Ball throwing and receiving system

Claim 2

A ball throwing and receiving system comprising a base, ball propeller means having a ball outlet and a motor drive, and ball receiving means, wherein the base includes means having upwardly extending therefrom opposed jaws and means for adjustably closing the jaws, wherein the ball propeller means is adjustably retained by closure of the opposed jaws to adjust the position of said ball outlet to change the direction of a propelled ball, and wherein the ball receiving means is adjustably supported by the opposed jaws and extends above the ball propeller means.

Claim 3

A ball throwing and receiving system comprising a base, ball propeller means having a ball outlet and a motor drive, and ball receiving means, wherein the base includes means having upwardly extending therefrom opposed jaws and means for adjustably closing the jaws, wherein the ball propeller means is adjustably retained by closure of the opposed jaws to adjust the position of said ball outlet to change the direction of a propelled ball, and wherein the ball receiving means is adjustably supported by the opposed jaws and extends above the ball propeller means.

Claim 4

A ball throwing and receiving system comprising a base, ball propeller means having a ball outlet and a motor drive, and ball receiving means, wherein the base includes means having upwardly extending therefrom opposed jaws and means for adjustably closing the jaws, wherein the ball propeller means is adjustably retained by closure of the opposed jaws to adjust the position of said ball outlet to change the direction of a propelled ball, and wherein the ball receiving means is adjustably supported by the opposed jaws and extends above the ball propeller means.

Claim 5

A ball throwing and receiving system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ball receiving means comprises a structure forming an enclosure with an opening therein for receiving balls, and wherein the opening is provided with a plurality of pendant streamers adapted for admitting balls into the enclosure and for deterring balls from leaving the enclosure.

Claim 6

A ball throwing and receiving system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ball propeller means comprises spaced side-plates with an arcuate ball-run connecting the side plates along lower portions thereof, one end portion of said ball run forming said ball outlet, wherein the motor drive comprises a motor mounted to one of the side plates, said motor drive having a motorshaft extending into the space between the side plates and a circular motor housing portion extending exterior the side plate to which mounted, and wherein a jaw is provided with a recess retaining the circular motor housing portion whereby the ball propeller means is pivotally adjustable in rotation about the axis of the motorshaft and between said jaws.

Claim 7

A ball throwing and receiving system as recited in claim 3, wherein the ball propeller means additionally comprises a pair of flexible circular members spacedly mounted on the motorshaft proximate said arcuate ball run, whereby balls are thrown when seized between said flexible circular members while the motor is operating, wherein the ball receiving means comprises releasable gripping means pivotally secured to the exterior of a jaw by said means for adjustably closing the jaws, a frame held by the releasable gripping means, and a conical netting means having the large end thereof held open by the frame and the small end thereof attached to the ball propeller means, whereby pivoting the releasable gripping means tensions the netting means between the frame and the ball propeller means.

Claim 8

A ball throwing and receiving system as recited in claim 4, wherein the frame is rectangular in shape at the large end of the netting means, thereby simulating the shape of a baseball strike zone.

Claim 9

A ball throwing and receiving system as recited in claim 4, wherein the rectangular frame includes a V-shaped member for extending the netting means rearwardly, thereby forming sloping roof and walls for trapping balls received.