Automatic ball launcher for pets

Abstract

An automatic ball launcher for pets includes a body shell, a ball launch aisle, a ball launch mechanism which is connected to the ball launch aisle and near the outlet for the ball; the ball launch mechanism comprises one or more ball launch wheels and one or more ball launch motors; the ball launch wheels are set on two sides of the ball launch aisle, a face of which is a concaved curve; the concaved curve matches the outline of the ball; regular teeth are arranged on the concaved curve; the ball launch wheels are driven by one or more ball launch motor and launch the ball from the outlet. The present invention effectively enlarged the contact surface between the wheels and the ball, which solve the problem of slippery ball being stuck inside the launcher. The playing is not interrupted by the stuck ball and is enjoyable.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An automatic ball launcher for pets, comprising:
 a body shell comprising an entrance at a top end of the body shell, an outlet at a front end of the body shell, and a ball launch aisle disposed between the entrance and the outlet to connect the entrance and the outlet;   a ball launcher mechanism adjacent to the ball launch aisle and near the outlet, wherein the ball launch mechanism comprises one or more ball launch wheels and one or more ball launch motors, wherein the one or more ball launch wheels are disposed at sides of the ball launch aisle, wherein the one or more ball launch motors drive the ball launch wheels to rotate to launch the ball from the outlet, wherein the one or more ball launch wheels have a concaved edge, and wherein the concaved edge is formed by tapered teeth regularly arranged on a concaved surface, and the tapered teeth and the concaved surface having a same curvature; and   a controller that sets the rotation speed of the ball launch wheel as a function of a launch speed and a launch time after which a ball received at the entrance is launched.   
     
     
         24 . The automatic ball launcher for pets as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the launch speed and/or the launch time are input or selected or programmed by a user. 
     
     
         25 . The automatic ball launcher for pets as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the controller receives the launch speed or the launch time that is input or selected or programmed by a user via a wireless interface in communication with a remote-control device or mobile terminal. 
     
     
         26 . The automatic ball launcher for pets as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a power interface;   a built-in rechargeable battery, rechargeable via the power interface;   a controller, coupled to the power interface and battery;   
       wherein the ball launcher selectively operates via power from the power interface or the built-in battery. 
     
     
         27 . A method of launching balls for a pet through a ball launch machine, wherein the ball launch machine comprises a body shell that comprises an entrance and an outlet, a ball launch aisle, a ball launch mechanism, and a controller, said method comprising:
 receiving a ball at the entrance to the ball launch aisle of the ball launch machine;   detecting the passage of a ball falling through the ball launch aisle;   in response to the detecting of the passage of the ball, actuating one or more ball launch motors to reach a launch speed, wherein the launch speed is selected based on a launch distance selected by a user;   after a predetermined time has lapsed, driving one or more ball launch wheels to move the ball through the ball launch wheels, wherein the predetermined time corresponds to the time needed for the one or more ball launch motors to reach the launch speed; and   launching the ball out of the outlet of the ball launch aisle.   
     
     
         28 . An automatic ball launcher for pets, comprising:
 a body shell comprising an entrance at a top end of the body shell, an outlet at a front end of the body shell, and a ball launch aisle disposed between the entrance and the outlet to connect the entrance and the outlet;   a ball launcher mechanism adjacent to the ball launch aisle and near the outlet, wherein the ball launch mechanism comprises one or more ball launch wheels and one or more ball launch motors, wherein the one or more ball launch wheels are disposed at sides of the ball launch aisle and the one or more ball launch motors drive the ball launch wheels rotate to launch the ball from the outlet, and wherein each of the one or more ball launch wheels has a concaved edge, and wherein the concaved edge is formed by tapered teeth regularly arranged on a concaved surface, and the concaved edge and the concaved surface have a same curvature.   
     
     
         29 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , further comprising a controller that sets a launch speed as a function of the rotation speed of the ball launch wheels and a launch time after which a ball received at an entrance is launched. 
     
     
         30 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , wherein the concaved edge and the concaved surface have a same curvature. 
     
     
         31 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , further comprising a ball conveyor and a ball conveyor motor for driving the ball conveyor; wherein the ball conveyor is driven by the ball conveyor motor to move the ball into the ball launch mechanism. 
     
     
         32 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 31 , wherein the ball conveyor comprises one or more blades and a portion of the one or more blades moves within the launch aisle through an opening in the ball launch aisle. 
     
     
         33 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , wherein a soft pad is placed on a ball falling point in the ball launch aisle to catch the ball when the ball falls from the entrance. 
     
     
         34 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , further comprising a ball storage tank that is set in the body shell, wherein the ball storage tank is not connected to the ball launch aisle; and wherein handles are set on a left and a right side of the body shell. 
     
     
         35 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 31 , wherein the ball conveyor is disposed lower in the shell than the ball launcher mechanism, such that the conveyor increases the elevation of the ball as the conveyor moves the ball to the ball launch mechanism. 
     
     
         36 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a sensor for detecting the passage of the ball as it falls from the entrance of the ball launch aisle and outputting a sensor signal; and   a controller for receiving the sensor signal and in response to receiving the sensor signal, actuating the ball launch motors at a launch speed and moving the conveyor to transfer the ball into the ball launch mechanism after a launch time.   
     
     
         37 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 36 , wherein the launch speed and/or the launch time are input or selected or programmed by a user selectable. 
     
     
         38 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a power interface or a built-in rechargeable battery rechargeable via the power interface; and   a controller, coupled to the power interface or the battery;   
       wherein the ball launcher selectively operates on power from the power interface or the built-in battery. 
     
     
         39 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , wherein the ball launch aisle is tilted by an angle greater than 30 degrees. 
     
     
         40 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 28 , wherein a first angle of the ball launch wheels with respect to a bottom of the body shell and a second angle of the launch wheels with respect to the opening of the ball launch aisle are adjustable, thus allowing adjustment of a ball launch direction and a ball launch angle. 
     
     
         41 . The automatic ball launcher of  claim 38 , the controller receives a user selection of the launch speed and the launch time via wireless interface in communication with a remote-control device or mobile terminal.