Portable ball retriever

• US 7,021,630 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kwang Han Cho
• Original Assignee: Kwang Han Cho
• Inventors: Cho, Kwang Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US10/906,197
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 273398-402, 273/395, 273/396, 473/476, 473/478, 473/434, 473/435, 473/454, 473/456
• US Class Current: 273/401
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/54 Foldable elastic frame members automatically resuming their expanded state when released
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40

Abstract

A portable ball retriever comprises a first member forming a first closed loop, a second member forming a second closed loop with the first member foldably attached to the second member, supports fitted between the first and second members to sustain the first member against the second member, a fabric cover attached to the first member to substantially cover the first closed loop with a central portion of the cover severed along a line to secure a first opening and a drapery corresponding to the first opening, a fabric catch partially attached to the fabric cover to communicate with the first opening, and straps connecting a rear portion of the fabric catch to the second member.

Claims

1. A portable ball retriever comprising:

a) a first member forming a first closed loop;

b) a second member forming a second closed loop, wherein the first member is foldably attached to the second member;

c) supports fitted between the first and second members to sustain the first member against the second member while maintaining a substantial angle between the first member and the second member;

d) a fabric cover attached to the first member to substantially cover the first closed loop, wherein a central portion of the cover is severed along a predetermined line to secure a first opening and a drapery corresponding to the first opening;

e) a fabric catch partially attached to the fabric cover to communicate with the first opening so as to stop and release a ball thrown through the first opening, wherein the fabric catch is substantially sagged toward the second member; and

f) straps connecting a rear portion of the fabric catch to the second member.

2. The ball retriever of claim 1 wherein the first and second members are each coilable to overlapping loops to facilitate a pop-up assembly, coiled disassembly and carriage of the ball retriever.

3. The ball retriever of claim 1 wherein the straps are elastic.

4. The ball retriever of claim 1 wherein the straps are each detachably attached from about a rear corner of the second member to the rear portion of the fabric catch.

5. The ball retriever of claim 4 wherein the fabric catch is shaped in a pouch.

6. The ball retriever of claim 1 wherein the first cover has a second opening below the first opening so that a ball stopped by and released from the fabric catch can be easily retrieved through the second opening.

7. The ball retriever of claim 1 further comprising:

a) a first sleeve substantially covering the first member;

b) a second sleeve substantially covering the second member; and

c) a plurality of patches selectively attached to the first and second members to maintain the first and second members in a polygonal shape.

8. The ball retriever of claim 7 wherein the first sleeve has first holes and the second sleeve has second holes, wherein the first and second holes removably carry therein ends of the supports.

9. The ball retriever of claim 8 wherein the supports are a pair of rods whose ends become removably, correspondingly carried in the first and second base holes.

10. The ball retriever of claim 9 wherein the rods are elastically detachable to two pieces which remain connected by an elastic string provided in the respective rods.

11. A portable ball retriever comprising:

a) a first member forming a first closed loop;

b) a second member forming a second closed loop, wherein the first member is foldably attached to the second member;

c) supports fitted between the first and second members to sustain the first member against the second member while maintaining a substantial angle between the first member and the second member;

d) fabric retainers each having a support sleeve to receive the support and attachedly sided to the first and second members;

e) a fabric cover attached to the first member to substantially cover the first closed loop, wherein a central portion of the cover is severed along a predetermined line to secure a first opening and a drapery corresponding to the first opening;

f) a fabric catch partially attached to the fabric cover to communicate with the first opening so as to stop and release a ball thrown through the opening, wherein the fabric catch is substantially sagged toward the second member; and

g) straps connecting a rear portion of the fabric catch to the second member.

12. The ball retriever of claim 11 wherein the first and second members are each coilable to overlapping loops to facilitate a pop-up assembly, coiled disassembly and carriage of the ball retriever.

13. The ball retriever of claim 11 wherein the straps are elastic.

14. The ball retriever of claim 11 wherein the straps are each detachably attached from about a rear corner of the second member to the rear portion of the fabric catch.

15. The ball retriever of claim 14 wherein the fabric catch is shaped in a pouch.

16. The ball retriever of claim 11 wherein the fabric cover has a second opening below the first opening so that a ball stopped by and released from the fabric catch can be easily retrieved through the second opening.

17. The ball retriever of claim 11 further comprising:

a) a first sleeve substantially covering the first member;

b) a second sleeve substantially covering the second member; and

c) a plurality of patches selectively attached to the first and second members to maintain the first and second members in a polygonal shape.

18. The ball retriever of claim 17 wherein the first sleeve has first holes and the second sleeve has second holes, wherein the first and second holes removably carry therein ends of the supports.

19. The ball retriever of claim 18 wherein the supports are a pair of rods whose ends become removably, correspondingly carried in the first and second base holes.

20. The ball retriever of claim 19 wherein the rods are elastically detachable to two pieces which remain connected by an elastic string provided in the respective rods.