Jugs Sports, Inc.

Other

Jugs, Inc.

The Jugs Company

Kerry K Paulson

Paul A Heinsch

Robert F Harder

James A Kerr

Charles E Kerr

Durward E De Chenne

Terry L Haile

Terry Kenneth Dewar

Louis Skinkis

Thomas O Pearson

John K Paulson, Deceased

John G Paulson

Gregory Jack Anderson

Jason Robert Weddle

Kevin Bates

A machine for throwing balls is provided that can accurately adjust the vertical height or pitch and the lateral placement or yaw of balls being thrown. The machine includes a pitch housing, a threaded pitch adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the pitch housing, a pitch yoke threadably mounted to the pitch adjustment shaft, a yaw housing to which the pitch housing is fixed, and a threaded yaw adjustment shaft rotatably mounted to the yaw housing. Also included is a yaw yoke mounted to the yaw housing and to the yaw adjustment shaft, and a stand to which the yaw housing is rotatably mounted.

Micro adjustment mechanism for a pitching machine

A base for a batting tee may be provided that includes a first and a second base half that are pivotally mounted to each other such that they can pivot from an open position to one with the two halves flush against one another. The base may also include at least one batting tee mount disposed on at least one of the base halves. Each base half may define an aperture at complementing positions so that a hand hole is defined and extends through each base half for carrying the base when the base halves are flush against each other.

Hinged batting tee base

Batting tee base

Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting. In some embodiments, the speed control module may utilize resistive braking to transition the rotary wheel from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed.

Changeup controller for ball throwing machine

Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting.

Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, articles, methods, and tires for throwing machines are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Pneumatic tire for throwing machine

A hook setting mechanism used with a fishing device is provided. The mechanism includes an arm pivotally secured to a rod holder such that the arm can pivot between a vertical position to a position where the arm is engaged with the base. The arm further includes an opening in which a trigger is movably disposed that includes a stay and a guide spaced from one another on the trigger. The stay is releasably engageable with an eyelet on a fishing pole while the guide properly positions the fishing line on the trigger such that any downward force on the line in the guide by a fish serves to disengage the eyelet from the stay, consequently setting a hook in the mouth of the fish. The disengagement of the rod and the trigger also enables the arm to pivot from the vertical position towards the base, moving the arm and the trigger out of the path of the fishing line to avoid entangling of the fishing line on the hook setting mechanism.

Fishing device

A ball throwing machine includes a frame mounting a pair of rotary wheels provided with substantially identical pneumatic tires preferably made of non-marking rubber or synthetic elastomer and each having a diameter ranging between about 6-14 inches (15-35 cm); a wall depth ranging between about 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm); and a footprint ranging between about 0.25-6 inches (0.6-15 cm). The frame mounts a pair of electric motors each associated with one of the rotary wheels for rotating the latter, and the frame may support a battery source of electric potential for the electric motors.

Ball throwing machine

The ball throwing apparatus of this invention is formed of a flat main frame plate which mounts a rotary ball throwing wheel and a confronting pad spaced from the wheel slightly less than the diameter of a ball to be thrown. The pad is mounted for adjusting said space for alternatively engaging and throwing baseballs and softballs. The main frame plate is mounted on the upper end of a vertical post by a first pivot for adjustable rotation about a horizontal axis for adjusting the curvature of flight of a thrown ball. The lower end of the post is mounted on a second pivot for rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the first pivot for adjusting the trajectory of flight of a thrown ball, the bearing for the second pivot is mounted on a leg supporting cup for rotation about a vertical axis for adjusting the horizontal direction of a thrown ball. Tripod legs are secured removably to the cup and each leg is formed of at least two segments secured together removably in longitudinal extension for supporting the ball throwing wheel and pad at an elevation above ground for throwing baseballs. The lower segments of each leg is bent adjacent its lower end for engaging the ground or, in an alternative arrangement, for being secured to the cup in place of the upper leg segment, for supporting the ball throwing wheel and pad at a lower elevation above ground for throwing softballs.

Portable ball throwing apparatus

The ball throwing machine of this invention includes a vertical base plate mounting a wheel support plate for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which defines an arcuate slot in the base plate through which a clamp bolt extends from the wheel support plate. The wheel support plate mounts top and bottom pneumatic tired wheels for rotation to grip a ball between them and project it forward. An electrical control circuit affords adjustment of wheel rotational speed by a single rotary switch and also allows selection of a variety of types of pitches by a single rotary switch. The electrical circuit also provides for the setting of a differential rotational speed between the top and bottom wheels, for optimum quality of pitching control, and also provides for limiting the minimum and maximum wheel rotating speeds to achieve realistic pitching speed range.

Ball throwing machine and electrical control therefor

A ball throwing machine which includes a tripod leg support is provided with the rearwardly positioned leg formed as a pair of telescopic sections. Rack and pinion components are mounted one on each leg section and the pinion is operated by a crank to effect lengthening or shortening the telescopic sections, to effect an incremental change in the trajectory of a ball thrown by the machine.

Ball throwing machine with adjustable tripod leg

Ground anchor

A ball pitching device includes a ball feed tube mounted on support components which are adjustable about vertical and horizontal pivot axes to vary the horizontal and vertical positions of delivery of pitched balls relative to a practicing batter standing at the position of home plate. The device also includes a pair of ball projecting wheels rotated by electric motors the speeds of which are adjusted by controlling potentiometers. Eccentric cams are included in the support components for enabling incremental adjustments about the vertical and horizontal pivot axes, preferably without recognition by the practicing batter, to make incremental changes in the horizontal and vertical positions of delivery of pitched balls. The electric circuit of the drive motors also includes adjustable electric signal generators operatively connected to the support components providing for elevation adjustments, for effecting changes in motor speed in accordance with changes in elevation of the ball feed tube.

Ball pitching device

A wheel for a ball throwing machine includes a tire-mounting wheel formed of two lateral halves of spun metal each having a central portion and an angularly extending rim portion, the central portions of the two halves being arranged in abutting relation with the rim portions diverging outwardly. A resilient solid polyurethane tire is molded integrally to the outer surfaces of the diverging rim portions, securing the two halves together. The tire is molded to a resilient hardness ranging between about 25A and 75A Durometer, preferably about 40A Durometer. Circumferentially spaced registering holes in the central portions of the two wheel halves removably receive bolts by which to secure the wheel to the hub of a power driven rotary shaft of a ball throwing machine.

Growing community of inventors

Sherwood, OR, United States of America

Kerry K Paulson