Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BASEBALL PITCHING SIMULATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to baseball pitching training devices and,
more particularly, to a baseball pitching simulator having a horizontally and
vertically movable target configured to simulate a live pitcher-hitter dual.
Regardless if a pitcher is a child, teenager, adult, amateur or professional,
a
pitcher routinely seeks a convenient, effective, and entertaining way to
practice the
art of pitching. Like most sports, pitching accuracy is improved with
repetition.
Pitching may be practiced by throwing to a catcher who may move his glove
around so that the pitcher has a variable target. However, a live catcher may
not
always be available to work with the pitcher.
Various devices have been proposed in the art that provide a target at which
to throw a ball. Some devices cause a ball to return to the pitcher and others
cause
a pitching target to return to a default position when hit. Although
presumably
effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide a
pitching
training aid that effectively simulates a real hitter-pitcher dual or that
simulates
practice with a live catcher who may vary the position of the catcher's mitt.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a baseball pitching simulator that
effectively simulates pitching to a live catcher. Further, it would be
desirable to
have a baseball pitching simulator that causes a pitching target to move both
vertically and horizontally in between pitches. In addition, it would be
desirable to
have a baseball pitching simulator that displays an ongoing pitch count as
well as
the speed of the latest pitch.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A baseball pitching simulator for simulating a live pitcher-hitter dual
includes a framework having first and second vertical support members. A first
adjustment assembly includes a first carriage coupled to the first vertical
support
member and is vertically movable by a pulley system and first motor. A second
adjustment assembly is coupled to the first carriage and movable vertically
when
the first carriage is moved up or down the vertical support member. The second
adjustment assembly includes first and second pulleys extending laterally
between
the vertical support members and is coupled to a pitching target. Accordingly,
the
first adjustment assembly regulates a vertical position of the pitching member
and
the second adjustment assembly regulates a horizontal position thereof. First
and
second motors actuate movement of the adjustment assemblies. The simulator
includes a pitching target having a pressure sensor to detect impact. The
simulator
includes a backstop and a vibration sensor to determine when the backstop is
impacted. A processor and programming determine and cause the adjustment
assemblies to move the pitching target.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a baseball
pitching
simulator for simulating a live pitcher-hitter dual.
Another object of this invention is to provide a baseball pitching simulator,
as aforesaid, having a framework, movable pitching target, and a backstop that
enables a user to throw a baseball toward the pitching target and that senses
if the
target was hit or missed.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a baseball pitching
simulator, as aforesaid, that includes a pressure sensor on the pitching
target and a
vibration sensor on a backstop to determine where a pitched ball has impacted.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a baseball pitching
simulator, as aforesaid, that includes programming configured to actuate
movement
of the pitching target after each pitch.
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A further object of this invention is to provide a baseball pitching
simulator,
as aforesaid, enabling a user to select between a mode in which the pitching
target
adjusts its position after every pitch and a mode in which it adjusts only
after the
target was hit, i.e. a "strike."
A still further object of this invention is to provide a baseball pitching
simulator, as aforesaid, having a speed detection device and display screen.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments
of
this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a baseball pitching simulator according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the baseball pitching simulator as in
5 Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;
Fig. 3 is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of Fig.
2;
Fig. 4a is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of Fig.
2;
Fig. 4b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of Fig.
10 2;
Fig. 5 is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of Fig.
2;
Fig. 6a is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of Fig.
2;
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Fig. 6b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of Fig.
2;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic components of the
baseball pitching simulator according to the present invention; and
Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the logic performed by the processor
according to the present invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A baseball pitching simulator according to the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 of the present invention.
The
baseball pitching simulator 10 includes a framework 20, a first adjustment
assembly 50, a second adjustment assembly 70, a pitching target 80, a backstop
40,
and sensors configured to detect when a ball impacts either the target or
backstop.
The framework 20 may include opposed first 22 and second 24 vertical
support members each having respective upper and lower ends (unnumbered). An
upper support member 26 may extend between respective upper ends of the first
22
and second 24 vertical support members (Fig. 2). The framework 20 may also
include a lower support member 28 extending between respective lower ends of
the
first 22 and second 24 vertical support members. Further, an upper support
structure 30 may be coupled to respective upper ends of the first 22 and
second 24
vertical support members. Preferably, the upper support structure 30 includes
opposed upper side bars 32 extending rearwardly from the first 22 and second
24
vertical support member upper ends with an auxiliary upper support member 33
connecting the side support bars (Fig. 2). The framework 20 may also include a
lower support structure 34 having opposed lower side bars 36 extending
rearwardly
from lower ends of the first 22 and second 24 vertical support members. An
auxiliary lower support member 38 may extend between the rearward ends of the
lower side bars 36, the lower support structure 34 preferably having a profile
larger
than that of the upper support structure 30 so as to be stable against being
tipped
over in use.
The backstop 40 may include a top edge coupled to the upper support
structure 30 and extend downwardly substantially adjacent to or attached to
the
lower support structure 34. The backstop 40 may have a flexible construction,
such
as a nylon net, canvas sheet, or the like.
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The first adjustment assembly 50 (also referred to as the "vertical
assembly") may include a first carriage 52 mounted to the first vertical
support
member 22 that is configured to move therealong substantially between upper
and
lower ends of the first vertical support member 22, as will be described
below.
More particularly, the first carriage 52 may be configured as a sleeve that
extends
about the first vertical support member 22 and is slidably movable relative
thereto.
The first adjustment assembly 50 may include a first motor 61 operatively
connected to the first carriage 52 so as to cause the first carriage 52 to
move
upwardly or downwardly along the first vertical support member 22 when
energized, as will be described below.
The first adjustment assembly 50 may include a pulley system connecting
the first motor 61 and the first carriage 52. More particularly, the first
adjustment
assembly 50 may include upper 56 and lower 58 pulleys operatively mounted to
respective upper and lower ends of the first vertical support member 22. The
first
adjustment assembly 50 may include a first cable 60 having a continuous loop
construction and configured to rotate about the upper 56 and lower 58 pulleys
when
the pulleys are themselves rotated. Preferably, the first motor 61 is
operatively
coupled to the first adjustment assembly first pulley 56 so as to actuate the
pulley to
rotate when the first motor 61 is electrically energized. The first cable 60
is
fixedly connected to the first carriage 52 so as to move the first carriage 52
upwardly or downwardly along the first vertical support member 22 when the
first
cable 60 is operated by rotation of the pulleys.
Alternatively, the first adjustment assembly 50 may include a track
apparatus and electrical means for moving the first carriage 52 therealong
(not
shown) or another means for moving the first carriage 52 upwardly and
downwardly along the first vertical support member 22.
The second adjustment assembly 70 (also referred to as the "horizontal
= assembly") has a similar pulley configuration. More particularly, the
second
adjustment assembly 70 includes a first pulley 72 coupled to the first
adjustment
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assembly first carriage 52. The second adjustment assembly 70 includes a
second
pulley 74 that may be positioned adjacent the second vertical support member
24
opposite the first carriage 52 (or attached to a second carriage 62 as will be
described later). The second adjustment assembly 70 includes a second
adjustment
assembly cable 76 having a continuous loop construction and extending between
the second adjustment assembly first 72 and second 74 pulleys. The second
adjustment assembly cable 76, therefore, extends substantially between the
first 22
and second 24 vertical support members in a generally horizontal
configuration.
Since the second adjustment assembly first pulley 72 is coupled to the first
carriage
52, the entire second adjustment assembly 70 is moved upwardly or downwardly
according to a corresponding movement of the first carriage 52. The second
adjustment assembly 70 includes a second motor 78 operatively connected to the
second adjustment assembly first pulley 72 so as to cause it to rotate when
the
second motor 78 is energized.
In some embodiments, the first adjustment assembly 50 may include a
second carriage 62 mounted to the second vertical support member 24 and
configured for movement therealong between respective upper and lower ends.
The first adjustment assembly 50 may also include auxiliary upper 66 and lower
68
pulleys operatively mounted to respective upper and lower ends of the second
vertical support member 24. The auxiliary pulleys are mounted so as to rotate.
An
auxiliary first adjustment assembly cable 69 that includes a continuous loop
construction may be operatively coupled to respective pulleys and extend
therebetween in the same manner described previously. The auxiliary cable 69
is
connected to the second carriage 62 so as to urge the second carriage 62
upwardly
or downwardly along the second vertical support member 24 when the auxiliary
pulleys are rotated. Preferably, a connector rod 65 extends between and is
fixedly
attached to the first adjustment assembly first pulley 56 and the auxiliary
first
adjustment assembly upper pulley 66 so that rotation of the first adjustment
= assembly upper pulley 56 causes the auxiliary first adjustment assembly
first pulley
66 to rotate.
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In use, therefore, operation of the corresponding first pulleys causes the
first
52 and second 62 carriages to move upwardly or downwardly along respective
vertical support members in unison. The second adjustment assembly second
pulley
74 may be coupled to the second carriage 62.
Each first carriage 52 and second carriage 62 may include a respective
flange 54 attached to outer side surface thereof that extends outwardly (Fig.
4a).
The second assembly first pulley 72 may be coupled to the flange 54. Further,
the
second motor 78 may be coupled to the second adjustment assembly second pulley
74 so as to actuate the second adjustment assembly first pulley 72 when the
second
motor 78 is energized.
The second adjustment assembly 70 includes a pitching target 80 positioned
and configured to be moved laterally between the first 22 and second 24
vertical
support members. More particularly, the pitching target 80 is fixedly attached
to
the second adjustment assembly cable 76 such that the pitching target 80 is
moved
when the cable is moved. In other words, if the cable 76 is moved laterally to
the
right, the pitching target 80 is moved laterally to the right as well.
The baseball pitching simulator 10 includes a processor 90 in data
communication with the first 50 and second 70 adjustment assemblies and, more
particularly, in data communication with the first 61 and second 78 motors
which
operate the adjustment assemblies. A memory (not shown or numbered) is in data
communication with the processor 90 and is configured to store programming
instructions. As will be described in even more detail later, the memory
includes
programming that when executed by the processor 90 causes the first motor 61
to
be energized to move the first carriage 52 a distance along the first vertical
support
member 22. Specific programming causes the processor 90 to determine which
direction and how much movement is appropriate. The determined amount may be
a random direction and distance. Further, programming causes the processor 90
to
energize the second motor 78 to move the pitching target 80 a lateral
direction and
distance relative to the first 22 and second 24 vertical support members.
Again, the
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direction and distance may be random. The conditions under which the
programming is executed will be described below.
The pitching target 80 may include a pressure sensor 82 in data
communication with the processor 90. It is understood that the communication
between the pressure sensor 82 and processor 90 may be by electrical wire,
circuitry, radio signal, or the like. The pressure sensor 82 is configured to
detect
when an impact force is experienced that is indicative of being struck by a
thrown
baseball. The outer surface of the pitching target 80 may have a gently padded
construction configured to receive rather than deflect an impact by a ball.
A vibration sensor 42 may be positioned adjacent, proximate, or in direct
physical contact with the backstop 40. The vibration sensor 42 is in data
communication with the processor 90, such as by wire or wireless signal. The
vibration sensor 42 is configured to detect a vibration in the backstop that
is
indicative that the backstop 40 has been impacted, such as by a thrown
baseball.
Further, the baseball pitching simulator 10 may include an electronic display
94 in data communication with the processor 90 and memory. In some
embodiments, the display 94 and other electronic components may be positioned
together in the display housing. The memory includes programming that when
executed by the processor 90 calculates and stores pitch count data so as to
keep
track of which throws (i.e. a pitch) impact the pitching target - a "strike" -
and
which throws impact the backstop - "a ball" -. Specifically, a pitch is logged
in
the pitch count data as a "strike- when the pressure sensor 82 detects an
impact
force; a pitch is logged in the pitch count data as a "ball" when the
vibration sensor
42 detects an impact force. Programming may be executed by the processor 90
that
causes the pitch count data to be transferred to and rendered by the display
94.
Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary process 200 according to programming
executed by the processor 90 in use of the baseball pitching simulator 10.
First, a
mode selection input 96 is operable by a user to determine what mode of
operation
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will be followed by the processor 90. In some embodiments, the mode selection
input 96 may be a button on the display 94 that is in data communication with
the
processor 90. At step 202, the processor 90 determines if a user has selected
an
"Always Move Mode" in which the processor determines first adjustment assembly
movement instructions and second adjustment assembly movement instructions
when either one of the vibration sensor 42 or the pressure sensor 82 detects
an
impact force. If so, then the process 200 proceeds to step 203; otherwise, the
process 200 proceeds to step 220. At step 203, the processor 90 determines if
the
backstop/vibration sensor 42 has detected an impact and, if so, proceeds to
step
204; otherwise, the process 200 proceeds to step 205. At step 204, the
processor 90
causes the pitch count data to reflect a "ball" and process 200 is passed on
to step
208. At step 205, the processor 90 determines if the pitching target pressure
sensor
82 has detected an impact and, if so, proceeds to step 206; otherwise, the
process
200 returns to step 202. At step 206, the processor 90 causes the pitch count
data to
reflect a "strike" and process 200 proceeds on to step 208.
At step 208, the processor 90 determines the next moves to be made by both
the first 50 and second 70 adjustment assemblies. More particularly, the
processor
90 determines both the direction and distance that will result from an
energizing of
the first motor 61 and second motor 78. The process 200 then proceeds to steps
210 and 212 where the processor 200 causes the first/vertical adjustment
assembly
motor 61 and the second/horizontal adjustment assembly motor 78 to be
energized
according to the movement signals determined by the processor 90 at step 208.
Then, the process 200 returns to step 202 to re-evaluate the mode and actions
to be
taken.
At step 220, the processor 90 determines if a "Target Mode" has been
selected by a user, in which in which the processor 90 determines first
adjustment
assembly movement instructions and second adjustment assembly movement
instructions only when the pressure sensor 82 detects an impact force. If so,
then
the process 200 proceeds to step 222; otherwise, the process 200 returns to
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202. At step 222, the processor 90 determines if the pitching target pressure
sensor
82 has detected an impact force. If so, the process 200 proceeds to step 226;
otherwise, the process 200 proceeds to step 224.
At step 224, the processor 90 determines if the backstop vibration sensor 42
has detected an impact force. If so, the process 200 proceeds to step 225;
otherwise, the process 200 returns to step 220. At step 225, the processor 90
causes
the pitch count data to reflect a "ball" and process 200 is returned to step
220
(without energizing either of the adjustment assemblies).
At step 226, the processor 90 causes the pitch count data to reflect a
"strike"
and process 200 proceeds on to step 228. At step 228, the processor 90
determines
the next moves to be made by both the first 50 and second 70 adjustment
assemblies. More particularly, the processor 90 determines both the direction
and
distance that will result from an energizing of the first motor 61 and second
motor
78. The process 200 then proceeds to steps 230 and 232 where the processor 200
causes the first/vertical adjustment assembly motor 61 and the
second/horizontal
adjustment assembly motor 78 to be energized according to the movement signals
determined by the processor 90 at step 220.
The baseball pitching simulator 10 may also include a speed detection unit
98 removably coupled to the framework 20, the speed detection unit 98 also
referred to as a radar gun. The speed detection unit 98 is in data
communication
with the processor 90 so that speed data may be received by the processor 90.
The
speed detection unit 98 is positioned generally inline with the pitching
target 80 so
as to measure the speed of balls being thrown/pitched toward the pitching
target 80.
The processor 90 may execute programming that causes the speed data to be
transmitted to the display 94 (or to another display 95 (Fig. 7)). In
addition, the
speed detection unit 98 may include a wireless foot switch 99 for resetting or
otherwise controlling the unit.
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In use, a user may pitch balls toward the pitching simulator 10 in an attempt
to hit the pitching target 80 to simulate pitching to a catcher's glove. In
doing so, a
user may simulate an actuate dual against a batter. Depending on the mode
setting,
the pitching target may move randomly after each pitch or only when the
pitching
target 80 is actually struck as described above.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been
illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such
limitations
are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents
thereof.
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