US20110152011A1

US20110152011A1 - Ball Toss Up Apparatus for Batting Practice and Game Play

Info

Publication number: US20110152011A1
Application number: US13/059,645
Authority: US
Inventors: Shayne Forrest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-18
Filing date: 2009-08-18
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: AU2009284689A1; WO2010019994A1

Abstract

A ball toss up apparatus (10) has a generally flat body (12) within which is located a pivotal arm (26) and a pneumatic ram means (76, 78) for causing the arm to pivot. A ball is received in an opening (28) of the body above the arm, and the ball can be tossed vertically upwardly to a hitting zone of a batter by impact with the arm when pivoted by activation of the pneumatic ram means. The ball toss up apparatus also includes an air tank (32) for storage of pressurized air that is used in the activation of the pneumatic ram means. Air pressure within the air tank is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor (54) which cooperates with a pressure release solenoid (56) to reduce air pressure within the air tank when required.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to training equipment and, more particularly, to a ball-toss up apparatus which is operative for tossing a ball, such as a baseball, softball, cricket ball or the like, into the air so that it can be hit with a bat during batting practice or game play.
This invention also relates to a ball toss up apparatus for training individuals in the proper technique of swinging a bat to hit a ball, and also for improving the hand to eye coordination of a batter's swing for successfully hitting a ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stationary ball stands are known that allow the batter to hit a stationary ball placed on top of a flexible vertical tube or tee mounted on a supporting ground plate. Such stands are marketed under the name T-BALL and are often used at the entry level of youth baseball leagues, to allow batting skills to develop before young players are ready for regulation pitching. During game play, the T-BALL stand is placed on home plate by the umpire with the ball resting on the top of the stand, and following a hit, the umpire must remove the stand from the home plate area so as to not interfere with base running. The stationary ball becomes an easy hitting target, not involving the required hand to eye coordination of a moving ball and hence T-BALL batters often lose interest as their skill progresses.
A more traditional technique for improving the hand to eye coordination and the bat speed of a softball or baseball batter is known as soft tossing.
The technique is manual in that a pitcher stands to the side of the batter, typically just out of range of the batter's swing, and softly tosses the ball into the batter's strike zone. It is highly desirable to toss the ball into the batters strike zone at unexpected times so that the batter is unable to anticipate the delivery. Only this way will the batter's ability to strike the ball truly be a function of hand to eye coordination, reflexes and bat speed. However, as will be readily appreciated, it is difficult for the pitcher to avoid giving advance warning of when the ball is to be delivered manually, that is, tossed by hand.
Some attempts have been made to provide machines that can propel a ball into the hitting zone of a batter and which don't require any other person to operate. Such automated pitching mechanisms and ball tossing devices have generally been large, relatively expensive, require a selective environment to function, or have been somewhat awkward to operate, and hence they have been less than entirely satisfactory. Many of these machines are designed to simulate baseball pitching and have resulted in large, complex mechanisms standing high above ground that are adapted for propelling a baseball in a substantially horizontal trajectory and with sufficient force to simulate a player's pitch. Others of these machines are designed to toss a ball up to batting height to afford batting practice and have an above ground self triggering mechanism whereby the batter can control the toss-up of the ball prior to swinging the bat at the ball. These prior art machines, because of their size, are not innocuous to the batter or to others during game play, with the possible consequence that the players may collide with or stumble over the machine under actual game conditions or the machine may create an obstruction in the field of play to a ball hit or thrown by a player.
Indeed, other problems with such machines are that they cannot be stored or moved easily, whilst other machines are fragile and do not withstand the vigorous use they are subjected to. These machines often become inoperative because of the abuse they receive by their users and require frequent repairs or replacement, and have complicated mechanical systems which are expensive to manufacture, difficult to maintain in proper working order and are complex in operation.
As illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,858,921; 4,575,080; 4,564,195 and 5,011,144, machines have been provided for batting practice which have suspended balls on a column of air. While this type of machine eliminates the problem of having a physical tee to support the ball prior to the ball being hit, the notion of suspending a ball in one position does not provide the batter with means for improving his or her hand to eye coordination, reflexes and bat speed.
Numerous ball pitching mechanisms or automatic ball servers are illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,207,857; 4,027,646; 4,094,294; 3,911,888 and 3,584,614. It is a characteristic of all of these ball throwing machines that the balls are launched or thrown in a substantially horizontal direction, either for stroking such as in tennis, or for hitting such as in baseball or softball. They therefore require a selective environment to function, namely, one that has a substantial distance between the throwing machine and the batter, such that these machines are not always adapted to home or indoor use in general, or to outdoor use when windy.
Other known devices hold or swing the ball on a tether or arm arranged generally at hitting height and thus also involve a high stand that is located near the batter and may interfere with game play.
Still other known devices have involved complex external moving parts, such as spinning wheels and discs or means for manually cocking the device to load a spring before the operator releases a mechanism that in return tosses or fires a ball into the hitting zone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a ball tossing device for presenting a moving ball to a batter that may be used at a novice, intermediate, advanced and professional level for both practice and game play, thereby increasing the enjoyment, interest and skill level of the players. The device may be used to enhance batting skill in both practice and game play where, for example, youth baseball players have not matured to a level where pitching is considered appropriate, or professionals are returning from injury or other absence from the game and need to resume correct batting technique. Accordingly, the ball tossing device of the present invention is intended to provide a significant advancement over known ball tossing devices.
It is another object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the aforementioned prior art.
According to the invention, there is provided a ball toss up apparatus comprising a generally flat body within which is located a pivotal arm and a pneumatic ram means for causing the arm to pivot, a ball receiving means located above the arm to receive a ball upon the body, wherein a ball so received can be tossed up to a hitting zone of a batter by impact with the arm when pivoted by activation of the pneumatic ram means.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ball toss up apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view (from the underside) of the interior of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of a ball toss up activation arrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in a standby or ready-to-fire mode,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but in a fire mode, FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, but in a pressure-down mode,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, but in a pressure-up mode, and

FIG. 7 is a simplified side sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing activation of the pivotal arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings, the apparatus 10 has a generally flat body 12 in the shape of a home plate in baseball. There is a main ON/OFF button or switch on the underside of the body 12, but the body must be placed substantially horizontally to allow operation of the apparatus in the ON mode. This safety feature can be controlled by a mercury sensor or a digital level switch.
FIG. 1 shows five lights 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 which are sunk within depressions formed on the top surface of the body 12 and which, when illuminated, project light upwardly and partly outwardly. A strike block 24 of a pivotal arm (shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 by numeral 26) is located below the top surface of the body and can move, when activated, upwardly through an opening 28 in that top surface. The opening 28 serves as a receptacle for a ball, such as a baseball 30, which can be propelled vertically upwardly when the strike block 24 impacts the ball.
When in the ON mode, the apparatus automatically sets the air pressure in an air tank 32 (or air storage cylinder) to a desired or predetermined value, such as 7 Barr, which is the air pressure required to cause the strike block 24 to impact the ball with the force necessary to propel it vertically upwardly to the desired height for optimal batting use.
A hand held remote control device can then be used by a person out of swinging range of the batter to activate a sequence of events leading to the strike block 24 impacting the ball with the desired upward force. That sequence involves the lights being automatically illuminated in a sequence beginning with light 14, then lights 16 and 18 simultaneously, and finally lights 20 and 22 simultaneously, before the ball is impacted. This feature may be controlled by one of several buttons on the remote control device. Other buttons on the remote control device may be used to adjust air pressure up and down in the air tank 32, or to awake the apparatus when it has assumed a SLEEP mode after, say, 20 seconds of inactivity.
FIG. 2 shows the major internal components of the apparatus 10 surrounded by a protective housing 34 of rubber or other suitable material. Electrical connections between components are shown in general form by dashed lines.
There is a battery 36 for a main electronic circuit board 38 which has an aerial for receiving signals from the remote control device. The circuit board 38 controls the electronic operations of the apparatus.
There is another battery 40 which supplies power to a controller unit 42 of a brushless motor 44. The motor 44, which may spin at about 20,000 rpm, is connected through a planetary gear assembly (of about a 4:1 ratio) to a crank shaft 46 or cam arrangement for causing reciprocal motion of a piston within a barrel of a compressor 48. The barrel has an air intake hole, and operation of the motor 44 generates compressed air within the barrel which escapes through an exit valve 50 and enters the air tank 32 via a one way valve 52.
As also shown in FIG. 3, air pressure within the air tank 32 is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor 54. A pressure release solenoid 56, which cooperates with the pressure sensor 54, is used to reduce air pressure within the air tank 32 when required. The pressure sensor 54 is involved in controlling the duration of operation of the motor 44, and the pressure release solenoid 56 controls the duration of air release from the pressurised air tank 32 to atmosphere via a pressure release aperture formed through a side nut 58 on the solenoid 56. Monitoring and adjusting the air pressure within the air tank 32 are important for ensuring optimal performance and safe use of the apparatus 10. If the apparatus is set (through its main circuit board) for safe use up to a maximum of 10 Barr air pressure, the sensing of air pressure within the air tank above that limit will cause the pressure release solenoid to reduce that pressure to a desired safe value, and to a value that is within a range for optimal batting use.
There is a manual release valve 60 from the air tank 32 for emergency reduction of dangerously high air pressure. The release valve 60 has a blow-off pin 62.
Pressurised air from the air tank 32 is in air flow communication via a single pressurised air inlet tube 63 with a five way valve unit 64, the operation of which is controlled by an electronic solenoid 66. The five way valve unit 64 also has a pair of air release valves 68 (with silencers), a main pressurised air outlet tube 70 and a secondary pressurised air outlet tube 72. A directional outlet valve 74 within the valve unit 64 can be operated to allow pressurised air flow from the air tank 32 in either of two outlet directions through the valve unit, with corresponding air release through one of the valves 68 in an opposite direction through the valve unit 64.
The main outlet tube 70 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 76 housing a ram 78 that can be forced to quickly move forward from a retracted position to an extended position when subjected at its rearward end to pressurised air from the air tank 32. The ram 78 has a striker piece 80 at its forward end that is aligned with the pivotal arm 26, both of which are fitted within a secure housing 82.
The striker piece 80 and the pivotal arm 26 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 7. The pivot axis of the pivotal arm 26 is remote of the point at which the striker piece 80 strikes the pivotal arm, and so can cause the arm to pivot and the strike block 24 to impact the ball. In this way, the pivotal arm 26 can act as a lever against the ball.
A directional exhaust valve unit 84 is in air flow communication between the pneumatic cylinder 76 and the secondary pressurised air outlet tube 72 from the five way valve unit 64. The directional exhaust valve unit 84 has an air exhaust valve 86 (with silencer). A directional exhaust valve 88 within the valve unit 84 can be operated to allow pressurised air flow from the secondary pressurised air outlet tube 72 into the pneumatic cylinder 76 downwardly of the rearward end of the ram 78, and so can cause the ram 78 to remain in its retracted position within the cylinder 76. Alternatively, the directional exhaust valve 88 can be operated to allow pressurised air from within the pneumatic cylinder 76 during extension of the ram 78 to escape to atmosphere.
In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus is in a standby or ready-to-fire mode. Pressurised air from the air tank 32 is supplied through a secondary pressurised air circuit into the pneumatic cylinder 76 where it forces the ram 78 to remain in the retracted position, because of the directions of the outlet and exhaust valves 74 and 88, respectively. The direction of outlet valve 74 is controlled by the operation of the electronic solenoid 66.
In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus is in a fire mode. The electronic solenoid 66 is activated by operation of the remote control device to cause the outlet valve 74 to assume the direction shown, whereby pressurised air from the air tank 32 flows through the main pressurised air outlet tube 70 and is forced against the rearward end of the ram 78 in the pneumatic cylinder 76, causing the ram 78 to extend. Air from within the pneumatic cylinder 76 is exhausted to atmosphere as the exhaust valve 88 assumes the direction shown, and closes off the secondary pressurised air circuit. Air from within that circuit is also released through one of the air release valves 68.
In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus is in a pressure-down mode. Air pressure is being released from the air tank 32 to atmosphere via the pressure release aperture of the solenoid 56, whilst the ram 78 remains pressurised in the retracted position. The remote control device may include a button for this purpose, and the pressure decrease may be by an increment of 0.5 Barr for each pressing of the button. The pressure decrease may also be the result of the air pressure monitored in the air tank 32 by the pressure sensor 54 being above a desired value and the pressure release solenoid 56 being operated.
In the ball toss up activation arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus is in a pressure-up mode. The motor 44 is being powered to operate the compressor 48 and generate pressurised air within the air tank 32. The remote control device may include another button for this purpose, and the pressure increase may be by an increment of 0.5 Barr for each pressing of the button.
FIG. 7 shows the striker piece 80 of the extending ram 78 striking the pivotal arm 26 and causing the arm to pivot and the strike block 24 to impact the ball 30 through the opening 28. The ball is propelled or tossed vertically upwardly into a desired hitting zone of a batter.
As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, a ball toss up apparatus of the kind described above, when used for baseball and softball batting practice, has the advantage of resembling a home plate (especially if it is covered in rubber), and can be easily used for tossing a baseball or softball from ground level upwardly into a batter's strike zone. The apparatus is a compact, low profile, flush to the ground unit that conceals its working components. In this way, the working components remain safely out of the way for base running and the low profile of the apparatus does not create an obstruction to a ball during game play. Further the apparatus promotes the holding of the bat in a normal manner by the batter's two hands whilst being in a natural ready stance.
After positioning the ball upon the body of the apparatus, the batter, coach, umpire or other designated person activates the ball tossing mechanism via a remote control device, propelling the ball vertically upwardly into the strike zone.
In another preferred embodiment, means are provided on the ball striking surface of the pivotal arm to alter the point of contact with the ball and thereby cause the ball to move at a selected upward angle. In this manner the ball will be presented at different locations within the hitting zone.
It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the ball toss up apparatus described above without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ball toss up apparatus comprising a generally flat body within which is located a pivotal arm and a pneumatic ram means for causing the arm to pivot, a ball receiving means located above the arm to receive a ball upon the body, wherein a ball so received can be tossed vertically upwardly to a hitting zone of a batter by impact with the arm when pivoted by activation of the pneumatic ram means.

2. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 1 and further including an air tank for storage of pressurized air that is used in the activation of the pneumatic ram means.

3. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 2 wherein air pressure within the air tank is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor.

4. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 3 wherein the pressure sensor cooperates with a pressure release solenoid to reduce air pressure within the air tank.

5. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pressure sensor controls the duration of operation of a motor that generates pressurized air in the air tank.

6. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pressure release solenoid controls the duration of pressurised air release from the air tank to atmosphere via a pressure release aperture of the solenoid.

7. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 6 wherein pressurised air from the air tank is in air flow communication via a single pressurised air inlet tube with a five way valve unit, the operation of which is controlled by an electronic solenoid.

8. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 7 wherein the five way valve unit has a pair of air release valves, a main pressurised air outlet tube and a secondary pressurised air outlet tube.

9. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 8 wherein the five way valve unit contains a directional outlet valve that can be operated to allow pressurised air flow from the air tank in either of two outlet directions through the valve unit, with corresponding air release through one of the pair of air release valves in an opposite direction through the valve unit.

10. The ball toss up apparatus of claim 9 wherein the main pressurised air outlet tube is connected to the pneumatic ram means, and the ram means can be forced forward from a retracted position to an extended position when subjected at its rearward end to pressurised air from the air tank.