Abstract: A portable ball throwing apparatus which is capable of throwing a ball at a selected vertical pitch, horizontal angle and rotational angle by operation of a pair of rotating wheels or tires powered by corresponding reversible motors. The ball throwing apparatus is characterized by a main frame pivotally attached to a tripod or a base to facilitate horizontal angle control and simulated batting of a baseball or a softball. A rotational frame is attached to the main frame to facilitate vertical pitch control and simulation of the batting of fly balls or grounders. The barrel that receives the baseball or a softball and feeds the ball to the rotating tires or wheels is also rotatable inside a support collar attached to the rotational frame to facilitate both pitching of knuckle balls, curve balls and the like and batting of balls having various spin characteristics.

Abstract: A flexible metal hose unit comprising in combination: a spigot formed with an annular flange and an annular gripping area, both coaxial with the spigot axis, a corrugated or helical flexible inner metal tube fitting over the spigot and welded to said flange, one or more flexible sheaths fitted over said gripping area, a ferrule comprising an annular member fitted over said sheath or sheaths and crimped or swaged onto the sheath or sheaths in an area radially corresponding to said gripping area.