User interactive display for batting cage with pitch height indicator lamps and strike zone

• US 6,195,017 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automated Batting Cages Corporation
• Original Assignee: Automated Batting Cages
• Inventors: Hall, Richard E., Smith, Tommy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/295,745
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.48, 340/323.R, 473/451, 473/453, 473/468, 124/51.1, 124/78, 124/9, 124/6, 434/247, 273/371
• US Class Current: 340/815.48
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/401 substantially vertically, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/406 with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction

Abstract

The invention is a user control panel for a pitching system with a pitching mechanism. The control panel allows a user to separately control ball speed and tilt angle. The control panel also displays an estimated height at which the ball will cross the plate for the selected ball speed and tilt angle. In the preferred embodiment, a vertical row of lamps shows the estimated ball height. The control panel can include symbology to indicate strike zones for batters of different heights.

Claims

1. A user control panel, the panel designed to control a batting cage pitching mechanism and to display visually to a user a predicted pitch height, the panel comprising:

an actuator for a user to input a selection of a tilt angle of the pitching mechanism; and

an array of lamps arranged on the panel to display an estimated pitch height for a selected tilt angle before the first ball is pitched at the selected tilt angle.

2. A user control panel according to claim 1, further including a plurality of buttons, each button for selecting a different ball speed.

3. A user control panel according to claim 1, wherein the actuator for a user to input a selection of a tilt angle includes UP/DOWN buttons for the user to push to actuate raising or lowering the tilt angle of the pitching mechanism;

and

the array of lamps is arranged to display a new pitch height responsive to actuation of the UP/DOWN buttons before a next ball is pitched at the input selected tilt angle.

4. A user control panel according to claim 1, wherein the array of lamps includes a vertical row of lamps, one of which is lit to show the estimated pitch height.

5. A user control panel according to claim 4, further including a picture of a batter alongside the vertical row of lamps to indicate ball height relative to the batter.

6. A user control panel according to claim 1, further including graphical indicia defining a representative strike zone alongside the array of lamps.

7. A user control panel according to claim 1, further including a coin slot for accepting money to begin operating the batting cage pitching mechanism.

8. A user control panel according to claim 1, further including a start button for the user to push to start operation of the pitching mechanism when satisfied with the estimated pitch height shown by the array of lamps.

9. A user control panel, the panel designed to control a batting cage pitching mechanism and to display visually to a user a predicted pitch height, the panel comprising:

an actuator for a user to input a selection of a tilt angle of the pitching mechanism;

a vertical row of lamps arranged on the panel, one of which is lit to display an estimated pitch height for a selected tilt angle before the first ball is pitched at the selected tilt angle; and

graphical indicia defining a representative strike zone alongside the vertical row of lamps.

10. A user control panel according to claim 9, wherein the actuator for a user to input a selection of a tilt angle includes UP/DOWN buttons for the user to push to actuate raising or lowering the tilt angle of the pitching mechanism.

11. A user control panel according to claim 9, further including a plurality of buttons, each button for selecting a different ball speed.

12. A user control panel, the panel designed to control a batting cage pitching mechanism and to display visually to a user a predicted pitch height, the panel comprising:

a plurality of buttons, each button for selecting a different ball speed;

UP/DOWN buttons for the user to push to actuate raising or lowering a tilt angle of the pitching mechanism;

a vertical row of lamps arranged on the panel, one of which is lit to display an estimated pitch height for a selected tilt angle before the first ball is pitched at the selected tilt angle; and

graphical indicia defining a representative strike zone alongside the vertical row of lamps.