US1777976A - Ball-throwing device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1930. J. R. LACO ST E I BALL THROWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 1 O'ct- 9 J. R. LACOST'E 1,777,976

BALL THROWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1927 s Sheets-Shet 2 O ct. 7, 1930. Q J. R. LACOSTE 1,777,976

BALL THROWING DEVICE Filed Nov". 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 7, 1930 v PATENT OFFICE JEAN LACOS'IE, OF COURBEVOIE, FRANCE BALL-'rnnowme DEVICE Application filed November 8, 1927, Serial No. 231,919, and in France Kay 25, 1927.

sends the balls to the player by throwing them at the proper place. The new apparatus allows ofdispensing with a professor or an expert player; it can be actuated by a child; if need be, it can be mechanically driven so as to be absolutely automatic.

The apparatus forming the subject-matter of the invention is essentially character ized by a spring device which is bent and which, when it is released strikes the ball in the same way as a blow froma racket, then projects it according to the desired trajectory and in the required direction.

It is moreover characterized by the combination with the above-mentioned device of aefeeding system which constantly presents a ball to the action of the spring, in such a manner that the apparatus can rapidly send a great number of balls and that the interval of time between the throw of two ballscan be re ulated at will.

' his feedin device can be set in such a way that the hall struck by the spring can occupy a diiferent position in the path of this spring, thus modifying at will the trajectory.

In the form of construction preferably adopted, a crank actuates a leaf spring or springs the free end of which encounters an adjustable abutment which stops the s ring until the latter, having been sufliciently ent, frees itself from the abutment, suddenly relaxes and strikes the ball.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, a form of construction of the new ball-throwing apparatus, is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the a paratus.

Fig. 2 is a section made accor ing to line .AA of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial front view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view'of a slightly modified form of the invention.

As illustrated in the drawing, the new apparatus comprises a frame a, of suitable shape, carrying a socket b in which can freely rotate a shaft 0 on which is rigidly secured a crank d.

On this shaft is also rigidly secured a drum e on which is attached the end of a leaf spring f, for instance by means of a bolt 7. The spring winds on a portion of the periphery of the drum and extends in an arm g, the end of which is slightly curved.

This end 9 comes opposite an abutment k which can be provided with a. roller for diminishing the friction. This, abutment is carried by a plate 6 provided with a series of holes 72 this permittin to insert the abutment in one of these ho es, to immobilize it therein by a wing nut h and to adjust the distance between the said abutment and the ball j to be thrown.

Another abutment la is adapted to limit the relaxation of the spring.

The ball j is the first one of a column of balls filling a feeding conduit Z. The lower end of the latter has an aperture or recess m (Fig. 3) permitting the passage of the spring. Moreover, an aperture on the front side allows the issue of the projected ball.

The conduit Zis carried by the plate 2'. The latter is so mounted that it can rotate concentrically with the axis 0 and it can be locked in the required position by means of clamping screws 0 inserted in circular openings n in the said plate.

The operation is as follows:

The feeding conduit Z is filled with balls. Forthrowing the balls, it suifices to turn the crank d. \Vhen the spring 9 encounters the abutment h, it is stopped. It is then bent until it frees itself from the abutment h. At

this moment, it relaxes and violently strikes the ball 7' which is thus projected forwardly. This ball is immediately replaced by the next one which is thrown in the same way upon the following revolution of the crank. Byadjust'ing the inclination of the plate a by means of the bolt 0, the initial direction of the ball is modified and, consequently its trajectory is altered.

By varying the position of the abutment h on the plate 1', the distance between this abutment and the ball and, consequently the free relaxation stroke of the spring are modified before the latter comes in engagement with the ball, this modifying the speed of the ball on its trajectory.

In order that, after the projection of a ball outside the basev of the feeding conduit, the next ball may take the place of the preceding one and may not escape, the base of this com duit is provided with a slightly projecting nose 9. For facilitating the issue of the ball,

this nose might be pivoted and provided with duced. With a speed reducing device this result cannot occur and the speed with which the crank is turned is sulficiently uniform for paulsing the balls to be .thrown more reguar y.

On the other hand, instead of a single spring g, two springs g and y can be provided (Fig. 4).

Each of these springs is successively bent against the abutment IL, is released and projects the ball. The number of balls thus thrown can be doubled. This arrangement prevents the apparatus from running'light durin an appreciable portion of the revolution, this is so much the more important with a speed reducing device that it is necessary to cause the crank to turn throu h several revolutions so that the drum of t e springs accomplishes one revolution. I

Instead of two springs, three or more springs might also be provided.

e above arrangements are given by way of example only; the forms, materials, di-

mensions and all detail arrangements can be.

varied without departing thereby from the principle of the invention.

Claims for feeding the balls, an elastic system comprising a plate spring and a. rotary shaft carrying the plate spring, an abutment. for arresting this plate spring placed at a certain distance from the ball to be thrown, a support for the feeding system and the abutment, the said support adapted to move concentrically with respect to the shaft.

The foregoing specification of my ballthrowing device signed by me this 26th day of October, 1927. i

- JEAN RENE LACOSTE.

1. In a ball-throwing apparatus, a system I for feedin the balls, an elastic system comprising a late spring and a rotary shaft carrying the plate sprin an abutment for arresting this plate spring 'placed at a certain distance from the ball to' be thrown, a support carrying the abutment and means for regulating the position of this suport concentrically with respect to the sha 2. In a balbthrowing apparatus, a system

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