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US 2006/0137672 A1Published application
Oscillating ball throwing machine
AssigneeLob-ster, Inc.
InventorPhilip Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ball throwing machine for throwing projectiles, such as tennis balls or baseballs, includes a yoke assembly for projecting balls and a motor assembly for providing both nominal vertical throwing as well as oscillating vertical movement of the yoke assembly. The machine provides fine variations in the vertical trajectories of the balls being thrown and preferably eliminates the need for complicated electronic circuit controls and/or mechanical components.
Claims21
A ball throwing machine comprising:
- a vertically movable yoke assembly for throwing balls at different vertical throwing angles;
- and
- a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the yoke assembly for vertically moving the yoke assembly,
- wherein the motor assembly includes a first motor, a second motor and a linkage assembly connecting the first and second motors to the yoke assembly, the first motor being capable of vertically moving the yoke assembly to a nominal throwing angle and the second motor being capable of vertically oscillating the yoke assembly in both positive and negative directions from the nominal throwing angle.
1 more element
A tennis ball throwing machine comprising:
- a housing including an opening sized to allow tennis balls to pass therethrough;
- a hopper for feeding tennis balls into the housing;
- a yoke assembly located in the housing, the yoke assembly including at least two throwing wheels for throwing tennis balls from the tennis ball throwing machine;
- and
- a motor assembly adapted to vertically move the yoke assembly with respect to the housing, the motor assembly including a first motor, a first linkage mechanism connected to the first motor, a cam connected to the first linkage mechanism, a second linkage mechanism connected to the cam and the yoke assembly, and a second motor connected to the cam and the second linkage mechanism,
- wherein operation of the first motor is capable of vertically moving the yoke assembly to a nominal throwing angle and operation of the second motor is capable of vertically oscillating the yoke assembly in both positive and negative directions with respect to the nominal throwing angle.
3 more elements
A method of throwing balls comprising:
- providing a ball throwing machine having a movable yoke assembly a motor assembly;
- operating a first motor to move the yoke assembly to a nominal throwing angle;
- operating a second motor to oscillate the yoke assembly in both positive and negative directions with respect to the nominal throwing angle;
- and
- throwing balls from the ball throwing machine, wherein operation of the second motor includes rotating a drive shaft in a single direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.