US3765677A

US3765677A - Vacuum ball-holding and projecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3765677A
Application number: US00152643A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Carver
Original assignee: Louis Marx and Co Inc
Current assignee: Louis Marx & Co Inc us; Louis Marx and Co Inc
Priority date: 1971-06-14
Filing date: 1971-06-14
Publication date: 1973-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-16
Also published as: IT945489B; GB1322287A; CA936562A

Abstract

A vacuum ball-holding device for releasably holding a ball. The vacuum ball-holding device has a suction cup for holding a ball and an elongated handle fixed to and extending from the suction cup. The suction cup has a tubular extension formed with an axial passage having a central axis coinciding with an axis of a sphere part of which is formed by the interior surface of the suction cup. The elongated handle has a central axis coinciding with the latter axis of the sphere. A passage is formed extending axially through the tubular extension of the suction cup and exiting at an exterior surface of the handle at the region of the hand of the operator so that the operator''s hand may be used for closing and opening the passage.

Description

United States Patent [191 Carver VACUUM BALL-HOLDING AND PRQJPCTINQ APPARATUS [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 152,643

[52] US. Cl 273/96 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [58] Field of Search 273/96 R, 64; 124/5, 124/95 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,771,294 11/1956 MacChesney 273/96 R 2,147,907 2/1939 MacChesney 273/64 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Alex Friedman et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A vacuum ball-holding device for releasably holding a ball. The vacuum ball-holding device has a suction cup for holding a ball and an elongated handle fixed to' and extending from the suction cup. The suction cup has a tubular extension formed with an axial passage having a central axis coinciding with an axis of a sphere part of which is formed by the interior surface of the suction cup. The elongated handle has a central axis coinciding with the latter axis of the sphere. A passage is formed extending axially through the tubular extension of the suction cup and exiting at an exterior surface of the handle at the region of the hand of the operator so that the operators hand may be used for closing and opening the passage.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 16, 1973 52 44 52 INVENTOR.

PIC/A420 /v. CARL/6R Ma ATTORNEYS VACUUM BALL-HOLDING AND PROJECTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to ball-holding devices.

In particular, the present invention relates to vacuum ball-holding devices.

Although devices of this latter type have already been provided, the known devices are relatively cumbersome and difficult to use. For example such devices may have a generally U-shaped configuration and include a plurality of suction cups for holding a ball. An elongated passage is required to extend in a complex manner between the suction cups and to be rendered accessible to a hand of the operator for opening and closing the passage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a ball-holding device of the above general type which avoids the disadvantages of the known structure.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a far simpler device which requires only one suction cup and which can be operated in a manner which is far more convenient than has heretofore been possible.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an exceedingly simple yet highly effective vacuum ball-holding device where the operator can very readily manipulate a ball by throwing the latter very easily upon releasing the vacuum and also by catching a ball in a highly effective manner so that a game of great skill can be played with the device of the invention.

According to the invention the device includes a suction cup having an interior surface forming part of a sphere and adapted to engage a ball. An elongated handle is fixed to and extends from a tubular extension of the suction cup. This tubular extension of the suction cup is formed with an axial bore having an axis coinciding with an axis of the sphere of which the interior surface of the suction cup forms a part. The elongated handle has a central axis coinciding with the axis of the bore of the tubular extension and the suction cup. A passage means extends along the axial bore of the tubular extension of the suction cup to the exterior of the handle at the region thereof occupied by the hand of the operator, so that the operators hand can be used for closing and opening the passage means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the device of the invention as it is held by the hand of the operator;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken in a plane which contains the central axis of the handle and the axial bore of the tubular extension of the suction cup.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown therein a suction cup which may be made of any suitable flexible resilient material such as a suitable plastic, rubber, or the like. This suction cup 10 has an interior surface 12 forming part of a sphere and adapted to engage a ball 14 fragmentarily illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 1. This ball may, for example, have a diameter on the order of seven inches.

The suction cup 10 has an elongated tubular extension 16 formed with an axial bore 18 passing therethrough. This bore 18 has a central axis coinciding with an axis of the sphere of which the surface 12 forms a part.

An elongated handle 20 is fixed to and extends from the tubular extension 16, this handle 20 having a central axis coinciding with the axis of the bore 18. The handle 20 may be made of any suitable plastic or the like and is generally tapered, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3. At its exterior surface the handle 20 is provided with longitudinal flutes 22, so that the handle may conveniently be gripped by the hand of the operator as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1.

The handle 20 includes the elongated rear grip portion 24 which is directly held by the hand of the operator and a front connecting member 26 which is directly connected to the tubular extension 16. This front connecting member 26 has a front exterior cylindrical portion 28 surrounding the tubular extension 16 and an interior cylindrical portion 30 which extends into the tubular extension 16, this cylindrical portion 30 being tapered as shown in FIG. 3 so that the elastic tubular portion 16 is spread onto the inner cylindrical portion 30 of connecting member 26 to be centrally held thereby in the annular space defined between the outer and inner

cylindrical portion

28 and 30.

To the rear of these cylindrical portions the connecting member 26 has a tubular portion 32 directly fixed in any suitable way to the interior of the front end of the grip 24. This grip 24 has a transverse partition 34 which closes the hollow interior of the connecting member 26.

At its upper region the portion 32 of the connecting member 26 is formed with an elongated slot or notch 36 receiving a projection 38 extending axially along the interior of the front portion of the grip 24 in front of the partition 34. This projection 38 is formed with a radial bore 40 extending to the exterior of the grip 24 and communicating with the interior of the connecting member 26 at its portion 32.

In order to increase the security of the connection between the suction cup 10 and the handle 20, an elongated tubular member 42, made of a suitable metal, for example, extends through the axial bore 18 and through an axial bore at the front end of the inner cylindrical portion 30 of the connecting member 26. This inner portion 30 is formed with an annular surface 44 while the axial bore 18 of the suction cup 10 is formed with an annular surface 46, these surfaces forming annular shoulders which are directed away from each other. The tubular member 42 is formed at its opposed ends with outwardly directed

flanges

48 and 50 engaging the

shoulders

44 and 46, respectively, with a suitable washer 52 being interposed between the flange 50 and the shoulder 46. In this way an exceedingly secure connection is provided between the suction cup 10 and the elongated handle means 20.

Because the central axis of the handle means 20 coincides with the axis of the axial bore 18 of the tubular extension 16 of the suction cup 10, the device of the invention is exceedingly simple and convenient to handle. The axial bore 18, or the interior of the tubular member 42, together with the communicating hollow interior of the

portions

30 and 32 of the connecting member 26 of the handle 20, and also the radial bore 40 form a passage means communicating with the interior of the suction cup as well as with the exterior of the handle 20 at a region thereof occupied by the hand of the operator, as is apparent from FIG. 1. Thus, with this arrangement the thumb of the operator, for example, can conveniently be used for opening and closing the passage means which communicates with the interior of the suction cup.

During use of the device a ball 14 can be securely held by the suction cup as long as the operator closes the radial bore 40 of the passage means. While holding the device in this position it is possible to effectively catch and hold a ball with the device of the invention. On the other hand, when the ball is to be thrown the operator can swing his arm and by suitably timing movement of his thumb away from the bore 40 the vacuum at the interior of the suction cup can be vented to the atmosphere, thus releasing the suction and releasing the ball to be thrown by the operator. Thus by suitably planning the swing of his arm and the removal of his thumb from the bore 40 it is possible to provide an exceedingly effective trajectory for a ball released from the suction cup while at the same time such a ball can be very effectively caught, thus enabling the device of the invention to provide a game requiring a high degree of skill and providing a considerable amount of entertainment.

What is claimed is:

l. A vacuum ball-holding device comprising a suction cup having an inner ball-engaging surface forming part of a sphere, said suction cup having a tubular extension formed with an axial bore having an axis coinciding with an axis of said sphere, an elongated straight handle fixed to and extending from said tubular extension of said suction cup and having a central axis coinciding with said axis of said bore, and passage means formed in said elongated handle, communicating with said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup and extending through said handle to the exterior thereof at a region where said handle is held by the operator so that the hand of the operator can be used for closing and opening said passage means to hold and release, respectively, a ball held by said suction cup, said handle including an elongated grip to be engaged by the operator and a connecting member connecting said grip to said tubular extension of said suction cup, said connecting member having a central tubular passage extending therethrough and communicating with said axial bore of said extension of said suction cup, and said grip having a transverse surface closing the opening of said connecting member, said connecting member being formed with an axial slot and said grip having forwardly of said transverse surface a portion extending into said slot and formed with a radial bore communicating with the interior of said tubular connecting member, said interior of said tubular connecting member and said radial bore forming said passage means with said radial bore having an outer end to be engaged by a thumb of the operator.

2. A vacuum ball-holding device comprising a suction cup having an inner ball-engaging surface forming part of a sphere, said suction cup having a tubular extension formed with an axial bore having an axis coinciding with an axis of said sphere, an elongated straight handle fixed to and extending from said tubular extension of said suction cup and having a central axis coinciding with said axis of said bore, and passage means formed in said elongated handle, communicating with said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup and extending through said handle to the exterior thereof at a region where said handle is held by the operator so that the hand of the operator can be used for closing and opening said passage means to hold and release, respectively, a ball held by said suction cup, said handle including an elongated grip to be engaged by the operator and a connecting member connecting said grip to said tubular extension of said suction cup, said connecting member having a central tubular passage extending therethrough and communicating with said axial bore of said extension of said suction cup, and said grip being formed with a transverse partition closing the opening of said connecting member, said connecting member being formed with an axial slot and said grip having forwardly of said partition a portion extending into said slot and formed with a radial bore communicating with the interior of said tubular connecting member, said interior of said tubular connecting member and said radial bore forming said passage means with said radial bore having an outer end to be engaged by a thumb of the operator.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said connecting member has an exterior cylindrical portion surrounding said tubular extension of said suction cup and an interior cylindrical portion extending into the interior of said tubular extension and having an interior which defines said axial passage of said connecting member which forms a continuation of said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup.

4. A vacuum ball-holding device comprising a suction cup having an inner ball-engaging surface forming part of a sphere, said suction cup having a tubular extension formed with an axial bore having an axis coinciding with an axis of said sphere, an elongated handle fixed to and extending from said tubular extension of said suction cup and having a central axis coinciding with said axis of said bore, and passage means form ed in said elongated handle, communicating with said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup and extending through said handle to the exterior thereof at a region where said handle is held by the operator so that the hand of the operator can be used for closing and opening said passage means to hold and release, respectively, a ball held by said suction cup, said handle including an elongated grip to be engaged by the operator and a connecting member connecting said grip to said tubular extension of said suction cup, said connecting member having a central tubular passage extending therethrough and communicating with said axial bore of said extension of said suction cup, and said grip being formed with a transverse partition closing the opening of said connecting member, said connecting member being formed with an axial slot and said grip having forwardly of said partition a portion extending into said slot and formed with a radial bore communicating with the interior of said tubular connecting member, said interior of said tubular connecting member and said radial bore forming said passage means with said radial bore having an outer end to be engaged by a thumb of the operator, said connecting member having an exterior cylindrical portion surrounding said tubular extension of said suction cup and an interior cylindrical portion extending into the interior of said tubular extension and having an interior which defines said axial passage of said connecting member which forms a continuation of said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup, an elongated tubular member extending into said inner cylindrical portion of said connecting member and along the interior of said tubular extension of said suction cup for connecting the latter to said connecting member.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said interior cylindrical portion of said connecting member and said tubular extension of said suction cup are respectively formed with annular surfaces surrounding their common axis and directed away from each other, and said tubular member having flanges overlapping said annular surfaces for interconnecting said suction cup with said connecting member.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said elongated grip is tapered and is formed at its exterior with longitudinal flutes.

7. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said inner and outer cylindrical portions of said connecting member define an annular space receiving an annular portion of said tubular extension of said suction cup.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said inner cylindrical portion of said connecting member is tapered and said tubular extension of said suction cup is expanded onto said tapered interior cylindrical portion of said connecting member.

Claims

1. A vacuum ball-holding device comprising a suction cup having an inner ball-engaging surface forming part of a sphere, said suction cup having a tubular extension formed with an axial bore having an axis coinciding with an axis of said sphere, an elongated straight handle fixed to and extending from said tubular extension of said suction cup and having a central axis coinciding with said axis of said bore, and passage means formed in said elongated handle, communicating with said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup and extending through said handle to the exterior thereof at a region where said handle is held by the operator so that the hand of the operator can be used for closing and opening said passage means to hold and release, respectively, a ball held by said suction cup, said handle including an elongated grip to be engaged by the operator and a connecting member connecting said grip to said tubular extension of said suction cup, said connecting member having a central tubular passage extending therethrough and communicating with said axial bore of said extension of said suction cup, and said grip having a transverse surface closing the opening of said connecting member, said connecting member being formed with an axial slot and said grip having forwardly of said transverse surface a portion extending into said slot and formed with a radial bore communicating with the interior of said tubular connecting member, said interior of said tubular connecting member and said radial bore forming said passage means with said radial bore having an outer end to be engaged by a thumb of the operator.

4. A vacuum ball-holding device comprising a suction cup having an inner ball-engaging surface forming part of a sphere, said suction cup having a tubular extension formed with an axial bore having an axis coinciding with an axis of said sphere, an elongated handle fixed to and extending from said tubular extension of said suction cup and having a central axis coinciding with said axis of said bore, and passage means formed in said elongated handle, communicating with said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup and extending through said handle to the exterior thereof at a region where said handle is held by the operator so that the hand of the operator can be used for closing and opening said passage means to hold and release, respectively, a ball held by said suction cup, said handle including an elongated grip to be engaged by the operator and a connecting member connecting said grip to said tubular extension of said suction cup, said connecting member having a central tubular passage extending therethrough and communicating with said axial bore of said extension of said suction cup, and said grip being formed with a transverse partition closing the opening of said connecting member, said connecting member being formed with an axial slot and said grip having forwardly of said partition a portion extending into said slot and formed with a radial bore communicating with the interior of said tubular connecting member, said interior of said tubular connecting member and said radial bore forming said passage means with said radial bore having an outer end to be engaged by a thumb of the operator, said connecting member having an exterior cylindrical portion surrounding said tubular extension of said suction cup and an interior cylindrical portion extending into the interior of said tubular extension and having an interior which defines said axial passage of said connecting member which forms a continuation of said axial bore of said tubular extension of said suction cup, an elongated tubular member extending into said inner cylindrical portion of said connecting member and along the interior of said tubular extension of said suction cup for connecting the latter to said connecting member.