Abstract: An attachment to a ball throwing machine includes a stationary sleeve secured to the ball throwing machine barrel, a movable sleeve mounted for rotation onto the stationary sleeve, and a rotatable deflecting frame of two T-shaped levers with rollers, mounted on said movable sleeve. Rotation of the frame is restricted by stops, and at least one retainer is provided to lock the frame in one of the extreme positions, the retainer having the form of a flat spring connected to one of said levers and controlled by a cable through a helical compression spring.

Abstract: A launcher for flying discs of the type having an integral circumferential rim with an inner edge, the launcher having a rigid handle, an arm pivoted at the outer end of the handle, a basket portion for cradling a flying disc at the end of the arm, and a pin pivoted to the outer end of the arm and dimensioned to engage the inner edge of the rim of a flying disc positioned in the basket portion, the pin serving to apply force to the disc as the arm is swung pivotally outward during a casting motion by the user, the pin pivoting downwardly to allow the disc to freely escape the basket portion at the outer end of the casting stroke.

Abstract: A ball projecting apparatus is described, including a spring biased plunger for striking a hollow ball positioned within a guide tube to project the ball out of such tube. The ball projecting apparatus is useful as a baseball hitting trainer. An adjustment device is provided for changing the position where the plunger inpacts that ball to enable the path of the ball to curve to the left or right to simulate baseball pitching. Also the top half of the guide tube is removed to reduce its resistance to lateral spin of the ball across its direction of travel. In one embodiment, the plunger impact position is adjusted by changing the angle of the plunger shaft relative to the ball guide tube axis. In another embodiment, this adjustment is achieved by supporting the plunger shaft substantially parallel to the guide tube axis but spaced therefrom and rotating such plunger shaft about such axis into different rotational positions relative to the center of the ball.

Abstract: A baseball game apparatus includes a pitching mechanism including an upwardly inclined slotted track extending above the playing surface for pitching a ball in a lofted trajectory toward home plate, the angle of inclination being variable to adjust the loft of pitched balls. The pitching mechanism is adapted to receive a plurality of interchangeable pitching arms for varying the characteristics of the pitching mechanism. Each pitching arm includes one or more variously angled surfaces for controlling the trajectory of the pitched ball. A rotatable batting member is disposed adjacent home plate and includes a control lever disposed below the playing surface, and a depressible bunt control mechanism selectively engages the control lever for stopping the rotatable batting member generally over home plate to bunt a pitched ball.

Abstract: A tennis ball emitting or serving device includes a ball emitting cylinder having controllable horizontal and vertical angles. The ball is driven by contact with the peripheral surfaces of rotating ball emitting wheels or pulleys. To impart various directions and speeds of spin to the ball, the ball emitting wheels may be rotated at various speeds and the axes of the wheels may be independently disposed at variable angles.

Abstract: An apparatus for expelling baseballs or other game balls with a considerable backspin. In the usual case, where the game ball is shot out generally parallel to the ground, the ball trajectory starts out relatively straight due to the rather large expulsion force, and thereupon when the expulsion force is almost spent, the backspin takes over, and the game ball will suddenly rise above the ground. This simulates a real life baseball pitcher whose fast ball has a "live hop". The apparatus features a rotating flywheel with an upper guide chute, in which is disposed a rubber pad to provide a constriction of lesser dimension than the diameter of the game ball, so that the game ball when fed onto the flywheel is passed through the guide chute, for subsequent expulsion in a generally linear, e.g. horizontal, trajectory, but with subsequent upward movement due to the backspin which is caused by the game ball passing through the constriction.

Abstract: An apparatus for shooting a curve ball used in the practice of baseball, table tennis, or tennis. A conventional shooting mechanism substantially comprises a flexible hose through which a ball is carried under air pressure, a loop holder which supports the shooting end of the flexible hose in a loop shape and a support strut which rigidly supports the loop holder. A novel feature of this invention is that the apparatus is further provided with a device which can rotate and tilt the loop holder so that the ball shot from the shooting end of the flexible hose can be imparted a desired kind of spin.

Abstract: A football passer is provided for passing a football in spiral fashion following a pre-set time delay from an apparatus which comprises a frame, a rigid guide rod fixed at one end on said frame and extending angularly upward therefrom to a free end, an elongate elastomeric sling fixed at opposite ends to said frame spaced on opposite sides of said free end of said guide rod, a latch on said frame adjacent said fixed one end of the guide rod, said latch engaging said elastomeric sling intermediate its ends when said sling is stretched along the guide rod to said one end, timer control on the frame at said one end of the guide rod controlling the release of said latch, and a football having a central axial end to end passage slidably received on said guide rod.

Abstract: A baseball pitching machine includes a pair of adjacent ball engaging wheels each provided with a groove or concave surface formed in a body of an elastomeric material. As the baseball is received between the grooved wheels, the groove edges are laterally distorted, since the edges are unrestrained, to grip the baseball securely on opposite sides thereof and pitch the baseball in an accurately predetermined direction.

Abstract: A ball throwing machine which includes a pair of rotary discs supported for rotation in angularly opposed relation so as to laterally engage a ball and effect propulsion thereof, each disc being composed of a back-up plate with an annular groove and a flat resilient section thereover, the discs being mounted on connected shafts enabling rotation by a single prime mover, and being capable of offset connection so that the ball will be engaged by the discs at different radial positions.

Abstract: One of a pair of laterally spaced ball projecting wheels is adjustable laterally with respect to the other for accommodating the projecting of balls of different diameters, and a ball feed chute associated with the wheels is formed in lateral segments one of which is movable laterally with the laterally adjustable wheel for varying the width of the feed chute to correspond with the spacing between the wheels.

Abstract: A pitching or batting device for a plurality of balls and the like includes an arm connected at one end to a torsion wind-up device and adapted at its other end to engage a holding cam. The cam is freely rotatable and is spun upon release of the arm tip therefrom so that it assumes a different random position in each cycle. When the arm holding a ball is released, the wind-up mechanism causes the arm to swing and engage a braking device which suddenly slows the arm, causing a pitched ball to be propelled through space. The cam causes the intervals between pitches to be random. The braking device is continuously adjustable in angular position, and a ball reverse spinning device may be employed which also operates randomly in conjunction with variations in height of the braking device.

Abstract: A hand held device is provided for use in launching and catching a disc that is spun back and forth between players. The device includes a handle at one end of an elongated curved head having closely spaced parallel side walls on either side of a curved track to form a slot. The disc is placed in the slot near the handle end and is launched by a horizontal whipping motion causing the disc to roll down the track and spin away from the free end of the head towards the other player. To facilitate catching the disc, the sidewalls of the head may be flared outwardly to a certain extent at the mouth of the slot. The head may also be provided with a second elongated disc receiving receptacle which is located at the end of the track opposite the handle, and oriented perpendicular to the parallel side walls. In another embodiment, the launching device may include a storage chamber for a plurality of discs and a trigger control mechanism which permits the stored discs to be launched one at a time.

Abstract: A ball throwing machine having a flat, circular resilient disc with an off-center opening formed therein through which a ball to be thrown is forced at a predetermined velocity. By properly positioning the flat circular resilient disc, having the off-center opening formed therein, a thrown ball can be made to spin about any axis perpendicular to the ball trajectory. A tubular barrel is mounted adjacent to the resilient disc so that as a ball is forced from the throwing machine it is forced through the opening in the resilient disc and into and out of the barrel. The barrel, which is positionable, permits the ball ejected from the throwing machine to be accurately aimed in any desired direction. A firing chamber is located adjacent the resilient disc on the side opposite the barrel. Balls to be thrown are fed into the firing chamber by a ball feeder.

Abstract: Table tennis balls are pushed by a rotated, notched, feed disc from a hopper to a pair of rotated throwing discs which move each ball along either an adjustable, spin producing, bottom guide or an adjustable, spin producing, upper guide. Thrown balls hit back by a player into a retrieving net roll into a vertical tube having a hose connected to the upper end of the hopper which has a fan mounted therein to draw the balls through the hose into the hopper. The tube is mounted on legs, and the hopper and a drive of the discs are mounted on a bar pivotal on a rod mounted adjustably on the tube. A crank drive carried by the bar and connected to the rod oscillates the bar to vary the direction of throw of the discs. Remote controls are manually actuated to vary the rate of oscillation, to vary the rate of rotation of the feed disc, and to vary the speed of the throwing discs. The net is mounted on segmental rod frames mounted on the tube and an upright secured to the tube.

Abstract: A pistol to propel and spin ring-like projectiles such as bottle caps. An impeller is released by a trigger and an off-center mounted hammer strikes and propels the bottle caps with a spin. As the bottle cap exits from the barrel of the gun, a wall mounted rib imparts an additional spinning force to the bottle cap. The trigger of the pistol has a portion for engaging and holding an inside surface of the peripheral wall of the projectile in the firing chamber. When the trigger is actuated the portion engaging the projectile will pivot away and permit the spring biased plunger to engage and propel the projectile.

Abstract: A barrel for a ball throwing machine using air to expell balls from the barrel randomly directs balls within a lateral range of directions. Upper and lower crowned and centered ball contact strips extend the length of the barrel which widens laterally toward its muzzle. Adjustable side contact strips may be provided to limit the extent to which a ball may travel down one side of the barrel or the other. Some few balls remain precariously centered between the upper and lower strips for a straight throw, but most slip from between the spring tension of the upper and lower strips to reach the muzzle displaced to one side or the other to different extents. Rigidly mounted deflectors having inwardly extending surfaces on each side of the muzzle deflect balls striking them in the direction of the opposite side greatly amplifying the deviation in direction with which the balls leave the barrel. The deflectors may be adjusted to set the lateral range of directions within which balls are expelled.

Abstract: A ball projecting machine is provided with ball deflector for controlling the direction in which balls are projected from the machine. The deflector is movable from one position to another and is actuated by a ball being projected so that the direction of travel of successive balls discharged from the machine may be varied. The deflector has a mechanism for holding the deflector in a predetermined position until engaged by a discharged ball.

Abstract: A table tennis training device for use in connection with a table tennis table, which includes a tennis ball catcher having a pocket for collecting the tennis table ball which is then, due to a suction effect, moved from the pocket into a gun operable to be adjusted in a vertical plane and to pivot back and forth along a horizontal plane. After the ball has entered the gun it is by air under pressure passed through the barrel of the gun and prior to leaving the muzzle of the gun subjected to a spin (English). The training device according to the invention comprises means for varying the spin and also for varying the speed at which the balls follow each other which are shot out of the gun. The device furthermore comprises means for varying the suction and the pressure at which the balls are fired by the gun.

Abstract: An instant tennis game simulating a real game of tennis is presented. A pneumatic tennis ball delivery machine replaces the normal opponent. The court is slightly crowned and has sloping gutters so that all balls are automatically, gravity-returned to the machine. Solenoid controlled, motor-spun rollers permit simulation of various types of spins. Ball trajectory from the machine is controlled by barrel angle, vertical and horizontal. The ball machine control system allows for repetition of one "shot condition" endlessly or a completely random variety of shots as directed by a programmed mini-computer or manually set "user controls," a program, or the equivalent.

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.