Ball holder

Claim 2

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player comprising, a base having a cavity defining a portion of a sphere less than a hemisphere, said sphere having a diameter approximately the diameter of the ball, a clip connected to the base for securing the ball holder to an article of clothing worn by the player, and a retaining ring resiliently connected to the base, said retaining ring having an annular portion spaced away from the base and adapted for engagement with the balL positioned in the cavity of the base with the ball protruding through the center of the annular portion.

Claim 3

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip includes a pair of cantilever fingers, each of said fingers mounted adjacent to one edge of the base and extending outwardly from one another from the respective points of attachment to the base.

Claim 4

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 2 wherein the base has an opening aligned with each of the fingers, each of said openings having its form being identical to a projection of the outline of the respective clip finger on the base.

Claim 5

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1, including a pair of interlock members mounted on the edge of the base, each of said interlock members mounted on opposite sides of the base, each of said interlock members being adapted for connection to a mateable interlock member on an adjacent ball holder to secure releasably the ball holders together.

Claim 6

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1 wherein the base includes a recess opening in its edge opposite to that portion of the edge to which the ring is connected, said recess opening being adapted to facilitate alignment of the ball for insertion into the holder.

Claim 7

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1 wherein the ring has the surface of the interior of its annulus curved in order to engage securely the ball protruding through the annulus.

Claim 8

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1, including a base connector tongue formed integral with one edge of the base, said base connector tongue having a recess, and a ring connector tongue formed integral with one edge of the retaining ring, said ring connector tongue having a protrusion mateable with the recess in the base connector tongue for joining of the two tongues.

Claim 9

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1 wherein the base includes a recess opening in its edge opposite to that portion of the edge to which the ring is connected, said recess being adapted to align the ball for insertion of the ball into the holder, and including a pair of interlock members mounted on the edge of the base, each of said interlock members mounted on opposite sides of the base and being equidistantly positioned from the recess opening and that portion of the edge to which the ring is connected, each of said interlock members being adapted for connection to a mateable interlock member on an adjacent ball holder to secure releasably the ball holders together.

Claim 10

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1, including a base connector tongue formed integral with one edge of the base, said base connector tongue having a recess, and a ring connector tongue formed integral with one edge of the retaining ring, said ring connector tongue having a protrusion mating with the recess in the base connector tongue and being welded to said base connector tongue, and said base including a recess opening in its edge opposite to the base connector tongue.

Claim 11

A ball holder adapted for readily removably holding a ball on the person of a player as defined in claim 1, including a base connector tongue formed integral with one edge of the base, said base connector tongue having a recess, a ring connector tongue formed integral with one edge of the retaining ring, said ring connector tongue having a protrusion mating with the recess in the base connector tongue and being sonically welded thereto, said base including a recess opening in its edge opposite to the base connector tongue, saiD clip including a pair of cantilever fingers, each of said fingers having one end mounted adjacent to the base connector tongue, said fingers extending outward from one another from the respective points of attachment to the base, each of said fingers having a friction surface on its surface adjacent to the base, an aperture aligned with each of said fingers, each of said apertures having its form being identical to a projection of the outline of the respective clip finger on the base, said base having a base friction surface on its exterior surface between the apertures, and a pair of interlock members mounted on the edge of the base, each of said interlock members mounted on opposite sides equidistantly spaced from the base connector tongue and the recess opening, each of said interlock members being adapted for connection to a mateable interlock member on an adjacent ball holder to secure releasably the ball holders together.