BACKGROUND ART At Major League baseball games, a foul ball caught or retrieved by a spectator is considered a souvenir which the spectator typically takes home or gives to a nearby child. However, at non-professional baseball games such as little league, junior high school, high school, softball and community league games, foul balls are not considered souvenirs and are typically returned to the game by being thrown onto the field, to a player or to the umpire. Although generally helpful, this practice presents two concerns: first, if the game has resumed play using another ball, then the spectator's return of the retrieved ball interrupts the game. When the retrieved ball is thrown out onto the field, to a player or to the umpire, the game must be stopped while the umpire collects the ball. Second, and more importantly, the spectator's return of a foul ball presents a serious safety hazard.

If the spectator throws the ball to a player or an umpire who is unaware that the spectator is returning the ball to the game, then the player or umpire could be injured if, for example, the ball hits him in the head.

Although the prior art does not teach a device that enables a baseball spectator to safely return a foul ball without interrupting the game, it does teach several ball returning devices for various sports. Examples of these are provided by U. S. Pat. No. 1,869, 642 to Woolman for a driving range registering device that measures the distance of a golf drive and returns the golf ball to the player via piping; U. S. Pat. No. 3,918, 711 to Zak for a tennis training assembly that includes a funnel-like ball collecting means; U. S. Pat. No.

4,013, 292 to Cohen et al. for an automated basketball game; and U. S.

Pat. No. 4,275, 883 to Grimaldi et al. for a pitching target with an inclined trough for ball return. However, none of the devices taught by these patents is suited for safely returning a foul ball without interrupting the game.

Additionally, U. S. Pat. No. 5,813, 927 to Anglea teaches a device used to support baseballs during batting practice. The device consists of a box-like container and an upright support member. During batting practice, the device is located near the pitcher and contains a plurality of baseballs. With the device, the pitcher is able to throw consecutive pitches without having to wait for a hit ball to be retrieved from the field. However, although the device is well suited for providing a pitcher with an uninterrupted supply of baseballs during practice, it is not suited for allowing a spectator to return a foul ball to an active game. First, spectators are usually separated from the playing field by a fenced backstop or field fence and, therefore, simply placing a foul ball in such a device on the spectator's side of a fence would not return the ball to the game.

Second, a box-like device that is not permanently installed in the spectator's area is likely to be moved, removed or used as a trash receptacle.

Thus, none of the above mentioned inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant inven- tion as claimed and, further, a foul ball basket solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a foul ball basket. The basket includes a multi-planar frame partially covered with fence wiring. The basket is mounted to a standard baseball backstop. The basket is dimensioned and configured to provide a first opening and a second opening through both of which a baseball can be inserted or removed. The basket is dimensioned and configured such that the first opening faces the backstop and the second opening is accessible from the spectator side of the backstop.

In another embodiment, the foul ball basket has a multi-planar frame partially covered with fence wiring. The basket is mountable on a standard baseball backstop. The basket is dimensioned and configured to provide a first opening and a second opening through both of which a baseball can be inserted or removed. The basket is dimensioned and configured such that the first opening faces the backstop and the second opening is accessible from spectator side of said backstop. The frame is constructed of galvanized steel conduit. The frame includes three rectangles, with the first rectangle larger than the second and third rectangles. The first and second rectangles are arranged co- planar with one another. The second rectangle is positioned inside the first rectangle. First spokes are arranged from each corner of the first rectangle to the corresponding corner of the second rectangle.

The third rectangle is not co-planar with the first and second rectangles. Second spokes are arranged from the corners of the first rectangle to the corresponding corners of the third rectangle. Fence wiring is secured over each of four trapezoid-like shaped areas formed by the sides of the first and third rectangles and the second spokes joining those rectangles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a two foul ball baskets according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a foul ball basket according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the foul ball basket shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a foul ball basket taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is a safety device that attaches to the spectators'side of a baseball backstop and allows a spectator to return a foul ball without interrupting the game or risking injury to a player or umpire. The device is comprised of a multi-planar frame that is partially covered with fence wiring. When attached to a baseball backstop, the device has two openings-one with a flap that lines up with a pre-cut hole in the backstop and a second opening, without a flap, that faces the spectators. The device allows a spectator to return a foul ball by inserting it through the unflapped opening. The umpire is then able to retrieve the ball when needed by reaching through the flapped opening and grasping the ball. During active play of a baseball game, the flap prevents a thrown or hit ball from entering the device.

Fig. 1 of the drawings presents an environmental view of two foul ball baskets according to the present invention. It will be appreciated from the view that the baskets are attached to the backside of a baseball backstop and that a hole in the backstop, which must be cut before installation of each basket, lines up with the flapped opening on each basket. The baskets are attached to the backstop via standard U-shaped clamps.

Fig. 2 of the drawings presents a side view of a foul ball basket 10 according to the present invention. The basket frame is constructed of three rectangles 11,12 and 14 interconnected by two sets of spokes 15,16, all of which are shaped from standard galvanized conduit. The three rectangles consist of a main rectangle 11, a coplanar rectangle 12 and a non-coplanar rectangle 14. The main rectangle 11 is larger than both the coplanar rectangle 12 and the non-coplanar rectangle 14.

The coplanar rectangle 12 is positioned in the same plane as the main rectangle 11 whereas the non-coplanar rectangle 14 positioned in a plane other than that of the main rectangle 11. A set of four spokes 15 connects each corner of the main rectangle 11 to the corresponding corner of the coplanar rectangle 12 and a second set of four spokes 16 connects each corner of the main rectangle 11 to the corresponding corner of the non-coplanar rectangle 14. Each spoke 15 of the first set is straight, and each spoke 16 of the second set is curved.

Fence wiring 17, is shaped and dimensioned to cover each of four trapezoid-like shaped areas defined by a side of the main rectangle 11, the corresponding side of the non-coplanar rectangle 14, and two of the curved spokes 16. The fence wiring 17 is secured to each of those sides and spokes. Together, the fence wiring 17 and the basket frame form a funnel-like shaped basket with the non-coplanar rectangle 14 forming an opening on one side and the main rectangle 11 forming an opening on the other side. The coplanar rectangle 12, which is within the opening formed by the main rectangle 11, is equipped with a two-way flap 13.

When the basket is attached to a backstop fence, the area defined by the main rectangle 11 is no longer open. A pre-cut hole of approximately the same size as the coplanar rectangle 12 is lined up with the flapped opening, thereby forming an opening on the play field side of the backstop into the basket as shown in Fig. 1. Baseballs 18 are shown in the basket.

Fig. 3 of the drawings presents a front view of a foul ball basket 10 according to the present invention. A straight spoke 15 runs from each corner of the main rectangle 11 to the corresponding corner of the coplanar rectangle 12. Fence wiring 17 is secured to the sides of the main rectangle 11, to the curved spokes (hidden behind the straight spokes 15) and to the sides of the non-coplanar rectangle (hidden behind the coplanar rectangle 12). The two-way flap 13 is attached to the coplanar rectangle 12 via a hinge pin 19 that runs through the flap 13 and into opposite sides of the coplanar rectangle 12.

Fig. 4 of the drawings presents a cross-sectional side view of a foul ball basket 10 according to the present invention. Fence wiring 17 is attached to the curved spokes 16, the sides of the non-coplanar rectangle 14, and the sides of the main rectangle 11. The flap 13 is attached to the coplanar rectangle 12 via the hinge pin 19 which runs through the flap 13 and into opposite sides of the coplanar rectangle 12. When the basket is installed on a backstop, the sides of the non- coplanar rectangle 14 form an opening accessible by spectators of a baseball game and the sides of the coplanar rectangle 12 form an opening to the playing field.

The preferred embodiments of the invention provide a device that allows a spectator to return a foul ball to an active baseball or softball game without interrupting play. The device allows foul balls to be returned in a manner that avoids injury to inattentive players or umpires by eliminating the need for a spectator to throw a retrieved ball back onto the field. The device does not obstruct a spectator's view of a game. The device prevents a ball, while in play, from being inadvertently thrown into it.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.