Abstract: A device for practicing the motor skills associated with striking a moving ball. A series of balls are successively released from a ball magazine and deflected into a batter's hitting zone. Apparatus is provided for predetermining the approximate post deflection trajectory of each ball, thereby selectively positioning each ball within the batter's hitting zone. A timing feature for signaling deflection of the ball is also disclosed.

Abstract: A ball pitching system comprising a pneumatically actuated pitching arm and automatic ball feed system. The pneumatic actuation is provided by an automatic pressure sensor valve. Compressed air is provided by a DC compressor affixed to the frame of the pitching apparatus and may be powered by a conventional 12 volt vehicular battery system. In this manner the preselect pitching of baseballs and the like along a predefined trajectory can be provided at remote locations away from conventional power sources by using conventional automotive electrical supply. The system further provides a reliable, inexpensive assemblage require little maintenance and maximum enjoyment of use with baseballs and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for semiautomatically teeing up golf balls utilizing very low air pressure as an operating medium. Balls are loaded onto a contoured dish at the upper end of an open ended upright cylinder and pass from the dish into a flexible tube wrapped helically around the outside of the cylinder. The lower end of the tube is blocked by a ball dispenser. When a user trips a lever on the ball dispenser, one ball is permitted to roll to a stop above a hole in the hitting mat directly above the air operated teeing device. The teeing device includes a teeing tube attached vertically above an expandable chamber and extending just to the top surface of the hitting mat. A very low pressure stream of air constantly flows through the chamber and escapes via the teeing tube. When a golf ball comes to rest above the teeing tube, the escape of air is terminated, causing the expandable chamber to fill, thereby raising the teeing tube and the ball to the teed height.

Abstract: A table tennis training apparatus adapted to be attached to a table tennis table and which apparatus ejects balls towards a user. The apparatus has a plurality of ball projection tubes, each communicating with a source of compressed air. The tubes include a first ball ejection tube having an air regulating device and a plurality of adjustable ball ejection tubes. Balls are fed to the first tube by a magazine loaded with balls and are fed to the second tubes by being sucked by air from the table surface through openings in the tubes adjacent the table surface. A screen is provided about the ball projecting apparatus for arresting and directing balls to the apparatus after being hit by a player.

Abstract: A device for dispensing coins into highway toll collection baskets has the general configuration of a hand gun having a barrel, handle and trigger mechanism. When the trigger is pulled rearwardly, coins predisposed in separate compartments within the bore of the barrel are released for downward rolling movement toward the open forward extremity of the bore.

Abstract: A volleyball setting machine includes a leaf spring powered propulsion assembly mounted on a portable main frame. Several volleyballs are carried in a ball holding rack and are delivered one at a time to be positioned by a ball positioning track up against a discharge chute. The leaf spring is depressed vertically and released to impact on the ball in the chute, and the chute guides it into a desired trajectory.

Abstract: A ball throwing device comprising a pusher (16) operatively associated with a striker (12) through a timing mechanism (21) which incorporates a crank (22) set on a drive axle (23) and linked to the pusher (16). The crank (22) is adapted to rotate together with the drive axle (23) at the same speed, and also at a speed higher than the axle speed when the pusher (16) causes the ball (6) to move to the stroke position. Respective projections (31, 32) are provided on the drive axle (23) and on the crank (22), adapted to interact with each other. Such a projection (33) is also formed on the striker (12), while a yoke (36) is fixed stationary on the casing of the drive (24) and a spring-actuated stop (34) is made on the crank (22), the stop being adapted to interact with the striker projection (33) and with the yoke (36).

Abstract: An automatic clay target feeder attachment that can be attached to a clay target trap shooting machine that will self-load the trap shooting machine without need of manual assistance within the forward trap pit on the shooting range. Such feeder attachment can be selectively set to drop onto the flinger arm of the trap shooting machine either two targets or but one target at a time including means that will move the dropped targets outwardly along the flinger arm preparatory to the release of the flinger arm by the shooter's referee upon the shoot being made by the trap shooters. The operation of the attachment to load the flinger arm with targets is done in response to actuation of the trap machine and the release of its flinger arm.

Abstract: A ball return device for aiding in the practice of basketball or other games which require that a ball be returned to the player in order to perform repetitive practice routines. The device comprises a receiving basket which may be placed under a basketball hoop and which directs a ball to a pair of rotating heads operable to propel the ball in the direction of the player. An electronic sensing device is operable to change the position of the return mechanism in response to movement of the player and thereby direct balls to the player as he moves about the court. The propelling head may be adjusted to change the elevation at which the ball is propelled and further adjusted to change the force with which the ball is propelled in order to effectively deliver a ball to virtually any location on a basketball court.

Abstract: A gas gun includes a chamber, a barrel, and a bullet charging member for introducing bullets into the chamber. An elastic O-ring is positioned between the barrel and the charging member. A stepped part is formed integrally with the chamber and permits radial expansion of the O-ring. When pressurized gas is introduced into the chamber, the O-ring is caused to advance to the stepped part of the chamber when urged by a bullet. The bullet is motivated by the pressurized gas. The O-ring thereby becomes radially enlarged such that the bullet passes through the O-ring and is expelled from the barrel.

Abstract: A ball throwing machine comprises a pipe (4) for supplying balls (5) and an impeller (9) with a hammer (10) fitted on a drive shaft (8). There is provided a follower (11) to which are cantilevered two support tabs (15) adapted to receive and retain the ball (5). The support tabs (15) are spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the diameter of the ball (5) and greater than the width of the hammer (10) of the impeller (9) and positioned in such a manner as to let the hammer (10) of the impeller (9).

Abstract: A golf ball teeing apparatus has an upper surface. A tee-like device has a ball receiving top and is vertically reciprocable between a retracted position and a raised position where the top is above the upper surface. A feed mechanism feeds one ball at a time onto the top of the tee-like device. The feed mechanism is adjacent the top of the tee-like device when the tee-like device is in the retracted position. A guide track slopes downwardly towards the feed mechanism. A ball storage rack is below the upper surface and slopes downwardly towards a discharge end thereof. There is a ball elevator for raising balls from a lower position adjacent the discharge end of the storage rack to an upper position where the balls can roll down the guide track to the feed mechanism.

Abstract: A machine projects footballs with varying degrees and directions of spin about either the longitudinal axis, as in a pass, or the transverse axis, as when kicked. The ball is projected by two juxtaposed wheels rotating in opposite directions. The wheels are spaced apart sufficiently to allow passage of the football without permanently damaging the ball, yet close enough together to impart velocity to the football. The football can be projected with a variable amount of spin by varying the relative orientation of the two projecting wheels. The footballs are fed into the projecting wheels by a reciprocating longitudinal plunger having an end attachment which is altered to conform to either the pass or kick orientation of the football. Rotating guide members maintain the football orientation as it is fed into the projecting wheels. A positioning chute orients the football in a vertical, kick position as it is fed into the reciprocating plunger and then into the projecting wheels.

Abstract: In a ball throwing machine, especially for squash balls or tennis balls, there is located on the base of a ball storage container a ball separating device in the form of a driven turntable which is arranged so as to be rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane and has on a circumferential circle substantially vertical passages of a width somewhat greater than the diameter of the balls to be separated. The turntable has a thickness corresponding to a multiple of a ball diameter and at the ball delivery point it has a ball stop which is located at a distance equivalent to approximately one ball diameter above the base member and there at least partially blocks the passages and for that purpose extends into a peripheral groove of the turntable. Each passage is located above a discrete base member which is connected to the turntable and rotates together with the turntable and gives way selectively below each passage in the peripheral sector of the ball discharge opening.

Abstract: The system includes a stance and stride chart adapted to lie flatly on the ground and having indicia thereon indicating home plate and the proper location for a batter's feet as he stands adjacent home plate in preparation for taking a stride during a batting swing. Further included is a ball toss device adapted to be positioned forwardly adjacent the stride chart and operable to loft a ball gently through the strike zone above the plate for hitting by the batter as he completes the swing. A catching net may be positioned forwardly of the chart to collect batted balls. The ball toss device is operable to loft a supply of balls sequentially and at spaced intervals toward the strike zone and has the capability of adjustment for accommodating either hardballs or larger diameter softballs.

Abstract: A ball tossing training device includes a ball receiver supported on a stand, a ball track feeder for receiving balls from the receiver, the inclination of the ball track feeder being ajustable to control the speed of a ball, a ball stopper for automatically intermittently feeding a single ball at a time along the track feeder and a ball tosser positioned below the discharge end of the track feeder for deflecting each ball discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A baseball dispensing device for practicing batting that includes a three tubular chute for retaining and delivering baseballs to a hitter. The center tube contains an electric driven motor which rotates a pair of discs which dispense baseballs at timed intervals releasing them to a central tube established at an incline to allow the dispensed ball to roll and strike a spring. The weight of the ball causes the spring to flex and upon reflex propels the ball upward vertically allowing a batter to swing into the ball. The center motor driven discs are equipped with a hole which when completing a rotation dispenses balls alternately to the delivery chute.

Abstract: A single-action, gas powered repeating pistol has a sliding unitary barrel and hammer assembly with the barrel and hammer aligned on opposite sides of a fixed pressure chamber. In the uncocked condition, the hammer extends rearwardly of the main frame so that cocking may be effected by merely slapping the rear of the hammer to force the assembly forward to be retained by a trigger mounted sear.

Abstract: Tennis balls are sequentially fed to an entranceway in the top of the plenum chamber of a pneumatic throwing machine by a flexible disk which rotates about a vertical axis. The balls roll by gravity down a chute onto the feed disk which has angularly spaced pocket holes. To prevent jamming of unpocketed balls between the top of the feed disk and the feed chute, the disk is sufficiently flexible as to be deflectable by an unpocketed ball and be discharged through an open escape path.

Abstract: Automatic devices for positioning footballs for subsequent kicking to aid in kicking practice. The apparatus comprises a hopper for containing a plurality of footballs, which is perferably secured to a supportive base. Set-up apparatus serially receives footballs from the hopper and positions them in an upright, generally vertically end to end oriented position suitable for kicking. The hopper may be inclined with respect to the base to facilitate gravity feed, or it may include football contacting means for forcibly conveying footballs therethrough. In a preferred embodiment the hopper may transversely feed the set-up means. The set-up means may be controlled electrically or pneumatically.

Abstract: A toy baseball pitching machine that is particularly adapted to be used by children. The machine has a ball pitching arm that oscillates rather than rotates and is capable of pitching a plastic ball to a batter using an "underhand" method of pitching. The ball pitching arm is fixed to an oscillatable eccentric arm. The eccentric arm is connected to one end of an extension spring, and the arm carries a pivoted pawl. The pawl is engaged by a toothed rotating drive wheel to rotate the pitching arm in one direction toward a cocked position with the spring extended. Further rotation of the drive wheel brings the pawl into contact with a stop to pivot the pawl out of engagement with the drive wheel. The extended spring then acts on the eccentric arm and pitching arm to rotate the pitching arm in the opposite direction to engage and pitch a ball. The drive wheel, pawl, eccentric arm, stop and extension spring are all mounted within a housing; and the pitching arm is outside the housing.

Abstract: A ball pitching machine having a spring powered pitching arm and having a dispensing mechanism with a de-jammer device for individually dispensing balls from a supply hopper and a ball loading device for automatically positioning a ball on the pitching arm for each cycle of the apparatus. The de-jammer device has a reciprocating roller positioned above a tilting floor which tilts between a horizontal position for receiving balls from the supply hopper to a tilted position for discharging balls into a ball feed channel. The ball feed channel delivers a supply of balls to the ball loading device. The reciprocating roller limits the balls supported on the floor to only a single layer while the floor is in its tilted position.

Abstract: Device for propelling an inflated ball by elastic impact, includes an electromagnet 1, a plunger core 3 drawn by the coil, an oscillating lever 7, and a mechanical linkage 5, which connects the plunger core 3 to oscillating lever 7.The oscillating lever 7 is connected to a striking lever 13 which pivots around an axle 14 fixed to the free end of oscillating lever 7. Striking lever 13 is made up of two arms of unequal length. At the end of the excursion of oscillating lever 7, the shorter arm 15 of striking lever 13 strikes against stop 32 which stops arm 15 and contributes to the acceleration of the longer arm 16 of striking lever 13; the striking mass 17 attached at the end of striking lever 13 thus strikes the inflated ball 22 at maximum speed.

Abstract: The golf ball teeing device comprises a base upon which is mounted a golf ball storage and feeding structure. This structure includes a vertical helical ramp for receiving golf balls which roll theredown in single file. A pivotable feeder arm structure is provided on the base for releasing golf balls one at a time. Contained within the base are means for actuating the feeder arm structure up and down for feeding golf balls one at a time to a golfer to enable the golfer to practice his golf swing. An electrical switch is connected to the actuating means by a cord. It is located remotely from the storage and feeding structure. Actuation of the switch causes the teeing device to go through a cycle and release one golf ball.

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: A tennis training device having ball emitting cylinder for cylically emitting tennis balls to a player's side, a ball collecting device for collecting tennis balls hit by a player, a ball control device for controlling horizontal and vertical angles of the ball emitting cylinder, a ball transfer device for transferring the tennis balls from the ball collecting device to the ball emitting cylinder and a ball distributing device located between the ball collecting device and the ball emitting cylinder for feeding the balls one by one to the ball emitting cylinder continuously with a constant time period between contiguous following balls.

Abstract: Batting practice apparatus for projecting balls upwardly into the air to be hit by a bat comprises trough for holding a plurality of balls to move in a sequence toward a feed position adjacent a stop at a lower end. A holding ring is mounted adjacent the stop for supporting a single ball in a ready position to be projected upwardly into the air. A feeder is provided for sequentially moving the balls from a feed position in the trough adjacent the stop into a ready position in the holding ring and a motor in the form of a foot operated lever and a time delay mechanism is operable for forcefully propelling the balls upwardly out of the holding ring so that a batter may step into position and swing at the balls as they pop-up into the air.

Abstract: A tennis training device having a ball emitter including a ball emitting cylinder is disclosed. In this case, a device is provided for controlling horizontally and vertically inclined angles of the ball emitting cylinder. This controlling device is composed of a supporting member for the ball emitting cylinder, two low speed motors each rotatable in forward and reverse directions, links for connecting the supporting member to the two motors, respectively. An electric power supply source is connected to the two motors for supplying input current to the two motors, and a remote control panel is connected through the electric supply source to the two motors, includes change-over switches for changing over the input to the two motors and rotates the ball emitting cylinder in horizontal and vertical directions so as to control horizontally and vertically inclined angles of the ball emitting cylinder.

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 ball pitching machine having a spring powered pitching arm and having a dispensing mechanism with a de-jammer device for individually dispensing balls from a supply hopper and a ball loading device for automatically positioning a ball on the pitching arm for each cycle of the apparatus. A torsion adjusting mechanism is used to set the torsion of the coil spring to a prestressed first predetermined force value. The pitching arm applies an additional torsioning force to the coil spring resulting in a second greater predetermined stored force value in the coil spring. An adjustable link extends directly between and connects the coil spring to the pitching arm to maintain the amount of torsion in the coil spring at the first prestressed first determined force value.

Abstract: A hand catapult including a shaped handle designed to conform to the hand of the user, a semi-circular carriage secured to the top of the handle in offset relationship to the longitudinal axis of the handle, resilient band for hurling a missile, and swivel carriage bindings for connecting the resilient band to the carriage. The handle includes handle core to provide heft and weight for improved feel and handling and to permit various accessories to be attached easily to the handle. The accessories may include a leather carrying strap, a wrist brace to provide greater stability for better aiming, and an ammunition tube attachment.

Abstract: A machine is provided for pitching one or more balls at selected intervals by selectively connecting a clutch mechanism to a pitching arm.

Abstract: A toy launcher of a safe and simple construction for use in propelling soft, round discs includes a round or saucer shaped housing with an integrally formed handle for engagement by an operator's hand and a two position, manually operable actuating arm for moving a disc from a loading position to a firing position and for simultaneously placing a spring actuated firing mechanism in a firing position under the control of a trigger mechanism. After positioning a disc in the disc firing position, the actuating arm is returned to the disc loading position both to position another disc in the disc loading position and to clear a launching slot in the launcher to enable the disc in the disc firing position to be propelled.

Abstract: A toy baseball pitching machine that is particularly adapted to be used by children as an outdoor game. The toy baseball pitching machine of the present invention is capable of "pitching" a plastic ball approximately 15 feet to a "batter". The pitching machine is adjustable to pitch balls through varying trajectories. The present invention includes a ball storage rack for feeding a plurality of balls into the pitching machine seriatim and an automatic shut-off switch that shuts the pitching machine off when all balls are pitched.

Abstract: Apparatus for propelling a ball in an underhand manner utilizing a ramp to impart a desired trajectory and direction to the ball. Upon rotation of a cam, an associated follower moves a pitching arm to a cocked position against the bias of a spring.When the follower falls off an extreme portion of the cam upon continued rotation of the cam, the arm is rapidly released and swings through an arc in the course of which it propels the ball along the upper surfaces of the ramp toward a distant location. A supply hopper may be employed adjacent to the propelling apparatus together with an escapement feed mechanism activated by the pitching arm to deliver balls to the ramp one at a time at a location adjacent to the pitching arm in its cocked position.

Abstract: Automatic ball serving apparatus for serving, lobbing, volleying or smashing balls, such as tennis balls, for practice purposes wherein two cans or buckets are vertically stacked to form a lower generally cylindrical compressed air chamber and an upper generally cylindrical ball feed chamber, a ball firing barrel outside said lower bucket connected to both said ball feed chamber and to said compressed air chamber so that balls fed into said firing barrel will be fired therefrom by the compressed air in said lower chamber, and a stand for oscillating said apparatus while balls are being fired from said barrel so that the trajectories of different balls will lie in different directions.

Abstract: A portable ball throwing macine employs a battery operated motor for projecting tennis balls for practice purposes. The balls are fed from a bin by means of a ball fence and agitator to a tube which conveys the ball to a ball track. A spring biased arm is cocked by the motor and released at the correct point in the cycle by operation of a cam gear and pawl. The arm then strikes the ball projecting it from the machine. Included in the device is an arrangement for oscillating the device from side to side to vary the pattern of balls projected from the machine and a gate mechanism to index balls onto the ball track.

Abstract: A removable projectile loader for a gun facilitates loading a gun with a projectile and is removable from the gun to permit a jammed projectile to be cleared from the gun. The loader is provided with a bore into which a projectile is loaded, and the loader is movable to a firing position to align the bore with the barrel of the gun. A bolt on the gun is movable through the bore of the loader into the barrel to position the projectile in the barrel for firing.

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 target throwing apparatus in which a revolving magazine having a number of stacks of targets is independently and fixedly supported relative to an oscillating target throwing housing. A cocking mechanism stops the throwing arm just before reaching the over-center position whereupon initiating of the next cocking cycle throws the target. A power train consists of three equal-sized gears mounted on three parallel shafts to throw the targets and to oscillate the housing. The magazine includes a ramp and cam mechanism by which the entire column of targets is lowered by gravity prior to having springbiased fingers engage the second target from the bottom and having the lower-most target fall onto a predetermined drop pad on a target launching plate, which pad location does not change regardless of the position of the oscillating housing and launching plate. A scotch yoke assembly is utilized in translating rotary shaft motion to symmetrical reciprocating motion to oscillate the housing.

Abstract: A plurality of golf balls are stored in a canister from which they are received by a vertical supply tube that supports the canister. From the tube, the balls move into a delivery arm that carries a release mechanism on its outer end. Actuation of the release mechanism when the arm is in its delivery position causes a ball to be dispensed onto a tee. The arm, which is supported by a sleeve surrounding the supply tube, can then be rotated about a vertical axis until it extends rearwardly and out of the way in a rest position. The supply tube is provided with openings with which the arm can be aligned on either side so that the apparatus can be operated in a right- or left- handed mode.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a plurality of balls one after another with spacing therebetween to a desired location for use by a player. The apparatus includes a support mounted on a surface which may be vertically adjustable and a gravity feed ball supply for permitting a plurality of balls to feed by gravity onto the playing surface. A gate is provided which retains one ball in position until another is released. The apparatus may include a movable member which is connected to the gate and down which a ball moves under gravity. When the ball is discharged onto the playing surface after it leaves the movable member, a counterweight also connected to the gate restores both the gate and the movable member to a position whereby the gate releases a subsequent ball while the movable member assists in blocking more than one ball from moving past the gate.

Abstract: Mechanism for supplying golf balls fully automatically to tees of a golf course, exactly and without delays, for each of several players practicing or playing simultaneously, according to the shots of the golf balls by the players. An inclined main flow path is connected to a ball reservoir, and several inclined branch flow paths are connected in parallel to the main path. There is a first vane valve within a ball sending or discharging device, that opens and closes the main flow path, and a second vane valve within each of several flow change-over devices that open and close the paths from the main to the branch flow paths. A parallelogram link within a ball serving device, connected to the branch flow paths, raises each ball to a position where it can be shot. An electric eye detects if a ball is present on a tee or not. When balls are short in a branch flow path, an electric signal is made to a control circuit by the operation of a ball level inspection device.

Abstract: Apparatus for projecting footballs. Footballs are placed in a football container transferred one at a time to a football shooting station. A striking force is applied to the football. The striking force is adjustable; and its point of impact against the football is selectable. Footballs can be projected in identical manner in quick succession. The lower end of the football striking member impacts against a football in the general area of the lowest point of the swinging movement of the football striking member.

Abstract: A magazine for holding a plurality of power loads for use in operating a power-actuated tool. The magazine includes a tube formed with a polygonal outer wall and is axially elongated. The inner part of the tube is formed with a plurality of separate open-ended channels in each of which a stack of power loads is disposed. Removable caps close each end of the magazine. The lower cap has a feed passage which, by rotation of the tube, can be aligned with each of the internal channels so as to allow discharge therefrom by gravity of the stack of loads disposed in the aligned channel. The feed passage can also be aligned with each of the radial webs between adjacent channels so that the magazine can be carried about free of the tool without danger that the loads can accidentally fall out of the channels. Rotation of the tube is keyed by the polygonal form of the outer wall of the tube.

Abstract: A ball projecting device is provided for propelling a ball pneumatically, wherein the speed of the ball projected is, at least in part, determined by utilizing a pneumatically operated, preferably variable, detent in the barrel of the device. The detent holds the ball within the barrel until a predetermined air pressure is built up behind the ball, which then causes the detent to quickly, almost immediately, collapse, permitting the ball to be projected out of the barrel.The invention further comprises a ball feeding mechanism, for feeding projectile balls to the barrel, the feeding mechanism comprising a rotating multi-apertured disk, rotating about an axis transverse to the horizontal and an overhanging ball guard device to prevent the blocking of the feed mechanism with a plurality of balls.

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: A propulsion device is provided, designed especially for discharging tennis balls for practice purposes, at selected angles of inclination, and at a predetermined, selected velocity. Employed in the device is a distributor, which is disposed between a hopper and an air pressurizing drum, the distributor being designed to feed balls, one at a time, to the drum, at predetermined intervals.The distributor is disposed between the hopper and drum in such fashion as to cause the spherical objects to be efficiently agitated within the hopper, by passage over the exteriorly cylindrical surface of the drum while moving to the point at which the objects feed into the drum. Efficient agitation of the spherical objects within the hopper thus assures to the maximum extent that the distributor will be fully charged with said objects.

Abstract: A container for BB shot or other spherical pellets having a dispensing filler portion, useful for example for filling an air rifle, and having a container portion serving as a sales package and/or storage device, said dispensing filler portion comprising a tube of internal diameter slightly larger than the BB shot, and the filler portion being joined to a wall of the container portion by a transfer portion having a transfer slot which is about equal in width and in depth to the inner diameter of the filler tube and the slot length being at least equal to several BB diameters, the transfer slot serving to reduce bridging while the dispensing filler tube portion is being filled from the container portion, the tube portion being distorted to restrict it internally at a location near its discharge end which distortion can be manually straightened to dispense BBs therethrough, and the portions being made of transparent plastic so that the user can see when the tube portion is filled with BBs and can see his remain

Abstract: A portable, self-contained tennis ball throwing apparatus is disclosed which includes a constantly rotating cam having gradually increasing radii of successive points around its periphery and an abrupt transition from a maximum radius to a minimum radius, a pivotally mounted throwing arm having one end biased into contact with the periphery of the cam and supporting a ball receiving cup at its other end, and a resilient member for biasing the throwing arm, such that the cam effectively cocks the throwing arm at a relatively slow rate and releases the throwing arm to move under the influence of the resilient member to impart a throwing force to a tennis ball. The housing of the apparatus is mounted on a carriage which is movable with respect to the housing to change the pitch angle thereof, and, therefore, the angle of trajectory of a thrown ball. The ball receiving cup is also adjustable to change the angle of trajectory of the thrown ball.