Training device to deliver sports balls for practice

Abstract

A device capable of repeatedly delivering one or more sports balls to the user in a time- controlled manner that mimics a human toss, without the use of electronic controls or electronic regulators. The device may be customizable to fit the needs or preferences of the user, such as being collapsible, foldable, expandable, or otherwise able to increase or decrease its enclosed volume or capacity. Similarly, the height, angle, and elevation of the present invention may be adjustable through members that may also be collapsible, foldable, telescoping, or otherwise adjusted. Embodiments of the device include time control elements to restrict the delivery of the sports balls that utilize friction, air resistance, fluid resistance, magnetism, Eddy current braking, resonance, vibration, or any combination therein to influence the time control.

Claims

1. A system for delivering sports balls to a user comprising: a ball reservoir having one or more tubes, channels, pathways or compartments; and a ball portioning control that restricts and allows sports balls to exit the ball reservoir or device; and a time control that limits or restricts the frequency or interval at which the ball portioning control either restricts or allows sports balls to exit the ball reservoir or device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ball reservoir consists of a sleeve or enveloping geometry and one or more dividers to divide the enveloped geometry into multiple channels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ball reservoir is collapsible, foldable, expandable, flexible, or otherwise capable of increasing or decreasing its enclosed volume and/or capacity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the ball portioning control consists of a geometry such as a protrusion or inclined plane, revolved helically around a central axis.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more members to elevate one or more elements above the ground.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the elevating members are collapsible, foldable, telescoping, or otherwise able to reduce in length.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said time controls comprises: a first shaft having a first end and a second end; and a spring motor attached to the first shaft; and a freewheel connected or coupled to the second end of the first shaft; and a second shaft having a first end connected or coupled to the freewheel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user can rotate the first end of the first shaft with a handle.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising: a rate limiting element connected or coupled to the second shaft, wherein the rate limiting element utilizes friction, air resistance, fluid resistance, magnetism, Eddy current braking, resonance, vibration, or any combination therein to influence the time control.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising: one or more gears connected or coupled to the second shaft; and a rate limiting element connected or coupled to one of the gears wherein the rate limiting element utilizes friction, air resistance, fluid resistance, magnetism, Eddy current braking, resonance, vibration, or any combination therein to influence the time control.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention will now be described by way of illustration without limitation, according to a preferred embodiment, with particular reference to the figures of the annexed drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a simplified front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the ball reservoir is secured by one or more straps

[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the ball reservoir is formed through the combination of an outer sleeve and one or more dividers that form multiple cavities within the sleeve

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the ball reservoir is formed through the combination of an outer sleeve and one or more dividers that form multiple cavities within the sleeve

[0014] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the device is supported by a stand

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

[0016] It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to an element is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to a step or a means is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word or should be understood as having the definition of a logical or rather than that of a logical exclusive or unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0017] The present invention is a device that enables time-controlled and regulated delivery of sports balls in a manner consistent with a drop or soft toss, without the use of electronics or electro-mechanical components. Sports balls may consist of, but are not limited to, articles used in the performance of athletic activities, recreation, exercise, practice, that involve direct or indirection action with the user, either individually, or as a team of one or more users. Sports balls may further consist of, but are not limited to, spheres, spheroids, oblate spheroids, generally spherical objects, generally cylindrical objects, objects with one or more rounded faces, and/or cuboids. Examples of sports balls include, but are not limited to: tennis balls, footballs, Rugby balls, hockey pucks, baseballs, cricket balls, handballs, shuttlecocks, lacrosse balls, softballs, pickleballs, wiffle balls, and ping pong balls.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a ball reservoir holds one or more balls in preparation for release and supported by an optional strap [101]. Referring to FIG. 2, the ball reservoir is sub- divided into multiple channels through the use of one or more dividers [102], a ball portioning control [103] works in concert with the ball time control [105], including a rate limiter [104], to deliver only the prescribed number of balls at the prescribed time interval either directly or through a ball control element.

[0019] The ball reservoir consists of one or more tubes or channels that direct the sports balls toward the ball portioning control. In one embodiment, all balls are loaded into a single reservoir tube and are directed toward a linear arrangement (each ball following sequentially from the ball preceding it) through the use of baffles, vanes, protrusions, and/or recesses intended to direct the motion of the balls. Such direction and sorting may occur either at or before interaction with the ball portioning control.

[0020] In a second embodiment, the ball reservoir consists of a plurality of tubes or channels, wherein each channel maintains a sequential ordering of the balls. In this embodiment, the ball portioning control may: dispense the prescribed number of balls from one or more tubes while switching between tubes sequentially, at random, or as prescribed; dispense the prescribed number of balls from a subset of tubes, including a singular tube, until those tubes are exhausted and move on to the next tube sequentially, at random, or as prescribed; or through other prescribed orderings or sequences. Such channels may be, but are not required to be, formed by using dividers to divide one enclosed region into multiple enclosed regions.

[0021] In either embodiment the ball reservoir may be detached and reattached from the remainder of the device. The attachment and detachment may be accomplished through features including, but not limited to, clasps, hooks, adhesives, flexures, magnets, cords, ropes, and the like. While detached, the reservoir may, but is not required to, retain the loaded balls such that balls may only dispense from the reservoir once the reservoir is reattached to the remainder of the device.

[0022] In either embodiment the ball reservoir may include one or more folding, hinged, collapsible, and/or flexible, elements such that the volume enclosed by the ball reservoir may increase or decrease. Such elements may further include flexures, stretch, compression, or other deformation to effect change in the enclosed volume of the ball reservoir. Such elements may further modify the capacity of the device to hold, and/or deliver sports balls without affecting the enclosed volume of the ball reservoir by means of enabling/disabling, mobilizing/immobilizing, activating/deactivating, individual sports balls or subsets of the sports balls within the ball reservoir, such as those in tubes, channels, or otherwise divided.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the ball time control consists of elements to: receive mechanical input from a user [108], store mechanical energy [107], restrict the direction and output of the stored energy [106] and to limit the rate, time, and/or the duration over which the stored energy is released [105]. In one embodiment, the user applies a rotation to a spring, storing the potential energy within the deflection and displacement of the spring. During these initial rotations, as the user applies work to the system, a rotation-restricting element isolates the ball portioning control and rate limiter. The rotation-restricting element may act as a freewheel, in that the rotational action of two shafts is coupled only in one direction of rotation. By way of non-exhaustive example, a clockwise rotation of the input of the rotation-restricting element will transmit that rotation through to the output of the rotation-restricting element, while a counter-clockwise input rotation would not transmit the rotation through to the output. Similarly, the rotation-restrictive element may transmit counter-clockwise rotation from input to output, while non transmitting clockwise rotations.

[0024] The stored energy is then released through subsequent rotation of the ball portioning control as limited or allowed by the rate limiter [104]. The rate limiter may include, but is not limited to, magnetic eddy braking; viscous damping; variable or static friction; momentum; air resistance; and the associated gears, transmissions, and/or conversions to amplify or diminish the effects of one or more of the limiters. In one embodiment of the rate limiter, a sequence of compound gears may increase the rotational speed of a final shaft or component, relative to the rotational speed of the ball portioning control. This final shaft may be acted upon physically by contact with a solid, liquid, or gas, or electromagnetically to be caused to reach a more stable maximum speed and resist further increases. The stabilized speed would in effect control the rate at which energy is released, the overall speed of the ball portioning control and the rate at which balls are delivered from the device.

[0025] The ball portioning control and ball time control, together or separately, limit the number of balls released by the device as well as the frequency at which balls are released. Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment the ball portioning control consists of one or more geometry [103] rotating along an axis parallel, primarily parallel, and/or approximately parallel, to the longitudinal axis of the ball reservoir, said geometry consisting of one or more elements intended to restrict or permit the motion of the balls past the geometry. As the geometry rotates, the restricting and permitting elements directly or indirectly engage with, interact with, encounter, and/or influence the balls within the ball reservoir to permit or restrict the dispensing of said balls. In this embodiment the ball portioning control [103] may, but is not required to, work in conjunction with the elements of the ball reservoir [100, 102] to further restrict the motion of the sports balls.

[0026] In a second embodiment the ball portioning control consists of one or more geometry rotating along an axis perpendicular, primarily perpendicular, and/or approximately perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of the ball reservoir, said geometry consisting of one or more elements intended to restrict or permit the motion of the balls past the geometry. As the geometry rotates, the restricting and permitting elements directly or indirectly engage with, interact with, encounter, and/or influence the balls within the ball reservoir to permit or restrict the dispensing of said balls. In this embodiment the ball portioning control may, but is not required to, work in conjunction with the elements of the ball reservoir to further restrict the motion of the sports balls.

[0027] In a third embodiment the ball portioning control consists of one or more geometry rotating along an axis that is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ball reservoir, said geometry consisting of one or more elements intended to restrict or permit the motion of the balls past the geometry. As the geometry rotates, the restricting and permitting elements directly or indirectly engage with, interact with, encounter, and/or influence the balls within the ball reservoir to permit or restrict the dispensing of said balls. In this embodiment the ball portioning control may, but is not required to, work in conjunction with the elements of the ball reservoir to further restrict the motion of the sports balls.

[0028] The ball control element consists of zero or more elements to influences the direction, velocity, and rotation of the ball as it is delivered from the device. Such elements include, but are not limited to, tubes, channels, tracks, platforms, ramps, springs, or baffles to change its trajectory. In the absence of these elements, the ball will likely fall directly as dispensed from the ball portioning control and/or ball time control.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment the ball reservoir, ball portioning control, ball time control, and ball control element, as well as any and all subsets of these elements, (hereinafter referred to as the device) are attached to, or otherwise in contact with, a stand,

[0030] fixture, or other suitable mount (hereinafter referred to as the stand) [109]. The stand may consist of one or more elements that include, but are not limited to: rigid, collapsible, foldable, telescoping, sliding, locking, and/or interlocking members.

[0031] Through this attachment the device may be raised, elevated, or otherwise positioned above the ground. This elevation includes but is not limited to, static elevation wherein the device remains at an approximately fixed elevation during its setup, operation, and takedown, and dynamic elevation wherein the elevation of the device may change during its setup, operation, and takedown. The device may be raised, lowered, pivoted, rotated, translated, or otherwise moved, for a multitude of reasons including, but not limited to: facilitating user experience; facilitating the assembly, loading, unloading, setup, operation, takedown, and/or disassembly of the device; varying the performance of the device; varying the path or trajectory of dispensed sports balls; or in accordance with the user's preference.

[0032] The stand may further consist of one or more elements that either contact the ground directly or through one or more intermediary elements. The intermediary elements may be stationary or mobile, and include but are not limited to: carts, baskets, bags, elements of the playing or practice field such as nets, fences, cages, benches, or similar.