Abstract: A compact pneumatically powered apparatus for automatically propelling game balls, especially tennis balls and the like intended to be stroked by a hand held racket or other implement, for training players in the proper return of the simulated ball action. Each ball is ejected from the apparatus with a combination of forward or straight-line acceleration together with a predetermined amount of ball spin to closely approximate the intentional spin placed on tennis balls when stroked obliquely by a tennis racket. This is achieved in the apparatus by a mechanism for flexing an elongate pliable member, such as a flexible belt, between an initial slackened looped condition and a straightened tensioned condition. The tennis balls are successively fed into a launching position contacting a surface portion of the slackened, looped belt that faces generally forwardly toward the direction of ball propulsion and is initially rearwardly of the final orientation of the tensioned belt.

Abstract: A tennis ball dispensing device for practicing tennis strokes that includes an inclined tubular chute for retaining and delivering balls to a flexible sock having an opening therein for permitting release of a ball therethrough, the sock being suspended from a pivotal ring located at the lower end of the chute. The balls move to the end of the chute under the force of gravity and are delivered into the sock to be releasably held therein as a result of the racket's striking the ball held in the sock, the ball being driven from the sock as a result of the racket striking the sock and ball. A ball escape indexing mechanism releases one ball at a time into the net as a result of pivoting of the ring when the ball and sock are struck by the racket.

Abstract: An improved compressed gas ball propelling machine having various barrel extensions each of which include a second breech and ball feeding mechanism so that the machine can be used to throw balls of various diameters. The breech and ball feeding mechanisms of each of the barrel extensions can be removably fastened to the original breech mechanism of the ball propelling machine in such a way as to be operatively connected thereto so the machine can propel balls of a diameter for which the machine was originally intended or balls of different diameters.

Abstract: An improved feeding apparatus provides reliable feeding of balls from the supply hopper to the feed tube of a conventional ball projecting machine. A disc with a selected number of apertures, large enough to hold up to two balls, rotates below the supply hopper and above a support plate to randomly receive balls from the supply hopper for delivery of the balls at regular, predetermined intervals to the feed tube. A curved, inclined ramp adjacent the feed tube opening insures that only one ball will be allowed to enter the feed tube opening should two balls reside in each disc aperture. The balls in the disc apertures roll along on the support plate and protrude above the disc as it rotates thereby stirring the balls in the supply hopper and reducing the chance of bridging or jamming.

Abstract: A teeing device utilizing hopper storage of golf balls for gravitational passage of a ball past a toggle like ball release mechanism for ball placement on a reciprocating tee assembly. A platform supports the hopper structure and provides a supporting surface for the golfer and is preferably supported in a removable manner enabling reorientation of the platform and hopper to suit right or left handed golfers with respect to a driving range or the like. An oscillating arm is driven through a cycle of operation by a circular cam plate on which a switch arm rides. A mercury switch carried by the arm closes a motor circuit upon the golfer momentarily depressing one end of the switch arm with the rotating cam plate thereafter retaining the switch arm in an inclined, switch closing position until a follower on the switch arm again seats within a cam plate recess.

Abstract: A cartridge magazine for power tools by virtue of which the loading of the tool with a cartridge is semi-automated and a great number of such cartridges are stored in this magazine in readiness for a rapid reloading of the tool. The cartridges are contained behind one another in a channel and the part constituting the channel is tiltable between two end positions, in one of which the channel communicates with a cartridge chamber in the inner end of the barrel of the tool.