Programmable ball throwing apparatus

• US 20050172943A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Sports Robotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: FungoMan L L C
• Inventors: Duron, Dennis Randall, Cucjen, Romulo J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,691,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0011 Catching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/402 giving spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/065 Racketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• 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 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/406 with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction

Abstract

The present invention includes programs, devices and methods for a pro able ball throwing machine that is able to eject balls to preset, programmed or manually-selected positions with programmable projection and travel characteristics. The present invention includes a computer implemented method for controlling the parameters of a ball flight and trajectory in three dimensions including one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory of a ball in three dimensions for one or more player positions and a processor to control one or more motors in response to the one or more parameters.

Claims

1. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for controlling the three dimensional flight and trajectory parameters of a ball comprising:

a first code segment for receiving one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball in three dimensions for one or more player positions; and

a second code segment for controlling one or more motors to eject the ball in accordance with the received one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball in three dimensions.

2. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program controls a three dimensional ball delivery apparatus.

3. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball in three dimensions relates to one or more of the following:

a base ball;

a soft ball;

a tee ball;

a whiffle ball;

a tennis ball;

a cricket ball;

a racquetball;

a handball;

a croquet ball, a shuffle board puck;

a horse shoe;

a volleyball;

a dodge ball;

a rugby ball;

a football;

a badminton birdie;

field hockey puck;

ice hockey puck;

a lacrosse ball;

a dog ball; and

a soccer ball.

4. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the user defines one or more of the following:

the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory correspond generally to the area on the field;

one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory control a range of travel for the ball within the one or more player positions;

one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory designate a groundball, a line drive, a fly ball or combinations thereof;

one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory control a ball speed; and

one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory control a ball spin.

5. The computer program as recited in claim 4, wherein the area on the field is the pitcher'"'"'s mound, the home plate, the first base, the second base, the short stop, the third base, the left field, the right field, the centerfield or combinations thereof.

6. The computer program as recited in claim 4, wherein the range of travel includes the extreme left side, the left side, the direct path, the right side, extreme right side or combinations thereof.

7. The computer program as recited in claim 4, wherein the ball spin is selected form the group consisting of extreme backspin, backspin, normal spin, topspin, and extreme topspin.

8. The computer program as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following a code segment for controlling maintenance parameters, wherein the maintenance parameters are selected from the group coasting of upgrades and calibration;

a code segment for one or more of the following;

authenticating the user, identifying one or more levels of play;

identifying the dimensions of the field.

9. The computer program as recited in claim 8, wherein the level of play is selected from the group consisting of pro, college high school, junior and peewee.

10. The computer program as recited in claim 1, wherein the first code sequence receives a series of one or more of the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball in three dimensions for one or more player positions, wherein, the members of the series correspond to the same or different player positions.

11. The computer program as recited in claim 10, wherein a series of one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball for one or more of the following:

different field positions;

for one or more individual positions;

at least a portion of a game;

an entire game;

one or more specific players;

one or more types of ball flight.

24. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory include one or more of the following:

one or more parameters to control a range of travel for the ball within the one or more player positions, wherein the range of travel includes the extreme left side, the left side, the direct path, the right side, extreme right side or combinations thereof, one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory designate a groundball, a line drive, a fly ball or combinations thereof;

one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory control a ball speed, wherein the ball speed is soft, medium, hard or combinations thereof, and one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory control a ball spin, wherein the ball spin is selected form the group consisting of extreme backspin, backspin, normal spin, topspin, and extreme topspin.

12. A method for controlling the parameters of a ball flight and trajectory in three dimensional space comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball in tree dimensions for one or more player positions; and

controlling one or more motors to sect the ball in accordance with the received flight and trajectory.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory corresponding generally to the area on the field, wherein the area is the pitcher'"'"'s mound, the home plate, the first base, the second base, the short stop, the third base, the left field, the right field, the centerfield or combinations thereof.

14. Tee method of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory control a range of travel for the ball within the one or more player positions, wherein the range of travel includes the extreme left side, tee left side, the direct path, the right side, extreme right side or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory designate a groundball, a line drive, a fly ball or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more paramours identifying a flight and trajectory control a ball speed.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory control a ball spin, wherein the ball spin includes extreme backspin, backspin, normal spin, topspin, and extreme topspin.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving one or more parameters identifying one or more levels of play, wherein the level of play includes of pro, college, high school, junior, peewee or combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving a series of two or more of the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball for one or more player positions, wherein the members of the series correspond to the same or different player positions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the series include one or more of the following:

one or more parameters specific for one or more individual position;

one or more parameters are specific for at least part of a game;

one or more parameters specific for an entire game;

one or more parameters are specific for one or more specific players;

one or more parameters are specific for one or more types of ball flight.

21. A computer implemented method or controlling the parameters of a ball flight and trajectory in three dimensions comprising:

one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory of a ball in three dimensions for one or more player positions; and

a processor to control one or more motors in response to the one or more parameters.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball in =ee dimensions relates to one or more of the following:

a base ball;

a soft ball;

a tee ball;

a whiffle ball;

a tennis ball;

a cricket ball;

a racquetball;

a handball;

a croquet ball, a shuffle board puck;

a horse shoe;

a volleyball;

a dodge ball;

a rugby ball;

a football;

a badminton birdie;

field hockey puck;

ice hockey puck;

a lacrosse ball;

a dog ball; and

a soccer ball.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory correspond generally to the area on the field, wherein the area is the pitcher'"'"'s mound, the home plate, the first base, the second base, the short stop, the third base, the left field, the right field, the centerfield or combinations thereof.

25. The apparati of claim 21, further comprising one or more maintenance parameters, wherein the one or more maintenance parameters are selected from the group consisting of upgrades and calibration.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising one or more of the following:

a mechanism to authenticate the user;

one or more parameters to identify one or more levels of play, wherein the level of play is selected from the consisting of pro, college, high school, junior and peewee; and

one or more parameters to identify the dimensions of the field.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor responds to a series of one or more of the one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory of a ball for one or more player positions, wherein the members of the series correspond to the same or different player positions.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein a series of one or more parameters to identify a flight and trajectory of a ball are received that correspond to one or more of the following:

different field positions;

at least a portion of a gone;

an entire game;

one or more teams;

one or more specific players; and

one or more types of ball flight.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising one or more of the following:

a memory card and memory card reader, wherein the one or more parameters are stored on the memory card that is inserted into the card reader, a keypad reader, wherein the one or more parameters are entered on the keypad.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a wireless control unit in communication with the processor, wherein the apparatus may be controlled remotely.

31. A method for automated practice wherein the ball tossing apparatus controls the three dimensional parameters of a ball flight and trajectory comprising the steps of:

providing a ball tossing machine capable of controlling the flight and trajectory of a ball;

supplying one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball for one or more player positions; and

controlling one or more motors to eject the ball in accordance with the received flight and trajectory.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of supplying a series of the one or more parameters identifying a flight and trajectory of a ball for one or more player positions.

33. A fungoman comprising:

an automated baseball delivery control system; and

a baseball delivery unit, wherein the control system directs the three dimensional delivery of the baseball based on user defined parameters into a three dimensional space.

34. A programmable ball throwing apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a ball ejection mechanism rotatably cared by the frame for ejecting balls, the ball ejection mechanism comprising a pair of adjacent wheels and a pair of wheel motors for rotating the pair of adjacent wheels, respectively;

a drive motor operably engaging the ball ejection mechanism for rotating the ball ejection mechanism in a horizontal plane;

an elevation motor operably engaging the ball ejection mechanism for tilting the ball ejection mechanism in a vertical plane;

a programmable logic controller operably connected to the ball ejection mechanism, the drive motor and the elevation motor for selectively ejecting the balls from the ball ejection mechanism and operating the drive motor and the elevation motor, a control box with box controls and a pendant controller operably connected to the programmable logic controller for operating the ball ejection mechanism, the drive motor and the elevation motor in a selected one of an automatic mode and a manual mode.