Baseball launcher and method

Abstract

A baseball launcher comprises a launching mechanism; a feed device having a casing provided with a containment space for balls; a member controllably rotatable relative to the casing to cause rotation of the contained balls; a discharge opening from which only one ball is downwardly dischargeable from the casing at any given time; and an open-ended guide member for guiding the discharged ball to the launching mechanism. In one embodiment, a ball launcher warning system to alert a user of an imminent ball launching operation is operated following generation of a ball presence indicating signal. In a ball collecting method, a contacted baseball is introduced within a tube interior of a ball picker. Upon raising the ball picker over a shoulder, collected baseballs are gravitationally discharged through its upper opening in an unseen discharging operation into a backpack interior regardless of an angle of the raised ball picker.

Description

[0001] BASEBALL LAUNCHER AND METHOD

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of training apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a baseball launcher and method.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] A baseball is a hard ball having a rubber or cork center wrapped in yarn and covered with white leather such as cowhide, and has a circumference of approximately 23 cm and a weight of approximately 150 g. A softball for adults, which is also hard, is larger, having a circumference of approximately 30 cm and a weight of approximately 190 g.

[0006] Baseball hitting coaches help train children playing little league baseball or even minor league baseball players by suggesting how to improve their batting skills, including stance and swing, while a ball is being pitched. A hitting coach standing close to the batter often relies on a mechanized baseball launcher that delivers a ball to the batter in a manner and at a strike zone similar to those of a pitched ball provided during the course of a baseball game.

[0007] During the course of a day, many hitting coaches go from one baseball field or batting cage to another, in order to maximize the number of players that they can instruct. Since prior art baseball launchers are bulky and are not readily transported from one training site to another, the valuable time of a hitting coach is limited by the need to manipulate the launcher and accessories and to suitably load it onto a transportation vehicle.

[0008] Other drawbacks of prior art baseball launchers include safety issues whereby a batter is unaware when a hard, potentially concussion causing baseball is being ejected, limited training ability due to the repetitive nature of the balls being launched as opposed to the unanticipated launching signature of a pitched ball during a baseball game, and difficulty in being converted to a softball launcher due to the difference in dimensions between a baseball and softball that requires an adjustment to be made in the internal passages through which the ball is delivered to the launching mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, cost effective and portable baseball launcher.

[0009] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a baseball launcher and method that are able to control the manner by which each ball is launched.

[0010] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a baseball launcher and method that are able to alert a baseball player prior to the launching of a ball.

[0011] It is yet an additional object of the present invention to provide a baseball launcher that is easily convertible to a softball launcher.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] A baseball launcher comprises a launching mechanism, a ball feed device having a stationary casing internally provided with a containment space for a plurality of balls; a member that is controllably rotatable relative to said casing to cause rotation of the contained balls within said containment space about a central axis; a discharge opening from which only one ball is downwardly dischargeable from said casing at any given time; and an open-ended guide member from above and below for receiving the ball discharged through the discharge opening and for guiding the discharged ball to said launching mechanism.

[0015] In one aspect, the rotatable member is a cartridge radially positioned inwardly to the casing within which the plurality of balls are storable, the cartridge being configured with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and vertically extending tubular storage cavities that are each unblocked from above and below and within each of which a number of the balls are stackable, and with a central hub to which a vertical drive shaft of an electric cartridge motor for rotating the cartridge is coupled.

[0016] In one aspect, the ball feed device further comprises a partition plate coupled to the casing that is positioned above the discharge opening and sufficiently extends radially inwardly from a peripheral wall of the casing to cover and block the discharge opening, for preventing gravitation of balls stored in one of the storage cavities that is aligned with the discharge opening.

[0017] In one aspect, the ball feed device further comprises a plurality of ball-embracing rings integral with, and located below, the cartridge, each of the ball-embracing rings being aligned with a peripheral wall of a corresponding storage cavity and adapted to receive a lowermost ball gravitating from the corresponding storage cavity onto a bottom surface of the casing and a predetermined one of the ball-embracing rings being indexable to the discharge opening upon operation of the cartridge motor.

[0018] In one aspect, the rotatable member is a ball supporting and directing apertured turntable positioned interiorly within the casing which is a hopper casing.

[0019] In one aspect, the baseball launcher further comprises a ball-impeding plate coaxial with the apertured turntable for impeding passage of the discharged ball to the guide member until a launcher motor increases in speed to a predetermined operational speed.

[0020] In one aspect, the baseball launcher further comprising a control system for controlling a launching signature of a baseball launched by the launching mechanism upon adjustment of at least one of speed, frequency, height and trajectory of the launched baseball.

[0021] In one aspect, the baseball launcher further comprises an outer body made of padded material that encloses the launching mechanism, ball feed device, and guide member; and two opposed wheels rotatably mounted to a bottom end of the outer body and at least one handle connected to an upper region of the outer body to facilitate mobility of the launcher.

[0022] In one aspect, the baseball launcher further comprises a set of pivotal, extendable and undetachable legs attached to the outer body.

[0023] In one aspect, the control system comprises a processor, a pre-launching warning system in data communication with the processor that comprises one or more warning lights or one or more audible indicators for alerting a batter concerning an imminent launching of a ball stored in the containment space, and a sensor for detecting a ball presence indicating signal and for transmitting the detected ball presence indicating signal to said processor, and wherein said processor is configured in response to command operation of said warning system.

[0024] In one aspect, the sensor is a microswitch in data communication with the processor that is embedded within a region of a casing bottom surface immediately before the discharge opening with respect to a rotational direction of the rotatable member, wherein a force is appliable by a ball being indexed by the predetermined one of ball-embracing rings along the bottom casing surface onto said microswitch to transmit the ball presence indicating signal to the processor.

[0025] In one aspect, the control system further comprises a rotatable member motor, rotatable member motor driver, launcher motor, launcher motor driver, battery and battery regulator, wherein the rotatable member motor driver and launcher motor driver which are responsive to voltage and current characteristics of the rotatable member motor and launcher motor, respectively, transmit acquired data of a corresponding motor to the processor and the processor is operable to command operation of the battery regulator to reduce a rate at which electric current is drawn from the battery during periods of reduced electricity usage, to increase battery longevity.

[0026] In one aspect, the control system further comprises a communication module in data communication with the processor and a remote unit configured with a transmitter in wireless communication with the communication module, an activation button and suitable circuitry, whereby a single ball or a sequence of balls are launched following interaction with the activation button and the rotatable member motor driver is temporarily disabled.

[0027] In one aspect, the remote unit is insertable within, and removable from, a foot pressable pocket formed in a dedicated home plate unit or a wrist-mounted holder.

[0028] In one aspect, the baseball launcher further comprises a guiding device that comprises the guide member which is connected to a corresponding side wall of a pivoting yoke of the launching mechanism, a curved chute connected to, and extending upwardly from, a yoke-facing side of the guide member, and an angled insert that is releasably insertable within the guide member such that it extends upwardly therefrom at substantially an opposite angle than the chute, wherein either the chute or the insert directs an ejected ball downwardly into the guide member and towards the launching mechanism.

[0029] In one aspect, the baseball launcher is convertible to a softball launcher.

[0030] In one aspect, the insert has a V-shaped configuration when viewed from above with two symmetric walls, a wall interconnecting a corresponding end of the two symmetric walls, and a corresponding end wall adjoining the two symmetric walls at an angle that extends from a first vertical insert extremity to a conditioned end wall terminus between the first vertical insert extremity and a second vertical insert extremity, wherein the second vertical insert extremity is positioned above the first vertical insert extremity when the insert is used to intercept softballs due to the absence of the corresponding end wall at the second vertical insert extremity to allow unrestricted passage of a discharged softball that is sized larger than a baseball and is positioned below the first vertical insert extremity when the insert is used to intercept baseballs since the corresponding end wall restricts passage of a discharged baseball.

[0031] In one aspect, the baseball launcher further comprises an adaptor coupleable with the cartridge for reducing a diameter of the storage cavities when baseballs are intended to be launched and removable from the cartridge when softballs are intended to be launched, wherein the adaptor has a plurality of circumferentially spaced recessed coupling sections each of which radially protruding from the hub and securable within a corresponding storage cavity.

[0032] A method for feeding a ball to a ball launcher comprises the steps of generating a ball presence indicating signal at a given time upon detecting the presence of a ball in, or at an outlet of, a ball containment space of the ball launcher; transmitting said signal to a processor of the ball launcher; by the processor, commanding operation of a warning system of the ball launcher following a first elapsed time after the given time, to alert a user of an imminent ball launching operation; by the processor, commanding, following a second elapsed time after the given time, a launcher motor to be set to a predefined operational speed; by the processor, commanding operation of a motor for driving a rotatable indexing member, following a third elapsed time after the given time; discharging the detected ball through a discharge opening of the ball containment space following a fourth elapsed time after the given time; and guiding the detected ball to an ejection zone of a launching mechanism.

[0033] A ball collecting method comprises the steps of providing a ball picker comprising a peripheral tube having lower and upper openings and configured with a lower flexible ball entry member and an upper pivotal handle; wearing a backpack having a rigid lower base, four rigid outer walls including a front wall and side walls extending upwardly from the base to define a top-loading opening, and a rigid cover pivotally connected to an upper edge of the front wall; sufficiently opening the cover so that it obliquely extends above the side walls; following batting practice that results in a plurality of scattered baseballs, the handle of the ball picker is set to an unpivoted position and a downwardly applied force is transmitted to the tube to cause an underlying baseball to contact, and to thereby urge momentary yielding of, oblique tabs of the ball entry member, so that the contacted baseball will be introduced within a tube interior and will be prevented from being discharged therefrom by the unpivoted upper handle and the lower oblique tabs; when a desired number of baseballs have been collected in the ball picker, the handle is set to a pivoted position to permit discharge of the collected baseballs; raising the ball picker over a shoulder and behind the back of a user to allow the collected baseballs to be discharged by gravity from the ball picker through the pivoted handle and the upper opening in an unseen ball discharging operation and to be assured of being directed into an interior of the backpack regardless of an angle of the raised ball picker.

[0034] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035] In the drawings:

[0036] - Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the side of a ball launcher according to one embodiment, shown when its legs are set to an undeployed position;

[0037] - Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the side of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, shown when its legs are set to a deployed position;

[0038] - Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the side of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, shown when its legs are set to a deployed and extended position;

[0039] - Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the side and top of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, shown when its upper cover is partially removed;

[0040] - Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the side of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, showing various internal components when its body is removed; - Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the side and top of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, shown when its body is removed and a baseball-softball adaptor is in superimposed position;

[0041] - Fig. 7 is a perspective view from the side and top of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, shown when its body is removed and a baseball-softball adaptor is coupled with the cartridge;

[0042] - Fig. 8 is a perspective view from the top of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, showing the bottom casing surface when the cartridge is removed;

[0043] - Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the ball feed device;

[0044] - Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views from the top and bottom, respectively, of the baseballsoftball adaptor;

[0045] - Fig. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, when loaded with balls while the body is removed;

[0046] - Fig. 13 is a perspective view from the side of the ball feed device and the guiding device when the ball launcher body is removed, showing a partition plate adjusting knob;

[0047] - Fig. 14 is a perspective view from the side of the ball feed device of Fig. 13, shown when the casing is rendered transparent and the partition plate is set to a lower position;

[0048] - Fig. 15 is a perspective view from the side of the ball feed device of Fig. 13, shown when the casing is rendered transparent and the partition plate is set to an upper position;

[0049] - Fig. 16 is a perspective view from the bottom of the ball feed device and from the side of the guiding device when the ball launcher body is removed;

[0050] - Fig. 17A is a perspective view from the side of the guiding device;

[0051] - Fig. 17B is a vertical cross sectional view of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, showing that an angled insert through the guide member is secured by a yoke side wall while a silicone element carrier is removed;

[0052] - Fig. 18 is a perspective view from the front of another embodiment of an angled insert, showing conditioned end walls;

[0053] - Fig. 19 is a perspective view from the side of a silicone element carrier, when removed from the yoke;

[0054] - Fig. 20A is a perspective view from the side of the guide member, shown when connected to the yoke and to the chute while the insert is removed therefrom;

[0055] - Fig. 20B is a side view of a portion of the ball launcher of Fig. 1, showing the ball feed device overlying the guiding device when the body and insert are removed; - Fig. 21A is a perspective view from the front and top of the guiding device and launching mechanism;

[0056] - Fig. 21B is a perspective view from the side of the guiding device and launching mechanism;

[0057] - Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate two different angular positions, respectively, of the yoke relative to a bracket of the launching mechanism;

[0058] - Fig. 24 illustrates a perspective view from the front of the yoke, while the silicone element carrier is being attached thereto;

[0059] - Fig. 25 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a control system usable in conjunction with the ball launcher of Fig. 1;

[0060] - Fig. 26 is a perspective view from the side of the ball feed device and the guiding device when the ball launcher body is removed, showing a motor housing and a schematically illustrated warning system;

[0061] - Fig. 1 is a method for controlling operation of the ball feed device according to one embodiment;

[0062] - Fig. 28 is an anti-jamming method;

[0063] - Fig. 29 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a control system usable in conjunction with the ball launcher of Fig. 1;

[0064] - Fig. 30 is a perspective view of a home plate unit, showing a remote unit that is introduced into an upwardly protruding flexible pocket;

[0065] - Figs. 31A and 31B are a perspective view of a wrist-mounted holder, showing a remote unit separated from and received within, respectively, an internal cavity thereof;

[0066] - Figs. 32A and 32B are perspective and side views, respectively, of a backpack when the cover is in an opened position;

[0067] - Figs. 32C and 32D are perspective and side views, respectively, of the backpack of Fig. 32A when the cover is in a closed position;

[0068] - Figs. 33A and 33B are perspective and front views, respectively, of a ball picker, shown when an upper handle is in an unpivoted position;

[0069] - Fig. 33C is a perspective view of the ball picker of Fig. 33A, shown when the upper handle is in a pivoted position;

[0070] - Figs. 34A and 34B are perspective and front views, respectively, of the upper handle of the ball picker of Fig. 33A, shown when in a disengaged pivoted position;

[0071] - Fig. 34C is a front view of the upper handle of the ball picker of Fig. 33A, shown when in an engaged unpivoted position; - Figs. 35A-C illustrate three stages, respectively, of a ball collecting method;

[0072] - Figs. 36A-C are three different perspective views of a ball launcher according to another embodiment, shown when its legs are set to an undeployed position;

[0073] - Fig. 37 is a side view of the ball launcher of Fig. 36A when the outer body is removed;

[0074] - Fig. 38 is a perspective view from the top of the ball launcher of Fig. 37, showing an embodiment of the ball feed device;

[0075] - Fig. 39 is a perspective view from the top of the ball feed device of Fig. 38, shown when the insert is removed;

[0076] - Fig. 40 is a perspective view from the side of the ball feed device of Fig. 38, shown without the hopper casing;

[0077] - Fig. 41 is a perspective view from the bottom of the ball feed device of Fig. 38;

[0078] - Fig. 42 is a perspective view from the side of the ball feed device of Fig. 38, showing a sensor embeddable cavity formed in the discharge sleeve;

[0079] - Fig. 43 is a perspective view of a height adjustment unit used in conjunction with the ball feed device of Fig. 38;

[0080] - Fig. 44 is a perspective view from the front of a guide member used in conjunction with the ball launcher of Fig. 37;

[0081] - Fig. 45 is a perspective view from the front of a portion of the ball launcher of Fig. 37, showing the launching mechanism while a ball is loaded to the ejection zone;

[0082] - Fig. 46 is a perspective view of a yoke used in conjunction with the ball launcher of Fig. 37;

[0083] - Fig. 47 is a perspective view of a mount used in conjunction with the ball launcher of Fig. 37;

[0084] - Fig. 48 is a perspective view of a base member used in conjunction with the ball launcher of Fig. 37;

[0085] - Fig. 49 is a perspective view from the side of a portion of the ball launcher of Fig. 37, showing a pivoting unit in an unpivoted position; and

[0086] - Fig. 50 is a side view of the ball launcher, shown in a pivoted position relative to the position of Fig. 37.

[0087] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0088] The versatile and cost effective baseball launcher is lightweight and portable, facilitating portability to any desired practice area. As opposed to prior art baseball launchers that are repetitive while launching each ball at the same speed, frequency, height and trajectory (hereinafter "launching signature" or "signature" in brief) and that allow batters to prepare their stance and swing or fielders to prepare their body position in advance of the ball launching, the launcher of the present invention has a unique control system that allows the launching signature to be varied upon a change of at least one of the aforementioned parameters.

[0089] Although the following description relates to a baseball launcher, it will be appreciated that the launcher is suitable to launch other hard balls, including softballs and cricket balls, mutatis mutandis.

[0090] Fig. 1 illustrates a baseball launcher, generally indicated by numeral 10, according to one embodiment. Launcher 10 has a lightweight outer body 5 generally made of sturdy padded material that is coverable by a top cover 1. Outer body 5 may be rectilinear and may enclose a launching mechanism, a combined ball storage and controllable gravity-feed device, and control system, as will be described hereinafter.

[0091] Rotatably mounted to a bottom end of body 5 at corresponding side walls 6 are two opposed wheels 7, which, together with the two opposed handles 3 connected to an upper region of outer body 5, facilitate mobility of the launcher. Wheels 7 may have a relatively large diameter and a rubber tread to provide easy handling and shock absorption properties on uneven surfaces, capable of supporting a load of approximately 30 kg, although the load provided by launcher 10 and the stored balls is usually significantly lighter, on the order of 10 kg to allow the launcher to be easily lifted. A thin stabilizer 4 may slightly extend downwardly from a bottom platform of outer body 5 to contact an underlying ground or floor surface and to stabilize the launcher during a launching operation. Closure 11 which may be flush with side wall 9 of outer body 5 is openable to expose the discharge port of the launching mechanism prior to a launching operation. The ejection angle of the launched ball from the discharge port relative to a horizontal plane is adjustable by means of knob 17 that protrudes outwardly from closure 12 normally flush with side wall 6.

[0092] Launcher 10 may be provided with one or more stretchable panels 2 made of a netting or mesh fabric that each is suitably attached for example to a side wall 6 to form a pocket for carrying various accessories that help to improve the effectiveness of a training session, including for example a foldable home plate, foldable bases, a remote unit, a retractable tool for measuring the standard 60 ft-6 in pitching distance corresponding to the recommended distance from the launcher to home plate, and a baseball picker for assisting in collecting baseballs after batting practice. Some of these accessories will be described hereinafter.

[0093] The height from which a ball is launched may be adjusted by means of a set of legs 14, two of which may be pivotally connected to stabilizer 4. As shown in Fig. 2, when the legs 14 are pivotally adjusted to a deployed position and contact the underlying surface, the height of stabilizer 4 and of wheels 7 above the underlying surface is increased. Also, the height of stabilizer 4 above the underlying surface may be further increased when legs are telescopically expanded, as shown in Fig. 3, by any means well known to those skilled in the art. A launcher provided with pivotal, extendable and undetachable legs increases the convenience of use and obviates the need of carrying a cumbersome add-on base or set of legs for supporting the launcher.

[0094] Fig. 4 shows launcher 10 while cover 1 is partially uncovered to expose a plurality of ball-storage cavities 24.

[0095] Various internal components of launcher 10 are shown in Fig. 5 when the body is removed. The stationary casing of ball feed device 20 at the upper end of launcher 10 is connected to two opposed pairs of vertical rods 13 connected to a corresponding edge of bottom platform 16, which may be of openwork construction, such that a curved portion 12 continuously extending from a corresponding vertical rod 13 extends to an end of a handle 3, such as a horizontal bar. Of course, other handle configurations are in the scope of the invention. Guiding device 30 for receiving the ball discharged from feed device 20 and guiding it to launching mechanism 40 is spaced from ball feed device 20 and positioned therebelow. The stationary bracket of launching mechanism 40 is mounted onto platform 16.

[0096] Reference is first made to Figs. 6-16, which illustrate ball feed device 20.

[0097] As shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 12, ball feed device 20 has a tubular casing 21 attached to the vertical handle-associated rods 13 by corresponding outwardly extending attachment elements 18, and a rotatable cartridge 22 provided inwardly to casing 21 which is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and vertically extending tubular storage cavities 24. Each of the storage cavities 24, which is delimited by a corresponding tubular peripheral wall 25 extending downwardly from the upper surface 19 of cartridge 22, e.g. planar, is unblocked at the top and bottom. A plurality of balls 52 in stacked relation are storable in each of the cavities 24, and a ball is able to freely gravitate from the bottom opening of the corresponding cavity. For example, cartridge 22 is formed with six storage cavities 24, and three balls are storable in each storage cavity. An electric motor 29, such as a DC stepper motor, is mounted within motor housing 31 onto the underside of casing 21, and its vertical drive shaft 35 is coupled to the central hub 23 of cartridge 22 through the corresponding bore, causing the latter to be controllably rotated. If it is desired to store a larger number of balls, one or more additional cartridges are able to be coupled on top of cartridge 22 while the storage cavities of the two cartridges are aligned, to provide a compact combined ball storage and gravity-feed device. Thus when three cartridges 22 are coupled together, a large number of baseballs are able to be stored.

[0098] Casing 21 shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 16 has a bottom surface 1 that is formed with a single aperture 28 through which only one ball is able to be downwardly discharged into guiding device 30 at any given time and a tubular peripheral wall 26 projecting upwardly from bottom surface 27. Bottom surface 1 is configured to accommodate the mounting thereunder of motor housing 31, as well as the provision of discharge aperture 28 and microswitch housing 32. A microswitch provided within housing 32 has a membrane that is suitably positioned in bottom surface 1 in order to sense movement of a ball over the bottom surface prior to being discharged through aperture 28.

[0099] To prevent all balls stored in a cavity that is aligned with aperture 28 from being discharged through the aperture in unison, a horizontal partition plate 54 coupled to casing 21, which may be made from a structurally strong material such as sheet metal, is positioned above aperture 28 and sufficiently extends radially inwardly from casing peripheral wall 26 in order to cover and block aperture 28. A vertically oriented wall 56 integral with partition plate 54 may be used to couple the partition plate to casing 21 upon being positioned in abutting relation with casing peripheral wall 26 and being engaged with a rod, e.g. a threaded rod, of a hand manipulatable knob 58 or any other suitable fastener that is able to pass through casing peripheral wall 26, as further shown in Fig. 13, and be engaged therewith. Accordingly, both partition plate 54 and partition plate wall 56 are arcuate, being configured with substantially the same curvature as casing peripheral wall 26. It will be appreciated that partition plate 54 may be configured and coupled to casing 21 in other ways well known to those skilled in the art.

[0100] Cartridge 22 may be configured with a lower ring 61 spaced downwardly from the lower opening of each storage cavity 24, to accommodate the presence of stationary partition plate 54 within the clearance between ring 61 and the storage cavities 24. The vertical dimension of the clearance is less than that of a ball adapted to be launched, to ensure that all balls being gravity fed through a storage cavity 54 will remain aligned therewith without being inadvertently radially displaced until contacting bottom casing surface 27.

[0101] Lower ring 61, which is integrally formed with upper cartridge surface 19, surrounds and is attached to a plurality of ball-embracing rings 63 each of which is aligned with a corresponding storage cavity peripheral wall 25. Adjacent ball-embracing rings 63 are joined at a region 64 spaced radially inwardly from outer ring 61, and a thin vertical integral junction element 67 (Fig. 15) extends upwardly from each region 64 to a joined region 69 between adjacent storage cavity peripheral walls 25. Each region 64 is spaced radially inwardly from outer ring 61 by a distance significantly greater than the radial distance between inner edge 59 of partition plate 54 and partition plate wall 56, to avoid interference between partition plate 54 the junction elements 67 during rotation of cartridge 22. The ball-embracing rings 63 sequentially direct a corresponding ball received therewithin circumferentially to casing discharge opening 28.

[0102] As shown in Fig. 12, the lowermost ball 52' in each storage cavity gravitates onto bottom casing surface 1 and is received in a corresponding ball-embracing ring 63. When cartridge 22 is caused to rotate by motor 29, a predetermined ball-embracing ring 63 is indexed to discharge aperture 28 (Fig. 8) and the ball received therein gravitates therethrough to the guiding device. At the same, the ball previously contacted by partition plate 54 when its storage cavity is instantaneously aligned with the discharge aperture 28 becomes released therefrom upon rotation of cartridge 22 and is allowed to gravitate onto bottom surface 27.

[0103] Guiding device 30 illustrated in Fig. 17A comprises a short and rigid partially inclined guide member 34 open-ended from above and below that is connected from the side to a corresponding side wall, for example having parallel side edges, of a pivoting yoke 44 of the launching mechanism, a curved chute 37 made of an elastomeric or other resilient material that is connected to, and extends upwardly from, the yoke-facing side of guide member 34, and a rigid angled insert 38 that is releasably insertable within guide member 34 such that it extends upwardly therefrom at substantially an opposite angle than chute 37 while being spaced downwardly from the discharge aperture by a distance of less than approximately a few centimeters. Chute 37 with side border elements for directing an ejected ball downwardly into guide member 34 and towards the launching mechanism is configured to be spaced below motor housing 31 for all angular dispositions of yoke 44. If a ball is ejected from the discharge aperture at a sharp angle, the resilient chute 37 absorbs the energy of the ejected ball and prevents it from rebounding outwardly from the guiding device. A ball ejected from the discharge aperture at a significantly smaller angle will be deflected by insert 38 and urged downwardly into the open-ended guide member 34 even if it undergoes some rebounding action.

[0104] By employing a removable insert, the insert may be advantageously removed from guide member 34 as shown in Figs. 20A-B, to facilitate manual feeding of the launching mechanism by insertion of a ball into the guide member through the increased clearance of greater than a few centimeters below the discharge aperture.

[0105] Guide member 34 may be configured as shown in Figs. 20A and 21B with two opposed first walls 66a, each connected to a limited region of a corresponding yoke side wall 73 with fasteners 71. The height of first walls 66a is sufficiently great so as to protrude above yoke upper surface 47, and a yoke-facing supporting element 68 interconnecting the two first walls 66a is also positioned above yoke upper surface 47. The remaining portions of a first wall 66a below supporting element 68 are unconnected to the other first wall. While a first edge 65a of first wall 66a is substantially parallel to the parallel edges 79 of the corresponding yoke side wall 73, the second edge 65b of first wall 66a is oblique with respect to first edge 65a, for example by an angle of approximately 45 degrees. A second guide member wall 66b completely joined by second edge 65b extends angularly from the plane of corresponding first wall 66a by an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and a third guide member wall 66c extends angularly from the plane of the two second walls 66b by an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Since guide member 34 is configured with oblique edges 65b, second and third walls 65b-c are inclined with respect to a vertical plane coinciding with two yoke side wall edges 79. Curved sliding surface 82 of chute 37 continues downwardly below border elements 84 to form a substantially vertical connecting portion 85 that is connectable with supporting element 68 of guide member 34 with fasteners.

[0106] Angled insert 38 is configured to be compatible with guide member 34. As shown in Figs. 13, 16, 17B and 26, insert 38 may have a general V-shaped configuration when viewed from above with two symmetric walls 103 and 106, a narrow wall 107 interconnecting the corresponding end of walls 103 and 106, and a corresponding narrow end wall 108 adjoining walls 103 and 106 at an angle. End wall 108 may extend throughout the height of insert 38, or alternatively may be configured to extend along only a limited height of the insert.

[0107] The width of walls 103 and 106 is substantially equal to that of each second guide member wall 66b (Fig. 21 B), and the width of wall 107 is substantially equal to that of third guide member wall 66c (Fig. 20A). Thus when insert 38 is inserted within guide member 34, walls 103 and 106 are snugly engaged with the corresponding second guide member walls 66b such that their edge adjoining the corresponding end wall 108 is aligned with second edge 65b of first guide member wall 66a. Also, narrow interconnecting wall 107 is snugly engaged with third guide member wall 66c and each end wall 108 is snugly engaged with the corresponding first guide member wall 66a. Second and third guide member walls 65b-c are sufficiently inclined with respect to first edge 65a of first guide member wall 66a such that, when insert 38 is lowered to a fullest extent within guide member 34, a corner C of the bottom edge of the insert contacts a corresponding edge 79 of yoke side wall 73 to limit further downward insert movement and the upper insert edge 89 is spaced from the discharge aperture by a distance of less than approximately a few centimeters downwardly and a distance of less than approximately a half centimeter to the side outwardly, to ensure reliable interception of the discharged ball. The discharged ball is able to be guided downwardly along insert 38 and above corner C to the launching mechanism.

[0108] Launching mechanism 40 shown in Figs. 21A-B comprises two stationary vertically oriented and laterally spaced brackets 42 and 43 that are mounted onto platform 16, a drive motor 46 having a horizontal drive shaft that is mounted on bracket 43, a resilient launching wheel 45 which is rotatably driven by the drive shaft or by an axle 39 coupled thereto and secured to its hub and rotatably mounted to bracket 42, and pivotable inverted U-shaped yoke 44, e.g. made of aluminum, arranged such that each of its legs 75, which is narrower than, and extends downwardly from, the corresponding yoke side wall 73, is pivotally mounted on the drive shaft or axle between launching wheel 45 and the corresponding bracket. A rechargeable battery 53 of high energy density, such as a lithium-ion battery, which may be pluggable, or a bank of batteries, may be used to power drive motor 46, cartridge motor 29 (Fig. 12) and other circuitry provided with the launcher. Cables extending from battery 53 may be secured to, or within, one or more rods 13 (Fig. 5) or any other structural element of the launcher.

[0109] A silicone element 49 secured below upper surface 47 of yoke 44 is compressible upon engagement therewith of a hard baseball that has been loaded by guiding device 30 through the yoke interior, to promote launching of the baseball. Upon operation of drive motor 46, launching wheel 45 rotates while its cylindrical periphery frictiona lly contacts the single baseball that has been loaded into the yoke interior, so that the rotational energy of launching wheel 45 in transferred to kinetic energy of the loaded baseball, resulting in acceleration of the ball and ejection at a predefined angle and velocity, through the discharge port of launching mechanism 40 that is exposed after closure 11 (Fig. 1) is opened. The compression of both silicone element 49 and the launching wheel periphery serve to enhance the frictional engagement with the ball being launched and the resulting transfer of rotational energy to kinetic energy, and also minimizes damage to the ball during a launching operation as the durability of a ball would be significantly impaired if it were brought in contact with a rigid friction producing element that would cause scratches, rips or seam bursts in the ball. Additionally, the height of the launcher is advantageously able to be reduced by providing a compressible silicone element and launching wheel, rather than having to provide a launching mechanism with a larger spaced passageway through which the ball to be launched is guided and that would be needed in order to access a rigid friction producing element.

[0110] Rod 41 terminating with knob 17 is an actuator of a mechanical launch angle adjusting mechanism, and is connected to yoke leg 75 while passing through a groove 45 formed in bracket 42. Groove 45 is shown to be arcuate, but may assume other configurations as well, such as being oblique with respect to a horizontal plane. A fixation nut 48 surrounding and releasably connected to rod 41 is used to prevent rod movement relative to bracket 43. When it is desired to adjust the launching angle, fixation nut 48 is sufficiently loosened to allow displacement of rod 41 along groove 45. Displacement of rod 41 along groove 45 initiates pivotal displacement of yoke 44 about axle 39, which is generally concealed by cover 113, and relative to bracket 42, to provide a launching angle of the ball corresponding to the selected rod position, for example ranging from -5 to 35 degrees relative to a horizontal plane. A ball launched at an angle of 35 degrees, for example, is of benefit to fielders that are being trained to catch pop-ups or fly-balls, while a ball launched at a significantly smaller angle of approximately 0 degrees is of benefit to batters that are being trained to improve their batting skills.

[0111] Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate two different angular positions, respectively, of yoke 44 relative to bracket 42. Regardless of the angular position of yoke 44 relative to bracket 42, guiding device 30 is configured to guide the discharged ball to a schematically illustrated ejection zone E internal to yoke 44 and that approximately coincides with an insert surface along which the discharged ball is able to gravitate and the launching wheel periphery.

[0112] Softball Suitability

[0113] In another embodiment, the launcher is easily convertible without need of any time consuming or physically demanding operations from a baseball launcher to a softball launcher, or vice versa.

[0114] As shown in Figs. 6-7 and 9-11, a baseball-softball adaptor 72 adapted to be coupled with cartridge 22 serves to reduce the diameter of the storage cavities 24, for use in feeding baseballs which are of a smaller diameter than softballs. If adaptor 72 were not used, the diameter of each storage cavity 24 would be significantly greater than that of the baseballs stored therewithin, and each stored baseball would be radially unrestricted. As a result, the baseballs stored in a cavity 24 would tend not to be stacked in an aligned vertical formation due to the lack of radial restriction, causing the balls to be jammed to a certain extent in a storage cavity and reducing the reliability of a ball feeding operation.

[0115] Hollow adaptor 72 has a star-shaped configuration provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recessed coupling sections 77, each radially protruding from a central circular region 76. A coupling section 77 is defined by two thin-walled arcuate walls 74, each of which being semicircular, e.g. subtending an angle of 160 degrees, and adapted to be secured within a corresponding storage cavity 24 and in abutment with a corresponding storage cavity peripheral wall 25, and by a short abutment element 78 interconnecting the two arcuate walls 74 at a region spaced slightly radially inwardly from the terminal end of the arcuate walls. Each of the arcuate walls 74 is insertable within a corresponding storage cavity 24 to a depth below cartridge upper surface 19 of a significant fraction of the length of its peripheral wall 25, for example one-half of its length.

[0116] A coupling section 77 is adapted to be coupled with an elongated pointed or differently configured convergence 33 defined by a region of two adjacent storage cavity peripheral walls 25 that each extends from the circumference of cartridge upper surface 19 to an inter-cavity notch 36 formed between two adjacent peripheral walls 25. While a coupling section 77 is coupled with a corresponding convergence 33, the two associated arcuate walls 74 curvingly extend in different directions through the notch 36, to engage a portion of the corresponding peripheral wall 25. To prevent any movement of adaptor 72, hub 23 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches 81 that are each recessed from a storage cavity peripheral wall 25, generally at an equal distance between two adjacent inter-cavity notches 36. A hub notch 81 is alignable with a corresponding opening 83 formed at the edge of the adaptor central region 76.

[0117] Fig. 7 illustrates ball feed device 20 when adaptor 72 is coupled with cartridge 22, used for storing and feeding baseballs. A pin 86 is shown to be secured within an adaptor opening 83 and the aligned hub notch 81 (Fig. 9), thereby preventing adaptor movement.

[0118] Fig. 6 illustrates ball feed device 20 when the adaptor is not coupled with cartridge 22, used for storing and feeding larger sized softballs. For example, when cartridge 22 is formed with six storage cavities, two balls are storable in each storage cavity.

[0119] When larger sized softballs are being fed, there is a significant risk that a softball being indexed will contact the partition plate and will not be able to be fed through the discharge aperture. To avoid such a risk, partition plate wall 56 is allowed to be vertically displaceable above the softballs when a vertical groove 51 through which the rod of knob 58 passes is formed in casing peripheral wall 26, as shown in Figs. 13-15. Partition plate wall 56 is displaceable to the high position shown in Fig. 15 following corresponding manipulation of knob 58. The upward displacement of the partition plate is limited by the lower surface of the storage cavity peripheral walls 25. Likewise partition plate wall 56 is displaceable to the low position shown in Fig. 14 which is suitable for the indexing of baseballs, the downward displacement of the partition plate being limited by ring 61. An indicator 57, for example a thin rectangular indicator, may extend upwardly from the upper edge of partition plate wall 56 to provide a visual indication whether the partition plate wall is set to the high position or to the low position, the degree of protrusion of indicator 57 above casing peripheral wall 26 indicating to which position the partition plate has been set.

[0120] Regarding the guiding device, angled insert 38A shown in Fig. 18 is configured with an end wall 108A that is of the same dimension as the continuous end wall 108 of Fig. 13 and that extends from a first vertical insert extremity 116 to a beveled or otherwise conditioned end wall terminus 119 between first vertical insert extremity 116 and second vertical insert extremity 118. With the exception of each end wall 108A, insert 38A is configured identically as insert 38 of Fig. 13. When insert 38A is used to intercept baseballs, first vertical insert extremity 116 is positioned above second vertical insert extremity 118 and close to the discharge aperture since the presence of the end walls restricts the passage of the discharged baseball and guides it to the ejection zone of the launching mechanism. When insert 38A is used to intercept softballs, second vertical insert extremity 118 is positioned above first vertical insert extremity 116 due to the absence of the end walls at second vertical insert extremity 118 to allow unrestricted passage of a larger-sized discharged softball.

[0121] As to the launching mechanism, a carrier 92 for silicone element 49 is advantageously detachable from yoke 44, as shown in Fig. 19, to accommodate the launching of larger-sized softballs. When carrier 92 is detached from yoke 44, another silicone element 97 permanently attached to the underside of yoke upper surface 47 is exposed as shown in Fig. 24, and is adapted to be compressed upon being contacted by a softball during launching. Carrier 92 is used to facilitate compression of silicone element 49 during the launching of baseballs.

[0122] Carrier 92 has a main planar surface 94 from the edges of which upwardly extends protective walls 91, 93 and 98 for covering and protecting permanent silicone element 97. Engagement post 95 extends from a central region of surface 94, and is insertable through an aperture formed in permanent silicone element 97 and in fastening device 62 protruding from yoke upper surface 47, as shown in Fig. 12. Carrier mounted silicone element 49 is attached to the underside of surface 94, and is protected by side walls 101 and 102 that extend downwardly from surface 94. Control System

[0123] An important aspect of the invention is the ability to control the launching of baseballs or softballs. As shown in Fig. 25, control system 110 comprises processor 115, driver 112 for cartridge motor 29, driver 114 for launcher motor 46, microswitch 117 embedded within the casing bottom surface, user interface 121, timer 122, pre-launching warning system 123 and communication module 125, which are all in data communication with processor 115. Cartridge motor driver 112, which is responsive to voltage and current characteristics of cartridge motor 29, transmits acquired cartridge motor data to processor 115. Likewise, launcher motor driver 114, which is responsive to voltage and current characteristics of launcher motor 46, transmits acquired launcher motor data to processor 115. Control system 110 may optionally comprise battery regulator 126 for reducing the rate at which electric current is drawn from battery 53 during periods of reduced electricity usage, to increase battery longevity. Processor 115 may be housed in compartment 127 protruding from casing 21 that is shown in Figs. 12-13, for example below knob 58, and that is generally covered by control panel 128 associated with user interface 121 that protects against dust and dirt.

[0124] Control panel 128 may be configured with a plurality of user selectable buttons 129, for example soft touch buttons, for selecting desired operating conditions, such as launching speed in conjunction with launcher motor driver 114, for example between 20-50 mph, launching rate in conjunction with cartridge motor driver 112, for example every 8, 12 or 20 seconds, pitch type, such as fastball or curveball, and mode of operation. In some embodiments, not all of the operating conditions are enterable. Alternatively, a remote unit 133 may be used to enter desired user operating conditions. Processor 115 commands operation of other components of control system 110 in response to the user selections. The selected launching speed, mode and other desired information may be displayed on control panel 128.

[0125] By virtue of control system 110, the launcher is operable in one of various modes of operation, such as the following modes of operation:

[0126] • Manual mode, which is performable without assistance of the control system when the insert is removed from guide member 34, so that the interspace between the casing bottom surface and the guide member 34 will be increased to a dimension greater than the ball diameter as shown in Fig. 20B and a ball will be able to be manually fed into the guide member to initiate a launching operation in response to the input launching speed. • Remote mode, which is performable with use of remote unit 133, whereby a single ball or a sequence of balls are launched after an activation button is pressed, in accordance with input operating conditions. Cartridge motor driver 112 is temporarily disabled in anticipation of transmission of an activation signal A from the remote unit to the processor, and is additionally disabled following the launching operation. Remote unit 133, configured with a transmitter and suitable circuitry, is generally in short-range communication with communication module 125, but may also wirelessly communicate with the communication module and consequently with the processor through other networks such as Wi-Fi and the Internet.

[0127] • Balls are able to be launched at a predetermined launching rate in conjunction with control system 110 and without user intervention when the automatic mode is set. The operating conditions for each ball to be launched may be preset, such that a first ball is able to be launched at a first speed and a second ball is able to be launched at a second speed, a predetermined rate or with any other type of predetermined signature.

[0128] Foldable or rollable home plate 210 shown in Fig. 30 is configured with a flexible pocket 217 that protrudes upwardly from the upper face of home plate 210. Pocket 217 is positioned close to the apex 213 of home plate 210 as shown, or may be positioned at any other convenient region of the home plate. The shape of pocket 217 is similar to that of remote unit 133, allowing the remote unit to be easily inserted within, and removed from, the pocket. A desired ball launching operation is able to be initiated when a batter presses on an activation button of remote unit 133 with his foot.

[0129] Alternatively, a ball launching operation is able to be initiated remotely by means of the wristmounted holder 222 shown in Figs. 31A-B. Holder 222 mounted by straps 1 1 is configured with a sturdy casing 224, which may be rigid, having an upper periphery 221 and a lower periphery 223 to define an internal cavity 226 within which remote unit 133 is insertable. The shape of cavity 226 is similar to that of remote unit 133. A flexible and tactile interface portion 229 is provided in upper casing periphery 221 so as to be in force applying relation with activation button 137 of remote unit 133 when pressed. Cavity 226 may be dimensioned with a sufficient length to facilitate contact between activation button 137 and interface portion 229 while terminal end 139 of remote unit 133 is able to protrude from cavity 226, to enable effortless removal of the remote unit from the cavity when desired. Microswitch 117, which is located immediately before the discharge aperture 28 shown in Fig. 16 with respect to the rotational direction of the cartridge, senses the presence of a ball prior to a launching operation. While a ball is being indexed by a ball-embracing ring 63 (Fig. 9) along bottom casing surface 27, a force is applied by the ball onto microswitch 117, which in turn transmits a ball presence indicating signal to processor 115.

[0130] Warning system 123 schematically illustrated in Fig. 26 may be mounted in motor housing 31. Warning system 123 comprises one or more warning lights that are visible at the region of motor housing 31 close to casing 21 and to the discharge port of the launching mechanism and / or one or more loud audible indicators, for the benefit of the batter or fielder who is facing the discharge port and will therefore be suitably alerted concerning the imminent launching of a hard and potentially injurious ball. The warning lights are generally LED elements, one of which is constantly illuminated to indicate that the launcher circuitry is activated and one of which flashes prior to launching with sufficiently great light intensity to be visible during bright sunlight.

[0131] The ball presence indicating signal triggers performance of the operations shown in Fig. 27, according to one embodiment. The launcher motor is first set to standby operation in step 132, for example operating at 1000 rpm instead of the normal speed of 4000 rpm, in order to reduce battery consumption, while the cartridge motor is in operation. The processor determines in step 133 whether a ball presence indicating signal has been generated by the microswitch.

[0132] After a ball presence indicating signal is transmitted to the processor in step 134, the processor commands the warning system to be operated in step 136 at a first predetermined duration following transmission of the ball presence indicating signal so that the batter will be adequately prepared prior to the ball launching, the launcher motor driver to set the launcher motor to the predefined operational speed in step 138 at a second predetermined duration following transmission of the ball presence indicating signal, and the cartridge motor driver in step 140 for the cartridge motor to be operated at a third predetermined duration following transmission of the ball presence indicating signal to cause indexing of the cartridge until the storage cavity containing the detected ball is aligned with the discharge aperture in step 142 at a fourth predetermined duration following transmission of the ball presence indicating signal to allow discharge of the detected ball from the cartridge to the guiding device at the preset launching rate. The guiding device consequently guides the detected ball to the ejection zone of the launching mechanism in step 144 so that the detected ball will be launched with a predetermined signature in step 146.

[0133] If a ball presence indicating signal is not transmitted in step 148 to the processor within a fifth predetermined duration following the transmission of the previous ball presence indicating signal that is significantly greater than the fourth predetermined duration, the processor determines in step 150 that the cartridge has been emptied of balls, whereupon the control system including the battery becomes deactivated in step 152. The fifth duration takes into account any delay resulting from a damaged ball being indexed or an unanticipated malfunction.

[0134] The first to fifth predetermined durations are able to be determined by timer 122 (Fig. 25).

[0135] In another embodiment illustrated in Fig. 28, the control system provides an anti-jamming function. After the user inputs selected operating conditions suitable for any embodiment described herein such as by the user interface in step 124, balls are fed at a desired rate from the ball feed device to the guiding device and then to the launching mechanism in step 154 in response to commands issued by the processor while the cartridge rotates in a first rotational direction and the cartridge motor operates at the set voltage and current. If for some reason balls are not fed properly to the guiding device, for example when two balls are introduced simultaneously through the discharge aperture due to the presence of leaves or other refuse causing a jammed condition whereby additional balls are not able to be fed to the launching mechanism, the cartridge motor becomes overloaded in step 156. The cartridge motor driver detects that the motor is overloaded when it is operating with current that is higher than a predetermined value, for example a predetermined value that is proportional to the set current value or an absolute threshold, e.g. 1.7 amps, and transmits the detected overloaded current value, or other detected overloaded condition indicator, to the processor in step 158. In response, the processor commands the cartridge motor to reverse its operating direction in step 160 such that the cartridge will rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to the first direction at substantially the same speed as in the first direction. Since the cartridge is unloaded in the second rotational direction, the wall surrounding the discharge aperture will urge at least one of the jammed balls to be dislodged from the discharge aperture in step 162. The processor subsequently commands the cartridge motor to once again reverse its operating direction in step 164 such that the cartridge will rotate in the first rotational direction so that the launching cycle will be able to be completed.

[0136] In another embodiment illustrated in Fig. 29, control system 170 comprises, in addition to control system 110 of Fig. 25, a pneumatic drive assembly 173, configured for example with an air compressor and an electro-pneumatic valve through which the compressed air is introducible, is in wireless communication with processor 115. Pneumatic drive assembly 173 causes a cylinder 177 to be axially displaced within the interior of a corresponding leg 174, causing the leg to be controllably extendable or retractable.

[0137] Operation of pneumatic drive assembly 173 is able to be synchronized with that of the launching mechanism to advantageously launch a curveball. Upon suddenly retracting all legs simultaneously when a ball is introduced into the ejection zone of the launching mechanism, the ball is imparted with both forward and downward motion to emulate the motion of a curveball, or of other types of pitches. The actual trajectory of the launched ball is able to be adjusted by varying the timing of the pneumatic drive assembly operation or by varying other operating conditions.

[0138] Second Embodiment

[0139] Figs. 36-50 illustrate another embodiment of a baseball launcher, generally indicated by numeral 310,

[0140] In this embodiment, the combined ball storage and controllable gravity-feed device comprises a ball supporting and directing apertured turntable located interiorly within a hopper casing that rotates coaxially with a ball-impeding plate that assists in reducing battery consumption. The launching mechanism comprises two counter-rotating launching wheels, and the guide member receiving the ball discharged through a discharge opening of the casing guides the discharged ball to the intervening space between the two counter-rotating launching wheels.

[0141] As shown in Fig. 36A-C, launcher 310 has a lightweight outer body 305, which may be rectilinear and is generally made of sturdy padded material that is coverable by a top cover 301, to enclose the launching mechanism, ball feed device, and guide member. By virtue of the relatively low weight, which may be as low as 22 kg for example, and the relatively small height, for example ranging from 90-110 cm, the launcher may advantageously be lifted by grasping upper handle 333 protruding rearwardly and obliquely in an upward direction from the upper edge of rear wall 308 in one hand and lower arcuate grip bar 298 that extends between two adjacent pivotal leg brackets 293 in the other hand. One or more stretchable panels 302 made of netting or mesh fabric may be suitably attached for example to a side wall 306 to form a pocket for carrying various accessories that help to improve the effectiveness of a training session as described hereinabove. An upwardly uncovered and vertically disposed tubular bat holder 313 may be attached to side wall 306 adjacent to a stretchable panel 302.

[0142] Closure 307 formed in front wall 309 of outer body 305, which may be normally flush with the front wall, is pivotally openable to expose the discharge port of the launching mechanism prior to a launching operation. Closure 311 formed in rear wall 308 of outer body 305, which may be normally flush with the rear wall, is pivotally openable to facilitate manual feeding of the launching mechanism by insertion of a ball into the guide member. Closure 312 formed in side wall 306 of outer body 305, which may be normally flush with the side wall, is pivotally openable to access an internal launcher component, such as a height adjustment unit. An upper region 318 of outer body 305 may protrude slightly outwardly from lower region 319 to accommodate the hopper casing.

[0143] Various internal components of launcher 310 are shown in Fig. 37 when the outer body is removed. The stationary hopper casing 324 of ball feed device 320 at the upper end of launcher 310 is connected to two opposed pairs of vertical rods 323 that are also connected to a bottom frame element 326, and handle 333 is connected to the upper end of one pair of the rods 323. Two wheels 317 for facilitating mobility of the launcher together with handle 333 are rotatably mounted to bottom frame element 326.

[0144] Ball-impeding plate 328 contactable by a ball 304 released from discharge sleeve 303 that downwardly extends from the discharge opening of hopper casing 324 is rotated by shaft 334, and a height adjustment unit 338 is able to adjust the height of plate 328 relative to bottom frame element 326, depending on whether a baseball or softball is being launched.

[0145] Guide member 353 is fixedly connected at an incline to a pivotal yoke 344. Upper launching wheel 346 is rotatably mounted to stationary U-shaped mount 352 positioned exteriorly to yoke 344 and to which lower launching wheel 347 is rotatably mounted, and the height of upper launching wheel 346 relative to lower launching wheel 347 is adjustable by vertically displacing mount 352 relative to yoke 344. Yoke 344 is pivotally displaceable relative to a base member 363 connected to bottom frame element 326.

[0146] Reference is now made to Fig. 38, which illustrates ball feed device 320. Tubular hopper casing 324 shown from above is shown to have sufficient containment space to hold a pile of a large number of balls, e.g. 20 balls. A turntable 321 is rotatably mounted by shaft 334 that passes through its center and the center of the bottom surface 327 of hopper casing 324. Turntable 321 is configured with two diametrically opposite arcuate apertures 322, the boundary of each extending from the turntable circumference 329 while each aperture has a radius greater than the radius of a softball, to define an aperture circumference of greater than 180 degrees. This turntable configuration enables a ball 304 to be retained within an aperture 322 during rotation of the turntable and to be released therefrom when overlying the discharge opening 314 (Fig. 39). Discharge opening 314, which is defined by discharge sleeve 303 (Fig. 41) extending downwardly from a region of hopper casing bottom surface 327 that is close to handle 333, is sized with a radius only slightly greater than the radius of a softball. It will be appreciated that the turntable may be configured with three or another suitable number of circumferentially spaced apertures, which are preferably evenly spaced.

[0147] When a baseball is intended to be launched, a cylindrical insert 336 having an annular or otherwise rounded upper blocking element 337, which may be recessed relative to the turntable, serves to reduce the diameter of the discharge opening, to ensure that only one ball will be discharged at any time. Two or any other number of downwardly thickened positioning elements 339 protrude radially outwardly from the main periphery of insert 336, and, as shown in Fig. 39, are adapted to be inserted within corresponding complementary cavities 332 that are recessed from bottom surface 327 of hopper casing 324. Each cavity 332 is formed in hopper casing bottom surface 327 and in the adjoining wall of discharge sleeve 303, and has a depth substantially equal to the depth of a positioning element 339. The bottom edge of cavity 332 serves as a stopper from the corresponding positioning element 339. Fig. 41 shows a positioning element 339 protruding from discharge sleeve 303, after being inserted within a corresponding cavity 332. If for some reason more than one ball was introduced into the discharge opening at the same time, the anti-jamming method described in relation to Fig. 28 will be performed, while the hopper casing is substituted for the cartridge and motor 345 is substituted for the cartridge motor, mutatis mutandis.

[0148] As shown in Fig. 40, the periphery 342 of turntable 321 downwardly slopes from a maximum height at a central region close to shaft 334 to a minimum height at circumference 329, urging balls to roll downwardly towards an aperture 322. The ball that at first rolls downwardly or that overlies at first an aperture 322 will be retained within the aperture while turntable 321 rotates.

[0149] With reference to Figs. 37, 40, 41 and 43, height adjustment unit 338 is used to change the spacing between ball-impeding plate 328 and discharge sleeve 303. Height adjustment unit 338, which may have a rectilinear outer body 331, is integrally formed with, or fixedly connected to, ball-impeding plate 328. Shaft 334, which may have a rectilinear or tubular configuration, is formed with two or more vertically spaced notches 343, such as V-shaped or square-shaped notches, and is connected to turntable 321 and is driven by motor 345. Motor 345 and the associated gear reduction mechanism 348, the latter being in driving relation with shaft 334, are mounted to the underside of the bottom surface 327 of the hopper casing. Shaft 334 is releasably interconnected to height adjustment unit 338 by means of spring loaded, translational coupler 341, which is irreleasably and resiliently connected to height adjustment unit 338. Coupler 341 is interiorly unobstructed in order to surround shaft 334, and may be shaped similarly to a rectangular window frame. A first end of coupler 341 is complementary to the notches 343, and is normally seated in one of the notches. Upon applying a hand or finger applied force to the second end of coupler 341, shown to be protruding from body 331, the first end becomes unseated from the notch 343 within which it was previously seated. Height adjustment unit 338 is then able to be slidably displaced together with ball-impeding plate 328 to a different height until the second end of coupler 341 is seated in a different notch 343. Operation of motor 345 will cause turntable 321 and ball-impeding plate 328 to rotate in unison.

[0150] It will be appreciated that the height adjustment unit may be dispensed with when the launcher is used to launch only one type of ball. In such an embodiment, the shaft interconnects both the turntable and the ball-impeding plate, and the shaft may be configured without any notches. As described hereinabove, the generation of a ball presence indicating signal while a ball is being fed to the guide member triggers operation of a pre-launching warning system to alert a batter concerning an imminent launching of a ball stored in the hopper casing, as well as other control system related operations.

[0151] In this embodiment, the ball presence indicating signal is generated by means of a sensor, such as an infrared sensor and a capacitive sensor, which is embedded within a dedicated cavity 356 formed in discharge sleeve 303, as shown in Fig. 42. To ensure that the sensor will be exposed to the interior of discharge sleeve 303 and will be able to detect the presence of a fed ball even though the discharge sleeve interior is isolated by insert 336, when in use, the insert periphery may be configured with one or more apertures 358 (Fig. 38). The positioning elements 339 of insert 336 ensure that an aperture 358 of the insert will be aligned with a corresponding cavity 356 of the discharge sleeve to maintain detectability of the fed ball.

[0152] Upon generation of the ball presence indicating signal, the method described in relation to Fig. 1 may be performed, while the hopper casing is substituted for the cartridge and motor 345 is substituted for the cartridge motor, mutatis mutandis. With respect to the control system illustrated in Fig. 25, turntable motor 345 may likewise be substituted for the cartridge motor and the sensor embedded within the discharge sleeve may be substituted for the microswitch, mutatis mutandis. The control system is operable in any of manual mode, remote mode and automatic mode.

[0153] A sufficient delay between the time at which the ball presence indicating signal is generated to the time at which each of the launcher motors is set to a predefined operational speed is made possible by ball-impeding plate 328 shown in Figs. 37 and 40-42. Ball-impeding plate 328 may have an elongated rectangular shape, and is adapted to underlie discharge sleeve 303 when a ball 304 is discharged therefrom by being synchronized with turntable 321. Ball-impeding plate 328 is set at a sufficient height below discharge sleeve 303 to ensure that the discharged ball 304, when partially retained by discharge sleeve 303, will be contacted by plate 328 and that the downward motion of the ball will be impeded for a sufficient time until the speed of the launcher motors will be ramped up to a desired operational speed. That is, after generation of the ball presence indicating signal and the resulting discharge of a ball onto ball-impeding plate 328, the turntable motor is temporarily deactivated and the launcher motors are temporarily ramped down, e.g. from a speed of 4000 rpm to 1000 rpm, for a time period corresponding to the selected interval between the launching times of two consecutive launching operations, in order to increase battery longevity. Before this time period elapses, the warning system is commanded to operate at a first duration following generation of the ball presence indicating signal whereby warning lights are illuminated and warning sounds are enunciated, to alert a batter before a ball is launched. At the first duration or shortly thereafter at a second duration, the launcher motors are commanded to commence ramping up for a period of 3-4 seconds. The turntable motor is commanded to be activated at a third duration at a relatively low speed, e.g. 7-10 rpm, and at a relatively high torque of at least 10 Nm. Ball-impeding plate 328 is consequently rotated to cause a first ball to fall from the plate and be ensured of being received within guide member 353 and a second ball to be indexed by turntable 321 to the discharge opening.

[0154] As shown in Figs. 27, 42 and 44, open-ended guide member 353 from above and below, which is metallic, e.g. made of aluminum, in order to absorb the impact of the gravitated ball, is V-shaped when viewed by an end view, being defined by first substantially parallel walls 357a-d, second walls 359a-b that are contiguous with and positioned at an incline with respect to, first walls 357a-b, respectively, and a third central wall 361. First walls 357c-d are lengthwise separated from, and have a smaller height than, first walls 357a-b, respectively. The relatively short height of first walls 357c-d prevents interference with upper launching wheel 346. While upper first edge 362 of guide member 353 is uniform for walls 357a-b, 359a-b and 361, being spaced below discharge sleeve 303 by a distance ranging from approximately 5-15 cm, the lower second edge of each of the walls is different. Each of first walls 357c-d has an angled portion 357e which extends significantly beyond the second edge 364 of second walls 359a-b to facilitate connection of guide member 353 to yoke 344 at an angle. The spacing between the two first walls 357c-d is substantially equal to, and no more than a few millimeters greater than, the diameter of discharge sleeve 303, to ensure that the ball will be discharged directly onto third wall 361and remain centered by the guide member configuration.

[0155] The accuracy in launching a ball according to a desired signature, in addition to the centering feature provided by the guide member, is also enhanced by the centering feature provided by launching mechanism 373 shown in Fig. 45 that comprises the two vertically spaced counter-rotating launching wheels 346 and 347. Each of launching wheels 346 and 347 that is rotatable about a horizontal axis is configured with a circumferential V-shaped groove 366 that minimizes the circumference of the launching wheel at the axial midline 368, such that the circumference of the launching wheel gradually increases in size from axial midline 368 to achieve a maximal value at each axial end that is covered by an annular elastomeric layer 369. As the guide member is connected at an angle to yoke 344, the ball discharged from the ball feed device is ensured of being guided into the nip between launching wheels 346 and 347 characterized by V-shaped groove 366. The guided ball 304 is contacted by two points of the upper launching wheel 346 corresponding to maximal circumference regions and by two points of the lower launching wheel 347, urging the ball to be centered while preventing lateral movement towards yoke 344. Upper launching wheel 346 assists in pulling the ball into the inter-wheel nip despite the presence of the two-point contact provided by each V-shaped groove 366.

[0156] Each axle 376 of upper launching wheel 346 extends through a corresponding elliptical aperture 371 (Fig. 46) formed in both parallel walls of yoke 344 and a circular aperture 351 (Fig. 47) formed in both parallel walls of mount 352. One of the axles 376 is in driven engagement with launching motor 46a, which is fixedly connected to mount 352, as shown in Fig. 37. Each axle 377 of lower launching wheel 347 extends through a corresponding arcuate aperture 379 of yoke 344 and a circular aperture 382 of base member 363 (Fig. 48). One of the axles 377 is in driven engagement with launching motor 46b, which is fixedly connected to base member 363, as shown in Fig. 37. Each axle is constrained by a bearing.

[0157] Prior to adjusting the height of upper launching wheel 346 relative to lower launching wheel 347 when it is desired to launch a softball instead of a baseball, or vice versa, a rod knob 349 and rod 354 shown in Figs. 37, 42 and 46 are manipulated. A rod 354 which is threadedly engageable with an enclosing rod knob 349 protrudes from a region of a corresponding wall of yoke 344 that is located above elliptical aperture 371 and passes through B-shaped aperture 383 formed in both parallel walls of mount 352 above aperture 351. B-shaped aperture 383 is defined by a dividing element 381 formed in each wall 384 of mount 352 to provide an upper semicircular aperture 386, a lower semicircular aperture 387 and a narrow aperture 389 in communication with apertures 386 and 387 and located between dividing element 381 and wall 384. By shifting rod 354 into narrow aperture 389, upper launching wheel 346 and mount 352 are free to be vertically displaced. Afterwards, when upper launching wheel 346 and mount 352 are vertically displaced, rod 354 is vertically displaced as well. Following the vertical displacement, rod knob 349 will be rotated about rod 354, and rob knob 349 will become engaged with mount 352 to immobilize yoke 344 together with the mount. Unit 393 shown in Fig. 49 for pivotally displacing yoke 344 will now be described. Pin 391 passing through aperture 355 of yoke 344 (Fig. 46), e.g. square, passing through round aperture 367 of base member 363 (Fig. 48) located above aperture 382 and secured to the yoke such as by a friction fit or by a dedicated element 399 (Fig. 45) constitutes the axis of rotation of the yoke. Pivoting unit 393 comprises stepper motor 392 for driving output threaded shaft 394 by indexing step pulses, nut member 396, crank member 397 and adaptor 398.

[0158] The lower main section of nut member 396 which may be rectilinear is configured with two horizontal-axis boreholes. The upper borehole is formed with inner threading for threaded engagement with output shaft 394, and the lower borehole is guided along a carriage rod 401 fixed to both stepper motor 392 and a planar element 403 protruding, e.g. perpendicularly protruding, from an end of the widened lower wall 388 of base member 363 within which an arcuate aperture 385 is formed. Nut member 396 is also configured with an upper connection section thinner than the main section and provided with a pivot hole.

[0159] Crank member 397 is configured with a first elongated portion and a second circular portion having a diameter greater than the width of the elongated portion. The first portion is formed with a pivot hole adapted to be pivotally connected with the pivot hole of the nut member connection section. While the majority of crank member 397 has a thickness greater than the thickness of nut member connection section, a region of the first portion of crank member 397 closest to the first portion pivot hole is hollowed. The nut member connection section is introduced with the hollowed region and is concealed within a surface of the crank member.

[0160] Adaptor 398 is keyed to the second portion of crank member 397, and is perpendicular to the crank member surface. Adaptor 398 extends through elliptical aperture 385 of base member 363, and is fixedly connected within aperture 406 (Fig. 46) formed at the bottom of a lowermost region of yoke 344 located below arcuate aperture 379 and that may be configured with a curved edge.

[0161] During operation of stepper motor 392, nut member 396 advances linearly in one direction along carriage rod 401, for example a distance of 5-15 cm corresponding to approximately 20 turns of the output shaft 394 of stepper motor 392. A tensile force is applied by the nut member connection section onto the first portion of crank member 397 as nut member 396 is advanced linearly, causing the crank member to convert the translational motion of the crank member to rotary motion and to pivot in one rotational direction, for example an angular displacement ranging from -5 to 35 degrees. The pivotal displacement of crank member 397 causes adaptor 398 to advance along elliptical aperture 385 of base member 363 and to drive yoke 344 to a desired pivotal position, whereby the height of the guide member connected to the yoke is adjusted. These actions are reversed when nut member 396 is caused to advance linearly in an opposite direction.

[0162] Fig. 50 illustrates yoke 344 and the connected guide member 353 when set to a desired pivotal position, after having been pivoted about pin 391. A ball 304 gravitating from discharge sleeve 303 is prevented by arcuate shield 409 of yoke 344 from contacting upper launching wheel 346, to ensure that the discharged ball will gravitate onto guide member 353 and will not be propelled by the rotating launching wheel to an undesired location distant from the guide member. Regardless of the angular position of yoke 344, guide member 353 is configured to guide the discharged ball to the ejection zone at the nip between the two launching wheels.

[0163] A control system may comprise pivoting unit 393, in addition to control system 110 of Fig. 25. The driver of stepper motor 392 may be in wireless communication with processor 115, so that the operation of pivoting unit 393 will be able to be synchronized with that of the launching mechanism to advantageously launch a curveball. Upon suddenly adjusting the height of the guide member when a ball is introduced into the ejection zone of the launching mechanism, the ball is imparted with both forward and downward motion to emulate the motion of a curveball, or of other types of pitches. The actual trajectory of the launched ball is able to be adjusted by varying the timing of the stepper motor operation or by varying other operating conditions.

[0164] A user may be able to interact with the control system by an application-based user interface.

[0165] Ball Collecting Apparatus and Method

[0166] Figs. 32-35 illustrate the speedy and effortless method for collecting baseballs after batting practice, according to one embodiment. Reference is first made to Figs. 32A-D, which illustrate a dedicated backpack 240 within which collected baseballs are storable. Backpack 240, which is preferably covered by a washable fabric, has a rigid lower base 242 and four rigid outer walls 244a-d, for example made of polypropylene, as opposed to conventional weight carrying internal-frame backpacks having flexible outer panels. Each of the outer walls 244a-d extends upwardly from base 242 and substantially perpendicularly from an adjacent outer wall, to define a top-loading opening. While front wall 244a and rear wall 244c are perpendicular, side walls 244b and 244d have an oblique upper edge, extending from downwardly towards front wall 244a which is shorter than rear wall 244c. A cover 247 is pivotally connected to the upper edge of front wall 244a, and, when closed, completely covers the upper edge of outer walls 244a-d in abutting fashion, and may additionally be secured with a zipper 239. A first triangular flap that is foldable into two equal sections 249a-b is attached to the upper edge of side wall 244b and to the corresponding edge of cover 247, and a similar second flap is attached to the upper edge of side wall 244d and to the corresponding edge of cover 247. The flaps are sufficiently rigid to maintain cover 247 in an opened state when baseballs are being collected. Portability of backpack 240 is facilitated by shoulder straps 252 attached to rear wall 244c and by handle 254 extending upwardly from the upper edge of rear wall 244c.

[0167] Figs. 33A-C illustrate ball picker 255 for use in collecting scattered baseballs.

[0168] As shown in Fig. 33A, ball picker 255 comprises peripheral tube 254 which is configured with a lower flexible ball entry member 259, an upper pivotal handle 264, and a soft band 263 used for, and positioned around, holding tube 254 which is located at an intermediate position between ball entry member 259 and handle 264. Tube 254 has lower and upper openings. It will be appreciated that ball picker 255 is also suitable for softballs, when tube 254 is of a larger diameter that is sufficiently large to receive softballs.

[0169] Ball entry member 259 has an annular securement element 261 fitted at the bottom edge of tube 254 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs 263 extending obliquely from the bottom edge 262 of securement element 261, which is located below the bottom edge of the tube, and consequently rendered flexible. Tabs 263 yield when being contacted by a ball to permit introduction of the contacted ball into the interior of tube 254. After the ball is received within the tube interior, tabs 263 return to the normal oblique disposition and prevent the received balls from being downwardly discharged through the lower opening. The capacity of the tube interior may be sufficient to hold for example eight baseballs.

[0170] When handle 264 is in an engaged unpivoted position and tube 254 is overlying a ball 269, a downwardly applied force is transmitted to tube 254, causing the ball to contact the yielding tabs and to be received within the tube interior, as shown in Fig. 33B. The unpivoted handle 264 prevents the received balls from being discharged through the upper opening. Balls are able to be discharged through the upper opening when handle 264 is set to a pivoted position, as shown in Fig. 33C.

[0171] The structure of handle 264 is shown in Figs. 34A-C.

[0172] An annular reinforcement 271 is externally attached to tube 254 such that its upper edge 272 is aligned with the upper edge of the tube that defined the upper opening 277. Two diametrically spaced circular lugs 276 project radially from reinforcement 271 at a region thereof that is proximate to the reinforcement lower edge 274.

[0173] Handle 264 is U-shaped, and is configured with two parallel flat side bars 266 and a short tubular bar 267 interconnecting the end of the two side bars 266. An intermediate region of each side bar 266 is pivotally connected to reinforcement 271, and generally also to tube 254, by a corresponding pivot element 273. Pivot element 273 is in communication with a toggling facilitating aperture formed with two interconnected apertures 279a-b, by which handle 264 is able to be toggled between a pivoted position and a non-pivoted position. A terminal end of each side bar 266 spaced away from tubular bar 267 is configured with an arcuate securing opening 278 adapted to be releasably secured with the corresponding lug 276.

[0174] When handle 264 is set to the pivoted position, as shown in Figs. 34A-B, the terminal end of each side bar 266 is disengaged from the corresponding lug 276 and pivot element 273 is received in aperture 279b that is adjacent to lug 276. Balls that have been collected within the interior of tube 254 are free to be discharged, such as following inversion of the tube, when handle 264 is set to the pivoted position. When handle 264 is set to the engaged unpivoted position, as shown in Fig. 34C, securing opening 278 is engaged with the corresponding lug 276 and pivot element 273 is received in aperture 279a that is proximate to the upper edge 272 of reinforcement 271, allowing a downwardly applied force to be transmitted to tube 254 and a ball to be received within the tube interior, as shown in Fig. 33B. The length of each side bar 266 from reinforcement upper edge Til to interconnecting bar 267 is selected to be less than the diameter of the balls received within the tube interior to prevent unwanted discharge of a ball.

[0175] Figs. 35A-C illustrate a method for collecting scattered baseballs with ball picker 255 and backpack 240. In a first stage, one or more balls are received within the tube interior of ball picker 255 when its handle 264 is set to the unpivoted position and a downwardly applied force is transmitted to tube 254, as shown in Fig. 35A. When a sufficient number of balls have been collected in ball picker 255, handle 264 is pivoted to permit discharge of the collected balls. Ball picker 255 is then raised over a shoulder and behind the back of user 258 as shown in Fig. 35B, allowing the collected balls to be discharged by gravity from the ball picker in an unseen ball discharging operation and to be directed into the interior of backpack 240. As opened cover 247 obliquely extends significantly above side walls 244b and 244d, the discharged balls are assured of being received within the backpack interior regardless of the angle of the raised ball picker, as shown in Fig. 35C. The balls are able to be deflected by the front wall of cover 247 and then directed into the backpack interior.

[0176] It will be appreciated that the method is similarly suitable for collecting softballs.

[0177] While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A baseball launcher, comprising: a) a launching mechanism; b) a ball feed device having a stationary casing internally provided with a containment space for a plurality of balls; c) a member that is controllably rotatable relative to said casing to cause rotation of the contained balls within said containment space about a central axis; d) a discharge opening from which only one ball is downwardly dischargeable from said casing at any given time; and e) an open-ended guide member from above and below for receiving the ball discharged through the discharge opening and for guiding the discharged ball to said launching mechanism.

2. The baseball launcher according to claim 1, further comprising: i. an outer body made of padded material that encloses the launching mechanism, ball feed device, and guide member; and ii. two opposed wheels rotatably mounted to a bottom end of the outer body and at least one handle connected to an upper region of the outer body to facilitate mobility of the launcher.

3. The baseball launcher according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable member is a cartridge radially positioned inwardly to the casing within which the plurality of balls are storable, the cartridge being configured with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and vertically extending tubular storage cavities that are each unblocked from above and below and within each of which a number of the balls are stackable, and with a central hub to which a vertical drive shaft of an electric cartridge motor for rotating the cartridge is coupled.

4. The baseball launcher according to claim 3, wherein the ball feed device further comprises a partition plate coupled to the casing that is positioned above the discharge opening and sufficiently extends radially inwardly from a peripheral wall of the casing to cover and block the discharge opening, for preventing gravitation of balls stored in one of the storage cavities that is aligned with the discharge opening.

5. The baseball launcher according to claim 4, wherein the ball feed device further comprises a plurality of ball-embracing rings integral with, and located below, the cartridge, each of the ballembracing rings being aligned with a peripheral wall of a corresponding storage cavity and adapted to receive a lowermost ball gravitating from the corresponding storage cavity onto a bottom surface of the casing and a predetermined one of the ball-embracing rings being indexable to the discharge opening upon operation of the cartridge motor.

6. The baseball launcher according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable member is a ball supporting and directing apertured turntable positioned interiorly within the casing which is a hopper casing.

7. The baseball launcher according to claim 6, further comprising a ball-impeding plate coaxial with the apertured turntable for impeding passage of the discharged ball to the guide member until a launcher motor increases in speed to a predetermined operational speed.

8. The baseball launcher according to claim 1, further comprising a control system for controlling a launching signature of a baseball launched by the launching mechanism upon adjustment of at least one of speed, frequency, height and trajectory of the launched baseball.

9. The baseball launcher according to claim 2, further comprising a set of pivotal, extendable and undetachable legs attached to the outer body.

10. The baseball launcher according to claim 8, wherein the control system comprises a processor, a pre-launching warning system in data communication with the processor that comprises one or more warning lights or one or more audible indicators for alerting a batter concerning an imminent launching of a ball stored in the containment space, and a sensor for detecting a ball presence indicating signal and for transmitting the detected ball presence indicating signal to said processor, and wherein said processor is configured in response to command operation of said warning system.

11. The baseball launcher according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is a microswitch in data communication with the processor that is embedded within a region of a casing bottom surface immediately before the discharge opening with respect to a rotational direction of the rotatable member, wherein a force is appliable by a ball being indexed by the predetermined one of ballembracing rings along the bottom casing surface onto said microswitch to transmit the ball presence indicating signal to the processor.

12. The baseball launcher according to claim 10, wherein the control system further comprises a rotatable member motor, rotatable member motor driver, launcher motor, launcher motor driver, battery and battery regulator, wherein the rotatable member motor driver and launcher motor driver which are responsive to voltage and current characteristics of the rotatable member motor and launcher motor, respectively, transmit acquired data of a corresponding motor to the processor and the processor is operable to command operation of the battery regulator to reduce a rate at which electric current is drawn from the battery during periods of reduced electricity usage, to increase battery longevity.

13. The baseball launcher according to claim 12, wherein the control system further comprises a communication module in data communication with the processor, a remote unit configured with a transmitter in wireless communication with the communication module, an activation button and suitable circuitry, whereby a single ball or a sequence of balls are launched following interaction with the activation button and the rotatable member motor driver is temporarily disabled.

14. The baseball launcher according to claim 13, wherein the remote unit is insertable within, and removable from, a foot pressable pocket formed in a dedicated home plate unit or a wristmounted holder.

15. The baseball launcher according to claim 3, further comprising a guiding device that comprises the guide member which is connected to a corresponding side wall of a pivoting yoke of the launching mechanism, a curved chute connected to, and extending upwardly from, a yoke-facing side of the guide member, and an angled insert that is releasably insertable within the guide member such that it extends upwardly therefrom at substantially an opposite angle than the chute,wherein either the chute or the insert directs an ejected ball downwardly into the guide member and towards the launching mechanism.

16. The baseball launcher according to claim 1, which is convertible to a softball launcher.

17. The baseball launcher according to claim 15, wherein the insert has a V-shaped configuration when viewed from above with two symmetric walls, a wall interconnecting a corresponding end of the two symmetric walls, and a corresponding end wall adjoining the two symmetric walls at an angle that extends from a first vertical insert extremity to a conditioned end wall terminus between the first vertical insert extremity and a second vertical insert extremity, wherein the second vertical insert extremity is positioned above the first vertical insert extremity when the insert is used to intercept softballs due to the absence of the corresponding end wall at the second vertical insert extremity to allow unrestricted passage of a discharged softball that is sized larger than a baseball and is positioned below the first vertical insert extremity when the insert is used to intercept baseballs since the corresponding end wall restricts passage of a discharged baseball.

18. The baseball launcher according to claim 3, further comprising an adaptor coupleable with the cartridge for reducing a diameter of the storage cavities when baseballs are intended to be launched and removable from the cartridge when softballs are intended to be launched, wherein the adaptor has a plurality of circumferentially spaced recessed coupling sections each of which radially protruding from the hub and securable within a corresponding storage cavity.

19. A method for feeding a ball to a ball launcher, comprising the steps of: a) generating a ball presence indicating signal at a given time upon detecting the presence of a ball in, or at an outlet of, a ball containment space of the ball launcher; b) transmitting said signal to a processor of the ball launcher; c) by the processor, commanding operation of a warning system of the ball launcher following a first elapsed time after the given time, to alert a user of an imminent ball launching operation; d) by the processor, commanding, following a second elapsed time after the given time, a launcher motor to be set to a predefined operational speed;e) by the processor, commanding operation of a motor for driving a rotatable indexing member, following a third elapsed time after the given time; f) discharging the detected ball through a discharge opening of the ball containment space following a fourth elapsed time after the given time; and g) guiding the detected ball to an ejection zone of a launching mechanism.

20. A ball collecting method, comprising the steps of: a) providing a ball picker comprising a peripheral tube having lower and upper openings and configured with a lower flexible ball entry member and an upper pivotal handle; b) wearing a backpack having a rigid lower base, four rigid outer walls including a front wall and side walls extending upwardly from the base to define a top-loading opening, and a rigid cover pivotally connected to an upper edge of the front wall; c) sufficiently opening the cover so that it obliquely extends above the side walls; d) following batting practice that results in a plurality of scattered baseballs, the handle of the ball picker is set to an unpivoted position and a downwardly applied force is transmitted to the tube to cause an underlying baseball to contact, and to thereby urge momentary yielding of, oblique tabs of the ball entry member, so that the contacted baseball will be introduced within a tube interior and will be prevented from being discharged therefrom by the unpivoted upper handle and the lower oblique tabs; e) when a desired number of baseballs have been collected in the ball picker, the handle is set to a pivoted position to permit discharge of the collected baseballs; f) raising the ball picker over a shoulder and behind the back of a user to allow the collected baseballs to be discharged by gravity from the ball picker through the pivoted handle and the upper opening in an unseen ball discharging operation and to be assured of being directed into an interior of the backpack regardless of an angle of the raised ball picker.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the baseballs discharged from the upper opening are deflected by a front wall of the backpack cover and are thereby directed into the backpack interior.

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