| 主权项 |
1. A ball launcher comprising:
a base defining a transverse axis, a fore-aft axis, and a central vertical axis, wherein the transverse axis and the fore-aft axis form an X-Y plane substantially parallel to a supporting surface; a thrower arm having a first end and a second end, the first end defining a ball cradle; an arm holder disposed on the base and pivotally supporting the second end of the thrower arm about a first axis of rotation substantially parallel to the transverse axis, the thrower arm spring biased about the first axis of rotation between a ball receiving or releasing position and an engaged position; a rotating shaft defining a second axis of rotation and having a front end and a back end, the second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the fore-aft axis; a ball loader coupled to the front end of the rotating shaft for common rotation about the second axis of rotation, the ball loader defining a ball receptacle sized and shaped to receive and releasably support a ball; and a loader arm releasably connected to the rotating shaft for common rotation about the second axis of rotation when the rotating shaft rotates, the loader arm defining a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation of the rotating shaft and having a length extending away from the rotating shaft; wherein the rotating shaft, the ball loader and the loader arm are arranged so that as the rotating shaft rotates about the second axis of rotation:
the ball loader rotates in unison about the second axis of rotation to release a received ball from the ball receptacle into the ball cradle while the thrower arm is in the ball receiving position; andthe loader arm rotates in unison about the second axis of rotation to engage and move the thrower arm from the ball receiving position to the engaged position when the loader arm contacts a contact surface associated with the thrower arm. |
