Baseball pitching system

Abstract

A baseball pitching system for allowing an individual to operate a baseball pitching machine similar to an actual human pitcher. The baseball pitching system includes a housing, a ball throwing unit within the housing, a central processing unit in communication with the ball throwing unit, and an interface in communication with the central processing unit. The user is able to select a desired pitch type and velocity through the interface which communicates the same to the central processing unit which manipulates the velocity of the pitching wheels within the ball throwing unit to create the desired pitch. Automatic sequences may be programmed along with random pitches to assist in simulating a real life human pitcher.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A baseball pitching system, comprising: 
 a housing;    a ball throwing unit within said housing;    a central processing unit in communication with and controlling said ball throwing unit; and    an interface in communication with said central processing unit, wherein said interface allows a user to control a pitch type and a pitch velocity.    
     
     
         2 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 1 , wherein said interface allows said user to control a pitch direction.  
     
     
         3 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 2 , wherein said interface allows said user to control a pitch elevation.  
     
     
         4 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 3 , wherein said pitch type is comprised of a left handed slider, a right handed slider, a left handed curve, a right handed curve, a fast ball rise, and a fast ball sink.  
     
     
         5 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 4 , wherein said interface indicates said pitch type and said pitch elevation.  
     
     
         6 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 5 , wherein said interface indicates said pitch direction and said pitch elevation.  
     
     
         7 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 6 , wherein said interface allows said user to program a predetermined pitch having a predetermined pitch type and a predetermined pitch velocity.  
     
     
         8 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 7 , wherein said interface allows said user to create a program of pitches to be delivered to a batter.  
     
     
         9 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 8 , wherein said interface allows said user to generate a random selection of pitches to said batter.  
     
     
         10 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 9 , wherein said interface allows said user to control a pitch elevation.  
     
     
         11 . A baseball pitching system, comprising: 
 a housing;    a ball throwing unit within said housing;    a central processing unit in communication with and controlling said ball throwing unit;    an interface in communication with said central processing unit, wherein said interface allows a user to control a pitch type and a pitch velocity;    a plurality of pitch type selectors within said interface;    a plurality of pitch type indicators adjacent each of said plurality of pitch type selectors;    a plurality of pitch velocity selectors; and    a velocity display for indicating said pitch velocity.    
     
     
         12 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 11 , wherein said interface allows said user to control a pitch direction.  
     
     
         13 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 12 , wherein said interface allows said user to control a pitch elevation.  
     
     
         14 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 13 , wherein said pitch type is comprised of a left handed slider, a right handed slider, a left handed curve, a right handed curve, a fast ball rise, and a fast ball sink.  
     
     
         15 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 14 , wherein said interface indicates said pitch type and said pitch elevation.  
     
     
         16 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 15 , wherein said interface indicates said pitch direction and said pitch elevation.  
     
     
         17 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 16 , wherein said interface allows said user to program a predetermined pitch having a predetermined pitch type and a predetermined pitch velocity.  
     
     
         18 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 17 , wherein said interface allows said user to create a program of pitches to be delivered to a batter.  
     
     
         19 . The baseball pitching system of  claim 18 , wherein said interface allows said user to generate a random selection of pitches to said batter.  
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a baseball pitching system having a housing, a ball throwing unit within said housing, a central processing unit in communication with and controlling said ball throwing unit, and an interface in communication with said central processing unit, wherein said interface allows a user to control a pitch type and a pitch velocity, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a pitch type;    (b) selecting a pitch velocity;    (c) adjusting said ball throwing unit according to selected pitch type and pitch velocity; and    (d) releasing a ball into said ball throwing unit.