Sport Projectile Return Device

Abstract

A sports training device to practice shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting a sports projectile such as a baseball, golf ball or ice hockey puck; comprising of a tether attached to the projectile, and an electromechanical drive mechanism to act on the tether to return the projectile. In the case of baseball hitting practice, a batter would hit a ball attached to the tether; the ball would travel the length of the tether. The other end of the tether would be secured to the device body. The batter would activate the device to return the ball. The drive mechanism consists of a drive roller attached to a motor, and an idler roller attached to a lever. After the tether is let out the user depresses the lever, pinching the tether between the rollers and activating the motor simultaneously, thus hauling the tether. The tether coils upon itself when it returns.

1 . A portable sport projectile return device adapted for returning of a sports projectile such as a ball to the user for use in athletic development such as swinging, comprising of: a base; a housing; a tether; two pinch rollers consisting of a drive roller and an idler roller; a lever connected to the idler roller to pinch the tether between the idler roller and drive roller; an electric motor connected to the drive roller; a switch system to control the motor. 
     
     
         2 . The sport projectile return device of  claim 1  wherein the lever simultaneously pinches the rollers and controls the drive motor via an electrical switch. 
     
     
         3 . The sport projectile return device of  claim 1  wherein the lever creates a space between the rollers with the use of a spring or gravity when the lever is not depresses, to allow for free letting of the tether through the rollers. 
     
     
         4 . The sport projectile return device of  claim 1  wherein the device allows for the coiling of the tether upon itself while being hauled in. 
     
     
         5 . The sport projectile return device of  claim 1  wherein the housing is made to have a small gap between the sides of the rollers and housing such that the tether cannot slip out to the sides of either roller.