# US 2021/0275877 A1 · Ball retrieving device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275877 A1 - Document ID: US20210275877A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/812,315 - Filed: 2020-03-08 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-08 - Inventors: Arthur R. Bateman, IV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275877A1 ## CPC - A63B 47/02: for picking-up {or collecting} - A63B 71/0036: {Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment (A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence)} - A63B 2102/08: Paddle tennis, padel tennis or platform tennis - A63B 2209/14: with form or shape memory materials - B25J 1/04: rigid, e.g. shelf-reachers {(without grippers A47F13/06)} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A ball retrieving device is provided. The device includes a storage receptacle, and a collector tube attached to the storage receptacle. A cover includes a flange assembly connected to a disgorging tube. The ball retrieving device can be configured in a ball retrieving configuration, a stand configuration, and a storage configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball retrieving device comprising: a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle including a first flanged portion and circular collection aperture; a collector tube, the collector tube being attached to the circular collection aperture, the collector tube including a circumferential groove for retaining a portion of an elastic band; a cover, the cover including second flanged portion for mating with the first flanged portion of storage receptacle, and a flange assembly centrally mounted to the cover, the flange assembly being connected to a disgorging tube; and wherein the ball retrieving device can be configured in a ball retrieving configuration, a stand configuration, and a storage configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the storage receptacle includes a handle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube includes a central aperture having a diameter D1, the diameter D1 being greater than a diameter D2 of a pickleball. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the storage receptacle is attached to the collector tube with an adapter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the flange assembly includes a flat land having a diameter D4 for mating with the collector tube thereby allowing a user to maintain the device at a convenient height to access one or more collected pickleballs contained in the storage receptacle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the circumferential groove has a length L1, the length L1 being between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of a circumference of the collector tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube includes a length L2, the length L2 being less than a diameter D2 of a pickleball. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1 and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D3 being greater than 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ball retrieving device of claim 1, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1, a ball has a diameter D2, and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D2 being greater than 1 and the ratio of the diameter D3 to the diameter D2 being less than 1. ### Claim 10 A ball retrieving device comprising: a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle including a first flanged portion; a collector tube being attached to a circular collection aperture and protruding therethrough, the collector tube including a circumferential groove for retaining a portion of an elastic band, the elastic band being mounted through one or more conical retainers; a cover including a second flanged portion for mating with the first flanged portion of storage receptacle; a flange assembly being centrally mounted to the cover and connected to a disgorging tube; and wherein ball retrieving device can be configured in a ball retrieving configuration, a stand configuration, and a storage configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the storage receptacle includes a handle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the collector tube includes a central aperture having a diameter D1, the diameter D1 being greater than a diameter D2 of a pickleball. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the storage receptacle is attached to the collector tube with an adapter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein the flange assembly includes a flat land having a diameter D4 for mating with the collector tube thereby maintaining the device at a convenient height for users to access one or more balls residing in the storage receptacle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The ball retrieving device of claim 10, wherein circumferential groove has a length L1, the length L1 being between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of a circumference of the collector tube. ### Claim 16 A method of retrieving and collecting balls comprising: positioning a storage receptacle having a collector tube attached thereto over a ball, the collector tube including a circumferential groove having an elastic band disposed at least partially therein, and a diameter D1; depressing the tube over the ball thereby temporarily deflecting the elastic band; capturing the ball within the collector tube; positioning the collector tube over a disgorging tube, the disgorging tube being mounted to a cover and having a diameter D3, wherein the diameter D3 is less than the diameter D1; and lowering the storage receptacle and the collector tube over the disgorging tube thereby urging the ball through the collector into the storage receptacle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the circumferential groove has a length L1, the length L1 being between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of a circumference of the collector tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the collector tube includes a length L2, the length L2 being less than a diameter D2 of a pickleball. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1 and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D3 being greater than 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the collector tube has a diameter D1, a ball has a diameter D2, and the disgorging tube has a diameter D3, the ratio of the diameter D1 to the diameter D2 being greater than 1 and the ratio of the diameter D3 to the diameter D2 being less than 1.