Turning Device for a Ball Launcher

This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/635,681 filed on Feb. 15, 2022, which is a 371 National Phase Patent Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/IL2020/050881 filed Aug. 12, 2020, which claims priority from Israeli Patent Application No. 268727 filed Aug. 15, 2019, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention is in the field of sports practice accessories. More specifically, the invention relates to a turning device, which can be used with automated ball launchers, such as tennis ball launchers.

An important element in sports training practice is the preparation of a player for a match against an opponent by simulating a match, in particular a tennis match, by employing an automatic ball launcher.

While several automatic ball launchers are commercially available in the market, they either include sophisticated and expensive products, or they include basic launchers that may require unwieldy manual operations, such as manual aiming of the launcher to different areas of court. Having a simple rotation device for basic ball launchers, such as not including an integral automated maneuvering mechanism, would be of a great advantage for reducing the costs of tennis practice.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cost effective turning device for available tennis ball launchers, including automated ball launchers.

It is another object of the invention to provide a comfortably and conveniently transportable ball launcher turning device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

A ball launcher apparatus comprises a ball launcher configured to controllably launch balls from an ejection port of the ball launcher with at least a predefined speed and angle relative to a horizontal plane to initiate a desired ball ejection operation; securing means; and a turning device configured to be connected to and disconnected from the ball launcher via the securing means,

In one aspect, the turning device is arm or hand holdable when disconnected from the ball launcher, while the controlled force generator and turning mechanism are protected within the interior space of the turning device between the upper surface of the platform and the lower surface of the base.

A ball launcher turning device external to the ball launcher comprises a base, a platform movably connected to said base and externally securable to the ball launcher, and a turning mechanism housed within said turning device that is configured to cause said platform and the ball launcher to undergo angular displacement relative to said base, in response to a force transmitted to said turning mechanism by a controlled force generator, to facilitate propulsion of balls ejected from the ball launcher in varying directions.

In one aspect, the platform is configured to undergo angular displacement with respect to the base about a vertically oriented pin movably connecting the platform and the base.

In one aspect, the turning mechanism is movably connected to the platform, and may also be movably connected to the force generator.

In one aspect, the turning mechanism transmits a force that causes the platform to undergo oscillatory angular displacement, or alternatively a force that causes the platform to undergo irregular angular displacement.

In one aspect, the turning device further comprises guide means linked to one or more elements of the turning mechanism, to ensure that the platform will be guided along a desired path during the angular displacement.

In one aspect, the turning device further comprises the force generator which is also housed within the turning device, wherein a power source for powering the force generator is connectable thereto.

The force generator may be an electric motor, while the power source is selected from the group consisting of an AC electricity supply system deliverable to the motor by an electrical outlet and a cable connected to the outlet and to the motor, an external battery, and an internal rechargeable battery. The power source is able to provide steady electric power that is sufficient to start and stop the angular displacement of the platform. Alternatively, the power source is able to provide a controllable current level that is sufficient to start and stop the angular displacement of the platform and to control its rotational speed.

In one aspect, the turning device further comprises an internal controller which is also housed within the turning device and is configured to control operation of the force generator, wherein the internal controller has at least one communication unit, for receiving operational commands from at least one remote station. The at least one communication unit is selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth device, a WiFi device, a wired communication device, and a combination thereof. The at least one remote station is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, a remote controller, and a combination thereof.

In one aspect, one or more contact wheels adapted to be in rolling contact with an underside of the platform are movably mounted to the base to maintain a substantially uniform spacing between the base and platform, while the platform is both stationary and undergoing angular displacement.

In one aspect, the base or platform is configured with a plurality of structural supports providing increased structural integrity.

In one aspect, the turning mechanism comprises an elongated link that is pivotally connected at a first end to a vertically oriented shaft driven by the force generator and that is slidably constrained at a second end within a groove formed in the platform that is offset from the shaft to apply a rotation-inducing force. The groove is linearly extending and is delimited by first and second parallel walls, a relative position of the second end of the link defining onto which of the first and second walls is the rotation-inducing force applied thereby and also defining a corresponding turning direction of the platform.

A combination of a ball launcher and a ball launcher turning device comprises a ball launcher and the turning device.

In one aspect, the combination further comprises securing means by which the ball launcher is securable to the turning device.

In one aspect, the securing means are configured as hand-manipulated elements.

In one aspect, the securing means are recessed regions formed in the platform that are shaped to receive corresponding elements of the ball launcher and that are configured to minimize or altogether eliminate ball launcher slippage during the angular displacement. The corresponding elements of the ball launcher generally include portability-facilitating bottom wheels.

In one aspect, the turning device comprises an electric motor for transmitting a force to the turning mechanism, and the ball launcher comprises a battery for powering the motor as well as ball launcher components, electrical power being transmittable through a cable extending between, and releasably connected to, the battery and the turning device motor.

In one aspect, a controller in data communication with the ball launcher components is housed within the ball launcher and comprises a processor configured to transmit control signals needed to initiate a desired ball ejection operation to the turning device motor, through the cable. The turning device mechanism has different rotational characteristics during initiation of two subsequent ball ejection operations that are performed in response to first and second different control signals.

In one aspect, the controller is also in data communication with a user interface by which desired operating conditions for the turning mechanism motor are settable.

The present invention relates to a turning device, having a base and a rotatable platform utilized for repeatedly turning an overlying tennis ball launcher right and left, so that the balls ejected from the launcher will be directed to different areas of a tennis court surface, thereby challenging a tennis beginner or other more advanced players interested in improving their stroke and body positioning with respect to incoming balls that are able to fall in different parts of the court.

Some prior art tennis ball launchers have an oscillating function; however, the prior art oscillating apparatus is built-in to the launcher and therefore considerably adds weight to the launcher, reducing portability, and additionally adds unwanted costs. Additionally, the ball launcher will be rendered inoperable if the prior art oscillating apparatus malfunctions.

The turning device of the present invention comprising a turning mechanism, which is configured as a device separate from the ball launcher, is adapted to cooperate not only with the ball launcherdescribed in WO 2019/106647 by the same Applicant, which is illustrated inand is configured with bottom support wheels, an extendable handle, shoulder straps, a plurality of compartments-including one for accommodating sport equipment, an integrated hopper and automatic launching apparatus for increased portability and compactness, but also with other types of ball launchers. A player is advantageously able to continue a training session to improve stroke techniques with the ball launcher even if the turning device unexpectedly malfunctions.

Although the following description relates to a device that cooperates with apparatus for the launching of tennis balls, the device is similarly suitable for the launching of other types of balls, such as pickleballs, paddle balls, soft tennis balls, baseballs, softballs, cricket balls and lacrosse balls.

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying figures for illustration. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative elements may be employed without departing from the principles of claimed invention.

As an introduction,schematically illustrates a ball launcher turning device. Turning devicecomprises a base, and a platformmovably connected to basefor securing a ball launcherby securing means. Turning devicehas a significantly smaller height than ball launcher, generally a fraction of the ball launcher height ranging from one-thirtieth to one-third the height of ball launcher, or any other suitable fraction, and a correspondingly smaller weight, so that it can be conveniently carried in one's arm.

A turning mechanism (TM)housed within turning deviceproduces angular displacement, in response to a force transmitted thereto by a controlled force generator (FG), which may be external to base, of platformrelative to baseto cause in turn angular displacement of ball launcherrelative to base, so that balls will be propelled in varying directions. Securing meansmay be constituted by, as well known to a person skilled in the art, hand-manipulated elements such as clamps, threaded fasteners and straps, magnetic elements, electromechanical components, electronic components, a combination of two or more of the above, or, alternatively, may be recessed regions formed in platformthat are complementary or otherwise shaped to receive corresponding elements of ball launcherwith or without engagement with a wall of a recessed region, which are configured to minimize or altogether eliminate ball launcher slippage during the turning motion.

Turning mechanismmay be movably connected to platform, base, or to both baseand platform, to provide oscillatory angular displacement or, alternatively, irregular angular displacement. Guide meanslinked to one or more of baseand platformand influenced by the operation of turning mechanismensures that platformwill be guided along a desired path during the angular displacement.

The angular displacement, which is generally initiated about a vertical axis but which may also be initiated about an axis oblique to a vertical axis, may be directed periodically both to a right side and to a left side, or may directed only to a right side or only to a left side.

Turning mechanismmay be any mechanism well known to those skilled in the art such as a crank mechanism, a cam based mechanism, a four bar linkage, a mechanism comprising a revolute joint, and a mechanism comprising a prismatic joint, or may be any other suitable mechanism.

Force generatorgenerally outputs the transmitted force in conjunction with a power source (PS), which may be positioned externally to base, by user friendly electrical or electronic actuation, but may also be output by pneumatic or hydraulic means.

illustrate a turning deviceaccording to one embodiment wherein the rotatable platformundergoes horizontal oscillatory angular displacement (marked as an arcuate arrowin) with respect to base, about vertical axis(marked as a dashed line). Platformis able to rotate in conjunction with the turning mechanism at a constant and cyclical slow rate, for example at 3.7 rpm or any other controlled speed, both in the right direction and in the left direction, after activation device, such as a knob, is actuated. Activation deviceshown to be provided with platformmay be able to set the turning mechanism to a single speed, or, alternatively, one of many speeds.

The turning mechanism includes an elongated and constrained rotatable element. Although the invention is not limited to the example illustrated in this embodiment, one end of the rotatable element is pivotally connected by a pivot about which the rotatable element rotates, and the second end of the rotatable element is slidably constrained within a groove that is offset from the pivot. During operation of the turning mechanism by an electric motor, the constrained second end apples a rotation-inducing force to platform.

Platformshown inhas an upper surfaceand a plurality of side surfaces. Upper surfaceis configured with positioning depressionsused for a stable placement of a tennis ball launcher on top of the platform, to ensure tennis ball launcher stability during the turning motion of platform. These positioning depressionsare well suited for interaction with ball launcherof, wherein the bottom wheels are adapted to be received within the rear depressions and a bottom handle underlying a lower surface of the launcher (not shown) is adapted to be received within the front depression. Of course, other combinations of a ball launcher and a turning device are within the scope of the invention.

The securing means, regardless of the type employed, is integral with or in suitable engagement with one or both of upper surfaceand at least one of side surfaceswhen platformis in secured relation with the ball launcher to minimize or eliminate ball launcher slippage during a turning motion.

Although deviceis shown to have a substantially rectangular shape, it will be appreciated that other shapes as well are within the scope of the invention.

illustrates a detailed top view of basewhen separated from the platform.

Basehas a lower surfaceand side surfacesto define an interior space of the turning device between upper surfaceof platformand lower surfaceof baseand interior to side surfacesof the platform and side surfacesof the base. An electrical motor, generally a gear motor, is symmetrically mounted onto base, along a midline thereof, so as to be disposed between upper surfaceof the platform and lower surfaceof the base without extending outside of the interior space of the turning device. An outlet shaft, onto which a proximal end of a link, e.g. an elliptical link, is threaded or otherwise pivotally connected, while having a freely rotatable actuator wheelconnected to its distal or second end, is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of motor. Electrical motoris installed within a suitable compartment(partially sectioned infor the sake of clarity) and generates the controlled force that is transmitted through shaftin order to pivotally drive linkat a constant rate.

Baseis configured with means for supporting a pin joint rotatably connecting baseand platformand constituting the center of rotation of the platform. Such means include a surface which is recessed with respect to a border, e.g. circular, and formed with an apertureat its center, which may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of motor. This surface together with a corresponding recessed surface of platformdefines a spacer cavityfor a low friction spacer (e.g., a Teflon shim which reduces the friction between rotating platformofand base). Basealso has two arcuate guiding sockets, which may be thin through-hole apertures. The combination of the pin joint and guiding socketsdefines the rotation path of platformwith respect to base.

Further shown inare two contact wheelsmovably mounted to baseadjacent to a corresponding guiding socketand adapted to be in rolling contact with the underside of platform, which maintain a substantially uniform spacing between the base and platform, while the platform is both stationary and undergoing angular motion. A plurality of structural supports, which may be of a linear and/or circular shape as shown, provide improved structural integrity and a smooth operation of the oscillated turning device.

The required electric power for operating electrical motoris provided through power supply cablehaving a connector. According to different embodiments of the present invention, cablemay be connected to one of different power sources, such as a utility electrical outlet, an external battery, an internal rechargeable battery, or a controlled power outlet of an automated tennis ball launcher, through which a steady power supply is provided, or a controlled power supply (e.g., of a controlled current) is provided for controlling the rotational speed of motor, which in turn defines the turning speed of the platform and the starting/stopping duration for a rotation cycler. According to some embodiments, the device is provided with an internal controller and at least one communication unit (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or wired communication devices), which receive operational commands (i.e., on/off and turning speed) from at least one remote station such as a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, or a remote control device.

schematically illustrates a bottom view of device, showing a detailed view of rotating platformbehind partially transparent base, wherein platformcomprises arcuate guiding elementswith locking nuts(i.e., guiding elementsare aligned with groovesof base, and nutsare threaded into elements, thus movably clamping the margins of grooves), and a rotation cavitywith a socket, where rotation cavityallows the sufficient space for a free rotation of link, which rotates in a crankshaft motion, in which actuator wheellinearly travels between the two separate ends of elongated socket, while alternately pushing wallsandof socket(i.e., left and right) in accordance with an instantaneous rotational angle of link, as will be further illustrated in, thus forcing the oscillated turning of platform.

Further shown inis a pinconnecting baseand platform, a recessed surfacecorresponding to the recessed surface of baseshown in(i.e., for accommodating a low friction spacer), contact wheelsand structural supportswhich provides smooth operation and structural integrity similarly to contact wheelsand structural supportsof base, and the opposite side of positioning depressions().