Ball retrieval system and method
AssigneeCourt Bots, Inc.
InventorsLawrence George LEGG, Shane F. LEGG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tennis ball retriever for retrieving a tennis ball on and about a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front-end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. The retriever includes one or more detents for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session. The retriever may be remote-controlled such as by voice commands.
Claims22
A tennis ball retriever for retrieving a tennis ball on a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball during a match between at least two players, said retriever having a fore end and an aft end, comprising
- a chassis;
- wheels mounted on said chassis;
- a drive system coupled to at least one wheel;
- a means for steering the retriever;
- a receiver for receiving retriever control signals;
- a retriever processor-controller, having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever;
- an on-board power supply;
- and
- a pair of opposing blades positioned on the retriever fore end and spaced apart to define a fore ball collection space therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and hold a collected ball until release;
- and
- a ball tray positioned between or integral with the bottom portions of the blades and extending alongside therewith, and at a height sufficient to provide ground clearance without impeding the rolling collection of a ball thereon, and said ball tray including:
- a plurality of spaced-apart ball support surfaces including an aftmost ball support surface and a foremost ball support surface, and
- a wall aft of the aftmost ball support surface serving as a passive detent for securing a ball on the aftmost ball support surface;
- a plurality of spaced-apart ball proximity sensors positioned alongside said ball collection space to cooperatively sense the presence of a ball on each of said ball support surfaces;
- and
- a plurality of spaced-apart active detents positioned within the collection space so as to trap a collected ball in cooperation with the ball proximity sensors on a ball support surface.
A tennis ball retrieval system for retrieving and controllably releasing a tennis ball on a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball during a match between at least two players, comprising:
- (i) a retriever having a fore end and an aft end, comprising
- a chassis;
- wheels mounted on said chassis;
- a drive system coupled to at least one wheel;
- a means for steering the retriever;
- a receiver for receiving retriever control signals;
- a retriever processor-controller, having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever;
- an on-board power supply;
- a pair of opposing blades positioned on the retriever fore end and spaced apart to define a fore ball collection space therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and hold a collected ball until release;
- at least one detent on at least one said blade for retaining the ball in the collection space during movements of the retriever prior to a controlled release of the ball toward a target;
- and
- an orientation sensor;
- (ii) a remote control for signaling to and controlling the retrieve;
- (iii) a docking station for docking the retriever at the standby location;
- and
- (iv) a means for attaching and securing the docking station to a net post.
A method for retrieving a tennis ball during a match between two or more players, comprising:
- providing a retriever for collecting a ball on a sports playing surface and for controllably releasing the ball, said retriever having a fore end and an aft end, comprising
- a chassis;
- wheels mounted on said chassis;
- a drive system coupled to at least one wheel;
- a means for steering the retriever;
- a receiver for receiving retriever control signals;
- a means for determining a location of the retriever;
- a retriever processor-controller, having inputs for receiving control and data input signals and outputs for retriever command and control signals, said processor-controller being programmed with instructions that upon execution generate output signals based on the input signals for controlling the retriever, and the processor-controller is programmed with instructions that upon execution process the retriever location input signal into a retriever control output signal for directing the retriever to move to a programmed ball release location and release the ball in accordance with the processed programmed instructions in a calculated direction and with a calculated velocity toward a target location;
- an on-board power supply;
- and
- a pair of opposing blades positioned on the retriever fore end and spaced apart to define a fore ball collection space therebetween having a width sufficient to receive and hold a collected ball until release;
- and
- at least one detent on at least one said blade for retaining the ball in the collection space during movements of the retriever prior to a controlled release of the ball toward a target;
- and (ii) a remote control;
- positioning the retriever in a standby location;
- directing the retriever via the remote control to collect a ball;
- directing the retriever to a computed release point pursuant to the processor-controller programmed instructions;
- and
- releasing the ball from the retriever at a computed speed and direction toward a target location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.