Pneumatic ball tossing device
AssigneesAndrew S. Nickerson, Frank Saulnier
InventorsAndrew S. Nickerson, Frank Saulnier, Blair Cottreau, Stanley Ellis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ball tossing device for batting practice comprises a self-contained, pneumatically controlled and actuated mechanism. The device includes a launcher comprising a pneumatic cylinder and ball carrier and a trough type feeder for sequentially supplying balls to the carrier for tossing. The pneumatic cylinder is actuated by compressed air from a regulated source of compressed air, with timer means which controls actuation of a valve to transmit the compressed air to the cylinder. The cylinder is a single action type with a return spring. The launcher may be angularly variable for non-vertical tosses.
Claims13
A portable pneumatic ball tossing device adapted for upward tossing of a ball for use in swing development, comprising:
- a base;
- a launch mechanism connected to said base, said launch mechanism including a pneumatic cylinder and piston rod adapted to contact and propel the ball;
- feeder means for holding and feeding one or more balls to the launch mechanism;
- a supply of compressed air;
- valve means for selectively passing compressed air from said supply to said launch mechanism;
- and
- trigger means for controlling operation of said valve means.
A portable pneumatic ball tossing device adapted for upward tossing of a ball for use in swing development comprising a base and housing, a launch mechanism and valve means mounted on a cradle, the cradle being pivotable about a horizontal axis from the vertical to a selected vertical angle, and a tubular inclined feeder, wherein:
- the launch mechanism is a vertically orientable pneumatic cylinder of the singe acting push type with a return spring;
- the valve means comprises a three-way valve adapted to feed regulated compressed air from a supply, to the pneumatic cylinder for movement of the piston rod;
- and
- the valve is actuated by an air pilot activated by a pneumatic trigger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.