Apparatus for, and method of, positioning movable elements on a T-ball mechanism for propulsion

Abstract

A propulsion member (e.g. a bat) has an external switch and an internally disposed transistor which transmits signals when the switch is manually closed. A receiver in a tee mechanism receives the signals and causes a tee in the mechanism to move upwardly from a rest position to an operative position. As the tee moves upwardly to the operative position, an element (e.g. a wiffle ball) moves on a ramp to a supportive position at the top of the tee. When the tee is in the operative position, a player holding the propulsion member swings the member against the ball. This is helpful to young children (e.g. eight (8) years old or younger) in learning how to hit a baseball.

1 . In combination for providing for the propulsion of a movable element, 
 a tee mechanism including a tee normally disposed in a rest position and movable upwardly to an operative position,    a motor for raising the tee from the rest position to the operative position,    a motor for transferring the element to the tee during the movement of the tee upwardly from the rest position to the operative position, and    a receiver responsive to signals transmitted to the tee for energizing the tee to raise the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       2 . In combination as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 a propulsion member is provided for the propulsion of the element on the tee when the tee is disposed in the operative position and the element is on the tee.    
   
   
       3 . In combination as set forth in  claim 2  wherein 
 a transmitter is disposed inside the propulsion member and a switch is disposed on the propulsion member to provide for the transmission of signals from the transmitter to the receiver when the switch on the propulsion member is closed.    
   
   
       4 . In combination as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 circuitry is responsive in the tee mechanism to the movement of the tee from the operative position to the rest position for reversing the direction of movement of the tee to move the tee upwardly from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       5 . In combination as set forth in  claim 2  wherein 
 a propulsion member is provided for the propulsion of the element on the tee when the tee is disposed in the operative position and the element is on the tee and wherein    a transmitter is disposed inside the propulsion member and a switch is disposed on the propulsion member to provide for the transmission of signals from the transmitter to the receiver when the switch on the propulsion member is closed and wherein    circuitry is responsive in the tee to the movement of the tee from the operative position to the rest position for reversing the direction of movement of the tee to move the tee upwardly from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       6 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 The movable element is a ball and the movable element is propelled by a bat.    
   
   
       7 . In combination for providing for the propulsion of a movable element, 
 a base,    a housing extending upwardly from the base,    a tee disposed in the housing and movable between a lower rest position and an upper operative position,    the tee being constructed at its upper end to hold the movable element for propulsion from the tee, and    a motor for moving the tee between the lower rest position and the upper operative position.    
   
   
       8 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 7 , 
 switches disposed relative to the housing to reverse the operative direction of the motor when the tee reaches individual ones of the rest and operative positions.    
   
   
       9 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 7  wherein 
 a receiver is included in the tee mechanism for energizing the motor, upon the reception of signals by the receiver, to raise the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       10 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 7  wherein 
 a ramp is disposed relative to the tee and is constructed to transfer the movable element to the tee as the tee is moving upwardly from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       11 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 8  wherein 
 a receiver is supported by the base for energizing the motor, upon the reception of signals by the receiver, to raise the tee from the rest position to the operative position and wherein    a ramp is disposed relative to the tee and constructed to transfer the element to the tee as the tee is moving upwardly from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       12 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 11  wherein 
 the movable element is a ball and the ball is propelled by a bat.    
   
   
       13 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 8  wherein 
 a ramp is disposed relative to the tee and constructed to transfer the movable element to the tee as the tee is moving upwardly from the rest position to the operative position and wherein    a receiver is included in the tee mechanism for energizing the motor, upon the reception of signals by the receiver, to raise the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       14 . In combination for providing for the propulsion of a movable element, 
 a member for providing a propulsion of the movable element, the member including a circuit including a switch and a transmitter for transmitting signals upon the closure of the switch,    a tee movable between a rest position and an operative position, the tee being disposed in the operative position to position the movable element for propulsion by the member and being disposed in the rest position to prevent the member from propelling the movable element, and    a motor responsive to the signals transmitted from the member for moving the tee from the rest position to the operative position and for providing for the positioning of the movable member on the tee during the movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       15 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 14 , 
 a ramp for holding the movable element and for transferring the movable element to the tee during the movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       16 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 14 , 
 the tee being constructed at its upper end to hold the movable element for propulsion by the member and the ramp and the tee being disposed in a co-operative relationship to transfer the movable element from the ramp to the upper end of the tee during the upward movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       17 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 14 , 
 the ramp being constructed to hold a plurality of the movable elements and to transfer the movable elements in sequence to the upper end of the tee during sequential movements of the tee upwardly from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       18 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 15 , 
 a housing for the tee,    a base at the bottom of the housing, and    the tee and a rack gear and a pinion gear disposed in the housing to move the tee between the rest position and the operative position.    
   
   
       19 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 18  wherein 
 the movable element is a ball and the ball is adapted to be propelled by a bat.    
   
   
       20 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 15 , 
 the tee being constructed at its upper end to hold the movable element for propulsion by the member and the ramp and the tee being disposed in a co-operative relationship to transfer the movable element from the ramp to the upper end of the tee during the upward movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position, and    the ramp being constructed to hold a plurality of the elements and to transfer the movable elements in sequence to the upper end of the tee during sequential movements of the tee upwardly from the rest position to the top position.    
   
   
       21 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 16 , 
 the tee being constructed at its upper end to hold the movable element for propulsion by the member and the ramp and the tee being disposed in a co-operative relationship to transfer the movable element from the ramp to the upper end of the tee during the upward movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position,    a housing for the tee, and    a base at the bottom of the housing.    
   
   
       22 . In combination for providing for the propulsion of a movable member, 
 a base,    a housing extending upwardly from the base,    a tee disposed in the housing and having a rest position and an operative position above the rest position and movable between the rest and operative positions,    the tee being constructed at its upper end to receive and hold the movable element during the upward movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position, and    a ramp positioned relative to the tee and constructed to hold the movable element and to transfer the movable element to the upper end of the tee during the upward movement of the tee from the rest position to the operative position.    
   
   
       23 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 22 , 
 a motor coupled to the tee for moving the tee between the rest position and the operative position.    
   
   
       24 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 23 , 
 a pinion gear disposed in a co-operative relationship with the motor for rotation in accordance with the rotation of the motor, and    a rack gear coupled to the tee and the pinion gear for moving the tee upwardly from the rest position to the operative position in accordance with the operation of the motor.    
   
   
       25 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 23 , 
 a propulsion member for propelling the movable element,    a switch disposed on the propulsion member and having operative and inoperative relationships, and    a transmitter disposed in the propulsion member in a circuit with the switch for transmitting signals to the tee in the operative relationship to provide for an energizing of the motor.    
   
   
       26 . In a combination as set forth in  claim 23 , 
 a pinion gear disposed in a co-operative relationship with the motor for rotation in accordance with the rotation of the motor,    a rack gear coupled to the tee and the pinion gear for moving the tee upwardly from the rest position to the operative position in accordance with the operation of the motor,    a propulsion member for propelling the movable element,    a switch disposed on the propulsion member and having operative and inoperative relationships, and    a transmitter disposed in the propulsion member in a circuit with the switch for transmitting signals to the tee in the operative relationship to provide for an energizing of the motor.    
   
   
       27 . In a combination as set forth in claim  28  herein 
 the movable element is a ball and the ball is adapted to be propelled by a bat.