U.S. patent application number 13/354360 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-26 for sport projectile return device.
Invention is credited to Blair R. Cottreau, Alexander S. Gonzalez.
Application Number | 20120190482 13/354360 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46544579 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120190482 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cottreau; Blair R. ; et
al. |
July 26, 2012 |
Sport Projectile Return Device
Abstract
A sports training device to practice shooting, kicking,
throwing, launching or hitting a sports projectile such as a
baseball, golf ball or ice hockey puck; comprising of a tether
attached to the projectile, and an electromechanical drive
mechanism to act on the tether to return the projectile. In the
case of baseball hitting practice, a batter would hit a ball
attached to the tether; the ball would travel the length of the
tether. The other end of the tether would be secured to the device
body. The batter would activate the device to return the ball. The
drive mechanism consists of a drive roller attached to a motor, and
an idler roller attached to a lever. After the tether is let out
the user depresses the lever, pinching the tether between the
rollers and activating the motor simultaneously, thus hauling the
tether. The tether coils upon itself when it returns.
Inventors: |
Cottreau; Blair R.; (Miami,
FL) ; Gonzalez; Alexander S.; (Miami, FL) |
Family ID: |
46544579 |
Appl. No.: |
13/354360 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61461633 |
Jan 20, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/431 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0026 20130101;
A63B 69/0079 20130101; A63B 69/36 20130101; A63B 69/0002 20130101;
A63B 2063/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/431 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A portable sport projectile return device adapted for returning
of a sports projectile such as a ball to the user for use in
athletic development such as swinging, comprising of: a base; a
housing; a tether; two pinch rollers consisting of a drive roller
and an idler roller; a lever connected to the idler roller to pinch
the tether between the idler roller and drive roller; an electric
motor connected to the drive roller; a switch system to control the
motor.
2. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the lever
simultaneously pinches the rollers and controls the drive motor via
an electrical switch.
3. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the lever
creates a space between the rollers with the use of a spring or
gravity when the lever is not depresses, to allow for free letting
of the tether through the rollers.
4. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the device
allows for the coiling of the tether upon itself while being hauled
in.
5. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the
housing is made to have a small gap between the sides of the
rollers and housing such that the tether cannot slip out to the
sides of either roller.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a return device for sport
projectile objects such as balls and pucks used in games and
athletic sports. Such a device has particular application to
practice for sports where repeated shooting, kicking, throwing,
launching or hitting is desirable in order for a player to develop
a consistent, controlled and accurate athletic movement.
[0002] The present invention provides a means for the sport
projectile to be returned to the user for repeated shooting,
kicking, throwing, launching or hitting enabling the user to
practice the appropriate movement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Baseball practice has consisted of using a batting tee where
a baseball is placed on a pole and a batter strikes the ball with a
baseball bat. The baseball would typically either be hit into a
field, net, backstop or fence. The disadvantage of hitting into a
field is the retrieval of the ball; into a net is in the setup and
requirements of a net and retrieval of the ball; into a backstop or
fence is the damage inflected on the backstop or fence by the ball
and retrieval of the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This device contains a sports projectile connected to a
tether and a means to haul the tether back to the user. The
tethered projectile prevents the projectile from damaging property,
and eliminates the need for a net setup. The returning of the
projectile to the user via hauling the tether eliminates the need
to retrieve the projectile.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This device consists of a base, housing, tether, lever arm
and drive system. The drive system includes a drive roller directly
connected to a motor and an idler roller attached to a pivoted
lever. When the lever end is depressed the idler roller pinches the
tether against the drive roller. When the lever is not depressed, a
spring or gravity separates the rollers. The surfaces of the
rollers are such that they impart sufficient friction on the tether
for hauling.
[0006] In the starting position the projectile is secured to the
tether, set on a projectile holder such as a baseball tee, golf mat
or hockey puck mat. The tether goes between the two open rollers,
and is coiled behind the rollers on the ground or base of the
devise. The other end of the tether is secured to the base or
housing.
[0007] The user would impart an action to launch the projectile.
During the projectile launch, the tether uncoils and runs freely
between the open rollers until the rope is taut and stops the
projectile.
[0008] At this time the user depressed the end of the lever, which
causes the idler roller to pinch against the drive roller,
sandwiching the tether between the rollers. Depressing the lever
simultaneously closes an electrical switch which activates the
drive roller motor. These actions haul the tether and dispense the
tether into a coil. The user continues to depress the lever until
the projectile returns to the projectile holder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing internal components of
the device of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a vertical side elevation of the device showing
the internal components.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevation showing the motor and
battery.
[0012] The device comprises of a self contained unit having a base
1 attached to a housing unit 2. (Only half of the housing unit is
shown for illustration purposes). An area 3 is provided for the
coiled tether. The motor 4 is attached to the drive roller. The
battery 5 is attached to the housing unit 2. The motor shaft 6 is
through the drive roller 7. A pin 8 through the housing unit acts
as a fulcrum for a lever 9. Connected to the end of the lever
within the housing is an idler roller 10. A spring 11 may be
connected between the lever and housing to position the lever such
that the rollers are separated while the lever is not being
depressed (open position). A switch 12 is placed between the lever
and housing, the switch is open when the lever is in the open
position. A projectile holder 13 is used to support the sport
projectile. A tether 14 is fastened to a sport projectile, such as
a ball 15, with the other end fastened to the base 1 or housing 2.
The tether 14 runs between the rollers 7 and 10.
* * * * *