Abstract:
To permit playing golf from a wheel chair or exercising a dog, a tennis ball throwing apparatus includes: (1) a safety feature to prevent the throwing device from being used for throwing small sharp items; (2) a sling arrangement that permits easily throwing of balls a long distance; and (3) an apparatus that permits balls to be picked up without either bending down or touching them with the hands. In the case of a dog exerciser, a storage compartment is provided for storing tennis balls to dry the tennis balls may be loaded in the storage compartment and later put in a pouch one by one to throw them without touching them. Balls that a dog retrieves may be picked up using the sling without touching the ball and it is automatically put into a storage compartment where it is exposed to air for drying purposes. In the case of the golf game a club is mounted to the throwing device.

Description:
RELATED CASES  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/642,186 filed Aug. 18, 2000, by Michael M. Williamson entitled DOG EXERCISE APPARATUS AND METHOD. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a method and apparatuses for playing a golf-type game and more particularly for apparatuses and methods for propelling a ball or other object toward a target such as for example toward a hole in a golf course.  
           [0003]    Games are known in which a ball or other projectile are propelled toward a target. Golf, for example, requires a golf ball to be hit with a club toward a hole. This type of game has several disadvantages under some circumstances, such as for example: (1) some persons have difficulty or lack the skill to propel the ball accurately and for a sufficient distance, such as for example handicapped or disabled persons; and (2) some games such as golf, for example, require much practice and relatively expensive equipment thus detracting from the pleasure of the game for some individuals.  
           [0004]    Throwing devices are known for throwing objects with some mechanical advantage to enable ease in throwing. Prior art throwing apparatuses include slings having an elastic member with a projectile holder on it. The item being thrown is temporarily held in the projectile holder and the projectile holder and item are pulled back, stretching the elastic member, and released to throw the item.  
           [0005]    The prior art slings have several disadvantages, such as: (1) the sling may be used by children or the like to throw dangerous projectiles; and (2) some such slings are not well designed for efficiency in a specific purpose such as for a specific game or for throwing an object for a dog to retrieve.  
           [0006]    It is also known to design special games for handicapped or disabled persons such as for persons confined to a wheel chair. For example, basketball games are known for use by persons in wheel chairs. However, some handicapped and disabled persons are still barred from some games because they lack the ability to handle the necessary equipment effectively.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel game and apparatus for playing the game.  
           [0008]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide novel throwing apparatuses and methods for any purpose including for exercising a dog.  
           [0009]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel game adapted for use by handicapped or disabled persons.  
           [0010]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel method for exercising dogs which can be tailored for certain types of items to be thrown such as tennis balls or the like.  
           [0011]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved sling shot designed for convenience of use.  
           [0012]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide a throwing device which is designed to limit the items being thrown and exclude, for example, dangerous sharp projectiles.  
           [0013]    In accordance with the above and further objects of the invention, a throwing apparatus is provided for throwing balls or other safe items. The throwing apparatus includes: (1) a sling arrangement that permits easily throwing items a long distance; (2) an attachment to provide other functions for the purpose of the throwing device such as a golf club for putting a golf ball or a storage compartment for picking up and holding tennis balls; and (3) a safety feature to prevent the throwing apparatus from being used for throwing small sharp items.  
           [0014]    In the preferred embodiment, the throwing apparatus includes a frame, a sling portion and storage section for a club or for projectiles, with the sling portion and storage section being mounted to the frame. The sling portion includes a projectile holder and a projectile thrower. The projectile holder is designed to accommodate particular projectiles such as a golf ball or tennis ball in the preferred embodiment and to reject others such as to reject small hard objects in favor of tennis balls. In the preferred embodiment, the golf club is a small putter that can be used with either the left or the right hand and can be used from a sitting position. It is pivotally mounted to the frame so as to conveniently be moveable between a stored position and a stroke position.  
           [0015]    The frame is elongated and supports both a projectile throwing sling and the storage section which in the preferred embodiment is a golf club, the end of the golf club being pivotably mounted to the frame from its distal end. The sling portion of the throwing apparatus is on top of the frame and the golf club on the bottom when in its stored position. The projectile throwing apparatus in the preferred embodiment consists of elastomeric bands that serve as thrust bands. A projectile holder sized to receive a ball such as a golf or tennis ball holds the projectile on the elastomeric bands as the elastomeric bands are stretched and released to throw the projectile. The projectile holder has an opening in the center sized so that sharp small objects fit through the hole and are not usable with the projectile holder. Thus they are rejected and the sling is difficult to turn into a dangerous weapon-like toy.  
           [0016]    For convenient holding and aiming, the throwing apparatus includes a centrally located vertical cylindrical hand grip connected at its upper end to the combined wing-sight and thrust-band holder and removably connected at its lower end to an armrest apparatus extending toward the user from the hand grip and ending in a curved member that may rest on top of the outstretched arm holding the hand grip. This permits sighting from the outstretched arm and provides room for the elastomeric thrust bands to be pulled back for convenient sighting and usage with small effort.  
           [0017]    In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a gudgeon at the far end of the frame extending downwardly, providing a pivot point to which the end of the golf club&#39;s handle is mounted and includes a clasp at the near end adjacent to the hand grip and extending downwardly for holding the shaft of the golf club when it is in its stored position. When the golf club is in its stored position, the shaft of the golf club is parallel to the frame and the head of the golf club is parallel to the hand grip of the apparatus. For use, the club swings outwardly about the gudgeon until the shaft is aligned with the frame forming a two foot seven inch long member from the hand grip to the head of the golf club. The gudgeon has sufficient friction to hold the golf club place so a person in a wheel chair can use it to hit a golf ball that is on the ground.  
           [0018]    In another embodiment, a storage compartment is mounted to the bottom of the frame and includes a spring-loaded holder that may be used to pick up and store projectiles. The elongated frame supports both the projectile throwing sling, and the storage compartment in a compact, easy to assemble construction where the projectile thrower and storage compartment share a common member between them on the elongated frame so that the spring-loaded storage compartment can conveniently reach from the hand of the user to the ground to pick up a tennis ball or other projectiles. The projectile is picked up by pushing downwardly with the end of the storage compartment on top of the ball until the ball is forced inside and held by the spring-loaded holder.  
           [0019]    In use, the projectile, which in the preferred embodiment is a golf ball, is held in the projectile holder and the projectile holder with the projectile in it is then pulled back, towards the person, on top of the frame and sighted through the wing sights forming the top of the projectile thrower. With the arm holding the hand grip outstretched and the armrest on the top of the arm to steady the throwing apparatus, the projectile holder and projectile are pulled backward, stretching the elastomeric thrust bands. The projectile holder may then be released and the projectile will go towards its target. When used as a dog exerciser, the dog will normally drop what it is returning from the previous use and chase the projectile, fetching it and bringing it back to the user. The projectile throwing apparatus cannot be misused by children or the like to throw sharp objects because of the opening in the projectile holder. It may however, be safely used to pick up projectiles that have been dropped on the ground and to throw the projectiles a substantial distance with very little effort.  
           [0020]    When used to play golf, the head of the golf club may be pulled free from the elastic and pivoted to an aligned position with the frame when on the green and the gold club and throwing apparatus used as a putter to move the golf ball while remaining seated in the wheel chair. Because the apparatus is compact and the same apparatus serves both to propel the golf ball large distances with accuracy and serves as a putter, it can be handled with a maximum convenience while remaining in the wheel chair. Because it can be used with either hand, the apparatus can be used on the golf course while remaining seated in a wheel chair or in a golf cart.  
           [0021]    When used as a dog exerciser, items to be thrown may be loaded in the storage compartment and later put in a projectile holder one by one to throw them without touching them. Items that a dog retrieves may be picked up using the sling without touching the ball and it is automatically put into a storage compartment where it is exposed to air for drying purposes. The operator thus may throw the ball with the device a considerable distance and when it is retrieved, if the dog is trained to drop the ball, the throwing apparatus may be used to pick up the ball without touching it and keep it in the storage compartment until it is dry. In the meantime, a new projectile may be thrown. Moreover, if the dog does not release the projectile, a new ball can be thrown in an effort to cause the dog to drop the last-retrieved item and retrieve the new projectile.  
           [0022]    From the above description, it can be understood that the projectile throwing apparatus of this invention has several advantages, such as: (1) one embodiment of the apparatus enables a handicapped person or disabled person to enjoy a golf-like game without the conventional equipment or training; (2) when used for golf, it does not damage the course; (3) another embodiment can be used to exercise a dog; (4) the dog exercise embodiment includes a convenient pickup device that avoids getting dog saliva on the hand or bending down; (5) the dog exercise embodiment stores several projectiles in a manner in which they are exposed to air; (6) it is safe to use and cannot be used to throw dangerous objects; (7) it may be used with either arm because of the central location of the grip and its symmetry; and (8) it is economical to construct because of its symmetrical form and use of a common spring like member to form a wing sight, throwing mechanism holder and storage compartment. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    The above noted and other features of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description when considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is an illustration showing the use of the projectile throwing apparatus of this invention and a particular method of its use by a handicapped or disabled person to play golf;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a projectile throwing apparatus usable in an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the embodiment of a projectile throwing apparatus of FIG. 2 from another angle;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a projectile throwing apparatus;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is an elevational side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in one position of its use;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in another position of its use;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 4; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]    In FIG. 1 there is shown a handicapped or disabled person  12 A in a wheel chair using the projectile throwing apparatus  16 A to propel a golf ball toward a target, which may be a hole in a golf course, as part of a game. In doing so, the person  12 A holds the hand grip  30 A of the projectile throwing apparatus  16 A in one hand (the left hand in FIG. 1) with the arm outstretched (right arm in FIG. 1) pulls the projectile holder  20 A with a golf ball  26 A in it back, stretching elastomeric throwing bands  28 C and  28 D. He can sight through the combined thrust band holder and wing sight  34 A between the two sections of a frame  22 A that mounts the elastomeric thrust bands  28 C and  28 D and release the projectile holder  20 A, causing the golf ball to proceed a substantial distance.  
         [0033]    While the arm is outstretched as shown in FIG. 1, the frame  22 A rests upon the arm of the person  12 A, being aided by the armrest assembly  32 A. At the bottom of the frame  22 A of the projectile throwing apparatus  16 A, there is a golf club  14  having a club head  19  and a shaft  21  with the shaft  21  being pivotally mounted to the frame  22 A by a gudgeon  15  to permit it to be pivoted from a stored position parallel to and next to the bottom of the frame  22 A to a use position aligned with the frame  22 A. A clasp  17  is mounted to the bottom of the frame  22 A and holds the shaft  21  in place in its stored position so it can be pivoted to be aligned with the frame and used as a golf club by a person in the wheel chair or pivoted to a parallel position and stored securely.  
         [0034]    While in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the projectile throwing apparatus  16 A is used to throw golf balls, other kinds of projectiles may be thrown although the projectile holder  20 A should be designed for the projectile to have adequate surface area to hold the projectile and an opening too small for the projectile to fall through but sufficiently large to preclude undesirable objects. Moreover, while elastomeric thrust bands  28 C and  28 D are used, it is possible to utilize other types of thrusting devices besides the elastomeric thrust bands  28 C and  28 D of FIG. 1.  
         [0035]    In FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the projectile throwing apparatus  16 A having the projectile holder  20 A, the frame  22 A, and thrust bands  28 C and  28 D and the golf club  14 . After throwing a golf ball and reaching the green, the golf club  14  can be pulled from its storage position by pulling it downwardly from the clasp  17  so that the shaft  21  pivots about the gudgeon  15  to a position parallel to the frame  22 A.  
         [0036]    The frame  22 A includes a hand grip  30 A, two parallel pipe members  74 C and  74 D forming the bottom of the frame  22 A, an armrest assembly  32 A and a combined thrust-band holder and wing sight  34 A. The hand grip  30 A is a round post comfortably covered with a reasonably firm but soft material and sized to be held in either hand. At one end of the hand grip  30 A, there are mounted frame members  22 A that support the golf club  14 , thrust bands  28 C and  28 D and the projectile holder  20 A extending forwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the hand grip  30 A and at the other end of the hand grip  30 A there is mounted the armrest assembly  32 A extending rearwardly.  
         [0037]    The armrest assembly  32 A includes side frame members  42 C and  42 D and the armrest  40 A. The side frame members  42 C and  42 D extend substantially perpendicular to the vertical hand grip  30 A and the armrest  40 A is arcuate and extends upwardly at an angle so that the top of the arc is substantially parallel to the top of the hand grip  30 A. The golf club  14  is mounted to the bottom of the parallel pipe members  74 C and  74 D. The two parallel pipe members  74 C and  74 D are mounted at one end to the top of the hand grip  30 A and at the other end to two upwardly and outwardly extending wing members  58 C and  58 D forming the wing sight  34 A. The two elastomeric bands  28 C and  28 D are fastened to the ends of the wing members  58 C and  58 D.  
         [0038]    In use, the arm of the user is within the arc of the armrest  40 A to steady the projectile throwing apparatus  16 A and is above the side frame members  42 C and  42 D, which however, are sufficiently spread apart and elongated so that they may pass slightly on either end of the arm without difficulty since the throwing apparatus as a whole is resting on the arcuate armrest  40 A. The armrest  40 A is one-quarter inch inner diameter membrane pipe insulation with its two open ends fitting on the end of one-quarter inch diameter 1018 carbon steel cylinders forming the two side members  42 C and  42 D. The hand grip  30 A is black three-quarter inch ID (inner diameter) water hose. Of course any other suitable members may be used and may be of any convenient shape and may be of sufficiently strong material to withstand the forces imparted in throwing a projectile.  
         [0039]    In the preferred embodiment, a projectile holder rest stud  50 A for the projectile holder  20 A extends from the hand grip  30 A on the end opposite to the armrest assembly  32 A in the same direction as the armrest assembly  32 A. It is sized to fit through the hole  62 A in the projectile holder  20 A, and as shown in FIG. 2, the hand grip  30 A may receive the projectile holder  20 A with the projectile holder rest  50 A passing through the hole  62 A to hold the projectile holder in a fixed position when it is not in use.  
         [0040]    The golf club  14  includes a shaft  21  and club head  19  with the shaft  21  including an enlarged cylindrical portion  65  (FIG. 3) sized to more easily be held by the clasp  17 . The tops of the wing members  58 C and  58 D forming the combined thrust band holder and wing sight  34 A accommodate expanded portions  61 C,  61 D respectively which may be plastic and are intended to hold the tubular elastomeric thrust bands  28 C and  28 D in place. In the preferred embodiment, the thrust bands are three-sixteenth inch inner diameter and one-quarter inch outer diameter latex rubber tubing although any other elastomeric member may be used to form elastomeric thrust bands and other types of force impelling members can be used instead of thrust bands.  
         [0041]    To mount the clasp  17 , a plate  41  is welded to the two parallel pipe members  74 C and  74 D forming the bottom of the frame  22 A. The clasp  17  includes a first finger  67 , a second finger  69  and a spring  71  around the pivot pin  73  and having arms  45  and  47 . The first finger  67  has outwardly extending flanges  73  and  75  bolted to the plate  41  at  77  and  79  (see FIG. 3) and downwardly extending parallel side members  81  and  83  (best shown in FIG. 3) generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of frame  22 A. A cup member  85  parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame  22 A is integrally formed at the end of the parallel side members  81  and  83 , and connects them, having a generally “V”-shaped portion connected at its distal end and an outwardly extending lip  87 . The second finger  69  includes downwardly extending parallel side members  89  and  91  adjacent and parallel to the side members  81  and  83  of the first finger and pivotally mounted to them by a pin  43  with the spring  71  having arms  45  and  47  biasing the first and second fingers together. A second cup member  93  is formed as part of the parallel side members  89  and  91  of the first finger and combines with it to form a cylindrical portion  67  that encircles and removably holds the enlarged portion  65  of the shank  21  of the golf club  14 .  
         [0042]    In FIG. 3, there is shown another perspective view of the throwing apparatus  16 A from a different direction better illustrating the clasp  17  and the gudgeon  15  with the golf club  14  pulled free from the clasp  17 . The gudgeon  15  includes a bolt  35  serving as a pin, an inverted “U”-shaped member having ears  23 ,  25  and a top  27 , an eyelet  33  mounted to the end of the shaft  21  and a bolt  35  serving both as a friction member and as a stop member for the rotation of the shaft  21  of the golf club  14 . The eyelet  33  includes: (1) a central opening that is aligned with openings in each of the ears  23  and  25  of the invented “U” shaped member to receive the bolt  35  and permit pivoting of the golf club shaft  21 , and corresponding rotation of a cylindrical shaped periphery to the eyelet  33 ; and (2) a detent  31  protruding from the periphery of the eyelet  33  to orbit in the plane of rotation of the eyelet as the club moves between storage and usable positions.  
         [0043]    The shank of the bolt  35  extends through the ears  23  and  25  of the “U”-shaped member and abuts the periphery of the eyelet  33  to create friction sufficient so that the shaft  21  of the golf club  14  remains parallel to the frame  22 A in the storage position although a lock could be incorporated on the frame or a wing nut engaging an extension of the gudgeon  15  to tighten against the shaft  21  and maintain it in place or any other of the many mechanisms known to keep pivotal structural members in a fixed position. The detent  31  abuts the bolt  35  when the golf club  14  is in usable position and serves as stop against further rotation.  
         [0044]    As best shown in FIG. 3, the clasp  17  includes downwardly extending parallel side members  81  and  83  extending from the flanges  73  and  75  and being generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of frame  22 A. A cup member  85  parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame  22 A is integrally formed at the end of the parallel side members, and connects them, having a generally “V”-shaped portion connected at its distal end and an outwardly extending lip  87 . As best shown in FIG. 3, the second finger  69  pivotally mounted to the finger  67  by a pin  43  with the spring  71  biasing the first and second fingers together. A second cup member (FIG. 3) combines with the first cup member to form a cylindrical portion  67  that encircles and removably holds the enlarged portion  65  of the shank  21  of the golf club  14 .  
         [0045]    In FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of another embodiment of throwing apparatus  16  having a projectile holder  20 , frame  22  and thrust bands  28 A and  28 B similar to the corresponding parts in the embodiment of FIG. 1 but instead of the golf club  14 A at the bottom of the frame  22 A, there is a combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24  having an open end  41  at the bottom of the frame  22  forming a part of the frame. Projectiles may be stored in the combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24  and thrown by the elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B, four such projectiles  26 A- 26 D being shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the throwing apparatus  16  is intended principally to be used to throw tennis balls for a dog to fetch.  
         [0046]    The frame  22  is similar to the frame  22 A of the embodiment  16 A of throwing apparatus and similar parts are identified by similar reference numeral, but with out the suffix A and with the suffixes A and B instead of the suffixes C and D sometimes used in describing the embodiment of FIG. 1. Thus it also includes a hand grip  30  and armrest assembly  32  and a combined thrust-band holder and wing sight  34  as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1. However as described about the embodiment of FIG. 4 includes a combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24  having open end  41  mounted to its bottom instead of a golf club as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0047]    The top member of the combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24  is the combined thrust-band holder and wing sight  34  to which the end connecting members  56 A and  56 B are welded. The top members  74 A and bottom members  72 A and  72 B are spaced sufficiently apart to accommodate the projectiles  26 A- 26 D, which in the embodiment of FIG. 4 are tennis balls having a diameter of approximately three and one-half inches, but the spacing may be variable depending on the projectile. The top members  74 A and  74 B and bottom members  72 A and  72 B are one-quarter inch diameter 1018 carbon steel for strength and flexibility and the bottom members  72 A and  72 B are formed integrally with the end connecting members  56 A and  56 B and extend to their distal end where the two parallel cylinders are connected together to form a loop parallel to the top of the storage compartment  24 .  
         [0048]    The combination thrust band holder and wing sight  34  also includes two parallel extending 1018 carbon steel cylinders  58 A and  58 B bent upwardly and apart from each other a sufficient distance at their outer ends to permit the tennis balls to pass between them easily and shaped to form a wide wing sight. The wing sight may be used for aiming without the need for the eye to be positioned directly in line with the projectiles  26 A- 26 D, thus avoiding a possible danger.  
         [0049]    The tops of the cylinders  58 A and  58 B accommodate expanded portions which may be plastic and are intended to hold the tubular elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B in place. In the preferred embodiment, the elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B are three-sixteenth inch inner diameter and one-quarter inch outer diameter latex rubber tubing although any other elastomeric member may be used to form elastomeric thrust bands and other types of force impelling members can be used instead of thrust bands.  
         [0050]    In FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a side elevational view of the projectile throwing apparatus  16  in two different positions of use. In FIG. 5, there is shown the projectile throwing apparatus  16  in a position to throw a projectile  26  which is in the projectile holder  20 . The elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B ( 28 B only being shown in these FIGS.) are stretched and in position to throw the projectile  26  when released. Four other projectiles  26 A- 26 D are shown stored in the combination storage compartment and pick-up device  24  with a bottom member  72 B being illustrated as being held by the end connecting member  56 B. The projectile holder  20  is shown with the hole  62  being positioned to illustrate how a small object would not be thrown but instead would fall through the hole  62 .  
         [0051]    As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the projectile holder  20  is rectangular and has on each of its ends metal rings crimped in place at grommets  64 A and  64 B ( 64 B not being shown) respectively to accommodate the end rings  66 A and  66 B ( 66 A not being shown) of the elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B ( 28 A not being shown). These elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B ( 28 B not being shown) include plastic tubing  68 A and  68 B (only  68 B being shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) and fit over an expanded portion shown at  70 B of the upwardly extending cylinders  58 A and  58 B (only  58 A being shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). In FIG. 6, there is shown the projectile holder  20  being positioned around the projectile holder rest stud  50  which passes through the opening sized to permit small undesirable objects to fall through and yet hold the desired projectile within the flexible flat surface.  
         [0052]    In FIGS. 7 and 8, there are shown respectively a bottom and top view of the projectile throwing apparatus  16  particularly illustrating the projectile holder  20 , a bottom  54  of the combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24 , the hand grip  30 , the combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24  and the combined thrust band holders and wing sights  34 . As shown best in FIG. 7, which is a bottom view of the throwing apparatus  16 , the combined storage compartment and pick-up device  24  has as its bottom member  54  two parallel pipe members  72 A and  72 B parallel to each other at a distance from each other slightly smaller than the diameter of the tennis balls that are being held so that, at the open end  41  near the bottom, a tennis ball may be forced into them and be held in place.  
         [0053]    Because the parallel pipe members  72 A and  72 B spring outwardly, the open end  41  (shown at the upper end in FIGS. 7 and 8) may spring apart slightly between the bottom of combined storage and pick-up device  54  and the intermediate frame members  74 A and  74 B holding the guide members which are spread apart to form a wing sight  58 A and  58 B. These are one-quarter inch diameter 1018 carbon steel in the preferred embodiment although any suitable stiff elongated member could be used as well. These members are held together by their integrally formed upwardly extending end connecting members  56 A and  56 B which extend upwardly into the intermediate frame members  74 A and  74 B where they are bent over and welded together between the parallel pipe members  72 A and  72 B as best shown at  80 .  
         [0054]    A projectile holder  20  in the preferred embodiment is 1013 black packing film folded and shown as a rectangular projectile holder  20  with two one-half inch inner diameter aluminum coated zinc grommets  64 A and  64 B formed around openings to provide attachment points for the elastomeric thrust bands  28 A and  28 B respectively. The centrally located hole  62  is circular or square and substantially three-quarters inch in diameter or along its sides and the projectile holder  20  is substantially 2 inches by 11 inches in the preferred embodiment. However, for tennis balls, the central hole  62  may be of other sizes and shapes such as being less than three inches and greater than one-quarter inch. It should be a central hole within the range of one-eighth of an inch and three inches and said projectile holder should have as its smallest dimension at least one and three-quarter inches. The largest dimension of said projectile holder  20  should be greater than the largest dimension of said hole  62  and the smallest dimension of the hole  62  should be less than the largest dimension of the projectile.  
         [0055]    The frame assembly consists of three pieces of steel round stock (the 1018 carbon steel cylinders) that are bent together to form the frame work. As mentioned above, they are welded together at  80  to form a spring combination storage compartment and pick-up device  24  and at another location  82  at the top end of the tubular hand grip  30 . The armrest members  42 A and  42 B pass through the tubing from one end to the other where they are bent in place and welded between the intermediate frame members  74 A and  74 B to form a firm connection. Thus, the apparatus may be economically built out of inexpensive parts which are easily assembled and require only the two weld points  80  and  82 .  
         [0056]    From the above detailed description, it can be understood that the method of exercise and the projectile throwing apparatuses  16  and  16 A of the invention have several advantages, such as: (1) the elongated projectile throwing apparatus  16  may be used to pick up balls without touching them with hands and without bending down; (2) balls may be placed in the projectile holder  20  without touching them directly with the hands; (3) the projectile throwing apparatuses  16  and  16 A may be safely aimed to throw a projectile by aiming through the wing type sight; (4) the projectile throwing apparatuses  16  and  16 A may be used with either hand; (5) the projectile throwing apparatuses  16  and  16 A are simple to make and economical, requiring standard tubing stock and plastic tubing as well as having only two weld points to hold the throwing apparatuses  16  and  16 A together; and (6) the throwing apparatus  16 A may be used with ease by handicapped or disabled persons to play games or the like.  
         [0057]    Although a specific preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with some particularity, many modifications and variations of the preferred embodiment may be obtained without invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.