Baseball Pitching Simulator

• US 20130157787A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everett L. Green, Robert R. Poland III
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Poland III
• Inventors: Green, Everett L., Poland, Robert R. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/455
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/06 Revolving targets ; Moving targets, e.g. moving or revolving on impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

A baseball pitching simulator includes first and second vertical support members. A first adjustment assembly includes a first carriage coupled to a first vertical support member and is movable by a pulley system and first motor. A second adjustment assembly is coupled to the first carriage and movable vertically when the first carriage is moved along the vertical support member. The second adjustment assembly includes pulleys extending laterally between the vertical support members and is coupled to a pitching target. The first and second adjustment assemblies regulate vertical and horizontal positions thereof, respectively. First and second motors actuate movement of the adjustment assemblies. The pitching target includes a pressure sensor to detect impact. The simulator includes a backstop having a vibration sensor to determine when the backstop is impacted. A processor and programming cause the adjustment assemblies to move the pitching target.

Claims

1. A baseball pitching simulator for simulating a live pitcher-hitter dual, comprising:

a framework including first and second vertical support members having upper and lower ends and including a top support member extending between said first and second vertical support member upper ends;

a first adjustment assembly, including;

a first carriage coupled to said first vertical support member and configured to move therealong;

a first motor operatively connected to first carriage and configured to move said first carriage vertically along said first vertical support member when said first motor is actuated;

a second adjustment assembly coupled to said first carriage and extending between said first and second vertical support members, said second adjustment assembly being moved between respective upper and lower ends of said first and second vertical support members when said first carriage is moved along said first vertical support member;

wherein said second adjustment assembly includes a pitching target;

wherein said second adjustment assembly includes a second motor operatively connected to said pitching target and configured to move said pitching target laterally between said first and second vertical support members when said second motor is actuated;

a processor in data communication with said first and second adjustment assemblies;

a memory in data communication with said processor, said memory including programming configured to control said processor when executed thereby;

programming that when executed by said processor causes said first motor to be energized to move said first carriage a random distance along said first vertical support member; and

programming that when executed by said processor causes said second motor to be energized to move said pitching target a random distance laterally between said first and second vertical support members.

2. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 1, further comprising:

an upper support structure attached to said first and second vertical support member upper ends, respectively, and extending rearwardly;

a lower support structure attached to said first and second vertical support member lower ends, respectively, and extending rearwardly;

a backstop coupled to said upper net support structure and extending downwardly substantially to said lower support structure; and

a vibration sensor positioned in data communication with said backstop and said processor, said vibration sensor configured to detect an impact force against said backstop indicative of a baseball striking said backstop.

3. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 2, wherein said backstop is a net having a generally flexible construction.

4. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 2, wherein said pitching target includes a pressure sensor in data communication with said processor, said pressure sensor being configured to detect an impact force indicative of said pitching target being impacted by a baseball.

5. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 1, wherein said first adjustment assembly includes:

first adjustment assembly upper and lower pulleys operatively mounted to respective upper and lower ends of said first vertical support member;

a first adjustment assembly cable having a continuous loop construction operatively coupled to and extending between said first adjustment assembly upper and lower pulleys, said first adjustment assembly cable being fixedly connected to said first carriage and electrically connected to said first motor; and

wherein said first carriage is movable along said first vertical support member by operation of said first adjustment assembly upper and lower pulleys when said first motor is energized.

6. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 5, wherein said second adjustment assembly includes:

a second adjustment assembly first pulley coupled to said first adjustment assembly first carriage and a second adjustment assembly second pulley positioned adjacent said second vertical support member opposite said first carriage;

a second adjustment assembly cable having a continuous loop construction operatively coupled to and extending between said second adjustment assembly first and second pulleys, said second adjustment assembly cable being fixedly connected to said pitching target and electrically connected to said second motor; and

wherein said pitching target is laterally movable between said first and second vertical support members when said second motor is energized.

7. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 6, wherein said first adjustment assembly includes:

a second carriage mounted to said second vertical support member and configured to move therealong;

auxiliary first adjustment assembly upper and lower pulleys operatively mounted to respective upper ends of said second vertical support member,

an auxiliary first adjustment assembly cable having a continuous loop construction operatively coupled to and extending between said auxiliary first adjustment assembly upper and lower pulleys, said auxiliary first adjustment assembly cable being attached to said second carriage;

a first adjustment assembly connector rod extending between said first adjustment assembly upper pulley and said auxiliary first adjustment assembly upper pulley and configured such that said auxiliary first adjustment assembly upper pulley is rotated when said first adjustment assembly upper pulley is operated and such that said first carriage and said second carriage are moved together.

8. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 7, wherein said second adjustment assembly second pulley is operatively mounted to said second carriage.

9. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 5, wherein said first motor is operatively coupled to said first adjustment assembly upper pulley.

10. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 9, wherein said second motor is operatively coupled to said second adjustment assembly first pulley.

11. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 7, wherein:

said first carriage includes a flange attached to an outer side surface thereof and extending outwardly;

said second adjustment assembly first pulley is rotatably mounted to said first carriage flange; and

said second motor is electrically connected to said second adjustment assembly first pulley and configured to rotate said second adjustment assembly first pulley when energized.

12. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 4, further comprising:

an electronic display in data communication with said processor;

programming that when executed by said processor stores pitch count data in said memory indicative that a pitch is a “

ball”

when said vibration sensor detects an impact force and that a pitch is a strike when said pressure sensor detects an impact force; and

programming that when executed by said processor transmits said pitch count data to said display.

13. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 12, further comprising:

programming that when executed by said processor causes said processor to determine first adjustment assembly movement signals and second adjustment assembly signals after one of said vibration sensor or said pressure sensor has detected an impact force;

programming that when executed by said processor causes said first motor to be energized according to said first adjustment assembly movement signals; and

programming that when executed by said processor causes said second motor to be energized according to said second adjustment assembly movement signals.

14. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 12, further comprising:

programming that when executed by said processor causes said processor to determine first adjustment assembly movement signals and second adjustment assembly signals after said pressure sensor has detected an impact force;

programming that when executed by said processor causes said first motor to be energized according to said first adjustment assembly movement signals; and

programming that when executed by said processor causes said second motor to be energized according to said second adjustment assembly movement signals.

15. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 12, further comprising a mode selection input in data communication with said processor that is configured to enable a user to select an “

Always Move Mode”

in which said processor determines said first adjustment assembly movement instructions and said second adjustment assembly movement instructions when either one of said vibration sensor or said pressure sensor detects an impact force and to select a “

Target Mode”

in which said processor determines said first adjustment assembly movement instructions and said second adjustment assembly movement instructions only when said pressure sensor detects an impact force.

16. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 12, further comprising:

a speed detection unit mounted to said framework and in data communication with said processor and said display; and

programming that when executed by said processor causes a speed detected by said speed detection unit to be rendered on said display.

17. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 16, wherein:

said speed detection unit is removably coupled to said framework; and

said speed detection unit is positioned rearward of and generally inline with said pitching target.

18. The baseball pitching simulator as in claim 15, further comprising:

a speed detection unit removably mounted to said framework and in data communication with said processor and said display;

programming that when executed by said processor causes a speed detected by said speed detection unit to be displayed on said display; and

wherein said speed detection unit is positioned rearward of and generally inline with said pitching target.