Abstract:
Methods and apparatus, for metered ball delivery. An apparatus includes a secure enclosure housing a reservoir of tennis balls, a battery power supply and a battery powered portable tennis ball machine, the secure enclosure and tennis ball machine communicating via a wireless network to determine a location of the portable tennis ball machine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/456,242, filed Nov. 3, 2010, and titled METERED TENNIS BALL DELIVERY SYSTEM, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention generally relates ball delivery systems and methods, and more particularly to metered ball delivery. 
         [0003]    Sports involve training and training can be expensive. For example, tennis training is not always easy. For most people it requires having a partner to train with. If you are training alone you may be somewhat limited to what you can do. There is no realistic feeling if you are just practicing your serves by yourself You absolutely need a partner that will be there to respond to them or at least help with keeping the exercise fast paced. 
         [0004]    The same usually goes for being on the receiving end and hitting the ball back across the court. If you wanted to do this you would normally need a training partner to serve the tennis ball to you first. 
         [0005]    To help train, many players use a tennis ball machine. A tennis ball machine is a device that works to help you perfect a particular stroke. The device can be angled to a specific direction which enables you to practice various directional strokes. It can be used both for intense training and casual exercise. Therefore, it is good for both tennis pros and people looking for a fun exercise to get in shape with. 
         [0006]    Regrettably, the cost of such a teaching aid is beyond the means of the average tennis player. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides methods and apparatus for metered ball delivery. 
         [0009]    In general, in one aspect, the invention features an apparatus including a secure enclosure housing a reservoir of tennis balls, a battery power supply and a battery powered portable tennis ball machine, the secure enclosure and tennis ball machine communicating via a wireless network to determine a position of the portable tennis ball machine. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary locked secure enclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary open secure enclosure housing a tennis ball machine. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary locked secure enclosure  10  includes a hinged door  12  secured by a lock  14 . The lock  14  may be actuated by entering a key, a key code, swiping a credit/debit card, and so forth. In one specific example, the lock  14  is an I-Qwik Data Stand Alone Access control from MarksUSA of Amityville, N.Y. In another specific example, the lock  14  is an I-Qwik Data+Prox Digital Access Control Keypad or keypad with proximity reader from MarksUSA of Amityville, N.Y. 
         [0015]    In one example, the lock  14  is monitored and actuated remotely over a wireless communication link. 
         [0016]    The enclosure  10  can include a communication device, charging device and tennis ball reservoir. The communication device communicates with a portable tennis ball machine within. The charging device can mate with a charging port  16  on the tennis ball machine to provide charging power to the power supply, e.g., batteries, of the tennis ball machine. The tennis ball reservoir can monitor a level of tennis balls within the tennis ball machine when the tennis ball machine is housed in the enclosure  10 . If the level of tennis balls signal a low condition, the reservoir is opened to tennis balls from the reservoir to fill a hopper of the tennis ball machine. 
         [0017]    The charging device can be adapted to receive AC/DC power, solar power and/or wind power. When solar or wind power are used, the enclosure includes an external solar panel or small wind turbine. In one specific example, a solar power system is a pole that is 7′-8′ high with a 14″×14″ panel that provides 12 volts DC to a battery that provides power. The solar panel provides power for 5 days without sunlight, due to a battery life of 5 days. It is weather resistant and water proof. 
         [0018]    In an example, the lock  14  on the enclosure is kept secured if the batteries in the tennis ball machine are depleted. 
         [0019]    In one example, the enclosure  10  is constructed of weather resistant and theft resistant material, such as a galvanized steel or stainless steel. The electronics within the enclosure  10  are designed to operate over a wide range of temperatures, eliminating a need for enclosure insulation. In other examples, the enclosure is constructed of high impact plastic, composite or other metal. 
         [0020]    In another example, the enclosure  10  includes external mounting hardware to secure the enclosure  10  to the ground, a fence, and so forth. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the door  12  to the enclosure  10  is opened the portable tennis ball machine  18  can be found within. A sensor  20  attached to the tennis ball machine  18  can be used to signal a return of the tennis ball machine  18  to the enclosure  10  and/or indicate that the tennis ball machine  18  is out of a predetermined range of the enclosure  10  and may be the subject of theft or damage. 
         [0022]    In one example, the enclosure  10  includes a shelving unit cylinder  22  that contains the balls and is controlled by a microswitch. When the last ball is returned, the switch is triggered. If the cylinder  22  is not full then it will not trigger the microswitch and the customer will be billed. 
         [0023]    The tennis ball machine  20  is battery-powered and can include a charging adapter  24  that mates with the charging port  16  of the enclosure  10  when positioned therein. The tennis ball machine  20  can include a battery monitor such that when the batteries are low an indicator, such as a light or audio sound, indicate such to a user, prompting the user to return the tennis ball machine  18  to the enclosure  10  for charging. 
         [0024]    In another example, the tennis ball machine  18  is recharged by an administrator removing it and charging it at a separate location. 
         [0025]    In a specific example, when the tennis ball machine  18  is activated a timer initiates. When the timer detects a predetermined amount of time has lapsed, the tennis ball machine  18  deactivates, prompting the user to return the tennis ball machine  18  to the enclosure  10 . 
         [0026]    In operation, in one example, a customer retrieves a personal identification number (PIN) code by logging onto a server  26  in a client/server network (e.g., Internet)  28  and inputting payment information, such as a credit/debit card number. The server  26  returns a unique personal numeric code. 
         [0027]    At the enclosure  10 , in one example, the customer enters a personal numeric code on a numeric keypad mounted on secure enclosure, thus unlocking it. The customer may now remove and use the portable tennis ball machine  18 . 
         [0028]    In another example, the lock  14  on the enclosure  10  is adapted to receive credit/debit card information directly and once approved, unlock the enclosure  10 . 
         [0029]    After a period of use, the customer returns the tennis ball machine  18  to the enclosure and locks the door  12  to the enclosure  10 . Locking of the door  12  triggers the sensor  20  that the tennis ball machine  18  has been returned. The returned tennis ball machine  18  can trigger the door to lock. 
         [0030]    In other examples, the enclosure  10  includes a tennis ball supply that the customer can use to fill the tennis ball machine before use. In a specific example, the supply is metered to limit the number of tennis balls added to the tennis ball machine by the customer. 
         [0031]    In summary, in a preferred embodiment, the enclosure  10  is approximately three feet in height, thirty inches wide and two feet deep with the door  12  on the front. The door  12  to the enclosure  10  is preferably made of galvanized steel. The door  12  to the enclosure typically has rounded corners and the enclosure  10  color typically dark. 
         [0032]    The enclosure  10  is typically not insulated yet the electronics within operate over a wide range of ambient temperatures. 
         [0033]    Inside the enclosure  10  is a storage area with a shelf on a right top portion. The sensor  20  is inserted in the bottom back right corner of the storage area for detecting a presence of the ball machine  18 . 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment, the shelf in the upper right is designed to house batteries needed to power the system. The length of time the enclosure will operate is determined by usage; stand-alone time is approximately 72 hours. The dimensions of the shelf are approximately 12 inches high, 2 feet deep and 12 inches wide. 
         [0035]    A ball hopper  22  is located in the front left side can hold a number of balls (e.g., 75-85). Residing on an outside of the enclosure  10  is directions for use. 
         [0036]    Also located on the outside of the enclosure is a panel containing a personal identification number (PIN) pad  14 . Each user accesses the inside of the enclosure using a numeric code. PIN numbers are assigned automatically to a user by a web site or personal phone call. Once a PIN number is entered, PIN number is verified and the enclosure  10  opened. The ball machine  18  within is then accessible to the user who rolls the ball machine  18  out for operation. The light weight of the ball machine  18  makes maneuvering easy. Balls used are refilled into the ball machine  18  before the user returns it to the enclosure  10 . Once returned, the enclosure  10  automatically locks when the door  12  is closed. 
         [0037]    The enclosure  10  can include a timer that tracks use for billing purposes and a sensor  20  to insure that the ball machine  18  is returned on time and not presumed stolen. The ball machine  18  is battery-powered and generally lasts for 4-6 hours. It is manually charged each day by an administrator. 
         [0038]    More particularly, there is a hole penetrating an exterior of the enclosure  10  for a panel  16 . All wiring is concealed to prevent accidental or intentional tampering. The keypad is powered by a 12 volt battery within the enclosure. The keypad is wired to the lock to control opening and closing of the enclosure. The keypad is also wired to a magnetic sensor  20  within the enclosure  10  that is activated when the ball machine is  18  placed within the enclosure  10 . The sensor  20  deactivates the keypad and lock  14  when the ball machine  18  is removed, preventing the enclosure  10  from locking when the ball machine  18  is not within. Alternatively, the sensor  20  may be weight activated or tethered to a plug. 
         [0039]    The keypad can collect of PINS that are used. This data can be collected using a wireless reader that captures data using, for example, a USB drive that can be transferred to a computer. PIN data may be used to verify usage and map usage to customers at which point their charge card can be charged an appropriate amount. The data transfer occurs periodically, such as once a week. 
         [0040]    The foregoing description does not represent an exhaustive list of all possible implementations consistent with this disclosure or of all possible variations of the implementations described. A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the systems, devices, methods and techniques described here. For example, various forms of the flows shown above may be used, with steps re-ordered, added, or removed. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.