Variable trajectory kit for a ball pitching mechanism

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus for use with a ball throwing machine (e.g., baseball/softball pitching machines, tennis ball serving machines and the like) that may be employed for practice at hitting and/or catching balls thrown. In many conventional systems, such machines have a fixed position and are unable to vary the direction (horizontal) or angle (vertical) at which a ball is thrown. The present invention provides a simple, cost-effective device by which conventional machines may be adapted to provide randomly variable movement of the machine so as to enable a ball to move about a target location in order to simulate a competitive environment.

1 . A displacement device for a ball pitching machine, comprising: 
 a support base on the ball pitching machine;    an eccentric drive operatively attached to said ball pitching machine, said drive generating displacement in at least a first plane using a single motor to produce a displacement of the ball pitching machine to alter the trajectory of a ball thrown therefrom.    
   
   
       2 . The displacement device of  claim 1 , further comprising means, connected to the eccentric drive, for adapting and operatively coupling the eccentric drive to at least one leg of a multi-legged support for the pitching machine, wherein said means translates motion from the eccentric drive to the leg.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the eccentric drive further comprises a motor and a crank coupled to said motor, and where the adaptation means rotationally constrains at least an end of the control leg and causes said end of the control leg to move in at least two directions.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is position relative to the pitching machine so as to cause motion in three directions.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said leg adaptation means is engaged with at least one of the supporting legs of said ball pitching machine.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one other of said supporting legs includes at least one roller in contact with the supporting surface so as to enable at least one other of said supporting legs to move relative to the supporting surface.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one other of said supporting legs includes means for enabling sliding contact with the supporting surface.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said variable trajectory means is a crank having a plurality of holes therethrough and wherein one of said holes operatively receives the leg adaptation means.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said crank is affixed to a rotation means through one of said plurality of holes and the trajectory displacement is a function of the hole selected.  
   
   
       10 . A free standing ball throwing machine comprising: 
 means to throw a ball in a generally predetermined direction on a trajectory that is a function of the ball speed and angle of release; and    an eccentric drive means associated with a motor and a control leg receiver operatively associated with at least one support of the ball throwing machine,    wherein said control leg receiver is moved in at least one direction to effect a change in the direction or angle at which the ball is released so as to vary the location at which the ball is received in the vicinity of a target region as a result of the variable displacement of the control leg receiver as the ball is released.    
   
   
       11 . A device for altering the position of a ball delivery machine having a plurality of legs to support the ball delivery machine on a surface, comprising: 
 a leg mount to operatively connect the device to at least one of the legs;    a crank;    a pivotable connection between the leg mount and the cam, operatively coupling the leg mount to the cam; and    means for rotating the crank about an eccentric axis, wherein the leg mount moves in at least a varying bi-directional manner as a rotating means is operated so as to cause the ball delivery machine to alter an angle at which a ball is delivered.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the leg mount receives a leg.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the leg is inserted, at least partially, into the leg mount.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein rotating means is an electric motor.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 11 , further including a roller operatively associated with at least one other leg.