U.S. patent number RE30,703 [Application Number 06/043,480] was granted by the patent office on 1981-08-11 for ball throwing device with rotary wheel, and pad means for compressing a ball against the wheel.
This patent grant is currently assigned to JoPaul Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to John K. Paulson, Walter J. Steffan.
United States Patent |
RE30,703 |
Paulson , et al. |
August 11, 1981 |
Ball throwing device with rotary wheel, and pad means for
compressing a ball against the wheel
Abstract
A ball is delivered into the constricted space between, and
thereby gripped frictionally by, a fixed pad and a confronting
surface of a wheel which is driven at a speed predetermined to
propel the ball therefrom at a selected velocity. The line on which
the ball is propelled between the pad and wheel is adjustable about
a horizontal axis and the speed of the wheel is variable so as to
adjust the trajectory of the thrown ball. Further, the pad may be
mounted above or below the wheel to reverse the spin on the ball
and thus afford a variety of practice conditions.
Inventors: |
Paulson; John K. (Lake Oswego,
OR), Steffan; Walter J. (Portland, OR) |
Assignee: |
JoPaul Industries, Inc.
(Tualatin, OR)
|
Family
ID: |
21927379 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/043,480 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1979 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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554920 |
Mar 3, 1975 |
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Reissue of: |
724022 |
Sep 16, 1976 |
04080950 |
Mar 28, 1978 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/1; 124/49;
124/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/406 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/40 (20060101); F41B 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;124/81,78,82,29,6,41R,1
;273/26D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Browne; William R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kolisch, Hartwell &
Dickinson
Parent Case Text
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is .Iadd.for the reissue of my patent No.
4,080,950, issued Mar. 28, 1978, on application Ser. No. 724,022
filed Sept. 16, 1976, which was .Iaddend.a continuation-in-part of
our earlier application, Ser. No. 554,920 filed 3 Mar., 1975, now
abandoned.
Claims
Having now described our invention and the manner in which it may
be used, we claim:
1. A ball throwing device, comprising:
a. a support assembly including a base member, and a support member
mounted on the base member for rotation and about a horizontal axis
and having at least one portion thereof .[.projection.].
.Iadd.projecting .Iaddend.radially outward from the base member for
180.degree. selective rotational adjustment about said horizontal
axis to opposite vertical sides of said axis,
b. a rotary wheel having a ball-engaging surface, the wheel being
mounted on the support assembly for rotation about an axis parallel
to the said horizontal axis of rotational adjustment of the support
member,
c. drive means engaging the wheel for rotating the ball-engaging
surface thereof in a ball throwing direction at a speed
predetermined to project a ball therefrom at a selected
velocity,
d. a pad means mounted on the support member for rotation therewith
about said horizontal axis, the pad means having a ball-engaging
surface spaced radially from the ball-engaging surface of the wheel
a distance slightly less than the diameter of a ball to be thrown
for compressing a ball against the wheel, and
e. means for supporting the base member for rotation about a
vertical axis whereby to accommodate throwing of a ball in the same
direction when the pad means is positioned above the wheel and when
the pad means is positioned below the wheel
f. said rotary wheel .[.on.]. .Iadd.or .Iaddend.pad means being
mounted on said at least one radially projecting portion of the
support member for adjustment to opposite vertical sides of said
horizontal axis of rotation.
2. The ball throwing device of claim 1 including lock means on the
base member engageable with the support member for securing the
latter in selected positions of rotational adjustment about said
horizontal axis.
3. The ball throwing device of claim 1 including ball delivery
means mounted for rotation with the pad .Iadd.means .Iaddend.about
said horizontal axis for introducing a ball into the space between
the ball-engaging surfaces. .[.4. The ball throwing device of claim
1 wherein the pad means is mounted on the support member radially
outward of said horizontal axis and the rotary wheel is mounted for
rotation on an axis
coaxial with said horizontal axis..]. 5. The ball throwing device
of claim 1 wherein the pad means is mounted on the support member
radially outward of said horizontal axis and the rotary wheel is
mounted for rotation about
an axis parallel to and spaced radially from said horizontal axis.
6. The ball throwing device of claim 1 wherein the ball-engaging
surface of the pad means closest to the rotary wheel is disposed on
said horizontal axis and the rotary wheel is mounted for rotation
about an axis parallel to and
spaced radially from said horizontal axis. .Iadd.7. A ball throwing
device comprising:
a support assembly including a base member, and a support member
mounted on the base member for rotation about a horizontal
adjustment axis, at least a portion of said support member
projecting radially outwardly from the base member and being
movable over at least about 180.degree. for selective rotational
adjustment about said adjustment axis to diametrically opposite
sides of said axis,
a rotary wheel having a ball-engaging surface, the wheel being
mounted on the support assembly for rotation about said adjustment
axis,
drive means engaging said wheel for rotating the ball-engaging
surface thereof in a ball throwing direction,
pad means mounted on said radially projecting portion of the
support member and being movable with adjustment of the support
member to opposite sides of said adjustment axis, said pad means
having a ball-engaging surface spaced radially from the
ball-engaging surface of the wheel a distance less than the
diameter of a ball to be thrown whereby such ball while passing
between the ball-engaging surface of the pad means and the
ball-engaging surface of the wheel is compressed against the wheel,
ball delivery means also mounted on said radially projecting
portion of the support member for introducing a ball into the space
between the ball engaging surfaces of said rotary wheel and said
pad means, and
means for supporting said base member, support member, wheel and
pad means at an elevation above the ground including a portable
stand, the ball
throwing device being manually transportable. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A
ball throwing device comprising:
a support assembly,
a ball-engaging rotatable wheel member having a ball-engaging
surface extending circumferentially thereabout rotatably mounted on
the support assembly with the wheel member occupying a
substantially upright plane,
a ball-engaging pad member having a ball-engaging surface extending
therealong mounted on said support assembly in substantially the
plane of the wheel member and with the ball-engaging surface of the
pad member spaced radially from the ball-engaging surface of the
wheel member a distance slightly less than the diameter of a ball
to be thrown whereby a ball is compressed against the wheel member
on passing between the wheel and pad members,
drive means engaging the wheel member for rotating the
ball-engaging surface thereof in a ball throwing direction,
said support assembly including a base member and a support member
rotatably mounted on said base member for rotation about a
horizontal adjustment axis extending normal to the plane of the
wheel member, said support member including a portion disposed
radially outwardly of said adjustment axis movable over at least
about 180.degree. for selective rotational adjustment about said
adjustment axis,
at least one of said ball-engaging members being mounted on said
portion of said support member and located by said support member
in a position disposed over the other ball-engaging member, and
movement of said portion of said support member over said
180.degree. being effective to change the position of said one
ball-engaging member from its position disposed over the other
ball-engaging member to a position disposed under the said other
ball-engaging member,
said support assembly further including a portable stand which
supports said base member, support member and ball-engaging members
at elevations disposed above the ground, the ball throwing device
being manually
transportable. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The ball throwing device of claim
8, wherein said pad member is mounted on said radially outwardly
disposed portion of said support member, and which further includes
ball delivery means mounted on said radially outwardly disposed
portion of said support member for introducing a ball into the
space between the ball-engaging surfaces of said wheel and pad
members. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for throwing baseballs,
softballs, tennis balls and the like, and more particularly to a
simplified and economical device for throwing such balls in a
straight vertical plane.
Ball throwing devices have been utilized heretofore. For example,
they have been used by tennis players to enable practice without
the necessity of another player. They have also been used by
baseball players for batting practice to avoid overworking the arms
of pitchers and for practice in fielding grounders and flies.
However, ball throwing devices provided heretofore are
characterized by complex and costly constructions, necessitated by
the desirability that the device be able to throw curve balls.
On the other hand, there are many situations in which there is no
need for the throwing of curve balls. Such circumsances include
baseball batting practice for youngsters below high school level;
all levels of softball batting practice; all levels of ground ball
and fly ball fielding practice; most forms of tennis practice, and
others. Accordingly, for these many circumstances the excessive
cost of more sophisticated ball throwing devices is not
justified.
One such relatively simplified type of ball throwing device is
known. However, it is not readily portable, it requires a
reversible drive, the ball feed mechanism is usable in only one
position of ball delivery adjustment, and the direction of ball
delivery is inconsistent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In its basic concept, the ball throwing device of this invention
involves the momentary frictional gripping of a ball between the
spaced surfaces of a fixed pad and a rotating wheel driven at a
speed predetermined to effect the throwing of the ball at a desired
velocity.
It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principal
objective of this invention is achieved; namely to overcome the
aforementioned structural complications and costs associated with
prior ball throwing devices.
Another important object of this invention is the provision of a
ball throwing device of simplified and economical construction,
which is compact in size and light in weight for easy
transport.
A further important object of this invention is to provide a ball
throwing device which is adaptable for use with baseballs,
softballs, tennis balls and the like, for straight ball
throwing.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention
will appear from the following detailed description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of a ball throwing
device embodying the features of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation as viewed from the
right of FIG. 1, portions being broken away to disclose internal
construction features.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 in
FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views, similar to FIG. 1, showing
modified forms of the ball throwing device embodying the features
of this invention .
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The ball throwing device illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 includes a
support assembly which includes a base member preferably in the
form of a pair of annular .Iadd.base .Iaddend.sections 10 and 12
disposed in abutting relationship and secured together detachably
by such means as screws 14 (FIG. 3). Conveniently, these screws
also serve to secure to the base member the mounting flange 16 of
an electric drive motor 18 which projects through the central
opening 20 in the base sections. The output shaft 22 of the motor
mounts a flange 24 to which is removably secured, as by means of
bolts 26, the hub 28 of a .Iadd.ball-engaging .Iaddend.wheel
.Iadd.or wheel member .Iaddend.which .[.mounts.]. .Iadd.includes
.Iaddend.a pneumatic tire 30 .Iadd.having a ball-engaging surface
extending circumferentially thereabout. The wheel member, as
illustrated, occupies a substantially upright plane.Iaddend.. The
motor is of the variable speed type whereby variation in the
rotational speed of the wheel 30 allows balls to be thrown over a
wide range of velocities and trajectories.
In the embodiment illustrated, the base section 10 is cut away at
the surface abutting the other base section 12, to provide with the
latter section an annular groove in which to receive the annular
ring end portion 32 of a support plate .Iadd.or member .Iaddend.34
which forms a part of the support assembly. The support plate
projects radially from the axis of rotation of the tire and is
spaced axially from the tire. The outer end of the plate supports
an L-shaped bracket 36, as by means of a pair of bolts 38. In the
preferred embodiment illustrated, the bolts extend through holes in
the section of the bracket abutting the plate 34 and aligned holes
40 in said plate 34. A second pair of vertically aligned holes 40'
also are provided in the plate 34. By this means the bracket 36 is
adjustable vertically relative to the periphery of the tire to
accommodate the throwing of balls of different diameters, as
explained more fully hereinafter.
The section of the bracket 36 which extends across the rotational
plane of the tire supports a fixed ball-engaging pad .Iadd.or pad
member .Iaddend.in a position aligned with the tire.Iadd., which is
to say such is located in the general plane of the wheel member,
.Iaddend.and spaced outwardly from the periphery of the latter a
distance slightly less than the diameter of the ball to be thrown.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the pad comprises a
rectangular block of firm rubber 42 bonded to one surface of an
arcuate backing plate 44. The curvature of the plate, and hence the
curvature of the surface of the rubber pad facing the periphery of
the tire, is convex, as illustrated.
However, the ball-engaging surface of the pad 42 may be angular, or
it may be straight. In any case, it has been determined that the
ball engaging surface of the pad must extend forwardly beyond its
minimum spacing from the wheel 30, and that this forward extension
must diverge from the wheel. To illustrate, if the forward end of
the pad terminates at its minimum spacing from the wheel (as, for
example, on a vertical line through the axis of rotation of wheel
30 in FIG. 2), a ball B projected therefrom will shoot upwardly at
unpredictable angles, rather than on the desired delivery line
46.
Means is provided for directing a ball into the space between the
surfaces of the rotating tire 30 and fixed pad 42. In the
embodiment illustrated, a hollow cylinder 48 having an internal
diameter slightly larger then the diameter of a ball to be thrown,
is secured to a bracket carried by the L-shaped bracket 36. In the
embodiment illustrated, the bracket includes a split ring end
section 50 to which the cylinder 48 is secured, and an elongated,
offset arm section 52 the terminal end portion of which overlies
the bracket 36 and is secured removably thereto by such means as
screw 54.
Means also is provided for supporting the foregoing assembly above
the ground. In the embodiment illustrated, such means comprises an
elongated shaft 56 secured at one end to the base section 10 and
extending radially therefrom relative to the rotation axis of the
wheel. The opposite end of the shaft extends freely into the
central bore 58 of the hub 60 of a tripod base .Iadd.or portable
stand.Iaddend.. The hub supports three elongated legs 62 which
diverge downwardly from the hub in tripod fashion, as will be
understood.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an arrangement of the components for a
ball throwing operation. In this condition the bottom end of the
shaft 56 abuts the inner end of a set screw 64 which projects into
the center bore 58 of the tripod base hub. By this means the shaft
may rotate within the bore, whereby to allow an operator to rotate
the wheel and pad assembly horizontally about the vertical axis of
the shaft. A bale-type handle 66 projects from the bracket 36 for
this purpose. In this manner the operator may cause the device to
throw balls to various positions. A second set screw 68 in the hub
60 above the set screw 64 may be tightened against the shaft 56 to
secure the device in desired positions of adjustment.
Further, the line 46 (FIG. 2) on which a ball is projected from
between the tire 30 and pad 42 may be adjusted in a vertical plane,
by rotating the plate 34 about the rotational axis of the wheel.
.Iadd.In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the
rotational axis of the wheel is the adjustment axis of plate or
member 34. .Iaddend.To adjust the inclination of the projection
line 46 the operator grasps the bale handle 66 and rotates the
plate 34 about the axis of rotation of the wheel, by rotating the
annular ring 32 within the annular groove provided between the
sections 10 and 12 of the base member. The desired angle of
inclination is secured by tightening a set screw 70 (FIG. 3)
against the annular ring 32.
With the pad 42 disposed above the wheel, as indicated in full
lines in FIG. 2 the device is best arranged for delivering baseball
or softball pitches for batting practice. This arrangement of
components provides for projection of the ball from the device with
an underspin. By rotating the plate counterclockwise to incline the
ball projection line 46, the device serves effectively to throw fly
balls for outfield practice. It also is effective to throw lobs for
batting practice, by reducing the rotational speed of the wheel
30.
For infield ground ball practice, it is desirable that the ball be
thrown with overspin. This is achieved by rotating the plate 34
substantially 180.degree. from the position illustrated in full
lines in FIG. 2 to position the pad 42 below the wheel 30. In this
position of adjustment, the delivery cylinder 48 would be located
to the right of the supporting shaft 56 and the ball would be
delivered toward the left. However, the direction of delivery
toward the right in FIG. 2, as illustrated in broken lines, is
achieved simply by rotating the wheel assembly 180.degree. about
the vertical axis of shaft 56.
Assuming that the device as illustrated is arranged for the
throwing of baseballs, it is readily adjusted to accommodate the
throwing of softballs. For this purpose a delivery cylinder of
correspondingly larger internal diameter replaces the delivery
cylinder 48 illustrated, by the simple expediency of removing the
screw 54. The spacing between the periphery of tire 30 and pad 42
is increased by removing the bolts 38 from holes 40 and adjusting
the pad radially outward from the tire to the appropriate distance
at which the bolts 38 may enter holes 40, and thereafter
retightening the bolts.
When it is desired to transport the device, the set screw 64 is
retracted to allow the shaft 56 to move downward through the
central bore 48 in the tripod base hub 60 until the set screw 68
registers with a detent 72 in the shaft 56. Upon tightening the set
screw 68 the shaft is secured against rotation. The pair of tripod
legs at the right in FIG. 2 thus are disposed in a plane
perpendicular to the wheel 30 and may be used as a pair of handles
by which to guide the device, with the wheel 30 rolling upon the
ground, in wheel barrow fashion. An auxiliary handle 74 on the base
section 10 facilitates lifting of the device into and from the
trunk of a vehicle.
It is to be noted in FIGS. 1-3 that the axis of rotation of the
support plate 34 within the groove provided between the base
sections 10 and 12, is common to the axis of rotation of the wheel
30. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate structural arrangements by which the
support plate 34 is rotated on an axis which is offset from but
parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel 30.
In FIG. 4, the wheel 30 is mounted on the output shaft 22 of the
electric motor 18, the mounting flange 16 of which is secured, as
by bolts 75 and spacer 76, to the support plate 34 radially outward
of the rotational mounting of the plate 34 in the annular groove
formed between the base sections 10 and 12.Iadd., which is to say
that the wheel rotates about an axis disposed laterally of the
adjustment axis of plate 34.Iaddend..
The ball-engaging pad 42 also is mounted on the support plate 34
radially outward of the rotational mounting of the plate,
diametrically opposite the wheel 30, as illustrated. However, it
will be apparent that both the wheel 30 and the pad 42 may be
mounted on the support plate 34 radially outward and to the same
side of the rotational mounting of the plate 34 in the annular
groove provided between the base sections 10 and 12.
It is to be noted, in FIG. 4, that the vertical shaft 56 is offset
laterally intermediate its ends so as to accommodate the drive
motor 18 during rotation of the support plate 34 about its annular
mounting groove, while also moving the center of gravity of the
upper assembly of wheel, pad and support assembly within the
support periphery of the tripod legs 62, to insure stability of the
assembly in operation.
In FIG. 5 the wheel 30 is mounted on the support plate 34 in the
manner of FIG. 4, but farther outward from the rotational axis of
the plate 34, and the pad 42 is mounted on the plate 34, by bracket
36', so that its transverse line of minimum spacing from the wheel
30 is located on the axis of rotation of the plate 34.
In FIG. 5, the vertical shaft 56 is offset laterally intermediate
its ends in the same manner and for the same purpose as described
previously in connection with FIG. 4.
Accordingly, in each of the embodimens illustrated in the drawings
the wheel 30 and pad 42 are mounted upon relatively rotatable
components of the support assembly which allow rotational
adjustment by which to position the pad 42 selectively above and
below the wheel 30, for the purpose described hereinbefore in
connection with FIG. 2; namely, to project a ball B in the same
direction from the device, either with an overspin or with an
underspin. For this purpose, it will be understood that the wheel
and pad and supporting assembly is rotated 180.degree. about the
vertical axis of the lower offset portion of the vertical shaft 56,
by rotating the latter in the central bore 58 of the base hub 60,
as previously explained.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present
invention provides a ball throwing device which is of simplified
construction for economical manufacture and thus is affordable by
schools and clubs for use by youngsters of pre-high school age, as
well as the older age groups and individuals whose practice
requirements do not include the throwing of curve balls.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made in the size, shape, type, number and
arrangement of parts described hereinbefore, without departing from
the spirit of this invention.
* * * * *