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US 4,262,648 AGranted
Softball pitching machine
AssigneeSlo-Pitcher, Inc.
InventorsJohn A. Wegener, Joseph F. Garvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine is provided for pitching one or more balls at selected intervals by selectively connecting a clutch mechanism to a pitching arm.
Claims10
In a machine for pitching one or more balls at selected intervals at a predetermined speed and at a predetermined angle, the combination comprising:
- a. a motor including a flywheel connected thereto,
- b. means for driving said motor,
- c. a ball throwing arm rotatably connected to an eccentric cam shaft and disposed to receive one or more balls one at a time,
- d. drive means connected to said eccentric cam shaft to move said ball throwing arm at a relatively high speed to throw a ball disposed thereon and return said arm to its original position after only one revolution,
- e. condition responsive means to detect when a ball is to be pitched, and
- f. a clutch mechanism including a movable element normally retracted from said flywheel and responsive to said condition responsive means to directly connect said flywheel to said drive means to cause a ball disposed on said arm to be thrown and to disconnect said flywheel from said clutch mechanism after a ball has been thrown.
3 more elements
In a machine for pitching one or more balls at selected intervals at a predetermined speed and at a predetermined angle, the combination comprising:
- a. a motor including a flywheel connected thereto,
- b. means for driving said motor,
- c. a movable ball throwing arm rotatably connected to an eccentric cam shaft and disposed to receive said one or more balls at a time,
- d. drive means connected to an eccentrically mounted shaft to move said ball throwing arm at a relatively high speed to throw a ball disposed thereon and return said arm to its original position after only one revolution,
- e. condition responsive means to detect when a ball is to be pitch,
- f. a clutch mechanism including a movable element normally retracted from said flywheel and responsive to said condition responsive means to directly connect said flywheel to said drive means to cause a ball disposed on said arm to be thrown and to disconnect said flywheel after said ball has been thrown,
- g. said condition responsive means including an electrical circuit for selectively connecting said drive means to said flywheel to move said ball throwing arm from said original position and cause a ball disposed on said arm to be thrown, and
- h. mechanical means to cause said throwing arm to return to its original position after only one revolution of the flywheel to receive another ball after a ball has been thrown.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.