Receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus for a baseball throwing machine

Abstract

An electrically actuated, adjustable oscillator 12 is provided with a mount 18 for receiving a baseball throwing machine 10 . An upstanding and outspread baseball-receiving net 14 is disposed above the throwing machine 10 . A feed assembly 16 extends between the net 14 and the throwing machine 10 . The oscillator 12 comprises, for example, a support housing 22 , an electrically actuated motor 24 , a gear box 26 , and a manually adjustable rotation-to-oscillation converter assembly 27 . The baseball receiving net 14 comprises, for example, an arched frame 38 , a net or web 40 supported by the frame 38 , and a circular basin 42 to which lower ends of the net 40 are attached. The feed assembly 16 comprises, for example, an upper, generally vertical cage 46 mounted around a central opening 47 in the basin 42 and a curved guide member 48 extending from a lower end of the cage 46 to the throwing machine 10.

1 . Receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus adapted for use on a baseball throwing machine, said receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus comprising: 
 a) an electrically actuated, adjustable oscillator provided with a mount for receiving the baseball throwing machine;    b) a upstanding and outspread baseball-receiving net including a frame for mounting said net in an upstanding and outspread position above the throwing machine; and    c) a feed assembly extending between the baseball-receiving net and the throwing machine.    
   
   
       2 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, the baseball throwing machine mount on the oscillator is an elongated shaft pivotable through an arc of adjustable magnitude.  
   
   
       3 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the oscillator comprises a support housing, an electrically actuated motor, a gear box, and a manually adjustable rotation-to-oscillation converter assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the mount for receiving the baseball throwing machine is pivotally mounted in the housing.  
   
   
       5 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the manually adjustable rotation-to-oscillation converter assembly comprises an angle adjustment plate, a control arm on the baseball throwing machine mount and a linkage member extending between the angle adjuster and the control arm.  
   
   
       6 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the gear box rotates the angle adjustment plate within a range of 5 to 10 revolutions per minute.  
   
   
       7 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the gear box rotates the angle adjustment plate at an average of seven revolutions per minute.  
   
   
       8 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle adjustment plate is provided with at least two linkage pin-receiving recesses.  
   
   
       9 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the control arm is provided with at least two linkage pin-receiving recesses.  
   
   
       10 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the linkage member comprises an adjustable central connector and pivot pin-bearing extensions at opposite ends of said central connector.  
   
   
       11 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the pivot pin-bearing extensions of the linkage member are pivotally mounted on the adjustment plate and control arm.  
   
   
       12 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame of the baseball receiving net is arched.  
   
   
       13 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein lower ends of the net are attached to a generally circular basin.  
   
   
       14 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one support strut extends from the basin to the throwing machine.  
   
   
       15 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the basin is depressed and provided with a central opening, said central opening being in communication with the feed assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the feed assembly comprises an upper, generally vertical cage and a curved guide member extending from a lower end of the cage to the throwing machine.  
   
   
       17 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper, generally vertical cage is mounted around the central opening in the basin.  
   
   
       18 . The receiving, feeding and oscillating apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the cage and the guide member are sized and shaped so that a baseball may travel smoothly from the receiving net to the throwing machine.