DEVICE FOR RETURNING BALLS IN A PLAYING ARRANGEMENT OF A BALL SPORT

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for returning balls (24) in a playing arrangement (20) of a ball sport, having a goal wall (21), wherein a space (22) in front of the goal wall (21) and a space (23) behind the goal wall (21) are provided, wherein an inclined plane (3) is provided in the space (23) behind the goal wall (21), wherein the inclined plane (3) leads to a receiving position (4) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time, and having a dispensing mechanism, which, in a dispensing position of the lifting apparatus (5), acts on the ball (24) in such a way that the ball (24) can be dispensed into the space (22) in front of the goal wall (21). The invention further relates to a motor-actuatable lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time for use in a device (1) for returning balls (24) and to a method for returning balls (24).

Claims

1. A device (1) for returning balls (24) in a playing arrangement (20) of a ball sport, having a goal wall (21), wherein a space (22) in front of the goal wall (21) and a space (23) behind the goal wall (21) are provided, characterized by an inclined plane (3) in the space (23) behind the goal wall (21), wherein the inclined plane (3) leads to a receiving position (4) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time, and having a dispensing mechanism (6), which, in a dispensing position (7) of the lifting apparatus (5), acts on the ball (24) in such a way that the ball (24) can be dispensed into the space (22) in front of the goal wall (21).

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting apparatus (5) has a head (8), which can be moved between the receiving position (4) and the dispensing position (7) along a linear guide (10) by means of a motor-operated pulling element (12).

3. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one sensor (14), by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball (24) is in the receiving position (4).

4. The device (1) as claimed in claims 2 and 3, wherein the sensor (14) is assigned to the head (8).

5. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting apparatus (5) has a head (8), which can be moved between the receiving position (4) and the dispensing position (7) along a linear guide (10) by means of a motor-operated pulling element (12), and at least one sensor (14) assigned to the head (8), by means of which it is possible to detect whether a ball (24) is in the receiving position (4).

6. The device (1) as claimed in one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the sensor (14) is a photoelectric barrier.

7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 2 or claims 4 to 6, wherein two bars (13) are secured on the head (8), said bars being parallel and spaced apart and being arranged substantially perpendicularly to the head (8) and forming a holder for the ball (24) to be lifted.

8. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing mechanism (6) is a pivotable lever.

9. The device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a movable blocking apparatus (15) is provided, which is suitable for blocking access for a ball (24) to the lifting apparatus (5).

10. The device (1) as claimed in one of preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein a movable blocking apparatus (15) is provided, which blocks access for a ball (24) to the lifting apparatus (5) when the head (8) is not in the receiving position (4) of the lifting apparatus (5).

11. A motor-actuable lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time for use in a device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A method for returning balls (24) in a playing arrangement (20) of a ball sport, having a goal wall (21), wherein a space (22) in front of the goal wall (21) and a space (23) behind the goal wall (21) are provided, wherein an inclined plane (3) is provided in the space (23) behind the goal wall (21), wherein a ball (24) which rolls down the inclined plane (3) is received at a receiving position (4) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time and guided to a dispensing position (7) of the lifting apparatus (5), where a dispensing mechanism (6) acts on the ball (24) in such a way that the ball (24) is dispensed into the space (22) in front of the goal wall (21).

Description

[0030] According to the invention, it is possible for balls that are in play to be transferred to the space in front of the goal wall. In addition, there is the fact that the transfer of the balls takes place automatically and does not have the effect of interfering with or hindering the playing mode of the playing arrangement. Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention form the subject matter of the following figures and the parts of the description relating thereto.

[0031] In particular:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a playing arrangement in which the device according to the invention is used;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device according to the invention,

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus, wherein there is a ball in the receiving position;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus, wherein there is a ball in the dispensing position; and

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the action of one embodiment of the dispensing mechanism on the ball.

[0037] Identical reference signs are used for elements of the invention which are the same or have the same action. The illustrative embodiment shown represents merely one of several embodiments of the way in which the device according to the invention can be configured. The embodiment illustrated should not be interpreted as restricting the invention.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a playing arrangement 20 in which the device 1 according to the invention is used. The playing arrangement 20 comprises a goal wall 21, which divides the playing arrangement 20 into a space 22 in front of the goal wall 21 and a space 23 behind the goal wall 21. The device 1 according to the invention is provided in the space 23 behind the goal wall 21 and is used to transfer balls 24 from the space 23 behind the goal wall 21 to the space 22 in front of the goal wall 21. The device 1 according to the invention comprises an inclined plane 3, which ends at a receiving position 4 of a lifting apparatus 5 for the balls 24. The inclined plane 3 has a guide 9, ensuring that each ball 24 rolls in the direction of the arrow P to the receiving position 4 of the lifting apparatus 5. The guide 9 can, for example, be in the form of two parallel rails, trough-like etc.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device 1 according to the invention. The ball 24 rolls over the inclined plane 3 to the receiving position 4 of the lifting apparatus 5. The lifting apparatus 5 has a head 8, which can be moved along a linear guide 10 by means of a motor-operated pulling element (see FIG. 3) between the receiving position 4 and a dispensing position 7, which is indicated as a chain-dotted rectangle in FIG. 2. The motor-operated pulling element 12 is actuated by a signal from at least one sensor 14 assigned to the head 8 (see FIG. 3). The sensor 14 detects that the ball 24 is in the receiving position 4 in the lifting apparatus 5, thus allowing the movement of the head 8 of the lifting apparatus 5 to the dispensing position 7 to be started.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus 5, wherein a ball 24 is in the receiving position 4, and FIG. 4 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus 5, wherein a ball 24 is in the dispensing position 7. A motor 16 receives a signal for the actuation of the pulling element 12 from the at least one sensor 14 (e.g. photoelectric barrier) in the head 8. The ball is held by bars 13 (also illustrated in FIG. 2) during the movement of the head 8 from the receiving position 4 into the dispensing position 7. In order to prevent another ball (not illustrated) from moving from the receiving position 4 into the dispensing position 7 into the lifting apparatus 5 during the movement of the head 8, a movable blocking apparatus 15 is provided. The blocking apparatus 15 moves into the receiving position 4 when a ball 24 held on the head 8 leaves the receiving position 4 of the lifting apparatus 5. The blocking apparatus 15 prevents a malfunction or interruption of ball transfer occurring due to uncontrolled access of balls 24 to the lifting apparatus 5. The at least one sensor 14 likewise detects when the ball 24 has been transferred from the dispensing position 7 by a dispensing mechanism 6 (see FIG. 5). Here too, the motor 16 receives a signal for the actuation of the pulling element 12, and the head 8 is moved back into the receiving position 4.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the action of one embodiment of the dispensing mechanism 6 on the ball 24. In the embodiment illustrated here, the dispensing mechanism 6 is designed as a pivotable lever. When the head 8 with the held ball 24 has reached the dispensing position 7, the dispensing mechanism 6 is triggered, and the ball 24 is transferred through dispensing position 7 to the space 22 in front of the goal wall 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0042] 1 device [0043] 3 inclined plane [0044] 4 receiving position [0045] 5 lifting apparatus [0046] 6 dispensing mechanism [0047] 7 dispensing position [0048] 8 head [0049] 9 guide [0050] 10 linear guide [0051] 12 pulling element [0052] 13 bar [0053] 14 sensor [0054] 15 blocking apparatus [0055] 16 motor [0056] 20 playing arrangement [0057] 21 goal wall [0058] 22 space in front of the goal wall [0059] 23 space behind the goal wall [0060] 24 ball [0061] P arrow