Projectile Continuously Driven In Closed Orbit Prior To Being Struck Patents (Class 473/427)
  • Patent number: 11524216
    Abstract: A goal frame for a goal apparatus, the goal frame including a crossbar member, a first and a second goalpost member, a support member, and a rotatable attachment member. Respective ends of the crossbar member are attached to, or are operable to attach to, a respective end of the first and second goal post members to form a goal face. The attachment of the respective end of the crossbar member to the end of the first goal post member forms a crossbar-goalpost corner portion of the goal face. The rotatable attachment member is attached to, or is operable to attach to, the goal face adjacent to the crossbar-goalpost corner portion. The rotatable attachment member is attached to, or is operable to attach to, an end of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: QUICK PLAY SPORT LTD
    Inventor: William Parsons
  • Patent number: 8574135
    Abstract: A ball-hitting glove assembly for boxing training has a glove, a ball and a rope. The glove has a palm section, a hand back section and a finger section. The rope is mounted securely on the glove and has a glove end and a ball end. The glove end of the rope is mounted securely on the hand back section. The ball end is opposite to the glove end of the rope. The ball is mounted securely on the ball end of the rope. The ball-hitting glove assembly is easily carried and is convenient for boxing-training at any time when a user travels or exercises outside. This is greatly practical for those who like boxing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Yi-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8393981
    Abstract: A ball travel-modifying device comprising a sail and a strikeable object modifies a travel distance and a rate of travel of a struck or thrown object and returns the strikeable object to an initial rest position after each hit or throw. Devices built in accordance with the invention are particularly suited for use with strikeable objects which are various kinds of balls. A separation distance between the strikeable object and the sail is adjustable. A separation distance between the strikeable object and a surface upon which a player stands may also be adjustable. In some embodiments, the strikeable object may be replaced with a strikeable object having a different size or weight. The shape of the sail is triangular, quadrilateral, or other shapes and may be symmetric or asymmetric. The sail may alternatively be formed with a flat or curved surface and straight or curved edges. One or more apertures may be formed in the sail to modify a speed or a direction of a moving strikeable object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Steven Glen Chandless
  • Patent number: 8128516
    Abstract: A ball game training apparatus includes a positioning device, a first pivot device connected to the positioning device and turnable relative to the positioning device in X-axis direction, a second pivot device connected to the first pivot device and turnable relative to the first pivot device in Y-axis direction, and a driven device connected to the second pivot device and turnable relative to the second pivot device and having a force-receiving ball disposed remote from the second pivot device and strikable to move by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Francis Chung Hwa Pan
    Inventors: Francis Chung Hwa Pan, Chin-Chieh Chu, Fu-Chin Chuang
  • Patent number: 7794339
    Abstract: A baseball hitter batting practice apparatus incorporates an unbalanced and potentially non-planar plurality of targets which are mounted onto a spindle. The spindle rotates about a central generally horizontal axle. The unbalanced targets in one embodiment are spaced at ninety-degree intervals from an adjacent target, thereby causing the spindle to first spin in one direction after a target has been struck, and then to oscillate or rock alternately clockwise and counterclockwise before finally coming to a rest. Striking selected targets in accord with the method of the invention teaches a batter to pull-the-trigger at the appropriate time. A novel support further enhances the utility of the spindle and targets by enabling the spindle to be coupled to many diverse supporting poles and structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Clark J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7517291
    Abstract: A device (10) for practicing playing a ball game, such as tennis, comprises an arm (29) one end portion of which carries a ball (31), such that the ball (31) is rotatable retained relative to the arm (29), and a remote end portion of which is secured to a face of a toothed pulley wheel (25) which is rotatable mounted on a swingable link means (16, 17, 18) pivotally mounted on a shaft (13). A second, larger, toothed pulley wheel (14) is rotatably mounted on the shaft (13), there being resilient means (23) for restraining such rotation. The toothed pulley wheels (14, 25) are engaged by a toothed endless belt (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: In-Q-Bator Limited
    Inventor: Christopher J. Waldron
  • Patent number: 6024657
    Abstract: A batting practice device for use by a person acting as a pitcher and another person acting as a batter. A pole has a first end placed on the ground and a second end held substantially vertically. The pole is longer than the height of the pitcher, but is not permanently mounted in the ground. The pitcher prevents substantial movement of the first end of the pole by placing a foot in an anchoring loop provided at the first end of the pole. A line is operatively attached, via a freely rotating mount, to the second end of the pole. The line has a swivel connection to prevent twisting of the line. The line is operatively connected to a ball via a ball harness. The ball harness has two straps sewn together, with the ends of the respective straps having loops for receiving one end of the line. Various sizes of conventional balls can be easily inserted and removed from the ball harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Manuel J. Bettencourt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5882270
    Abstract: At improved centrifugal batting practice machine of the type having a tethered ball that is repeatedly revolved past a hitter by a generally horizontal rotating arm is disclosed. The rotating arm is mechanically coupled to a vertically disposed, motor-driven shaft within a vertical frame that is fixedly attached to a base support. A height adjustment mechanism is interposed between the motor-driven shaft and the rotating arm to permit incremental adjustment thereof in a vertical plane such that the ball is presented to a batter at the desired vertical height. The batting practice machine includes functional features that produce a random pattern in the pitches delivered by batter. In one embodiment the batting practice machine is placed in a condition of imbalance by the removal of detachable pads or feet from the base support to produce a random pattern in the pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: William E. Daugherty
  • Patent number: 5836836
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved batting machine which presents a batter with a ball which is swung around in a generally circular path. The invention was designed to swing the ball in either a horizontal path or a path which is offset from horizontal. The ball is connected to an extended arm via a tether. The extended arm is also connected to a vertical shaft. The shaft is rotated by an electric motor means, along with a centrifugal clutch. The motor is able to rotate the shaft in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, thus giving the batter the opportunity to bat right and/or left handed. The shaft motor assembly is supported by a plurality of adjustable supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: George Grimes
  • Patent number: 5806465
    Abstract: An elongated arm is rotatably connected to a pivot shaft mounted between a base and a canopy. The elongated arm extends radially between the canopy and the base and extends beyond the perimeter of the base and the canopy. Attached to the free end of the arm and suspended just beyond the perimeter of the canopy and the base is a toy character. In use, as a pet swats the toy character, the arm is rotated about the pivot shaft which initiate a fixed orbital motion of the character about the perimeter of the cap and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: J.W. Pet Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Baiera, Jonathan Willinger
  • Patent number: 5795251
    Abstract: Batting practice apparatus includes a variable speed motor connected to a rotatable shaft by a belt, and the rotatable shaft includes a pair of arms extending outwardly from the shaft. At the outer ends of the arms are cords connected to the shaft, and balls are secured to the outer ends of the cords. The motor is a variable speed motor, and the motor rotates the shaft to rotate the arms and the balls. The shaft is secured to a base, and the base is tiltable so that the arms may move in a tilted plain, as desired, to provide different orientations of the balls to a user practicing batting with the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Gerald P. Andersen
  • Patent number: 5711724
    Abstract: A baseball batters warm-up device apparatus comprises a ball carried by an arm that is rotateable on a shaft that is supported to a stabelized vertical post, where the arm can be counter rotated by hand or by electric motor, against an elastic energizer line, into an arm holding electro magnetic switch so that when a batter extends his bat into his back-swing, the bat interrupts the beam of a passive infrared sensor, the sensor tripping the switch, & releasing said arm, so the batter can hit the ball and drive the arm back into said holding switch, only to be released again, and hit again, the back-swing, release, and hit sequence providing a rythmic warm-up exercise, and should the batter miss the ball, the arm is stopped and reset by hand, or the batter can step on home plate to actuate the motor to counter rotate the arm into the holding switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: James Robert McGovern
  • Patent number: 5660550
    Abstract: A soccer kicking practice device. The device has a movable platform or running surface, such as a motorized treadmill, for forcing the user to run while practicing, and a movable kick target, both the movable platform and movable target mounted on a stationary base. Preferably, the practice device has a hand rail and a body harness for steadying and retaining the user. Elevating apparatus enables the practice device to elevate its front end or its rear end, to simulate uphill and downhill inclination of terrain. Controls enable speed of the treadmill and of the kick target to be adjusted, and the elevating apparatus to operate as desired. Optionally, the treadmill is lined with artificial turf. Automated scoring apparatus is optionally provided for recording and totalizing the number of kicks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Mortimer P. Roche