초록 ▼

A ball tossing apparatus includes a support frame and a plurality of launch devices fixed to the support frame and arranged in a two-dimensional array. The launch devices include cylinders having a spring fixed therein, with a ball carrier fixed to the spring. The balls are retained in a loaded posi

A ball tossing apparatus includes a support frame and a plurality of launch devices fixed to the support frame and arranged in a two-dimensional array. The launch devices include cylinders having a spring fixed therein, with a ball carrier fixed to the spring. The balls are retained in a loaded position (springs compressed) and then upon activation of the launch devices are launched vertically into the air to the sports player. In another embodiment, the launch devices include a rotating lever which is acted on by a biasing member to launch the ball vertically from the cylinder. A method for launching the balls includes the steps of loading the balls into a two dimensional array, and then launching the balls according to a launch sequence. An electronic control system for use with the ball tossing apparatus includes a launch module for launching the loaded balls in the plurality of launch devices according to a launch sequence. The launch sequences can be randomly generated, programmed by the sports player, or retrieved from memory. The launch of the balls can also be controlled remotely.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A ball tossing apparatus, comprising:a support frame;a plurality of launch devices fixed to said support frame, said launch devices arranged in a two-dimensional array having at least two of said launch devices arranged along each dimension;a user interface operative to receive input fr

We claim: 1. A ball tossing apparatus, comprising:a support frame;a plurality of launch devices fixed to said support frame, said launch devices arranged in a two-dimensional array having at least two of said launch devices arranged along each dimension;a user interface operative to receive input from a user;a controller responsive to said input from said user and operative to generate a series of launch signal addresses, each of said launch signal addresses identifying one of said plurality of launch devices to be activated at its respective location in said two-dimensional array; anda decoder operative to decode each of said series of launch signal addresses and, for each of said launch signal addresses, to provide an electronic launch signal to the identified one of said plurality of launch devices; andwherein each of said launch devices is individually activated responsive to said electronic launch signals, thereby enabling the controlled sequential activation of said launch devices.