Squash ball launching machine

Abstract

An automatic ball launcher includes a base unit and a feed tube coupled to the base unit. The base unit includes an enclosure defining a forward opening where the balls eject and a top opening for receiving the feed tube. A pair of counter-rotating flywheels are disposed in a common plane and located inside of the enclosure. The feed tube includes an elongated tubular body with an open top end covered by a removable cap and an open bottom end configured to be securely inserted into the top opening of the enclosure. The feed tube can include a heating element to heat the balls to a desired temperature prior to launch. The feed tube can be used to collect balls from the ground without the user needing to bend over.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic ball launcher, comprising:
 a base unit; and   a feed tube coupled to the base unit,   wherein the base unit comprises:
 an enclosure defining a forward opening where the balls eject and a top opening for receiving the feed tube; and 
 a pair of counter-rotating flywheels disposed in a common plane and located inside of the enclosure, and 
   wherein the feed tube comprises an elongated tubular body with an open top end covered by a removable cap and an open bottom end configured to be securely inserted into the top opening of the enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable front feet provided to the enclosure that extend vertically downwards from a bottom surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertically extending stand or tripod secured to the enclosure so that the base unit is maintained in an elevated position. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of counter-rotating flywheels each comprise a rubber material located such that the ball is contacted by the rubber material during a launching event. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the common plane is a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the common plane is at an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein an orientation angle of the common plane is adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the common plane is a vertical plane. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of counter-rotating flywheels are mounted atop a frame that is disposed within the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flywheel of the pair of counter-rotating flywheels is disposed in an adjustable track so that a spacing distance defined between the pair of flywheels is adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit further comprises a ball speed adjustment selector. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the feed tube further includes a heating element provided to the tubular body. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 12 , wherein the heating element is a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 12 , wherein the feed tube further comprises a temperature sensor disposed within the feed tube. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 12 , wherein the heating element is embedded in the tubular body. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the feed tube further comprises a solenoid provided to the open bottom end to prevent balls from prematurely exiting through the bottom end. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing and launching squash balls, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of squash balls inside of a feed tube while the feed tube is coupled to a launching base unit;   heating the plurality of squash balls stored inside of the feed tube with heating elements disposed in the feed tube until the squash balls reach a desired temperature; and   launching the heated squash balls with the launching base unit one at a time while maintaining the desired temperature of the heated squash balls in the feed tube that have not yet been launched.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing the feed tube from the launching base unit; and   retrieving the squash balls by centering the lower opening over a ball and pushing the feed tube downwards towards the squash ball until the squash ball slips inside of the feed tube.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting a launch angle of the launching base unit by extending one or more feet downwards from a bottom side of the launching base unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting a vertical height of the launching base unit by mounting the launching base unit atop a tripod or a stand.