# US 2009/0260611 A1 · Pitching machine having optimal adjustability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260611 A1 - Document ID: US20090260611A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/386,019 - Filed: 2009-04-14 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-16 - Assignees: Mechanical Design Consultants; Wilson Sporting Goods Co. - Inventors: Eugene Grant; William R. Woessner; Ian Fettes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260611A1 ## CPC - A63B 69/406: {with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction} - A63B 2069/0008: {for batting} - A63B 2069/402: {giving spin} - A63B 2102/02: Tennis - A63B 2102/14: Lacrosse - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/182: {Softball} - A63B 2243/0025: Football - A63B 2243/0037: Basketball - A63B 2243/0095: Volleyball - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A pitching machine configured for adjustment by a user, and including a pitching head, a first macro-adjustment device and a first micro-adjustment device. The pitching head is situated atop a stand. The pitching head includes a first wheel spaced apart from an opposing surface and a first motor for driving the first wheel. The first macro-adjustment device is coupled to the pitching head and includes a first locking assembly that, when loosened, allows manual rotation of the pitching head about a first pivot axis. The first micro-adjustment device is coupled to the pitching head, and includes a first adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the pitching head about the first pivot axis. The first micro-adjustment device configured for operation by a single hand of a user, and the first macro-adjustment device retaining the pitching head in a secure position during adjustment of the first micro-adjustment device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pitching machine configured for adjustment by a user, the pitching machine comprising: a pitching head situated atop a stand, the pitching head including a first wheel spaced apart from an opposing surface by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball, and a first motor for driving the first wheel; a first macro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head and including a first locking assembly that, when loosened, allows manual rotation of the pitching head about a first pivot axis; and a first micro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head, the first micro-adjustment device including a first adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the pitching head about the first pivot axis, the first micro-adjustment device configured for operation by a single hand of a user, the first macro-adjustment device retaining the pitching head in a secure position during adjustment of the first micro-adjustment device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the first micro-adjustment device includes a first reverse-threaded spindle, and wherein the first reverse-threaded spindle comprises a first position indicator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the first micro-adjustment device includes a first reverse-threaded spindle, and wherein the first micro-adjustment device further comprising a first universal joint that connects the spindle to the first adjusting element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, further comprising a first visible indicator for positioning the pitching head with the first macro-adjustment device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the first micro-adjustment device has a range up to at least 36 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the opposing surface is a second wheel, wherein pitching machine further comprises a second motor for driving the second wheel, and wherein the second motor is independent of the first motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first wheel and the opposing surface can be adjusted to accommodate different size balls. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis is a first substantially horizontal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pitching machine of claim 1, further comprising a second macro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head and including a second locking assembly that, when loosened, allows manual rotation of the pitching head about a second pivot axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pitching machine of claim 9, further comprising a second micro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head, wherein the second micro-adjustment device including a second adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the pitching head about the second pivot axis, wherein the second micro-adjustment device configured for operation by a single hand of a user, and wherein the second macro-adjustment device retains the pitching head in a secure position during adjustment of the second micro-adjustment device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The pitching machine of claim 9, wherein the second pivot axis is a generally vertical axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The pitching machine of claim 10, wherein the second micro-adjustment device includes a second reverse-threaded spindle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pitching machine of claim 12, wherein the second micro-adjustment device further comprising a second universal joint that connects the second spindle to the second adjusting element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The pitching machine of claim 10, wherein the second micro-adjustment device has a range up to at least 24 inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The pitching machine of claim 9, further comprising a second visible indicator for positioning the pitching head with the second macro-adjustment device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The pitching machine of claim 9, further comprising a third macro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head and including a third locking assembly that, when loosened, allows manual rotation of the pitching head about a third pivot axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pitching machine of claim 16, further comprising a third micro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head, wherein the third micro-adjustment device including a third adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the pitching head about the third pivot axis, wherein the third micro-adjustment device configured for operation by a single hand of a user, and wherein the third macro-adjustment device retains the pitching head in a secure position during adjustment of the third micro-adjustment device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The pitching machine of claim 16, wherein the third pivot axis is a generally horizontal axis positioned generally perpendicular to the first pivot axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The pitching machine of claim 17, wherein the third micro-adjustment device includes a third reverse-threaded spindle. ### Claim 20 A pitching machine configured for adjustment by a user, the pitching machine comprising: a pitching head situated atop a stand, the pitching head including a first wheel spaced apart from an opposing surface by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball, and a first motor for driving the first wheel; a first macro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head configured for adjustable manual rotation of the pitching head about a first pivot axis; and a first micro-adjustment device coupled to the pitching head, the first micro-adjustment device including a first adjusting element that, when repositioned, incrementally rotates the pitching head about the first pivot axis, and a first reverse-threaded spindle coupled to the pitching head. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The pitching machine of claim 20, wherein the first reverse-threaded spindle comprises a first position indicator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The pitching machine of claim 20, wherein the first micro-adjustment device further comprises a first universal joint that connects the spindle to a first adjusting element.