Spring type ball projecting device with ball throwing time delay mechanism

Claim 2

Apparatus for propelling an article, comprising: article propelling member operative to move along a path; first means operatively connected to urge said article propelling member in a first direction along said path to propel an article; second means selectively operative to urge said article propelling member in a second direction along said path in opposition to said fiRst means; means operative in response to movement of said article propelling member to a certain location in said second direction to retain said member at said certain location in opposition to said first means; and release means for releasing the article propelling member, said release means being operative in response to the force applied to the release means by the article propelling member when the article propelling member is urged in a first direction by said first means to release said retaining means a certain period of time after termination of a user''s force on the second means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said second means is positionable at a remote location adjacent a trajectory of an article propelled by said article propelling member.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said second means includes control means selectively operable to urge said article propelling means in said second direction, said control means extending from said apparatus to be positionable at a location remote thereof and adjacent an expected path of an article to be propelled by.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said control means includes a pull member extending to said remote location and operative upon being pulled a predetermined distance beyond said remote location to urge said article propelling member into said retaining means at said certain location; and retracting means operatively associated with said pull member to return said pull member said predetermined distance to said remote location when said pull member is released after being pulled, so that such return of said pull member occurs independently of the subsequent release of said article propelling member.

Claim 6

Ball throwing apparatus comprising: a frame structure; a ball throwing member disposed on said frame structure for movement along a path relative thereto; resilient means connected to apply force urging said ball throwing member in a first direction along said path to throw a ball; means operatively connected to said ball throwing member to move said ball throwing member in a second direction along said path in opposition to the force applied by said resilient means; retaining member disposed to selectively engage said ball throwing member and operative in response to movement of the ball throwing member in said second direction until a certain location is reached where the ball throwing member is retained in a cocked position and delay means for causing the retaining member to delay complete release of said ball throwing member for a certain period of time after the application of a cocking force has been applied and the ball throwing force is free to act on said ball throwing member, said delay means being operative in opposition to the movement of the ball throwing member in the first direction by the force applied by said resilient means during the time the ball throwing member is acted upon by the resilient means until the ball throwing member is completely released by said retaining member.

Claim 7

Ball throwing apparatus comprising: a frame structure; a ball throwing member disposed on said frame structure for movement along a path relative thereto; resilient means connected to apply force urging said ball throwing member in a first direction along said path to throw a ball; means operatively connected to said ball throwing member to move said ball throwing member in a second direction along said path in opposition to the force applied by said resilient means; retaining member disposed to selectively engage said ball throwing member and operative in response to movement of the ball throwing member in said second direction until a certain location is reached where the ball throwing member is retained in a cocked position and delay means for causing the retaining member to delay complete release of said ball throwing member for a certain period of time after the application of a cocking force has been applied and the ball throwing force is free to act on said ball throwing member, said delay means being operative in opposition to the movement of the ball throwing member in the first direction by the force applied by said resilient means during the time the ball throwing member is acted upon by the resilient means until the ball throwing member is completely released by said retaining member.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein: said retaining member is disposed in said path at said certain location thereon to engage and retain said ball throwing member thereat.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said retaining member is disposed to be movable to a first position for retaining engagement of said ball throwing member in a cocked position and to a second position for complete disengagement of said ball throwing member; and said delay means is operatively connected with said retaining member to enable said retaining member to move from said first position to said second position only upon passage of said certain period of time.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein: said resilient means is operatively connected between said frame structure and said ball throwing member means; and selectively adjustable means interposed at the connection of said resilient means and said frame structure to vary the aMount of energy stored in the resilient means, said stored energy being applied to urge said ball throwing means in the first direction.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising: means operative to adjust the final position said ball throwing member can assume in said first direction relative to a reference surface on which said apparatus is disposed.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein: said last-mentioned means includes a base structure disposed to rest on the reference surface and operative to receive said frame structure; and adjustable means connected between said base structure and said frame structure to selectively adjust the position of said frame structure relative to said base structure.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein: said means to move said ball throwing member in a second direction includes a pull member extending to a location remotely positioned from said frame structure, said pull member being operatively connected to said ball throwing member to move said ball throwing member in said second direction to said certain location after being pulled a predetermined distance; and retracting means operatively associated with said pull member to return said pull member said predetermined distance when said pull member is released after being pulled, so that such return of said pull member occurs before the movement of said ball throwing member in said first direction and before complete release of said retaining member after said certain period of time.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising: ball receiving means for receiving a ball for projection, said ball receiving means being disposed on said ball throwing member; ball storing means disposed on said frame structure for receiving a plurality of balls; and ball feeding means operative in response to said ball throwing member being moved to said second location to transfer one of said plurality of balls from said ball storing means to said ball receiving means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising: ball striking member disposed on said ball propelling member to move along a predetermined path and to project a ball; means disposed on said frame structure for positioning a ball in said predetermined path in position propelling impact by said ball striking member; and means adjustably mounting said ball striking member to selectively vary the orientation of said ball striking member, so that a predetermined angular motion is imparted to said ball after the ball has been struck by said ball striking member.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 13, further comprising: means disposed on said frame structure for receiving a number of balls and for supplying said balls sequentially to a location adjacent said ball positioning means; and ball feeding means operative in response to said ball striking member being moved to said certain location to transfer one of said balls from an adjacent location into position on said ball positioning means so as to be impacted by said ball striking member.