CATCHING MACHINE

• US 20110136595A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kohachiro Maeda
• Original Assignee: Kohachiro Maeda
• Inventors: Maeda, Kohachiro
• Application Number:
  US13/021,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/436
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 69/408 with rotating propelling arm
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0672 using non-electronic means

Abstract

A catching machine 5 that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target includes a ball collecting portion 20 for catching a ball pitched toward the target 11 and a ball returning portion 30 for returning the ball caught by the ball collecting portion 20 to the pitcher. The ball returning portion 30 includes a ball-return-distance setting device 32 for changeably setting a ball return distance.

Claims

1. A catching machine that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target, comprising:

catching means for catching a ball pitched toward the target; and

ball returning means for returning the ball caught by the catching means to the pitcher, wherein the ball returning means operates with instructions by a remote controller.

2. The catching machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball returning means includes a ball returning arm with a ball shovel for holding a ball and;

the ball returning means includes a ball supply means for supplying the ball returning arm with the ball by one by one.

3. The catching machine according to claim 2, wherein the ball supply means has a protruding portion for holding only one ball and the ball is supplied to the ball returning portion one by one by driving the protruding portion.

4. The catching machine according to claim 2, wherein the ball returning arm is driven by a motor, and rotation force from the motor to ball returning arm is transmitted with a one-way cam clutch.

5. The catching machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball returning means returns includes holding means for holding a spare ball, and the ball returning means returns the spare ball.