Patents by Inventor Robert F. Harder

Robert F. Harder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Changeup controller for ball throwing machine
    Patent number: 9480900
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Jugs Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry K. Paulson, Robert F. Harder
  • Changeup controller for ball throwing machine
    Patent number: 9480899
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting. In some embodiments, the speed control module may utilize resistive braking to transition the rotary wheel from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Jugs Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry K. Paulson, Robert F. Harder
  • CHANGEUP CONTROLLER FOR BALL THROWING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20130319387
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Jugs Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry K. Paulson, Robert F. Harder
  • CHANGEUP CONTROLLER FOR BALL THROWING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20130087131
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting. In some embodiments, the speed control module may utilize resistive braking to transition the rotary wheel from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Jugs Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry K. Paulson, Robert F. Harder