Tennis ball retrieval and storage system and method of making the same

Abstract

The subject disclosure relates to a tennis ball retrieval and storage system having a vertical rod, a handle attached to the vertical rod, an elastic mesh or bag, and a hollow cylinder having a top end and a bottom end, in which the top end includes a tennis ball outlet and the bottom end includes a tennis ball intake, and in which the hollow cylinder is parallelly attached to the vertical rod at a location adjacent to the second end of the vertical rod. The tennis ball intake includes one or more spacer fasteners adapted to pinch the at least one tennis ball upon entering the hollow cylinder and to prevent the ball from rolling out of the hollow cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tennis ball retrieval and storage system, comprising:
 a vertical rod tube having a first end and a second end;   a handle attached to the first end of the vertical rod;   a hollow cylinder having a top end and a bottom end;   wherein the top end of the hollow cylinder comprises a tennis ball outlet and the bottom end of the hollow cylinder comprises a tennis ball intake;   wherein the hollow cylinder is parallelly attached to the vertical rod at a location adjacent to the second end of the vertical rod, such that the tennis ball intake of the hollow cylinder is adjacent to the second end of the vertical rod;   an elastic mesh or bag having a first end attached or secured to the vertical rod and a second end attached or secured to the top end of the hollow cylinder, said elastic mesh or bag being adapted to receive at least one tennis ball that has been retrieved via the tennis ball intake; and   wherein the tennis ball intake comprises one or more spacer fasteners adapted to pinch the at least one tennis ball upon entering the hollow cylinder and to prevent the ball from rolling out of the hollow cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The tennis retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the elastic mesh or bag includes a plurality of rings attached thereto that are adapted to be attached or secured to the top end of the hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The tennis retrieval and storage system of  claim 2 , wherein the hollow cylinder includes a plurality of holes through which each of the rings can be individually inserted to secure the mesh or bag to the top end of the hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the elastic mesh or bag is adapted to open and close. 
     
     
         5 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 4 , wherein the opening and closing of the elastic mesh or bag is achieved via a cord and cord lock mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 5 , wherein the first end of the elastic mesh or bag includes one or more openings adapted to receive the cord. 
     
     
         7 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 5 , wherein the cord is inserted through a hole or opening in a location adjacent to the first end of the vertical rod and tied into a knot so that the cord remains securely fixed to the location adjacent to the first end of the vertical rod. 
     
     
         8 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the tennis ball intake includes one or more holes adapted to receive the one or more spacer fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more spacer fasteners have a convex head. 
     
     
         10 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the tennis ball intake is adapted to receive the at least one tennis ball and to provide access to said at least one tennis ball into the elastic mesh or bag via the tennis ball outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylinder is a PVC pipe having a length of 6 inches and a diameter of 3 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical rod has a length of 30 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has a rubber grip. 
     
     
         14 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylinder is attached to the vertical rod via one or more bolts, screws, or fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The tennis ball retrieval and storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the hollow cylinder is angled. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making the tennis ball retrieval and storage system, comprising:
 providing a vertical rod tube having a first end and a second end;   attaching a handle to the first end of the vertical rod;   providing a hollow cylinder having a top end and a bottom end;   wherein the top end of the hollow cylinder comprises a tennis ball outlet and the bottom end of the hollow cylinder comprises a tennis ball intake;   parallelly attaching the hollow cylinder to the vertical rod at a location adjacent to the second end of the vertical rod, such that the tennis ball intake of the hollow cylinder is adjacent to the second end of the vertical rod;   providing an elastic mesh or bag having a first end;   attaching the first end of the elastic mesh or bag to the vertical rod;   attaching the second end of the elastic mesh or bag to the top end of the hollow cylinder;   wherein the elastic mesh or bag is adapted to receive at least one tennis ball that has been retrieved via the tennis ball intake; and   wherein the tennis ball intake comprises one or more spacer fasteners adapted to pinch the at least one tennis ball upon entering the hollow cylinder and to prevent the ball from rolling out of the hollow cylinder.