Pitching machine accessory

Abstract

A pitching machine accessory for modifying an existing pitching machine. The existing pitching machine having a pitching apparatus mounted on a sleeve rotatably attached to a shaft and the shaft is connected to a stand. The accessory includes a base rigidly attached to the shaft, a turning means mounted on the base and a gear assembly attached to the turning means. The gear assembly is also attached to the sleeve, whereby the turning means causes the gear assembly to move the sleeve laterally in relation to the stand.

1 . A pitching machine accessory for modifying an existing pitching machine, said existing pitching machine having a pitching apparatus mounted on a sleeve rotatably attached to a shaft, said shaft connected to a stand, said accessory comprising: 
 a base rigidly attached to said shaft;    a motor mounted on said base; and    a gear assembly attached to said motor, said gear assembly further attached to said sleeve, whereby said motor causes said gear assembly to move said sleeve laterally in relation to said stand.    
   
   
       2 . The accessory claimed in  claim 1  wherein said gear assembly further comprising: 
 an offset cam attached to said motor;    a spring attached to said base; and    an arm attached to said spring and to said pitching apparatus and operatively connected to said offset cam, whereby said motor rotates said cam, said rotation causing said arm to move tangentially to said cam's axis of rotation, causing said pitching apparatus to rotate.    
   
   
       3 . The accessory claimed in  claim 2  wherein said offset cam is removably attached to said motor, whereby said offset cam can be replaced with different sized offset cams.  
   
   
       4 . The accessory claimed in  claim 3  wherein said arm is attached to said sleeve.  
   
   
       5 . The accessory claimed in  claim 4  further comprising a mounting collar attached to said base wherein said mounting collar removably attaches said pitching accessory to said shaft.  
   
   
       6 . The accessory of claimed in  claim 1  wherein the gear assembly further comprising: 
 an offset cam attached to said motor;    a spring attached to said base;    an arm attached to said spring and to said pitching apparatus; and    an idler wheel attached to said arm and pressed against said offset cam by a constant force exerted by said spring whereby said motor causes the offset cam to rotate, said rotation causing said arm to move tangentially to said cam's axis of rotation, causing the pitching apparatus to rotate.    
   
   
       7 . The accessory of  claim 6  wherein said offset cam is removably attached to said motor, whereby the offset cam can be replaced with different sized offset cams.  
   
   
       8 . The accessory claimed in  claim 7  wherein said arm is attached to said sleeve.  
   
   
       9 . The accessory claimed in  claim 8  further comprising a mounting collar attached to said base wherein said mounting collar removably attaches said pitching accessory to said shaft.  
   
   
       10 . A method of modifying an existing pitching machine, said method comprising the steps of: 
 removing a bolt attaching a pitching apparatus to a stand; and    attaching an accessory to said stand and said pitching apparatus.    
   
   
       11 . The method claimed in  claim 10  wherein said accessory comprising: 
 a base rigidly attached to said shaft;    a motor mounted on said base; and    a gear assembly attached to said motor, said gear assembly further attached to said sleeve, whereby said motor causes said gear assembly to move said sleeve laterally in relation to said stand.    
   
   
       12 . The accessory of claimed in  claim 11  wherein said gear assembly further comprising: 
 an offset cam attached to said motor;    a spring attached to said base; and    an arm attached to said spring and to said pitching apparatus and in substantial relation to said offset cam, whereby the motor rotates said cam, said rotation causing said arm to move tangentially to said cam's axis of rotation, causing said pitching apparatus to rotate.    
   
   
       13 . The accessory claimed in  claim 11  wherein said gear assembly further comprising: 
 an offset cam attached to said motor;    a spring attached to said base;    an arm attached to said spring and to said pitching apparatus; and    an idler wheel attached to said arm and pressed against said offset cam by a constant force exerted by said spring whereby said motor causes the offset cam to rotate, said rotation causing said arm to move tangentially to said cam's axis of rotation, causing the pitching apparatus to rotate.    
   
   
       14 . A pitching machine system for providing a variety of pitches, said system comprising: 
 a traditional pitching machine; and    an accessory rigidly attached to a pitching apparatus whereby said accessory enables said pitching apparatus to move laterally and provide varied pitches.    
   
   
       15 . The system claimed in  claim 14  further comprising a variety of different shaped cams for varying the pitch.  
   
   
       16 . A pitching machine accessory for modifying an existing pitching machine, said existing pitching machine having a pitching apparatus mounted on a sleeve rotatably attached to a shaft, said shaft connected to a stand, said accessory comprising: 
 a base rigidly attached to said shaft;    a turning means mounted on said base; and    a gear assembly attached to said turning means, said gear assembly further attached to said sleeve, whereby said turning means causes said gear assembly to move said sleeve laterally in relation to said stand.    
   
   
       17 . The accessory claimed in  claim 16  wherein said gear assembly further comprising: 
 a deflection means attached to said turning means for converting rotary motion to another motion;    a contact means attached to said base; and    a means to reduce friction attached to said contact means and to said pitching apparatus and operatively connected to said deflection means, whereby said turning means rotates said deflection means, said rotation causing said means to reduce friction to move tangentially to said deflection means' axis of rotation, causing said pitching apparatus to rotate, and said contact means maintaining the deflection means in contact with the means to reduce friction.