Device for storing a game ball under pressure

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for storing at least one game ball (5) under pressure, said device comprising a container (2) provided with a leak-tight cover (4) and a casing (3) arranged 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 arranged between the container (2) and the casing (3), a handle (20) connected to the piston for moving the piston translationally along the container (2), a first non-return valve (30) for admitting ambient air into a compression chamber (12) between the casing (3) and the container (2), and a second non-return valve (40), arranged between the compression chamber (12) and an internal volume of the container (2), for transferring air from the compression chamber (12) to the container (2).

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR STORING A PLAY BALL UNDER PRESSURE

[0002] Field of invention

[0003] The invention relates to a device for containing and pressurizing one or more game balls, such as, for example, tennis or padel balls.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] Many devices have been developed to hold game balls and to pressurize and maintain these balls when not in use.

[0006] For example, such a device is known from document DE9411154U1. This device has a pipette on its cover, which allows a pressurized air supply to be connected to it in order to put its internal volume at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and thus better preserve the balls it contains. This is not practical, however, because it requires having an independent source of compressed air.

[0007] To address this problem, US3415357 proposes equipping the device with a bellows pump that can be operated by the user to pressurize the ball container. However, such a pump mechanism is complicated to manufacture and use. It is also relatively bulky and not very aesthetically pleasing.

[0008] Document US3819040A proposes a variant consisting of providing two containers fitting one inside the other and each equipped with screw threads allowing their internal volume to be put under pressure by screwing one container onto the other. However, such a solution presents problems of sealing over time and therefore does not allow the balls to be kept under pressure for a sufficiently long time.

[0009] Such a device is also known from document CN104816881. However, such a device is not practical to use, particularly for handling and operating its pump. Summary of the invention

[0010] An object of the invention is to provide a device for storing at least one game ball under pressure and which at least partially addresses the problems of known devices, and / or to provide an alternative to known devices.

[0011] The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0012] According to the invention there is provided a device for storing at least one game ball, said device comprising:

[0013] - a cylindrical container capable of containing at least one game ball and provided with a lid for opening the container in order to introduce the at least one game ball and to close the container in a leaktight manner;

[0014] - a cylindrical envelope arranged coaxially around and at a distance from the container; and

[0015] - a pump to pump ambient air into the container.

[0016] The pump includes:

[0017] - an annular compression piston disposed around the container and between the container and the casing, thereby defining a compression chamber between said compression piston, said casing and said container;

[0018] - an external handle connected to the compression piston to move the compression piston in translation along the container;

[0019] - a first non-return valve arranged between the compression chamber and the ambient air to admit ambient air into the compression chamber; and

[0020] - a second non-return valve arranged between the compression chamber and a volume inside the container to transfer air from the compression chamber to the volume inside the container.

[0021] Since such a device has its own integrated pump, there is no need to provide independent means for pressurizing the ball container. It is also simpler to make and use than known devices. Preferably, the container is capable of holding at least one tennis ball or at least one padel ball. This is the most common use for such a device.

[0022] Preferably, the container has the shape of a right cylinder and the envelope has the shape of a right cylinder.

[0023] Preferably, the handle is connected to the compression piston by a tube in the shape of a right cylinder.

[0024] More preferably, the container has the shape of a right circular cylinder, the casing has the shape of a right circular cylinder, and the handle is connected to the compression piston by a tube having the shape of a right circular cylinder.

[0025] In the context of the present invention, the term "cylinder" is to be understood according to the geometric meaning of this term. Thus, a cylinder is a ruled surface whose generatrices are parallel, that is to say a surface in space made up of straight lines or segments of parallel lines. A prism, a cube, a parallelepiped or a cylinder of revolution 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.

[0026] Preferably, the handle is arranged on a side opposite the lid, which makes it easier to open the lid to insert the play ball(s) into the container.

[0027] Preferably, the lid is provided with a container pressure relief valve, which allows the container to be decompressed before opening the lid to remove the game ball(s). More preferably, the pressure relief valve is operable from the outside by a user. Brief description of the figures

[0028] These and other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings of the figures, in which:

[0029] Fig. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0030] Fig.2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along a plane AA of the device of Fig.1;

[0031] Fig.3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along a plane BB of the device of Fig.1;

[0032] Fig. 4 schematically shows a partial longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a preferred device according to the invention.

[0033] Figure drawings are not to scale or proportionate. Generally, similar or identical elements are denoted by identical references in figures.

[0034] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0035] Fig. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a device (1) according to the invention.

[0036] The device (1) comprises a cylindrical container (2) capable of containing the at least one game ball (5) and being provided with a lid (4) for opening the container (2) in order to introduce the at least one game ball (5) and to close the container (2) in a sealed manner. The lid (4) may for example be of the type to be screwed onto the container (2) or be hinged with a mechanism for tightening the lid (4) onto the container (2). Sealing 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).

[0037] Preferably, the container (2) has the shape of a right cylinder and the casing (3) has the shape of a right cylinder. Preferably, the container (2) is sized so that the game balls stack in the container (2). 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.

[0038] The device (1) further comprises a cylindrical casing (3) arranged coaxially around and at a distance from the container (2).

[0039] The device (1) further comprises a pump for pumping ambient air into the container (2). For this purpose, the pump comprises an annular compression piston (10) arranged 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).

[0040] The pump also includes two non-return valves:

[0041] - a first non-return valve (30) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and the ambient air to admit ambient air into the compression chamber (12); and

[0042] - a second non-return valve (40) arranged between the compression chamber (12) and a volume inside the container (2) for transferring pressurized air from the compression chamber (12) to the volume inside the container (2).

[0043] The first non-return valve (30) may for example be placed on a wall of the casing (3), as shown in Fig. 1. Alternatively, the first non-return valve (30) may for example be placed on the compression piston (10) so as to allow passage of ambient air through the piston and towards the compression chamber (12).

[0044] The second non-return valve (40) may for example be placed on a wall of the container (2), as shown in Fig. 1. The pump also comprises 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 in Fig. 1). Preferably the handle (20) is connected to the compression piston (10) by a tube (50) having the shape of a right cylinder. Said tube (50) is of course dimensioned to be able to be inserted between the container (2) and the casing (3). Alternatively, the handle (20) may be connected to the compression piston (10) by other means, such as by rods or by blades for example. Preferably, the first and second non-return valves (40) are placed on a side opposite the handle (20) in order to reduce a dead volume in the compression chamber (12).

[0045] It will thus be clear that by pulling the handle (20) (vertical downward movement in the representation of Fig. 1), ambient air will be admitted into the compression chamber (12) via the first non-return valve (30), and that by pushing the handle (20) (vertical upward movement in the representation of Fig. 1), this air will be pressurized and transferred from the compression chamber (12) to a volume inside the container (2) via the second non-return valve (40), thus pressurizing the volume inside the container (2) as well as the game ball(s) it contains.

[0046] Preferably, the handle (20) is arranged on a side opposite the lid (4), which makes it easier to open the lid (4) to insert the game ball(s) into the container (2).

[0047] Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along a plane AA of the device (1) of Fig. 1, i.e. a plane passing through the piston.

[0048] In this example the container (2), the casing (3) and the tube (50) connecting the handle (20) to the piston all have the shape of a right circular cylinder and the piston has the shape of a circular ring. As in any piston pump, the piston will of course be adjusted to the dimensions of the container (2) and the casing (3) and may possibly be fitted with segments or an O-ring or any other means ensuring a good seal to compress the air in the compression chamber (12).

[0049] 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.

[0050] Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view along a plane BB of the device (1) of Fig. 1, i.e. 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 forming part of the invention). In this figure, a cross-section of the tube (50) connecting the handle (20) to the piston is seen more particularly. Preferably, said tube (50) will have a thickness slightly less than the spacing 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) will have an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the game ball (5) that it is intended to contain.In cases where the container (2) has the shape of a circular cylinder, the internal diameter of the container (2) will for example be between 102% and 150% of the diameter of the game ball (5) which it is intended to contain.

[0051] Fig. 4 schematically shows a partial longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a preferred device (1) according to the invention.

[0052] In this example, the lid (4) is provided with a pressure relief valve (60) for the container (2). Such a valve is generally known as such. When actuated, it allows the air previously pressurized in the container (2) to be evacuated and thus the pressure in the container (2) to be reduced, or even the container (2) to be brought back to atmospheric pressure before opening the lid (4) to remove the game ball(s).

[0053] Preferably, the pressure relief valve (60) is operable from the outside by a user, for example by a button (61) as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, and as illustrated in Fig. 4, the pressure relief 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).

[0054] The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which are of purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. In general, 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 reference numbers in the drawings cannot be considered as limiting, including when these numbers are indicated in the claims.

[0055] The use of the verbs "to understand", "to include", "to comprise", or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, cannot in any way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned.

[0056] The use of the indefinite article "un", "une", or the definite article "le", "la" or "I'", to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements.

[0057] The invention may also be described as follows: a device (1) for storing at least one game ball (5) under pressure and comprising a container (2) provided with a sealed lid (4) and a casing (3) arranged 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 arranged between the container (2) and the casing (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 casing (3) and the container (2), and a second non-return valve (40) arranged 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

Demands 1. Device (1) for storing at least one game ball (5), said device (1) comprising: - a cylindrical container (2) suitable for holding at least one game ball (5) and fitted with a lid (4) for opening the container (2) in order to introduce at least one game ball (5) and to close the container (2) in a watertight manner; - a cylindrical envelope (3) arranged coaxially around and at a distance from the container (2); - a pump for pumping ambient air into the container (2); characterized in that the pump comprises: - 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); - an external handle (20) connected to the compression piston (10) to move the compression piston (10) in translation along the container (2); - a first non-return valve (30) disposed between the compression chamber (12) and the ambient air 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 air from the compression chamber (12) to the internal volume of the container (2).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (2) is capable of containing at least one tennis ball or at least one padel ball.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (2) has the shape of a straight cylinder and in that the envelope (3) has the shape of a straight cylinder. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (20) is connected to the compression piston (10) by a tube (50) having the shape of a straight cylinder. Device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the container (2) has the shape of a straight circular cylinder, in that the casing (3) has the shape of a straight circular cylinder, and in that the handle (20) is connected to the compression piston (10) by a tube (50) having the shape of a straight circular cylinder. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (20) is disposed on a side opposite the lid (4). Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (4) is provided with a decompression valve (60) for the container (2).Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the decompression valve (60) is actuable from the outside by a user.

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