System for expelling and collecting balls and related operating process

Abstract

An omnidirectional system (1) is described, for expelling and collecting balls, adapted to reproduce a real playing and/or training dynamics, such system (1) being equipped with at least one closing element (8) connected to at least one expelling device (2) of the system (1) arranged orthogonal to the expelling device (2) when expelling at least one ball from the system (1), the ball bouncing on an upper surface of the closing element (8) going towards at least one user; and with at least one net element (7) of at least one collecting element (3) of the system (1).

Claims

1. An omnidirectional system for expelling and collecting balls adapted to reproduce a real playing and/or training dynamics, the system being equipped with: at least one closing element connected to at least one expelling device arranged orthogonal to the expelling device when expelling at least one ball from the system, the ball bouncing on an upper surface of the closing element going towards at least one user; at least one net element of at least one collecting element, the net element being composed of a first net element fastened on its top and side to a chassis, and on its bottom not constrained to the chassis, and of a second net element placed before the first net element and fastened on its top and side to the chassis, and on its bottom to at least one channeling means; the at least one channeling means connected on its perimeter to the chassis, and equipped at a center of the channeling means with at least one opening, adapted to be connected to at least one collecting means of the expelling device for collecting the ball, the channeling means further allowing to transport the system by allowing a closure of the collecting element; wherein the expelling device is equipped with: at least one case equipped on its bottom with a plurality of castor wheels adapted to move the expelling device, and equipped on its front with the closing element, the lower portion of the closing element being connected to a front lower edge of the case; the collecting means, adapted to be connected to a recess of the collecting element; two or more propelling means, adapted to enable expelling the ball; a plurality of motors, adapted to manage the two or more propelling means, to rotate and to incline the expelling device; an electric apparatus adapted to electrically and mechanically manage the plurality of motors and the two or more propelling means, through at least one managing unit, regulating a launching speed of the ball, managing a launching timing of two or more balls, a rotation, a height and a slant of the expelling device, allowing the user to perform a different training and/or play by making it quicker or slower; and at least one framework, adapted to include the collecting means, the two or more propelling means, the plurality of motors, the closing element, the framework being equipped on its bottom with a plurality of mechanical devices, adapted to enable the rotation of the expelling device, and on its front being equipped with at least one constraining means adapted to enable a clockwise slant of the expelling device, through the plurality of motors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the collecting element is composed of: a chassis, adapted to support the collecting element; the net element, adapted to accompany a movement of the ball launched by the user, dampening and decreasing the speed of the ball, preventing its forward bouncing.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the channeling means are composed of at least one soft element connected on their perimeter to the chassis, and equipped at their center with at least one opening, adapted to be connected to at least one collecting means, of the expelling device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the expelling device is adjustable in height, through the plurality of motors, enabling an arrangement of the channeling means next to an upper portion of an official playing net, really simulating the play dynamics and enabling a training of the user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electric apparatus is composed of: at least one displaying means, arranged on the expelling device, adapted to allow the user, in manual mode through touch-screen, or in W-Fi mode through an application on at least one mobile device, to set at least one training and/or playing program, regulating slant, rotation of the expelling device and speed of the ball, and the launching timing; the managing unit; a plurality of sensors; and a wireless data transmission module, adapted to manage the expelling device by the user from at least one remote place, through the use of at least one application on a mobile device, and adapted to manage a communication of two or more of the systems, enabling a multiple and simultaneous training by two or more users.

6. An operating process of the system for expelling and collecting balls of claim 1, the process comprising the following steps: providing the system; providing the plurality of motors of the electronic apparatus and placing the system depending on the training and/or playing program set by the user; expelling a first time the ball from the expelling device through the two or more propelling means; beating a first time by the user the ball along the direction of the collecting element; impacting the ball simultaneously with the net element, the impact inducing an outward extension, in parallel with the ground, of the first net element, enabling to dampen speed and trajectory of the ball; channeling, through the second net element, the ball next to the recess, enabling its collection; housing the ball in the collecting means; expelling a second time the ball from the expelling device through the two or more propelling means; beating a second time by the user the ball along the direction of the collecting element; and cyclically operating the system till a voluntary stop by the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of a device for expelling and collecting balls of the system according to the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the expelling device balls of the system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) With reference to FIG. 1, the omnidirectional system 1 for expelling and collecting balls, according to the present invention, is equipped with an expelling device 2 and with a collecting element 3 of at least one ball, preferably a tennis ball.

(5) Advantageously, the system 1 for expelling and collecting balls is adapted to reproduce the real dynamics of at least one sports activity with racket, such as for example, tennis, or other similar one, and in particular is adapted to launch at least one ball and to collect the ball, previously expelled and afterwards hit through a racket by at least one user.

(6) The collecting element 3, at the same time adapted to decrease the speed of the ball and to collect the ball inside the expelling device 2, is composed of:

(7) a chassis 5, adapted to support the collecting element 3;

(8) at least one net element 7, adapted to accompany the movement of a ball launched by at least one user, dampening and decreasing the ball speed, preventing its forward bouncing; and

(9) at least one channeling means 11, preferably shaped as a pyramid, composed of a soft element such as, for example, a bag, or other similar one, connected on its perimeter to the chassis 5, and equipped at its center with at least one opening 11a, adapted to be connected to at least one collecting means 4, such as, for example, a basket or other similar, one, of the expelling device 2, enabling to collect the ball; moreover, such channeling means 11 enable to transport the system allowing an easy closure of the collecting element 3.

(10) Advantageously, the net element 7 is composed of a first net element fastened on its top and side to the chassis 5, and on its bottom not constrained to the chassis 5, and of a second net element placed before the first net element and fastened on its top and side to the chassis 5, and on its bottom to the channeling means 11; moreover, the second net element is equipped with a plurality of sensors adapted to detect technical information, such as, for example, trajectory, speed, etc., of the ball hit by the user, providing information processed by a software system software, useful for managing a customized training program.

(11) The expelling ball-launching device 2 is equipped with:

(12) at least one case 12 equipped on its bottom with a plurality of castor wheels 14 adapted to move the expelling device 2 and equipped on its front with at least one closing element 8, such as, for example, a door or other similar one, and the lower portion of the closing element 8 is connected to the front lower edge of the case 12;

(13) collecting means 4, adapted to be connected to the opening 11a of the collecting element 3;

(14) two or more propelling means 6, such as, for example independently actuated rollers, adapted to enable expelling the ball;

(15) a plurality of motors 16, such as for example direct current motors, adapted to manage the propelling means 6, to rotate, and to incline the expelling device 2;

(16) an electric apparatus adapted to electrically and mechanically manage the plurality of motors 16 and propelling means 6, through at least one managing unit, regulating the launching speed of the ball, managing the launch timing of two or more balls, the rotation, the height and the slant of the expelling device 2, allowing the user to intensify or slowing down his training and/or play; and

(17) at least one framework 10, adapted to include the collecting means 4, two or more propelling means 6, the plurality of motors 16, and the closing element 8.

(18) Advantageously, the framework 10 is equipped on its bottom with a plurality of mechanical devices 13, such as for example bearings or other similar ones, adapted to enable the rotation of the expelling device 2, and on its front is equipped with at least one constraining means 9, such as, for example, a single or multiple hinge, adapted to enable the clockwise slant of the expelling device 2, through the plurality of motors 16.

(19) In particular, the closing element 8, when using the system 1, is arranged orthogonal to the expelling device 2, when expelling the ball from the expelling device 2 through the propelling means 6, the ball bounces onto the upper surface of the closing element 8 before going towards the user, simulating the real play dynamics, and allowing to use the system 1 and enabling the user to train and/or play in an area with any physical size and condition, such as, for example, made of clay ground, grass, concrete, or synthetic material, outside or covered; moreover, simultaneously regulating manually or from a remote place the slant of the expelling device 2, the impact of the ball onto the upper surface of the closing element 8, and will confer the ball such an attitude as to simulate a volley shot, a semi-volley shot or a counterbalance shot, or a smash or a passing shot along a line, or a crossed passing shot, etc.

(20) Advantageously, it is possible to regulate the height of the expelling device 2, and consequently of the system 1, by arranging the channeling means 11 next to an upper portion of a regulatory game net, in order to really simulate a play dynamics and enabling the user aerobic and reflex training.

(21) The electric apparatus is mainly composed of:

(22) at least one displaying means, such as for example a tactile display or other similar one, arranged on the expelling device 2, adapted to allow the user, in manual mode through a touch-screen, or through a remote control, or in Wi-Fi mode through an application on at least one mobile device, to set a training and/or playing program, regulating inclination and rotation of the expelling device 2 and ball speed, launching timing, etc.;

(23) the managing unit, such as, for example, a programmable logic controller, or other similar one;

(24) a plurality of sensors, such as for example, position sensors or limit sensors, adapted to verify the device movements, proximity sensors adapted to detect the presence of the ball inside the collecting means 4, tachometers adapted to verify the operating speed of the plurality of motors 16, etc.; and

(25) a wireless data transmission module, such as, for example Bluetooth, or other similar one; the wireless data transmission module is adapted to manage the expelling device 2 by the user from remote, through a remote control, or through the use of the application on a mobile device, and adapted to manage the communication of two or more expelling and collecting systems 1, allowing a multiple and simultaneous training by two or more users.

(26) The operating process of the expelling and collecting system 1 comprises the following steps:

(27) providing the system 1;

(28) providing the plurality of motors 16 of the electronic apparatus and placing the system 1 depending on the training and/or playing program set by the user, regulating slant, rotation of the expelling device 2 and ball speed, timing interval, etc.;

(29) expelling a first time a ball from the expelling device 2 through the propelling means 6;

(30) beating a first time the ball by the user along the direction of the collecting element 3;

(31) impacting the ball with the net element 7; such impact induces an outwards extension in parallel with the ground of the first net element enabling a dampening of the ball speed and trajectory;

(32) channeling, through the second net element, the ball next to the opening 11a enabling its collection;

(33) housing the ball in the collecting means 4;

(34) expelling a second time the ball from the expelling device 2 through the propelling means 6;

(35) beating a second time by the user the ball along the direction of the collecting element 3; and

(36) cyclically operating the system 1 till it is voluntarily stopped by the user.

(37) The invention has the following advantages:

(38) it allows a long training also without interruption, since the ball-collecting element of the system allows collecting the balls simultaneously with the training performance;

(39) it allows each system user a customized training depending on sex, age, technical skills, enabling a computerized training management;

(40) it guarantees the training of the system user on any area, both outside and inside, through the ball bouncing on the mobile element of the system, enabling to improve technique and user reflexes;

(41) it allows the system user to launch balls in any direction, since speed, training program, etc., are adjustable by the user;

(42) it allows a real reproduction of a play dynamics, being the expelling device of the system arranged at a height equal to that of an official net; and

(43) it enables the transport, since the system is equipped with wheels and is capable of being completely disassembled, and further has minimum overall sizes, not needing a ball dispenser.