U.S. patent application number 11/076126 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for method of converting baseball pitching machine to pitch lacrosse balls.
Invention is credited to Luis F. Villar.
Application Number | 20060201490 11/076126 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36969509 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201490 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Villar; Luis F. |
September 14, 2006 |
Method of converting baseball pitching machine to pitch lacrosse
balls
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of converting a baseball pitching machine
to a lacrosse ball pitching machine by obtaining a baseball
pitching machine having a drive wheel and a compression plate
spaced by a compression space 3 therefrom, reducing the size of the
compression space 3 to an extent effective in propelling a lacrosse
ball, and elevating the pitching machine so as to raise the
compression space 3 to a height of at least 70 inches above ground
level.
Inventors: |
Villar; Luis F.; (Stuart,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Luis F. Villar, M.D.
92 North Sewalls Point Road
Stuart
FL
34994
US
|
Family ID: |
36969509 |
Appl. No.: |
11/076126 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 4/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/006 |
International
Class: |
F41B 4/00 20060101
F41B004/00 |
Claims
1. A method of converting a baseball pitching machine to a lacrosse
ball pitching machine, comprising the steps of: obtaining a
baseball pitching machine having a drive wheel and a compression
plate spaced by a compression space therefrom; reducing the size of
the compression space to an extent effective in propelling a
lacrosse ball; and elevating the pitching machine so as to raise
the compression space to a height of at least 70 inches above
ground level.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a
feed tube of about 3 inches inside diameter directed downward into
close proximity with the compression space.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the feed tube is directed downward
toward the compression space at an angle of at least 10 degrees in
relation to the compression space.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the compression space is reduced
by about 68%.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the compression space is reduced
by about 0.71 inches.
6. The device produced by the method of claim 1.
7. A method of converting a baseball pitching machine to a lacrosse
ball pitching machine, comprising the steps of: obtaining a
baseball pitching machine having a drive wheel and a compression
plate spaced by a compression space therefrom; and reducing the
size of the compression space by about 68%.
8. The method of claim 8 wherein the compression space is reduced
by about 0.71 inches.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the device is elevated so as to
dispose the compression space no less than about 70 inches above
ground level.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of providing
a feed tube of about 3 inches inside diameter directed downward
into close proximity with the compression space.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the feed tub is directed toward
the compression space at a downward angle of at least 10 degrees in
relation to the compression space.
12. A conversion kit for converting a baseball pitching machine to
a lacrosse ball pitching machine, comprising: a replacement
compression plate that, when installed, reduces a compression space
between a drive wheel of the pitching machine and a replaced
compression plate to an extent effective in propelling a lacrosse
ball.
13. The conversion kit of claim 12 further comprising: a set of
replacement legs effective in elevating the pitching machine so as
to raise the compression space to a height of at least 70 inches
above ground level.
14. The conversion kit of claim 12 further comprising a feed tube
of about 3 inches inside diameter.
15. The conversion kit of claim 14 further comprising a feed tube
of about 3 inches inside diameter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0002] This invention relates to machines for pitching lacrosse
balls.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Baseball pitching devices are well known in the art. These
devices generally utilize a rotating drive wheel and a pressure
plate spaced apart a distance smaller than a baseball. A baseball
fed into the space between the drive wheel and pressure plate is
tightly squeezed between the two and propelled forward.
[0005] Another version of this genre of baseball pitching machines
has an additional drive wheel replacing the pressure plate. Because
the baseball is driven by two wheels, faster ball speeds are
obtained.
[0006] One might simply design a similar device for pitching
lacrosse balls, but what is needed is a more economical method that
permits a pre-existing baseball pitching device to be converted to
a lacrosse ball pitching device, thereby obviating the need for
retooling.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] Disclosed is a method of converting a baseball pitching
machine to a lacrosse ball pitching machine, comprising the steps
of obtaining a baseball pitching machine having a drive wheel and a
compression plate spaced by a compression space therefrom, reducing
the size of the compression space to an extent effective in
propelling a lacrosse ball, and elevating the pitching machine so
as to raise the compression space to a height of at least 70 inches
above ground level.
[0008] Disclosed is a method of converting a baseball pitching
machine to a lacrosse ball pitching machine, comprising the steps
of obtaining a baseball pitching machine having a drive wheel and a
compression plate spaced by a compression space therefrom, and
reducing the size of the compression space by about 68%.
[0009] Also disclosed is a conversion kit for converting a baseball
pitching machine to a lacrosse ball pitching machine, the kit
including a replacement compression plate that, when installed,
reduces a compression space between a drive wheel of the pitching
machine and a replaced compression plate to an extent effective in
propelling a lacrosse ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front-plan view of the converted baseball
pitching machine of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear-plan view of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side-plan view of the invention, showing the
opening to the feed tube.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side-plan view of the invention showing where
the ball is ejected from.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1 in particular and the remaining figures
in general, there is shown a lacrosse-modified pitching device 1,
originally designed to pitch baseballs, now modified to pitch
lacrosse balls. The basic components include a drive wheel 2 driven
about a drive axis 2b and having a compressible outer rim 2a. The
compressible outer rim 2a is spaced by a compression space 3 from a
compression plate 4, which itself will also generally have a
compression pad 4a. A feed tube 5, slightly larger than the
diameter of the lacrosse ball 6 to be pitched, is utilized to
direct the ball into the compression space 3.
[0015] The compressible outer rim 2a and the compression pad 4a
will typically be made of a resilient material such as rubber or
polymer plastic. Note, however, that it is not unusual for the
compressible outer rim 2a and compression pad 4a to be made of
different materials and have different resiliencies. Often the
compressible out rim 2a is made of a harder material than the
compression pad 4a.
[0016] As can be seen, the lacrosse ball 6 is fed into the feed
tube 5 causing it to enter the compression space 3. The drive wheel
2, rotating rapidly counterclockwise in this view, drives the
lacrosse ball 6 through and out the compression space 3, thereby
pitching the lacrosse ball 6.
[0017] Referring more specifically to FIG. 2, additional components
include a tripod receptacle 7, a swivel joint 8 for aiming the
assembly horizontally, a tilt joint 9 for aiming the assembly
vertically. Levered tightening screws 10 are provided to locking
these joints into place. The tripod receptacle 7 is generally three
or more hollow pipe members sized to receive supporting legs. As
will be more fully explained below, a set of replacement legs 15
will preferably be provided as part of the modification method.
[0018] A drive motor 11 is provided, preferably controlled by a
speed controller 12 that has a manual speed control knob 13 or
other type of adjustment control. A separate on/off switch may be
provided on the speed controller 12, but generally it is more
economical to have an "off" position on the speed control knob
13.
[0019] Referring again to FIG. 1 in particular and the remaining
figures in general, there is also often provided a carrying handle
14 and a mud flap 17. The mud flap 17 allows use of the invention 1
in rainy weather by preventing water on the drive wheel 2 from
spinning onto the person or device feeding lacrosse balls 6 into
the feed tube 5. A motor shield 18 is also often provided to
prevent balls thrown or batted back toward the machine from
striking the motor 11 and speed controller 12.
[0020] The most important modification to the original baseball
pitching machine is in the original compression space 3, which must
be reduced to be adapted to the size, friction, and resiliency of a
lacrosse ball. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
sets standards for equipment used in college sports that are
typically followed by their professional counterparts. For a
baseball, the diameter is 3 inches and the coefficient of
restitution is no more than 0.555. For a lacrosse ball, the
diameter is 2.5 inches and the coefficient of restitution is no
more than 0.842. Both balls weigh from 5 to 5.25 ounces.
[0021] The coefficient of restitution, c, of a ball is given by: c
= h H ##EQU1## where h is the height to which the ball bounces to
when dropped from a height of H. The coefficient of restitution is
a measure of the resiliency of the ball.
[0022] The problem for the modifier of a baseball machine for use
with a lacrosse ball is that the compressibility of the
compressible rim 2a of the drive wheel 2 and the compressibility of
the compression pad 4a (if any) of the compression plate 4 will
vary among manufacturers and models, therefore the compression
space 3 required for a lacrosse ball will vary. However, because
compression strength is proportional to compression space 3 to good
approximation, we can reasonably rely on the standardization of
baseballs and lacrosse balls by the NCAA to determine the modified
compression space 3 without undue experimentation. We have found
that the original compression space 3 will generally be reduced
from 60% to 80%, preferably about 68%, of its original size to
modify a baseball pitching machine to pitch lacrosse balls.
[0023] More accurately, the equation for the change in compression
space distance is approximated by G B - G L .apprxeq. ( D B - D L )
' + F + .PHI. K L ##EQU2## where G.sub.B is the compression space
width for the hardball, G.sub.L is the compression space width for
the lacrosse ball, D.sub.B is the diameter of the hardball, D.sub.L
is the diameter of the lacrosse ball, F is the compression force
exerted upon the balls when in the compression space, and K.sub.L
is the spring coefficient of the lacrosse ball (wherein
F=K.sub.L.DELTA.D.sub.L, where .DELTA.D.sub.L is the change in
lacrosse ball diameter caused by force F). The equation assumes the
hardball to be incompressible. The factor .phi. is any additional
force that may be desired, such as to compensate for the smoother
and lower frictional surface of a lacrosse ball in comparison to a
hardball.
[0024] Notice from the equation that the difference in compression
space distance is independent of the resiliency of the compressible
rim 2a and compression pad 4a and is simply the difference in ball
size plus a constant, F/K.sub.L, which will generally be from 0.15
to 0.25 or about 0.21. Hence, for any system, one may generally
maintain the same compression force in conversion to lacrosse ball
use by reducing the compression space by about 0.5+0.21=0.71
inches.
[0025] For example, the modified baseball pitching machine shown in
the drawings is sold by Bata Baseball Machines of San Marcos,
Calif. under the product model name of BATA-1. The compression
space 3 for an NCAA standard hardball baseball is 2.21 inches.
Taking 68% of this, we obtain a compression space 3 of 1.5 inches
for an NCAA standard lacrosse ball. Alternatively, we could reduce
the value of 2.21 inches by 0.71 and obtain the same result of 1.5
inches.
[0026] Hence, for any particular make or model of machine, we need
not know the compression strength of the compression pad 4a or
compressible rim 2a and engage in complex calculation or
experiment. This is because the manufacturer has already set the
original compression space 3 size for us for optimal use with a
standardized baseball. We need only take 68% of this value to
reasonably adapt to a lacrosse ball. Note that the diameter of an
NCAA standard lacrosse ball is only 83% of an NCAA standard
hardball, but we must reduce the compression space 3 still further
because a lacrosse ball is more resilient and has a less frictional
surface than a hardball. Of course, there may be other factors
involved, depending on machine design, so that one might wish to
take 68% as an initial approximation and then fine-tune the
compression space 3 with minimal experimentation.
[0027] How the modification in compression space 3 is made is most
simply achieved by either drilling new mounting holes 4b in the
compression plate 4 supplied with the baseball pitching machine, or
by supplying a replacement compression plate 4 with mounting holes
that will provide the desired compression space 3 for lacrosse
balls. Such a new plate could be supplied as part of a conversion
kit, thereby alleviating the need for a customer to machine any
parts.
[0028] The next most important modification to the original
baseball pitching machine is in the height. Lacrosse balls are
mostly thrown high with lacrosse sticks, so the lacrosse-modified
pitching machine 1 needs to be much higher. The compression space
3, where the ball is ejected, is typically about 40 to 50 inches
above ground level on the typical baseball pitching machine. For a
lacrosse ball, it is preferred that the compression space 3 be at a
height above ground of from about 70 to 90 inches, or about 80
inches. To do this, we preferably choose a model of baseball
pitching machine that has removable legs and replace them with
longer ones. The BATA-1 model shown in the drawings, for example,
comes with 34-inch pipe legs that fit into the tripod receptacle 7,
yielding a compression space 3 height of about 48 inches. By
replacing these with 68-inch replacement legs 15, we obtain a
compression space 3 height of about 78 inches. Again, these
replacement legs 15 may be supplied as part of a conversion kit for
the consumer.
[0029] The third most important modification to the original
baseball pitching machine is in the feed tube 5. Depending upon the
make and model of the machine this step may or may not be
necessary. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the original feed tube 16,
shown in dotted outline, on the model BATA-1 is level with an
inside diameter large enough to accommodate a 3-inch diameter
hardball with room to spare. Further, the tube does not extend very
close to the compression space 3.
[0030] The lacrosse-modified feed tube 5 of the invention has a
smaller inside diameter of about three inches to accommodate a
2.5-inch lacrosse ball with half-an-inch to spare. It is preferably
tilted downward into the compression space 3 at an angle of from
10.degree. to 20.degree., preferably about 15.degree.. Note that
this angle is in relation to the compression space itself rather
than the ground because the device can be tilted. This allows the
device to be tilted upward to duplicate the loft normally
associated with lacrosse balls when thrown and still permit balls
to be fed into the tube without rolling back out. Further, the feed
tube 5 is preferably brought in very close to the compression space
3. Because both the drive wheel 2 and the compression plate 4
obstruct access to the compression space 3, it is desirable to
provide a compression plate clearing cut 5a and a drive wheel
clearing cut 5b on the feed tube 5 so as to permit the feed tube to
be extended right into the opening of the compression space 3 as
shown. Again, the feed tube 5 of the invention may be provided to
the consumer as a replacement part in a conversion kit, requiring
only that the original feed tube 16 be discarded and replaced.
[0031] Of course, while this disclosure has been directed to
modifying a hardball pitching machine, the parameters therein may
be modified to convert a softball pitching machine with little
experimentation. Such a conversion would of course require a
greater reduction in the compression space.
[0032] While various values, scalar and otherwise, may be disclosed
herein, it is to be understood that these are not exact values, but
rather to be interpreted as "about" such values, unless explicitly
stated otherwise. Further, the use of a modifier such as "about" or
"approximately" in this specification with respect to any value is
not to imply that the absence of such a modifier with respect to
another value indicated the latter to be exact.
[0033] Changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in
the art to the embodiments as disclosed herein and such examples,
illustrations, and theories are for explanatory purposes and are
not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Further, the
abstract of this disclosure is provided for the sole purpose of
complying with the rules requiring an abstract so as to allow a
searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of
the disclosures contained herein and is submitted with the express
understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the
scope or the meaning of the claims.
* * * * *