Pneumatic ball tossing device

• US 6,167,878 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Batterup Sports Tech Limited
• Original Assignee: Andrew S. Nickerson, Frank Saulnier
• Inventors: Nickerson, Andrew S., Ellis, Stanley, Saulnier, Frank, Cottreau, Blair
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEITEY, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US09/232,228
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 124/56, 124/60, 124/63-65
• US Class Current: 124/64
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/401 substantially vertically, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/409 with pneumatic ball- or body-propelling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1924 Button engaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1938 Pin attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1948 Pin attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1955 Tie, attached hook

Abstract

A ball tossing device for batting practice comprises a self-contained, pneumatically controlled and actuated mechanism. The device includes a launcher comprising a pneumatic cylinder and ball carrier and a trough type feeder for sequentially supplying balls to the carrier for tossing. The pneumatic cylinder is actuated by compressed air from a regulated source of compressed air, with timer means which controls actuation of a valve to transmit the compressed air to the cylinder. The cylinder is a single action type with a return spring. The launcher may be angularly variable for non-vertical tosses.

Claims

1. A portable pneumatic ball tossing device adapted for upward tossing of a ball for use in swing development, comprising:

a base;

a launch mechanism connected to said base, said launch mechanism including a pneumatic cylinder and piston rod adapted to contact and propel the ball;

feeder means for holding and feeding one or more balls to the launch mechanism;

a supply of compressed air;

valve means for selectively passing compressed air from said supply to said launch mechanism; and

trigger means for controlling operation of said valve means.

2. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the trigger means is a manually operated pneumatic switch, or a pneumatic timer.

3. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the pneumatic cylinder is a single action push type with a return spring.

4. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the axis of the launch mechanism can be inclined from the vertical.

5. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the launch mechanism and the valve means are mounted on a pivotable cradle connected to the base.

6. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the valve means is controlled by an air pilot control valve.

7. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the feeder means is an inclined tube.

8. The ball tossing device of claim 1 wherein the valve means is a three-way valve, with an air pilot control valve and the trigger means is an pneumatic timer.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve means is a three-way valve with an electric solenoid control valve and an electric timer.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve means is a three-way valve with a manual pneumatic switch actuator.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the supply of compressed air is a regulated pressure vessel.

12. A portable pneumatic ball tossing device adapted for upward tossing of a ball for use in swing development comprising a base and housing, a launch mechanism and valve means mounted on a cradle, the cradle being pivotable about a horizontal axis from the vertical to a selected vertical angle, and a tubular inclined feeder, wherein:

the launch mechanism is a vertically orientable pneumatic cylinder of the singe acting push type with a return spring;

the valve means comprises a three-way valve adapted to feed regulated compressed air from a supply, to the pneumatic cylinder for movement of the piston rod; and

the valve is actuated by an air pilot activated by a pneumatic trigger.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the pneumatic trigger means is a manually operated pneumatic switch, or a pneumatic timer.