Patent Publication Number: US-10765927-B2

Title: Mechanical sports ball catapult system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to exercise devices, and, more specifically, to a mechanical sports ball catapult system. 
     COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and should not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise equipment, generally, may be any apparatus or device used during physical activity to enhance the experience or outcome of an exercise routine. Many exercises and sports involve a user catching or otherwise interacting with a ball travelling through the air, for example American football requires that players catch thrown passes or kicked punts, and the practicing of such interactions is necessary for the improving of a player&#39;s proficiency in the sport. A number of devices have been developed to aid in the improving of such proficiency, including automatic ball-throwing and ball-launching devices. Such devices, though, tend to utilize powered means of accelerating a ball and a sled to guide it into the air. 
     Examples of such devices include ball launchers and ball cannons, which are powered devices utilizing pairs of wheels spinning at high speed and accelerating a ball along an angled or curved sled. Such devices may be adjusted to alter ball speed and trajectory through the system, though tend to comprise heavy and expensive units requiring complicated system maintenance. A tension-powered mechanical design utilizing well-known catapult principles would result in a lighter, more mobile, more inexpensive, and more easily maintained ball launching system. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a mechanical sports ball catapult system. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a mechanical sports ball catapult system. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may not require electrical power to operate. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a tension catapult design. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a structural main body upon and within which the various components are housed and made mobile. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise an arming mechanism. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a drive mechanism. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a cradle mechanism. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a firing mechanism. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise launch speed adjustment. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise launch angle adjustment. 
     These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, both with respect to how to practice the present invention and how to make the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments and examples of the claimed subject matter will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overall view of a mechanical sports ball catapult system from a front three-quarters perspective, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an overall view of a mechanical sports ball catapult system from a rear three-quarters perspective, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an overall view of a mechanical sports ball catapult system from a front perspective, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a first detailed view of an arming mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a second detailed view of an arming mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a first detailed view of cable routing components of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a second detailed view of cable routing components of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a detailed view of a cradle angle adjustment means of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a detailed view of a cradle mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a detailed view of a drive mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a detailed view of a firing mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a detailed view of a firing mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a detailed view of a firing mechanism of a sports ball catapult, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary, or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The present invention relates in general to exercise devices, and, more specifically, to a mechanical sports ball catapult system. As contemplated by the present disclosure, the combination comprises a structural main body, an arming mechanism, a drive mechanism, a cradle mechanism, and a firing mechanism. The various mechanisms may be of any design appropriate to achieve their desired functions, though may be designed as described in the various embodiments disclosed herein. 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 1 through 3  illustrate an overview of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The figures identify a main body  100 , arming mechanism  200 , cradle mechanism  300 , and a drive mechanism  400 . The main body  100  may provide structural support and mobility capacity to the entire system, and may generally comprise a plurality of side panels  102  and a rear panel  114  attached to a system skeleton, said skeleton being defined by a plurality of cradle support frames  104 , a plurality of vertical frames  106 , and a plurality of horizontal frames  108  in a generally squared or rectangular construction. 
     A lower end of each of the plurality of vertical frames  106  may attach to an axle  112  upon which a plurality of wheels  120  may be attached, and an upper end of the plurality of vertical frames  106  may attach to a handgrip  110  so that the system may be tilted and rolled from one position to another. External to the rear panel  114  and hinging on the axle  112  may be an arming mechanism  200  (discussed further below). The plurality of cradle support frames  104  may comprise a curved frame upon which may slide a plurality of cradle angle brackets  320  (discussed further below). 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 4 through 7  illustrate a detailed view of an arming mechanism  200  of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The arming mechanism  200  may comprise an arming pedal  202  attached on either side to a plurality of arming pedal arms  204  that may articulate around the axle  112 . The arming pedal  202  may be engaged by a user pressing down with their foot, and may pull on an arming cord  206 . 
     The arming cord  206  may attach at its opposite end to the cradle mechanism  300  (discussed further below). The plurality of arming pedal arms  204  may pass through the rear panel  114  and may be attached via a plurality of tensioning cords  304  to the plurality of horizontal frames  108  of the system skeleton to provide tension that returns the arming mechanism  200  to its unloaded state. A plurality of cable routing components  150  may be built into the system, as required, to prevent binding of the various cables used. 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a detailed view of a cradle mechanism  300  of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The cradle mechanism  300  may comprise a cradle  302 , a plurality of cradle tensioning cords  304 , and a plurality of fasteners  306 . The arming cord  206  may be attached to the cradle  302  such that the engaging of the arming mechanism  200  by a user results in tension being applied to the cradle mechanism  300 . The arming cord  206  may be attached to a retaining ball  308 , which may itself engage the drive mechanism  400  to facilitate the action of the firing mechanism  500  (discussed further below). 
     The plurality of fasters  306  may attach to a plurality of fastener receivers  324  that may then be attached to a plurality of cradle angle brackets  320 . The cradle angle brackets  320  may be attached to the cradle support frames  104  by a means for cradle angle adjustment  322  such that the cradle angle brackets  320  provide a stationary foundation against which the plurality of cradle tensioning cords  304  may be pulled to apply tension to the cradle mechanism  300 . The cradle angle brackets  320  may slide along the curvature of the cradle support frames  104  and may be set at various positions on the cradle support frames  104  via the cradle angle adjustment  322  so as to alter the launch angle of a sports ball contained within the cradle mechanism  300 . 
     The illustration of  FIG. 10  illustrates a detailed view of a drive mechanism  400  of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The drive mechanism  400  may comprise a drive piston arm  402 , drive carriage  404 , and a plurality of drive carriage sliders  406 . The drive piston arm  402  may be pulled by the action of the arming mechanism  200  pulling on the arming cord  206  and its connected retaining ball  308 . The movement of the retaining ball  308  may act on the drive piston arm  402 , which may then move the drive carriage  404  along its path on the plurality of drive carriage sliders  406 . 
     The drive carriage sliders may be attached to the drive mechanism  400  bracketry by a plurality of tensioning springs such that the drive carriage  404  is returned to its unloaded position when the firing mechanism  500  is engaged by a user. A spool cable  522  may attach the drive carriage  404  to the firing mechanism  500 , and may act as the tension-releasing mechanism that causes a ball to be launched from the system. The tension acting on the various components of the drive mechanism  400  may be adjustable so as to alter the launch speed of a ball contained within the cradle mechanism  300 . 
     The illustrations of  FIGS. 11 through 13  illustrate a detailed view of a firing mechanism  500  of a mechanical sports ball catapult system, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The firing mechanism  500  may comprise a firing mechanism cover  502 , a traction pad  504 , and a firing mechanism housing  506 . Contained within the firing mechanism housing  506  may be a firing piston arm  512 , a firing carriage  514 , a plurality of firing carriage rails  516 , and a spool assembly  520 . The spool assembly  520  may comprise a spool cable  522 , a spool pulley  524 , and a spool spring  526 . 
     The spool cable  522  may be wrapped around the spool pulley  524 , and tension may be applied on the spool pulley  524  by pulling on the spool cable  522  and unwinding the spool spring  526 . Such tension on the spool pulley  524  may be released by the action of the firing carriage  514  moving along the plurality of firing carriage rails  516 . This action may be triggered by a user pressing on the firing piston arm  512 , which may be connected to the firing mechanism cover  502 . The firing mechanism cover  502  may be attached via a hinge mechanism to the firing mechanism housing  506  and may have a traction pad  504  attached thereon such that it substantially comprises a foot pedal trigger mechanism. 
     As discussed above, the action of the system is such that the arming mechanism  200  may be engaged by a user to apply tension on the cradle mechanism  300  and drive mechanism  400 . The user may then place a ball into the cradle mechanism  300 , and may launch the ball from the system by engaging the firing mechanism  500 . The engaging of the firing mechanism  500  suddenly and rapidly releases the tension in the system, causing the cradle mechanism  300  to accelerate the ball into the air at the selected launch speed and launch angle. The entire system is contained within the main body  100 , which is designed to provide an easily moveable, lightweight, and low maintenance solution for achieving such a purpose. 
     The mechanical sports ball catapult system may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of a resilient material or combination of materials such that the device is resistant to tearing and damage as a result of compression, stretching, twisting, heating, or submersion in water. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the device may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate, steel, aluminum, brass, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or combinations thereof. 
     In one embodiment the material of construction may vary from one component to the next within the device. By way of example, the structural support components of the mechanical sports ball catapult system may comprise a wear-resistant material of construction, such as metals, to increase the life-span and improve the rigidity of the system. The cradle mechanism, instead, may comprise a flexible material of construction, such as fabrics, to improve the tensioning ability of the system. 
     In one embodiment the mechanical sports ball catapult system may comprise a resilient material of construction that either comprises a material having antimicrobial properties or comprises a layering of antimicrobial material or coating. Antimicrobial properties comprise the characteristic of being antibacterial, biocidal, microbicidal, anti-fungal, anti-viral, or other similar characteristics, and the oligodynamic effect, which is possessed by copper, brass, silver, gold, and several other metals and alloys, is one such characteristic. Copper and its alloys, in particular, have exceptional self-sanitizing effects. Silver also has this effect, and is less toxic to users than copper. Some materials, such as silver in its metallic form, may require the presence of moisture to activate the antimicrobial properties. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.