U.S. patent application number 10/076692 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-21 for hitting practice training equipment.
Invention is credited to Barletta, John F., Leal, Jose E..
Application Number | 20030158004 10/076692 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27732530 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030158004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leal, Jose E. ; et
al. |
August 21, 2003 |
Hitting practice training equipment
Abstract
Hitting practice training equipment is disclosed having an
hitting instrument such as a bat paddle or racket, an apparatus for
propelling a game piece such as a ball or puck in front of an
individual holding the hitting instrument, and a transmitter remote
from the hitting instrument for initiating the propelling apparatus
to propel a game piece in front of the individual. The propelling
apparatus includes a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by
the transmitter to initiate a game piece being propelled in front
of the individual. The individual actuates the transmitter when
they wish to initiate the operation of the game piece propelling
apparatus, and may send different signals from the transmitter to
propel a game piece in a different manner for each of the different
signals. The individual may also activate the transmitter using
voice commands. When the receiver in the propelling apparatus
receives a signal from the transmitter an adjustable timer is
started and a few seconds later a mechanism is actuated that
forwards a game piece from a replaceable magazine containing a
plurality of game pieces into a propulsion mechanism to propel the
piece toward the individual. The propulsion mechanism contains a
pair of rollers for contacting opposite sides of a game piece. The
rollers are actuated by motors connected in a circuit with a
transportable energy source (e.g. battery) and the motors are
energized only after the timer is started, thereby prolonging
battery life, and are de-energized after a game piece is propelled
in front of the individual. Other idler rollers are allowed to
selectively contact the game piece to control same as it is
propelled. When the game piece is propelled by the rollers of the
propulsion mechanism the individual attempts to hit the piece.
Inventors: |
Leal, Jose E.; (Stow,
MA) ; Barletta, John F.; (South Borough, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph Funk
82 Chase Road
Londonderry
NH
03053
US
|
Family ID: |
27732530 |
Appl. No.: |
10/076692 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/451 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2069/0008 20130101;
A63B 69/0024 20130101; A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63B 69/0013
20130101; A63B 69/406 20130101; A63B 69/0026 20130101; A63B 2225/50
20130101; A63B 69/0002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/451 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Hitting practice training equipment for use by an individual,
said equipment comprising: a game piece to be hit by the equipment
user as part of said hitting practice; means for propelling the
game piece; means for striking a game piece propelled by said
propelling means to impose a force by the striking means against
the game piece, a transmitter being separate from the striking
means and the hands of the individual and used to transmit a signal
that causes a game piece to be propelled by the propelling means,
said transmitter being operated by the individual using the
training equipment.
2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a
receiver for receiving the transmitted signal, the receiver causing
the actuation of the propelling means to propel a game piece to be
hit by the individual using the striking means.
3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the signals are
transmitted on a wireless basis to the receiver.
4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the game piece
is a ball, the striking means is a baseball bat and further
comprising a home plate that contains the transmitter, the
transmitter being actuated to send the transmitted signal by
touching the home plate.
5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein after the
receiver receives the transmitted signal it delays causing the
actuation of the propelling means to propel a game piece for a
short period of time.
6. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the transmitter
is located on the individual apart from the striking means and the
hands of the individual and the individual actuates the transmitter
to transmit the signal that causes a game piece to be propelled by
the propelling means.
7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein the signals are
transmitted on a wireless basis to the receiver.
8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein after the
receiver receives the transmitted signal it delays causing the
actuation of the propelling means to propel a game piece for a
short period of time.
9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein the propelling
means is intended to propel the game piece toward individual with
the striking means.
10. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein after the
receiver receives the transmitted signal it delays causing the
actuation of the propelling means to propel a game piece for a
short period of time.
11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein the signals
are transmitted on a wireless basis to the receiver.
12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the game
piece is a ball, the striking means is a baseball bat and further
comprising a home plate that contains the transmitter, the
transmitter being actuated to send the transmitted signal by
touching the home plate.
13. The invention in accordance with claim 3 further comprising
means for selectively controlling the transmitter to transmit ones
of a plurality of signals that the receiver and propelling means
respond to and propel a game piece in a different manner for each
one of the plurality of signals.
14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 further comprising
voice activated means that responds to the individuals voice for
causing the transmitter to transmit the ones of the plurality of
signals that the receiver and propelling means respond to and
propel a game piece in a different manner for each one of the
plurality of signals.
15. The invention in accordance with claim 2 further comprising
means for selectively controlling the transmitter to transmit ones
of a plurality of signals that the receiver and propelling means
respond to and propel a game piece in a different manner for each
one of the plurality of signals.
16. The invention in accordance with claim 15 further comprising
voice activated means that responds to the individuals voice for
causing the transmitter to transmit the ones of the plurality of
signals that the receiver and propelling means respond to and
propel a game piece in a different manner for each one of the
plurality of signals.
17. The invention in accordance with claim 2 further comprising:
voice activated means that responds to the individuals voice for
causing the transmitter to transmit different signals that the
receiver and propelling means respond to and propel a game piece in
a different manner for each one of the different signals.
18. The invention in accordance with claim 9 2 further comprising
means for selectively controlling the transmitter to transmit ones
of a plurality of signals that the receiver and propelling means
respond to and propel a game piece in a different manner for each
one of the plurality of signals.
19. The invention in accordance with claim 18 further comprising
voice activated means that responds to the individuals voice for
causing the transmitter to transmit the ones of the plurality of
signals that the receiver and propelling means respond to and
propel a game piece in a different manner for each one of the
plurality of signals.
20. A method for an individual to have hitting practice using means
for propelling game pieces and hitting the game pieces with a
striking means, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a
signal from a transmitter that is apart from the striking means and
the hands of the individual to cause the actuation of the
propelling means to propel a game piece toward the individual; and
receiving the transmitted signal and causing the propelling means
to propel a game piece that the individual will attempt to strike
using the striking means.
21. The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein the individual
causes the transmission of the signal when they are ready to
attempt hitting a propelled game piece.
22. The method in accordance with claim 21 wherein the transmitted
signal is received at the propelling means and further comprising
the step of delaying the actuation of the propelling means to
propel a game piece after the transmitted signal is received.
23. The method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the striking
means is a baseball bat and the game piece is a ball.
24. The method in accordance with claim 23 wherein the signals are
transmitted by a transmitter in a home plate on the ground in front
of the individual and further comprising the step of actuating the
transmitter by touching the home plate.
25. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the transmitted
signal is received at the propelling means and further comprising
the step of delaying the actuation of the propelling means to
propel a game piece after the transmitted signal is received.
26. The method in accordance with claim 25 wherein the individual
causes the transmission of the signal when they are ready to
attempt hitting a propelled game piece.
27. The invention in accordance with claim 25 further comprising
the step of controlling the transmitter to transmit ones of a
plurality of signals that the receiver and propelling means respond
to and propel a game piece in a different manner for each one of
the plurality of signals.
28. The invention in accordance with claim 27 wherein the
transmitter has voice activated means and further comprising the
step of responding to voice of the individual and causing the
transmitter to transmit the ones of the plurality of signals that
the receiver and propelling means respond to and propel a game
piece in a different manner for each one of the plurality of
signals.
29. The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein the
transmitter has voice activated means and further comprising the
step of responding to voice of the individual and causing the
transmitter to transmit the ones of the plurality of signals that
the receiver and propelling means respond to and propel a game
piece in a different manner for each one of the plurality of
signals.
30. The invention in accordance with claim 29 wherein the
transmitter has voice activated means and further comprising the
step of responding to voice of the individual and causing the
transmitter to transmit the ones of the plurality of signals that
the receiver and propelling means respond to and propel a game
piece in a different manner for each one of the plurality of
signals.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to sports training aids and more
particularly to a system for hitting practice for games such as
baseball, tennis, table tennis, hockey and street hockey.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many youngsters, as well as adults, are interested in
improving their skills in games such as baseball, tennis, and table
tennis, hockey and street hockey. Because of this interest,
machines have been provided on a commercial basis for pitching game
pieces, it's such as balls, to a hitter. The hitter positions
himself or herself in a hitting cage and the machine then pitches a
plurality of game pieces in sequence to the hitter. The hitter pays
for this by inserting coins into a coin operated mechanism or by
paying a cashier.
[0003] There are at least three (3) problems with the commercial
hitting practice equipment described in the previous paragraph. One
problem is that the hitter cannot control when successive game
pieces, such as balls, are propelled to the hitter. Another problem
is that the hitter has to travel to the site of the hitting
practice machine.
[0004] To overcome the above described shortcomings of commercial
hitting practice equipment, relatively inexpensive hitting practice
equipment is available in which a bat contains a transmitter and
switch that is activated when the batter wants a ball propelled to
them. The switch is activated by the batter holding the bat, and a
signal is transmitted to a receiver in a ball propulsion unit that
initiates the operation of the propulsion unit to propel a ball.
The main problem with this prior art apparatus is that all the
elements that make up the transmitter, including battery holder and
cover, batteries, switch and transmitter are subjected to a lot of
mechanical shock and failure of these elements is experienced far
too often.
[0005] Thus, there is a need in the prior art for improved hitting
practice equipment that can be selectively activated by the batter
using a transmitter and receiver when they want a game peace, such
as a ball, to be propelled to them to be hit, and the transmitter
is not subject to the mechanical shocks of prior art apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The needs of the prior art are satisfied by the present
invention. Improved hitting practice equipment is provided that can
be selectively activated by the hitter using a transmitter and
receiver when they want a game piece propelled to them to be hit,
and the transmitter is not subject to the mechanical shocks of
prior art apparatus. The improved hitting practice equipment is
portable even by pre-teenagers so that an individual operating the
equipment can practice anywhere including the individuals yard or a
friend's yard.
[0007] In accordance with the teaching of the present invention the
improved hitting practice training equipment has a hitting
instrument, such as a bat, racket or paddle, an apparatus for
propelling game pieces, such as balls, in front of an individual
holding the hitting instrument, and a transmitter located remote
from the hitting instrument for initiating the apparatus to propel
a game piece in front of the individual. The game piece propelling
apparatus includes a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by
the transmitter to cause a game piece to be propelled in front of
the individual. The individual touches a switch on the transmitter
to actuate the transmitter when they wish to initiate the operation
of the game piece propelling apparatus, and a few seconds later a
game piece is propelled in front of the individual to be hit using
the hitting instrument. When the receiver in the propelling
apparatus receives a signal from the transmitter an adjustable
timer is started and a few seconds later a mechanism is actuated
that forwards a game piece from a replaceable magazine containing a
plurality of game pieces into a propulsion mechanism to propel the
piece in front of the individual with the hitting instrument. The
propulsion mechanism contains a pair of rollers for contacting
opposite sides of a game piece that is forwarded from the
magazine.
[0008] The rollers are actuated by motors connected in a circuit
with a transportable energy source (e.g. battery or battery
eliminator) and are energized only after the adjustable timer is
started, thereby prolonging battery life, and are de-energized
after a game piece is propelled toward the individual. When the
game piece is propelled by the rollers of the propulsion mechanism
the individual attempts to hit the piece, whether it be in the air
or on the ground.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention will be better understood on reading the
following Detailed Description of a preferred embodiment of the
invention in conjunction with the drawing in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention of a
bat, a ball pitching machine, and a home plate with a built in
transmitter;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a rear portion of the ball
pitching machine;
[0012] FIG. 2A shows a representative front view of a front portion
of the ball pitching machine used to create specific types of
pitches;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the ball pitching machine;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the transmitter and receiver
circuitry; and
[0015] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The subject invention may be utilized in a number of games
including, but not limited to, baseball, tennis, table tennis,
hockey and street hockey. However, in the following detailed
description the embodiment described is for baseball.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a hitting practice equipment device 10 in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. Device
10 comprises a bat 11, a pitching machine 12 that propels balls 13
toward a batter/individual holding bat 11, and a home plate 14 with
a built in transmitter (not shown) that includes activation
switches 15a-15f that are operated by the batter touching and
operating one of switches 15a-15g with bat 11. In both professional
and non-professional baseball batters often touch the home plate in
front of them as they are preparing to receive a pitch and this
action is repeated with the present hitting practice training
equipment 10.
[0018] More particularly, switch 15a is labeled "fastball" and when
this switch is operated a fastball pitch is propelled toward the
batter. Switch 15b is labeled "curve ball" and when this switch is
operated a curve ball pitch is propelled toward the batter. Switch
15c is labeled "slider" and when this switch is operated a slider
pitch is propelled toward the batter. Switch 15d is labeled "riser"
and when this switch is operated a riser pitch is propelled toward
the batter. Switch 15e is labeled "sinker" and when this switch is
operated a sinker pitch is propelled toward the batter. Switch 15f
is labeled "slowball" and when this switch is operated a slowball
pitch is propelled toward the batter. Finally, switch 15g is
labeled "random" and when this switch is operated random pitches of
the above listed types are sequentially propelled toward the
batter.
[0019] Once the batter is ready to receive a pitch they touch one
of switches 15a-15g on home plate 14 with the broad end of bat 11
and, responsive thereto, a radio frequency (RF) signal 16 is
transmitted to pitching machine 12 where it received by a radio
frequency (RF) receiver (not shown) inside machine 12 and a
pitching sequence is initiated. Both the transmitter and receiver
are described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. After receipt of
RF signal 16 an adjustable timer is started in the receiver that
times a period in the range of one to five seconds at the end of
which period pitching machine 12 propels a ball 13 toward the
batter with bat 11. The batter then attempts to hit ball 13. More
particularly, there is a three position switch 58 on pitching
machine 12 (FIG. 3) labeled "Beginner", "Intermediate" and
"Expert". When this switch is set at Beginner there is a delay of
five seconds before the ball 13 is propelled; when this switch is
set at Intermediate there is a delay of three seconds before the
ball 13 is propelled; and when this switch is set at Expert there
is a delay of one seconds before the ball 13 is propelled.
Alternatively, the time delay may be of fixed duration, or a
control may be provided by which the delay is continuously variable
between roughly one to five seconds.
[0020] RF signal 16 is a pulse train with there being one pulse
when the batter has selected a fastball by operating switch 15a,
two pulses when the batter has selected a curve ball by operating
switch 15b, three pulses when the batter has selected a slider by
operating switch 15c, four pulses when the batter has selected a
riser by operating switch 15d, five pulses when the batter has
selected a sinker by operating switch 15e, six pulses when the
batter has selected a slowball by operating switch 15f, and seven
pulses when the batter has selected random pitches by operating
switch 15g. The ball 13 may be a hard ball or a soft ball generally
provided for baseball games. The ball may also be a hollow ball
made of plastic, foam or another material and having a light weight
and constructed to limit the speed of the ball and the distance of
travel of the ball. This ball is advantageous when the batter is a
child generally less than ten years old.
[0021] Prior to using hitting practice training equipment 10 the
batter positions and adjusts pitching machine 12 so it propels
balls into a hitting zone above home plate 14. Details of pitching
machine 12 are given with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0022] While a radio frequency transmitter and receiver are
disclosed herein, an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver or an
infra-red emitter and receiver may be utilized with departing from
the teaching of the invention.
[0023] In addition, the transmitter may include a microphone, such
as a neck mounted microphone, and include voice recognition
circuitry and software. The batter speaks one of the word(s)
"fastball", "curve ball", "slider", "riser", "sinker", "slowball"
or "random" which the voice recognition circuitry recognizes and
causes the corresponding number of RF pulses to be transmitted, as
described above, to cause ball 13 to be propelled as requested by
the batter. Voice recognition circuitry and software are well known
in the art, are used in many fields from telephone information
services and word processing dictation software to simpler versions
such are now used with cell phones where a caller speaks a
pre-programmed persons name and the phone number for that person is
automatically dialed. Accordingly, no further discussion is given
here of the voice recognition circuitry and software to implement
this feature.
[0024] Although a baseball pitching machine is the preferred
embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons of
ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments are within the
scope of the invention. For example, the apparatus of this
invention can be adapted to propel game pieces such as, but not
limited to, table tennis balls, tennis balls, hockey pucks, tennis
balls, table tennis balls, hockey pucks and street hockey balls to
a player holding a hitting instrument used to hit the game
pieces.
[0025] In FIG. 2 is a front view of the rear portion of game piece
propelling apparatus 12 which in the preferred embodiment of the
invention is a ball pitching machine. The front portion is shown
and described with reference to FIG. 2A.
[0026] The apparatus 12 includes a base member 20 and a housing 21
pivotably attached on a horizontal axis to the base member. The
pivotal attachment is better seen in FIG. 3 and is used to elevate
the pitching angle of a ball 13. The base member 20 is adapted to
be supported on a support surface such as the ground but may also
be placed on an elevated surface. The base member 20 is adapted to
hold a transportable energy source such as a battery or batteries
22. However, a small AC-DC converter (not shown) with a jack to
plug it into base member 20 may be utilized in lieu of batteries
22. These converters and how to use them are well known in the
art.
[0027] The housing 21 is provided with a hollow passage 23 in which
a ball 13 to be propelled is inserted. There is a pair of motors
24a&b and a pair of actuators such as rollers 25a&b
attached to the shaft of each of the motors that are mounted on the
left and right side of passage 23. The rollers 25a&b are
preferably made from a resilient material and are preferably
extended into the hollow passage 23 to grip the opposite ends of
the ball 13 in the passage 23 and to propel ball 13 from the
passage 23 in accordance with the rotational speed of the rollers
25a&b. The motors 24a&b and the rollers 21a&b may be
considered as a "propulsion mechanism".
[0028] The ball 13 in passage 23 is normally not in contact with
rollers 25 but when a ball is to be pitched a motor driven piston
(not shown in FIG. 2, but shown in FIG. 3) is actuated that pushes
ball 13 in passage 23 into contact with rollers 25a&b. Then
rollers 25a&b contact the ball and propel it from ball
propelling apparatus 12 toward the batter and home plate 14 at a
speed determined in accordance with the rotational speed of the
rollers 25a&b.
[0029] In order to cause one the fastball, curve ball, slider,
riser, sinker, slowball or random pitches, idler rollers that are
shown in and described with reference to FIG. 2A are brought into
minimal contact with a ball 13 being propelled. These idler rollers
are not shown in FIG. 2 so that the above described "propulsion
mechanism" may be better seen and understood.
[0030] The top of ball propelling apparatus 12 has an opening 26
into which is inserted a removable, preferably transparent,
magazine 27 filled with balls 13. While eight balls 13 are shown in
magazine 27 in FIG. 2 the actual number of balls, fewer or greater,
is determined by the length of magazine. By having a replaceable
ball magazine a number of magazines may be utilized.
[0031] Gravity causes balls 13 to move downward in magazine 27 so
there is always a ball 13 in passage 23 until all balls have been
pitched. When a ball is to be pitched, the batter activates the
transmitter in home plate 14 by touching switch 15 as previously
described.
[0032] After receipt of the RF signal 16 in RF receiver (not shown
in FIG. 2, but shown in FIG. 3) a timer is started in the receiver
that times a period in the order of three seconds at the end of
which period a motor 31 operated piston 30 (not shown in FIG. 2,
but shown in FIG. 3) in pitching machine 12 is actuated that pushes
ball 13 in passage 23 into contact with rollers 25. Rollers
25a&b contact the ball and propel it from ball propelling
apparatus 12 toward the batter and home plate 14 at a speed
determined in accordance with the rotational speed of the rollers
25.
[0033] FIG. 2A shows a front view of a front portion 51 of the ball
pitching machine 12. It is a representative depiction of the
operations performed and those skilled in the art can make numerous
changes and provide the desired operation. Front portion 51 may be
deleted for embodiments of the invention other than baseball and
table tennis where a ball, puck etc. do not need any "spin" placed
thereon, such as in hockey. After a ball 13 is propelled by rollers
25a&b it travels through portion 51 between idler rollers 54a-d
as shown. Ones of idler rollers 54a-d are selectively moved a small
amount to barely touch ball 13 as it passes between idler rollers
54a-d to create a drag on the ball that causes all pitches except a
fastball. For a slider, side idler roller 54b is caused to touch
ball 13 to thereby cause rotation of the pitched ball that causes
it to curve away from the batter. For a slow ball, idler rollers
54a-d are all caused to touch ball 13 to thereby slow it down. For
a riser, top idler roller 54c is caused to touch ball 13. For a
sinker, bottom idler roller 54d is caused to touch ball 13.
[0034] To bring idler rollers 54a-d into minimum engagement with a
propelled ball 13, these idler rollers are positioned and turn
freely on shafts (not shown). Each roller and associated shaft are
attached to one of movable base plates 55a-d. Each baseplate is in
turn connected to one of solenoids 56a-d. As each of these
solenoids is operated the base plate to which it is connected is
moved, thereby moving the idler roller mounted thereon into a
position where the edge of the roller will minimally contact a ball
13 as it is propelled past the idler rollers. This minimal contact
causes ball 13 to spin as it travels and the previously described
pitches are created.
[0035] In FIG. 3 is shown a side view of game piece propelling
apparatus 12 which in the preferred embodiment of the invention is
a ball pitching machine.
[0036] As described with reference to FIG. 2 apparatus 12 includes
a base member 20 and a housing 21 pivotably attached on a
horizontal axis to the base member 20 at a pivot member 28. Pivot
member may be loosened to change the angle of elevation of housing
21 to adjust the upward pitching angle of a ball 13 and is then
re-tightened. The base member 20 is adapted to be supported on a
support surface such as the ground but may also be placed on an
elevated surface. The base member 20 is adapted to hold a
transportable energy source such as a battery or batteries 22 but a
small AC-DC converter may be utilized in lieu of batteries 22.
[0037] As previously described housing 21 has a hollow passage 23
in which a ball 13 to be propelled is inserted. There is also a
pair of motors 24 and a pair of actuators such as rollers 25
attached to the shaft of each of the motors. The rollers 25 are
preferably made from a resilient material and are preferably
extended into the hollow passage 23 to grip the opposite ends of
the ball 13 in the passage 23 and to propel ball 13 from the
passage 23 in accordance with the rotational speed of the rollers
25.
[0038] The front portion 51 of ball pitching machine 12 has idler
rollers 54a-d, movable base plates 55a-d and solenoids 56a-d the
collective function of which is to create certain types of pitches
that have already been described with reference to FIG. 2B so are
not repeated here.
[0039] The lowest ball 13 is in passage 23 and is normally not in
contact with rollers 25 but when a ball is to be pitched, a
solenoid 31 with piston 30 attached thereto is actuated. Piston 30
pushes ball 13 in passage 23 into contact with rollers 25. Rollers
25 contact ball 13 and propel it from apparatus 12 toward the
batter and home plate 14 at a speed determined in accordance with
the rotational speed of the rollers 25.
[0040] As described previously there is a magazine 27 of balls 13
inserted into hole 26 and gravity feeds these balls into passage
23.
[0041] To cause this to happen, RF receiver 29 receives the pulse
train RF signal 16 transmitted from home plate 14 and initiates a
pitch following a period in the order of one to five seconds, as
determined by the setting of three position "Beginner,
Intermediate, Expert" switch 58 as previously described with
reference to FIG. 1, at the end of which time period motor 31
driven piston 30 is fully actuated and pushes ball 13 in passage 23
into contact with drive rollers 25 to be pitched. The batter has
this time to bring bat 11 to their shoulder in preparation of
hitting the ball 13 to be pitched.
[0042] Also as previously described, depending on the type of pitch
selected by a batter, a pulse train from one to six pulse long is
transmitted by the transmitter 32 in home plate 14 (FIG. 1) and is
received by RF receiver 29 in ball pitching machine 12. Logic
circuitry associated with receiver 29 decodes the number of pulses
and actuates ones of idler rollers 54a-d to create the selected
pitch.
[0043] In FIG. 4 is shown a simplified block diagram of the
transmitter circuitry 32 located in home base 14 and the receiver
circuitry 29 located in ball propelling apparatus 12.
[0044] As previously described, transmitter 32 is located in home
plate 14 along with a transportable energy source such as a battery
or batteries, but a small AC-DC converter may also be utilized in
lieu of batteries. The transmitter is used to transmit a pulsed RF
signal 16 to receiver 29 in pitching apparatus 12 when a batter
wishes to initiate a pitch of a selected type, as previously
described.
[0045] In one embodiment, transmitter 32 includes an oscillator 33
for producing signals at a particular frequency such as
approximately thirty-two megahertz (32 MHz). The oscillator 33 may
be crystal controlled. The signals from oscillator 33 may be
amplified by amplifier 34 and the amplified signals are applied to
antenna via antenna matching circuit 35 to be transmitted. When a
batter touches one of switches 15a-g on home plate 14 to initiate a
selected type of pitch, the selected switch 15 causes logic circuit
47 to apply power to oscillator 33 in a pulsed manner and thereby
causes a pulsed RF signal 16 to be transmitted. For example, if
switch 15f on homeplate 14 is operated by a batter, indicating that
they want a slowball to be pitched, six pulses are output from
oscillator 33. This pulsed operation is previously in this
description.
[0046] RF receiver 29 in pitching apparatus has a tuned antenna 37
that receives the pulsed 32 MHz RF signal 16 transmitted by the
transmitter in home plate 14. By having a tuned antenna extraneous
signals will not trigger the pitch of a ball 13. RF amplifier 38
amplifies the received RF signal. Using the example in the previous
paragraph, the received RF signal has six pulses indicating that a
slowball is to be pitched. The presence of the amplified, pulsed RF
signal is detected at 32 MHz detector 39. The number of pulses in
the pulsed 32 MHz signal is detected by logic circuit 48 and starts
timer 40 that times a period of between one and five seconds, as
selected by three position switch 59 in ball pitching machine 12,
as previously described. At the end of the timed period driver 41
outputs a signal that actuates motor 31 to thereby causes motor
driven piston 30 to push adjacent ball 13 between the two rollers
25 to be propelled towards the batter and home plate 14 as
previously described.
[0047] As ball 13 is propelled by rollers 25a&b it passes
between idler rollers 54a-d (FIGS. 2 & 3). Responsive to the
number of pulses in the received RF signal logic circuit 48 causes
ones of solenoids 56a-d to be actuated, thereby moving idler
rollers 54a-d, all as previously described, to provide the type of
pitch indicated by the batter using switches 15a-g on home plate
14. These idler rollers 54a-d are actuated just prior to ball 13
being propelled.
[0048] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the invention
may be used to propel table tennis balls toward a player who wishes
to practice their table tennis ball returns. Such a player is
figuratively shown in FIG. 5 holding a table tennis paddle. For
table tennis and other games, such as tennis, there is no home
plate so the transmitter must be positioned in a different
location. The transmitter is relatively small container 45 with
seven buttons thereon (corresponding to switches 15a-g on home
plate 14) that is mounted on the players belt, or on a player wrist
with a strap, both as shown in FIG. 5. With their free hand the
player actuates ones of the buttons on the transmitter when they
wish to initiate a ball being propelled toward them.
[0049] While what has been described here in the preferred
embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous
changes will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art
and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as
indicated by the scope of the claims.
* * * * *