Virtual Batting Range

• US 20060287137A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Chu
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Chu
• Inventors: Chu, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/419,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287137A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/422
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/025 Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A virtual batting range such for engaging in sporting activities, the virtual batting range comprising one or more individual batting areas for user to hit, bat, throw or kick balls; a reactive system with sensors linking to a feedback system which generates various corresponding audio and visual effects; a display unit portions to generate audio and visual effects for an overall ambiance; and a ball dispensing device to deliver balls to users.

Claims

1. A virtual batting range for engaging in sport activities, the virtual batting range comprising:

one or more individual batting areas for user to hit, bat, throw or kick balls;

a reactive system with sensors linked to a feedback system which generates various corresponding audio and visual effects;

a display unit portions to generate audio and visual effects for an overall ambiance; and

a ball dispensing device to eject balls to users.

2. The virtual batting range of claim 1 in which the reactive can be positioned in specific locations for different sport skills.

3. A virtual batting range for use in training or recreation, the virtual batting cage comprising:

a batter'"'"'s box area, the batter'"'"'s box area comprising a home plate and a control panel;

an automatic pitching mechanism located at a pitcher'"'"'s position for delivering or pitching balls into the batter'"'"'s box area essentially across the home plate; and

a target zone reactive to impact by a ball, such that depending on the location of impact, a unique sound or light response is produced identifying the general area of impact in the target zone.

4. The virtual batting range of claim 3, wherein the target zone comprises a sensor.

5. The virtual batting range of claim 3, wherein the target zone comprises a plurality of sensors.

6. The virtual batting range of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors provide unique sounds and/or lights upon impact by a projectile.

7. The virtual batting range of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors provide unique sounds and/or lights as a function of the location of the sensor impacted by the projectile.

8. The virtual batting range of claim 3, wherein the target zone comprises a sensor array.

9. The virtual batting range of claim 3, further comprising a display zone.

10. The virtual batting range of claim 9, in which the display zone indicates a virtual score.

11. A virtual batting range for engaging in a sport hitting game and a sport throwing game, the virtual batting range comprising:

a hitting game having a ball delivery device, a virtual pitcher synchronized to the ball delivery device, controller for controlling the speed, height and angle of delivery of balls across a home plate, a target zone having one or more sensors, and associated feedback dependent upon the location and force of impact of balls successfully hit into the target zone, the feedback being one or more of the types selected from the group consisting of visual LED user game score display, visual LED tournament data display, virtual sportscaster'"'"'s randomly generated audio announcement, virtual sportscaster'"'"'s uniquely generated audio announcement, visual background lighting effects, visual foreground lighting effects, visual stroboscopic and laser generated effects, generation of steam, smoke or fog, video imaging, holographic imaging, and video-enhanced imaging; and

a throwing game having a ball delivery device, a target zone having one or more sensors, a controller for controlling delivery of balls and scoring, and associated feedback dependent upon the location and force of impact of balls successfully thrown into the target zone, the feedback being one or more of the types selected from the group consisting of visual LED user game score display, visual LED tournament data display, virtual sportscaster'"'"'s randomly generated audio announcement, virtual sportscaster'"'"'s uniquely generated audio announcement, visual background lighting effects, visual foreground lighting effects, visual stroboscopic and laser generated effects, generation of steam, smoke or fog, video imaging, holographic imaging, and video-enhanced imaging.

12. The virtual batting range of claim 11, further comprising automatic ball return system, the automatic ball return system comprising sloped ground surface, ball capture mechanism and ball lifting device.

13. The virtual batting range of claim 11, further comprising enclosure for preventing loss of balls.

14. The virtual batting range of claim 13, in which the enclosure consists of safety netting.

15. The virtual batting range of claim 13, in which the enclosure consists of impact-resistant rigid sections, the impact-resistant rigid sections composed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of tempered glass, plastic.

16. The virtual batting range of claim 13, in which the enclosure separates the hitting game and the throwing game.

17. The virtual batting range of claim 13, in which the one or more sensors for the target zone for the hitting game and the one or more sensors for the target zone for the throwing game are of the type selected from the group consisting of electric circuit switch sensors, electrical contact switch sensors, optical switch sensors, electric eye sensors, optical beam curtain sensors, and photographic sensors.

18. The virtual batting range of claim 13, in which virtual pitcher synchronized to the ball delivery device can be switched from left-handed to right-handed and back again, as desired.

19. The virtual batting range of claim 18, in which the user can assume a playing position for the hitting game without passing through the path of the delivery of the ball, thereby eliminating the chance that either a left-handed user or a right-handed user will be struck by a ball being delivered down the virtual batting range.

20. The virtual batting range of claim 13, in which the target zone is 3-dimensional, thereby creating a more realistic, life-like virtual batting range.