US3415357A - Self-contained tennis ball storage container and pressurizing device - Google Patents

Description

Decl0, 1968 -W.J. VAN NATTER 3,415,357

SELF-CONTAINED TENNIS BALL STORAGE CONTAINER AND PRESSURIZING DEVICE Filed Deo. 26, 1967l 2 Sheets-Sheet l NToR. a WILL/AM J. VAN NATTE? BY www@ ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1968 w. J. VAN N'ATTER -CON'IAINED TENNIS BALL STORAGE CONTAINE SELF AND PRESSURIZING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4Filed Deo. 26, 1967 'lllllll illlllllx Il United States Patent O 3,415,357 SELF-CONTAINED TENNIS BALL STORAGE CON- TAINER AND PRESSURIZING DEVICE` William J. Van Natter, 401 Tower Bldg., Seattle, Wash. 98101 Filed Dec. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 693,589 19 Claims. (Cl. 206-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Self-contained or combined tennis ball :storage container and pressurizing device. One embodiment is in the form of an attachment for a conventional tennis ball can having a plurality of filler elements occupying most of the air space around the balls placed in the container to form a ball occupying chamber, with a compression cylinder iitted in airtight relation over the top of said container and containing a collapsible air bladder, and with toggle linkages for telescoping the compression cylinder over the container to force air from the bladder into the container, thus pressurizing the ball occupying chamber. A second embodiment includes a cylindrical container having filler elements to lill the air space around the balls, a collapsible bellows removably fastened in airtight relation over the top of the container, and two latches for fastening the compressed bellows to the sides of the container. A third embodiment includes a container in which the balls are placed in a generally horizontal plane, the air space around the balls being iilled with llers to dene a ball occupying chamber, a container end closure removably fastened to the container in airtight relation, and a screw actuated bellows fastened to the container end closure for pressurizing the ball occupying chamber. A fourth embodiment includes a container having a bottom half in the configuration of three semi-spherical cups in a generally horizontal plane, a top half removably fastened in airtight relation to the bottom half and having the conguration of three inverted semi-spherical cups, and a pump in the form of a resilient disk integrally formed on said top half of the container and being provided with check valve means for retaining air pumped into said ball occupying chamber.

Background of the invention Field of the invention- This invention pertains to apparatus for maintaining pressure of tennis balls and the like and, more particularly, relates to a self-contained tennis 'ball storage container and air pressurization device.

Description of the prior art-Tennis balls are resilient due, in part, to internal pressurization by air or gas of an amount suiicient to obtain a specified amount of rebound when the balls are dropped on a hard surface. The internal pressurizing air escapes after a period of time due to the differential between the internal pres-sure of the ball and atmospheric pressure causing diffusion of the air outwardly through the ball casing. In addition, some balls tend to grow in size due to internal pressure causing them to be outside of specified measurements. New balls are sold in pressurized cans so that there will be no pressure differential and the balls will retain their internal pressure and maintain their specified size. Once the can is opened, however, and the pressurized environment is lost, the balls tend to no longer maintain their size and internal pressure.

One solution to this problem has been to store the balls after play in a container that is pressurized by an external source. One such device is shown, for example, in the patent to Miller 2,012,283. In this patent the container is pressurized to a magnitude approximately equal to the internal pressure of the balls. This device, however, requires pressure from an external source and thus necessitates the inconvenience of stopping: at a service station or carrying an air pump with the other tennis equipment. In addition, this type of device is generally expensive to manufacture since valving mechanisms are required to retain the air in the container.

Summary of the invention unique arrangement of a single or partial stroke air pressurization means and a container having llers or being otherwise configured to form generally spherical ball occupying chamber means such that a minimal amount of air is needed to obtain the desired magnitude of pressurization.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is an isometric, broken away view of one form of self-contained tennis ball storage container and pressurizing apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric View of a second form of apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an isometric -view of a third form of apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an isometric, broken away view of still a further form of apparatus embodying the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments The embodiment shown in FIGS. l and 2 is in the form of an attachment for conventional cylindrical cans of the type in which tennis balls are commonly sold. The can or container means is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a closed bottom 12 and an open top 14. Surrounding the lower half of the can is an attachment mechanism 16 which comprises an encircling band 18 and a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending clips 20, each having la U-shaped end 22 that tits around the lower rim of the can. The clips 20 are pivotally attached to the band 18 by pivot pins 24 that are mounted in apertured ears 26 integrally formed on the band.

Air pressurization means including a compression cylinder 28 is connected to the attaching mechanism 16 in a manner to be later described and includes a closed upper end 30 and a cylindrical side wall 32 that terminates at its lower end in a radially inwardly directed ange 34. A closure disk 36 is carried in the compression cylinder and when disengaged from the tennis ball can 10 is retained in the cylinder by the ange 34. The outer peripheral portion ofthe disk terminates in a downwardly opening channel 38 in which is seated a rubber or like seal ring 40. As can be readily seen in FIG. 2, the midpoint of the channel is approximately aligned with the lip of the open end 14 of the can 10 such that the ring 40 may effectively seal the open end of the can.

For the purpose of admitting pressurizing air into the can 10, the disk 36 is provided with a central aperture 42. An apertured plug 44 is fitted int-o the central aperture 42 and has a circular bottom flange 46 bonded to the underside of the disk 36 and a circular upper liange 48 bonded to the disk and to the lower inside surface of a variable volume air chamber or bladder 50. The air bladder is of any suitable iiexible, resilient, air impervious material, such as rubber or the like, and generally fills the inside of the compression cylinder 28. As may be readily seen, air entrapped in the expanded bladder while the cylinder is removed from the can will be forced through the plug 44 as the compression cylinder is telescoped around the can.

The can is shown filled with balls B and filler elements 52 of rubber, plastic or other high density material that is relatively impervious to air. The filler elements have transverse surfaces 54 that are spaced from the transverse surfaces of the opposite llers when installed in the can to provide a channel for air to pass throughout the entire length of the can. The fillers are configured to the shape of the balls and form a ball occupying chamber 55. Consequently, a full or even partial stroke of the compression cylinder 28 is sufiicient to pressurize the remaining unoccupied volume in the can.

Although the compression cylinder 28 may be lowered by pressing with the palm of the hand and then strapped or otherwise held in place, it is preferable to provide manually actuatable means 56 for lowering the compression cylinder in the lowered position. For this purpose this first embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of toggle arms 57 which are pivotally connected to pivot pins 58 mounted in apertured ears 60 formed integrally on the compression cylinder 28. Although not shown, the

toggle arms may be adjustable to accommodate various i can sizes and to apply different pressures. The toggle arms are provided at their lower ends with elbows 66 each having apertures that receive a pivot pin 68. The pivot pins 68 are also mounted in apertures provided in the spaced sides of channel-like lever arms 70 which are pivotally connected to the pivot pins 24. As best shown in FIG. 2, the axes of the pivot pins 24 lie radially outwardly of an imaginary line drawn between the axes of the pivot pins 58 and 68. This, of course, provides a locking action to maintain the seal at ring and prevent escape of the compressed air within the can and bladder.

Since all of the parts may be made of plastic, or where extra strength is required of metal, it may be seen that the combined can and pressurizing device may be inexpensively fabricated. In addition, since the can and cylindrical cylinder are combined the pressurizing source takes up relatively little extra space.

In use, the encircling band 1S and clips 20 are slid over the bottom end of the can 10 until the U-shaped ends 22 Contact the bottom rim of the can. The lever arms 70 are raised to permit the compression cylinder 28 to be fitted over the open top of the can. The disk 36 is then fitted over the upper end of the can with the seal ring 40 in engagement with the rim. Then, as the lever arms 70 `are lowered into locking position, the compression cylinder is telescoped along the can, forcing some of the air in the bladder into the ball occupying chamber 55.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is adapted to hold balls in a generally horizontal plane rather than vertically. In this embodiment the ball container means includes a lower container 72 having a bottom end 74 `and a cylindrical side wall 76. Lower and upper fillers 78 and 80 are provided in the lower container and are configured to ferm a ball occupying chamber 79 comprised of a plurality of opposed semispherical cups. The upper filler 80 is provided with bores 82 to permit air to pass through the upper filler into the ball occupying chamber. Locking members or latches in the form of T-shaped bars 84 are pivotally pinned between spaced ears 86 formed integrally on the cylindrical side wall 76 of the lower container. Three such sets of T-shaped bars and ears are provided at equidistantly spaced locations. Each T-shaped bar terminates in a threaded end 87 and has threaded thereon a wing nut 88 or the like.

A circular top 98 having a downwardly extending ange 92 is provided for closing the lower container 72. A seal in the form of an annular rubber or like ring 94 is seated against the underside of the circular top adjacent the liange 92 and seats also against the upper edge of the cylindrical side wall 76 of the lower container. Three equidistantly spaced, forked fingers 96 extend generally radially outward from the peripheral edge of the circular top and receive the T-shaped bars 84. The wing nuts 88 may be tightened against the forked fingers to close and seal the circular top on the container.

Air pressurization means or a bellows 98 of suitable air impervious, flexible material is bonded to the upper surface of the circular top and communicates in air flow relation with the ball occupying chamber 79 via a central aperture 99. The bellows 98 constitutes a variable volume air chamber and when compressed forces air into the ball occupying chamber.

In this form of the invention the manually actuatable means for the compression of the bellows includes an inverted U-shaped bracket 100 that is integrally formed on the upper surface of the circular top 90. The bracket has a central threaded aperture 102 that receives a threaded rod 104. The upper end of the threaded rod is pinned or otherwise suitably fixed to handle 106. The lower end of the rod terminates in an elliptical ball 108. The ball is suitably positioned in an elliptical opening formed in a circular disk 112. Thus, in effect, the threaded rod and disk are joined by a conventional ball and socket connection.

In use the balls B are placed in the ball occupying chamber 79 formed by the lower and upper fillers 78 and 80 and the circular top 90 is fitted onto the lower container. The wing nuts 88 are tightened on the forked fingers 96 to close and seal the container. Finally the handle 106, which is initially in a retracted position, is turned, lowering the threaded rod 104 and the disk 112 to force the air trapped in the bellows 98 through the aperture 99 into the ball occupying chamber. The pressure of the air in the ball occupying chamber may be adjusted by varying the position of the disk 112.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrates a container means which includes a lower container half 118 in the form of three semi-spherical cups 120 integrally joined by a triangular plate 122. The lower plate is provided with three apertured bosses 124 in which are fixed by any suitable means upstanding, threaded studs 126.

An upper container half 128 includes three inverted cups 129 integrally connected by a triangular plate 130. The triangular plate 130 has three equidistantly spaced apertures 132 arranged with respect to the inverted cups 129 so that the inverted cup will be aligned with the cups 120 when the apertures 132 are settled over the studs 126 to form a ball occupying chamber 127. A gasket 134 is seated on the upper surface of the triangular plate 122 and forms an airtight seal between the lower container and the container top when closed and tightened against one another. The container top is tightly held by wing nuts 136 threaded on the studs 126.

One of the differences between this embodiment and the other embodiments described is that this embodiment comprises an air pressurization means adapted for multiple compression strokes, i.e. a pumping action, rather than a single compression stroke. Whereas the air pressurization means requiring a single or partial stroke is an advantageous feature in that it is inexpensive to fabricate, occasions may require the iiexibility of a multi-stroke pump. For this purpose a rigid circular plate 140 is welded to the container top 128 and a iiexible, inverted dish-like diaphragm 142 is fastened to the rigid circular plate 140 by a retainer ring 144 which is suitably secured to the rigid plate by bolts or rivets 145. A small stitlening plate or manually actuatable means 146 of metal, plastic or the like is bonded to the upper surface of the diaphragm for the purpose of supplying strength and rigidity to the diaphragm. A convential flap valve 148 covers an air inlet 149 in the rigid plate 140 to allow air to enter the diaphragm but not exit through the inlet. Both the rigid plate 140 and the triangular plate 130 are provided with central apertures which are interconnected by a small tube 148. A conventional ball-type check valve 150 is provided in the lower end of the tube to permit air to pass from the diaphragm into the ball occupying chamber 127 but not to exit therefrom.

In the use of this embodiment, the balls are placed in the cups 120` and the container top 128 is lowered into place on the studs 126. After the wing nuts 136 are tightened to effect an airtight seal, the diaphragm is flexed a few times, as by the user stepping on plate 146, to pump air into the ball occupying chamber 127. The pumping may be continued until the desired pressu-re is obtained.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 shows a container means including a cylindrical container 152 having a cylind-rical side wall 154 and a threaded end enclosure 156. A gasket 158 is placed between the end closure and the cylindrical side wall to effect an airtight seal. The upper end of the cylindrical container 152 terminates in an inner peripheral flange 160 that forms a central opening 162. A ring 164 is threaded over the upper end of the cylindrical container and is provided with a peripheral lip 166 in which is seated a rubber or like seal ring 168. The air pressurization means of this embodiment of the invention includes a collapsible bellows 169 bonded at its lower end to the outside surface of the ring 164. The bellows may be made of any suitable flexible, air impermeable material such as rubber, molded plastic or the like and may be resilient if desired.

Manually actuatable means for the bellows comprises a rigid disk 170 bonded to the upper edges of the bellows 169, with an integrally formed upright channel member 172. The opposite ends of the channel receive pivot pins 176 on which are pivotally mounted a pair of clips 178. Each clip has an inwardly upturned end 180 that is latchable, when the bellows is compressed, beneath a catch 182 on each side of the cylindrical container 152 for locking the bellows in its compressed position.

The plurality of ller elements 190, slightly spaced from one another as at 194, occupy substantially all of the air space around the balls B and define a ball occupying chamber 195. The filler elements 190 are preferably somewhat loose fitting so that air may pass between the balls and the fillers and around the radial outer surfaces of the fillers to pressurize the entire container.

In the use of this embodiment the balls B and filler elements 190 are placed in the container 152 through either end thereof. After threaded replacement of either ring 164 or the end enclosure 156, depending on which was removed, the bellows 169 is collapsed by pushing downwardly on the disk 170 to force vair into the ball occupying chamber 195 and the clips 178 are then fastened beneath the catches 182.

I claim:

:1. Self-contained storage apparatus for tennis balls and the like, comprising:

(a) container means providing a ball occupying chamber, configured to have a relatively small volume of air surrounding a plurality of balls;

(b) air pressurization means st-ructurally integrated with said container means and having a variable volume air chamber with a maximum volume substantially greater than the volume of air surrounding the balls in thetcontainer means, such variable volume air chamber being in air iiow communication with the ball occupying chamber;

(c) means enabling placement of the balls in the container means a closure of the ball occupying chamber with the variable volume air chamber at substantially its maximum volume and with the air in said chambers at substantially atmospheric pressure; and

(d) said air pressurization means including manually actuatable means for reducing the volume of the variable volume air chamber and thus increasing the air pressure in the ball occupying chamber.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein said air pressurization means is provided with flexible walls.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein said flexible walls are in the form of the bladder.

4. The apparatus defined by 4claim 2, wherein said flexible walls are in the form of a diaphragm.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein said flexible walls are in the form of a bellows.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein said container means includes filler elements configured to substantially fill the space around the balls so as to form said ball occupying chamber.

7. The apparatus defined by claim 1, said container means having outer wall means in the form of spherical cups which define said ball occupying chamber.

8. Apparatus defined by claim 1, said container means having:

(a) an open end for inserting the balls into said ball occupying chamber;

(b) a closure member having an end surface for closing said open end and an aperture communicating with said air pressurization means, said enclosure and said air pressurization means being integrally formed as a single unit.

9. The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein said container means has:

(a) two spaced ends, one of said ends having a closure surface provided with an aperture in communication with said air pressurization means and said air pressurization means being integrally connected to said closure surface, and said other end having a lremovable enclosure for inserting tennis balls into said ball occupying chamber.

10. The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein said flexible wall air pressurization means and said container means form a unitary hollow cylinder, a part of which defines said ball occupying chamber, and wherein the air pressure in said ball occupying chamber is increased to the desired pressure by a single partial stroke of said flexible wall air pressurization means.

11. The apparatus defined by claim 2, further including latch means for holding said manually actuatable means in an actuated position wherein the ball occupying chamber remains pressurized.

12. The apparatus defined by claim 4, wherein said air pressurization means includes valve means for controlling the passage of air between said diaphragm and said ball occupying chamber.

13. The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein said air pressurization means include a compression cylinder confining an air impervious bladder, the interior of said bladder communicating with the interior of said ball occupying chamber.

14. The apparatus defined by claim 13, wherein said manually actuatable means includes:

(a) at least two toggle arms pivotally connected alongside said compression cylinder; and

(b) at least two latch arms pivotally connected to said toggle arms for reciprocating said toggle arms and selectively locking them against movement.

15. The apparatus defined by claim 14, further including attachment means securable over said container means for supporting said latch arms.

16. The apparatus defined by claim 15, wherein said container means is a conventional cylindrical can of the type in which tennis balls are marketed.

17. The apparatus defined by claim 5, wherein said References Cited actuatable means includes: UNITED STATES P (a) a threaded rod; and

(b) a handle for turning Said rod. 1,842,456 1/1932 MacKenzie 206-46 18. The apparatus defined by claim 8, wherein said 5 119101930 5/1933 Moms 20G-46 container means is substantially entirely molded plastic.

19. The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein said ball JAMES B' MARBERT Primal), Exammer' occupying chamber includes three spherical cups aligned U.S, C1, X,R.

in a generally horizontal plane. 206-47

Images