacle having a sidewall assembly and a bottom wall, the sidewall and bottom wall defining an inner chamber and said bottom wall having an opening with a dimension less than the diameter of a ball to allow a compressed ball to be forced through the opening and into the inner chamber;   at least two handle members hingeably connected to the receptacle and moveable between a first configuration wherein an extent of the handle members are located above the receptacle and a second configuration wherein at least an extent of the handle members are located below the receptacle to support the receptacle and having a section that engages a surface located under the receptacle;   the receptacle further having at least one projection configured to provide an engagement surface for supporting an article removably positioned on the receptacle to transport the article with said device.   
     
     
         14 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 13  wherein said handle members each have an adjustable length formed of telescoping segments. 
     
     
         15 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 13  wherein each handle member is generally U-shaped and substantially resides along a single plane. 
     
     
         16 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 13  wherein each handle member has at least one gripping member to engage with the surface located under the receptacle when the handle members are in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 13  wherein said receptacle has at least two wheels for rolling transport of the device. 
     
     
         18 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 17  wherein the at least two wheels are positioned at a lower portion of the receptacle such that the wheels are moveable along the ground when the device is tilted at an angle. 
     
     
         19 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 13  wherein each handle member has at least one locking lug that engages a surface of said receptacle when said handle member is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The ball retrieval and storage device of  claim 19  wherein each said lug has an engagement surface and the sidewall assembly has a mating surface that frictionally engages with said surface of the lug.