US 4,046,131 AGranted

Tennis ball collection, pick-up and propelling system

AssigneeAmerican Tennis Systems, Inc.

InventorsThomas S. Clark, William S. Kennedy, Robert L. Piziali

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Abstract

A tennis ball retrieving and propelling device for placement on a surface having a ball delivery tube and a carrousel type ball retriever positioned below the ball delivery tube for receiving balls to be pneumatically transported to the ball delivery tube. The delivery tube is provided with a mechanism for constricting the effective cross sectional area thereof. The mechanism is provided with a releasing element for releasing the constriction to permit a ball to be pneumatically propelled through the tube. The mechanism includes a section of flexible tubing attached to the delivery tube, a cable surrounding the flexible tubing and a device attached to the cable for tensioning and releasing the cable to restrict and release a ball traveling through the flexible tube. The balls are pneumatically retrieved and propelled from the propelling device. The propelling device has elements for controlling the speed, azimuth and elevation of a ball delivered therefrom.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A ball-propelling device comprising in combination a delivery tube having a bore of sufficient size to permit easy passage of a ball therethrough and having an entrance end formed to receive said ball and an exit end mounted to propel said ball along a predetermined trajectory;

ball release means adjacent the tube exit end for stopping passage of the ball therepast including a clamp movable to a first position squeezing the tube exit end to reduce the cross-sectional size sufficiently to prevent passage of a ball therepast such that the ball will be stopped for sealing the tube end against passage of air from within the tube and out of the exit end and movable to a second position releasing the external pressure of the tube to permit passage of a ball therepast;
means external to the tube energizable for moving the clamp selectively to the first and second positions;
means for introducing a ball into the entrance end and propelling it forward until it comes to rest adjacent the ball release means when the clamp is in the first position;
pressure means for introducing pressured air within the tube and between the ball and the tube entrance end;
and
means to activate the ball release means by energizing the means for moving the clamp to move the clamp to the second position to permit passage of the ball therepast and out of the tube exit end under the force of the pressured air within the tube for propelling the ball along a predetermined trajectory.

3 more elements

A tennis ball retrieving and propelling device adapted to be supported on a firm, relatively smooth surface comprising:

a ball delivery tube through which balls can be propelled and, including an inlet and an exit end;
ball loading means having an opening near the surface for receiving and moving said balls individually into the inlet of the delivery tube;
a ball-queuing carrousel mounted on the device adjacent the supporting surface for rotation past the ball loading means for supplying one ball at a time thereto;
a ball release mechanism at the exit end for releasably constricting the effective internal area of the delivery tube and preventing passage of a tennis ball therethrough;
pneumatic means for creating a high air pressure between the inlet end and the ball release mechanism;
and
means for releasing the ball release mechanism and allowing the ball to be propelled through the tube exit end under force of the high air pressure.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/641,080Filed 15 Dec 1975 · continuation
Priority: 7 Aug 1973
Granted: 6 Sep 1977
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A63B 69/409
Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies: with pneumatic ball- or body-propelling means
A63B 47/025
For picking-up or collecting: installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
A63B 2047/028
Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts: pneumatic ball transport
A63B
Apparatus for physical training, gymnastics, swimming, climbing, or fencing