US3640263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic ball-throwing machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-04-22
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1990-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A ball-throwing apparatus for throwing balls utilizing pressurized air and a fast-action valve. The barrel and breech are enclosed by a rotating cage containing a supply of the balls wherein a single ball is selected from the tumbling supply of balls by an L-shape leg member attached to the cage and leading to an opening in the barrel. The device includes randomly varied ball trajectory structure which is in the form of an adjustable bleeder valve venting air, to the atmosphere at different rates to vary the pressure which is discharging the ball and, or, movable fingers which randomly project into the path of a discharged ball to carom the ball into a different path. The varied trajectory structure can be manually controlled or prearranged by timer-driven cam discs.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry V Rhodes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:04
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/40; A63B69/409; A63B47/00; A63B47/002; A63B2047/004; A63B2069/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A ball-throwing apparatus having a barrel the breech end of which is equipped with normally closed fast-action valve means controlling the flow of pressurized air to eject a ball from said barrel and comprising a member movable between a position closing said charging opening and a second position clear of said opening, said breech end having a ball-charging opening in the wall thereof, valve means closing said opening during ejection of a ball from said barrel, and means operatively associated with said valve means for moving the same to open position and for simultaneously selecting a single ball only from a group of balls and then discharging the same through the opening as said valve means reaches open position and for closing said valve means prior to abruptly opening said fast-action valve means, said ball-selecting means being rotatable about said barrel and cooperable with the exterior thereof to select a ball and elevate the same about one exterior side of said barrel until the selected ball can fall by gravity through said charging opening into the barrel breech.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A ball-throwing apparatus having a barrel the breech end of which is equipped with normally closed fast-action valve means controlling the flow of pressurized air to eject a ball from said barrel and comprising a member movable between a position closing said charging opening and a second position clear of said opening, said breech end having a ball-charging opening in the wall thereof, valve means closing said opening during ejection of a ball from said barrel, and means operatively associated with said valve means for moving the same to open position and for simultaneously selecting a single ball only from a group of balls and then discharging the same through the opening as said valve means reaches open position and for closing said valve means prior to abruptly opening said fast-action valve means, said ball-selecting means being rotatable about said barrel and cooperable with the exterior thereof to select a ball and elevate the same about one exterior side of said barrel until the selected ball can fall by gravity through said charging opening into the barrel breech.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ball-throwing apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of cage means rotatable about the axis of said barrel and operating to tumble a supply of balls in the path of said ball selecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ball-throwing apparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized in the provision of common means for operating said cage means and said ball-selecting means in unison.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
A ball-throwing machine having a barrel equipped with means for ejecting balls therefrom automatically in succession utilizing a charge of pressurized air, fast-action valve means for dumping a ball-projecting charge of air abruptly behind a ball in the barrel breech to project the same from the barrel and including switch means for controlling the actuation of said fast-action valve means, means for feeding a ball into the breech of said barrel and including means to operate said switch to actuate said fast-action valve means after a ball has been deposited in the breech of said barrel, and adjustable bleeder valve means for venting air to the atmosphere at different rates to vary the pressure in the charge of air released into the barrel breech thereby to vary the trajectory of the ball and the distance traveled by the ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
A ball-throwing machine having a barrel equipped with means for ejecting balls therefrom automatically in succession utilizing a charge of pressurized air, fast-action valve means for dumping a ball-projecting charge of air abruptly behind a ball in the barrel breech to project the same from the barrel and including switch means for controlling the actuation of said fast-action valve means, means for feeding a ball into the breech of said barrel and including means to operate said switch to actuate said fast-action valve means after a ball has been deposited in the breech of said barrel, and adjustable bleeder valve means for venting air to the atmosphere at different rates to vary the pressure in the charge of air released into the barrel breech thereby to vary the trajectory of the ball and the distance traveled by the ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A ball-throwing machine as defined in claim 4 characterized in the provision of power-driven compressor means normally operating at a uniform rate to supply pressurized air, means for storing the pressurized air between ball-throWing periods, and said adjustable bleeder means being positioned to vent air from the stored supply thereof between ball-throwing periods to limit the quantity and pressure of air available for each ball-throwing operation.
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) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |