Ball Return Device

Abstract

A ball return device provides a target for throwing baseballs at that returns the baseballs to the player. The device includes a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending forwardly from the rear wall. A front edge of the perimeter wall defines an input opening into an interior of the housing. The interior of the housing defines a target for throwing a ball. The housing has an aperture positioned therein. A chute has a top end and a bottom end. The top and bottom ends are each open. The top end is coupled to the housing and aligned with the aperture wherein the chute is configured for receiving the ball through the top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through the bottom end.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A ball return device comprising:
 a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending forwardly from said rear wall, a front edge of said perimeter wall defining an input opening into an interior of said housing, said interior of said housing defining a target for throwing a ball, said housing having an aperture positioned therein; and   a chute having a top end and a bottom end, said top and bottom ends each being open, said top end being coupled to said housing and aligned with said aperture wherein said chute is configured for receiving the ball through said top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through said bottom end.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising said aperture extending through a bottom side of said perimeter wall. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said housing includes an outwardly projecting lip extending around said front edge of said perimeter wall. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said perimeter wall tapers inwardly approaching said rear wall of said housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said chute includes an arcuate bend at a bottom of said chute whereby said bottom end of said chute is directed forwardly away from said chute. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising said bottom end of said chute being vertically aligned with said input opening in said perimeter wall. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said chute is telescopic. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said chute includes an elongated section oriented vertically relative to a ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising said elongated section having a lower end, a base being attached to said lower end and supporting said elongated section upon the ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising said base having a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge, said base tapering outwardly from said top peripheral edge to said bottom peripheral edge. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising wherein said base has a front end, a back end and a perimeter surface coupled to and extending between said front end and said back end, said perimeter surface including an apex positioned within said elongated section of said chute, an upper surface of said base extending from said apex to said front end of said base defining said bottom of said chute, said front end of said base having an output opening extending therein wherein said output opening is configured to dispense the ball outwardly from said chute. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear portion of said perimeter wall projecting rearwardly away from said aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising said elongated section having a notch extending therein, said notch extending upwardly from said lower end of said elongated section and being alignable with said output opening. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said aperture is spaced below said input opening. 
     
     
         15 . A ball return device comprising:
 a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending forwardly from said rear wall, a front edge of said perimeter wall defining an input opening into an interior of said housing, said interior of said housing defining a target for throwing a ball, said housing having an aperture positioned therein, said aperture extending through a bottom side of said perimeter wall, said aperture being spaced below said input opening, said perimeter wall tapering inwardly approaching said rear wall of said housing, a rear portion of said perimeter wall projecting rearwardly away from said aperture, said housing including an outwardly projecting lip extending around said front edge of said perimeter wall;   a chute having a top end and a bottom end, each of said top and bottom ends being open, said top end being coupled to said housing and aligned with said aperture wherein said chute is configured for receiving the ball through said top end whereby the ball is dispensed outwardly through said bottom end, said chute being hollow and having each of said top end and said bottom end being open, said bottom end of said chute being vertically aligned with said input opening in said perimeter wall, said chute being telescopic, said chute including an arcuate bend at a bottom of said chute whereby said bottom end of said chute is directed forwardly away from said chute, said chute including an elongated section oriented vertically relative to a ground surface, said elongated section having a lower end;   a base being attached to said lower end and supporting said elongated section upon the ground surface, said base having a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge, said base tapering outwardly from said top peripheral edge to said bottom peripheral edge, said base having a front end, a back end and a perimeter surface coupled to and extending between said front end and said back end, said perimeter surface including an apex positioned within said elongated section of said chute, an upper surface of said base extending from said apex to said front end of said base defining said bottom of said chute, said front end of said base having an output opening extending therein wherein said output opening is configured to dispense the ball outwardly from said chute; and   said elongated section having a notch extending therein, said notch extending upwardly from said lower end of said elongated section and being alignable with said output opening, said notch being arcuate.