Ball play system with ball cleaning apparatus

A method for cleaning balls used in a confined play area sized and adapted for children to play therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) depositing the balls contained in the confined play area into a ball supply outlet located in the confined play area;
• (b) mechanically conveying the balls to a cleaning apparatus located remotely of the confined play area;
• (c) cleaning the balls with a cleaning fluid associated with said ball cleaning apparatus to define cleaned balls;
• and
• (d) returning cleaned ones of the balls to the confined play area by pneumatically propelling said cleaned balls from the ball cleaning apparatus to a rail assembly that receives the cleaned balls and that is configured so that said balls travel to the confined play area under the force of gravity with said rail assembly having a serpentine path of sufficient length such that said cleaned balls at least partially dry during transit.

A ball play system, comprising:

• (a) a confined play area of sufficient size so that children may play therein, said confined play area having a ball supply outlet and a ball inlet;
• (b) a plurality of balls disposed in said confined play area:
• (c) a ball cleaning apparatus operative to clean the balls in a cleaning fluid to define cleaned balls;
• (d) a conveyor in communication with the ball supply outlet and operative to convey the balls from the ball supply outlet to said ball cleaning apparatus;
• and
• (e) a ball return apparatus in communication with said ball cleaning apparatus and operative to receive said cleaned balls from said ball cleaning apparatus and to return said cleaned balls into said confined play area at the ball inlet, said ball return apparatus including an upright chute disposed to receive said cleaned balls, a blower operative to direct a stream of air against each of said cleaned balls that enters said chute thereby to propel each said cleaned ball upwardly through said chute to a chute outlet and a rail assembly in communication with said chute at the chute outlet, said rail assembly operative to receive said cleaned balls from said chute and convey said cleaned balls to the ball inlet of said confined play area.