# US 2009/0260612 A1 · Ball projecting machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260612 A1 - Document ID: US20090260612A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/386,020 - 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/US20090260612A1 ## 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 ball projecting machine having a C-shaped arm that provides the ability to adjust the length or elevation of pitched balls. The C-shaped arm connects a ball projecting head to a stand, with the ball projecting head affixed to one end of the C-shaped arm, and the C-shaped arm is slidably engaged through a frame atop the stand to allow rotation of the ball projecting head about a horizontal axis. A center of gravity of the ball projecting head in combination with the C-shaped arm facilitates stability of the ball projecting machine when the C-shaped arm is slid up or down. A locking device, when loosened, allows the C-shaped arm to slide up or down through the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball projecting machine for projecting a ball, comprising: a frame including a stand and at least a first locking device; a ball projecting head positioned apart from the frame, the ball projecting head including a first wheel for contacting the ball and a motor that drives the first wheel; and a generally C-shaped arm coupled at one end to the ball projecting head, the C-shaped arm slidably engaging the frame at the first locking device, the first locking device positionable between a locked position wherein the frame affixes to one of a plurality of locations about the C-shaped arm, and an unlocked position wherein the C-shaped is slidably movable relative to the frame between the plurality of locations along the C-shaped arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1 wherein the ball projecting head is positioned directly above the first locking device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ball projecting machine of claim 2, wherein, when the first locking device is in an unlocked position, the weight of the ball projecting head facilitates movement of the C-shaped arm between the plurality of locations along the C-shaped arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the ball projecting head further includes a projecting surface positioned apart from the first wheel by a distance roughly equal to a diameter of the ball. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the first locking device comprises a lever configured to produce a press-fit connection between the frame and the C-shaped arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the sliding of the C-shaped arm through the frame provides a range of angular adjustment of the ball projecting head position about a first axis that extends for at least 90 degrees, and wherein the plurality of locations correspond to the at least 90 degrees of angular adjustment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the sliding of the C-shaped arm through the frame provides a range of angular adjustment of the ball projecting head position about a first axis that extends for at least 135 degrees, and wherein the plurality of locations correspond to the at least 135 degrees of angular adjustment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped arm further includes an end of travel stop configured to prevent the C-shaped arm from separating from the frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The ball projecting machine of claim 6 wherein the first axis is a generally horizontal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the ball projecting head is rotatable 360 degrees about a second axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ball projecting machine of claim 10, wherein the second axis is a generally vertical axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The ball projecting machine of claim 4, wherein the position of the projecting surface is adjustable with respect to the first wheel to accommodate different sizes of balls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped arm further comprises at least one visible indicator for positioning the C-shaped arm with respect to the frame at one of the plurality of the ball locations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises legs that are readily adjustable to accommodate either baseball or softball applications. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein a portion of the generally C-shaped arm adjacent to the ball projecting head is flattened to enable the ball projecting machine to produce a generally vertical initial ball path of motion out of the ball projecting machine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ball projecting machine of claim 1, wherein the ball projecting head is configured to produce a variety of different ball paths of motion, and wherein the ball paths of motion can be selected from the group consisting of: fastballs, drop balls, curve balls, sliders, breaking balls, fly balls, pop-ups, catcher's pop-ups, line-drives, and ground balls. ### Claim 17 A ball projecting machine for projecting a ball, comprising: a ball projecting head spaced apart from and situated atop a stand, the ball projecting head including a first wheel spaced apart from an opposing surface by a distance roughly equal to a diameter of a ball, and a motor that drives the first wheel; a generally C-shaped arm that connects the ball projecting head to the stand, wherein the ball projecting head is affixed to one end of the C-shaped arm, and the C-shaped arm is slidably engaged through a frame atop the stand to allow rotation of the ball projecting head position about a horizontal axis, wherein a center of gravity of the ball projecting head in combination with the C-shaped arm facilitates movement of the ball projecting machine when the C-shaped arm is slid up or down; and a locking device with a press-fit connection that, when disengaged, allows the C-shaped arm to slide up or down through the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ball projecting machine of claim 17, wherein the ball projecting head is rotatable about a vertical axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The ball projecting machine of claim 17, further comprising a visible indicator on the C-shaped arm for positioning the C-shaped arm with respect to the frame at one of a plurality of locations about the C-shaped arm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The ball projecting machine of claim 17, wherein a portion of the generally C-shaped arm adjacent to the ball projecting head is flattened to enable the ball projecting machine to produce a generally vertical initial ball path of motion.