Pickleball and Tennis Ball Scoop Collector

Abstract

A scoop collector for court balls includes a container with an open front into which balls can roll through the open front. A push handle is operably connected to the container. A ball retaining device allows the balls to roll into the container and prevents the balls from rolling out of the container. The ball retaining device can include a plurality of flappers, an elastic cord, and/or a roller that extend(s) across the open front of the container. The container can be translucent and can be removably supported on a frame. The push handle can be secured in a fixed position by a hook. Wings can be provided adjacent the open front of the container to funnel balls into the container.

1 . A scoop collector for court balls, said scoop collector comprising:
 a container with an open front into which associated balls can roll through the open front;   a push handle operably connected to the container;   a ball retaining device that allows the associated balls to roll into the container through the open front of the container and that prevents the associated balls from rolling out of the container through the open front of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said ball retaining device comprises a plurality of movable flaps located adjacent a top edge of the open front of the container, wherein said flaps are pivotable in a first direction to allow the associated balls to roll into the container through the open front and wherein said flaps are prevented from pivoting outwardly away from the open front in a second direction whereby the flaps block the associated balls from rolling out of the open front of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising a lever movably connected to the container and engaged with one or more of the flappers and selectively operable to pivot said one or more flappers in the first direction to allow release of the associated balls from the container through the open front of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said lever is connected to a pin that is engaged with said one or more flappers. 
     
     
         5 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said ball retaining device comprises an elastic cord extended across the open front of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the elastic cord is positioned such that a vertical space is defined between a bottom edge of the open front of the container and the elastic cord, and the vertical space is less than 100% of an outside diameter of the associated balls. 
     
     
         7 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the elastic cord is positioned such that the vertical space is less at least 60% of the outside diameter of the associated balls. 
     
     
         8 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the elastic cord is selectively manually movable to a release position to allow the associated balls to roll out of the container through the open front of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The scoop collector for court balls as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a lever connected to the elastic cord, wherein movement of the lever moves the elastic cord to its release position. 
     
     
         10 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a translucent material that allows a user to see the associated balls located in the container. 
     
     
         11 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a hook, wherein the push handle is selectively engaged with the hook to secure the handle in a fixed location relative to the container. 
     
     
         12 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the container is supported on a frame and is selectively removable from the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising wheels or pads that movably support the container on an associated court surface. 
     
     
         14 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said ball retaining device further comprises a roller that extends across the open front of the container and that is connected to wheels that movably support the container on an associated court surface such that rotation of said wheels rotates said roller whereby said roller engages associated balls on the associated court surface and propels the associated balls under the roller into the container through the open front. 
     
     
         15 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said ball retaining device further comprises a roller that extends across the open front of the container and that is connected to wheels that movably support the container on an associated court surface such that rotation of said wheels rotates said roller whereby said roller engages associated balls on the associated court surface and propels the associated balls under the roller into the container through the open front. 
     
     
         16 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said ball retaining device comprises a roller that extends across the open front of the container and that is connected to wheels that movably support the container on an associated court surface such that rotation of said wheels rotates said roller whereby said roller engages associated balls on the associated court surface and propels the associated balls under the roller into the container through the open front. 
     
     
         17 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said roller comprises a foam roller. 
     
     
         18 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said container and said roller are supported on a frame, and wherein said container is selectively removable from the frame for dumping balls out of the container through the open front of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The scoop collector as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising flexible resilient wings located at opposite front corners of the container on opposite lateral sides of the open front to funnel associated balls toward the open front.