Member for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward the member by propulsion apparatus

• US 6,371,871 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jose E. Leal, Mark Rappaport
• Original Assignee: Jose E. Leal, Mark Rappaport
• Inventors: Leal, Jose E., Rappaport, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/718,306
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 473/150-152, 473/222-234, 473/451-453, 473/461-464, 473/458, 473/459, 473/457, 473/FOR.105, 473/FOR.168, 473/FOR.169, 734/92, 734/93, 735/84, 73/120.2, 73/120.1, 124/6, 124/7, 124/34, 124/32, 124/78
• US Class Current: 473/457
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2043/001 Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2047/004 having means preventing bridge formation during dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/406 with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction

Abstract

A member (e.g. baseball bat) including a switch manually operable to obtain the transmission of signals by a transmitter in the member to an apparatus for propelling an element (e.g. ball) toward an individual holding the member. The element is propelled by a propulsion mechanism in the apparatus toward the individual holding the member so that the individual can practice receiving the element (e.g. hitting the ball). The apparatus propels the element upon the receipt of the transmitted signals and prepares for the next element in the apparatus to be propelled upon a receipt of subsequent signals from the transmitter.

Claims

1. In combination,

a member manually operable by a player holding the member for propelling an element,

a first portion of the member being shaped to be grasped by the player'"'"'s hands and another portion of the member being shaped to impose a force on an element,

a switch located on the member for manual pressure by the player, and

a transmitter disposed in the member for sending signals to a propulsion apparatus, when the switch is manually pressed by the player, to obtain a propulsion of an element by a propulsion apparatus toward the member for the imposition of a force by the member on an element.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the switch being disposed at a position on the member above the position at which the player'"'"'s hands grasp the member.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

battery removably disposed in the member to energize the transmitter in the member when the switch is pressed.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 2, the member being hollow, and

a battery removably disposed in the hollow member at a position at the bottom of the member to energize the transmitter in the member when the switch is pressed.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the member being in the shape of a bat for receiving elements propelled from a propulsion apparatus.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the transmitter being constructed to send the signals on a wireless basis to the propulsion apparatus.

6. In combination,

a force-imposing member having a first portion for manual grasping and movement by a player and having a second portion for imposing a force on an element moving toward the member,

a switch located on the member,

the switch having first and second states of operation and being manually actuatable between the first and second states, and

a transmitter disposed in the member and operatively coupled to the switch for transmitting signals upon a manual actuation of the switch between the first and second states.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein

the member is elongated and wherein

the first and second portions of the elongated member are displaced from each other in the direction of the elongation of the member and wherein

the switch is disposed between the first and second portions of the member in

the direction of the elongation of the member.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein

the first and second portions of the member are not in the same position and wherein

the switch is disposed between the first and second portions of the member in the direction of the elongation of the member.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein

an energy source is disposed in the member for energizing the transmitter to transmit signals when the switch is actuated between the first and second states of operation.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein

an energy source is removably disposed in the member at the bottom of the member to provide energy to the transmitter for transmission of the signals by the transmitter when the switch is manually actuated between the first and second states of operation.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein

the transmitter includes an oscillator for producing signals at a particular frequency for transmission by the transmitter when the switch is actuated between the first and second states of operation.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein

the transmitter transmits the signals on a wireless basis.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein

the transmitter includes an oscillator for producing signals at a particular frequency for transmission by the transmitter and wherein

the transmitter transmits the signals on a wireless basis and wherein

the second portion of the member is wider than the first portion of the member.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein

the member is elongated and wherein

the first and second portions of the elongated member are in the direction of the elongation of the member and wherein

the switch is between the first and second portions of the member in the direction of the elongation of the member.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein

the member is a baseball bat.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,

the transmitter being constructed to transmit the signals on a wireless basis upon the manual pressure of the switch.

19. In a combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein

the member is elongated and wherein

the first and second portions of the elongated member are in the direction of the elongation of the member and wherein

the switch is between the first and second portions of the member in the direction of the elongation of the member and wherein

an energy source is removably disposed in the member at the bottom of the member to transmit signals when the switch is manually pressed.

20. In a combination as set forth in claim 19 wherein

the member is a baseball bat.

17. In combination,

a member manually operable by a player holding the element,

a first portion of the member being shaped to be grasped by the player'"'"'s hands and another portion of the member being shaped to impose a force on an element propelled toward the member,

a switch located on the member for manual pressure by the player, and

a transmitter disposed in the member for sending signals to a propulsion apparatus, to obtain a propulsion of an element by a propulsion apparatus toward the member when the switch is manually pressed by the player;

the member being in the shape of a bat for receiving elements propelled from a propulsion apparatus and for propelling elements,

the transmitter being constructed to send the signals on a wireless basis to a propulsion apparatus.