Ball delivery and sports apparatus
AssigneeSoccer Circus (Braehead) LLP
InventorGeoff Wilkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering balls is disclosed. The apparatus has a pair of conveyors for balls (specifically footballs) that follow a conveyor path. There is a collection area or sump that receives balls and the path of the conveyor passes through the sump area at an angle inclined to the horizontal. The exit to the sump has a travel limiting device to prevent any balls from leaving sump area unless they are correctly engaged with said conveyor. The balls are delivered to a sports apparatus for use as part of a game or sports themed attraction.
Claims37
1-39. (canceled)
An apparatus for delivering balls, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one conveyor for conveying a plurality of balls, the or each conveyor following a respective path;
- at least one collection portion for receiving said balls wherein said path at least partially passes though said collection portion at an angle inclined to the horizontal, said collection portion comprising at least one ball travel limiting device for preventing a ball from leaving said collection portion unless it is correctly engaged with said conveyor.
A method of delivering balls, comprising the steps of:
- receiving in a collection portion of an object delivery apparatus a plurality of balls;
- conveying at least one conveyor along a path passing at least partially through said collection portion at an angle inclined to the horizontal;
- and
- preventing a ball from leaving said collection portion unless it is correctly engaged with said conveyor.
A ball delivery device apparatus comprising:
- at least one conveyor for conveying at least one ball, the conveyor following a first path;
- at least one direction changer for diverting the or each ball from following said first path, at least one said direction changer comprising at least one first rotatable ball engaging member positioned to direct said ball from said first path;
- and
- at least one delivery device for delivering the or each ball.
A method of delivering balls comprising the steps of:
- conveying at least one ball on a conveyor, the conveyor following a first path;
- and
- diverting the or each ball from following said first path, using at least one said direction changer comprising at least one first rotatable ball engaging member positioned to direct said ball from said first path.
A sports apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor for receiving at least one input signal and producing at least one output signal;
- at least one target indicator for indicating at least one target to be engaged by at least one ball, the or each target indicator indicating said target in response to at least one output signal from at least one said processor;
- at least one sensor for sensing said sensor, or an area adjacent said sensor, being engaged by at least one ball and said sensor thereby producing at least one first input signal;
- at least one result indicator for indicating at least one result in response to at least one second output signal from said processor, wherein said processor produces said second output signal dependent upon at least one said first input signal and at least one said first output signal.
A sports apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor for receiving at least one input signal and producing at least one output signal;
- at least one target adapted to be hit by at least one ball and adapted to move between at least one first position and at least one second position in response to at least one output signal from said processor;
- at least one sensor for sensing at least one ball hitting a respective target and said sensor thereby producing at least one first input signal;
- wherein said processor produces said output signal dependent upon at least one said first input signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.