DEVICE FOR STORE A PLAY BALL UNDER PRESSURE

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for containing and pressurizing one or more game balls, such as tennis or padel balls. State of the art

[0002] Numerous devices have been developed to contain game balls and to pressurize and maintain these balls when not in use.

[0003] One such device is known, for example, from document DE9411154U1. This device has a pipette on its lid, allowing a pressurized air supply to be connected in order to pressurize its internal volume above atmospheric pressure and thus better preserve the bullets inside. However, this is not practical because it requires an independent source of compressed air.

[0004] To address this problem, document US3415357 proposes equipping the device with a bellows pump that can be operated by the user to pressurize the bale container. However, such a pump mechanism is complicated to manufacture and operate. It is also relatively bulky and not very aesthetically pleasing.

[0005] US3819040A proposes a variant consisting of two nested containers, each with a threaded fitting that allows their internal volume to be pressurized by screwing one container onto the other. However, this solution presents long-term sealing problems and therefore cannot maintain the balls under pressure for a sufficient duration. CN204236892U describes a self-pressurizing tennis ball storage cylinder capable of maintaining pressure inside the tennis balls.

[0006] We also know of such a device from document CN104816881. However, such a device is not practical to use, particularly in terms of handling and pump operation. Summary of the invention

[0007] One object of the invention is to provide a device for storing at least one pressurized game ball which addresses at least partially the problems of known devices, and / or to provide an alternative to known devices.

[0008] The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0009] According to the invention, a device is provided for storing at least one game ball, said device comprising: a cylindrical container capable of holding at least one game ball and equipped with a lid to open the container in order to introduce at least one game ball and to close the container tightly; a cylindrical envelope arranged coaxially around and at a distance from the container; and a pump to pump ambient air into the container.

[0010] The pump includes: an annular compression piston disposed around the container and between the container and the casing, thus defining a compression chamber between said compression piston, said casing and said container; an external handle connected to the compression piston for moving the compression piston in translation along the container; a first non-return valve disposed between the compression chamber and the ambient air to admit ambient air into the compression chamber; and a second non-return valve disposed between the compression chamber and an internal volume of the container to transfer air from the compression chamber to the internal volume of the container.

[0011] Since such a device has its own integrated pump, there is no need for separate means of pressurizing the bale container. Furthermore, it is simpler to build and use than existing devices.

[0012] Preferably, the container should be able to hold at least one tennis ball or at least one padel ball. This is indeed the most common use for such a device.

[0013] Preferably, the container is in the shape of a straight cylinder and the casing is in the shape of a straight cylinder.

[0014] Preferably, the handle is connected to the compression piston by a tube in the shape of a straight cylinder.

[0015] Preferably, the container has the shape of a straight circular cylinder, the casing has the shape of a straight circular cylinder, and the handle is connected to the compression piston by a tube having the shape of a straight circular cylinder.

[0016] In the context of this invention, the term "cylinder" is to be understood in its geometric sense. Thus, a cylinder is a ruled surface whose generatrices are parallel, that is, a surface in space consisting of parallel lines or line segments. A prism, a cube, a parallelepiped, or a right circular cylinder are examples of cylinders. A right cylinder is a cylinder whose base is perpendicular to its generatrices. A circular cylinder is a cylinder whose base is circular (or whose cross-section is a circle). A cylindrical shape, or the adjective cylindrical, therefore refers to an object having the shape of a cylinder.

[0017] Preferably, the handle is positioned on the opposite side of the lid, making it easier to open the lid to insert the game ball(s) into the container.

[0018] Preferably, the lid is equipped with a pressure relief valve, allowing the container to be depressurized before opening the lid to remove the ball(s). Even more preferably, the pressure relief valve is operable from the outside by a user. Brief description of the figures

[0019] These aspects, as well as other aspects of the invention, will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings in the figures, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 2 schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view along plane AA of the device. Fig.1 Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along plane BB of the device of the Fig.1; Fig.4 schematically shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a preferred device according to the invention.

[0020] The figures are not drawn to scale or in proportion. Generally, similar or identical elements are denoted by identical references in the figures. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0021] There Fig.1 schematically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a device (1) according to the invention.

[0022] The device (1) comprises a cylindrical container (2) suitable for holding at least one game ball (5) and having a lid (4) for opening the container (2) to insert at least one game ball (5) and for closing the container (2) airtight. The lid (4) may, for example, be of the type that screws onto the container (2) or be hinged with a mechanism for clamping the lid (4) onto the container (2). Airtightness may be ensured by various known means, such as, for example, the use of one or more seals between the lid (4) and the container (2).

[0023] Preferably, the container (2) has the shape of a straight cylinder and the envelope (3) has the shape of a straight cylinder.

[0024] Preferably, the container (2) is sized so that the game balls stack inside it. Preferably, the container (2) is sized to hold a maximum of eight game balls, or a maximum of six game balls, or a maximum of four game balls. Preferably, the container (2) is capable of holding at least one tennis ball or at least one padel ball.

[0025] The device (1) further comprises a cylindrical envelope (3) arranged coaxially around and at a distance from the container (2).

[0026] The device (1) further includes a pump for pumping ambient air into the container (2). For this purpose, the pump includes an annular compression piston (10) disposed around the container (2) and between the container (2) and the casing (3), thus defining a compression chamber (12) between said compression piston (10), said casing (3) and said container (2).

[0027] The pump also includes two non-return valves: a first non-return valve (30) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and the ambient to admit ambient air into the compression chamber (12); and a second non-return valve (40) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and an internal volume of the container (2) to transfer pressurized air from the compression chamber (12) to the internal volume of the container (2).

[0028] The first non-return valve (30) can, for example, be placed on a wall of the casing (3), as shown in the Fig.1 Alternatively, the first non-return valve (30) can for example be placed on the compression piston (10) so as to allow a passage of ambient air through the piston and into the compression chamber (12).

[0029] The second non-return valve (40) can, for example, be placed on a wall of the container (2), as shown in the Fig.1 .

[0030] The pump also includes an external handle (20) connected to the compression piston (10) for moving the compression piston (10) in translation along the container (2) (movement indicated by a double arrow on the Fig.1 Preferably, the handle (20) is connected to the compression piston (10) by a tube (50) in the shape of a straight cylinder. This tube (50) is, of course, sized to fit between the container (2) and the casing (3). Alternatively, the handle (20) can be connected to the compression piston (10) by other means, such as rods or fins, for example. Preferably, the first and second check valves (40) are positioned on the opposite side from the handle (20) to reduce dead volume in the compression chamber (12).

[0031] It will thus become clear that by pulling on the handle (20) (vertical downward movement on the representation of the Fig.1), ambient air will be admitted into the compression chamber (12) via the first non-return valve (30), and by pushing the handle (20) (vertical upward movement on the representation of the Fig.1 ), this air will be pressurized and transferred from the compression chamber (12) to an internal volume in the container (2) via the second check valve (40), thus pressurizing the internal volume in the container (2) and the game ball(s) it contains.

[0032] Preferably, the handle (20) is positioned on the opposite side of the lid (4), which makes it easier to open the lid (4) to insert the game ball(s) into the container (2).

[0033] There Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the device (1) of the Fig.1 that is to say, a plane passing through the piston.

[0034] In this example, the container (2), the casing (3), and the tube (50) connecting the handle (20) to the piston are all in the shape of a straight circular cylinder, and the piston is in the shape of a circular ring. As in any piston pump, the piston will of course be fitted to the dimensions of the container (2) and the casing (3) and may optionally be equipped with piston rings, an O-ring, or any other means ensuring a good seal to compress the air in the compression chamber (12).

[0035] Other cylindrical shapes are also possible. The container (2), the casing (3) and the tube (50) connecting the handle (20) to the piston can, for example, all have the shape of an oval or elliptical cylinder, that is to say, a cylinder whose base or a section is an oval or an ellipse.

[0036] There Fig.3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along plane BB of the device (1) of the Fig.1that is to say, a plane passing through the tube (50) connecting the handle (20) to the piston and through a game ball (5) contained in the container (2) (said game ball (5) not being part of the invention). In this figure, a cross-section of the tube (50) connecting the handle (20) to the piston is particularly visible. Preferably, said tube (50) shall have a thickness slightly less than the gap between the container (2) and the casing (3) so as not to rub against the walls of the container (2) and / or the casing (3). Preferably, the container (2) shall have an inside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball (5) it is intended to contain. In cases where the container (2) is in the shape of a circular cylinder, the inside diameter of the container (2) shall, for example, be between 102% and 150% of the diameter of the game ball (5) it is intended to contain.

[0037] There Fig. 4schematically shows a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a preferred device (1) according to the invention.

[0038] In this example, the lid (4) is fitted with a pressure relief valve (60) for the container (2). Such a valve is commonly known as such. Activating it allows the air previously pressurized in the container (2) to be released, thus reducing the pressure in the container (2), or even returning the container (2) to atmospheric pressure before opening the lid (4) to remove the ball(s).

[0039] Preferably, the decompression valve (60) is actuated externally by a user, for example by a button (61) as shown in the Fig. 4 Preferably, and as illustrated in the Fig. 4, the decompression valve (60) is pre-tensioned by a spring (62) in order to keep the valve closed in the absence of pressure in the container (2).

[0040] The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which are purely illustrative and should not be considered limiting. Generally, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above. The presence of drawing reference numbers cannot be considered limiting, even when these numbers are indicated in the claims.

[0041] The use of the verbs "comprendre", "includer", "comporter", or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, cannot in any way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned.

[0042] The use of the indefinite article "un", "une", or the definite article "le", "la" or "l'", to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements.

[0043] The invention can also be described as follows: a device (1) for storing at least one game ball (5) under pressure and comprising a container (2) fitted with a sealed lid (4) and an envelope (3) disposed around and at a distance from the container (2), and a pump for pumping ambient air into the container (2). The pump comprises an annular piston disposed between the container (2) and the envelope (3), a handle (20) connected to the piston for moving the piston in translation along the container (2), a first non-return valve (30) for admitting ambient air into a compression chamber (12) between the envelope (3) and the container (2), and a second non-return valve (40) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and a volume inside the container (2) for transferring air from the compression chamber (12) to the container (2).

Claims

1. A device (1) for storing at least one game ball (5), said device (1) comprising: - a cylindrical container (2) able to contain the at least one game ball (5) and provided with a lid (4) to open the container (2) in order to insert the at least one game ball (5) therein and tightly close the container (2); - a cylindrical shell (3) coaxially disposed around and at a distance from the container (2); - a pump to pump ambient air in the container (2); characterised in that the pump comprises: - an annular compression piston (10) disposed around the container (2) and between the container (2) and the shell (3), thereby defining a compression chamber (12) between said compression piston (10), said shell (3), and said container (2); - an external handle (20) connected to the compression piston (10) to translationally displace the compression piston (10) along the container (2); - a first non-return valve (30) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and the ambient environment to introduce ambient air into the compression chamber (12); and - a second non-return valve (40) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and a volume internal to the container (2) to transfer air from the compression chamber (12) to the volume internal to the container (2).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the container (2) is able to contain at least one tennis ball or at least one padel ball.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the container (2) is in the shape of a straight cylinder and in that the shell (3) is in the shape of a straight cylinder.

4. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle (20) is connected to the compression piston (10) via a tube (50) in the shape of a straight cylinder.

5. The device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the container (2) is in the shape of a straight circular cylinder, in that the shell (3) is in the shape of a straight circular cylinder, and in that the handle (20) is connected to the compression piston (10) via a tube (50) in the shape of a straight circular cylinder.

6. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle (20) is disposed on a side opposite to the lid (4).

7. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lid (4) is provided with a decompression valve (60) for the container (2).

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the decompression valve (60) is externally actuatable by a user.