US20090075765A1 - Method and Apparatus for Throwing and Catching - Google Patents

Method and Apparatus for Throwing and Catching Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090075765A1
US20090075765A1 US11/885,773 US88577306A US2009075765A1 US 20090075765 A1 US20090075765 A1 US 20090075765A1 US 88577306 A US88577306 A US 88577306A US 2009075765 A1 US2009075765 A1 US 2009075765A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ball
scoop element
region
scoop
channel region
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/885,773
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert George Eldridge
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20090075765A1 publication Critical patent/US20090075765A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
    • A63B59/20—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00 having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/14—Lacrosse

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus and a method for throwing and catching a ball.
  • the present invention relates to apparatus and a method for throwing and catching a ball at high velocity with good accuracy over distances exceeding those attainable by throwing a ball by hand.
  • an apparatus for throwing and catching a ball comprising:
  • an elongate shaft member for being held by at least one hand of a user
  • said scoop element includes at least one flexing member for absorbing energy from a ball impacting with said scoop element during a catching mode of operation.
  • Embodiments of the present invention provide a double-headed shaft having a dual-purpose catching and/or throwing element at either end.
  • the scoop-like element located at either end of the shaft has flexing ribs which flex on impact to absorb energy from a ball which is caught. In this way balls can be conveniently caught without bouncing out of the catcher.
  • Embodiments of the present invention provide a method in which balls rolling or stationary on a playing surface can be picked up very conveniently by a user without having to stoop to pick up the ball by hand. This can be carried out whilst a user is running without the risk of the throwing/catching device catching and tripping the user.
  • Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method by which a user can throw balls very rapidly using a flicking motion of an elongate handle.
  • the centrifugal force generated by the flicking motion is transferred into a throwing force which urges a ball into a direction determined by a central channel in the scoop element at an end of the shaft. A user can thus throw a ball accurately in a desired direction.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a double-headed catching/throwing device
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a scoop element
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a scoop element
  • FIG. 4 illustrates two cross-sections through a scoop element.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates three views ( 1 A to 1 C) of a throwing and catching apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • An elongate shaft 11 extends longitudinally along a main axis and has a first end region 12 and a remaining end region 13 .
  • a dual-purpose throwing and/or catching tool 14 is provided at each end.
  • the tool is a scoop-like or claw-like device.
  • the tool 14 is for manipulating a ball either by catching a ball landing in an open mouth of the scoop or for throwing a ball already located in a central channel of the tool 14 .
  • the shaft and scoops may be integrally formed or may be connected to one another via some connecting means such as a screw and thread.
  • a double-ended throwing and catching apparatus is described a single-ended device, having a scoop at only one end of the shaft could be provided according to other embodiments of the present invention.
  • View 1 B illustrates a side view of the throwing and catching baton 10 and from this it can be seen that the scoop has a curved back. Having a non-straight back helps launch a ball when it is thrown.
  • Four ribs 16 extend away from a central spine 17 having an inner surface which defines a channel and which extends longitudinally along the length of the scoop. Slots 18 are formed adjacent to each side of the flexible ribs 16 thereby separating adjacent ribs.
  • View 1 C illustrates another view of the double-ended pole in more detail.
  • the tip of the scoop furthest away from the shaft 11 is cut away.
  • the cut away 19 ensures that a tip region 20 (shown more clearly in view 1 B) is substantially plainer. This enables a scoop to be run along the ground or other flat playing surface enabling the scoop to skid rather than dig in. This permits a user to pick up a ball located on such a surface without having to stoop to pick up the ball by hand.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates two views of a scoop 14 in more detail.
  • an open mouth 21 is defined by an upper edge 22 of the body of the scoop.
  • the open mouth 21 defines a catchment area which a user locates in front of a ball which is to be caught.
  • the body of the scoop includes a central substantially U-shaped channel which is a central region of the scoop.
  • Each side region of the scoop is shaped so that the upward portion of the U-channel blends into a plateau region towards the open mouth of the scoop via a convex formation.
  • This convex formation ensures that the ribs 16 , which connect the central channel region to a lip region 24 extending around the open mouth of the scoop, can flex when a ball impacts on a side region. In this way, when a ball is to be caught a user moves the open mouth of a scoop into a position which the user judges will be where a ball will be caught. Ideally the ball is caught in the central U-shaped channel.
  • the ball will impact upon one or more of the ribs.
  • the ribs are sufficiently resilient so that initially under impact the outwardly extending convex region of the rib is forced inwardly into a concave shape. This process absorbs energy from the impact of the ball so that this energy is not transferred to the ball which could then bounce out of the scoop. As a result the ball is more likely to be caught and held in the scoop during a catching mode of operation.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates an underside of the scoop 14 in more detail and illustrates how the flexible ribs have a central region having a shape which is concave when viewed from the outside.
  • the concave region of the rib corresponds to the area of the rib which is convex with respect to the inside of the scoop.
  • FIG. 2 also illustrates how a ball nest 25 may be located in a region of the scoop proximate to an end 12 of the shaft.
  • This nest is substantially hemispherical and has a dimension which is selected to match the outer surface of a ball to be caught and thrown by the apparatus 10 .
  • the nest 25 can be a quarter ball or half ball or three-quarter ball size. Having a three-quarter ball shape and size means that an overhang 26 will cradle a ball duly located in the nest. This aids in the carrying process as a user, having caught a ball, may wish to run with the apparatus 10 .
  • FIG. 3 illustrates three views of an end-scoop according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • View 3 A shows in more detail how the planer tip region 20 is substantially flat so that snagging of the end does not occur if a user runs with the end 20 slipping over the surface of a playing area.
  • View 3 B illustrates the central channel 17 in more detail.
  • the channel extends along the main axis of the scoop from which ribs 16 extend substantially perpendicular away from the axis.
  • the ribs extend initially substantially horizontally and then substantially vertically and then bend in a central region forming the convex portion of the rib which flexes during a catching mode of operation.
  • View 3 B also illustrates how a wing region is formed on either side of the central channel 17 .
  • the wing region extends the cross-section of the U-shaped channel 17 for catching purposes and provides a substantially flat plateau region on either side of the channel.
  • View 3 C illustrates a cross-section through the centre of the throwing and catching apparatus along its longitudinal axis.
  • the apparatus 10 may be formed from nylon having a thickness of 2 mm and may be integrally formed with the handle 11 . It will be understood that other materials, such as polypropylene or others, and other thicknesses of material may be used according to further embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates at view 4 A the cross-section taken through line B-B in FIG. 3C .
  • View 4 B illustrates the cross-section taken through the line A-A shown in FIG. 3C .
  • a lip region 24 extends around the circumference of the open mouth of the scoop.
  • the U-shaped channel is formed by a central arcuate portion 30 on which a ball will rest when held in the scoop.
  • FIG. 4B which is a cross-section through the scoop through a rib
  • the U-shaped channel is formed by this arcuate section 30 and then extends upwardly and then curves away from the central channel finally ending in a substantially upright section.
  • the rib thus has an S-shape.
  • a W-shaped rib could be provided.
  • the rib has at least one section which is curved inwardly with respect to the centre of the scoop so that when a ball hits the curved section it can deform outwardly away from the centre of the scoop. This absorbs energy.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)
US11/885,773 2005-03-23 2006-03-13 Method and Apparatus for Throwing and Catching Abandoned US20090075765A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0505951.4A GB0505951D0 (en) 2005-03-23 2005-03-23 A method and apparatus for throwing and catching
GB0505951.4 2005-03-23
PCT/GB2006/000898 WO2006100435A1 (en) 2005-03-23 2006-03-13 A method and apparatus for throwing and catching

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090075765A1 true US20090075765A1 (en) 2009-03-19

Family

ID=34531726

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/885,773 Abandoned US20090075765A1 (en) 2005-03-23 2006-03-13 Method and Apparatus for Throwing and Catching

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US20090075765A1 (zh)
EP (1) EP1871495A1 (zh)
JP (1) JP2008534039A (zh)
CN (1) CN101146579A (zh)
AU (1) AU2006226178A1 (zh)
CA (1) CA2599410A1 (zh)
GB (1) GB0505951D0 (zh)
NZ (1) NZ560881A (zh)
WO (1) WO2006100435A1 (zh)
ZA (1) ZA200707244B (zh)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8323126B1 (en) * 2009-05-19 2012-12-04 Mitchell Evan Lozier Training device—lacrosse ball handling
US20150007803A1 (en) * 2013-07-02 2015-01-08 PlusOne Sports, LLC Game stick and game utilizing the same
US9149695B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-10-06 Curtis Alan EVANS Projectile and throwing apparatus and game for projectile throwing
USD748748S1 (en) 2014-05-12 2016-02-02 PlusOne Sports, LLC Athletic stick head
US20160096241A1 (en) * 2014-10-07 2016-04-07 Caterpillar Inc. Consumable insert for welding
USD768796S1 (en) * 2015-02-03 2016-10-11 Curtis A. Evans Projectile throwing apparatus
USD896330S1 (en) * 2018-12-05 2020-09-15 New Swarm Sports Llc Athletic stick
USD1020944S1 (en) 2023-05-01 2024-04-02 Jason Lee Golf ball pickup device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10674710B2 (en) * 2014-05-23 2020-06-09 Shenzhen Xingrisheng Industrial Co., Ltd. Ball-throwing scoop for interaction with pet
US11938409B2 (en) * 2021-06-25 2024-03-26 Wild Ideas Designs, LLC Ball balance game and method of playing

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1459389A (en) * 1921-12-30 1923-06-19 Louis C Brown Game appliance
US1671749A (en) * 1927-08-24 1928-05-29 John C Lehne Game device
US2029790A (en) * 1932-06-24 1936-02-04 Corballogesellschaft M B H Flinging device for ball games
US2710753A (en) * 1953-01-26 1955-06-14 Jack C Lockwood Projectile catching and throwing device
US3674266A (en) * 1970-03-05 1972-07-04 Friedman & Goodman Double-ended ball paddle
US4153251A (en) * 1976-11-16 1979-05-08 Pond Robert B Lacrosse stick mesh
USD263248S (en) * 1980-02-22 1982-03-02 Brine Jr William H Ball playing stick
US4368890A (en) * 1981-04-09 1983-01-18 Global Games Unlimited, Inc. Paddle game apparatus
US4717155A (en) * 1986-07-28 1988-01-05 Chu Hwa Hsu Ladle-ball racket
US5018746A (en) * 1990-02-06 1991-05-28 Randolph P. Glass Field game apparatus and method
US5292134A (en) * 1992-08-17 1994-03-08 Mattel, Inc. Ball catching and launching toy
USD350999S (en) * 1993-03-15 1994-09-27 Bien-Horn Chen Soft lacrosse stick
US5938550A (en) * 1998-03-30 1999-08-17 Sports Licensing, Inc. Women's lacrosse stick head
US6213901B1 (en) * 1999-02-02 2001-04-10 East Coast Lacrosse Ltd. Lacrosse stick string configuration
USD539859S1 (en) * 2006-03-23 2007-04-03 Robert Eldridge Throwing and catching implement

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0651069B2 (ja) * 1985-03-04 1994-07-06 ウインフレツド、ミラス、ルペルト 投出物キヤツチおよび投出装置
JPS63182780U (zh) * 1987-05-13 1988-11-25
US5048843A (en) * 1990-10-17 1991-09-17 Dorfi Kurt H Lacrosse stick
US5174580A (en) * 1992-04-17 1992-12-29 Seneca Sports, Inc. Ball toss and catch toy
US6076829A (en) * 1998-10-05 2000-06-20 Oblack; Mark Ball throwing apparatus and method
JP4197986B2 (ja) * 2003-05-09 2008-12-17 旭物産株式会社 球技用捕球用具

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1459389A (en) * 1921-12-30 1923-06-19 Louis C Brown Game appliance
US1671749A (en) * 1927-08-24 1928-05-29 John C Lehne Game device
US2029790A (en) * 1932-06-24 1936-02-04 Corballogesellschaft M B H Flinging device for ball games
US2710753A (en) * 1953-01-26 1955-06-14 Jack C Lockwood Projectile catching and throwing device
US3674266A (en) * 1970-03-05 1972-07-04 Friedman & Goodman Double-ended ball paddle
US4153251A (en) * 1976-11-16 1979-05-08 Pond Robert B Lacrosse stick mesh
USD263248S (en) * 1980-02-22 1982-03-02 Brine Jr William H Ball playing stick
US4368890A (en) * 1981-04-09 1983-01-18 Global Games Unlimited, Inc. Paddle game apparatus
US4717155A (en) * 1986-07-28 1988-01-05 Chu Hwa Hsu Ladle-ball racket
US5018746A (en) * 1990-02-06 1991-05-28 Randolph P. Glass Field game apparatus and method
US5292134A (en) * 1992-08-17 1994-03-08 Mattel, Inc. Ball catching and launching toy
USD350999S (en) * 1993-03-15 1994-09-27 Bien-Horn Chen Soft lacrosse stick
US5938550A (en) * 1998-03-30 1999-08-17 Sports Licensing, Inc. Women's lacrosse stick head
US6213901B1 (en) * 1999-02-02 2001-04-10 East Coast Lacrosse Ltd. Lacrosse stick string configuration
USD539859S1 (en) * 2006-03-23 2007-04-03 Robert Eldridge Throwing and catching implement

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8323126B1 (en) * 2009-05-19 2012-12-04 Mitchell Evan Lozier Training device—lacrosse ball handling
US9630076B2 (en) * 2012-02-28 2017-04-25 Curtis Alan EVANS Projectile and throwing apparatus and game for projectile throwing
US9149695B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-10-06 Curtis Alan EVANS Projectile and throwing apparatus and game for projectile throwing
US20150297964A1 (en) * 2012-02-28 2015-10-22 Curtis Alan EVANS Projectile and Throwing Apparatus and Game for Projectile Throwing
US9656136B2 (en) * 2013-07-02 2017-05-23 Plusone Sports Llc Game stick and game utilizing the same
US20150007803A1 (en) * 2013-07-02 2015-01-08 PlusOne Sports, LLC Game stick and game utilizing the same
USD795977S1 (en) 2014-02-01 2017-08-29 PlusOne Sports, LLC Athletic stick head
USD748748S1 (en) 2014-05-12 2016-02-02 PlusOne Sports, LLC Athletic stick head
US20160096241A1 (en) * 2014-10-07 2016-04-07 Caterpillar Inc. Consumable insert for welding
US9545693B2 (en) * 2014-10-07 2017-01-17 Caterpillar Inc. Consumable insert for welding
USD768796S1 (en) * 2015-02-03 2016-10-11 Curtis A. Evans Projectile throwing apparatus
USD896330S1 (en) * 2018-12-05 2020-09-15 New Swarm Sports Llc Athletic stick
USD1020944S1 (en) 2023-05-01 2024-04-02 Jason Lee Golf ball pickup device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2599410A1 (en) 2006-09-28
EP1871495A1 (en) 2008-01-02
ZA200707244B (en) 2008-06-25
JP2008534039A (ja) 2008-08-28
NZ560881A (en) 2011-02-25
GB0505951D0 (en) 2005-04-27
CN101146579A (zh) 2008-03-19
AU2006226178A1 (en) 2006-09-28
WO2006100435A1 (en) 2006-09-28

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STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION