US3765395A

US3765395A - A centrifugal type ball projecting device

Info

Publication number: US3765395A
Application number: US00202155A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Hess A Mc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-26
Filing date: 1971-11-26
Publication date: 1973-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-16

Abstract

A ball throwing machine has a mounting base with a lever pivotally mounted on the base. A plurality of spaced ball holding depressions are mounted on the top rear missle portion of said lever. A braking surface is mounted on said base and an adjustable brake shoe is mounted on the missile receiving end of said lever. The positioning of a ball in a desired depression and varying of the amount of braking causes a variation in the trajectory of a ball. The lever is adapted to be pivoted quickly to catapult a ball mounted in one of the depressions.

Description

Hess

[451 Oct. 16, 1973 CENTRIFUGAL TYPE BALL PROJECTING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne ABSTRACT A ball throwing machine has a mounting base with a lever pivotally mounted on the base. A plurality of spaced ball holding depressions are mounted on the top rear missle portion of said lever. A braking surface is mounted on said base and an adjustable brake shoe is mounted on the missile receiving end of said lever. The positioning of a ball in a desired depression and varying of the amount of braking causes a variation in the trajectory of a ball. The lever is adapted to be pivoted quickly to catapult a ball mounted in one of th depressions.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures [76] Inventor: Alexander McD. Hess, 67 Hilton Ave., Garden City, NY. 11530 James [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 202,155

[52] US. Cl. 124/4, 124/41, 124/30 R [51] Int. Cl. F4lb 3/04 [58] Field of Search 124/6, 7, 8, 41, 124/4; 223/26 R, 26 B, 29 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,360 6/1933 Blanchard 124/7 2,080,958 5/1937 Beasley et a]... 124/7 3,517,656 6/1970 Darrell 124/7 2,432,446 l2/l947 Rutherford et al. 124/8 16 l p, 2 12 15 7 6 5 1 I 7 'IIII'IIIIa A r b gin/ 1x I u 4 c 6 PATENTEDBBT 16 I978 '0 R: L9 INVENTOR.

ALEXAN DER McQH ESS A CENTRIFUGAL TYPE BALL PROJECTING DEVICE This invention relates to ball throwing or projecting apparatus.

More particularly the invention relates to means for projecting a baseball or similar ball on various trajectories and at various speeds. The machine is adapted to throw the ball along the ground or on a line or in a high area.

By proper adjustment of the apparatus the thrown ball may be kept within a limited area, such as a playground, or a street and the possibility of damaging windows of surrounding houses is minimized. The device may be used manufacturing amusement as a game or it may be used to give practice to fielders of ground balls, line drives and fly balls.

Without doubt, our greatest concern these days, is to keep our youngsters minds free from disturbances, but occupied in some interesting outdoor competitive activity or pastime, especially during non-school hours-In crowded urban districts, playgrounds, school yards or playstreets present confined areas. Outside of a scattering of basketball backboard hoops, the available equipment is more or less inert layouts such as sliding, shinning and scaling pipe work, except for an occasional see-saw.

Of all the games played perhaps the one most indulged in is baseball, keeping a few dozen or so youths active plus interested onlookers. This playing holds the youngsters interest because it is competitive. These contests lead to some inevitable property damages, due to uncontrolled batted foul balls or slipping bats, to windows, property, parked cars, etc., and to onlookers or passerbys. Repairs are quite an item in municipal budgets.

I have devised a mechanism which practically eliminates damage, physical or property, by controlling the flight of the ball within the lateral limits of the available area. The length of flight can be controlled also.

When playing the regular baseball game, you may note many able batters and the more inept contestants interest wanes due to their inability to connect with the ball. But with my device all the players are initially equated for everyone becomes a potential hitter, even the inept, who now sees a ball hit by himself" and it satisfies his small ego. Of course, the bats approach and the touch or contact with actuating end of the lever and the positioning of the ball on the lever and aslo the mechanism rotated direction in flight may be acquired in practice or participation.

My device involves a bar, lever or fulcrum mounted or placed on a trunnion or axle with a certain relationship with the point of impact or striking end and the placing of the ball on the opposite or other end of the axle. No contact is made with the ball and it is everlasting, so no real baseball is necessary. Any type ball may be used.

Accordingly a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved ball throwing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved ball throwing means to project balls at various trajectories including ground balls, line drives and fly balls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ball throwing machine having a mounting base with a lever pivotally mounted on the base, a plurality of spaced ball holding depressions mounted on the top lens, portion of said lever, a braking surface mounted on said base and an adjustable brake shoe mounted on the rear end of said lever, the lever being adpated to be rotated quickly to catapult a ball mounted in one of said depressions.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications and drawings of which,

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention partially in section.

FIG. 1A is a detail view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a modification of the injection.

Referring to the drawings, a vertical post or shaft 21, make up the bottom of the superstructure containing the lever, trunnion and braking arc. Said post nests into a supporting base sleeve 22, permitting the top to turn (or to be turned) horizontally, said post is provided with a series of holes 23, in vertical alignment, so as to afford height adjustment, according to players size. When desired vertical position is attained, a rod orpin 24, is inserted, which rests on the top of the base sleeve. Within the outcropping lengths of thispin or rod, an arc of several holes 25, are located on the stationary base from about 5 upward to 45 on each side of the center line. Two stopping pegs or screws 26, are similarly placed relative to the center line. When using same, foul balls are eliminated.

When playing on a regulation diamond, the stop pegs 26 should be set at 45 on either sides of the center line of both field and mechanism. Said 90 of movement should be reduced considerably when confined area might be play streets, etc., where houses flanking these streets must be protected.

The member 1, connected to post 21, comprises a pair of

channel members

2 and 3 which support a horizontal axle 4 upon which a lever 5 is pivotally mounted. The lever 5 has a front resilient impact portion 5a and a rear ball holding portion 5b. The lever comprises a hollow cylindrical pipe which is pivotally mounted on the axle 4 which is mounted on

members

2 and 3. The

lever pipe 5 has a pair of

caps

5c and 5d. Inside the hollow pipe 5 is mounted a center shaft 6 which extends through the pipe and caps. The shaft 6 has threads at one end. A sleeve member 8a is mounted on the shaft. The sleeve 8a contacts a collar 6a fixed to shaft 6, which is spring loaded outwardly from the center point by meansof the spring 7. Brake shoe 10 is adjustably mounted on the end of the shaft 6 by set screw 10' which adjusts the brake pressure. Rotation of cap 5d adjusts the spring pressure. Pin 10a keeps brakeshoe 10 from rotating. Knob 10b on the impact end of the lever is used in resetting the lever to starting position.

The tension of the lever brake shoe spring should be so adjusted, that the lever comes to rest after prescribing 360. To achieve true horizontal lever postion, compress the spring by pulling out front end stud mounted on the brake shoe center shaft, then releasing when position is attained.

A brake member 11 which is generally cylindrical and extending about 90 of arc is mounted on the base member 1. The radius of the braking surface 11 is eccentric to the pivot point of the lever so that as the brake shoe 10 rotates counter-clockwise it will encounter greater braking resistance as it proceeds. The upper end of braking surface 11 is straight. The brake shoe has a flat surface in full contact with the brake surface at its straight portion.

The zero horizontal position of the lever may be manually set by adjusting the brake shoe so that it contacts the braking surface lightly but with sufficient force to hold it in position. The brake shoe 10 may be adjusted to control the amount of rotation of the lever as well as the speed of rotation. On the top rear ball portion of the lever are mounted a plurality of spaced ball holder depressions, 12, 13 and 14.

By placing the Ball B in a pre-selected depression the projection trajectory of the ball may be chosen. For instance, the ball holding means 12 will provide ground balls, the ball holding depression 13 will provide a higher trajectory and the ball holding depression 14 will provide a still higher trajectory. Alternatively a trough in the lever may be provided for holding the ball in different positions.

On the front portion of the lever is mounted a resilient pad 15, which may be of tubular construction and adapted to slide over the cylindrical member 5. The purpose of this is to provide a surface whereby the front end of the lever may be hit downwardly with a bat 'or pole 16 in order to cause the lever to rotate counterclockwise and project the ball.

The apparatus is adapted to be energized also by various motor means, not shown. For instance, a spring type motor could be attached to the lever so that the spring could be wound up and a trigger released to project the ball.

By adjusting the brake shoe 10 and choosing the proper ball holding depression the trajectory and the speed of the ball can be chosen for a constant applied force. The apparatus will repeat the trajectory until it is re-adjusted.

FIG. 3 shows a modification wherein the lever 20 has a plurality of spaced mounting

sockets

21, 22, one of which is mounted on axle 23. Lever 20 has only one ball holding position. The trajectory is chosen by choosing the socket to be mounted on the axle. The ball end of lever 20 rests on frame member 24. in this modification the lever falls off the axle on impact and must be replaced for each shot.

I claim:

1. Ball batting means comprising,

a mounting base,

a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said base,

- a ball holding means mounted adjacent one end of said lever for positioning a ball in a plurality of positions on the lever,

a braking surface mounted on said base,

an adjustable brake shoe means mounted on said one end of said lever for frictionally engaging the braking surface over a substantial portion of the braking surface,

said lever being adapted to be rotated quickly to catapult a ball mounted on said lever,

a resilient pad surface on the end opposite said one end of said lever for receiving blows from a bat.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said ball holding means includes depressions adjacent the top rear portion of said lever to provide a plurality of trajectories for a ball.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 having means to adjust the trajectory of a ball comprising a plurality of spaced sockets mounted along the length of said ball holding means said lever.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 having vertically and horizontally adustable means to adjust said mounting member.

Claims

1. Ball batting means comprising, a mounting base, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said base, a ball holding means mounted adjacent one end of said lever for positioning a ball in a plurality of positions on the lever, a braking surface mounted on said base, an adjustable brake shoe means mounted on said one end of said lever for frictionally engaging the braking surface over a substantial portion of the braking surface, said lever being adapted to be rotated quickly to catapult a ball mounted on said lever, a resilient pad surface on the end opposite said one end of said lever for receiving blows from a bat.