The bowling ball launch device launches a bowling bowl according to user input. The bowling ball launch device is self-contained and allows people of any age and ability to train and play the game of bowling. The bowling ball launch device includes a ball launch unit and a ball launch chamber in its internal cavity. Rails extend though the device along which the bowling ball travels through to an exit hole. A motor in the interior of the device transfers power to a drive belt which in turn rotates power wheels. The outer surfaces of the rotating power wheels come into contact with the bowling ball and impart speed. The device is operated using a power supply and electronic components under control of a programmable circuit board.

The present invention is a toy projectile and launcher system. The lightweight projectile has an exterior surface symmetrically disposed about an imaginary longitudinal axis. The launcher has a holding cavity composed of three semi-flexible sides, two of which sides apply counter-acting forces to the surface of the projectile along the imaginary longitudinal axis. The launcher has a mechanism for applying a motive force perpendicular to the counter-acting force vectors and perpendicular to the projectile's imaginary longitudinal axis. When the motive force is applied to the projectile, the semi-flexible sides deform and return to pre-deformation positions, thereby launching the projectile into flight.

A machine for throwing balls is provided that can accurately adjust the vertical height or pitch and the lateral placement or yaw of balls being thrown. The machine includes a pitch housing, a threaded pitch adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the pitch housing, a pitch yoke threadably mounted to the pitch adjustment shaft, a yaw housing to which the pitch housing is fixed, and a threaded yaw adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the yaw housing. Also included is a yaw yoke mounted to the yaw housing and to the yaw adjustment shaft, and a stand to which the yaw housing is rotatably mounted.

A machine for throwing balls is provided that can accurately adjust the vertical height or pitch and the lateral placement or yaw of balls being thrown. The machine includes a pitch housing, a threaded pitch adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the pitch housing, a pitch yoke threadably mounted to the pitch adjustment shaft, a yaw housing to which the pitch housing is fixed, and a threaded yaw adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the yaw housing. Also included is a yaw yoke mounted to the yaw housing and to the yaw adjustment shaft, and a stand to which the yaw housing is rotatably mounted.

A shuttlecock loading mechanism with a grabbing mechanism and a pair of ejecting wheels defining a wheel plane. The grabbing mechanism receives a shuttlecock entering the loading mechanism in a vertical position and ejects the shuttlecock from the loading mechanism in an orientation parallel to the wheel plane wherein the pitch of the wheel plane about a wheel horizontal axis is selectively indexed about the wheel's horizontal axis.

A machine for throwing balls is provided that includes a pitch housing, a rotatable threaded pitch adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the pitch housing, a pitch yoke threadably mounted to the pitch adjustment shaft to travel with respect to the pitch adjustment shaft as the pitch adjustment shaft is rotated, a pitch pivot arm having proximal and central portions, the proximal portion of the pitch pivot arm being pivotally mounted at a pivot point, the pitch yoke being mounted to the central portion of the pitch pivot arm, at least one rotary wheel mounted to the pitch pivot arm such that the pitch yoke is mounted to the pitch pivot arm between the pivot point and the rotary wheel mounting, and at least one motor coupled to the at least one rotary wheel and configured to rotate the at least one rotary wheel to throw the ball toward an athlete.

A method may also be provided for precisely adjusting, along a first plane, a throw by a throwing machine. The method includes the steps of rotatably mounting a threaded first micro adjustment shaft to a first yoke so that the first yoke travels along the first micro adjustment shaft as the first micro adjustment shaft is turned, the first yoke being mounted to a first movable member, to which a throwing wheel is indirectly mounted, and rotating the first micro adjustment shaft, causing the first yoke to travel and thereby adjust the position of the throwing wheel along the first plane.

A toy launcher for launching projectiles including a main body, two or more cartridges removably attached to the main body, each of the two or more cartridges configured to hold a plurality of projectiles, a casing moveably attached to the main body, two or more push rods moveably attached to the casing, flywheels disposed within the main body in the front of the two or more cartridges, and a stop member disposed between the two or more push rods and the two or more cartridges, the stop member being biased towards the first side of the main body. The stop member operates to block one of the two or more push rods depending on whether the two or more cartridges are inserted, empty and/or at least partially full.

A toy launcher for launching projectiles including a main body, two or more cartridges removably attached to the main body, each of the two or more cartridges configured to hold a plurality of projectiles, a casing moveably attached to the main body, two or more push rods moveably attached to the casing, flywheels disposed within the main body in the front of the two or more cartridges, and a stop member disposed between the two or more push rods and the two or more cartridges, the stop member being biased towards the first side of the main body. The stop member operates to block one of the two or more push rods depending on whether the two or more cartridges are inserted, empty and/or at least partially full.

Provided herein is a string shooting device having a string capable of generating lift when propelled from the string shooting device and a guide to readily attach and detach the string from the string shooting device. A string shooting device described herein includes: a body; a housing attached to the body; a pair of wheels, where at least one of the pair of wheels is a driven wheel; and a string, where the string includes a surface texture configured to increase air friction in response to the string being propelled through the air by the pair of wheels. The string of an example embodiment defines an axis along which the string extends, and where the string includes a plurality of fibers extending away from the axis.

Provided herein is a string shooting device having a string capable of generating lift when propelled from the string shooting device and a guide to readily attach and detach the string from the string shooting device. A string shooting device described herein includes: a body; a housing attached to the body; a pair of wheels, where at least one of the pair of wheels is a driven wheel; and a string, where the string includes a surface texture configured to increase air friction in response to the string being propelled through the air by the pair of wheels. The string of an example embodiment defines an axis along which the string extends, and where the string includes a plurality of fibers extending away from the axis.