Pneumatically operated ball release ball delivery apparatus
OwnerCharles E. Norcrossinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ball delivering device for use in batting and racket swinging practice includes a stop and release assembly for reliably controlling the supply of an individual ball to a user's swing path while maintaining the remaining balls in a reservoir. The device is constructed to enhance safety and minimize risk or injury to unattended child users by incorporating an air pressure-actuated feeder for controlling the advancement of balls on an inclined, gravity-fed dispensing channel. The air-based feeder can be foot actuated so that the child may maintain a batter's stance while actuating the delivery of a ball to his swing path.
Claims12
A ball delivering device for batting and racket swinging practice of a user, said device comprising:
- structure for storing a plurality of balls, said structure defining a downwardly inclined passage for gravitational transfer of balls along said passage to a user;
- means for elevating said structure;
- stop means in said passage for restraining movement of balls long said passage;
- ball release means connected to said structure and in said passage for selectively lifting a first one of said plurality of balls over said top means for subsequent travel along said passage for delivery to a user, said release means comprising an air bladder mounted beneath a flexible pad, said air bladder and said flexible pad being positioned beneath the first ball positioned adjacent to said stop means, such that when said air bladder is inflated, a ball in said first position will be urged over said stop and down said structure passage;
- and
- means for providing a sufficient amount of air to said air bladder for intermittent inflation thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.