Catching machine

• US 7,901,305 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kohachiro Maeda
• Original Assignee: Kohachiro Maeda
• Inventors: Maeda, Kohachiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US12/374,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 473/431, 473/432, 473/434, 473/435, 473/436, 473451-456
• 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 includes ball-return-distance setting means for changeably setting a ball return distance, the ball-return-distance setting means includes a ball returning arm having a ball shovel for holding the ball and rotatable around a predetermined shaft, and a spring connected to an opposite end of the ball returning arm from the ball shovel, and the ball return distance is changed by adjusting a length of the spring, wherein a first ball is supplied to the ball returning arm after being held by a ball receiving portion and a guide groove is connected to the ball receiving portion, the guide groove has a stopper for holding the first ball, the ball returning arm holds the first ball and by touching the stopper moves the stopper when rotating along the guide groove, and a second ball held by the ball receiving portion is carried to the guide groove as the stopper is moved.

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

3. The catching machine according to claim 1, wherein the target is divided into a plurality of regions and each of the divided regions is provided with display means for displaying when the pitched ball hits the region.

4. The catching machine according to claim 1, wherein the target is divided into a plurality of regions and each of the divided regions is provided with indicating means for indicating the region.

5. The catching machine according to claim 4, wherein the indicating means indicates the region with a light-emitting body.

6. The catching machine according to claim 1, further comprising designating means for designating a pitching position in the target.

7. The catching machine according to claim 1, further comprising ball type determining means for determining a type of ball that is pitched by the pitcher.

8. The catching machine according to claim 1, further comprising target-attaching-angle changing means for changing an angle at which the target is attached.

9. The catching machine according to claim 1, further comprising hitting detecting means for detecting when the ball hits the target, wherein the catching means includes a ball stopping device for capturing the ball in order to prevent the ball from flying forward of the target, the catching machine further comprising ball-stopping-device operating means for operating the ball stopping device when the hitting detecting means detects hitting of the ball.