Abstract:
A portable ball throwing apparatus which is capable of throwing a ball at a selected vertical pitch, horizontal angle and rotational angle by operation of a pair of rotating wheels or tires powered by corresponding reversible motors. The ball throwing apparatus is characterized by a main frame pivotally attached to a tripod or a base to facilitate horizontal angle control and simulated batting of a baseball or a softball. A rotational frame is attached to the main frame to facilitate vertical pitch control and simulation of the batting of fly balls or grounders. The barrel that receives the baseball or a softball and feeds the ball to the rotating tires or wheels is also rotatable inside a support collar attached to the rotational frame to facilitate both pitching of knuckle balls, curve balls and the like and batting of balls having various spin characteristics.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to the sports of softball and baseball and more particularly to a portable ball throwing apparatus that simulates both batted and pitched balls in these games. The ball throwing apparatus may also be adapted to sports such as tennis, as desired. In a preferred embodiment the ball throwing apparatus of this invention is characterized by a main frame rotatably mounted on a tripod or a base and having a rotational frame fitted with a pair of rotating tires or wheels and a barrel for ejecting a baseball or softball through the barrel to the rotating tires. The tires are independently motor-propelled and the motors may be controlled as to speed, for purposes which will be hereinafter further described. The ball throwing apparatus is capable of automatically or manually simulating a batted ball in the vertical pitch, horizontal angle and rotational axis. The simulation of a “grounder” or fly ball is effected by pivotal operation of the rotational frame with respect to the main frame to control the vertical pitch angle of the ball, wherein the wheels and rotating drive motors are rotated with the rotational frame to facilitate the desired pitch. The positioning of the rotating wheels and thus, the simulated batting of a ball at a selected horizontal angle wherein the ball may be “batted” at any angle from the first base line to the third base line, is effected in the rotation of the main frame about the tripod or base. Furthermore, simulation of a pitched knuckle ball, curved ball or the like, as well as a batted ball having a selected “spin”, is effected by rotational movement of the barrel which feeds the ball to the rotating tires, as well as the speed of rotation of the tires.  
         [0003]     Control of the respective attitudes and angles in pitching and batting simulations is typically effected by means of a joystick positioned rearwardly of a ball feed area, which joystick controls the feeding of a baseball or softball through a support collar which houses the rotatable barrel, to the rotating tires. A control panel may also be provided, typically forward of the joystick and behind the ball feed area, for automatic operation of the ball throwing apparatus such that the apparatus may be programmed electronically to propel the baseball or softball in a desired sequence of simulated batted or pitched balls, as desired.  
         [0004]     One of the problems inherent in the game of baseball and softball is that of accurately batting baseballs and softballs to infielders and outfielders during practice sessions. These sessions are typically undertaken by a coach or coaches who toss the baseball or softball into the air and bat it to a desired position, either in the air or on the ground, as the exercise may require. In these sessions, the baseball or softball may not be placed exactly as the batter intended and might therefore not produce the desired challenge to the outfielder or infielder for a satisfying practice round. Furthermore, during pitching and batting practice, only a limited number of pitches can be thrown by any given pitcher to multiple batters. This limitation necessitates the use of a second pitcher and a third and so on, depending upon the length of time required for the pitching and batting practice exercise.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a ball throwing apparatus which will automatically throw a baseball or softball a desired distance in a desired direction at a desired angle to facilitate outfield and infield baseball and softball practice.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide a ball throwing apparatus which may be positioned at or near home plate and operated to automatically or manually throw a baseball or softball in a horizontal angle range from the first base line to the third base line and at any selected distance in the outfield at a vertical pitch angle from a fly ball to a grounder and in rotational mode, to simulate balls that are struck with a bat to create a spin, for both infield and outfield practice.  
         [0007]     A still further object of this invention is to provide a ball throwing apparatus which is capable of throwing a baseball or softball, either in pitching or batting mode, any desired distance in a ball park at a desired speed and at a selected vertical pitch angle, horizontal angle and rotational mode.  
         [0008]     Another object of this invention is to provide a ball throwing apparatus which is capable of automatically or manually throwing a baseball a desired distance, either on the ground or in the air at a selected vertical or horizontal angle anywhere in the ball park between the first base line and the third base line and which apparatus may simulate a knuckle ball, curve, slider or the like, when in pitching mode. The ball throwing apparatus includes a main frame rotatably attached to a base or tripod, a rotational frame pivotally attached to the main frame and a rotatable barrel for feeding a baseball to a pair of rotating wheels or tires for propulsion of the baseball from the machine.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     These and other objects of the invention are provided in a new and improved, portable ball throwing apparatus which is characterized by a main frame rotatably attached to a tripod or base, a pair of rotating ball-throwing tires and corresponding speed-controlled drive motors attached to a rotational frame rotatably attached to the main frame and a barrel rotatably mounted on the rotational frame and fitted on a ball feeding support collar having a joystick for controlling operation of the apparatus, wherein the baseball may be fed through the barrel to the rotating wheels and propelled from the apparatus at any angle from the first base line to the third base line by pivotal or rotational operation of the main frame with respect to the tripod or base. The baseball may also be propelled at any pitch or height from a fly ball to a ground ball by operation of the rotational frame with respect to the main frame and the ball may be propelled from the apparatus in a simulated knuckle ball, curve or slider by rotational operation of the barrel and the wheel with respect to the rotational frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the ball throwing apparatus of this invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the ball throwing apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the ball throwing apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the rotational frame and arm bracket elements of the apparatus; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the barrel support collar barrel and main frame elements of the ball throwing apparatus of this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ball throwing apparatus of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1  and includes a main frame  2 , fitted with main frame arms  3  that are spanned by a rotational frame  15 . Inwardly-extending arm supports  3   a  connect the respective main frame arms  3  to a main frame pivot plate  10 , pivotally attached to a tripod  12  by means of a pivot mount plate  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Support legs  13  typically extend from the tripod  12 , as desired, to adjust the height of the ball throwing apparatus  1 . A horizontal pivot pin or bolt  4 , secured by a nut  5 , extends through each of the main frame arms  3  and anchors in each end of the rotational frame  15  to facilitate pivoting of the rotational frame  15  in a vertical pitch adjustment with respect to the main frame  2 . This adjustable vertical pitch arrangement is facilitated by operation of a rotational frame motor or motors  16 , attached to one or each of the main frame arms  3  and fitted with a rotational frame motor gear  17 , which engages a corresponding horizontal pivot gear  4   a  connected to the rotational frame  15 . Accordingly, as hereinafter further described, operation of the rotational frame motor  16  effects rotation of the rotational frame motor gear  17  and corresponding rotation of the horizontal pivoting gear  4   a , to facilitate vertical pitch adjustment of the rotational frame  15  and parallel arm brackets  6 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0017]     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a pair of tire motors  31  are mounted on a motor mount plate  32 , attached to a connecting bracket  18 , which is fixed to a barrel  8  for feeding a baseball  34  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) between the spaced-apart tires  30 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Referring again to  FIGS. 3-5  of the drawings, the barrel  8  is rotatably seated in a rotational support collar  7  by means of a barrel groove  8   a  and a collar set screw  7   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Furthermore, a rotational gear  27  is provided on the barrel  8  and is designed to mesh with a corresponding rotational motor gear  29 , driven by a rotational gear motor  28 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. The rotational gear motor  28  is fixed to a rotational support bracket  14 , which is bolted or otherwise fixed to the main frame  2 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Accordingly, it will be appreciated from a consideration of  FIGS. 1 and 5  of the drawings that operation of the rotational gear motor  28  to turn the rotational motor gear  29  and thus, the rotational gear  27 , rotates the barrel  8  within the barrel support collar  7 , as well as the tires  30  and the accompanying tire motors  31  mounted on the motor mount plate  32 .  
         [0018]     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the main frame  2 , including the rotational frame  15 , tires  30  and tire motors  31 , are pivotable about the mount plate  11  by operation of a main frame motor  10   a , attached to an arm support  3   a , and fitted with a main frame motor gear  10   b  which engages a pivot plate gear  11   a  attached to the pivot mount plate  11  by means of a gear mount bolt  11   b . Accordingly, operation of the main frame motor  10   a  in a selected direction effects horizontal rotation of the pivot mount plate  11  by corresponding meshing operation of the main frame motor gear  10   b  and the pivot plate gear  11   a  to horizontally pivot the entire main frame  2  and rotational frame  15  with the tires  30 , the tire motors  31  into a desired horizontal rotational position, which typically ranges from the first base line to the third base line in a baseball field.  
         [0019]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the joystick  19 , having at least one joystick control button  19   b  is attached to a joystick mount  19   a , mounted on a joystick support bracket  20  and the control panel  22  is located immediately forward of the joystick  19  and is also typically attached to the joystick support bracket  20 . A ball retainer  23  is positioned on the joystick support bracket  20  forward of the control panel  22  and at the base of the barrel support collar  7 , to contact a baseball  34  which is positioned in a ball guide  25 . The baseball  34 , as so positioned in the ball guide  25 , is prevented from rolling into the barrel support collar  7  and thus, into the connected barrel  8 , by the ball retainer  23 . A solenoid loader  24  may also be attached to the control panel  22  immediately rearwardly of the ball guide  25  and having a solenoid arm  24   a  projecting from the solenoid loader  24  into the ball guide  25  to engage the baseball  34 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]     In operation, the ball throwing apparatus  1  of this invention may be operated in manual or automatic mode, as desired. When in manual mode, and referring again to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a baseball  34  is first loaded in the ball guide  25 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The joystick  19  is then gripped by a user and the appropriate joystick control button  19   b  is pressed, to control either the vertical pitch, horizontal rotation or rotational operation of the ball throwing apparatus  1 , as desired. For example, if the ball throwing apparatus  1  is located at or near home plate to simulate a batter for fielding practice, the main frame  2  is typically pivotally adjusted on the tripod  12  by operation of the main frame motor  10   a , as heretofore described to facilitate facing of the barrel  8  toward center field or elsewhere between the first base line and the third base line. The rotational frame  15  and the tires  30 , as well as the tire motors  31 , can then be pivoted or rotated with respect to the main frame  2  by operation of the rotational frame motor  16 , to typically aim the barrel  8  at a desired vertical pitch for throwing the baseball  34  in a high arc, typically to center field. The appropriate joystick control button  19   b  is then pressed to effect operation of the solenoid loader  24 , extend the solenoid arm  24   a  sharply against the baseball  34  and force the ball retainer  23  downwardly and the baseball  34  into the barrel support collar  7  and the barrel  8 , where it is engaged by the rotating tires  30  and propelled in a high arc to center field.  
         [0021]     If ground ball practice is desired, the vertical pitch of the barrel  8  can be adjusted downwardly by again operating the joystick  19  to activate the rotational frame motor  16  in the opposite direction and pivot the rotational frame  15 , as well as the tires  30  and the tire motors  31 , downwardly to a desired position, wherein a second baseball  34  which has been positioned in the ball guide  25  into the barrel  8  can be propelled at a lower vertical pitch, such that the ball strikes the ground at a selected point from the ball throwing apparatus  1 .  
         [0022]     Under circumstances where it is desired to set the ball throwing apparatus  1  up as a pitching device or as a batting device wherein the baseball  34  is ejected or propelled from the barrel  8  with a spin of selected proportions, the joystick  19  is used to operate the rotational gear motor  28  and rotate the barrel  8 , as well as the tires  30  and tire motors  31 , such that the tires  30  are oriented at a selected angle with respect to the horizontal. The speed of rotation of the tires  30  can then be independently adjusted by adjusting the appropriate tire motor  31  using the respective joystick control button  19   b  on the joystick  19 , such that the baseball  34  is ejected as described above, with a spin imparted in the selected direction by the adjusted dissimilar rotational speeds of the tires  30 . Accordingly, using this adjustment of the ball throwing apparatus  1 , the baseball  34  can be made to simulate a knuckle ball, “slider”, curve ball or a like pitch, with practice.  
         [0023]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the ball throwing apparatus  1  of this invention is versatile and is highly useful as both a batting and pitching simulator due to the versatility of the operational modes. These modes can be automated electronically according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art, such that one might grasp the joystick  19  and press the joystick control button  19   b  that automates the apparatus, wherein a baseball  34  may be propelled at a selected vertical pitch, horizontal angle and rotational orientation of the ball throwing apparatus  1 , which attitude or attitudes have been preset in the control panel  22  or elsewhere in the ball throwing apparatus  1 . Furthermore, it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a vertical hopper (not illustrated) can be mounted on the ball guide  25  to facilitate loading multiple baseballs  34  for automatic or manual propulsion from the barrel  8  by operation of the rotating tires  30 , as desired. Alternatively, a ball collection net can be provided on the ball throwing apparatus  1  to catch the ball and route it back to the tires.  
         [0024]     It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the ball throwing apparatus  1  of this invention can be operated in both manual and automatic mode, as both a pitching and batting simulator. The ball throwing apparatus  1  is light in weight, portable, easy to use and may incorporate visual and audible alarm or warning devices, as desired. For example, when the baseball  34  is loaded into the ball guide  25 , pressure exerted by the baseball  34  on the ball retainer  23  may activate a light and/or a visual alarm (not illustrated), to notify the recipients of the baseball  34  that propulsion of the baseball  34  from the ball throwing apparatus  1  is imminent. A timing device (not illustrated) may also be incorporated in the ball throwing apparatus  1  to facilitate propulsion of the baseball  34  from the barrel  8  only after one or more audible sounds and/or visual blinking or constant lights are activated.  
         [0025]     It is also understood that the joystick  19  can be replaced by the net or other mechanisms, as desired.  
         [0026]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.