1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cart for retrieving and storing tennis balls and more specifically involves a push cart that supports a basket in a ball retrieving position.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a need for a device for collecting balls, such as tennis balls, from the ground without stooping over to pick them up. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,950 of Stap describes a tennis ball retriever and storage device comprising a basket having a top handle and a bottom of rods spaced apart a little less than a ball width. The basket is placed on a ball on the ground and the ball deforms to pass through the bottom rods. U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,465 of Hoagland describes a similar device except the bottom rods are hinged to allow a ball to enter without deformation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,504 of Perez describes a similar basket except the rods have roller sleeves over them to reduce friction of the ball passing.
The prior art devices all suffer a serious shortcoming in that a person must pick up or otherwise manipulate the basket in order to retrieve balls from the ground. This manipulation is time consuming and very fatiguing as the basket fills with balls.
Therefore, there has been a need for a ball retrieving and storage device that can simply be wheeled around such that the user need not lift or manipulate a basket for retrieval of each ball.
It is further desirable that such a device not require deformation of a retrieved ball.
It is further desirable is such a device provide for positioning of retrieved ball for serving.