Ball Launcher Spring Biased Thrower Arm Solo Practice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Players in sports like tennis, baseball, and volleyball often struggle to practice hitting a ball independently without a partner, as they need another player to throw the ball, which can limit their ability to develop muscle memory and technique for serving and hitting.
Innovation Solution
A ball launcher device with a base, thrower arm, and loader arm, where the loader arm rotates to release a ball into a spring-biased thrower arm cradle, allowing for consistent ball tossing and adjustment of the thrower arm's pivot range and release position, enabling solo practice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a player practices hitting a ball with another player throwing the ball, then the player can receive varied and natural ball tosses, but the practice session requires two players and reduces training efficiency for solo practice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ball launching device as an intermediary between the player and the ball. The device includes a thrower arm that mechanically tosses the ball and a loader arm that loads the ball into the cradle, replacing the need for a human partner while maintaining consistent practice conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The ball launching device enables a player to practice independently without requiring another player. The device performs the functions of ball loading, tossing, and positioning automatically through its mechanical components, allowing the player to conduct solo practice sessions with improved productivity
2Reliability
If another player throws the ball during practice, then the ball toss may be inconsistent due to lack of skill, but using a mechanical device adds complexity to the practice setup
Solution Approach 1:
The thrower arm is spring-biased and can be adjusted to change the parameters of the ball toss, including height, distance, and angle. This allows the mechanical device to provide consistent and reliable ball tosses that can be customized for different practice needs
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical ball launching device serves as a reliable intermediary that eliminates the variability introduced by human partners. The device's consistent mechanical operation ensures uniform ball tosses, improving reliability while the modular design keeps the complexity manageable
3Adaptability or versatility
If a player cannot isolate tossing and hitting skills, then the player cannot develop muscle memory for specific skills, but separating these skills requires additional equipment or setup
Solution Approach 1:
The ball launching device is segmented into distinct functional components: a loader arm for ball loading, a thrower arm for ball tossing, and a ball cradle for positioning. This segmentation allows the player to isolate and practice specific skills such as tossing technique or hitting technique independently
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides multiple functions within a single system: it can load balls, toss balls at adjustable parameters, and position balls consistently. This multi-functionality enables versatile practice routines that can target specific skills without requiring additional equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A ball launcher includes a base and a thrower arm defining a ball cradle. An arm holder is disposed on the base and pivotally supports the thrower arm about a first axis of rotation, the thrower arm spring biased about the first axis of rotation. A rotating shaft defines a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the fore-aft axis. A ball loader is coupled to the rotating shaft for common rotation about the second axis of rotation, the ball loader defining a ball receptacle. A loader arm is releasably connected to the rotating shaft for common rotation about the second axis of rotation. The loader arm defines a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation of the rotating shaft and has a length extending away from the rotating shaft.