Pickleball Retrieval and Collection Apparatuses

Abstract

This disclosure provides pickleball retrieval and collection apparatuses. An example pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus comprises a hollow elongated tube having an inner area configured to accommodate a first plurality of pickleballs arranged in a single column, a ball retrieval device arranged at a first end of the tube and configured to provide for a pickleball to enter the tube when placed over the pickleball and pressure is applied by contact on the pickleball, and a ball collecting bag constructed from a flexible material, where one end of the ball collecting bag is connected to a second end of the tube and configured to hold a second plurality of pickleballs.

1 . A pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow elongated tube having an inner area configured to accommodate a first plurality of pickleballs arranged in a single column;   a ball retrieval device arranged at a first end of the tube and configured to, when placed over a pickleball and pressure is applied by contact on the pickleball, provide for the pickleball to enter the tube; and   a ball collecting bag constructed from a flexible material, wherein one end of the ball collecting bag is connected to a second end of the tube and configured to hold a second plurality of pickleballs.   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball collecting bag is configured to expand with a number of pickleballs in the ball collecting bag. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag is attached to the tube only at an opening of the second end of the tube. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag is attached to the tube only at an end of the tube near an opening of the second end of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one end of the bag is not attached to a structural support. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag is detachable from the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag includes an opening secured by a zipper, a Velcro sticker, or one or more buttons. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the bag is connected to the tube, pickleballs from the tube are prevented from entering the bag until the tube is full and another ball is retrieved through the ball retrieval device. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the tube or the ball retrieval device comprises a first one-way gating arrangement to allow pickleball movement into the tube and prevent pickleball movement in the opposite direction, and wherein the second end of the tube or the ball collection container comprises a second one-way gating arrangement to enable pickleball movement into the bag and to prevent pickleball movement in the opposite direction from the container to the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the ball retrieval device comprises outer and inner concentric circular parts, and wherein the first one-way gating arrangement comprises a flexible ledge formed on an internal surface of the inner concentric circular part. 
     
     
         11 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the ball retrieval device comprises a circular part attached to the tube, and wherein the first one-way gating arrangement comprises a flexible ledge formed on an internal surface of the circular part. 
     
     
         12 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball retrieval device comprises outer and inner concentric circular parts and a suspension mechanism, wherein the suspension mechanism is engaged to enable the inner concentric circular part to move in relation to the outer concentric circular part. 
     
     
         13 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the ball retrieval device comprises outer and inner concentric circular parts, and wherein the first one-way gating arrangement comprises a curved protrusion formed in the inner concentric circular part such that parts of the curved protrusion extend on the internal surface of the inner concentric circular part and on the external surface of the inner concentric circular part. 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the ball retrieval device comprises outer and inner concentric circular parts, and wherein the first one-way gating arrangement comprises a curved object attached to a suspension device located between the outer concentric circular part and the inner circular concentric part and configured to move through an opening in the inner concentric circular part. 
     
     
         15 . A pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow elongated tube having an inner area configured to accommodate a first plurality of pickleballs arranged in a single column; and   a ball retrieval device arranged at a first end of the tube and configured to, when placed over a pickleball, provide for the pickleball to enter the tube,   wherein the ball retrieval device comprises outer and inner concentric circular parts and a suspension mechanism, wherein the suspension mechanism is engaged to enable the inner circular part to move in relation to the outer circular part, and wherein a soft padding material is attached to a bottom of the inner concentric circular part and the outer concentric circular part.   
     
     
         16 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein one or more coil springs in the suspension mechanism are engaged to enable the inner concentric circular part to move vertically and elastically in relation to the outer concentric circular part. 
     
     
         17 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the inner concentric circular part comprises a first one-way gating arrangement to allow pickleball movement into the tube and prevent pickleball movement in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         18 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising a ball collecting container arranged at a second end of the tube and configured to hold a second plurality of pickleballs, wherein the second end of the tube or the ball collection container comprises a second one-way gating arrangement to enable pickleball movement into the container and to prevent pickleball movement in the opposite direction from the container to the tube. 
     
     
         19 . A pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow elongated tube having an inner area configured to accommodate a first plurality of pickleballs arranged in a single column; and   a ball retrieval device arranged at a first end of the tube and configured to, when placed over a pickleball, provide for the pickleball to enter the tube,   wherein the ball retrieval device comprises outer and inner concentric circular parts and a suspension mechanism, wherein the suspension mechanism is engaged to enable the inner concentric circular part to move in relation to the outer concentric circular part, and wherein an inner surface of the inner concentric circular part comprises an elastic material.   
     
     
         20 . The pickleball retrieval and collection apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the inner concentric circular part comprises a first one-way gating arrangement to allow pickleball movement into the tube and prevent pickleball movement in the opposite direction.