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US 6,182,649 B2Granted
Ball-throwing machine
AssigneeProBatter Sports, LLC
InventorsGregory J. Battersby, James Cobb, Charles W. Grimes, Richard D. Schile, Steve Van Geldern
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AssigneeProBatter Sports, LLC
InventorsGregory J. Battersby, James Cobb, Charles W. Grimes, Richard D. Schile, Steve Van Geldern
Estimating the term…
A ball-throwing machine is provided which may be used for throwing baseballs, softballs and the like. The machine includes a power head having at least two and preferably three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch. Three AC motors and companion motor drives are provided for causing the wheels to rotate at predetermined speeds. The motor drives include dynamic braking circuits to permit rapid deceleration of the wheels. A pair of linear actuators is provided to permit the power head to be moved to predetermined horizontal and vertical positions. A programmable controller is included for individually controlling the rotational speed of each individual wheel, the horizontal position of the power head and the vertical position of the power head. A smart card reader may be employed for programming of the controller and the machine is adapted to be used in conjunction with a video display to simulate the actual pitching of a baseball by a pitcher. The machine is able to interchangeably deliver pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds with less than ten-second intervals between pitches.
A ball-throwing machine including means to interchangeably deliver pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said machine including at least one rotating wheel for propelling a ball toward a batter and dynamic braking means for rapidly decelerating the speed of said at least one rotating wheel.
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least two coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said machine including:
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said machine having:
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least two coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said machine including:
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least two coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said machine including:
A sports training device, said device including:
A ball-throwing machine including means to interchangeably deliver pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said machine including a power head having at least one rotating wheel for propelling a ball toward a batter, wherein said power head is pivotably mounted on a base at a center pivot about which the power head may be pivoted in both a horizontal and a vertical direction.
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least two coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said power head being pivotably mounted on a base at a center pivot about which the power head may be pivoted in both a horizontal and a vertical direction, said machine including:
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least two coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said power head being pivotably mounted on a base at a center pivot about which the power head may be pivoted in both a horizontal and a vertical direction, said machine including:
A ball-throwing machine including means to interchangeably deliver pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said machine including a programmable controller having a microprocessor for controlling the operation of said machine and a smart card reader adapted to read a pre-programmed smart card for re-programming said microprocessor.
A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including at least two coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to simulate a pitch, said machine having:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.