Octopus ball retrieval system and method

Abstract

An automated tennis ball collector which includes a chassis, a drive train, an energy source, a plurality of wheels, and at least one motor. The automated tennis ball collector is useful for collecting scattered tennis balls after a game or practice without the need to bend and pick them up by hand.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . An automated tennis ball collector comprising:
 a chassis;   a drive train coupled to the chassis, the drive train including an energy source, a plurality of wheels and at least one motor;   wherein the drive train is fixably coupled to inner volume of the chassis in such a way so the energy source, the plurality of wheels, and the at least one motor of the drive train allow the chassis to move freely around the court,   a ball collector including a ball receiver, a vacuum, a ball channel, and a ball retainer;   wherein the ball collector is mounted to the forward outer surface of the chassis for allowing balls to travel into the ball receiver which activates the vacuum to suck the balls into and through the ball channel to the ball retainer,   a device controller including a memory, a processor, a communication network, and a wireless transceiver, and   wherein the device controller is used for controlling the automated tennis ball collector by transmitting movement commands to the drive train which drives the automated tennis ball collector into a ball making direct contact with the ball which then activates the ball collector.   
     
     
         2 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein automated tennis ball collector system is remote-controlled. 
     
     
         3 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , further includes a LED spotlight coupled to the chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , further includes a carry handle configured to suspend the automated tennis ball collector by the carry handle 
     
     
         5 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured with Bluetooth technology. 
     
     
         6 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured with Wi-Fi connectability. 
     
     
         7 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein the automated tennis ball collector is configured to operate using a battery pack. 
     
     
         8 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 7 , wherein the battery pack is configured with a lithium ion rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         9 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 8 , wherein the lithium ion rechargeable battery is recharged with a solar panel array coupled to the outer surface of the chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive movement commands via a handheld smart phone. 
     
     
         11 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is designed with a sensor array which is configured to automatically detect a downed ball for collection. 
     
     
         12 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor array is configured to automatically instruct the drive train to move in the direction of the downed ball. 
     
     
         13 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor array is further configured to automatically activate the vacuum when the downed ball is in range of the ball collector to retrieve and transfer the downed ball to the ball retainer. 
     
     
         14 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least two wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein the ball retainer is configured to be removably coupled to the automated tennis ball collector to allow removal of the ball retainer. 
     
     
         16 . The automated tennis ball collector of  claim 1 , wherein the automated tennis ball collector includes a recharge station configured to recharge the automated tennis ball collector during lowlight and night conditions. 
     
     
         17 . An automated tennis ball collector system comprising:
 a chassis;   wherein the chassis further includes a carry handle configured to suspend the automated tennis ball collector by the carry handle, and   even further includes a LED spotlight coupled to the chassis,   a drive train coupled to the chassis, the drive train including an energy source, a plurality of wheels and at least one motor;   wherein the chassis is designed with a sensor array which is configured to automatically detect a downed ball for collection,   wherein the sensor array is configured to automatically instruct the drive train to move in the direction of the downed ball, and   wherein the sensor array is further configured to automatically activate the vacuum when the downed ball is in range of the ball collector to retrieve and transfer the downed ball to the ball retainer,   wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least two wheels,   wherein the automated tennis ball collector is configured to operate using a battery pack,   wherein the battery pack is configured with a lithium ion rechargeable battery,   wherein the automated tennis ball collector includes a recharge station configured to recharge the automated tennis ball collector during lowlight and night conditions, and   wherein the lithium ion rechargeable battery is recharged with a solar panel array coupled to the outer surface of the chassis,   wherein the drive is fixably coupled to inner volume of the chassis in such a way so the energy source, the plurality of wheels, and the at least one motor of the drive train allow the chassis to move freely around the court,   a ball collector including a ball receiver, a vacuum, a ball channel, and a ball retainer;   wherein the ball collector is mounted to the forward outer surface of the chassis for allowing balls to travel into the ball receiver which activates the vacuum to suck the balls into and through the ball channel to the ball retainer,   wherein the ball retainer is configured to be removably coupled to the automated tennis ball collector to allow removal of the ball retainer,   wherein the automated tennis ball collector system is remote-controlled,   a device controller including a memory, a processor, a communication network, and a wireless transceiver,   wherein the wireless transceiver is configured with Wi-Fi connectability, and wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive movement commands via a handheld smart phone;   wherein the device controller is used for controlling the automated tennis ball collector by transmitting movement commands to the drive train which drives the automated tennis ball collector into a ball making direct contact with the ball which then activates the ball collector.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising set of instructions; and
 wherein the system is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         19 . A method of use for an automated tennis ball collector system, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing the automated tennis ball collector system on the ground,   powering on the automated tennis ball collector system,   using a remote control for controlling the automated tennis ball collector system,   collecting downed balls once gameplay is complete, and   storing the balls in a ball retainer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the ball retainer to retrieve collected said balls, and   storing the automated tennis ball collector system.