Ball throwing machine

Claim 2

A ball throwing apparatus comprising a relatively fixed frame; an adjustably positioned frame connected to said fixed frame; a pair of ball propelling wheels mounted on said adjustable frame in substantially coplanar relation for rotation about spaced parallel axes with tread portions of said wheels disposed in operatively spaced relation for throwing a ball placed in the nip between said wheel treads; separate variable speed motors driving said wheels in opposite directions; means for introducing a ball to be thrown into the nip between said wheels; and means for adjusting the position of said adjustable frame with respect to said fixed frame to thereby change the position of said wheels to control the direction of the flight of a thrown ball, said adjusting means including, a universal joint assembly operatively connecting said adjustable frame to said fixed frame and said adjusting means further comprising a first shaft mounted on said fixed frame for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a second shaft having one end thereof connected to said adjustable frame, means carried by said first shaft for supporting said second shaft for rotation of said second shaft about two horizontal axes perpendicularly disposed relative to each other, said vertical axis and said two horizontal, axes intersecting at a substantially common point; and means associated with said fixed frame for locking said adjustable frame into position after the desired adjustment about any one of said axes has been made.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 including indication means operatively assOciated with said universal joint assembly and said fixed frame arranged to indicate the rotational position of said adjustable frame about each said axes as the position of said wheels is changed to change the direction of the thrown ball thereby providing the capability of repeatably selecting a predetermined direction of the thrown ball.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said universal joint assembly includes said first shaft rotatably mounted to said fixed frame providing for pivotal movement of said adjustable frame about said vertical axis; said support means for said second shaft including a swivel block rotatably mounted upon said support means and providing a horizontal longitudinal axis; said second shaft rotatably mounted within and extending through said swivel block and providing a horizontal transverse axis, said one end of said second shaft carrying said adjustable frame; means for adjustably rotating said first shaft relative to said fixed frame, thereby rotating said means for supporting said second shaft, said swivel block, and said adjustable frame about said vertical axis, to make adjustments in the horizontal direction of the thrown ball; means for adjustably pivoting said second shaft relative to said fixed frame, thereby pivoting said swivel block and said adjustable frame about said horizontal longitudinal axis, to make adjustments in the elevation of the thrown ball; and means for adjustably rotating said second shaft relative to said swivel block, thereby rotating said adjustable frame about said horizontal transverse axis, to make adjustments in the azimuthal direction of the thrown ball.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for adjustably rotating said first shaft includes horizontal platform fixably connected to said fixed frame; an arm fixably connected to said first shaft; and first clamping means for releasably clamping said arm to said platform so that the rotation of said first shaft relative to said fixed frame can be selectively positioned to adjust the horizontal direction of the thrown ball.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for adjustably pivoting said second shaft includes a vertical plate connected to said arm; and second clamping means, connected to the end portion of said second shaft opposite to the end carrying said adjustable frame, for releasably clamping said second shaft to said vertical plate so that the pivotal movement of said second shaft relative to said fixed frame can be selectively positioned to adjust the elevational direction of the thrown ball.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for adjustably rotating said second shaft includes a bracket fixably connected to said vertical plate; and third clamping means, connected to the end portion of said second shaft opposite the end carrying said adjustable frame, for releasably clamping said second shaft to said bracket so that the rotation of said second shaft relative to said swivel means can be selectively positioned to adjust the azimuthal direction of the thrown ball.

Claim 8

A ball throwing machine for batting and fielding practice comprising, a fixed frame, an adjustable frame, universal joint means connecting the frames, a pair of ball propelling wheels mounted on said adjustable frame in substantially coplanar relation for rotation about spaced parallel axes with tread portions of said wheels disposed in operatively spaced relation for throwing a ball placed in the nip between said wheel treads, a track for supporting a ball to be projected, fixed to the adjustable frame between the wheels and positioned below a substantially horizontal plane passing through the centers of the wheels, and said track having a surface substantially parallel to the plane, said track surface being positioned below the plane at a distance in excess of the radius of a ball to be thrown so that a ball is fOrced against the track by the force exerted by the wheels, a separate variable speed motor directly connected to each wheel and carried by the adjustable frame, control means for selecting the speed of the motor whereby both may be operated at high speeds or low speeds or may be operated at different speeds, said universal joint means allowing adjustment of the adjustable frame and wheels to permit varying the trajectory of a ball in combination with the speed and spin variation afforded by the variable speed motors and the control means whereby a wide range of pitches may be simulated, and means for locking the adjustable frame relative to the fixed frame to retain a desired adjustment.

Claim 9

A ball throwing machine for batting and fielding practice comprising, a fixed frame, an adjustable frame, universal joint means connecting the frames, a pair of ball propelling wheels mounted on said adjustable frame in substantially coplanar relation for rotation about spaced parallel axes with tread portions of said wheels disposed in operatively spaced relation for throwing a ball placed in the nip between said wheel treads, a track for supporting a ball to be projected, fixed to the adjustable frame between the wheels and positioned below a substantially horizontal plane passing through the centers of the wheels, and said track having a surface substantially parallel to the plane, said track surface being positioned below the plane at a distance in excess of the radius of a ball to be thrown so that a ball is fOrced against the track by the force exerted by the wheels, a separate variable speed motor directly connected to each wheel and carried by the adjustable frame, control means for selecting the speed of the motor whereby both may be operated at high speeds or low speeds or may be operated at different speeds, said universal joint means allowing adjustment of the adjustable frame and wheels to permit varying the trajectory of a ball in combination with the speed and spin variation afforded by the variable speed motors and the control means whereby a wide range of pitches may be simulated, and means for locking the adjustable frame relative to the fixed frame to retain a desired adjustment.