Patent classifications
A63B47/002
Virtual golf system and methods
Virtual golf system for playing golf, comprising a plurality of trackable golf balls, wherein each golf ball comprises transmitting means for broadcasting electromagnetic beacon signals for detecting a position of the golf ball, a position determination unit comprising three receiving antenna's arranged for receiving beacon signals broadcasted by any of said plurality of trackable golf balls, and wherein said position determination unit is arranged to determine a position of said golf ball on a driving range based on time differences of a broadcasted beacon signal received by said receiving antenna's. A plurality of trackable golf balls and a plurality of players may be active at the same time. Trackable golf balls may be paired with specific players. A game controller advances a virtual game of golf each time a trackable golf ball is stroked by a player.
AUTOMATIC BATTING TRAINING APPARATUS
An automatic batting training apparatus, includes: a bottom part; a hopper assembly disposed on one side of the bottom part to sequentially discharge a plurality of balls stored therein; and a driving assembly disposed on the other side of the bottom part and comprising a transfer module adapted to transfer the balls discharged from the hopper assembly in a vertical direction and an ascending/descending module having a tee stand disposed movable upward and downward in such a manner as to allow the balls received from the transfer module to be seated one by one onto top thereof to perform tee batting.
EXTENDABLE BASEBALL CARRIER
A ball carrying assembly, including a first right circular cylindrical portion, a first disc portion disposed at one end of the first right circular cylindrical portion and fixed thereto to define a canister, a second right circular cylindrical portion defining a storage volume and disposable within the first right circular cylindrical portion and operationally connected thereto, a platform portion movably disposed within the second right circular cylindrical portion, three equidistantly spaced ledge portions formed within the first right circular cylindrical portion, and three equidistantly spaced tab portions protruding from the second right circular cylindrical portion. Each respective tab portion is lockingly engageable with a respective ledge portion. A spring assembly is operationally connected within the storage volume to the movable platform portion. The spring assembly has a spring constant sufficient to urge the movable platform portion away from the pull of gravity when balls are removed from the storage volume. Second right circular cylindrical portion also includes spaced ridges positioned on outside and inside thereof and extending parallel with the cylindrical axis and defining ventilation volume therebetween for ease of movement of platform portion therein and of cylindrical portions relative to one another.
Configurable Flexible Golf Putting Green System and Methods
A configurable flexible putting green system and methods provide a golf putting experience on a highly configurable simulated putting green surface. A movable, flexible turf belt is tensioned between storage devices at each end of the turf belt. A portion of the turf belt is configured as a putt spot, supporting the player's weight and simulating a real putting experience. The system is provided with actuators underneath the turf belt for creating a variety of undulations, inclinations, and declinations so as to simulate a wide variety of golf putting scenarios. A golf computer is provided for controlling the turf belt and undulators to simulate golf putting conditions according to a database of simulated golf putting terrain matching existing golf courses.
Ball throwing machine and method
A ball throwing machine can include a hopper for receiving one or more balls and a ball delivery device. The ball delivery device can be used to throw or pitch a ball from the hopper to a user of the machine. The ball delivery device can include wheels to impart speed to the ball and a direction system to control the projection angle of the ball. The direction system can control at least one of the up and down angle and the side to side angle of the ball as it is thrown, among possibly other throwing parameters. A controller may be provided for controlling operation of the ball throwing machine.
Sports training machine
A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.
Delivery system for targeted launching of sports projectile
A sports projectile delivery system may control the operation of a launcher to cause an American football or other sports projectile to be delivered to a target location on a field. In some aspects, the system can track player movements on the field, e.g., through the use of a tracking device mounted on the player, enabling the ball etc. to be launched to a player in anticipation of where the player will go. The system may include additional customization and/or logging options, e.g., permitting a player to designate a body position (e.g., above the head or near the knees) for delivery of the ball, designate a speed or hang time for delivery, or provide player data and analytics to an online or otherwise connected database.
Automatic batting tee apparatus
The present invention relates to an automatic batting tee apparatus that includes a ball storage unit for continuously feeding balls therein for batting; a lifting unit for putting the balls discharged from the ball storage unit onto an upper end of a tee rod for T-batting; and a feeding unit disposed between the ball storage unit and the lifting unit. The apparatus can smoothly and quickly feed balls, particularly, baseballs to the lifting unit with the tee rod, using the ball storage unit having a variable internal space and rotary equipment. The automatic batting tee apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention allows for not only batting practice, but fielding practice by a cylinder unit.
Sports ball funneling net with releasable restraining element
Described herein include various implementations of a ball funneling net that can capture sport balls, such as baseballs, directed into the ball funneling net. The ball funneling net can include a ball directing feature, such as a funnel, and a releasable restraining element that controls the sport balls from being released from the ball capturing net, such as from a distal dispensing end. In some implementations, a user can pick up a part of the ball directing feature and release the releasable restraining element thereby allowing any sport balls captured in the ball capturing net to exit the distal dispensing end. For example, the ball funneling net described herein can improve training efficiency in sports, such as baseball and softball, as well as reduce damage to equipment and improve user experience.
A TRAINING DEVICE FOR BALL SPORTS
A training device for ball sports 1 comprises a launching section 3 comprising a pair of launch wheels 15, the launch wheels 15 having substantially parallel axes of rotation, and an adjustment mechanism 19 configured to adjust the vertical angle of launch of the launch wheels 15; a base section 2 supporting the launching section 3; the base section 2 comprising a base swivel 6 comprising an outer perimeter base 9 sized and shaped to provide a stable contact with the ground or other surface on which the base section 2 is resting, and at least one leg 10 connected to the outer perimeter base 9 and extending upwards to connect with and support the launching section 3 above the ground or other surface, the leg or legs 10 and launching section 3 mutually configured for rotational connection so that the base section 2 can freely swivel in substantially the horizontal plane.