U.S. patent application number 11/241828 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus for a baseball throwing machine.
Invention is credited to Randy Haas.
Application Number | 20060070608 11/241828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36124318 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060070608 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haas; Randy |
April 6, 2006 |
Receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus for a baseball
throwing machine
Abstract
An electrically actuated, adjustable oscillator 12 is provided
with a mount 18 for receiving a baseball throwing machine 10. An
upstanding and outspread baseball-receiving net 14 is disposed
above the throwing machine 10. A feed assembly 16 extends between
the net 14 and the throwing machine 10. The oscillator 12
comprises, for example, a support housing 22, an electrically
actuated motor 24, a gear box 26, and a manually adjustable
rotation-to-oscillation converter assembly 27. The baseball
receiving net 14 comprises, for example, an arched frame 38, a net
or web 40 supported by the frame 38, and a circular basin 42 to
which lower ends of the net 40 are attached. The feed assembly 16
comprises, for example, an upper, generally vertical cage 46
mounted around a central opening 47 in the basin 42 and a curved
guide member 48 extending from a lower end of the cage 46 to the
throwing machine 10.
Inventors: |
Haas; Randy; (Pleasant
Plain, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WM. CATES RAMBO;508 MERCANTILE LIBRARY BLDG.
414 WALNUT STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202-3913
US
|
Family ID: |
36124318 |
Appl. No.: |
11/241828 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60614833 |
Oct 1, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2069/0011 20130101;
A63B 63/00 20130101; A63B 2047/004 20130101; A63B 69/406
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/006 |
International
Class: |
F41B 4/00 20060101
F41B004/00 |
Claims
1. Receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus adapted for use on
a baseball throwing machine, said receiving, feeding and
oscillating apparatus comprising: a) an electrically actuated,
adjustable oscillator provided with a mount for receiving the
baseball throwing machine; b) a upstanding and outspread
baseball-receiving net including a frame for mounting said net in
an upstanding and outspread position above the throwing machine;
and c) a feed assembly extending between the baseball-receiving net
and the throwing machine.
2. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 1, wherein, the baseball throwing machine mount on the
oscillator is an elongated shaft pivotable through an arc of
adjustable magnitude.
3. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 1, wherein the oscillator comprises a support housing, an
electrically actuated motor, a gear box, and a manually adjustable
rotation-to-oscillation converter assembly.
4. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 3, wherein the mount for receiving the baseball throwing
machine is pivotally mounted in the housing.
5. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 3, wherein the manually adjustable rotation-to-oscillation
converter assembly comprises an angle adjustment plate, a control
arm on the baseball throwing machine mount and a linkage member
extending between the angle adjuster and the control arm.
6. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 5, wherein the gear box rotates the angle adjustment plate
within a range of 5 to 10 revolutions per minute.
7. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 5, wherein the gear box rotates the angle adjustment plate at
an average of seven revolutions per minute.
8. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 5, wherein the angle adjustment plate is provided with at
least two linkage pin-receiving recesses.
9. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 5, wherein the control arm is provided with at least two
linkage pin-receiving recesses.
10. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 5, wherein the linkage member comprises an adjustable central
connector and pivot pin-bearing extensions at opposite ends of said
central connector.
11. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 10, wherein the pivot pin-bearing extensions of the linkage
member are pivotally mounted on the adjustment plate and control
arm.
12. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 1, wherein the frame of the baseball receiving net is
arched.
13. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 1, wherein lower ends of the net are attached to a generally
circular basin.
14. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 13, wherein at least one support strut extends from the basin
to the throwing machine.
15. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 13, wherein the basin is depressed and provided with a
central opening, said central opening being in communication with
the feed assembly.
16. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 15, wherein the feed assembly comprises an upper, generally
vertical cage and a curved guide member extending from a lower end
of the cage to the throwing machine.
17. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 16, wherein the upper, generally vertical cage is mounted
around the central opening in the basin.
18. The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
claim 16, wherein the cage and the guide member are sized and
shaped so that a baseball may travel smoothly from the receiving
net to the throwing machine.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] A claim is hereby made to the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/614,833 filed Oct. 1, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to baseball throwing machines
and more particularly to receiving, feeding and oscillating
apparatus therefor.
[0003] In the past, baseball throwing machines have been
stationarily mounted. While prior art mounting mechanism could be
manually adjusted, baseballs could not be continuously or
automatically dispensed over a wide range of angles. For batting
practice, the stationary throwing machines were satisfactory, but
their usefulness diminished with fielding practice, particularly
when several players were involved. In order to give each player a
turn, someone had to stand by the machine and rotate or pivot it
towards each player.
[0004] In addition, baseball throwing machines of the past required
someone to manually load a hopper with baseballs or feed them
directly into the mechanism. In the fielding practice situation,
someone also had to catch the baseballs being thrown toward the
machine by the players.
[0005] Thus, the present inventor was faced with the problem of
modifying a baseball throwing machine to reduce the amount of time
someone, like the baseball coach, had to spend operating and
otherwise attending to the throwing machine during fielding
practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to
the preferred embodiment are adapted for use on a baseball throwing
machine and basically comprise an electrically actuated, adjustable
oscillator provided with a mount for receiving the baseball
throwing machine; a upstanding and outspread baseball-receiving net
including a frame for mounting the net in an upstanding and
outspread position above the throwing machine; and a feed assembly
extending between the baseball-receiving net and the throwing
machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of receiving, feeding and
oscillating apparatus according to the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, receiving, feeding and
oscillating apparatus according to the present preferred embodiment
are adapted for use on a baseball throwing machine 10 and basically
comprise an electrically actuated, adjustable oscillator 12
provided with a mount 18 for receiving the baseball throwing
machine 10: an upstanding and outspread baseball-receiving net 14
disposed above the throwing machine 10; and a feed assembly 16
extending between the net 14 and the throwing machine 10.
[0011] As indicated in FIGS. 1-3, the oscillator mount 18 may be an
elongated shaft 18 pivotable back and forth through an arc or angle
20 of adjustable magnitude. The oscillator 12 may comprise, for
example, a support housing 22, an electrically actuated motor 24, a
gear box 26, and a manually adjustable rotation-to-oscillation
converter assembly 27. The converter assembly 27 may comprise an
angle adjustment plate 28, a control arm 30 on the shaft 18 and a
linkage member 32 extending between the angle adjuster 28 and the
control arm 30. The housing may be provided with outriggers (not
shown) for additional stability. The gear box 26 may rotate the
angle adjustment plate within a range of 5 to 10 revolutions per
minute and preferably at an average of seven revolutions per
minute. A lower end of the shaft 18 may be pivotally mounted in the
housing 22. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the angle adjustment plate 28
may be provided with a plurality of linkage pin-receiving recesses
or bores 34 disposed in a cross pattern, and the control arm 30 may
likewise be provided with several linkage pin-receiving recesses or
bores 34. The linkage member 32 may, for example, comprise an
adjustable central connector 35 and pivot pin-bearing extensions 36
at opposite ends of the central connector 34, said pin-bearing
extensions 36 being mountable in the recesses or bores 34 in the
adjustment plate 28 and control arm 30.
[0012] The baseball receiving net 14 may comprise, for example, an
arched frame 38, a net or web 40 supported by the frame 38, and a
circular basin 42 to which lower ends of the net 40 are attached.
Support struts 44 may extend from the basin 42 to the throwing
machine 10. As may be readily understood, the net 40 is adapted to
absorb the impact of a baseball thrown at it by a player, thereby
causing the ball to drop into the basin 42. The basin 42 may be
depressed and provided in its central region with a central opening
47 to guide the baseball into the feed assembly 16.
[0013] The feed assembly 16 may comprise, for example, an upper,
generally vertical cage 46 mounted around the central opening 47 in
the basin 42 and a curved guide member 48 extending from a lower
end of the cage 46 to a gate (not shown) on the throwing machine
10. The cage 46 and guide member 48 are sized and shaped so that a
baseball may travel smoothly from the receiving net 14 to the
throwing machine 10.
[0014] The present embodiment of the receiving, feeding and
oscillating apparatus may be operated, for example, in the
following manner. The subject apparatus may be positioned at home
plate on a baseball diamond or otherwise located on a practice
field. The players may be arrayed in typical fashion relative to
the baseball diamond, or simply stationed at spaced and/or
staggered intervals on the practice field. The present apparatus is
then manually set to oscillate through an arc defined by the
distance between the outermost players. The foregoing setting is
accomplished by adjusting the central connector 35 so that the
length of the linkage member 32 in such that the pivot pins on the
extensions 36 can be mounted in the appropriate bores 34 on the
control arm 30 and the angle adjustment plate 28. Locating the
appropriate bores 34 may be by trial and error, or the angle
adjustment plate 28 and the control arm 30 may be provided with
indicia (not shown) adjacent to the bores 34 to assist the operator
in establishing the desired angle of oscillation.
[0015] The baseball-throwing machine 10 may then be adjusted
according to its manufacturer's instructions to regulate the arc,
speed and frequency at which baseballs are hurled and switched to
the operative mode. The motor 24 in the oscillator 12 is also
turned on.
[0016] When the machine 10 throws a baseball, a player fields it
and throws it to another player or to the baseball receiving net
14. In any event, one of the players eventually tosses the ball
into the receiving net 14, whereupon it falls into the basin 42,
rolls into the central opening 47 and travels downwardly in the
feed assembly 16 until it reaches the uppermost baseball queued
behind the gate (not shown) on the throwing machine 10. In the
meantime, the oscillator 12 is pivoting the throwing machine 12
through the selected arc and, depending upon the frequency setting,
the throwing machine 10 is tossing out baseballs in a distribution
pattern that allows all of the players to have multiple
opportunities to practice fielding without requiring anyone to be
continually feeding or adjusting the throwing machine 10.
[0017] While a single embodiment has been described and illustrated
in detail, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to unduly limit
or restrict the spirit of the invention or the scope of the
following claims.
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