Articles of Play for Use in the Game of Catch

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for catching a ball having a frame, a fixed size through-hole of the frame, a resilient foam sheath at least partially covering the frame, a handle portion formed in an edge of the through-hole, a first end of the handle connected to the frame, a second end of the handle opposite the first end of the handle and connected to the frame, and wherein the through-hole is configured to retain the ball therein through a friction force between the resilient foam sheath and the ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for catching a ball, the system comprising:
 a ball;   a frame;   a fixed size through-hole of the frame;   a resilient foam sheath at least partially covering the frame;   a handle portion formed in an edge of the through-hole;   a first end of the handle connected to the frame;   a second end of the handle opposite the first end of the handle and connected to the frame; and   wherein the through-hole is configured to retain the ball therein through a friction force between the resilient foam sheath and the ball.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the fixed-size through-hole is not adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a ball securing mechanism of the frame for locking the ball in the device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the through-hole is substantially ring-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the through-hole is polygon-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the friction force can be overcome by a force of at least about 0.25 pounds. 
     
     
         7 . A system for catching a ball, the system comprising:
 a ball;   a frame;   a fixed size through-hole of the frame;   a resilient foam sheath at least partially covering the frame;   a handle portion formed in an edge of the through-hole; and   wherein the through-hole is configured to retain the ball therein through a wedging force between the resilient foam sheath and the ball.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein a diameter of the fixed-size through-hole is not adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the through-hole is substantially ring-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the friction force can be overcome by a force of at least about 0.25 pounds. 
     
     
         11 . A system for catching a ball, the system comprising:
 a ball;   a receiving mechanism;   a resilient foam sheath of the receiving mechanism at least partially covering the receiving mechanism;   a secant line through the ball, the secant line intersecting opposing points on a surface of the ball; and   wherein the receiving mechanism is configured to frictionally retain the ball therein by exerting pressure on the opposing points on the surface of the ball.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a handle portion formed in an edge of the receiving mechanism. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a first end of the handle connected to the receiving mechanism; and 
 a second end of the handle opposite the first end of the handle and connected to the receiving mechanism. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein a size receiving mechanism is not adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the receiving mechanism is substantially ring-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the friction force can be overcome by a force of at least about 0.25 pounds.