Baseball training apparatus

A baseball training apparatus for use with at least one ball, comprising:

• a body having a ball inlet opening, a ball outlet opening and a pathway for guiding the ball through the body;
• a drive assembly connected to the body, the drive assembly configured to impart motion to the ball;
• a ball interface device connected to the body, the ball interface device configured for movement between a first position in which the ball engages the drive assembly and a second position in which the ball is prevented from engaging the drive assembly;
• a control system operably coupled to the ball interface device, wherein the control system interacts with the ball interface device by applying a signal to the ball interface device at a predetermined frequency, the control system interacting with the ball interface device such that the ball interface device changes between the first position and the second position at a predetermined time interval for a predetermined duration, thereby causing impartation of motion to the ball;
• and
• at least one audio speaker coupled to the control system and configured for emitting a warning signal or at least one audible message.

A baseball training apparatus for use with at least one ball, comprising:

• a body having a ball inlet opening, a ball outlet opening and a pathway for guiding the ball through the body;
• a drive assembly connected to the body, the drive assembly configured to impart motion to the ball;
• a ball interface device connected to the body, the ball interface device configured for movement between a first position in which the ball engages the drive assembly and a second position in which the ball is prevented from engaging the drive assembly;
• and
• a control system operably coupled to the ball interface device, wherein the control system interacts with the ball interface device by applying a signal to the ball interface device, the control system interacting with the ball interface device such that the ball interface device changes between the first position and the second position at a predetermined time interval for a predetermined duration, thereby causing impartation of motion to the ball, the control system further includes a voice recognition module, the module configured to convert a verbal command into a signal, which is applied by the control system to the ball interface device.

A baseball training apparatus for use with a plurality of balls, comprising:

• a body having a ball inlet, a ball outlet and a pathway for guiding the ball through the body;
• a ball feeder tube removably connected to the body, the ball feeder tube configured to hold the balls;
• a ball delivery means coupled to the body;
• a ball projection means coupled to the body, the ball projection means configured for projecting a ball generally vertically from the body;
• and
• a control system coupled to the ball projection means and the ball delivery means, the control system providing an actuation signal to the ball delivery means at a first predetermined frequency, wherein the ball delivery means is a solenoid coupled to the control system and the ball projection means is a wheel coupled to a dc motor, the wheel is configured to impart motion onto the ball.