Ball collection apparatus and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A ball collection device having a movable chassis securing a pair of retractable collection arms forming an angled collection zone configured to gather and direct a dispersed quantity of objects towards a collection assembly having impeller rotatably coupled to a front axle such that forward movement of the chassis causes the impeller to rotate thereby capturing the gathered objects and transmitting them individually to a guide channel on the chassis for collection within a removable receptacle.

1 . A self-powered ball collection device comprising:
 a movable chassis;   a pair of collection arms secured to the front portion of the chassis and extending approximately parallel to the ground and forming an angled collection zone;   a collection assembly positioned at the terminal end of the angled collection zone, the assembly comprising:
 a front axle rotatably coupled to at least one wheel; 
 an impeller comprising a pair of rotatable disks positioned on either side of a collection pathway and securing at least one pair of crossbars positioned perpendicular to the pathway; 
   wherein the impeller is responsive to the front axle, such that forward rotation of the at least one wheel causes the impeller to rotate within the collection pathway; and   wherein a ball is guided via the collection arms to the collection pathway where it is captured by the crossbars of the impeller and transmitted through the pathway to a guide channel on the chassis.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a receptable secured to the chassis and configured to receive the ball from the guide channel. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a restriction bar positioned at the front portion of the collection pathway. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tractable restraint positioned at the terminal portion the collection pathway. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said front axle is rotatably coupled to at least one wheel via an adaptor. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said adaptor is secured to the front axle via an adaptor pin secured to the front axle and positioned within an adaptor slot. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each rotatable disk is coupled to the front axle via a disk pin secured to the front axle and positioned within an disk slot. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the collection arms are rotatably secured to the front portion of the chassis via a pivot arm. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the pivot arms is secured to the chassis via a pivot joint, and wherein each of the collection arms can be medially rotated while secured to the pivot arm and retracted via the pivot joint rearwards towards the body of the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said ball is selected from: a golf ball, a tennis ball, a soccer ball, a baseball, a rubber ball, a volleyball, 
     
     
         15 . A self-powered golf ball collection device comprising:
 a movable chassis securing a pair of collection arms extending outward from the chassis, the arms forming an angled collection zone;   a collection assembly positioned at the terminal position of the angled collection zone, the assembly comprising an impeller rotatably coupled to a front axle, wherein the forward movement of the chassis causes the impeller to rotate within the collection pathway; and   wherein a golf ball is guided via the collection arms to the collection pathway where it is captured by the impeller and transmitted through the collection pathway to a guide channel on the chassis.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said impeller comprises a pair of rotatable disks positioned on either side of the collection pathway and securing at least one pair of crossbars positioned perpendicular to the pathway. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein each rotatable disk is coupled to the front axle via a disk pin secured to the front axle and positioned within an disk slot. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a receptable secured to the chassis and configured to receive the ball from the guide channel. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a restriction bar positioned at the front portion of the collection pathway. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a tractable restraint positioned at the terminal portion the collection pathway. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said front axle is rotatably coupled to at least one wheel via an adaptor. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said adaptor is secured to the front axle via an adaptor pin secured to the front axle and positioned within an adaptor slot. 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the collection arms are rotatably secured to the front portion of the chassis via a pivot arm, wherein each of the pivot arms is secured to the chassis via a pivot joint, and wherein each of the collection arms can be medially rotated while secured to the pivot arm and retracted via the pivot joint rearwards towards the body of the chassis. 
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An adjustable golf ball collection device comprising:
 a movable chassis securing a pair of collection arms extending outward from the chassis, the arms forming an angled collection zone;   a collection assembly positioned at the terminal position of the angled collection zone, the assembly comprising an impeller rotatably coupled to a front axle, wherein the forward movement of the chassis causes the impeller to rotate within the collection pathway; and   wherein a golf ball is guided via the collection arms to the collection pathway where it is captured by the impeller and transmitted through the collection pathway to a guide channel on the chassis; and   wherein each of the collection arms can be medially rotated while secured to the chassis via a pivot arm and retracted rearwards towards the body of the chassis.