Abstract A device for discharging spherical members such as tennis balls, baseballs, etc., comprises a discharge tube through which the spherical members are adapted to be fed, which includes a discharge end and an opposite receiving end having a receiving tube therein for the passage of the spherical members through the receiving tube and into the discharge tube. A fan is arranged to discharge air into a chamber for flow in the annular space around the receiving tube into the discharge tube, and it produces a reduced pressure at the inner end of the receiving tube so that spherical members such as tennis balls, baseballs, etc., which are delivered to the receiving tube are induced to flow into the discharge tube. The apparatus also includes a detent in the form of an elastic rubber sleeve member which arrests a ball after it is first induced to flow through the receiving tube and into the discharge tube toward the discharge end thereof. After the ball is arrested, the pressure within the tube builds up until the arresting force of the detent is overcome and the ball is hurled outwardly from the discharge end of the discharge tube.
Inventors
👤 John Nielsen
👤 Joseph H Church
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-03 05:34
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/40; A63B69/409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A ball throwing device comprising a cylindrical drum, support means for supporting each end of said drum on a base, said drum hAving its axis substantially horizontal and including a front end face with a ball throwing tube support bracket mounted thereon, a ball throwing tube pivotally supported on said bracket, said ball throwing tube having an intermediate flexible portion and an inner portion extending into said drum, a ball receiving tube in said drum extending into the inner end of said interior portion of said ball throwing tube, a fan in said drum providing an inducing air flow in the space between said receiving tube and the interior end of said ball throwing tube, a ball feed conduit extending into said drum from the top thereof, a trap door pivotally mounted adjacent the inner end of said ball feeding tube and being biased to a closed position, means for permitting one ball at a time to feed downwardly through said tube and against said trap door, said trap door being oriented to permit rolling of the ball from the delivery tube into said ball receiving tube whereby the inducing air flow causes the movement of the ball through said ball throwing tube, and detent means in said ball throwing tube for temporarily arresting said ball until the pressure therebehind builds up and for then hurling the ball outwardly from the discharge end of the throwing tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A ball throwing device comprising a cylindrical drum, support means for supporting each end of said drum on a base, said drum hAving its axis substantially horizontal and including a front end face with a ball throwing tube support bracket mounted thereon, a ball throwing tube pivotally supported on said bracket, said ball throwing tube having an intermediate flexible portion and an inner portion extending into said drum, a ball receiving tube in said drum extending into the inner end of said interior portion of said ball throwing tube, a fan in said drum providing an inducing air flow in the space between said receiving tube and the interior end of said ball throwing tube, a ball feed conduit extending into said drum from the top thereof, a trap door pivotally mounted adjacent the inner end of said ball feeding tube and being biased to a closed position, means for permitting one ball at a time to feed downwardly through said tube and against said trap door, said trap door being oriented to permit rolling of the ball from the delivery tube into said ball receiving tube whereby the inducing air flow causes the movement of the ball through said ball throwing tube, and detent means in said ball throwing tube for temporarily arresting said ball until the pressure therebehind builds up and for then hurling the ball outwardly from the discharge end of the throwing tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A device according to claim 1 including walls defining a back pressure chamber surrounding the inner end of said receiving tube at the interior of said drum around said ball feeding conduit, said drum having a remaining large area defining a back pressure supplementary area having a communication with said back pressure chamber and a valve means for regulating the communication between said back pressure area and said enlarged supplementary back pressure area.