Systems and methods of providing a ball collector system

Abstract

Disclosed is a ball collector system. While the ball collector system can have any suitable component, in some cases it includes a trough, a backdrop that is configured to catch a ball and redirect it toward the trough, and/or a collector that is configured to collect the ball from the trough. In some cases, related methods include dampening a movement of the ball using the backdrop, changing a trajectory of the ball to direct it to the trough, moving the ball along the trough to a designated location, and/or collecting the ball from the trough using the collector. Other implementations are described.

1 . A ball collector system comprising:
 a trough;   a backdrop configured to catch a ball and redirect it toward the trough; and   a collector configured to collect the ball from the trough.   
     
     
         2 . The ball collector system of  claim 1 , wherein the backdrop comprises:
 an anchor configured to secure the backdrop to a surface;   a body portion; and   a skirt portion.   
     
     
         3 . The ball collector system of  claim 2 , wherein the trough is coupled to the skirt portion of the backdrop. 
     
     
         4 . The ball collector system of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is configured to form a depression that slopes toward a low point, thereby directing the ball toward the low point. 
     
     
         5 . The ball collector system of  claim 4 , wherein the collector is situated within the depression of the trough at the low point. 
     
     
         6 . The ball collector system of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises:
 a lift; and   a channel, wherein the lift is configured to cause the ball to move through the channel to a designated location.   
     
     
         7 . The ball collector system of  claim 6 , wherein the channel comprises a tube. 
     
     
         8 . The ball collector system of  claim 6 , wherein the lift comprises a motor that powers a driver configured to propel the ball through the channel. 
     
     
         9 . The ball collector system of  claim 8 , wherein the driver comprises a wheel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for collecting a ball, wherein the method comprises:
 dampening a movement of the ball using a backdrop;   changing a trajectory of the ball to direct it to a trough;   moving the ball along the trough to a designated location; and   collecting the ball from the trough using a collector.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the collector comprises a lift and a channel, and wherein the collecting the ball from the trough using the collector comprises:
 engaging the ball with the lift; and   using the lift to cause the ball to move along the channel to a predetermined point.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the using the lift to cause the ball to move along the channel to the predetermined point comprises propelling the ball along the channel using a driver powered by a motor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the driver comprises a wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 spreading the backdrop to cover an area;   placing the trough so that it is positioned along a skirt portion of the backdrop; and   placing the collector on the trough.   
     
     
         15 . A collector comprising:
 a first lift facing a first direction, the first lift comprising:
 a channel having an entrance and an exit; 
 a driver configured to act on a ball near the entrance to draw the ball into the channel and propel the ball through the channel and out the exit; and 
 a motor configured to power the driver. 
   
     
     
         16 . The collector of  claim 15 , further comprising a second lift positioned opposite the first lift and facing a second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The collector of  claim 15 , wherein the driver comprises a wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The collector of  claim 17 , wherein the wheel is positioned within the entrance to the channel, elevated, and configured to spin such that the wheel is configured to engage with a top surface of the ball when the ball is placed near the entrance. 
     
     
         19 . The collector of  claim 18 , wherein a distance between the wheel and a ground surface is slightly less than a diameter of the ball. 
     
     
         20 . The collector of  claim 15 , wherein the motor is configured to be switched on and off remotely.