Ball throwing apparatus

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.

1 . A ball throwing apparatus comprising a main frame; a pivoting frame pivotally connected to said main frame and a frame pivoting motor engaging said main frame and said pivoting frame for pivoting said pivoting frame with respect to said main frame: a barrel carried by said pivoting frame; and a pair of tires journalled for rotation on said pivoting frame for propelling a ball from said barrel to a selected target responsive to rotation of said tires.  
   
   
       2 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 1  comprising at least one tire motor engaging said tires for rotating said tires.  
   
   
       3 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a barrel rotation motor engaging said barrel for rotating said barrel with respect to said main frame.  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 1  comprising: 
 (a) at least one tire motor engaging said tires for rotating said tires; and    (b) a barrel rotation motor engaging said barrel for rotating said barrel with respect to said main frame [; and    (c) a pivoting frame rotatably connected to said main frame and a frame pivoting motor engaging said main frame and said pivoting frame for pivoting said pivoting frame with respect to said main frame].    
   
   
       6 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a tripod pivotally carrying said main frame.  
   
   
       7 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 6  comprising a main frame pivot motor carried by said main frame and engaging said tripod for pivoting said main frame with respect to said tripod.  
   
   
       8 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 7  comprising: 
 (a) at least one tire motor engaging said tires for rotating said tires; and    (b) a barrel rotation motor engaging said barrel for rotating said barrel with respect to said main frame; [and    (c) a pivoting frame rotatably connected to said main frame and a frame pivoting motor engaging said main frame and said pivoting frame for pivoting said pivoting frame with respect to said main frame.]   
   
   
       9 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 8  comprising a main frame pivot motor carried by said main frame and engaging said tripod for pivoting said main frame with respect to said tripod.  
   
   
       10 . A ball throwing apparatus comprising a main frame; a pivoting frame rotatable connected to said main frame and a frame pivoting motor engaging said main frame and said pivoting frame for pivoting said pivoting frame with respect to said main frame; a barrel rotatably and pivotally carried by said pivoting frame; a tripod pivotally carrying said main frame; a pair of tire motors carried by said pivoting frame; and a pair of tires journalled for rotation on said tire motors, respectively, for propelling a ball from said barrel to a selected target responsive to rotation of said tires.  
   
   
       11 . The ball throwing apparatus of  claim 10  comprising a main frame pivot motor carried by said main frame and engaging said tripod for pivoting said main frame with respect to said tripod.  
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)