US 7,011,084 B2 · Impetus-modifying thrust-wheels for ball-pitching machines

Abstract

The notion of an assymetrically configured thruster-wheel for automatic-feed ball-pitching batter/training-machines having a pair of laterally apposed axially-driven thruster-wheels; —wherein one or both thruster-wheels features a resilient circumferential-facing formed with declivities which can be regular or irregular protruding or receeding formations acting to alter the instant amount of impetus or thrust being exerted bilaterally upon the surface of a momentarily feeding ball. The thrust-wheels are axially readily detatchable from the ball-pitching thrust-motor shafts, thereby enabling coach or user to change just one or both thrust-wheels from a conventional uniform tread-surface (which thus always shoots-out balls on a predictable trajectory) to my new IM/Thrust-wheel which thereby shoots-out balls on a non-predictable trajectory. Accordingly, without the heretofore complexity of computer-controlled action, this simple improvement enables a practicing ball-batter to be pitched balls which randomly change on an unpredictable basis to pass virtually anywhere generally within the batter's strike-zone, thereby training the user to better cope with variously pitched balls.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An improved power-driven friction impelling thruster-wheel combination adapted to provide variable trajectory dynamics for a conventional ball/pitching-machine;

said thruster-wheel combination comprising:
a set of two or more opposed thruster-wheels each with a resilient tread-surface portion and rotating on discrete drive-spindles aligned on a common radial-plane, at least one of said tread-surfaces including an impetus-modifying formation means upon its perimeter;
whereby dependent upon the random positioning occurrence relationship of the driven said thruster-wheel tread-surfaces in which a said impetus-modifying formation can become laterally impinged momentarily against the surface of a given ball passing through the existing thruster-aperture of a conventional ball/pitching-machine, thereby providing an unpredictable ball-pitching trajectory event causing ball to arrive toward a ball-batter person at a desirably surprising region of their strike-zone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Impetus-modifying thrust-wheels for ball-pitching machines

Life of this patent

Impetus-modifying thrust-wheels for ball-pitching machines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8