Patent ID: 7137910

Claim:
A practice machine for receiving a thrown ball and returning it to a user, the machine comprising: a backstop for stopping the ball thrown by the user; a pan disposed beneath the backstop for collecting the ball after it strikes the backstop; a ball return adjacent the backstop for expelling the ball, the ball return including a sub-frame, a motor mounted to the sub-frame, a spindle and a rotatable wheel affixed to the spindle and driven by the motor, the rotatable wheel having a wheel axis; a trough interposed between the pan and the rotatable wheel for feeding the ball from the pan to the rotatable wheel; and a rigid launch plate supported by the sub-frame, the launch plate being disposed adjacent the trough and generally underneath the rotatable wheel for communication therewith enabling the ball to be expelled therefrom, the launch plate interposed between and cooperating with a pair of guides connected to the sub-frame collectively defining an arcuate path extending generally about the wheel axis such that the launch plate is adjustable to rotate generally about the wheel axis along the rotatable wheel periphery, while maintaining a generally constant radial clearance with the rotatable wheel, so that the trajectory of the expelled ball may be varied by the user.