Apparatus for launching a ball

Abstract

An apparatus for launching a ball is disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a ball launching unit including a port for ejecting a ball and a support for supporting the ball launching unit. The ball launching unit is pivotably coupled to the support to permit angular adjustment of the ball launching unit about a horizontal axis of rotation to vary a launch angle of an ejected ball, and wherein the horizontal axis of rotation intersects the port.

1 . An apparatus for launching a ball, including:
 a ball launching unit including a port for ejecting a ball; and   a support for supporting the ball launching unit,   wherein, the ball launching unit is pivotably coupled to the support to permit angular adjustment of the ball launching unit about a horizontal axis of rotation to vary a launch angle of an ejected ball, and wherein the horizontal axis of rotation intersects the port.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ball launching unit includes an upper wheel and a lower wheel that cooperate to eject the ball. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the upper and lower wheels at least partially protrude into the port. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the horizontal axis of rotation extends between the upper wheel and the lower wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal axis of rotation extends centrally through the port. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support includes a pair of support members and the ball launching unit is supported between the support members. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each support member comprises one or more legs for contacting the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a hopper for storing one or more balls for feeding to the ball launching unit and wherein during rotation of the ball launching unit about the horizontal axis of rotation, the orientation of the hopper relative to the ball launching unit remains fixed. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the hopper is fixed to the ball launching unit. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the ball launching unit includes a solenoid controllable to allow a ball to be fed from the hopper into the port. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the solenoid includes a shaft that extends into the hopper. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the hopper includes a sloped upper portion and a lower guiding portion. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the shaft of the solenoid extends into the hopper between the sloped upper portion and the lower guiding portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the shaft of the solenoid is retractable to release of a ball from the sloped upper portion to the lower guiding portion which guides the ball into the port. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least part of the sloped upper portion is disposed above the ball launching unit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ball launching unit includes control electronics for enabling remote control of at least one function of the ball launching unit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the at least one function of the ball launching unit includes angular adjustment of the ball launching unit about the horizontal axis of rotation. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the at least one function of the ball launching unit includes actuation of the solenoid. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including one or more batteries to power the ball launching unit. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the wheels have a tread pattern to assist in ejecting a wet or damp ball. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for launching a ball, including:
 a ball launching unit including:
 a housing having a port for receiving a ball and ejecting the received ball; 
   a pair of support members for supporting the ball launching unit above the ground, the support members spaced apart about opposing sides of the housing;   wherein, the housing is pivotably coupled to the support members to permit angular adjustment of the ball launching unit about a horizontal axis of rotation to vary a launch angle of an ejected ball, and wherein the horizontal axis of rotation extends through the port.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further including an integrated hopper for feeding one or more balls to the ball launching unit. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the ball launching unit further includes a first wheel located in an upper portion of the housing and a second wheel located in a lower portion of the housing and wherein rotation of the first and second wheels applies a force to the ball as it passes through the port to eject the ball from the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the first wheel is coupled to a first shaft of a first motor and the second wheel is coupled to a second shaft of a second motor and wherein the first and second shafts are parallel to the horizontal axis of rotation. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the horizontal axis of rotation is disposed midway between the first wheel and the second wheel.