Patent ID: 8245702

Claim:
A ball launching device, comprising: a) a handle; b) an upper tube attached to said handle and terminated at its upper end by a first end cap called upper tube end cap; c) a lower tube slidably inserted into said upper tube, said lower tube being terminated at its upper end by a second end cap called lower tube end cap; d) a mechanical energy storage device located inside said upper tube between said upper tube end cap and said lower tube end cap, said mechanical energy storage device exerting a force on said lower tube when it is compressed; e) a gripping apparatus affixed to lower end of said lower tube, said gripping apparatus configured to switch between two possible states, a closed state and an open state, said closed state being enabled when said lower tube is partially or fully inserted into said upper tube, thereby allowing said gripping apparatus to hold said ball, and said open state being enabled when said lower tube is extended out of said upper tube, thereby allowing said gripping apparatus to release said ball; and f) a trigger mechanism, said trigger mechanism, when in a cocked state, allowing said mechanical energy storage device to remain compressed and, when released, allowing said mechanical energy storage device to expand, thereby extending in a telescoping fashion said lower tube outward of said upper tube and furthermore thereby, launching said ball, said trigger mechanism comprising: i) a trigger cavity formed inside said handle; ii) a trigger slidably located in said trigger cavity, said handle configured with openings to allow access to said trigger; iii) a trigger ratchet mechanism comprising: 1. a ratchet fork attached at its base to said upper tube end cap, and carrying on the external surface of its tines serrated teeth, said ratchet fork consisting of springy flexible material; 2. a ratchet tube carrying serrated teeth on its inside surface, said ratchet fork and ratchet tube forming a ratchet mechanism; 3. a annular opening within said upper tube end cap; 4. a tension wire in an inverted Y shape having a trunk at the top and two branches at the bottom; iv) said ratchet mechanism being controlled by said tension wire, top of said trunk of said Y being connected to said trigger through said annular opening in said upper tube end cap, and bottom of each said branch of said Y being connected to said ratchet fork structure, such that tension applied on said tension wire causes said ratchet fork to separate from said ratchet tube and release said ratchet trigger mechanism.