Launch and catch apparatus, kits, and methods

Abstract

Launch and catch apparatus, kits including the same, and methods of using the same to launch and catch balls and other projectiles. The apparatus include a frame and a tubular body operatively coupled to the frame. The frame includes a handle and defines an inlet opening sized to receive a projectile. The tubular body includes an inlet region operatively coupled to the frame to receive the projectile when the projectile passes through the inlet opening. The tubular body further includes an outlet region configured to receive and retain the projectile after the projectile passes through the inlet opening. The apparatus is configured to launch the projectile out of an outlet opening of the outlet region. The outlet opening may have an adjustable nominal size and may be configured to resiliently expand when a projectile is launched out of the outlet opening.

1 . A launch and catch apparatus, comprising:
 a frame having a handle and defining an inlet opening sized to receive a projectile; wherein the inlet opening extends in a defined orientation relative to the frame; and   a tubular body defining an internal volume; wherein the tubular body includes an inlet region operatively coupled to the frame to receive the projectile when the projectile passes through the inlet opening into the internal volume; wherein the tubular body further includes an outlet region distal the inlet opening and configured to receive and retain the projectile at least substantially within the tubular body after the projectile passes through the inlet opening into the internal volume; wherein the outlet region defines an outlet opening that is smaller than the inlet opening; wherein the outlet opening has a nominal size; wherein the apparatus is configured to launch the projectile out of the outlet opening; and wherein the outlet opening is configured to resiliently expand within a range of expanded sizes that are greater than the nominal size when the apparatus is used to launch the projectile out of the outlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is configured to resiliently expand between the nominal size and the range of expanded sizes that are greater than the nominal size responsive to at least one of receipt and retention of the projectile within the outlet region and swinging of the apparatus by a user after the projectile is received and retained within the outlet region. 
     
     
         3 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the outlet opening is configured to resiliently expand from the nominal size to within the range of expanded sizes that are greater than the nominal size when the apparatus is used to launch the projectile out of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         4 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the projectile has a maximum transverse perimeter with a shape, and wherein the outlet opening is resilient and configured to conform to the shape of the maximum transverse perimeter of the projectile. 
     
     
         5 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet region includes an elastomeric segment that extends around at least a portion of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         6 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet region includes an adjustment mechanism configured to permit selective adjustment of the nominal size of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         7 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to permit adjustment of the nominal size of the outlet region without removing elements from or adding elements to the outlet opening, the outlet region, or the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet region includes a plurality of adjustment indicia configured to demarcate a plurality of nominal sizes of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         9 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of adjustment indicia is representative of one or more of different sizes of projectiles, different weights of projectiles, projectiles constructed from different materials, different projectile flight distances, different launch forces, and different user strengths. 
     
     
         10 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet region includes a plurality of rollers that at least partially define the outlet opening and which are configured to reduce spin of the projectile as the projectile is launched from the outlet opening. 
     
     
         11 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a head region that bounds at least a substantial portion of the inlet opening; and further wherein the handle and the head region are secured in a fixed orientation relative to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a handle assembly that includes the handle and a shaft extending between the handle and the inlet opening. 
     
     
         13 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft has an adjustable length, and further wherein the handle assembly includes a shaft adjustment mechanism configured to selectively secure the shaft at a selected shaft length within a range of shaft lengths. 
     
     
         14 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the internal volume is a tapered internal volume that is larger proximate the inlet opening than proximate the outlet opening. 
     
     
         15 . The launch and catch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a substantial portion of the outlet region of the tubular body is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         16 . A launch and catch apparatus kit, comprising:
 at least one launch and catch apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and   a projectile sized to be launched and caught with the at least one launch and catch apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the projectile has a maximum transverse perimeter, wherein the outlet opening has an inner perimeter, and wherein the inner perimeter of the outlet opening is smaller than the maximum transverse perimeter of the projectile when the outlet opening is in the nominal size. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the projectile is at least one of a sports ball, a toy ball, a tossing ball, and a children's ball. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the projectile has a projectile body, and further wherein the projectile includes a tail that extends from the projectile body. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using the launch and catching apparatus of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 grasping the handle of the apparatus with a user's hand;   orienting the apparatus to receive a launched projectile into the internal volume through the inlet opening;   receiving the launched projectile into the internal volume via the inlet opening; wherein the projectile is retained at least partially within the tubular body by the outlet opening;   swinging the apparatus in a launching motion having a direction; and   launching the projectile out of the tubular body from the outlet opening in the direction of the launching motion.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the launching includes launching the projectile responsive to centrifugal force generated by the launching motion. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the launching results in the outlet opening extending forward of the inlet opening in the direction of the launching motion after the projectile is launched from the outlet opening. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the launching includes contacting at least one of the frame and the inlet region of the tubular body with a portion of the tubular body distal the inlet region. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method includes selectively adjusting the size of the outlet opening responsive to one or more of a size of the projectile, a weight of the projectile, a strength of a user using the apparatus, and a desired distance for launching the projectile with the apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method includes using only one of a user's limbs to perform the grasping, the orienting, the receiving, the swinging, and the launching, and further wherein the method includes maintaining the grasping with the one of the user's limbs while performing the orienting, the receiving, the swinging, and the launching with the same one of the user's limbs.