A ball launching apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a funnel residing at an upper end of a housing. The funnel includes a channel for gravitationally directing a ball into a launch point within an interior compartment of the housing. The apparatus includes a hammer that strikes a ball through a chute, thereby releasing the ball from the housing. Both the distance at which the ball travels and the angle at which the ball leaves the chute may be adjusted by the operator. A method of exercising a dog is also provided herein.

The invention relates to an advanced basketball training system. The basketball training system includes a motorized rotatable backboard mounted on a column. The assembly further comprises a smart basketball capturing mechanism mounted on the rotatable backboard. The smart ball capturing mechanism is connected to a ball receiving mechanism. The ball receiving mechanism collects the ball when a shot attempt is missed or made, and is delivered inside the column. A ball propulsion mechanism is fixed at the base of the column for passing/propelling the ball back to the player at various distances. The system further comprises a polyolefin or thermoplastic elastomer/acrylic sports court flooring, overlaying LED and infrared panels, for displaying multiple line markings in correlation to the angle of the rotatable backboard and other parameters related to the sport. The systems operating system comprises high-speed camera technology, smart basketball GPS technology, infrared sensors, and augmented reality using AR glasses.

A basketball training system includes a ball delivery system in which a basketball is delivered to a ball ready holder located in front of a ball launch mechanism. A launch arm is grabbed and pulled backward against a spring force, and then is released to pivot forward and strike the basketball from the ball ready holder.

A basketball training system includes a server computer and a basketball training machine. The server computer executes a workout module that manages operation of a graphical user interface that presents a graphical representation of a portion of a basketball court and receives user inputs that define a workout program that includes selected ball delivery locations relative to the visual representation. The basketball training machine receives the workout program and delivers basketballs to the selected ball delivery locations.

Systems and methods of ball tossing machines. Ball tossing machines having reconfigurable joints are contemplated. Embodiments having dynamically articulating joints create tossing arms that mimic human arms completing underhanded tosses. In other embodiments, the tossing arm's elbow and fingers can be locked into place and pivoted about a shoulder to accomplish a basic tossing motion with an altered effective tossing arm length.

A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

A throwing mechanism is provided. A basketball holder is located at a first portion of a catapult arm at a first side of a pivot, and a spring is attached to a second portion of said catapult arm located at a second side of the pivot. A motor is cycled to cause a ram mounted to one or more linkages connected to the motor to contact the second portion of said catapult arm for pivoting the catapult arm into a second position where the first portion is secured by an engagement arm located rearward of the catapult arm, and subsequently contact the engagement arm to release the catapult arm for pivoting movement into a first position by forces exerted by the spring to launch the basketball located at the first portion of said catapult arm.

A ball tossing apparatus includes a support frame and a plurality of launch devices fixed to the support frame and arranged in a two-dimensional array. The launch devices include cylinders having a spring fixed therein, with a ball carrier fixed to the spring. The balls are retained in a loaded position (springs compressed) and then upon activation of the launch devices are launched vertically into the air to the sports player. In another embodiment, the launch devices include a rotating lever which is acted on by a biasing member to launch the ball vertically from the cylinder. A method for launching the balls includes the steps of loading the balls into a two dimensional array, and then launching the balls according to a launch sequence. An electronic control system for use with the ball tossing apparatus includes a launch module for launching the loaded balls in the plurality of launch devices according to a launch sequence. The launch sequences can be randomly generated, programmed by the sports player, or retrieved from memory. The launch of the balls can also be controlled remotely.

Systems and methods of ball tossing machines. Ball tossing machines having reconfigurable joints are contemplated. Embodiments having dynamically articulating joints create tossing arms that mimic human arms completing underhanded tosses. In other embodiments, the tossing arm's elbow and fingers can be locked into place and pivoted about a shoulder to accomplish a basic tossing motion with an altered effective tossing arm length.

A game ball throwing machine utilizing a rotating arm to pitch a game ball, able to induce a variety of spins and types of pitches interchangeably. The ball thrower includes a base, a support frame attached to the base, rotating arm mechanism attached to the support frame, a source of power rotating the arm, ball holding means attached to the arm, and a human-machine interface which enables control of ball spin, release point, speed and target location. A novel software program integrates the throwing machine, indexing elements and one or more human-machine interface screens, calculating pitch parameters and converting them to machine outputs to enable customization of pitch variety and characteristics to the same or different locations rapidly with a high degree of accuracy, including means to simulate a known pitcher's unique pitch collection.