Abstract: A device for feeding projectiles to a gun barrel includes a hopper for containing projectiles for feeding to a housing. The housing has an outlet communicating with the gun barrel and an indexed loading disk mounted at the outlet over a flat housing floor. The loading disk has a number of projectile spaces for receiving projectiles, and the disk is selectively positionable at index positions with the spaces over the outlet to gravity feed projectiles into the gun barrel. A trigger assembly is coupled to the loading disk and includes a ratchet to engage fins on the disk to sequentially rotate the disk to the index positions to drop projectiles into the barrel. The trigger also includes a projection for substantially continually engaging a corresponding slot on the disk for holding and stabilizing the disk in the housing during operation. The device is configured to be used to sequentially load a single paintball to a blowgun by successive pulls of the trigger.

Abstract: The present invention provides jam prevention systems for use with a paintball gun having a hollow infeed portion for receiving paintballs to be fired by the gun. The jam free feeder system generally includes a housing, a feed tube, a jam free feeder system, a sensor and a controller. The housing stores a quantity of paintballs. The feed tube is connected to the hollow infeed portion of the housing. The connected feed tube forms a paintball feed passageway for receiving and holding a stack of paintballs and sequentially delivering the paintballs to the paintball gun. A jam free feeder is provided, which is selectively operable to prevent jamming of paintballs in the housing. The sensor senses the firing of the paintball gun and a controller operates the jam free feeder in response to the firing of the paintball gun. Embodiments where the jam free feeder system is a hopper feeder system or a conveyor system are also provided.

Abstract: A rapid detachable structure for color ball toy gun includes anchor seats located on a barrel and a rapid detaching device located on a magazine. The rapid detaching device may be engaged or disengaged with the anchor seats quickly for users to replace a depleted magazine with a filled magazine rapidly. Users thus may play games smoothly without the interruption of removing and refilling the depleted magazines.

Abstract: A container which can be held and opened by one hand has a dome-shaped cap formed by a series of adjacent, contiguous and ogee-shaped segments resiliently held together by an elastic ring. When the cap is forced down over the opening rim of the vessel, the ogee-shaped segments separate to expose the vessel opening. A similar cap mounted in the inverse direction in the inlet of a paintball-shooting gun magazine opens when contacted by the rim of a paintball container from which the magazine is being reloaded.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for individually launching a plurality of projectiles. The device comprises a base having a launching mechanism housed therein, a feeder for transporting a projectile to the launching mechanism, and a receptacle attached to the base and operatively connected to the feeder, wherein the receptacle holds the projectiles until they are fed into the feeder.

Abstract: A high volume reservoir is adapted to hold up to 1000 or more paintballs. A harness or pack is provided to allow the reservoir to be unobtrusively carried by the operator of a paintball marker. A conduit is adapted to extend between the reservoir and paintball marker to continuously or selectively feed paintballs into the marker. A valve assembly mounted on the end of the conduit allows an operator to simultaneously load and fire the paintball marker.

Abstract: A paint ball gun includes an agitator mounted on the end of a rotary motor shaft. The agitator has a main shaft that extends transverse to the motor shaft, and two arch wires extending from the main shaft. Each arch wire begins at an end of the agitator shaft and extends vertically therefrom. The arch wires then wrap downward in a partial helix. The end of the arch wires opposite the vertical ends attach to the agitator shaft in a horizontal plane more centrally along the agitator shaft. Rotation of the motor shaft is controlled by an electronic circuit having a duration control which delays turning off the motor for a predetermined interval. The motor will remain activated continuously during a rapid firing sequence. In addition, a magnetic sensor is disclosed to trigger the electronic circuit into energizing the motor.

Abstract: An improved ball projecting apparatus for balls of various sizes, weights, materials and shapes, which utilizes air pressure supplied by a separate and independent source of flowing air, such as a leaf blower, to project balls. More specifically, it comprises of a barrel (10) of tubular form defining a linear air discharge axis. The barrel is attached on one end to the source of flowing air (11). A barrel hole (12) is formed in the barrel wall. Attached to the barrel is a tumbler casing (14). The casing has a hollow tubular formation. It has an entry hole (16) and a feed hole (19) formed on its wall directly opposite each other. The tumbler casing is attached and sealed at its feed hole to the barrel hole creating a path or feed port through the casing and into the barrel. Inside the casing is a tumbler (20) being of hollow tubular shell formation which is solid on all walls and ends except for a tumbler hole (22) formed on its wall, exposing the tumbler chamber into which a ball is deposited.

Abstract: A paint ball gun includes an agitator mounted on the end of a rotary motor shaft. The agitator has a main shaft that extends transverse to the motor shaft, and two arch wires extending from the main shaft. Each arch wire begins at an end of the agitator shaft and extends vertically therefrom. The arch wires then wrap downward in a partial helix. The end of the arch wires opposite the vertical ends attach to the agitator shaft in a horizontal plane more centrally along the agitator shaft. Rotation of the motor shaft is controlled by an electronic circuit having a duration control which delays turning off the motor for a predetermined interval. The motor will remain activated continuously during a rapid firing sequence. In addition, a magnetic sensor is disclosed to trigger the electronic circuit into energizing the motor.

Abstract: A new and improved paint ball projectile attachment for bows comprising a housing secured to the bow. The housing has a first chamber and a second chamber therein. The first chamber is integral with the second chamber. The first chamber has an opening extending out a front end of the housing. The second chamber has an opening extending out a back end of the housing. The housing has a top end having a downwardly extending chamber adjoining the first chamber. A bin is secured to the top end of the housing. The bin has an opening in a lower portion thereof. The opening aligns with the downwardly extending chamber of the top end. Included in the device is a firing mechanism. A plurality of paint balls are positioned within the bin. The plurality of paint balls are dispensed through the opening in the bin. The paint balls are singlely positioned within the first chamber for ejection out the opening therein by the firing mechanism.

Abstract: The feed tube for the gun has an inlet with an outlet transverse to the inlet and which is adapted to be coupled to the ball inlet of the gun barrel. The feed robe wall opposite the outlet effectively is closed. The feed tube also has a gas outlet in the feed tube opposite its outlet for directing gas toward the feed tube outlet for enhancing movement of a ball in the feed tube out of its outlet into the gun barrel.

Abstract: A bolt having an opening formed therethrough is slidably located in the bore of the gun. The bolt is held in a rear position by a sear with the bolt opening closed by a valve which extends into the bolt opening and engages a rear facing bolt seat. A passageway extends into the bolt opening by way of a valve for allowing pressurized gas to flow into the bolt opening. A trigger mechanism releases the bolt for allowing the bolt to be moved forward for allowing the valve and seat to separate for allowing the gas to flow through the bolt opening for forcing a ball from the rear end of the barrel out of the gun. Forward movement of the bolt is stopped by a lock member located in an aperture formed through the wall of the bolt which is forced outward into a slot of the gun body when the lock member reaches the slot. A cock valve located in a cock valve chamber releases gas from the cock valve chamber to force the lock member back into the bolt aperture and to force the bolt back to the rearward position.

Abstract: Practice batting of baseballs or the like is facilitated by apparatus having a gently inclined ball feeding trough from which balls drop onto a more steeply inclined ball acceleration chute. The chute has an upcurving lower end that directs the balls into a trajectory that initially extends upward and outward from the device. The lower end of the trough extends into a trough support at the upper end of the chute and is maintained in the operating position by pins on the trough or trough support which extend into slots on the other of the two components. The slot configuration enables pivoting of the trough towards the chute after a short longitudinal movement of the trough. This enables shipping, carrying and storage of the device in a much more compact form. Such compaction and set up of the apparatus prior to use does not require removal and reinstallation of threaded bolts, screws or the like.

Abstract: A magazine is provided for rifles and smooth barrel shoulder guns of the single shot type that use pellets as projectiles, that further have loading mechanisms which include a bolt, and that use as propellant either compressed air (pre-charged or provided by a pump), or carbon dioxide cartridges. The magazine of this invention will permit the operation of these guns as repeaters. The magazine stores pellets in reservoir ducts built into a body. The pellets are fed one at a time into a chute duct for rifle loading. The motion of the pellets within the magazine is propelled by gravity. A guide, which is part of the magazine, helps the operation of filling the magazine with pellets. This guide has a gate which prevents filling the magazine with pellets turned around backwards. The preferred embodiment of the invention may be attached and removed from the rifles by means of built-in clamps, or may be built onto a rifle especially designed to feature it.

Abstract: A ball delivering device for use in batting and racket swinging practice includes a stop and release assembly for reliably controlling the supply of an individual ball to a user's swing path while maintaining the remaining balls in a reservoir. The device is constructed to enhance safety and minimize risk or injury to unattended child users by incorporating an air pressure-actuated feeder for controlling the advancement of balls on an inclined, gravity-fed dispensing channel. The air-based feeder can be foot actuated so that the child may maintain a batter's stance while actuating the delivery of a ball to his swing path.

Abstract: A gas-powered paint ball gun in which a magazine is attached tangentially to a firing chamber or barrel. An opening is provided in the magazine so as to release back-pressure. Paint balls are fed into the firing chamber through the magazine in a direction tangent to the firing chamber and in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the firing chamber or barrel. The paint balls being loaded into the firing chamber each have a limited radial distance to travel and therefore have a limited travel period. The unique configuration enables each paint ball being loaded into the chamber to come to rest in the firing chamber more rapidly and thereby reduces the risk of the gun becoming jammed. Further, this configuration enables the gun to be fired more rapidly and with greater assurance that the gun will not jam.

Abstract: An essentially jam-free bulk loader for a semi-automatic paintball gun includes a storage housing positionable above the gun infeed opening and adapted to hold a quantity of paintballs to be gravity fed to and fired by the gun. Extending downwardly from a bottom outlet opening in the housing is a feed tube having a bottom end portion connectable to outer end of the gun infeed elbow. During normal operation of the loader, a series of paintballs fall into the tube and infeed elbow and are vertically stacked therein for sequential downward delivery to the gu through the inner end of the infeed elbow. If a paintball jam occurs within the storage housing above its outlet opening during firing of the gun, a void is created in a top end portion of the feed tube above the downwardly moving paintball stack. An optical sensor detects the void and responsively actuates a motor driven agitator member within the storage housing adjacent its bottom outlet opening.

Abstract: A training device for improving baseball, softball and tennis skills is provided by the present invention. More specifically, it is a versatile training device with a control box offering various functions to include a universal adaptor to leaf-yard blowers, fittings for extender and discharge tubes, a built-in stand and a control box design to cause a turbulence and capturing of air. The invention has various sized, curved and shaped tubing so as to throw various pitches, such as, softball loobs and coach's pitch loobs, fastballs, grounders, pop flys and believed curved balls. The invention has proven to help both the skilled and unskilled and has an optional designed automatic ball feeder, ball retriever and storage hopper.

Abstract: A toy vehicle launcher includes a generally planar base having a pair of angularly disposed downwardly sloped toy vehicle feed ramps coupled thereto. A pivotally supported carriage defines a pair of angularly disposed launching stations for receiving toy vehicles from the feed ramps. An operative mechanism is coupled to a slidable handle supported upon the base to pivot the carriage back and forth between the feed ramps to alternate each launching station between a vehicle receiving position in alignment with a feed ramp and a launching position. A movable spring-loaded striker is operative in response to handle motion to strike the toy vehicle positioned within the launch position and drive the vehicle outwardly from the launcher.

Abstract: A ball game practice unit has a striking unit provided in alternative positions for left and right-handed batters. A pivoted arm has a pad at one end which is struck downwardly to launch a ball upwardly for striking with a conventional bat. The unit has a magazine for storing several balls, a magazine extension for storing additional balls, and an insert for accommodating smaller balls. A magazine insert and an adjustably mounted ball stop on the other end of the pivot arm which allows the unit to launch balls of several different size.

Abstract: A magazine is provided for rifles and smooth barrel shoulder guns of the single shot type that use pellets as projectiles, that further have loading mechanisms which include a bolt, and that use as propellant either compressed air (pre-charged or provided by a pump), or carbon dioxide cartridges. The magazine of this invention will permit the operation of these guns as repeaters. The magazine stores pellets in reservoir ducts built into a body. The pellets are fed one at a time into a chute duct for rifle loading. The motion of the pellets within the magazine is propelled by gravity. A guide, which is part of the magazine, helps the operation of filling the magazine with pellets. This guide has a gate which prevents filling the magazine with pellets turned around backwards. The preferred embodiment of the invention may be attached and removed from the rifles by means of built-in clamps, or may be built onto a rifle especially designed to feature it.

Abstract: A magazine for gravity feed of frangible, paint-containing projectiles into a gas operated gun comprises a generally closed hollow container with a smooth inner surface, a filling port positioned on its upper portion and an outlet port positioned on a lower most portion. A transfer tube is attached externally to the outlet port to communicate the outlet port to a feed port on the gun. A channel is formed along the mixer surface so that the channel will direct projectiles along its length by gravity to its terminus at the outlet port. A raised portion of the inner surface around a portion of the circumference of the outlet port effectively forms a dam precluding flow of projectiles into the outlet port from the portion of the circumference so blocked.

Abstract: A container is adapted to be mounted on a paintball weapon to feed paintballs into the firing chamber of such weapon under the influence of gravity. The container includes a hollow housing in which a monolithic, one-piece helical ramp is located. The paintballs are fed onto the helical ramp and move under the influence of gravity from an inlet section to an outlet section for feeding the paintballs to the weapon. Elements located in the helical path defined by the helical ramp prevent the paintballs from moving backwards.

Abstract: A soft-throw machine is disclosed that dispenses softballs or baseballs or other articles one at a time (or alternatively, a selected plurality or multiplicity at a time) from a reservoir onto a chute for delivery to a hitting area where a person may strike the ball. In addition to its automatic dispensing, soft-throwing capability, the machine is specially designed for quiet operation to decrease the possibility that the striker or batter can anticipate delivery of the ball.

Abstract: A disk launcher includes a generally cylindrical housing having a handle depending downwardly therefrom. The housing further defines an interior cavity within which a launching shuttle is pivotally movable under the urging of an internal power spring. An opening in the housing is provided through which a disk may be inserted. A trigger mechanism permits the swept launching member to be locked in a launching position in which the inserted disk is positioned for launch. As the trigger mechanism is released, the launcher sweeps through a pivotal motion and hurls the disk outwardly through an exit slot in the housing. A magazine apparatus is provided which provides for the serially launching of a succession of disk objects.

Abstract: A machine for pitching baseballs includes two discs which are mounted on independently rotatable shafts. The discs have urethane at their peripheries. The spacing between the shafts can be adjusted in order to set the width of a gap between the discs. A ball feed mechanism inserts balls into the gap between the discs, which then fling the balls outward in a pitching style which depends upon the orientation of the pitching machine and the relative rotational speeds of the discs. In one embodiment, the ball feed mechanism employs a tubular feed body having a tapered outlet end which is positioned adjacent the gap. A piston in the feed body reciprocates to push the balls out. In another embodiment, the ball feed mechanism is mounted on a chassis having casters and is connected via a flexible hose to a feed nozzle positioned adjacent the gap. A reciprocating slider transfers balls from a storage chamber to an inverted-T tube arrangement, whence they are blown pneumatically through the hose to the feed nozzle.

Abstract: A toy stacking and kicking mechanism is disclosed having a support base, and a hollow post extending upwardly from the support base. The outer surface of the post is preferably designed and shaped as a brightly colored character, such as a clown or the like that is attractive to children, and the top of the post is designed as a hat. A plurality of generally U-shaped objects, each having a center opening and a passage extending from the center opening through the object at one end thereof, is stacked on the support base of the post. A foot member is pivotally mounted within the hollow post and is movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which the foot member passes through a slot in a wall of the post for engaging and kicking the lowermost object from the support base.

Abstract: A Gattling-like gun provides for manual control of the rate of firing of projectiles in the form of balls. The balls are fed through two successive nip regions formed by pinch rollers. The first is manually controlled by a crank to vary the rate of firing. Balls delivered from the first nip region are fired at high speed by a fast rotating, fixed speed second pinch roller. The gun fires balls at round targets supported on rotating carousels. Dislodged targets roll to the front of an enclosure for dispensing to the player. The balls are separated and fed by an Archimides' spiral to a feed tube connected to the gun.

Abstract: A toy gun for firing pellets wherein a trigger operates a firing mechanism which reciprocates a hammer through a firing point in the gun barrel to sequentially discharge pellets therefrom. The mechanism is operated by an electric motor which reciprocates the hammer by means of a cam and follower mechanism. This mechanism successively withdraws and releases the hammer which is continuously biased in a firing mode by a spring. Also disclosed is a pellet delivery system in which a magazine is slidably mounted on the gun body enabling one of a plurality of pellet sources in the magazine to be in communication with the barrel and firing mechanism.

Abstract: Ball dispensing apparatus for hitting practice includes a ball retainer for retaining and sequentially delivering balls to one end thereof, a lever rotatably mounted on a shaft at the one end of the retainer for engaging and lifting a ball from the retainer upon rotation of the lever, and an actuator for the lever for causing the lever to engage, lift, and project a ball from the retainer. A spring is attached to the retainer and to the shaft for accelerating the rotation of the lever into engagement with the ball. The tension of the spring can be varied thereby varying the trajectory of a ball lifted from the retainer.

Abstract: A ball tossing apparatus which automatically varies the direction of successive tosses is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a ball feeding unit and a ball tossing unit. The ball tossing unit comprises a housing which is pivotally mounted on a stand. A cam shaft is mounted in the housing and has a cam which extends through the bottom wall of the housing and rests on a tilt plate mounted on the stand. Rotation of the cam shaft and cam after each toss changes the tilt angle of the housing and therefore the direction of the next toss.

Abstract: A folding, wrist braced slingshot having a yolk, a hand grip that stores and dispenses ammunition for use and elastic members connected to said yolk. A wrist brace is frictionally, detachably and pivotably mounted to the hand grip near the base thereof. A pivotable closure means is provided the bottom of the hand grip. The closure swivels to dispense ammunition stored within the hand grip. The yolk comprises a forked portion and a doubled over stem portion wherein the inside base of the stem portion contains a slot and the hand grip contains an inwardly projecting member positioned within said stem portion so that the end thereof fits in said slot.

Abstract: A ball expelling device has a pair of soft, counter-rotating, coacting wheels mounted in a housing container on a pair of parallel spaced axles. A ball feed tube terminates in an outlet opening defined by a pair of opposed fingers at a location between opposed peripheral surfaces of the wheels. The ball feed tube is selectably positionable so that the outlet opening is moveable both in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheel axles. A drive assembly operates to counter-rotate the wheels and preferably includes a pair of step-cone drive pulleys mounted on a pair of parallel drive axles with the drive pulleys each connected by a v-belt to a respective multi-stage pulley mounted on a wheel axle. The drive axles are interconnected by a transmission so that rotation of one drive axle causes rotation of the other drive axle in an opposite angular direction with equal magnitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for ejecting a projectile having a rotatably driven carrier on which at least one radially arranged guide tube is attached and into which a feed path by means of a release device delivers close to the rotational axis of the carrier projectiles to be ejected. The device rotates at at least 100 rpm and the guide tube is at least 0.1 m in length.

Abstract: An inexpensive machine which pitches plastic baseballs. The machine is actuated by the user pulling, and then releasing a cord, as he brings his bat into a hitting position. The machine consists of a frame and two legs which form a tripod base, a ball rack containing a number of balls, a shaft attached to the frame, a torsion spring and a pitching arm are mounted on the shaft. A cord is attached to the pitching arm, and passes in the path of the balls restricting their movement until such time as the batter pulls this cord, causing a ball to roll into the arm and also spring loading the pitching arm. Release of this cord causes the machine to pitch the ball.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed which is operable to either set or serve balls on various trajectories to facilitate a player's practice of the game of volleyball. A guide trough supplies balls to the striking position, and a motor drives the apparatus to strike successive balls, at predetermined intervals, to provide maximum utilization of a player's time during practice. The apparatus may be adjusted to vary the force delivered to the balls and to vary the trajectory as desired.

Abstract: A toy gun simulating an automatic rifle adapted to shoot ping pong balls and comprising a pair of complementary molded hollow shells which are connectable along a central plane to form an elongated frame having a shoulder stock at the rear end, a short cylindrical barrel at the forward end, a stationary supporting handle extending downward from said frame intermediately of the ends thereof, a magazine extending upward and rearward from said barrel to hold a limited number of ping pong balls for discharge into said barrel, a firing ram supported by guide device for reciprocation within the interior of the frame and having a ball-engaging member on the forward end and a head on the rearward end provided with a slot perpendicular to the path of movement of the ram, a crank rotatably supported by one side of said frame and connected to a support rotatable therewith.

Abstract: A toy pistol for shooting ping pong balls having a frame with a barrel portion at the forward end and a handle extending downward from the rearward end, a magazine extending upward and rearward therefrom, a ram movable along longitudinal guide member in the frame rearward from said barrel portion, a compression spring to fire the ram forward, and a T-shaped combination trigger and sear having a head with a sear movable generally parallel to and below said guide members, the stem of said T-shaped member being movable into the forward portion of said handle and said head having pins on the opposite end movable in forward and rearward guide slots in the frame, the rearward slot extending rearward and downward, whereby near the end of rearward movement of said T-shaped member the rear end of said head is moved downward to disengage the sear on said head from said ram which is fired forwardly by said compression spring and a tension spring automatically restores the T-shaped member forwardly to starting position.

Abstract: A tennis ball server supplied by a motorized ball feeder comprised of a trough and rotating plate that feeds balls at one rate, and wherein the server is motorized to oscillate so as to vary elevation of trajectory at another rate and is also motorized to oscillate so as to vary the traverse at still another rate; the three dissimilar motorized rates providing unpredictably placed serves, with speed control over said serves.

Abstract: Ball propelling apparatus comprising a housing forming an in-line ball storage and supply path terminating at a ball stop positioning station, a ball launching hammer operable by a spring actuated propelling force as the spring is gradually cocked and moved over a dead center position to advance the ball hammer rapidly to knock the ball out of the apparatus under a controllable pressure.

Abstract: An amusement device simulating a holster for attachment to a belt or to the waistband of a garment. The holster retains a number of projectiles such as ping pong balls and projects the projectiles from the front of the holster each time the side of the holster is contacted by a force such as being hit or slapped with the palm of the hand by a game player.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in launching toy projectiles which comprises a piston or bellows having one side pneumatically connected to an operating mechanism and its opposite side arranged so as to be capable of launching a projectile from the apparatus when moved towards that projectile at a sufficient speed, the operating mechanism exhibiting a chamber whose size can be suddenly changed by squeezing, or a manual blow, or the release of a stressed spring, to alter the pneumatic pressure applied to the piston or bellows and displace it launchingly towards a projectile, the initial volume of the chamber preferably being rapidly restored to suck the piston or bellows back to substantially its initial position after each launching operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air rifle having a frame carrying a barrel, a magazine, a mechanism for transferring BB shot from the magazine to a firing position relative to the barrel, a valve, a gas cartridge loading assembly, and a trigger for momentarily opening the valve enabling gas under pressure from the cartridge to fire the BB shot from the rifle. The magazine includes a tube carried along the underside of the barrel. A spring-biased rod is carried within the tube and urges BB shot along the tube toward the transfer mechanism. An aperture in the tube opens into a passage in the frame and which passage terminates along the underface of the forearm stock in a recess having tapered wall portions whereby, upon inversion of the rifle, BB shot supplied to the recess is directed through the passage into the tube. The forearm stock also has a recess along its underside for receiving the gas cartridge.

Abstract: Tennis balls are introduced via a removable ball pick-up magazine through a ball port in a wall of a pipe into a stream of air flowing through the pipe towards a barrel. Air flows freely through the barrel and through the ball port past a normally open flexible flap valve which permits a ball to pass, but which momentarily seals against the curved wall of the pipe in response to back pressure after a ball passes through the port and chokes the free flow of air through the barrel.

Abstract: An improved compressed fluid ball projecting machine convertable for baseball and tennis practice. Improvements are in maneuverability, oscillation of the tennis barrel and immobility of the baseball barrel, remote control power for coaching options, replaceable and interchangeable barrels, variable timer speed control and a reliable hopper and feed system to enable firing of up to two hundred tennis balls unattended and without malfunction. Regarding the oscillation or lack of oscillation of the barrel, an actuator rod mounted on a rotatable disc causes such oscillation. When this rod is removed and the barrel clamped, this oscillation is eliminated. Concerning the variable timer control, such control is varied by two relatively movable rotatable notched discs. These dics contact a valve actuating mechanism and permit opening of a valve operated thereby only when the notches of the pair of discs are aligned and in contact with the valve actuating mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for propelling tennis balls at timed intervals from a storage hopper. The hopper has the configuration of an inverted truncated cone. At the base of the cone and in a position to receive balls from the cone, is a rotating ball selector. The ball selector is driven through a clutch which disengages at a predetermined torque. Upon disengagement, the clutch permits the drive to rotate for approximately one-half revolution without transmitting any torque to the ball selector, and then induces a partial counter-rotation or reverse motion of the ball selector by the action of a spring loaded pin engaging an inclined face on a clutch cam. .Iadd.

Abstract: A ball is delivered into the constricted space between, and thereby gripped frictionally by, a fixed pad and a confronting surface of a wheel which is driven at a speed predetermined to propel the ball therefrom at a selected velocity. The line on which the ball is propelled between the pad and wheel is adjustable about a horizontal axis and the speed of the wheel is variable so as to adjust the trajectory of the thrown ball. Further, the pad may be mounted above or below the wheel to reverse the spin on the ball and thus afford a variety of practice conditions.