Device for ball retrieval and storage

A ball retrieval device for retrieving a plurality of substantially incompressible balls comprising:

• a container having a top, sides and a bottom wall;
• a fixed horizontal member which is secured to the container extending generally horizontally adjacent the container bottom;
• a movable member with a first opposing end and a second opposing end;
• whereby said movable member is resiliently coupled to the container near the fixed member providing a spacing between the movable member and the fixed member, the movable member being movable in relation to the fixed member;
• a support guide for supporting at least one opposing end of the movable member, the guide secured to the container for guided travel of the movable member in a direction generally away from the fixed member upon exertion of downward pressure of the container bottom onto a ball thereby allowing for sufficient spacing for the ball to enter the container;
• a resilient member secured to the movable member whereby upon entry of the ball the movable member returns to a position which provides a spacing between the fixed member and the movable member which is less than the diameter of the ball upon entry of the ball into the container;
• wherein the resilient member is an elastic member with a first end and a second end;
• whereby the first end is attached to the first opposing end of the movable member;
• whereby the second end is attached to the second opposing end of the movable member;
• whereby the elastic member courses in such a manner so as to impose a force upon the movable member in a direction generally toward the fixed member.

A ball retrieval device for retrieving balls of at least two different sizes, the device comprising:

• a container having an open top, sides, and a bottom wall;
• the bottom wall having an opening of variable size for receiving balls of different diameters in a range from a predetermined minimum diameter to a predetermined maximum diameter;
• the bottom wall having at least one fixed horizontal member defining one fixed side of said opening and one movable member defining an opposite side of said opening, said movable member being movable between a first position at a first predetermined spacing from the fixed member and a second position at a second predetermined spacing from the fixed member;
• the first spacing being less than said predetermined minimum diameter and the second spacing being greater than said predetermined maximum diameter;
• and
• biasing means for biasing said movable member into said first position;
• whereby said movable member is urged from said first position towards said second position when said container bottom wall is urged downwardly over a ball with said opening aligned with the ball in order to enlarge said opening and allow said ball to enter said container through said opening, and is then biased back to said first position to retain said ball in said container;
• wherein the bottom wall of the container has a pair of opposite sides, the fixed member comprising a first cross bar extending between the opposite sides of the bottom wall, and the movable member comprising a second cross bar extending between the opposite sides of the bottom wall in said first position, the container having a pair of upwardly inclined tracks extending from the bottom wall, the second cross bar having opposite ends engaging in said tracks for guided movement of said second cross bar from said first to said second position, each track having a lower end corresponding to the first position of said second cross bar and an upper end corresponding to the second position of said second cross bar, the tracks being inclined upwardly in a non-vertical direction away from said first cross bar;
• wherein the biasing means comprises a resilient member secured between the container and the second cross bar;
• the resilient member having at least two opposite ends secured to opposite ends of said second cross bar and a central portion of said resilient member secured to said container adjacent the first cross bar.

A ball retrieval device adapted to retrieve a ball, the device comprising:

• a container having a container aperture;
• a movable member that moves relative to the container near the container aperture between an open position and a closed position;
• wherein when the movable member is in the open position, the ball can fit through the container aperture and when the member is in the closed position, the ball does not fit through the container aperture;
• wherein the movable member has a first end and a second end;
• a support guide assembly that secures the movable member to the container, the support guide assembly guiding the movement of the movable member and allowing the first end to move at a different rate than the second end;
• and
• a biasing means that biases the movable member towards the closed position.