Abstract: A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

Abstract: A basketball shot counter includes a mounting shaped and sized to connect the basketball shot counter to a portion of a basketball goal having a basketball hoop; a vibration sensor; a processor in data communication with the vibration sensor, wherein the processor is configured to receive, from the vibration sensor, a datastream of vibration sensor readings; determine, from the datastream of vibration sensor readings, that a first basketball shot was attempted without successfully going through the basketball hoop; and determine, from the datastream of vibration sensor readings, that a second basketball shot was attempted and successfully went through the basketball hoop.

Abstract: A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.

Abstract: A ball sports, ball striking, practice and teaching aid which provides a unique two ball, ball striking practice design, that includes a fixed yet displaceable and self resetting ball and a second free to fly ball that is catapulted or tossed by using the energy that is provided by the force of impact between the fixed ball and a ball striking implement, for example a tennis racket or baseball bat, the fixed ball is situated at the uppermost end of a rigid, geniculated, longitudinally governed, displaceable, and self resetting wand, which crowns a rigid, unyielding, upright post that is affixed to a portable base of sufficient mass and weight to hold the upright post firmly in a perpendicular to the base, upright position.

Abstract: A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.

Abstract: A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.

Abstract: A basketball training apparatus includes a shot completion sensor, a condition sensor, and a computer. The shot completion sensor determines whether a shot goes through a basketball hoop. The condition sensor senses a physical condition of a basketball shooter. The computer is in communication with the shot completion sensor and the condition sensor, and has a processor for calculating shot completion percentage as a function of the physical condition.

Abstract: A ground based launching assembly for feeding balls vertically upwards to a user. The user may takes strokes at fed balls, thereby delivering the balls towards a catching assembly. The catching assembly receives the balls and gently returns the ball back to the launching assembly. Disposed between the catching assembly and the launching assembly is a return ramp and a ball sequencer. These require no more than ten feet in length. Such a device may be readily used in a single car garage or other small room.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems, apparatuses, and methods for exercising and entertaining a pet. In one implementation, a pet exercise and entertainment device includes a launch funnel for launching projectiles for a pet to retrieve. The launch funnel has a feeder and a chute. The feeder is configured to receive a projectile and transport the projectile to an intake end of the chute. A sensor is configured to sense the projectile in the intake end of the chute and to command one or more motors to power up in response to sensing the projectile. An actuator is configured to release the projectile from the intake end of the chute into the launch end of the chute after a pre-determined time has elapsed. One or more wheels, rotated by the one or more motors, are configured to launch the projectile from the launch end of the chute.

Abstract: Baseball or softball training equipment that is capable of converting from a system for practicing pitching and throwing to a machine for throwing balls to practice batting or fielding. The equipment comprises: a main frame for catching a ball thrown toward the system; foldable backstop components hinged on both sides to the main frame; a plurality of movable, resettable targets connected to the main frame and extending over a ball collecting component; and a ball return component with a motorized wheel situated beneath the ball collecting component and detachably mounted for removing from the main frame and affixing to its own stand.

Abstract: The tool includes a rigid base with an upright rigid post attached perpendicularly to the base a rigid form fitted outer sleeve, measured to fit snug over the upright post. this sleeve allows for height adjustability, also includes a uniquely formed and rigid wand, with a measured, weighted counterbalance end with a small hole to accommodate a bungee cord attachment and on the other end a set and re-settable fix tennis ball mounting the tennis ball itself is mounted on a spindle on a small rod which allows free rotation of the ball for the purpose of ball striking muscle memory development, the ball-mounting wand is bent, geniculate and curved into a question mark like configuration using holes and peg attach the wand to the crown of the form fitted outer sleeve using the counterbalance and the bungee cord the ball can be repeatedly struck, displaced and self reset.

Abstract: Baseball or softball training equipment that is capable of converting from a system for practicing pitching and throwing to a machine for throwing balls to practice batting or fielding. The equipment comprises: a main frame for catching a ball thrown toward the system; foldable backstop components hinged on both sides to the main frame; a plurality of movable, resettable targets connected to the main frame and extending over a ball collecting component; and a ball return component with a motorized wheel situated beneath the ball collecting component and detachably mounted for removing from the main frame and affixing to its own stand.

Abstract: A rotary wheel for a ball pitching machine includes a wheel body and a resilient member engaged on an outer periphery of the wheel body. A shaft hole is provided in the wheel body for receiving a shaft of a motor of the ball pitching machine. The wheel body includes a spring portion arranged between the shaft hole and the outer periphery of the wheel body in a radial direction and including first and second bending portions both of which protrude from two sides of the wheel body respectively. When the rotary wheel is driven to turn by the motor, a frictional force of contact of the resilient member with a ball makes the ball shot outwardly, and the rotary wheel is not broken or damaged due to the spring portion compressed in the radial direction to absorb the impact energy.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are gathered or collected, stored and/or tracked, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. One embodiment includes the ability of players from the same or different teams to compare statistics and enables the launchers at different locations to launch substantially exactly the same pass to different players to facilitate such competition.

Abstract: A system and method for pitching balls, particularly footballs and other football-shaped balls. The system and method are flexibly designed to simulate different types of pitches including but not limited to passes, punts, kick-offs and snaps. A cradle for use in the system and method holds the ball in any one of a number of positions such that when it is fed into the system, the ball is propelled to simulate a different type of pitch. The apparatus and system for pitching balls includes a support for a ball throwing head, two opposing variable speed motor powered wheels that can be tilted in relation to each other to control the spin and distance, a slide configured to present the ball on the cradle into the wheels at different angles to provide right or left handed spirals and end over end pitches, and adjustments for height and horizontal pivot. A removable throwing head allows balls to be pitched from different heights from ground level to an upright arm motion to simulate different types of pitches.

Abstract: A robot server assembly (20) having a back panel (21), a ball feed collector plate (23) extending outwardly from the bottom of back panel with its horizontal plane positioned an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the back panel (21), a rotatable ball pickup mechanism (24) positioned between a the ball collector mounting section (22) of the back panel and the ball feed collector plate and having a plurality of ball pickup structures (78, 80, 81, 82) extending into the collector plate; a ball guide (25) at the upper end of the back panel; a substantially transparent front cover (28) attached to the front surface of the back panel (21) and extending from the bottom of the ball guide (25) to ball pickup mechanism (24) to define an enclosed ball passageway (30); an oscillator (32) is mounted to the top of the back panel above the ball guide, with a serving head assembly (34) attached to the oscillator through a pivot guide (35).

Abstract: An automatic or manually operated basketball return unit with remote control device that is placed under a basketball hoop having a hopper at its top distal end that funnels down to a return tube allowing basketballs to engage a motorized return mechanism which expels the basketball out a return chute and too the user. The return unit comprises a support housing with rotating compression wheels, each having a motor which ejects the ball out an aperture. The unit rotates 180 degrees manually or automatically.

Abstract: A catching machine 5 that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target includes a ball collecting portion 20 for catching a ball pitched toward the target 11 and a ball returning portion 30 for returning the ball caught by the ball collecting portion 20 to the pitcher. The ball returning portion 30 includes a ball-return-distance setting device 32 for changeably setting a ball return distance.

Abstract: A catching machine 5 that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target includes a ball collecting portion 20 for catching a ball pitched toward the target 11 and a ball returning portion 30 for returning the ball caught by the ball collecting portion 20 to the pitcher. The ball returning portion 30 includes a ball-return-distance setting device 32 for changeably setting a ball return distance.

Abstract: A hockey shooting training device comprises an elongate track and a carriage having a puck shaped an engaging member supported thereon for engagement by a hockey stick to be displaced along the track with the carriage from a starting end to a target end. Wheels on the carriage have a resilient peripheral surface for rolling along the track. A tether coupled to the carriage is wound onto a spool at the starting end of the track. Constant frictional resistance is applied to the spool during displacement of the carriage towards the target end as the tether unwinds from the spool. A winding mechanism on the spool returns the carriage to the starting end. An illuminated indicator extends along the track to provide visual guidance of the path of the carriage. A further indicator may indicate an angular offset of the engaging member from a central position about an upright axis.

Abstract: A catching machine 5 that enables a pitcher to pitch a ball toward a predetermined target includes a ball collecting portion 20 for catching a ball pitched toward the target 11 and a ball returning portion 30 for returning the ball caught by the ball collecting portion 20 to the pitcher. The ball returning portion 30 includes a ball-return-distance setting device 32 for changeably setting a ball return distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to sports training devices and can be used for training a volleyball spike-motion. The inventive device comprises a bearing frame, a ball, and a unit for returning the ball to the initial position thereof, which unit is provided with an elastic stretching connected to the frame by one end thereof, a rod whose one end is fixed to the frame in such a way that it has at least two degrees of freedom, whereas the second end of the rod is connected to the ball, and the second end of the stretching is connected to the rod. The frame is also provided with a limiter of traveling the rod. The device enables the ball to be moved along an arc, thereby increasing the quality of the spike-motion training, and improves effectiveness and safety of the training.

Abstract: A robot for collecting table tennis balls on the ground includes a body, a rotor mounted at a front of the body, a driving module mounted on the body, and a control device. The body is configured for receiving the picked table tennis balls therein. The driving module drives the body to travel and drives the rotor to rotate for picking up the table tennis balls. The control device is configured for controlling the driving module to drive the robot to travel on the ground along a predetermined route.

Abstract: An apparatus for practicing baseball and softball hitting skills includes a ball holder on a rod that is suspended by a single degree of freedom support at an interior point of the rod length and the rod is balanced and proportioned relative to the support point and the ball in order to position a ball at any three-dimensional location in the hitting zone of the batter in a stable state by manual movement of the opposite balanced end of the rod.

Abstract: An automatic table tennis ball serving device is disclosed as having a generally vertically extending enclosure with a table tennis ball feeding passageway including a lower ball entrance and an upper ball dispensing outlet. Ball feeding arms are mounted to the enclosure adjacent the lower ball entrance for feeding table tennis balls upwardly in the ball feeding passageway against the force of gravity. A ball dispensing head is mounted to the enclosure adjacent the upper ball dispensing outlet for serving table tennis balls to a player at selected rates and trajectories. The ball dispensing head includes a ball size adjustment mechanism to enable table tennis balls of at least two diameters to selectively pass through the ball dispensing head when one or another diameter of the at least two different ball diameters is selected by the player.

Abstract: A projectile machine for use in practicing various activities including the practice of basketball shots from various positions on a basketball court. The projectile machine when practicing basketball shots automatically returns the basketballs to the person practicing shots thereby eliminating the necessity for the practicing player or other players to retrieve the basketballs that have been shot and return them to the player practicing the shots. More specifically, the present invention enables basketballs that have been shot towards the basketball goal or hoop to be automatically collected and mechanically returned to a selected on-court location at varying elevations, trajectories and velocities. The projectile machine can also be used during various activities relating to the practice of various endeavors in which an article is projected in a desired trajectory. The projectile machine may be supported from a support post for the backboard and goal for use as a home unit.

Abstract: A portable basketball retrieval and return device includes a movable support platform having casters for allowing the positioning of the device on a playing surface adjacent a basketball backboard and rim, a slidable upright frame mounted to the platform and to which a plurality of telescoping arms are attached whereby both the frame and arms are selectively extensible and retractable for disposing netting material which collects shot basketballs from the basketball backboard and rim.

Abstract: A portable baseball pitcher's practice target device having a target panel with sub-target areas representing the upper, lower, inside, outside and center of an imaginary strike zone of a baseball batter. The user of the target device practices pitching baseballs toward the target with the objective of concentrating on the sub-target areas to improve the user's pitching accuracy and skill. The target device has a frame that supports the target and a back panel for collecting pitched balls that enter through the sub-target areas. A powered apparatus is included for returning baseballs that have passed through the sub-target areas and resilient surfaces for returning balls that do not enter the sub-target areas.

Abstract: A basketball passing machine (18) includes a basketball supply (20) which provides basketballs (48) for a basketball ejector assembly (26) which passes basketballs one-at-a-time in a controlled manner along a trajectory (70) towards a waiting player. The machine can be used with a collection net assembly (16) adjacent a backboard (6) so that basketballs from both made and missed shots are collected and directed into the basketball supply. The supply of basketballs allows the passing machine to pass basketballs to the player as fast as desired, such as every three to four seconds. Balls can be passed from the machine on demand; the pass rate, the azimuth of the trajectory, the speed of the ball and the number of balls placed in play at each position can be preprogrammed. Sensors (74, 104) are used to generate signals whenever a ball is placed in play and when a shot is made. Shooting accuracy and associated information can be displayed for a player as well as recorded for future reference.

Abstract: A pneumatic ball launching apparatus propels a ball vertically upward into mid-air without imparting spin on the ball. A pneumatic cylinder is disposed vertically below the top surface of a ground supported platform in axial alignment with the center of an aperture in the top surface of the platform. The pneumatic cylinder has a spring return piston rod with a cup-shaped ball holder secured to its outer end. The cylinder is connected through a valve to a source of pressurized air and the valve is controlled by a timing device. The platform has a downwardly inclined forward portion which slopes inwardly and downwardly from each lateral side to form a central low portion at its forward end. A net extends vertically upward from the forward portion of the platform to catch balls which have hit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a batting exercising device for baseball, it includes a longitudinal axis, an adjustable tripod used to support the longitudinal axis, a V rack which can horizontally rotate around the longitudinal axis, and a ball-like component installed on the end of the V rack, in which a switch providing an elastic resistance to the V rack is installed between the engaging pans of the V rack, and the single-way controllers which provide frictional resistance to one rotating direction of the V rack are installed on the top and bottom of the engaging pans respectively. By constructing the above components, the elastic and frictional resistance of the switch and the one-way controller can decrease the rotation speed of the V rack for safety consideration when the V rack is driven to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise by the ball-like component struck by the player.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in practicing the fundamentals of baseball is provided. The apparatus includes an opening for accepting and capturing baseballs thrown at the apparatus. The opening is covered by a number of vertical flaps, behind which is a padded backstop. The flaps are colored appropriately to designate a typical strike zone. A pitchback machine is provided to propel baseballs from the apparatus. A ball holding tray is positioned beneath the opening and backstop to accumulate thrown balls or to retain a reservoir of balls. A motor-driven spinner plate is situated integral to the holding tray for circulating the balls resting therein and for facilitating the movement of the balls to an outlet path. The holding tray outlet path leads to a motor-driven helical auger. The auger conveys the balls from the outlet path to the pitchback machine.