US 2006/0225719 A1 · Projectile throwing or launching apparatus

Abstract

A sports ball throwing apparatus is disclosed which may be used to propel projectiles including footballs, softballs soccer balls and model rockets and airplanes. The apparatus has a barrel the azimuth and elevation of which are adjustable for launching a projectile in different directions. A projectile having a cavity is mounted on the end of the barrel to be launched using air pressure stored in the apparatus. Safety is provided in that compressed air is not available until a projectile having a cavity is mounted on the end of the barrel and a switch closes a circuit to activate an air compressor. The switch may be placed at either end of barrel so long as it is operated when the projectile is fully mounted on the barrel. In addition, a seal inside the base of the projectile is used to seal the barrel so that compressed air is not available until the projectile is fully mounted on the barrel. Spiral flight of the projectile is provided by helical grooves on the outside of the barrel that engage protrusions on the inside of the projectile cavity when the projectile is mounted on the barrel for launching. When the projectile is launched the protrusions ride along the helical grooves and impart a spiral spin to the projectile. To assist in the spiral spin of the projectile there are straight grooves on the surface of the projectile and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile. Air passing over the moving projectile interacts with the grooves on its surface to maintain the spiral spin of the projectile.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for propelling a projectile, the apparatus comprising:

a barrel for aiming in a direction that the projectile is to be propelled, the barrel having a first open end on which the projectile is mounted and from which the projectile will be propelled;
a cavity in one end of the projectile that does not extend through the projectile, the cavity being placed over the first end of the barrel to mount the projectile on the first end of the barrel;
means for propelling the projectile from the first end of the barrel;
and
means for imparting a spiral spin to the projectile as it is propelled from the barrel.

2 more elements

An apparatus for propelling footballs, the apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical barrel for aiming in a direction that a football is to be propelled, the barrel having a first open end on which the football is mounted by placing a cylindrical hollow cavity in one end of the football over the first end of the barrel, and the football is propelled from the first open end of the barrel in the direction the barrel is aiming;
sealing means inside the cylindrical hollow cavity in the one end of the football for sealing the first open end of the barrel when the cylindrical hollow cavity of the football is placed over the first end of the barrel;
and
a source of compressed air for compressing air inside the barrel to be used for propelling the football from the first open end of the barrel, the air inside the barrel being compressed only when the cylindrical hollow cavity in the one end of the football is placed over the first open end of the barrel and the barrel is sealed by the seating means;
wherein the first open end of the barrel is normally open but when the football is mounted thereon the open first end of the barrel is sealed by the sealing means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Projectile throwing or launching apparatus

Life of this patent

Projectile throwing or launching apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21