Ball delivery system
AssigneeAbout 52 Feet, LLC
InventorMaximilian T. Bynum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates generally to a ball delivery system and method, and more particularly to a ball delivery system where the axis of rotation of the ball delivered from the system can range from perpendicular to the direction of motion of the ball to parallel to the direction of motion. This invention also permits a user to enter information related to the speed and axis of rotation of the ball. This invention also permits information related to the speed and axis of rotation of the ball to be determined from a video of a ball.
Claims19
A ball delivery method, a ball delivered by the ball delivery method having an axis of rotation, a rotational velocity and a delivery described by a velocity and a trajectory, the method comprising:
- using a first and a second spinner capable of delivering the ball, the first and the second spinner forming two points of contact with the ball, the first spinner having a first rotational axis and the second spinner having a second rotational axis;
- using exactly two simultaneous contact points with the ball;
- setting the rotational speed of the first spinner and the second spinner independently;
- angling the first spinner to have the first rotational axis;
- angling the second spinner to have the second rotational axis, independently of the first spinner, where the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are angled independently;
- and
- rotating a spinner carriage assembly enclosing the first spinner and the second spinner, where rotating the spinner carriage assembly rotates a plane containing the axis of rotation of the ball and rotates the spinner carriage about an axis parallel to an axis defined by the trajectory.
A ball delivery system, a ball delivered by the ball delivery system having an axis of rotation, a rotational velocity and a delivery described by a velocity and a trajectory, the system comprising:
- a spinner delivery system, including a first and a second spinner, each spinner having an angle of orientation and a speed of rotation, the first and the second spinner having exactly two simultaneous contact points with the ball;
- a first stepper motor coupled to the first spinner, the first motor capable of adjusting the angle of the first spinner;
- a second stepper motor coupled to the second spinner, the second motor capable of adjusting the angle, independent of the angle of the first spinner of the second spinner;
- a first adjustable speed direct current motor capable of adjusting the rotational speed of the first spinner;
- a second adjustable speed direct current motor capable of adjusting the rotational speed of the second spinner, independent of the rotational speed of the first spinner;
- a spinner carriage assembly enclosing the first spinner and the second spinner, where rotating the spinner carriage assembly rotates a plane containing the axis of rotation of the ball and rotates the spinner carriage about an axis parallel to an axis defined by the trajectory;
- a stepper motor coupled to the spinner carriage assembly, the stepper motor capable of rotating the spinner carriage assembly;
- and
- a foundation assembly coupled to the spinner carriage, the foundation assembly capable of moving independently of the spinner carriage.
A spinner ball delivery system, a ball delivered by the ball delivery system having an axis of rotation, a rotational velocity and a delivery described by a velocity and a trajectory, the system comprising:
- a first spinner;
- a first actuator module configured to control a first angle of orientation of the first spinner;
- a first speed control module configured to control a rotational speed of the first spinner;
- a second spinner, the first and second spinners forming exactly two simultaneous contact points with the ball;
- a second actuator control module configured to control a second angle of orientation of the second spinner independent of the first spinner, independent from the first angle of orientation;
- a second speed control module configured to control a rotational speed of the second spinner;
- a spinner carriage assembly enclosing the first spinner and the second spinner, where rotating the spinner carriage assembly rotates a plane containing the axis of rotation of the ball and rotates the spinner carriage about an axis parallel to an axis defined by the trajectory;
- a stepper motor coupled to the spinner carriage assembly capable of rotating the spinner carriage assembly;
- and
- a foundation assembly coupled to the spinner carriage, the foundation assembly capable of moving independently of the spinner carriage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.