# US 5,704,531 A · Tennis ball holding article

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,704,531 A
- Document ID: US5704531A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/791,909
- Filed: 1997-01-31
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1997-01-31
- Inventors: Richard Nam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704531A

## CPC

- A63B 47/001: {Ball holders attached to the player's body (golfing accessories, e.g. holders A63B57/20)}
- A45F 3/00: Travelling or camp articles (travelling rugs A47G9/06); Sacks or packs carried on the body (convertible into other articles A45F4/00)
- Y10S 224/919: Ball carrier
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A tennis ball holding article comprising a zippered compartment which accommodates a plurality of tennis balls, and a belt which allows the present invention to be worn around the waist. The zippered compartment of the present invention tightly and securely accommodates a plurality of tennis balls. A zipper disposed along the upper end of the zippered compartment provides access to the balls. When a ball is needed, the zipper is unzipped until a ball is made accessible. When the ball is removed, because the zippered compartment retains the remaining tennis balls very tightly, the zipper can remain in this intermediate position until another ball is needed. The zipper may then be unzipped further until the next ball is made accessible. Because the zipper does not have to be zipped and unzipped to secure the remaining tennis balls, the present invention provides a tennis player with extremely quick and convenient access to a plurality of tennis balls. In addition, the present invention does not require a great amount of material for construction and therefore does not burden the tennis player during a match.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tennis ball holding article comprising a zippered compartment, said zippered compartment comprising an elongated piece of stretchable fabric and an elongated piece of resilient mesh, each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, said first side edge of said elongated piece of stretchable fabric affixed to said first side edge of said elongated piece of resilient mesh, said second side edge of said elongated piece of stretchable fabric affixed to said second side edge of said elongated piece of resilient mesh, said lower edge of said elongated piece of stretchable fabric affixed to said lower edge of said elongated piece of resilient mesh, wherein a zipper is affixed to and connects said elongated piece of resilient mesh and said elongated piece of stretchable fabric, said zipper affixed to said elongated piece of resilient mesh along said upper edge of the same, said zipper affixed to said elongated piece of stretchable fabric along said upper edge of the same, wherein a plurality of tennis balls in a single-file orientation is accommodated inside said zippered compartment, said zippered compartment tightly and securely accommodating said plurality of tennis balls due to said elongated piece of resilient mesh and said elongated piece of stretchable fabric, wherein said mesh is transparent to permit convenient observance of said plurality of tennis balls, wherein a first belt strap is affixed to an end of said tennis ball holding article, wherein a second belt strap is affixed to an opposite end of said tennis ball holding article, wherein corresponding fastening means are affixed to said first belt strap and said second belt strap thereby allowing said tennis ball holding article to be worn around the waist.

### Claim 2

A tennis ball holding article comprising a zippered compartment, said zippered compartment comprising an elongated piece of stretchable fabric and an elongated piece of resilient mesh, each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, said first side edge of said elongated piece of stretchable fabric affixed to said first side edge of said elongated piece of resilient mesh, said second side edge of said elongated piece of stretchable fabric affixed to said second side edge of said elongated piece of resilient mesh, said lower edge of said elongated piece of stretchable fabric affixed to said lower edge of said elongated piece of resilient mesh, wherein a zipper is affixed to and connects said elongated piece of resilient mesh and said elongated piece of stretchable fabric, said zipper affixed to said elongated piece of resilient mesh along said upper edge of the same, said zipper affixed to said elongated piece of stretchable fabric along said upper edge of the same, wherein a plurality of tennis balls in a single-file orientation is accommodated inside said zippered compartment, said zippered compartment tightly and securely accommodating said plurality of tennis balls due to said elongated piece of resilient mesh and said elongated piece of stretchable fabric, wherein said mesh is transparent to permit convenient observance of said plurality of tennis balls, wherein a first belt strap is affixed to an end of said tennis ball holding article, wherein a second belt strap is affixed to an opposite end of said tennis ball holding article, wherein corresponding fastening means are affixed to said first belt strap and said second belt strap thereby allowing said tennis ball holding article to be worn around the waist, wherein said first belt strap is made of elastic to provide a tight and secure fit around the waist.