US3585978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centrifugally operated ball projecting device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-04-12
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1988-04-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for throwing tennis balls or the like comprises a barrel rotatable about a horizontal axis which intersects the barrel axis. The barrel has an inlet whose center is located on the horizontal axis. A blocking device in the barrel is actuated at variable intervals to permit a ball which enters the barrel by way of the inlet to issue from one end of the barrel by centrifugal force. The barrel is turnable about a vertical axis to change the planes of trajectories of balls and is rotated by a variable-speed drive so that the operator can change the trajectories independently of the angular position of the barrel during ejection of balls.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Hurlimann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:02
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for throwing balls or other types of projectiles, comprising a tubular barrel having an outlet at least at one end thereof and a projectile admitting inlet intermediate its ends; drive means for rotating said barrel about an axis of rotation which is inclined with reference to the axis of the barrel; blocking means having a portion movable into the barrel to a blocking position between said outlet and said axis of rotation to thus hold a projectile against ejection by centrifugal force and to a retracted position in which it allows a projectile to issue from the barrel by way of said outlet; anD intercepting means arranged in said barrel between said inlet and said blocking means and movable with said blocking means between an operative and inoperative position to respectively intercept movement of the projectile toward said outlet when said blocking means is in the retracted position and to permit passage of said intercepted projectile toward said outlet and engagement thereof with said portion of said blocking means when the latter is in said blocking position so that said projectile may then be ejected from said outlet upon said movement of said blocking means to said retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for throwing balls or other types of projectiles, comprising a tubular barrel having an outlet at least at one end thereof and a projectile admitting inlet intermediate its ends; drive means for rotating said barrel about an axis of rotation which is inclined with reference to the axis of the barrel; blocking means having a portion movable into the barrel to a blocking position between said outlet and said axis of rotation to thus hold a projectile against ejection by centrifugal force and to a retracted position in which it allows a projectile to issue from the barrel by way of said outlet; anD intercepting means arranged in said barrel between said inlet and said blocking means and movable with said blocking means between an operative and inoperative position to respectively intercept movement of the projectile toward said outlet when said blocking means is in the retracted position and to permit passage of said intercepted projectile toward said outlet and engagement thereof with said portion of said blocking means when the latter is in said blocking position so that said projectile may then be ejected from said outlet upon said movement of said blocking means to said retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises means for changing the rotational speed of said barrel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising control means for moving said portion of said blocking means between said blocking and retracted positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said axis of rotation is substantially horizontal and wherein said control means comprises means for effecting movement of said portion of said blocking means to retracted position in different positions of inclination of said barrel with reference to a horizontal plane to thereby change the trajectories of projectiles issuing by way of said outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said axis of rotation is a substantially horizontal axis; and further comprising means for moving the barrel about a substantially vertical axis to thereby change the planes of trajectories of projectiles issuing by way of said outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising control means including means for effecting movement of said portion of said blocking means to retracted position at predetermined intervals and means for immediately returning said portion of said blocking means to blocking position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said axis of rotation is a substantially horizontal axis and wherein said barrel is turnable about a substantially vertical axis to change the planes of trajectories of projectiles issuing by way of said outlet, and further comprising first adjustable control means for effecting movement of said portion of said blocking means to retracted position at variable intervals, second adjustable control means for turning said barrel about said vertical axis, and regulating means for adjusting said first and second control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrel is an elongated cylinder and wherein said axis of rotation is normal to and intersects the axis of said cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said axis of rotation intersects the axis of said cylinder midway between the ends of said barrel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising stop means provided in said barrel to block the travel of projectiles toward the other end of the barrel, said stop means being disposed between said other end and said inlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet has a center located on said axis of rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of said blocking means is movable to blocking position by way of said outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said axis of rotation is a substantially horizontal axis and wherein said barrel has two outlets, one at each end thereof, and further comprising second blocking means having a portion movable into the barrel to a blocking position in which it holds a projectile intermediate said inlet and said other end and to a retracted position in which the projectile is free to issue from the barrel by centrifugal force by way of said other end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a pair of control means for respectively moving said portions of said blocking means between blocking and retracted positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of said blocking means is remote fRom said outlet in the blocking position thereof and wherein said projectiles are spheres which are caused by the barrel to spin during travel toward said outlet on movement of said portion of blocking means to retracted position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said intercepting means is coupled to said blocking means to intercept a projectile in the blocking position of said portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said intercepting means comprises a two-armed lever one arm of which can hold a projectile on entry into the barrel by way of said inlet in the inoperative position of said intercepting means and the other arm of which can hold said projectile immediately upstream of said portion of said blocking means in the operative position of said intercepting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said one arm in said operative position of said intercepting means intercepts movement of one projectile toward said inlet while said blocking means at the same time prevents movement of said one projectile out of said outlet of the barrel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an upright column supporting said barrel and said drive means for angular movement about a vertical axis.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |