Multifunctional and random pitching apparatus

Abstract

A pitching apparatus for conducting batting practice wherein the apparatus spins and ejects a pitched ball in a predetermined pitching pattern into the air, and the batter swings a bat in order to hit the pitched ball. The pitching apparatus includes a housing having first and second side walls and a base member with a curved ball track member thereon for forming an interior wheel well. The pitching apparatus also includes a pitching rubber wheel member mounted within the interior wheel well and defining a space between the pitching rubber wheel member and the curved ball track member. The pitching apparatus further includes a first motor having a first motor shaft for rotating the pitching rubber wheel member in a clockwise rotation, and at least one positioning handle for adjusting the space between the pitching rubber wheel member and the curved ball track member in order to adjust the size of the space for receiving different size balls therethrough. Additionally, the pitching apparatus includes a pitching control assembly for controlling a predetermined pitching pattern from the pitching rubber wheel member for pitching the ball into the air from the housing; and a tripod assembly for supporting the housing in an elevated position, and having an upper platform connected to the base member.

1 . A pitching apparatus for conducting batting practice wherein the apparatus spins and ejects a pitched ball in a predetermined pitching pattern into the air, and the batter swings a bat in order to hit the pitched ball, comprising: 
 a) a housing including first and second side walls and a base member having a curved ball track member thereon for forming an interior wheel well;    b) a pitching rubber wheel member mounted within said interior wheel well and defining a pitching space between said pitching rubber wheel member and said curved ball track member;    c) a first motor having a first motor shaft for rotating said pitching rubber wheel member in a clockwise rotation;    d) adjustment means for adjusting said pitching space between said pitching rubber wheel member and said curved ball track member in order to adjust the size of said pitching space for receiving different size balls therethrough;    e) pitching control assembly for controlling a predetermined pitching pattern from said pitching rubber wheel member for pitching the ball into the air from said housing; and    f) means for supporting said housing in an elevated position, including an upper platform connected to said base member.    
   
   
       2 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said pitching control assembly includes a compressible control cogwheel member and a base pivot member both mounted on said upper platform below said base member of said housing; said base member and said housing being pivotally connected to said upper platform by said base pivot member to allow said base member and said housing to pivot to the left and right; said control cogwheel member being pivotally connected to said upper platform to pivot to the left and right with said base member to produce left-sided curve balls and right-sided curve balls from said apparatus.  
   
   
       3 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said pitching control assembly further includes a locking member for receiving a corner of said control cogwheel member in order to stabilize said housing in one of three pitching positions being a left-sided curve ball, a right-sided curve ball and a center fast ball.  
   
   
       4 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said pitching control assembly further includes a cogwheel motor having a cogwheel motor shaft member for rotating said control cogwheel member for producing lateral movement of said base member and said housing.  
   
   
       5 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said adjustment means includes at least one positioning handle for adjusting said space between said rubber wheel member and said curved ball track member.  
   
   
       6 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said compressible control cogwheel member is substantially triangular in shape and includes a centrally located pivot opening for receiving a rotatable pivot member therein.  
   
   
       7 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said compressible control cogwheel member is an equilateral triangle having three sides and three corners thereon.  
   
   
       8 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said rotatable pivot member includes an upper pivot member connected to a hollow pivot shaft member having a lock bolt opening for receiving a lock rod member therein.  
   
   
       9 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the distance from said pivot member to an angle point A is   and wherein the distance from said pivot point member to a back wall of said compressible control cogwheel member is   such that   is is greater than  ( > ).  
   
   
       10 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said control cogwheel member is compressed as said control cogwheel member revolves under said base member such that said angle A moves to the left side of said base member causing said housing to shift slightly to the left in order to produce a left-sided curve ball from said apparatus.  
   
   
       11 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said control cogwheel member is compressed as said control cogwheel member revolves under said base member such that said angle A moves to the right side of said base member causing said housing to shift slightly to the right in order to produce a right-sided curve ball from said apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said locking member includes an upper locking member being attached to a locking attachment element having an attachment opening for receiving an axle plug member therein for locking said locking member in position relative to said upper platform.  
   
   
       13 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said upper locking member receives one of said three corners of said control cogwheel member for stabilizing said housing in order to allow a predetermined pitching pattern to take place.  
   
   
       14 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said cogwheel motor shaft member of said cogwheel motor includes a locking bolt opening for receiving said locking bolt therein.  
   
   
       15 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said cogwheel motor shaft member is detachably received within said hollow pivot shaft member of said control cogwheel member and is locked in place by said locking bolt in order to allow a lateral rotation of said control cogwheel member for producing a random and predetermined pitching pattern to take place.  
   
   
       16 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said base pivot member includes an upper pivot shaft member, a lower pivot shaft member and a central pivot disc member, wherein each of said upper and lower pivot shaft members are, positioned on opposing sides of said central pivot disc member.  
   
   
       17 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said housing further includes an upper member connected to said first and second side walls; said first side wall having a first shaft opening, said second side wall having a second shaft opening.  
   
   
       18 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein each of said shaft openings for receiving said first motor shaft of said first motor for rotating said rubber wheel member.  
   
   
       19 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said pitching rubber wheel member includes a wheel shaft opening for receiving therethrough said first motor shaft of said first motor for rotating said rubber wheel member.  
   
   
       20 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 , further including shaft bearing rings in said first and second shaft openings aligned with said wheel shaft opening of said pitching rubber wheel member for receiving said first motor shaft of said first motor therethrough.  
   
   
       21 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said for supporting means includes a tripod stand assembly having said upper platform with three leg strut openings for receiving three leg struts therein, respectively.  
   
   
       22 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein each of said leg struts includes an upper strut member and a lower strut member movable relative to each other to adjust the elevation of said housing.  
   
   
       23 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein each of said upper strut members includes a plurality of leg set openings for extending said upper strut members away from said lower strut member.  
   
   
       24 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein each of said lower strut members includes a compressible set latch button thereon, wherein each of said set latch buttons are detachably received within one of said leg set openings for extending the length of said upper strut members from said lower strut members of said each leg strut.  
   
   
       25 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said upper platform includes a front platform wall and a top platform wall.  
   
   
       26 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said front platform wall includes an axle opening for receiving of an axle plug member therein.  
   
   
       27 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said top platform wall includes an opening for receiving said locking attachment element of said locking member therein; a first platform shaft opening for receiving said cogwheel motor shaft member of said cogwheel motor; and a second platform shaft opening for receiving said lower pivot shaft member of said base pivot member.  
   
   
       28 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said upper pivot shaft member is received within a base shaft opening of said base member and said lower pivot shaft member is received within a second platform shaft opening of said top platform wall of said upper platform, wherein said base pivot member allows for the lateral swing movement to the left and right on said base pivot member relative to said housing and said upper platform.  
   
   
       29 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further includes a detachable ball hopper member for holding a plurality of balls therein.  
   
   
       30 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 29 , wherein said detachable ball hopper member includes an upper funnel-type compartment connected to a curved ball chute connector for allowing a single ball to be funneled into said space between said rubber wheel member and said curved ball track member.  
   
   
       31 . A pitching apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said ball includes a baseball, a softball, a hardball, a tennis ball, a squash ball, a rubber ball, a wiffle ball, a paddle ball or a hand ball.