Ball throwing machine and method

• US 10,252,128 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TOCA Football, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TOCA Football, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewis, Edward J., Barberi, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/662,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20170319930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 124 6, 124 8, 124 9, 124 78, 124 81, 473422, 473446, 473570, 700 91, 482 1, 482 8, 482 9, 482900, 482901
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0092 for training agility or co-ordination of movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/402 giving spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0677 Input by image recognition, e.g. video signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/065 Racketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/20 Cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 : with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 : Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 : Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or 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 2220/801 : Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 : Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 : with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 : Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 : Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 : Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• 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 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 : Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 : Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 : for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/40 : Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405; traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/406 : with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 : Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 : Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 : Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A ball throwing machine can include a hopper for receiving one or more balls and a ball delivery device. The ball delivery device can be used to throw or pitch a ball from the hopper to a user of the machine. The ball delivery device can include wheels to impart speed to the ball and a direction system to control the projection angle of the ball. The direction system can control at least one of the up and down angle and the side to side angle of the ball as it is thrown, among possibly other throwing parameters. A controller may be provided for controlling operation of the ball throwing machine.

Claims

1. A ball throwing system comprising:

a ball throwing machine comprising;

one or more wheels configured to impart motion to one or more balls;

a frame attached to the one or more wheels, wherein the frame is positionable to control a trajectory of the one or more balls and includes a first bracket hingedly coupled to a second bracket, wherein the one or more wheels are coupled to the first bracket;

a ball delivery control circuit configured to control the one or more wheels, the ball delivery control circuit comprising a processor configured to;

receive first instructions to execute a first training program from a controller in communication with the ball delivery control circuit, the first instructions configured to cause the one or more wheels to deliver at least a first subset of the one or more balls to a player; and

one or more logic modules stored on a non-transitory storage medium of the controller, the one or more logic modules including instructions being executable by one or more processors of the controller to perform operations including transmit the first instructions to the ball throwing machine, wherein data pertaining to the first training program is recorded in a player profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first training program corresponds to a first drill comprising a series of throwing maneuvers with one or more of:

different speeds, different trajectories or different directions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first training program is configured to provide the ball throwing machine with one or more instructions that automate the throwing maneuvers with one or more of:

different speeds or different trajectories.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the one or more balls, wherein the one or more balls are soccer balls.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more soccer balls are smaller than size 5 soccer balls to increase training efficiency.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the ball throwing machine further comprises a hopper that holds at least a portion of the one or more balls.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the ball delivery control circuit is further configured to:

record player training data comprising information regarding training of the player during the first training program, the player training data comprising data regarding a number of the one or more balls delivered and trajectories of the one or more balls delivered.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the ball delivery control circuit is further configured to:

submit the player training data over a network to a server for storage in a profile associated with the player.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprises a network application stored on the server, the network application configured to transmit the player training data to one or more electronic devices that are communicatively coupled to the server.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is one of:

a smart phone, tablet, laptop, personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless handheld device, or a desktop computer, and wherein the controller comprises a training module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the training module is configured to:

record player training data comprising information regarding training of the player during the first training program, the player training data comprising data regarding a number of the one or more balls delivered and trajectories of the one or more balls delivered.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the training module is further configured to:

submit the player training data over a network to a server for storage in a profile associated with the player.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprises a network application stored on the server, the network application configured to transmit the player training data to one or more electronic devices that are communicatively coupled to the server.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more logic modules stored on the non-transitory storage medium of the controller receive, from the ball throwing machine, information pertaining to each of the one or more balls thrown in response to execution of the first training program.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the information pertaining to each of the one or more balls thrown in response to execution of the first training program includes one or more of:

ball velocity, ball delivery method, ball trajectory, ball oscillation, or ball throwing frequency.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a ball delivery method includes whether a first ball of the one or more balls was delivered via ground, a line drive, or a lob.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame is further positionable to control a direction of the one or more balls.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the player profile includes a cloud-based profile that includes one or more of:

identifying information of the player, experience-based statistics, a player level, or an affiliate studio location.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the player profile is configured for social networking.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more secondary wheels configured to enable the ball throwing machine to roll along a ground surface, wherein the one or more wheels and the one or more secondary wheels are located at a distal end of the ball throwing machine.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the first bracket is coupled to an actuator configured to operably alter the positioning of the first bracket according to the first training program.

22. A ball throwing system comprising:

one or more wheels configured to impart motion to one or more balls;

a frame attached to the one or more wheels, wherein the frame is positionable to control a trajectory of the one or more balls and includes a first bracket hingedly coupled to a second bracket, wherein the one or more wheels are coupled to the first bracket;

a ball delivery control circuit configured to control the one or more wheels, the ball delivery control circuit comprising a processor configured to;

receive first instructions to execute a first training program from a controller in communication with the ball delivery control circuit, the first instructions configured to cause the one or more wheels to deliver the one or more balls to a player, and

record data pertaining to the first training program.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the data pertaining to the first training program is recorded in a player profile, wherein the player profile includes a cloud-based profile that includes one or more of:

identifying information of the player, experience-based statistics, a player level, or an affiliate studio location.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the player profile is configured for social networking.