US20050178374A1 - Control device for a ball-hurling machine - Google Patents

Control device for a ball-hurling machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050178374A1
US20050178374A1 US10/777,059 US77705904A US2005178374A1 US 20050178374 A1 US20050178374 A1 US 20050178374A1 US 77705904 A US77705904 A US 77705904A US 2005178374 A1 US2005178374 A1 US 2005178374A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
hurling
ball
machine
control device
control plate
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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
US10/777,059
Inventor
Jui-Tsun Tseng
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TSENG JUI-TSUN
KENNETH LIAO
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to US10/777,059 priority Critical patent/US20050178374A1/en
Assigned to LIAO, KENNETH, TSENG, JUI-TSUN reassignment LIAO, KENNETH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TSENG, JUI-TSUN
Publication of US20050178374A1 publication Critical patent/US20050178374A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • A63B69/40—Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls or other bodies

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a control device for a ball-hurling machine, particularly to one possible for a hitter to decide the mode of the ball to be hurled out for hitting, with easy handling.
  • a known conventional ball-hurling machine shown in FIG. 1 includes a body 101 , a tripod 102 supporting the body 101 able to sway up and down and right and left, a power switch 1011 provided in the body 101 , and a ball outlet 1012 formed in a front side of the body 101 .
  • the body 101 may have a number of balls to be shoot out of the ball outlet 1012 or get balls from an exterior device or the like. And a hurling mechanism should be positioned in the body 101 , but it is not covered in the present invention, not to be described.
  • a ball is shot speedily out of the ball outlet 1012 by the hurling mechanism for a hitter standing at the home base to hit for training.
  • the home base 20 has to be located at an accurate point and aligned to the ball outlet 1012 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the inventor has found that a hitter is in no position to control or stop the hurling action of the ball-hurling machine 10 , and another person is needed to operate the ball-hurling machine, extremely inconvenient to use for a hitter.
  • This invention has been devised to offer a control device for a ball-hurling machine possible for a user or hitter to control himself the ball hurling action of the ball-hurling machine.
  • the feature of the invention is a control plate provided with a transmitter and plural press buttons and to be placed very near to a home base.
  • the transmitter sends out different signals to a receiver provided in the ball-hurling machine. Then a hitter can operate the control plate to let the ball-hurling machine to hurl out balls in various modes, and a display also provided in the ball-hurling machine can show the mode of the ball to be hurled with various colors.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional ball-hurling machine
  • FIG. 2 is a an upper view of the conventional ball-hurling machine and a home base aligned to it;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ball-hurling machine with a control device in the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is an upper view of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 is an upper view of a second embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is an upper view of a third embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an upper view of a fourth embodiment of a control device for a ball hurling machine in the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention.
  • a first preferred embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention includes a control plate 2 combined with a ball-hurling machine 1 .
  • the ball hurling machine 1 has a body 11 placed on a tripod 12 and possible to sway up and down and right and left minutely, a ball outlet 111 formed in a front side wall and a ball-hurling mechanism (not covered in the invention). Further, the body 111 has a wireless receiver 13 and a display 14 positioned on the body 11 .
  • the wireless receiver 13 controls the power of the ball-hurling machine 11 and the modes of the balls shot out, and the display 14 showing the images of the modes of balls to be hurled with different colors.
  • the control plate 2 is placed at a pentagonal home base, provided with plural press buttons 21 and a wireless transmitter 22 .
  • the press buttons 21 are used for selecting a hurling mode such as single or continual hurling for the ball-hurling machine 11 , and the transmitter 22 gives out the signal of the selected hurling mode to the wireless receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11 .
  • a hitter standing at the home base can choose the mode of a ball to be shot out of the ball-hurling machine 11 , at first by pressing a proper one of the press buttons 21 to start the power of the control plate 2 and sends out a signal through the transmitter 22 to the receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11 to start its power. After the receiver 13 receives the signal of the transmitter 22 , it commands the display 14 to show the colored image of the signal. Then the hitter knows the ball-hurling machine has been powered and is ready for hurling balls, and optionally presses one of the ball-hurling keys according to his own taste and liking.
  • the ball-hurling machine 11 shoots out a single ball, if the mode is selected so, and the transmitter 22 automatically sends out a due signal to the receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11 , with the display 14 showing a colored image of the signal, and with the hurling mechanism shoots out a ball only once to the home base for the hitter to hit the ball and then stops.
  • the transmitter 22 automatically gives out the signal to the receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11 , which then commands the display 14 to show the due image of the signal with proper colors. Therefore, the player may know that the ball-hurling machine will hurl balls continually, and prepare to hit the balls. So a user of the ball-hurling machine with the control device can easily operate the machine for various trainings.
  • FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine, which is different in that the control plate 2 is connected with wires 3 with the ball-hurling machine 1 , and the wires 3 are buried under the ground, not merely unexposed on the ground to be damaged but can transmit signals from the control plate 2 to the ball-hurling machine 1 . So the second embodiment has the same function as the first one.
  • FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine, which has a control plate shaped square, different from the other embodiments in its shape.
  • FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine, which has a control plate shaped circular, different from the other embodiments in its shape.
  • the control plate 2 can be either combined with the home base on the ground or separated from the home base according to a situation.
  • FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of a device plate 2 for a ball-hurling machine 1 , which has the device plate 2 hung on a wall behind the home base and facing toward the ball-hurling machine.
  • a control plate 2 may be made compact as a remote controller small enough to be held in a hand for a hitter.

Abstract

A control device for a ball-hurling machine includes a ball-hurling machine and a control plate. The ball-hurling machine has a body, a receiver and a display provided in the body. The transmitter controls the power of the machine, the mode of balls shot out and the display to show various images of different colors according to the modes of balls shot out. The control plate is separated from the ball-hurling machine, placed at a hitting area, having a transmitter and plural press buttons for control the transmitter to send out various signals to the receiver of the ball hurling machine. Then the ball-hurling machine shoots out balls according to the signal received so that a hitter himself can control operation of the control device to decide the mode of balls hurled out of the machine to get hitting training.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • This invention relates to a control device for a ball-hurling machine, particularly to one possible for a hitter to decide the mode of the ball to be hurled out for hitting, with easy handling.
  • 2. Description of the Prior Art
  • A known conventional ball-hurling machine shown in FIG. 1 includes a body 101, a tripod 102 supporting the body 101 able to sway up and down and right and left, a power switch 1011 provided in the body 101, and a ball outlet 1012 formed in a front side of the body 101.
  • The body 101 may have a number of balls to be shoot out of the ball outlet 1012 or get balls from an exterior device or the like. And a hurling mechanism should be positioned in the body 101, but it is not covered in the present invention, not to be described.
  • When the power switch 1011 is turned on, a ball is shot speedily out of the ball outlet 1012 by the hurling mechanism for a hitter standing at the home base to hit for training. As the ball-hurling machine is situated a certain distance from a home base 20, the home base 20 has to be located at an accurate point and aligned to the ball outlet 1012, as shown in FIG. 2. After close research, the inventor has found that a hitter is in no position to control or stop the hurling action of the ball-hurling machine 10, and another person is needed to operate the ball-hurling machine, extremely inconvenient to use for a hitter.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention has been devised to offer a control device for a ball-hurling machine possible for a user or hitter to control himself the ball hurling action of the ball-hurling machine.
  • The feature of the invention is a control plate provided with a transmitter and plural press buttons and to be placed very near to a home base. The transmitter sends out different signals to a receiver provided in the ball-hurling machine. Then a hitter can operate the control plate to let the ball-hurling machine to hurl out balls in various modes, and a display also provided in the ball-hurling machine can show the mode of the ball to be hurled with various colors.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
  • This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional ball-hurling machine;
  • FIG. 2 is a an upper view of the conventional ball-hurling machine and a home base aligned to it;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ball-hurling machine with a control device in the present invention;
  • FIG. 4 is an upper view of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is an upper view of a second embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention;
  • FIG. 6 is an upper view of a third embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention;
  • FIG. 7 is an upper view of a fourth embodiment of a control device for a ball hurling machine in the present invention; and,
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • A first preferred embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a control plate 2 combined with a ball-hurling machine 1.
  • The ball hurling machine 1 has a body 11 placed on a tripod 12 and possible to sway up and down and right and left minutely, a ball outlet 111 formed in a front side wall and a ball-hurling mechanism (not covered in the invention). Further, the body 111 has a wireless receiver 13 and a display 14 positioned on the body 11. The wireless receiver 13 controls the power of the ball-hurling machine 11 and the modes of the balls shot out, and the display 14 showing the images of the modes of balls to be hurled with different colors.
  • The control plate 2 is placed at a pentagonal home base, provided with plural press buttons 21 and a wireless transmitter 22. The press buttons 21 are used for selecting a hurling mode such as single or continual hurling for the ball-hurling machine 11, and the transmitter 22 gives out the signal of the selected hurling mode to the wireless receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11.
  • Next, how to use the control device 2 for a ball-hurling machine 1 is to be described. A hitter standing at the home base can choose the mode of a ball to be shot out of the ball-hurling machine 11, at first by pressing a proper one of the press buttons 21 to start the power of the control plate 2 and sends out a signal through the transmitter 22 to the receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11 to start its power. After the receiver 13 receives the signal of the transmitter 22, it commands the display 14 to show the colored image of the signal. Then the hitter knows the ball-hurling machine has been powered and is ready for hurling balls, and optionally presses one of the ball-hurling keys according to his own taste and liking. Then the ball-hurling machine 11 shoots out a single ball, if the mode is selected so, and the transmitter 22 automatically sends out a due signal to the receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11, with the display 14 showing a colored image of the signal, and with the hurling mechanism shoots out a ball only once to the home base for the hitter to hit the ball and then stops.
  • If a player presses the press button for continual hurling, the transmitter 22 automatically gives out the signal to the receiver 13 of the ball-hurling machine 11, which then commands the display 14 to show the due image of the signal with proper colors. Therefore, the player may know that the ball-hurling machine will hurl balls continually, and prepare to hit the balls. So a user of the ball-hurling machine with the control device can easily operate the machine for various trainings.
  • Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine, which is different in that the control plate 2 is connected with wires 3 with the ball-hurling machine 1, and the wires 3 are buried under the ground, not merely unexposed on the ground to be damaged but can transmit signals from the control plate 2 to the ball-hurling machine 1. So the second embodiment has the same function as the first one.
  • In addition, FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine, which has a control plate shaped square, different from the other embodiments in its shape.
  • FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a control device for a ball-hurling machine, which has a control plate shaped circular, different from the other embodiments in its shape.
  • The control plate 2 can be either combined with the home base on the ground or separated from the home base according to a situation.
  • Moreover, FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of a device plate 2 for a ball-hurling machine 1, which has the device plate 2 hung on a wall behind the home base and facing toward the ball-hurling machine.
  • Besides, a control plate 2 may be made compact as a remote controller small enough to be held in a hand for a hitter.
  • While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A control device for a ball-hurling machine, said control device comprising:
a control plate and a ball-hurling machine, said ball-hurling machine having a body, a hurling mechanism arranged in said body, a receiver and a display positioned on an outer surface of said body, said display is visible from a vicinity of said control plate, said receiver controlling the power of the machine body, the hurling mode and said display to show various images of the ball-hurling modes with different colors;
said control plate being separately made from said ball-hurling machine and placed at a hitting area and having plural press buttons and a transmitter, said press buttons controlling said transmitter to give out various signals to said receiver of said ball-hurling machine; and
said press buttons operable by a user to control said ball-hurling machine to shoot out balls in various modes.
2. The control device for a ball-hurling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control plate and said ball hurling machine are connected wirelessly.
3. The control device for a ball-hurling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control plate and said ball-hurling machine are connected with wires.
4. The control device for a ball-hurling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control plate is combined together with a home base.
5. The control device for a ball-hurling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control plate is hung behind the home base on a wall facing toward said ball-hurling machine.
6. (canceled)
7. The control device for a ball-hurling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control plate comprises a remote controller configured to be held in a hand of a user.
US10/777,059 2004-02-13 2004-02-13 Control device for a ball-hurling machine Abandoned US20050178374A1 (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090050126A1 (en) * 2007-08-08 2009-02-26 John Higgins Apparatus and method for utilizing loader for paintball marker as a consolidated display and relay center
CN102448509A (en) * 2009-05-27 2012-05-09 帕克-汉尼芬公司 Priming method for filter
US9109853B2 (en) 2007-08-08 2015-08-18 Htr Development, Llc Paintball marker and loader system

Citations (10)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5125653A (en) * 1986-08-11 1992-06-30 Ferenc Kovacs Computer controller ball throwing machine
US5174565A (en) * 1991-10-16 1992-12-29 Taito Corporation Baseball pitching machine
US5359986A (en) * 1993-08-18 1994-11-01 Golf Players Inc. Pitching system and method
US6152126A (en) * 1999-03-08 2000-11-28 Automated Batting Cages Batting cage with user interactive selection of ball speed and strike zone with pitch height indicator lamps
US6190271B1 (en) * 1999-01-14 2001-02-20 Sport Fun, Inc. Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member
US6244260B1 (en) * 2000-01-28 2001-06-12 Hasbro, Inc. Interactive projectile-discharging toy
US6470873B2 (en) * 1999-03-01 2002-10-29 Probatter Sports, Llc System and method for establishing pitch parameters in a ball-throwing machine
US6539931B2 (en) * 2001-04-16 2003-04-01 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Ball throwing assistant
US6546924B2 (en) * 1999-03-01 2003-04-15 Probatter Sports, Llc. Ball throwing machine and method for profiling pitches
US6679239B1 (en) * 2003-05-13 2004-01-20 Michael W. Shultz Remotely actuated apparatus for throwing an object

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5125653A (en) * 1986-08-11 1992-06-30 Ferenc Kovacs Computer controller ball throwing machine
US5174565A (en) * 1991-10-16 1992-12-29 Taito Corporation Baseball pitching machine
US5359986A (en) * 1993-08-18 1994-11-01 Golf Players Inc. Pitching system and method
US6190271B1 (en) * 1999-01-14 2001-02-20 Sport Fun, Inc. Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member
US6470873B2 (en) * 1999-03-01 2002-10-29 Probatter Sports, Llc System and method for establishing pitch parameters in a ball-throwing machine
US6546924B2 (en) * 1999-03-01 2003-04-15 Probatter Sports, Llc. Ball throwing machine and method for profiling pitches
US6152126A (en) * 1999-03-08 2000-11-28 Automated Batting Cages Batting cage with user interactive selection of ball speed and strike zone with pitch height indicator lamps
US6195017B1 (en) * 1999-03-08 2001-02-27 Automated Batting Cages User interactive display for batting cage with pitch height indicator lamps and strike zone
US6244260B1 (en) * 2000-01-28 2001-06-12 Hasbro, Inc. Interactive projectile-discharging toy
US6539931B2 (en) * 2001-04-16 2003-04-01 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Ball throwing assistant
US6679239B1 (en) * 2003-05-13 2004-01-20 Michael W. Shultz Remotely actuated apparatus for throwing an object

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090050126A1 (en) * 2007-08-08 2009-02-26 John Higgins Apparatus and method for utilizing loader for paintball marker as a consolidated display and relay center
US8312870B2 (en) * 2007-08-08 2012-11-20 Htr Development, Llc Apparatus and method for utilizing loader for paintball marker as a consolidated display and relay center
US9109853B2 (en) 2007-08-08 2015-08-18 Htr Development, Llc Paintball marker and loader system
US9255766B2 (en) * 2007-08-08 2016-02-09 Htr Development, Llc Paintball marker and loader system
US9823039B2 (en) 2007-08-08 2017-11-21 Htr Development, Llc Paintball marker and loader system
US9915495B2 (en) 2007-08-08 2018-03-13 Htr Development, Llc Paintball marker and loader system
CN102448509A (en) * 2009-05-27 2012-05-09 帕克-汉尼芬公司 Priming method for filter

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AS Assignment

Owner name: TSENG, JUI-TSUN, TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TSENG, JUI-TSUN;REEL/FRAME:014989/0627

Effective date: 20031202

Owner name: LIAO, KENNETH, TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TSENG, JUI-TSUN;REEL/FRAME:014989/0627

Effective date: 20031202

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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