US Patent 7922608 Tennis ball retrieval, storage and dispensing device

A tennis ball retrieval, storage, and dispensing device is disclosed having a hollow tube with a diameter that may be larger than balls that are to be picked up and stored within the tube. With the larger diameter tube the balls are staggered therein so more balls may be held in a given length of tube. Positioned at the top of the hollow tube is a closed end cap that is opened to remove balls stored inside the tube. Attached to the bottom of the hollow tube is an entrance end cap that has an opening that may be of different shapes but a round tennis ball entering the device tube through the entrance end cap opening must be squeezed to a non-round shape to get past the opening and enter the device tube. A retainer is mounted inside the entrance end cap past the opening that also squeezes tennis balls entering therein. The retainer assures that tennis balls that have been retrieved with the device do not hang out below the entrance cap opening. The end caps and the tube may have a triangular cross sectional shape which prevents the device from rolling on the ground. In addition, when the device tube has a circular cross section two tubes may be utilized that can telescope inside each other and their position held by a locking device.