Ball retrieving apparatus and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A ball retreiving assembly includes a housing, an ejection member and a cup member. The housing has a first end, a second end and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end. The ejection member is movably disposed within the passageway of the housing. The cup member is operationally connected to the housing and the ejection member, the cup member sized and dimensioned to receive a ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball retreiving assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a first end, a second end and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end;   an ejection member movably disposed within the passageway of the housing; and   a cup member connected to the housing, the cup member sized and dimensioned to receive a ball.   
     
     
         2 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing and the ejection member are constructed from a single material. 
     
     
         3 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection member is movable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         4 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 3  wherein in the first position, the ejection member is retracted in the passageway of the housing and in the second position, the ejection member is movable toward the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cup member is connected to the ejection member. 
     
     
         6 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cup member is frusto-conical. 
     
     
         7 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection member has an end cap for receiving a thumb, finger or palm of an indivdual. 
     
     
         8 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the housing is threaded to connect the cup member to the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The ball retrieving assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ejection member is constructed from at least one rod. 
     
     
         10 . A method for retrieving a ball from the ground, comprising:
 positioning a cup member of a ball retrieving assembly over a ball lying on the ground;   moving the cup member in a downward direction to engage the ball in the cup member so as to pick the ball up off of the ground; and   ejecting the ball from the cupmember of the ball retrieving assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprisng:
 positioning the cupmember which holds the ball over a container for receiving the ball.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning the cup member of the ball retrieving assembly over another ball lying on the ground;   moving the cup member in a downward direction to receive the other ball in the cup member so as to pick the other ball up off of the ground; and
 ejecting the other ball from the cupmember of the ball retrieving assembly. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the ball retrieving assembly comprises:
 a housing having a first end, a second end and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end wherein the cup member is connected to the housing; and 
 an ejection member movably disposed within the passageway of the housing. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the ejection member is movable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the first position, the ejection member is retracted in the passageway of the housing and in the second position, the ejection member is movable toward the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cup member is connected to the ejection member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first end of the housing is threaded to connect the cup member to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cup member is frusto-conical. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cup member is sized and configured to receive any ball. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cup member is constructed from any material capable of frictionally gripping the ball.