Change up pitching machine
OwnerJohn Soberginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An existing pitching machine is retrofitted to realize the capability to deliver a variety of pitches, including change-up pitches. A retrofit kit includes an add-on plate that is bolted to a casting that is attached to a stand. A ball screw actuator is connected on one end to a compression plate assembly on the existing pitching machine and on the other end to the add-on plate. A control box has a plurality of speed and potentiometers. These potentiometers are used to move the pitching machine to a preset speed and angle combination. In some embodiments, a handheld control unit has buttons associated with preset speed and angle combinations.
Claims12
For use with a ball pitching apparatus comprising a stand, a casting attached to the stand, a compression plate attached to the casting, a motor mounted to the casting, and a wheel configured and arranged to be driven by the motor to engage a ball with the compression plate and to propel the ball, a pitch control module comprising:
- a plate (130) attached to the casting;
- and
- a ball screw actuator (132) having a first end portion (134) attached to the plate (130) and a second end portion (136) attached to the compression plate, the ball screw actuator (132) configured to be selectively actuated to any of a plurality of positions so as to affect an angular orientation of the casting and a trajectory of the ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.