Patents by Inventor Frank J. Costa

Frank J. Costa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6460530
    Abstract: A ball feeding device for a for connection to a separate and independent ball propelling machine, such as those used to propel softballs, tennis balls, and baseballs. The preferred embodiment includes a lower chute connected to the feed port of a ball machine. Balls are delivered to the lower chute from a hopper through a feed port comprising of a tumbler casing of a hollow tube formation having an entry hole on its open upper end and a feed hole on its open lower end. The casing has a tumbler hole on its wall leading to the feed port. A tumbler sleeve is positioned in the tumbler hole and axial extends perpendicular to the path of the feed port. The tumbler sleeve has a ring gear around its circumference. The tumbler sleeve also has a semicircular sleeve extension, having an inner and outer wall which extends a predetermined distance into the feed port and obstructs the passage of balls though the port. The upper end of the casing is placed within the exit hole of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventors: Dean A. Backeris, James Kappernaros, Frank J. Costa
  • Publication number: 20020112713
    Abstract: A ball feeding device for a for connection to a separate and independent ball propelling machine, such as those used to propel softballs, tennis balls, and baseballs. The preferred embodiment includes a lower chute connected to the feed port of a ball machine. Balls are delivered to the lower chute from a hopper by a tumbler which revolves below the exit hole of the hopper, dispensing one ball at a time. The tumbler has a tumbler hole or plurality of tumbler hole cut onto its body leading to a separate and distinct chamber or chambers. The tumbler revolves within a tumbler casing which has an entry hole on its upper wall and a load hole on its opposite wall. A collar surrounds the entry hole. The collar is placed within the exit hole of the hopper. A turnstile ring with two vertical posts surrounds the collar causing the balls to be mixed, sorted, and dispensed into the exit hole as the ring rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Dean A. Backeris, James Kappernaros, Frank J. Costa
  • Patent number: 5887578
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventors: Dean A. Backeris, James P. Kappernaros, Frank J. Costa