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US20120190482A1 - Sport Projectile Return Device - Google Patents

  • ️Thu Jul 26 2012

US20120190482A1 - Sport Projectile Return Device - Google Patents

Sport Projectile Return Device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20120190482A1
US20120190482A1 US13/354,360 US201213354360A US2012190482A1 US 20120190482 A1 US20120190482 A1 US 20120190482A1 US 201213354360 A US201213354360 A US 201213354360A US 2012190482 A1 US2012190482 A1 US 2012190482A1 Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tether
lever
projectile
rollers
return device
Prior art date
2011-01-20
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/354,360
Inventor
Blair R. Cottreau
Alexander S. Gonzalez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
2011-01-20
Filing date
2012-01-20
Publication date
2012-07-26
2012-01-20 Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
2012-01-20 Priority to US13/354,360 priority Critical patent/US20120190482A1/en
2012-07-26 Publication of US20120190482A1 publication Critical patent/US20120190482A1/en
Status Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/0073—Means for releasably holding a ball in position; Balls constrained to move around a fixed point, e.g. by tethering
    • A63B69/0079—Balls tethered to a line or cord
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/0002—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/0024—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for hockey
    • A63B69/0026—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for hockey for ice-hockey
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B63/00—Targets or goals for ball games
    • A63B2063/001—Targets or goals with ball-returning means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a return device for sport projectile objects such as balls and pucks used in games and athletic sports.
  • a return device for sport projectile objects such as balls and pucks used in games and athletic sports.
  • Such a device has particular application to practice for sports where repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting is desirable in order for a player to develop a consistent, controlled and accurate athletic movement.
  • the present invention provides a means for the sport projectile to be returned to the user for repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting enabling the user to practice the appropriate movement.
  • baseball practice has consisted of using a batting tee where a baseball is placed on a pole and a batter strikes the ball with a baseball bat.
  • the baseball would typically either be hit into a field, net, backstop or fence.
  • the disadvantage of hitting into a field is the retrieval of the ball; into a net is in the setup and requirements of a net and retrieval of the ball; into a backstop or fence is the damage inflected on the backstop or fence by the ball and retrieval of the ball.
  • This device contains a sports projectile connected to a tether and a means to haul the tether back to the user.
  • the tethered projectile prevents the projectile from damaging property, and eliminates the need for a net setup.
  • the returning of the projectile to the user via hauling the tether eliminates the need to retrieve the projectile.
  • This device consists of a base, housing, tether, lever arm and drive system.
  • the drive system includes a drive roller directly connected to a motor and an idler roller attached to a pivoted lever. When the lever end is depressed the idler roller pinches the tether against the drive roller. When the lever is not depressed, a spring or gravity separates the rollers. The surfaces of the rollers are such that they impart sufficient friction on the tether for hauling.
  • the projectile In the starting position the projectile is secured to the tether, set on a projectile holder such as a baseball tee, golf mat or hockey puck mat.
  • the tether goes between the two open rollers, and is coiled behind the rollers on the ground or base of the devise. The other end of the tether is secured to the base or housing.
  • the user would impart an action to launch the projectile.
  • the tether uncoils and runs freely between the open rollers until the rope is taut and stops the projectile.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing internal components of the device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical side elevation of the device showing the internal components.
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevation showing the motor and battery.
  • the device comprises of a self contained unit having a base 1 attached to a housing unit 2 . (Only half of the housing unit is shown for illustration purposes). An area 3 is provided for the coiled tether.
  • the motor 4 is attached to the drive roller.
  • the battery 5 is attached to the housing unit 2 .
  • the motor shaft 6 is through the drive roller 7 .
  • a pin 8 through the housing unit acts as a fulcrum for a lever 9 .
  • Connected to the end of the lever within the housing is an idler roller 10 .
  • a spring 11 may be connected between the lever and housing to position the lever such that the rollers are separated while the lever is not being depressed (open position).
  • a switch 12 is placed between the lever and housing, the switch is open when the lever is in the open position.
  • a projectile holder 13 is used to support the sport projectile.
  • a tether 14 is fastened to a sport projectile, such as a ball 15 , with the other end fastened to the base 1 or housing 2 .
  • the tether 14 runs between the rollers 7 and 10 .

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

A sports training device to practice shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting a sports projectile such as a baseball, golf ball or ice hockey puck; comprising of a tether attached to the projectile, and an electromechanical drive mechanism to act on the tether to return the projectile. In the case of baseball hitting practice, a batter would hit a ball attached to the tether; the ball would travel the length of the tether. The other end of the tether would be secured to the device body. The batter would activate the device to return the ball. The drive mechanism consists of a drive roller attached to a motor, and an idler roller attached to a lever. After the tether is let out the user depresses the lever, pinching the tether between the rollers and activating the motor simultaneously, thus hauling the tether. The tether coils upon itself when it returns.

Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION

  • The present invention relates to a return device for sport projectile objects such as balls and pucks used in games and athletic sports. Such a device has particular application to practice for sports where repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting is desirable in order for a player to develop a consistent, controlled and accurate athletic movement.

  • The present invention provides a means for the sport projectile to be returned to the user for repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting enabling the user to practice the appropriate movement.

    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

  • Baseball practice has consisted of using a batting tee where a baseball is placed on a pole and a batter strikes the ball with a baseball bat. The baseball would typically either be hit into a field, net, backstop or fence. The disadvantage of hitting into a field is the retrieval of the ball; into a net is in the setup and requirements of a net and retrieval of the ball; into a backstop or fence is the damage inflected on the backstop or fence by the ball and retrieval of the ball.

    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

  • This device contains a sports projectile connected to a tether and a means to haul the tether back to the user. The tethered projectile prevents the projectile from damaging property, and eliminates the need for a net setup. The returning of the projectile to the user via hauling the tether eliminates the need to retrieve the projectile.

    • DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

  • This device consists of a base, housing, tether, lever arm and drive system. The drive system includes a drive roller directly connected to a motor and an idler roller attached to a pivoted lever. When the lever end is depressed the idler roller pinches the tether against the drive roller. When the lever is not depressed, a spring or gravity separates the rollers. The surfaces of the rollers are such that they impart sufficient friction on the tether for hauling.

  • In the starting position the projectile is secured to the tether, set on a projectile holder such as a baseball tee, golf mat or hockey puck mat. The tether goes between the two open rollers, and is coiled behind the rollers on the ground or base of the devise. The other end of the tether is secured to the base or housing.

  • The user would impart an action to launch the projectile. During the projectile launch, the tether uncoils and runs freely between the open rollers until the rope is taut and stops the projectile.

  • At this time the user depressed the end of the lever, which causes the idler roller to pinch against the drive roller, sandwiching the tether between the rollers. Depressing the lever simultaneously closes an electrical switch which activates the drive roller motor. These actions haul the tether and dispense the tether into a coil. The user continues to depress the lever until the projectile returns to the projectile holder.

    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1

    is a perspective view showing internal components of the device of the present invention.

  • FIG. 2

    is a vertical side elevation of the device showing the internal components.

  • FIG. 3

    is a vertical side elevation showing the motor and battery.

  • The device comprises of a self contained unit having a

    base

    1 attached to a

    housing unit

    2. (Only half of the housing unit is shown for illustration purposes). An

    area

    3 is provided for the coiled tether. The

    motor

    4 is attached to the drive roller. The

    battery

    5 is attached to the

    housing unit

    2. The

    motor shaft

    6 is through the

    drive roller

    7. A

    pin

    8 through the housing unit acts as a fulcrum for a

    lever

    9. Connected to the end of the lever within the housing is an

    idler roller

    10. A

    spring

    11 may be connected between the lever and housing to position the lever such that the rollers are separated while the lever is not being depressed (open position). A

    switch

    12 is placed between the lever and housing, the switch is open when the lever is in the open position. A

    projectile holder

    13 is used to support the sport projectile. A

    tether

    14 is fastened to a sport projectile, such as a

    ball

    15, with the other end fastened to the

    base

    1 or

    housing

    2. The

    tether

    14 runs between the

    rollers

    7 and 10.

Claims (5)

1. A portable sport projectile return device adapted for returning of a sports projectile such as a ball to the user for use in athletic development such as swinging, comprising of: a base; a housing; a tether; two pinch rollers consisting of a drive roller and an idler roller; a lever connected to the idler roller to pinch the tether between the idler roller and drive roller; an electric motor connected to the drive roller; a switch system to control the motor.

2. The sport projectile return device of

claim 1

wherein the lever simultaneously pinches the rollers and controls the drive motor via an electrical switch.

3. The sport projectile return device of

claim 1

wherein the lever creates a space between the rollers with the use of a spring or gravity when the lever is not depresses, to allow for free letting of the tether through the rollers.

4. The sport projectile return device of

claim 1

wherein the device allows for the coiling of the tether upon itself while being hauled in.

5. The sport projectile return device of

claim 1

wherein the housing is made to have a small gap between the sides of the rollers and housing such that the tether cannot slip out to the sides of either roller.

US13/354,360 2011-01-20 2012-01-20 Sport Projectile Return Device Abandoned US20120190482A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/354,360 US20120190482A1 (en) 2011-01-20 2012-01-20 Sport Projectile Return Device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161461633P 2011-01-20 2011-01-20
US13/354,360 US20120190482A1 (en) 2011-01-20 2012-01-20 Sport Projectile Return Device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20120190482A1 true US20120190482A1 (en) 2012-07-26

Family

ID=46544579

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/354,360 Abandoned US20120190482A1 (en) 2011-01-20 2012-01-20 Sport Projectile Return Device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US20120190482A1 (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD811502S1 (en) * 2014-06-10 2018-02-27 Triad Sports, Inc. Mesh baseball tee
CN108154763A (en) * 2017-12-25 2018-06-12 黄跃 A kind of Physical Education is jettisoninged apparatus for demonstrating
US10537779B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2020-01-21 Triad Sports Group, Llc Ball net structure with alterable base
US10543413B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2020-01-28 Triad Sports Group, Llc Sports skills training apparatus
US10549164B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2020-02-04 Triad Sports Group, Llc Collapsible and portable sports net apparatus
USD880629S1 (en) 2017-09-06 2020-04-07 Christopher L. Wills Batting tee for practicing a batting swing
US11027181B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2021-06-08 Triad Sports Group, Llc Net structure with a slide hinge apparatus
US11077349B2 (en) 2019-12-30 2021-08-03 Noah Smith Ball tee with motorized retrieval

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1936687A (en) * 1932-05-24 1933-11-28 Wesley A Pottle Golf practice device
US3213844A (en) * 1962-06-18 1965-10-26 Riva William Pull toy
US3874662A (en) * 1973-11-19 1975-04-01 Chm Enterprises Inc Batting tee
US4778177A (en) * 1986-10-20 1988-10-18 Taksony Joseph G Baseball toss-up apparatus for batting practice and game play
US4803953A (en) * 1987-10-05 1989-02-14 Graves Michael S Cat toy
US5415396A (en) * 1993-11-10 1995-05-16 Huang; Hui C. Baseball batter practice machine
US5961391A (en) * 1998-06-22 1999-10-05 Priscella; Michael A. Tethered golf ball manually activated return device
US6390939B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-05-21 Jose A. Palacios Batting practice device
US6719649B1 (en) * 2002-12-05 2004-04-13 Chiu Yuan Lin Ball server with delay element for delaying time period of serving a ball
US20040138011A1 (en) * 2002-12-05 2004-07-15 Lin Chiu Yuan Baseball server apparatus with a delay timer element for providing a delaying time period for serving-up a baseball
US20070054756A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-08 Hanson Vachel L Batting practice aid
US20070072703A1 (en) * 2005-09-27 2007-03-29 James Barry D Baseball retreival apparatus
US7458907B2 (en) * 2007-03-09 2008-12-02 Chi-Sung Wang Artificial pitcher for practicing the hitting skill of baseball
US7775913B2 (en) * 2008-03-11 2010-08-17 Woods Dennis W Athletic training device
US7887441B1 (en) * 2009-09-21 2011-02-15 Stephen Archer T-ball training system
US7892116B2 (en) * 2007-01-26 2011-02-22 Norman Kellogg Baseball training aid
US8002648B1 (en) * 2010-02-23 2011-08-23 Franklin Sports, Inc Corkscrew tee ball stand
US8016699B1 (en) * 2009-12-11 2011-09-13 Rodney Swartzendruber Baseball pitch stop with ball return
US8033934B1 (en) * 2010-04-02 2011-10-11 Tommy Clancy Baseball hitting apparatus
US8033963B1 (en) * 2006-04-10 2011-10-11 Tom Jones Exercise and workout apparatus with karate elements
US20110287871A1 (en) * 2010-05-18 2011-11-24 Francis Chung Hwa Pan Ball game training apparatus
US8246493B1 (en) * 2011-04-27 2012-08-21 Hung-Tai Ling Batting practice apparatus
US20120220395A1 (en) * 2011-02-24 2012-08-30 William Coleman Lay Swing Trainer
US8287405B1 (en) * 2010-08-12 2012-10-16 Frank Martinez Batting machine

Patent Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1936687A (en) * 1932-05-24 1933-11-28 Wesley A Pottle Golf practice device
US3213844A (en) * 1962-06-18 1965-10-26 Riva William Pull toy
US3874662A (en) * 1973-11-19 1975-04-01 Chm Enterprises Inc Batting tee
US4778177A (en) * 1986-10-20 1988-10-18 Taksony Joseph G Baseball toss-up apparatus for batting practice and game play
US4803953A (en) * 1987-10-05 1989-02-14 Graves Michael S Cat toy
US5415396A (en) * 1993-11-10 1995-05-16 Huang; Hui C. Baseball batter practice machine
US5961391A (en) * 1998-06-22 1999-10-05 Priscella; Michael A. Tethered golf ball manually activated return device
US6390939B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-05-21 Jose A. Palacios Batting practice device
US6719649B1 (en) * 2002-12-05 2004-04-13 Chiu Yuan Lin Ball server with delay element for delaying time period of serving a ball
US20040138011A1 (en) * 2002-12-05 2004-07-15 Lin Chiu Yuan Baseball server apparatus with a delay timer element for providing a delaying time period for serving-up a baseball
US20070054756A1 (en) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-08 Hanson Vachel L Batting practice aid
US20070072703A1 (en) * 2005-09-27 2007-03-29 James Barry D Baseball retreival apparatus
US8033963B1 (en) * 2006-04-10 2011-10-11 Tom Jones Exercise and workout apparatus with karate elements
US7892116B2 (en) * 2007-01-26 2011-02-22 Norman Kellogg Baseball training aid
US7458907B2 (en) * 2007-03-09 2008-12-02 Chi-Sung Wang Artificial pitcher for practicing the hitting skill of baseball
US7775913B2 (en) * 2008-03-11 2010-08-17 Woods Dennis W Athletic training device
US7887441B1 (en) * 2009-09-21 2011-02-15 Stephen Archer T-ball training system
US8016699B1 (en) * 2009-12-11 2011-09-13 Rodney Swartzendruber Baseball pitch stop with ball return
US8002648B1 (en) * 2010-02-23 2011-08-23 Franklin Sports, Inc Corkscrew tee ball stand
US8033934B1 (en) * 2010-04-02 2011-10-11 Tommy Clancy Baseball hitting apparatus
US20110287871A1 (en) * 2010-05-18 2011-11-24 Francis Chung Hwa Pan Ball game training apparatus
US8287405B1 (en) * 2010-08-12 2012-10-16 Frank Martinez Batting machine
US20120220395A1 (en) * 2011-02-24 2012-08-30 William Coleman Lay Swing Trainer
US8246493B1 (en) * 2011-04-27 2012-08-21 Hung-Tai Ling Batting practice apparatus

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10537779B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2020-01-21 Triad Sports Group, Llc Ball net structure with alterable base
US10543413B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2020-01-28 Triad Sports Group, Llc Sports skills training apparatus
US10549164B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2020-02-04 Triad Sports Group, Llc Collapsible and portable sports net apparatus
US11027181B2 (en) 2011-06-01 2021-06-08 Triad Sports Group, Llc Net structure with a slide hinge apparatus
USD811502S1 (en) * 2014-06-10 2018-02-27 Triad Sports, Inc. Mesh baseball tee
USD880629S1 (en) 2017-09-06 2020-04-07 Christopher L. Wills Batting tee for practicing a batting swing
CN108154763A (en) * 2017-12-25 2018-06-12 黄跃 A kind of Physical Education is jettisoninged apparatus for demonstrating
US11077349B2 (en) 2019-12-30 2021-08-03 Noah Smith Ball tee with motorized retrieval

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
2013-07-12 STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION