Ball propelling machine
OwnerHaydn Kelly, Colin Brodrickinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to an assembly and method of spinning a seamed ball prior to being propelled from a ball propelling machine. The assembly can simulate balls propelled in sports such as baseball. The assembly includes at least one pair of opposed ball supports to firstly position a loaded ball in a predetermined alignment and to subsequently apply a predetermined amount of spin to the ball prior to being fired from the assembly.
Claims28
A ball propelling assembly for propelling a ball having a seam, the assembly including:
- a ball positioner having opposed ball supports which engage and rotate the ball which thereby moves relative to the ball supports until positioned relative thereto in a predetermined alignment;
- a ball spinner having opposed ball supports which engage and spin the ball in the predetermined alignment, and
- a ball propeller which propels the spinning ball from the assembly along an axis of propulsion.
A method of propelling a ball having a seam, the method including:
- engaging and rotating the ball by a ball positioner having opposed ball supports, the ball thereby moving relative to the ball supports until positioned relative thereto in a predetermined alignment;
- engaging and spinning the ball engaged thereby in the predetermined alignment by a ball spinner having opposed ball supports, and
- propelling the spinning ball from the assembly along an axis of propulsion by a ball propeller.
An assembly for aligning a baseball in a baseball propelling machine, the assembly comprising at least one pair of opposing ball supports, wherein rotation of the ball supports causes a loaded baseball to rotate about a predetermined axis, wherein the pressure exerted by the ball supports on the baseball is insufficient to prevent the axis of rotation of the baseball changing whilst being rotated and the baseball adopting the predetermined axis of rotation.
A method of aligning a baseball in a baseball propelling machine comprising bringing a pair of opposing ball supports into contact with a baseball and rotating the ball supports until the baseball rotates about a predetermined axis, wherein the pressure exerted by the ball supports on the baseball is insufficient to prevent the axis of rotation of the baseball changing whilst being rotated and the baseball adopting the predetermined axis of rotation.
An expanding gas powered ball propelling machine, comprising:
- (a) a barrel;
- (b) at least one ball support;
- (c) at least one motor to rotate the at least one ball support, and
- wherein the at least one ball support can be advanced and retracted towards a loaded ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.