US 6,190,271 B1 · Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member

Abstract

A member (e.g. baseball bat) includes a switch manually operable to obtain the transmission of signals by a transmitter in the member to an apparatus for propelling an element (e.g. ball) toward an individual holding the member. The apparatus includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted signals and includes a housing with a hollow passage. A ramp supported on the housing holds a plurality of the elements for sequential movement into the passage. The element in the passage is supported on one of the fingers of a rotary detainer. The detainer is normally prevented from rotating by a release mechanism coupled to the detainer. The detainer is rotated by the weight of the element when the release mechanism is decoupled from the detainer upon the reception of the transmitted signals. The element then moves downwardly in the passage to a propulsion mechanism which may comprise a pair of rollers for gripping the opposite ends of the element. The rollers are actuated by motors connected in a circuit with a transportable energy source (e.g. battery) so that the motors are energized only when a ball is disposed on a finger in the detainer, thereby prolonging battery life. The element is propelled by the propulsion mechanism toward the individual holding the member so that the individual can practice receiving the element (e.g. hitting the ball). The trajectory of the propelled ball can be adjusted by pivoting the housing relative to a base member which supports the housing and which holds the battery.

Claims42

Dependent claims

In combination for propelling an element,

a member having an outer periphery constructed to receive the propelled element and manually operable to impose a force by the member against the element for propelling the element, and
an apparatus for propelling the element toward the member for the manual operation of the member to impose the force on the member, the apparatus being separated from the member,
the member including a switch actuatable from the outer periphery of the member and a signal transmitter disposed in the member and normally not energized and energizable in response to an actuation of the switch, before a propulsion of the element from the apparatus and before any movement of the member to strike the element, to send signals on a wireless basis to the apparatus for obtaining the propulsion of the element from the apparatus, and
the apparatus including a receiver, normally inoperative disposed in the apparatus for receiving the signals on a wireless basis from the member, the apparatus being constructed to hold the element and being inoperative until the reception of the signals on the wireless basis by the receiver from the member and being operative upon the reception of the signals on the wireless basis by the receiver from the member to release the element for propulsion toward the member and to propel the element toward the member.

1 more element

In combination for propelling an element,

a member having an external periphery and manually operable to impose a force against the element, the member including a switch manually operable from the external periphery of the member and having first and second states of operation and being normally disposed in the first state of operation and being manually operable from the external periphery of the member to the second state of operation before any movement of the member to impose a force against the element, and including a transmitter disposed in the member and inoperable with the switch in the first state of operation and responsive to the manual operation of the switch to the second switch of operation to transmit signals, and
an apparatus separated from the member and including a receiver disposed in the apparatus and normally inoperative and operative to receive the signals on the wireless basis from the transmitter and including a propulsion mechanism normally inoperative and responsive to the signals received on the wireless basis by the receiver from the transmitter to propel the element toward the manually operable member to obtain an imposition by the member of the force against the element.

In combination,

a member manually operable to provide signals on a wireless basis for obtaining a propulsion of an element toward the member and to impose a force against the element for propelling the element,
a housing,
a receiver disposed in the housing for receiving the signals transmitted on the wireless basis from the manually operable member,
there being a hollow passage in the housing for receiving the element,
a detainer disposed in the housing and movable between first and second positions in accordance with the disposition of the element in the hollow passage and normally operable in the first position to retain the element in the hollow passage and actuatable to the second position to provide for a release of the element by the detainer for a movement of the element through the hollow passage,
a release mechanism disposed in the housing and responsive to the signals received on the wireless basis by the receiver from the manually operable member to actuate the detainer from the first position to the second position, and
a propulsion mechanism disposed in the housing for propelling the element from the hollow passage toward the manually operable member when the element is released by the detainer upon the actuation of the detainer from the first position to the second position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member

Life of this patent

Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42