BALL DISPENSER SERVING DEVICE

Abstract: A ball dispensing has a sloping container wherein balls are released from compartments (A, C) and from a front housing (2) as a motor turns discs (5, 6) in the housing. Each released ball rolls down a chute (3) where it strikes a spring (4) at the bottom arcing the ball into the air for a hitter to stroke it. The spacing of the discs from each other tends to release one ball at a time with a time interval after the serving of each ball that enables the hitter to get ready for the next serve.

Description: BALL DISPENSER SERVING DEVICE DESCRIPTION This ball dispenser is used to dispense balls. The dispenser is mounted on an elevated stand pitched at a downward angle. The dispensing machine comprising an elongated sloping ball container having a ball entrance end, a ball exit end and a ball release means at the exit end. The ball chute is sloping downward and outward from the ball container. One of its ends in position to receive balls from the ball release means. A spring means is attached to the other end of the chute. The balls are then re¬ leased at timed intervals from the ball release means. These balls pass thru the front chute area, projecting forward useing gravity to gain momentum. The ball travels across the spring release at the end and is projected away from the dispenser towards the batter to be hit. SUBSTITUTESH-gE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Ball Dispenser Serving Device This ball dispenser is mounted on an elevated stand at an angle downward. The ball dispenser is loaded from the rear right and left cylinders. Separating these two cylinders is a center cy¬ linder the same width as the two ball cylinders. The center cylinder contains two round discs which rotate 360 degrees, allow¬ ing the balls to pass forward on even intervals. The balls are then released to the front chute area projecting forward useing gravity to gain momentum. The ball travels down the front chute across the spring release mechanism and projected outward towards the batter to be hit. Fig. 2. Fig. 1. Side view of the ball dispenser pitched at a downward angle with spring release attached to the end of the front chute. C1.1 Fig. 2. Top view of the ball dispenser showing ball cylinders left, right and center cylinder. Center cylinder con¬ taining motor housing. These ball cylinders and motor housing cylinder are attached to the front box housing, said housing containing at least a pair of discs mounted on the said shaft, attached to the motor and also the front box housing. This housing having openings communi¬ cating with said alleys and said chute. (Cl. 3,4) Fig. 3. Front view of the main front box housing unit with openings left and right communicating with the front chute. Between these openings a bearing to hold the drive shaft containing rotating discs within. Front chute located in front of the box housing. Spring re¬ lease attached to the front end of the chute. (Cl. 3,4) SUBSTITUTESHEET This ball container consists of cylinders left, right and center. The length of the cylinder may vary according to how many balls you need to contain. Left and right alleys are loaded with balls from the rear while the center alley contains the motor housing. This container is pitched at an. angle slanted downward. Gravity driving the balls forward. This entire ball container is now attached to the front box housing area. Two round discs mounted on a drive shaft rod opposite each other. The distance between each disc to be set at 2 7/8" apart, though the setting will function from 2 3/4" to 4" apart, depending upon the diameter of the ball contained. These discs are mounted with¬ in the front box housing area as mentioned in the prior claim No. 1 Ref. Fig. 1. This front chute has a pair of upstanding sidwalls and has been designed to contain balls to roll forward said chute receives balls from the front box housing. Balls roll downward thru the front chute area towards the hitter. Consists of light spring material, bent at a slight angle and attached to the end of the chute. As the balls roll down the chute, it passes over this spring like release, arcing the ball away from the dispenser allowing the ball to be hit by the batter. Ref. Fig. 3. SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A bal l dispensing machine comprising an elongated sloping ball container, said container having a ball entrance end, a bai l exit end and a bai l release means at the said exit end for gravftational ly receiving bails from the said entrance end; a ball chute sloping downward and outward from said bal l container and having one of its ends attached to said ball release means; spring means attached to the other end of said chute; said bai l release means releasing balls singularly and at time intervals to said chute and causing them to gravltationa I ly roll down said chute to said other end to contact said spring means for deflection upward to be hit by a batter. 2. A oaif dispensing machine as defined in claim l:» Wherein said ball container has therdn at least an al ley, at least one alley for receiving bal ls through said entrance end of said container and said other alley » containing a motor means, said motor means,having a drive shaft extending there from and attached to said bail release means * 3» A bai l dispensing machine as defined in claim \ 9 wherein said ball container has therein a pair of ball; receiving al leys and a central motor receiving alley located between said ball al leys, a motor, said motor being contained in said central al ley and having a shaft attached to said bal l release means, said bal l release means being contained in a front housing, said housing having openings communicating with said al leys and said chute. 4» A ball dispensing machine as defined in claim ~ >, wherein the said ball release means is at least a pair of discs* said discs being spaced apart and eccentrical ly mounted on said shaft for alternately releasing balls through said openings and onto said chute. 5» A ball dispensing machine as defined in claim I, wherein said chute has a pair of upstanding side wal ls and extends the wi ' dth of the said housing. This wi I j ' al low balls to pass between said side wai is and onto said spring.

Inventors: BROPHY ARTHUR M, BROPHY, ARTHUR, M.
Applicants: BROPHY ARTHUR M, BROPHY, ARTHUR, M.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B47, A63B69