Patent Publication Number: US-8991377-B2

Title: Bucket feeder for a ball projecting machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a ball feeder for a ball projecting machine configured for use with a ball bucket. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pitching machines are widely used by both professional and non-professional athletes for batting practice. Conventional pitching machines include a pitching head having either one motor driven wheel or two counter-rotating motor driven wheels that engage a ball and project the ball toward an awaiting batter. Pitching machines enable a coach, players or a team to project balls, such as baseballs or softballs to players repeatedly for a single batter or multiple batters. The pitching machines simulate a pitched ball and typically the speed of the pitch can be adjusted to match the desired need of the player, team or coach. The pitching machine saves the coach or other player from having to throw pitches at the desired location and speed over and over again. Pitching machines enable a player, team or coach to focus on a particular hitting skill or multiple hitting skills. Ball projecting machines can also be used to simulate batted balls, such as ground balls, infield pop-ups, flyballs, line drives, etc. 
     Pitching machines are such an effective tool for baseball or softball practice that many users find a limitation of the machine to be the collection and reloading of baseballs or softballs into the machine. Teams often collect baseballs and softballs from the field or their storage area in ball buckets that typically hold up to approximately 60 balls. Existing ball projecting or pitching machines have some drawbacks when it comes to ball loading. Some pitching machines have no ball load or feed system and require a coach or other user to manually feed balls into the pitching machine one at a time to the batter. Other pitching machines have very small ball feeders that hold very few balls and, in some instances, have designs that enable the balls to be readily dislodged from the ball feeders resulting in practice balls dropping to the ground around the pitching machine. Other existing ball projecting machines can include large ball feeding tube assemblies that must be filled one ball at a time by the user. Typically, the team, player or coach will manually retrieve one or two balls from the ball bucket and place them into either the ball feeder assembly or directly into the ball projecting machine. Such repeated manual filling of such ball feeders can become tedious or burdensome to many users. Other more expensive pitching machines can include very large hoppers for storing a hundred or more balls. Such machines are usually quite large and are difficult to maneuver about the practice area or field, particularly when they are filled with balls. Such ball hopper systems can be impractical because very few coaches, players or teams want to shag one hundred or more balls at one time, and some teams don&#39;t have a hundred or more usable balls. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a more efficient way to provide balls to a ball projecting machine. It would thus be desirable to provide an assembly that enables a player, team or coach to easily load or feed practice balls into a pitching machine or ball projecting machine. It would be advantageous to provide a ball feeding system that did not require manual loading of balls into a ball feeder. What is needed is a ball feeding system that is simple, cost effective and works well with existing equipment. It would be desirable to provide a ball feeding system that is not too small or too large, and prevents the balls from being readily dislodged from the ball feeder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a ball feeder assembly for a ball projecting machine includes a frame, a ball delivery element, a motor, and a ball feed member. The ball feeder assembly is configured for supporting a cylindrical bucket having top and bottom end and at least a pair of annular projections adjacent the top end. The bucket is configured for holding a plurality of balls. The frame includes a bucket support arm having first and second spaced-apart bucket supports. The first support is configured to removably engage the bucket between the pair of annular projections. The motor is supported by the frame and is operably coupled to the ball delivery element. The ball feed member is coupled to the ball delivery element. The ball feed member has a first end coupled to the ball feeder assembly and a second end removably coupled to the ball projecting machine. 
     According to a principal aspect of a preferred form of the invention, a ball feeder assembly for a ball projecting machine includes a stand, an upper frame, a ball delivery element coupled to the upper frame, and a ball feeder member coupled to the ball delivery element. The ball feeder assembly is configured for supporting a cylindrical ball bucket containing a plurality of balls. The bucket longitudinally extends from a closed bottom end to an open top end along a longitudinal axis. The upper frame is movably coupled to the stand between at least a first bucket loading position in which the upper frame is configured to support the bucket in a generally upright position with the upper top end at a higher elevation than the bottom end such that the longitudinal axis of the bucket is at angle within the range of between 0 and 80 degrees from a vertical plane, and a ball feed position in which the upper frame is configured to support the bucket in a downward position with the bottom end at a higher elevation than the upper end such that the longitudinal axis is within the range of 5 to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. 
     According to another principal aspect of a preferred form of the invention, a ball feeder assembly is configured to deliver a plurality of balls to a ball projecting machine, and includes a stand, an upper frame movably coupled to the stand, a first adjustment mechanism, a cylindrical ball bucket, a ball delivery element, and a ball feed member coupled to the ball delivery element. The first adjustment mechanism is coupled to at least one of the stand and the upper frame. The first adjustment mechanism includes a first adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the upper frame about the first pivot axis. The cylindrical ball bucket is removably coupled to the upper frame. The bucket longitudinally extends from a closed bottom end to an open top end along a longitudinal axis, and includes at least two spaced apart annular projections adjacent the open top end. The ball delivery element includes a ball receiving surface and defining at least one outlet aperture. 
     This invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described herein below, and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a pitching machine and a bucket ball feeder assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is front, second side perspective view of the bucket ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1  with a bucket mounted to the assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the bucket ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1  shown without a bucket mounted to the assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear, side perspective view of the bucket ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1  with a bucket mounted to the assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the bucket ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1  with a bucket mounted to the assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the bucket ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in a first bucket loading position. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the bucket ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in a second ball feed position. 
         FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of a rotatable ball delivery element of the ball feeder assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the rotatable ball delivery element of  FIG. 8  shown without a rear ball feed surface. 
         FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of the bucket ball feeder assembly shown without a bucket mounted to the assembly in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pitching machine configured for projecting or pitching a ball  12  is indicated generally at  10  in conjunction with a bucket ball feeder assembly  20 . The present invention is described below with respect to a pitched baseball or softball. The present invention is also applicable to ball projecting machines and ball feeder assemblies of baseballs or softballs for other purposes, such as to replicate fly balls, line drives, ground balls and/or other projected ball paths. Further, the present invention is also applicable to other types of balls, such as, for example, Japanese rubber balls, tennis balls and lacrosse balls. 
     The pitching machine  10  is one representation of a ball projecting machine. The pitching machine includes a pitching head  14  situated atop of, and coupled to, a pitching stand  16  through a support arm  18 . The pitching machine  10  includes a ball inlet  22  and a ball projecting region  24  for projecting the ball  12  from the pitching machine  10 . The ball feeder assembly  20  is configured for use with other types of pitching machines and ball projecting machines. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bucket ball feeder assembly  20  includes a stand  30 , a frame  32 , a ball delivery element  34 , a ball feed member  36  and a drive assembly  38 . The bucket feeder assembly  20  removably supports a ball bucket  40 , and is configured for providing a plurality of balls  12  to the pitching machine  10 . 
     The stand  30  is a rigid support structure configured to support the ball feeder assembly  20  on a generally horizontal surface such as a ball field, an indoor practice facility, a pitcher&#39;s mound or other practice location. The stand  30  is configured to maintain the bucket ball feeder in an operable position and inhibit the ball feeder assembly  20  from tipping over upon incidental contact with a user. The stand  30  can be formed as a tripod having three rigid legs  42  for supporting the ball feeder  10 . The legs can have a fixed length or can be adjustable in length. The legs  42  can be integrally or non-separable connected to the rest of the stand  30 . In another implementation, the legs  42  can be removably attached to the rest of the stand  30 . In another implementation, the stand can have two, four or more legs. In another implementation, the stand can include an enlarged base for supporting the ball feeder. In another implementation, the stand can be configured to be driven into the ground for support, like a stake. In another implementation, the ball feeder assembly  20  can have no stand or have the stand removed, and the feeder assembly  20  can be coupled to the pitching machine  10  and supported by the stand of the pitching machine  10 . In another implementation, the stand can be configured to support the ball feeder assembly on a raised structure such as a table. In another implementation, the stand can be configured to attach to another rigid support structure such as a batting cage or pitching fence frame. 
     The stand  30  is coupled to the upper frame  32 . In one implementation, the stand  30  is movably coupled to the upper frame  32  by at least one axis. A first adjusting mechanism  44  can be used to movably couple the stand  30  to the upper frame  32  such that the upper frame  32  is repositionable about a vertical axis  46  as desired by the user. The first adjusting mechanism  44  can include a first locking handle  48 . In other implementations, other forms of adjusting mechanisms can be used that provide repositioning of the upper frame with respect to the stand in at least two different orientations or positions about the vertical axis. 
     The upper frame  32  can include a lower post member  50  that movably engages the stand  30 . The relative lengths of the stand  30  and the post member  50  can be varied to provide the desired height for the first adjusting mechanism  44 . The stand  30  can be removable from the post member  50  to facilitate relocation or transporting of the feeder assembly  20 . The stand  30  is preferably formed of a rigid, durable material, such as steel. In alternative embodiments, the stand can be formed of other materials, such as, for example, aluminum, other alloys, fiber composite materials, a plastic, other polymeric materials, a ceramic, wood, and combinations thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the upper frame  32  is shown in greater detail. The upper frame includes the lower post member  50  and a bucket support aim  52 . The bucket support arm  52  is a rigid elongate member. The bucket support arm  52  can be fixedly and rigidly connected to the post member  50 . In another implementation, the bucket support arm  52  can be movably connected to the post member  50  by a second adjusting mechanism  54 . The bucket support arm  52  is configured to removably or releasably support the bucket  40 . The support arm  52  supports the ball delivery element  34 , the ball feed member  36 , the drive assembly  38 , and first and second bucket supports  58  and  60 . The upper frame  32  is preferably formed of a rigid, durable material, such as steel. In alternative embodiments, the stand can be formed of other materials, such as, for example, aluminum, other alloys, fiber composite materials, a plastic, other polymeric materials, a ceramic, wood, and combinations thereof. The support arm  52  can further include a handle  62  for facilitating the transport of the feeder assembly  20  and the repositioning of the upper frame  32  with respect to the stand  30 , and/or repositioning of the support arm  52  with respect to the post member  50  and the stand  30 . 
     The bucket support arm  52  is configured to support the bucket  40 . The bucket  40  is a conventional ball bucket, and is can also be referred to as a utility bucket or a paint bucket or a soil bucket. The bucket  40  is cylindrical and includes a closed bottom end  72 , a side wall  74  and an open top end  76 . The bucket  40  has a cylindrical shape that extends along a longitudinal axis of the bucket from the closed bottom end  72  to the open top end  76 . The bucket  40  can have a generally circular transverse cross-sectional area, and the cylindrical bucket can be tapered such that the diameter of the bucket at the bottom end  72  can be smaller than the diameter of the bucket at the top end  76 . The side wall  74  can include at least one annular projection generally positioned adjacent or near the top end  76 . In other configurations, the bucket  40  includes two or more longitudinally spaced apart annular projections  80 . The bucket  40  is typically formed of a durable material such as a high density polyethylene. The bucket can be formed of other durable materials, such as, other plastic materials, ABS, other polymeric materials, metal, wood, or combinations thereof. The bucket  40  can also include a handle  82 . The bucket  40  is sized to carry a plurality of balls  12 . In one implementation, the bucket  40  has a 5 gallon capacity, and can hold and retain approximately 60 balls. The bucket can have a diameter at its top end  76  of approximately 12 inches, a diameter at its lower end of approximately 10 inches, and a height of approximately 14 inches. In other implementations, the bucket can have other diameters, heights, and tapers. The bucket can be formed in other volumes such as 6 gallons, 4 gallons, 3 gallons, and other sizes. 
     The bucket  40  is removably attachable to the feeder assembly  20 . The bucket  40  can be sold or grouped with the feeder assembly  20 , or it can be supplied separately by a user. The feeder assembly  20  can accommodate a variety of different shaped buckets of different sizes. 
     The first and second bucket supports  58  and  60  of the bucket support arm  52  are spaced apart from each other to provide proper support for the bucket  40 . The support arm  52  can include first and second slot arrangements  64  and  66  and associated first and second fasteners  68  and  70  for adjusting the positioning of the first and second bucket supports  58  and  60  along the support arm  52 , respectively. In one implementation, the first bucket support  58  can be a cradle-type support that has an arcuate shape for engaging the side wall  74  of the bucket  40 , preferably between two of the annular projections  80 . The second support  60  can be configured to engage the bottom end  72  of the bucket. The second support  60  can include at least one notch  84  for engaging the bottom end  72 . The first and second supports  58  and  60  support the side wall  74  and the bottom end  72  of the bucket  40 . The first support  58  preferably has a width of approximately 0.75 inch to engage the side wall  74  between the projections  80  and support the bucket  40  laterally and longitudinally. The first support  58  serves as a stop that prevents the bucket  40  from sliding into contact with the ball delivery element  34 . The first and second slot arrangements  64  and  66  and the first and second fasteners  68  and  70  enable the user to quickly adjust the feeder assembly  20  to accommodate buckets  40  of many different shapes and sizes. In other implementations, the first and second supports can have other shapes that engage the bucket. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the bucket support arm  52  of the upper frame  32  is movably coupled to, and positionable relative to, the stand  30  through the second adjusting mechanism  54 . The second adjusting mechanism  54  enables the pivotal movement of the support aim  52  relative to the stand  30  about a second axis  94 . In one implementation, the support arm  52  of the upper frame  30  is movable relative to the stand  30  between at least a first bucket loading position in which the upper frame  32  is configured to support the bucket  40  in a generally upright position with the top end  76  at a higher elevation than the bottom end  72  such that a longitudinal axis  86  of the bucket  40  is at a first angle, a, within the range of between 0 and 80 degrees from a vertical plane  88 , and a second ball feed position in which the upper frame  32  is configured to support the bucket  40  in a downward position with the bottom end  72  at a higher elevation than the upper end  76  such that the longitudinal axis  86  is at a second angle, within the range of 5 to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane  90 . In one preferred implementation, the first angle α of the first bucket loading position is within the range of 0 to 45 degrees with respect to the vertical plane  88 . In another preferred implementation, the second angle β of the ball feed position is within the range of 10 to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane  90 . The second adjusting mechanism  54  includes a second locking handle  96  (also shown on  FIG. 10 ) for releasably securing the second adjusting mechanism  54  and the support arm  52  in the desired position with respect to the stand  30  or the vertical plane  88 . 
     In another implementation, the ball feeder assembly can include a third adjusting mechanism that enables the ball feeder assembly to be moved or positioned relative to a third axis. The third axis can be perpendicular to both the first and second axes  46  and  94 . 
     In the first bucket loading position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the bucket  40  can be readily positioned onto the support arm  52  for subsequent use with the pitching machine  10 . The first and second supports  58  and  60  can be adjusted as necessary to accommodate and support the bucket  40 . The first support  58  serves as a stop to prevent the bucket  40  from impacting or rubbing against the ball delivery element  34 . The first bucket loading position enables the bucket  40 , which is typically filled with balls, to be loaded onto the feeder assembly  20  without the balls spilling or dropping from the open end  76  of the bucket  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in the second ball feed position, the support arm  52  is positioned to tilt the bucket  40  such that the open end  76  is at an elevation that is less than the bottom end  72  such that the balls bear against the ball delivery element  34  by virtue of gravity. The handle  62  can be used to facilitate the repositioning of the support arm  52  with respect to the stand  30  between the first and second positions. In other implementations, other angular positions of the support arm can also be used. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  8  and  9 , the ball delivery element  34  is shown in greater detail. In one implementation, the ball delivery element  34  is a drum that is rotatable about a central shaft  100 . The ball delivery element  34  includes a ball receiving wall or surface  102  defining at least one ball inlet aperture  104 , and a ball feed wall or surface  106  defining at least one ball outlet aperture  108 . In one implementation, the ball receiving surface  102  defines two radially spaced apart inlet apertures  104 . In another implementation, the ball receiving surface  102  includes at least one ball agitator  110  projecting outwardly from the surface  102 . In one implementation, the surface  102  includes two spaced apart ball agitators  110 . The ball receiving surface  102  the ball feed surface  106  are spaced apart by a delivery element side wall  112  and at least one dividing wall  114 . The side wall  112 , the dividing walls  114  and the surfaces  102  and  106  define at least one ball retention cavity  116 . 
     During use, the bucket  40  is loaded onto the feeder assembly  20  in the second ball feed position. The balls within the bucket  40  bear against the ball receiving surface  102 . As the ball delivery element  34  rotates about the shaft  100 , the agitator  110  facilitates the movement and loading of the balls and as the ball inlet aperture  104  moves next to one of the balls, the ball drops into the ball retention cavity  116  of the ball delivery element  34 . The ball inlet aperture  104  is advantageously sized to permit enable one ball to fit through the aperture  104  at a time. The depth of the ball delivery element  34  and its rotation speed are configured to allow for one ball to enter the ball retention cavity  116  at any instance. In other implementations, other configurations of the ball delivery element  34  can be used to allow for two, three or more balls to enter the ball retention cavity of the ball delivery element at the same time. As the ball delivery element  34  continues to rotate, the ball within the ball retention cavity  116  is repositioned or moved within the ball delivery element  34  until the ball outlet aperture  108  of the ball feed surface  106  is aligned with the ball feed member  36 . The ball outlet aperture  108  is sized to allow the ball to pass through the aperture  108  when the aperture  108  is aligned with the cylindrical opening defined by the ball feed member  36 . Once aligned, gravity causes the ball to exist the ball delivery element  34  through the aperture  108  and into the ball feed member  36  for delivery to the ball projecting machine  10  or other device. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ball delivery element  34  is driven by the drive assembly  38 . In one implementation, the drive assembly  38  is an electric motor operably coupled to the central shaft  100  to rotate the central shaft  100  at a speed of within the range of 1 to 16 rpm. In one particular implementation, the motor rotates the central shaft  100  at a speed of approximately 4 rpm. In other implementations, the drive assembly can drive the central shaft at other rotational speeds. In one particular implementation, at a rotational speed of 4 rpm, the ball delivery element  34  completes one revolution every 15 seconds and the ball receiving surface  102  defines two inlet apertures  104  spaced apart by approximately 180 degrees. Accordingly, the ball delivery element  34  delivers one ball to the ball feed member  36  through the outlet aperture  108  once every 7.5 seconds. In other implementations, other rotational speeds can be used and other configurations of the ball delivery element can be used including a different number in inlet apertures can be used to provide other ball feed rates. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the ball feed member  36  is a flexible tube that transfers the ball  12  from the ball delivery element  34  to the ball projecting machine  10  or other implement. The ball feed member  36  includes a first end  109  that is connected to the ball delivery element at the ball outlet aperture  108 , and the second end which is preferably removably attachable to the ball projecting machine  10 . The flexible configuration of the ball delivery element  34  enables it to accommodate for the position and relative movement of the ball projecting machine  10  relative to the ball feeder assembly  20 . The ball  12  is fed through the ball feed member  36  by the force of gravity. Accordingly, the ball feed member  36  is sized, shaped and configured to minimize frictional resistance acting upon the ball. In other implementations, the ball feed member can be a rigid, non-flexible member. In another implementation, the ball feed member can be an open tray or track. In another implementation, the ball feed mechanism, can be two or more tubular members coupled together to route the ball to the desired location. 
     The electric motor of the drive assembly  38  can be powered through cord  120  to an offsite electric power source. An on/off switch  122  can be mounted to the drive assembly  38  for access by the user at the machine. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in another implementation, the drive assembly  38  of the ball feed assembly  20  can be a battery powered motor that allows for automatic rotation of the ball delivery assembly in locations where convenient access to an electrical power grid is not available or practical. A battery  124  can be used to provide a power source to the drive assembly  38  for rotating the ball delivery element  34 . In another implementation, the ball feeder assembly can be configured for manual rotation of the ball delivery element with or without an electric powered drive assembly. 
     In another implementation, the ball feeder assembly  20  can be removably attached to a soft toss mechanism  130 . A second end  132  of the ball feed member  36  can be removably coupled to the soft toss mechanism  130 . The soft toss mechanism  130  applies a force to the ball  12  at the second end  132  of the ball feed member  36  to project the ball  12  upward by a few feet to provide a slow tossed ball to the user for batting practice. The soft toss mechanism  130  can be adjustable to provide different levels of force to the ball and thereby provide soft tossed balls at different heights. In one implementation, the soft toss mechanism  130  includes a spring loaded lever  138  that projects the ball  12  upward. The soft toss mechanism  130  can be powered by an electric motor  140  which can be supplied by a battery (such as the battery  124 ) through a power cord  142 . In one implementation, the battery  124  used to power the ball feeder assembly  20  can also be used to supply power to the soft toss mechanism  130 . In other implementations, separate batteries can be used for each electric motor and/or power can be supplied from an offsite power grid through the cords to the motors. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in one implementation a remote controller  150  can be removably attached to the power cord  120  of the drive assembly  38 . The remote controller  150  can include a remote control unit  152  for remotely controlling the operation of the ball feed assembly  20 . The remote controller  150  enables a user at a remote position from the ball feeder assembly  20  to operate the assembly  20 . The remote controller  150  is essentially an electric switch that turns the power on and off to the drive assembly. The remote control unit  152  can be a wireless unit. In another implementation, the control unit can be wired to the remote controller. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , in other implementations of the ball feeder assembly  20 , the support arm  52  can include a third fastener  160 . In one implementation, the third fastener  160  can be a strap with a buckle for wrapping around the bucket to further secure the bucket to the support arm  52 . In other implementations, other forms of fastening mechanisms can also be used in lieu of the first, second and third fasteners  58 ,  60  and  160 . In other implementations, one fastening mechanism can be used, or other numbers of fastening mechanisms can be used to secure the bucket to the ball feeder assembly  22 . In another implementation, the agitator  110  can take a curved shape. In other implementations, the number, size, shape and configuration of the agitator can be varied to produce the desired movement or agitation to the balls within the bucket during use of the ball feeder assembly  20 . 
     The above-described features of the ball feeder assembly  20  provide a more efficient way to provide balls to a ball projecting machine. The ball feeder assembly  20  of the present invention enables a player, team or coach to easily load or feed practice balls into a pitching machine or ball projecting machine without having to load the pitching machine one ball at a time, or load a ball feed tray one ball at a time. The ball feeder assembly  20  is a ball feeding system that is simple, cost effective and works well with existing equipment of various types. The ball feeder assembly  20  is configured for use with professional grade pitching machines that project baseballs and softballs at speeds up to 100 mph, to soft toss mechanisms, to ball projecting machines of other sizes and outputs. The ball feeder assembly  20  provides a ball feeding system that is not too small or too large, and prevents the balls from being readily dislodged from the ball feeder. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of skill in the art will understand that the invention may also be practiced without many of the details described above. Accordingly, it will be intended to include all such alternatives, modifications and variations set forth within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Further, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail because such structures or functions would be known to one skilled in the art. Unless a term is specifically and overtly defined in this specification, the terminology used in the present specification is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though may be used conjunction with the description of certain specific embodiments of the present invention.