Patent Application
20220126186
The present invention relates in general to exercise devices, and, more specifically, to a mechanical sports ball catapult system.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and should not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks.
Exercise equipment, generally, may be any apparatus or device used during physical activity to enhance the experience or outcome of an exercise routine. Many exercises and sports involve a user catching or otherwise interacting with a ball travelling through the air, for example American football requires that players catch thrown passes or kicked punts, and the practicing of such interactions is necessary for the improving of a player's proficiency in the sport. A number of devices have been developed to aid in the improving of such proficiency, including automatic ball-throwing and ball-launching devices. Such devices, though, tend to utilize powered means of accelerating a ball and a sled to guide it into the air.
Examples of such devices include ball launchers and ball cannons, which are powered devices utilizing pairs of wheels spinning at high speed and accelerating a ball along an angled or curved sled. Such devices may be adjusted to alter ball speed and trajectory through the system, though tend to comprise heavy and expensive units requiring complicated system maintenance. A tension-powered mechanical design utilizing well-known catapult principles would result in a lighter, more mobile, more inexpensive, and more easily maintained ball launching system.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a mechanical sports ball catapult system. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.
To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a mechanical sports ball catapult system.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may not require electrical power to operate.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a tension catapult design.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a structural main body upon and within which the various components are housed and made mobile.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise an arming mechanism.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a drive mechanism.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a cradle mechanism.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise a firing mechanism.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise launch speed adjustment.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical sports ball catapult system that may comprise launch angle adjustment.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, both with respect to how to practice the present invention and how to make the present invention.
The preferred embodiments and examples of the claimed subject matter will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary, or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
The present invention relates in general to exercise devices, and, more specifically, to a mechanical sports ball catapult system. As contemplated by the present disclosure, the combination comprises a structural main body, an arming mechanism, a drive mechanism, a cradle mechanism, and a firing mechanism. The various mechanisms may be of any design appropriate to achieve their desired functions, though may be designed as described in the various embodiments disclosed herein.
The illustrations of
A lower end of each of the plurality of vertical frames 106 may attach to an axle 112 upon which a plurality of wheels 120 may be attached, and an upper end of the plurality of vertical frames 106 may attach to a handgrip 110 so that the system may be tilted and rolled from one position to another. External to the rear panel 114 and hinging on the axle 112 may be an arming mechanism 200 (discussed further below). The plurality of cradle support frames 104 may comprise a curved frame upon which may slide a plurality of cradle angle brackets 320 (discussed further below).
The illustrations of
The arming cord 206 may attach at its opposite end to the cradle mechanism 300 (discussed further below). The plurality of arming pedal arms 204 may pass through the rear panel 114 and may be attached via a plurality of tensioning cords 304 to the plurality of horizontal frames 108 of the system skeleton to provide tension that returns the arming mechanism 200 to its unloaded state. A plurality of cable routing components 150 may be built into the system, as required, to prevent binding of the various cables used.
The illustrations of
The plurality of fasteners 306 may attach to a plurality of fastener receivers 324 that may then be attached to a plurality of cradle angle brackets 320. The cradle angle brackets 320 may be attached to the cradle support frames 104 by a means for cradle angle adjustment 322 such that the cradle angle brackets 320 provide a stationary foundation against which the plurality of cradle tensioning cords 304 may be pulled to apply tension to the cradle mechanism 300. The cradle angle brackets 320 may slide along the curvature of the cradle support frames 104 and may be set at various positions on the cradle support frames 104 via the cradle angle adjustment 322 so as to alter the launch angle of a sports ball contained within the cradle mechanism 300.
The illustration of
The drive carriage sliders may be attached to the drive mechanism 400 bracketry by a plurality of tensioning springs such that the drive carriage 404 is returned to its unloaded position when the firing mechanism 500 is engaged by a user. A spool cable 522 may attach the drive carriage 404 to the firing mechanism 500, and may act as the tension-releasing mechanism that causes a ball to be launched from the system. The tension acting on the various components of the drive mechanism 400 may be adjustable so as to alter the launch speed of a ball contained within the cradle mechanism 300.
The illustrations of
The spool cable 522 may be wrapped around the spool pulley 524, and tension may be applied on the spool pulley 524 by pulling on the spool cable 522 and unwinding the spool spring 526. Such tension on the spool pulley 524 may be released by the action of the firing carriage 514 moving along the plurality of firing carriage rails 516. This action may be triggered by a user pressing on the firing piston arm 512, which may be connected to the firing mechanism cover 502. The firing mechanism cover 502 may be attached via a hinge mechanism to the firing mechanism housing 506 and may have a traction pad 504 attached thereon such that it substantially comprises a foot pedal trigger mechanism.
As discussed above, the action of the system is such that the arming mechanism 200 may be engaged by a user to apply tension on the cradle mechanism 300 and drive mechanism 400. The user may then place a ball into the cradle mechanism 300, and may launch the ball from the system by engaging the firing mechanism 500. The engaging of the firing mechanism 500 suddenly and rapidly releases the tension in the system, causing the cradle mechanism 300 to accelerate the ball into the air at the selected launch speed and launch angle. The entire system is contained within the main body 100, which is designed to provide an easily moveable, lightweight, and low maintenance solution for achieving such a purpose.
The illustrations of
The engaging of the electronic trigger 600 sends an electronic signal to the electro-mechanical firing mechanism 602, which may comprise a solenoid or other similar mechanism that induces the cocking mechanism 612 to release the tension loop 610, causing the cradle mechanism 300 to accelerate the ball into the air.
The electronic trigger 600 may comprise any appropriate mechanism such as, for example, a button or trigger that generates an electronic signal when activated. The electronic trigger 600 may comprise a device separate from the main body 100 of the system, such as, for example, a button fob or remote.
The electro-mechanical firing mechanism 602 may comprise any appropriate mechanism such as, for example, a rod or hook moved by electro-mechanical means when an electronic signal is received from the electronic trigger 600. The cocking mechanism 612 may comprise a latch that may be physically attached to the rod or hook of the electro-mechanical firing mechanism 602 such that the latch is in a closed state, and the triggering of the electro-mechanical firing mechanism 602 by engaging the electronic trigger 600 may move the rod or hook such that the latch of the cocking mechanism 612 is opened. The electro-mechanical firing mechanism 602 may further comprise a wireless signal receiver that receives a signal from the electronic trigger 600 and moves the rod or hook. The opening of the cocking mechanism 612 may release the tension loop 610 due to the potential energy stored in the plurality of tensioning cords 304.
The mechanical sports ball catapult system may be substantially constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials, but typically is constructed of a resilient material or combination of materials such that the device is resistant to tearing and damage as a result of compression, stretching, twisting, heating, or submersion in water. As an example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the device may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate, steel, aluminum, brass, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or combinations thereof.
In one embodiment the material of construction may vary from one component to the next within the device. By way of example, the structural support components of the mechanical sports ball catapult system may comprise a wear-resistant material of construction, such as metals, to increase the life-span and improve the rigidity of the system. The cradle mechanism, instead, may comprise a flexible material of construction, such as fabrics, to improve the tensioning ability of the system.
In one embodiment the mechanical sports ball catapult system may comprise a resilient material of construction that either comprises a material having antimicrobial properties or comprises a layering of antimicrobial material or coating. Antimicrobial properties comprise the characteristic of being antibacterial, biocidal, microbicidal, anti-fungal, anti-viral, or other similar characteristics, and the oligodynamic effect, which is possessed by copper, brass, silver, gold, and several other metals and alloys, is one such characteristic. Copper and its alloys, in particular, have exceptional self-sanitizing effects. Silver also has this effect, and is less toxic to users than copper. Some materials, such as silver in its metallic form, may require the presence of moisture to activate the antimicrobial properties.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16508102 | Jul 2019 | US |
| Child | 17573244 | US |
