System and method to pitch footballs

摘要

A system and method for pitching balls, particularly footballs and other football-shaped balls. The system and method are flexibly designed to simulate different types of pitches including but not limited to passes, punts, kick-offs and snaps. A cradle for use in the system and method holds the ball in any one of a number of positions such that when it is fed into the system, the ball is propelled to simulate a different type of pitch. The apparatus and system for pitching balls includes a support for a ball throwing head, two opposing variable speed motor powered wheels that can be tilted in relation to each other to control the spin and distance, a slide configured to present the ball on the cradle into the wheels at different angles to provide right or left handed spirals and end over end pitches, and adjustments for height and horizontal pivot. A removable throwing head allows balls to be pitched from different heights from ground level to an upright arm motion to simulate different types of pitches.

主权项

1. A method of pitching an oblong shaped ball from a ball pitching machine, comprising;
positioning a first propelling wheel and a second propelling wheel on a frame wherein the first propelling wheel and the second propelling wheel are opposed with respect to each other; adjusting the speed and position of the first and second propelling wheels to impart a desired level and direction of spin to the oblong shaped ball passing between the first and second propelling wheels; selectably locking said first propelling wheel along a first arc at a desired position; selectably locking said second propelling wheel along a second arc at a desired position; spinning the first propelling wheel powered by a first motor; spinning the second propelling wheel powered by a second motor; selecting a ball cradle to present the oblong shaped ball between the first propelling wheel and the second propelling wheel wherein the ball cradle has a ball positioning component engaging the oblong shaped ball in at least one seam at or near an end of the oblong shaped ball; and sliding the ball cradle along an element affixed to the frame wherein the element comprises an elongated member with a first end where the oblong shaped ball is placed on the cradle and a second end that is positioned such that when the cradle slides towards the second end, the oblong shaped ball is presented between the first and second propelling wheels to be pitched, wherein the ball cradle comprises: a base slidably mounted to an element of the ball pitching machine such that the ball cradle slides along the element to present the oblong shaped ball for pitching; an elongated body mounted on the base, comprising: a front portion with a front gap formed between two front extending members on either side of the front portion, each front extending member including a front member edge; and a rear portion with a rear gap formed between two rear extending members on either side of the rear portion, each rear extending member comprising: an end portion that extends above a height of the front extending members; and a rear member edge that extends above a height of a side edge of the body and above a height of the front member edge; and wherein the ball cradle accommodates the oblong shaped ball in at least two positions for pitching including: a first position in which the oblong shaped ball is situated lengthwise in the ball cradle with a first end of the oblong shaped ball positioned in the rear gap; and a second position in which the oblong shaped ball is situated lengthwise in the ball cradle with a first end of the ball positioned within a space formed by the rear extending members.