US3584614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic ball thrower
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-12-04
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1988-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic ball-throwing device blows balls through a barrel, the balls being released at intervals by a release mechanism having a stop extending into the barrel, the stop being fixed to a bellows of the release mechanism with the bellows having an air bleed allowing the stop to be slowly pushed from the barrel to release each ball after a desired interval. A breech between a blower and the barrel has a tubular magazine that feeds bulls into it past a flap valve which opens by suction to admit a ball and closes by air pressure when a ball engages the stop of the release mechanism. The barrel contains a friction strip to impart a spin to thrown balls.
Inventors
- 👤 Tibor Horvath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:27
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/40; A63B69/409; A63B2069/402; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A pneumatic ball-throwing device for use with a blower or like source of air pressure, said ball-throwing device comprising, in combination, a blower, a magazine containing balls to be thrown, a barrel connected to said blower, means introducing balls from said magazine into said barrel to be blown therefrom, a release having a stop extending into said barrel arresting each ball for a time interval, said stop of said release being urged outward from said barrel by each arrested ball, said release having a bellows and an air bleed valve communicating with said bellows, said stop being connected to said bellows, air escaping from said bellows through said air bleed valve allowing each arrested ball to move said stop outward in said barrel until each arrested ball is released to be blown from said barrel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A pneumatic ball-throwing device for use with a blower or like source of air pressure, said ball-throwing device comprising, in combination, a blower, a magazine containing balls to be thrown, a barrel connected to said blower, means introducing balls from said magazine into said barrel to be blown therefrom, a release having a stop extending into said barrel arresting each ball for a time interval, said stop of said release being urged outward from said barrel by each arrested ball, said release having a bellows and an air bleed valve communicating with said bellows, said stop being connected to said bellows, air escaping from said bellows through said air bleed valve allowing each arrested ball to move said stop outward in said barrel until each arrested ball is released to be blown from said barrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said release has an air inlet flap valve in said bellows to rapidly admit air into said bellows after release of each arrested ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said means introducing balls from said magazine into said barrel comprises a breech through which air blows from said blower to said barrel, said magazine communicating with said breech so that air blowing through said breech into said barrel draws balls from said magazine through said breech into said barrel, and with the addition of means preventing air blowing from said breech into said magazine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said breech contains a baffle entering at an angle the flow of air through said breech from said blower to said barrel, said magazine entering said breech behind said baffle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said magazine is tubular and wherein said means preventing air blowing from said breech into said magazine is a ball entrance flap valve within said breech hinged to close over said magazine and open behind said baffle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said magazine contains a port adjacent to said breech and with the addition of valve means associated with said port allowing air to escape from said port and preventing air from entering said port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination according to claim 5 with the addition of a conical ball hopper attached to the end of said magazine, said hopper having a lower opening communicating with said magazine, a spiral spring winding upward in spirals of increasing radius from said lower opening, and a stop disposed over said lower opening, said stop being suspended from an inward extending upper coil of said spiral spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said magazine and said barrel are parallel and side-by-side, and with the addition of a base, a collar disposed at the rear of said base, an air inlet tube pivotally passing through said collar, a 90* bend connecting said air inlet tube to said breech and thereby to said barrel and said magazine, and means securing said ball throwing device at a desired elevation on said base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 8 with the addition of a front brace extending horizontally between said barrel and said magazine and with the addition of transverse stop ridges on said base, said means securing said device at a desired elevation comprisIng a front support pivotally connected to said front brace to be selectively lodged against one of said stop ridges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein said hopper is pivotally attached to said magazine and has a lower extension, and with the addition of a link extending from said lower extension of said hopper to said front support maintaining said hopper in a horizontal position as elevation of said ball throwing device is changed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |