BALL TOSS MACHINE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a system and method that employs a ball toss device featuring a ball feeding mechanism.

BACKGROUND

Tennis players often use ball machines to practice different strokes, such as forehands, backhands, volleys, and overheads. These machines are typically placed on the opposite side of the court, simulating the experience of hitting against an opponent. However, this method has its limitations when it comes to technique refinement. The rapid and continuous delivery of balls at full speed can cause players to revert to their habitual swings, reinforcing any existing flaws rather than allowing them to focus on and implement new technical adjustments.

To facilitate the learning and improvement of specific techniques, coaches frequently employ a method known as hand-feeding. This technique involves the coach personally delivering balls to the student in a controlled and deliberate manner. Hand-feeding can range from tossing balls from a short distance of about ten feet to dropping them directly in front of the student. This approach allows the student to concentrate on making the necessary technical adjustments without the pressure of reacting to fast-paced shots.

Despite the benefits of hand-feeding, there is currently no tennis ball machine available in the art that can replicate this method, particularly for practicing serve tosses and close-range feed tosses. The development of such a machine would represent a significant advancement in training technology, providing players with a tool to practice and perfect their serves and other strokes in a controlled environment, without the constant presence of a coach. This would not only enhance the efficiency of practice sessions but also potentially revolutionize the way players train and develop their skills.

Secondly, existing ball pitching devices typically include two main sections: the feeding section and the pitching section, with the feeding section positioned above the pitching section. In this configuration, gravity plays a crucial role in transporting the ball from the feeding section to the spinning wheels that launch it. Gravity effectively delivers balls to the wheels at pitch angles between zero and 60°. However, when the pitch angle exceeds 60°, gravity alone is insufficient to guide the ball into the spinning wheels. At these steeper angles, the wheels are positioned above the ball, making it difficult for gravity to ensure proper engagement. Therefore, there is a significant need in the art for a novel feeding mechanism to overcome this limitation and ensure reliable ball delivery at angles beyond 60°.

SUMMARY

While this disclosure focuses on tennis balls, the device and feed mechanism could be used for any type of ball, including, in particular, pickle balls, a game that involves a high-angle (but low-height) dink shot that would likely not be possible with common ball feed machines.

A ball tossing/pitching device capable of pitching curated ball pitches to a player to improve their serve and technique. The pitching device comprises mutually abutting feeding and pitching sections. The feeding section includes an integral hopper subsection disposed atop thereof for receiving multiple balls therewithin. The feeding section further includes a circular ball inlet disposed atop thereof. In other words, the inlet is correspondingly disposed at the bottom of the hopper subsection.

The feeding section further comprises a horizontal feed chute disposed right below the inlet, whereby the balls drop into the feed chute from the inlet. At a distal end of the feed chute is disposed a motor-driven pusher assembly, while the other proximal end of the feed chute terminates in a common hole, which interfaces with the pitching section.

The pusher assembly comprises a pusher for pushing the balls within the feed chute towards the proximal end thereof. The surface of the pusher, which meets the balls, is of conical shape with a substantially rounded tip. The pusher is linearly movable between retracted and extended positions within the feed chute. In the retracted position, the pusher is positioned as close as possible to the distal end of the feed chute. In the extended position, on the other hand, the pusher extends beyond the length of the feed chute and into the common hole.

The pitching section comprises a wheel assembly that is responsible for ejecting balls out of the pitching device, resulting in a pitch. The wheel assembly includes a pair of planar, vertically-oriented, parallel, spaced-apart, interconnected, substantially triangular-shaped support frames. The wheel assembly further comprises a pair of top and bottom, vertically and coplanarly-stacked, opposingly-spinning, shooting wheels. Individual motors power the top and bottom wheels.

The top and bottom wheels are rotatably secured between the pair of support frames. The pitching section further comprises an elbow tube that extends from the common hole. The elbow tube comprises mutually perpendicular first and last sections, wherein the first section extends from the common hole. Further, the first section is rotatably coupled to the common hole. The free end of the last section terminates positionally between and behind the wheels. The pitching section is configured such that the wheel assembly and the elbow tube are rotatable about the common hole. When a ball is dropped into the feed chute, the pusher proceeds to push the ball into the elbow tube. Once the ball reaches the extremity of the first section, the oblique surface of the pusher causes the ball to deflect into the last section, whereafter, the ball proceeds to move towards the free end thereof. Owing to the thrusting force of the pusher, the ball at the free end of the last section lodges itself right between the shooting wheels, resulting in a pitch.

The wheel assembly, along with the elbow tube, is adapted to be angularly movable between top and bottom angular positions as enabled by a motor. A motor powers the angular movement of the wheel assembly. The top angular position ranges between 82° and 85°. A higher-speed pitch at the top angular position mimics a serve toss, whereas a lower-speed pitch thereat mimics a feed toss or the aforementioned dink shot. Notably, at the top angular position, although the last section is almost vertical, the thrusting force of the pusher ensures that the ball travels with enough speed to wedge itself between the shooting wheels.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a pitch device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of the pitch device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the singulator.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of the feed chute with the pusher therein in retracted and extended positions.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, perspective views of the feed chute with the pusher therein in retracted and extended positions.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are side views of the pitching device depicting the wheel assembly.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the wheel assembly.

FIG. 12 is a view of the wheels.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly at the top and bottom angular positions.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the wheel assembly at the top and bottom angular positions.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are views of the detachable hopper with the bottom member in closed and open positions, respectively.

FIG. 17 is a view of the detachable hopper attached to a pitching device.

FIG. 18 is a view of the detachable hopper being attached to a pitching device.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the coaching system

FIG. 20 is a UI depicting the launch settings of the pitching device.

FIG. 21 is a UI depicting various drills with the provision to transmit the drills to the pitching device.

FIG. 22 is a picture of a dynamic reference stick figure superimposed over a player practicing with the pitching device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of the embodiments and examples. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize several equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description. Furthermore, the embodiments and examples may be used together in various combinations.

The pitching device is designed to deliver customized ball pitches, tailored to enhance a player's serve, volleys, and overall technique.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the pitching device 10 is a compact, substantially rectangular unit comprising a feeding section 12 and a pitching section 14 wherein both sections abut one another. The feeding section 12 includes an integral, rectangular hopper subsection 16 for receiving multiple balls therewithin. The hopper subsection 16 comprises four peripheral walls extending upwardly from the top of the feeding section 12. The peripheral walls may be outwardly slanted. The peripheral walls and the top surface of the feeding section 12 serve as a receptacle for the balls to be received therewithin. Alternatively, the hopper subsection 16 can be of any suitable shape that can hold multiple balls.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the feeding section 12 further comprises a circular inlet disposed atop thereof. In other words, the inlet is disposed at the bottom of the hopper subsection 16. The inlet is adapted to freely receive balls therethrough as the balls are dumped into the hopper subsection 16. The feeding section 12 further comprises a motor-powered, rotating, singulator 22 for allowing the balls to enter the inlet one at a time. The singulator 22 includes a circular panel with three ball holes 18 cut thereinto, wherein each ball hole 18 is sized to match the inlet. The ball holes 18 are arranged in a triangular arrangement. The singulator 22 further comprises a central hub 24 and three curved paddles 26 extending radially from the central hub 24. More particularly, each paddle 26 is disposed centrally between two ball holes 18. The singulator 22 is disposed over the inlet such that, as the singulator 22 rotates, the ball holes 18 align with the inlet sequentially. When a ball hole 18 aligns with the inlet, a ball sitting within the ball hole 18 drops through the inlet. This mechanism ensures that the balls are fed into the feeding section 12 one at a time.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 6A, and 6B, the feeding section 12 further comprises a horizontal feed chute 30 disposed right below the inlet, whereby the balls 20 drop into the feed chute 30 from the inlet. Notably, the feed chute 30 is of a substantially semicylindrical cross-sectional shape (with an open top), which causes the balls to be directly dropped thereinto. A pair of opposingly-disposed guard walls 32 extend upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the feed chute 30. The guard walls 32 prevent the balls from landing outside of the feed chute 30 as they are dropped from the inlet. At a distal end of the feed chute 30 is disposed a motor-driven pusher assembly, while the other proximal end of the feed chute 30 terminates in a common hole 33, which interfaces with the pitching section 14. Notably, the feed chute 30 is perpendicular to the pitching section 14.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pusher assembly comprises a pusher 34 for pushing the balls within the feed chute 30 towards the proximal end thereof. Notably, the pusher 34 springs into action upon the detection of the ball within the feed chute 30, wherein a sensor may perform the detection. The surface of the pusher 34, which comes into contact with the balls, is of conical shape with a substantially rounded tip. More particularly, it is the rounded tip that engages with the balls. The pusher 34 is linearly movable between retracted (ref. FIG. 6A) and extended positions (ref. FIG. 6B) within the feed chute 30. In the retracted position, the pusher 34 is disposed as close as possible to the distal end of the feed chute 30. In the extended position, on the other hand, the pusher 34 extends beyond the length of the feed chute 30 and extends well into the common hole 33. A pair of guides extends from the sides of the pusher 34, wherein each guide is slidably received within an elongated track 38 that integrally extends along the length of the feed chute 30. Notably, the guides jut out of the respective tracks 38.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pusher assembly further comprises a top rod 40 laterally and snugly inserted into the feed chute 30 at the distal end thereof through a pair of opposingly-disposed rod holes. Notably, the top rod 40 is perpendicular to the feed chute 30. Notably, the top rod 40 is of circular cross-section. Upon insertion, the extremities of the top rod 40 jut out of the feed chute 30 from either side thereof. Notably, the top rod 40 is secured in place using fasteners such as bolts, and/or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pusher assembly further comprises a pair of flat, first connecting rods 42, wherein each first connecting rod 42 includes a pair of proximal and distal holes. Each hole is located at an extremity of the first connecting rod 42. Each first connecting rod 42 is rotatably coupled to an extremity of the top rod 40 as the extremity is received into the proximal hole of the first connecting rod 42. The pusher assembly further comprises a pair of flat, second connecting rods 44, wherein each second connecting rod 44 includes a pair of proximal and distal holes. Each hole is located at an extremity of the second connecting rod 44. Each second connecting rod 44 is rotatably coupled to an extremity of the guide as the extremity is received into the proximal hole of the second connecting rod 44.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pusher assembly further comprises a bottom rod 46, where the extremities of the bottom rod 46 are rotatably coupled to the first and second connecting rods 42 and 44. More particularly, each extremity of the bottom rod 46 is rotatably received through the distal holes of the first and second connecting rods 42 and 44, as the distal holes overlap one another. Notably, the arrangement between bottom rod 46 and first and second connecting rods 42 and 44 is secured using fasteners such as bolts, and/or the like. The pusher assembly is powered by a motor, thereby enabling pusher 34 to linearly move between the retracted and extended positions.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B are exemplary embodiments of the pusher assembly. The pusher assembly comprises the pusher 34, controlled through a feed carriage 35 that moves along linear bearings 37 (the bearing 37 is housed within the carriage assembly, which is more visible in FIG. 7B) and is powered by a stepper motor 39 via a drive belt 41. The pusher assembly is used to deploy and retract the pusher 34. The pusher assembly includes a combination of mechanical motion elements, namely pulley 43, drive belt 41, bearing steel rod 45, and linear bearings 37. The actuation is powered by the stepper motor 39, which is a type of motor known for its precision and capability for incremental motion.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the stepper motor 39 is located at the rear-left corner of the pusher assembly. The stepper motor 39 is the driving force behind the movement of the pusher 34. The stepper motor 39 allows the pusher assembly to move in precise steps for accurate deployment and retraction of the pusher 34. The stepper motor 39 has a shaft that is connected to the pulley 43 and drives the drive belt 41, which in turn moves a feed carriage 35 that is connected to the pusher 34, linearly. In one embodiment, the stepper motor 39 is digitally controlled. The stepper motor 39 may be interfaced with a microcontroller or PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) for precise control over the pusher 34 positioning.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the pulley 43 is responsible for transferring rotational motion from the stepper motor 39 into linear motion. The pulley 43 engages the drive belt 41, which then moves the feed carriage 35 along the length of the pusher assembly. The pulley 43 is made from high-durability materials like aluminum or reinforced plastic and may be toothed to better grip the timing belt and prevent slippage.

The drive belt 41 wraps around the pulley 43 and extends along the length of the pusher assembly. The drive belt 41 may include teeth that mesh with corresponding grooves in the pulley 43 to eliminate slippage. The drive belt 41 translates the rotary motion of the stepper motor 39 into controlled linear motion. The drive belt 41 forms a closed-loop system that wraps around at least two pulleys, one driven (on the stepper motor 39) and one idler (on the idler pulley 47), to maintain tension and alignment.

The feed carriage 35 is the moving platform that is directly actuated by the drive belt 41. As the drive belt 41 moves, it carries the feed carriage 35 along with it. The feed carriage 35 houses or supports the pusher 34 and guides for linear motion. The feed carriage 35 includes fastening points or interfaces with the linear bearing 37, which allow the feed carriage 35 to glide smoothly along the bearing steel rod 45.

The bearing steel rod 45 serves as a guide rail along which the feed carriage 35 slides. The bearing steel rod 45 may be hardened and polished to reduce friction and wear, and is supported at both ends to prevent sagging or misalignment. The bearing steel rod 45 ensures the motion of the feed carriage 35 is linear and supports the load of the feed carriage 35 during movement. Attached to the feed carriage 35, the linear bearing 37 allows the feed carriage 35 to slide along the bearing steel rod 45 with minimal friction. The linear bearing 37 includes ball bearings or other low-friction materials that allow for smooth, guided motion. The linear bearing 37 ensures straight-line travel even under load, preventing wobble or tilt of the feed carriage 35.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the pusher 34 in retracted and extended positions. The pusher 34 in FIG. 7A is in retracted position and is nested within the pusher assembly, indicating a non-active or idle position. In FIG. 7B, the pusher 34 is in extended position, protrudes outward, suggesting an active state where the pusher 34 is performing its intended function. In the retracted position, the pusher 34 is disposed as close as possible to the distal end of the feed chute 30. In the extended position, on the other hand, the pusher 34 extends beyond the length of the feed chute 30 and extends well into the common hole.

The guard walls 32 prevent the balls from landing outside of the feed chute 30 as they are dropped from the inlet. At the distal end of the feed chute 30 is disposed a motor-driven pusher assembly, while the other proximal end of the feed chute 30 terminates in a common hole 33, which interfaces with the pitching section 14. The pair of guides extends from the sides of the pusher 34, wherein each guide is slidably received within an elongated track 38 that integrally extends along the length of the feed chute 30. Notably, the guides jut out of the respective tracks 38. The pair of guides acts as a rigid frame that maintains the alignment of the pusher 34, feed carriage 35, and bearing steel rod 45. Referring to FIG. 7B, the idler pulley 47 is positioned on the far end of the pusher assembly opposite the stepper motor 39. The idler pulley 47 does not provide any drive power but maintains tension and guides the motion of the drive belt 41. In at least one embodiment, the idler pulley 47 is spring-loaded or adjustable to fine-tune belt tension, to ensure consistent operation, and reduce the risk of backlash.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 and 8 through 11, the pitching section 14 comprises a wheel assembly 48 that is directly responsible for ejecting balls 20 (delivered by the feeding section 12) out of the pitching device 10, resulting in a pitch. The wheel assembly 48 comprises a pair of planar, vertically-oriented, parallel, spaced-apart, interconnected, substantially triangular-shaped support frames 50. Alternatively, the support frames 50 can be of any other suitable shape, such as rectangular, circular, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 and 8 through 11, the wheel assembly 48 further comprises a pair of top and bottom, vertically and coplanarly-stacked, opposingly-spinning, shooting wheels 52. More particularly, the top and bottom wheels 52 spin in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively. The top and bottom wheels 52 are powered by individual motors, whereby the top and bottom wheels 52 can be adapted to rotate at different speeds in order to impart spin to the balls 20 as they are pitched. In one embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of each wheel 52 is concave-shaped to grip the ball 20 better. In one embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of each wheel 52 is lined with a grippable surface, such as rubber or the like.

In a wheel pair embodiment, as can be appreciated from FIG. 12, instead of one top and one bottom wheel 52, a pair of spaced-apart top and bottom wheels 52 is employed wherein each pair of top wheels 52 and each pair of bottom wheels 52 is powered by separate motors. With the motor arrangement, the pair of top and bottom wheels 52 can be adapted to spin at different speeds to, again, impart spin to balls 20 as they are pitched. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of each wheel 52 is convex-shaped so that the ball 20 can be firmly gripped between the four wheels 52.

Returning to the earlier two-wheel embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 and 8 through 11, the top and bottom wheels 52 are rotatably secured between the pair of support frames 50. More particularly, as can be appreciated from FIGS. 8 through 10, the wheels 52 are secured closer to the vertices of the substantially triangular-shaped frame 50. The pitching section 14 further comprises an elbow tube 54 that extends from the common hole 33. The elbow tube 54 comprises mutually perpendicular first and last sections wherein the first section coaxially extends from the common hole 33 (ref. FIG. 6A). Notably, the joint between the first and last sections is curved. Further, the first section is rotatably coupled to the common hole 33, thereby allowing the previous section to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the first section. The free end of the last section terminates positionally between and behind the wheels. The pitching section is configured such that the wheel assembly and the elbow tube 54 are rotatable about the common hole 33.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, when a ball 20 is dropped into the feed chute 30, the pusher 34 proceeds to push the ball 20 into the elbow tube 54. Once the ball 20 reaches the extremity of the first section, the curve of the of the elbow tube 54 coupled with the oblique surface (of the conical shape) of the pusher 34, causes the ball 20 to deflect into the last section, whereafter, the ball 20 proceeds to move towards the free end thereof. The momentum of the ball 20, owing to the thrust force of the pusher 34, causes it to be lodged right between the shooting wheels 52, resulting in a pitch.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 6A, 7A, 10, 11, 13, and 14, the wheel assembly 48, along with the elbow tube 54, is adapted to be angularly movable between top 84 and bottom 86 angular positions as enabled by a motor. A motor powers the angular movement of the wheel assembly 48. The top 84 and bottom 86 angular positions may range between 82° and 87° and 3° and 7°, respectively. The top angular position 84 range may be 82° to 84°. The top angular position 84 may be 83°. Notably, at the top angular position 84, a high-speed pitch mimics a serve toss, which enables the player to exclusively focus on improving their serve without worrying about their serve toss, and the lower speed top position may simulate a dink shot.

In one embodiment, the pusher 34 is operatively disposed at the distal end of the feed chute 30 and configured to push the balls positioned within the feed chute 30. The pusher 34 is arranged to engage the balls 20 at the top angular position 84 within a range from 60° to 87° relative to a reference axis, such as the longitudinal axis of the feed chute 30 or a horizontal plane. The angular disposition is selected to facilitate controlled advancement of the balls 20 along the feed chute 30, reducing jamming, misalignment, or inconsistent feed rates. The positioning of the pusher 34 at the top angular position 84 enables efficient force transmission and supports the smooth transfer of the balls 20.

The pusher 34 may be linearly actuated using mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic means. The actuation mechanism is timed or controlled such that the pusher 34 engages the balls 20 as they reach the angular position within the range of 60° to 87°, thereby optimizing the interaction between gravitational forces and mechanical pushing to ensure smooth and efficient movement.

Notably, at the top angular position 84, the top and bottom wheels 52 are almost horizontally aligned. Notably, at the top angular position 84, although the last section is almost vertical, the thrusting force of the pusher 34 ensures that ball 20 travels with sufficient speed/velocity to wedge itself between the wheels 52. On the other hand, at the top angular position 84, a low-speed pitch mimics a hand-feed toss, which enables a player to practice new strokes. Notably, a hand-feed toss is akin to the ball simply dropping in front of the player. Notably, in both the cases of serve toss and hand-feed toss, the pitching device 10 is placed on the same side of the court as the player. In an alternate embodiment, the feeding section 12 is abuttingly disposed behind the pitching section 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, the pitching device 10 may further comprise a control module, which is disposed in operative communication with all the motors. The control module includes controls for enabling a user to regulate a plurality of launch settings. The launch settings include the launch angle of the ball, which ranges between the top and bottom angular positions, the speed of the pitch, the spin on the ball as it's pitched, and the pitch interval. The launch angle is controlled by interfacing with the motor that controls the angular movement of the wheel assembly 48. The launch settings, comprising the speed of the pitch and the spin on the ball, are controlled by interfacing with the motors of the top and bottom wheels 52. Lastly, pitch interval may be controlled by interfacing with the motors that control the rotation of the singulator and the pusher. Notably, the interface is provided by the pitching device 10 itself via a control panel 56. In one embodiment, the interface is provided by a remote input device that is disposed in operative communication with the pitching device 10 over a radio network. The input device may comprise a simple remote controller unit or a smart device (such as a smartphone or the like) with a corresponding pitching device app deployed thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 15 through 17, the feeding section, instead of the integral hopper subsection 16 (ref. FIG. 1), may include a detachable hopper 58. The detachable hopper 58 comprises a rectangular container with an open top for receiving the balls 20 therewithin. Alternatively, the detachable hopper 58 can be any suitable shape. The detachable hopper 58 further comprises a hopper handle 60 extending from the lateral sides thereof. The bottom of the detachable hopper 58 includes a planar, rectangular, bottom member 62 that is slidably movable between open (ref. FIG. 16) and closed (ref. FIG. 15) positions. At the bottom of the longitudinal edges of the detachable hopper 58 (without the bottom member) are located a pair of elongate, opposingly-disposed hopper tracks 63, which are adapted to slidably receive the longitudinal edges of the bottom member 62 such that, as mentioned earlier, the bottom member 62 can be slidably movable between the open (ref. FIG. 16) and closed (ref. FIG. 15) positions. The bottom member 62 comprises bottom rods that are disposed parallel to the longitudinal edges. When the bottom member 62 is in the closed position (ref. FIG. 15), by placing a ball lying on the ground (or floor) between the two bottom rods or between a longitudinal edge and a bottom rod and thrusting the detachable hopper 58 towards the ground causes the ball, due to its elasticity, to squeeze into the detachable hopper 58.

Referring to FIGS. 15 through 18, the top four corners of the feeding section 12 comprise four upright projections 61. The bottom four corners of the detachable hopper 58 comprise four projection holes that correspond to the four projections 61. To assemble the detachable hopper 58 to the feeding section 12, the detachable hopper 58 is simply placed over the feeding section 12 such that the projections 61 are received within the projection holes. Alternatively, the assembly between the detachable hopper and the feeding section can be achieved by other means, including clasps, flexible rubber clamps, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, once assembled, the bottom member 62 is moved to the open position (ref. FIG. 16), where the bottom member 62 is slid out of the tracks 63. At this point, the balls 20 within the detachable hopper 58 enter the inlet one time as disclosed in the earlier body of text. To replenish the detachable hopper 58 with balls 20, the bottom member 62 is moved to the closed position (ref. FIG. 15), where the bottom member 62 is slid back into the tracks 63 until the bottom is closed. Thereafter, the detachable hopper 58 is detached from the feeding section 12. In alternate embodiments, instead of the slidable bottom member 62, the bottom can be a single or double-hinged door (not shown). Additional embodiments of the detachable hopper 58 could be created to fit other existing pitching devices on the market. The attachment method in those cases may involve attaching an adapter to the pitching device and/or the detachable hopper 58 to allow the attachment.

Referring to FIG. 19, the coaching system 11 comprises an input device 64, a camera unit 66, a memory unit 68, and a processor 70 for executing program instructions stored within the memory unit 68. The input device 64 comprises a client computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet PC, wherein the input device 64 is disposed in operative communication with the pitching device 10 over a radio network, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Preferably, the communication between the pitching device 10 and the input device 64 is facilitated via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. Hereinafter, the input device 64 will be referred to as the smartphone 64, whereby the camera unit 66, the memory unit 68, and the processor 70 will be a part thereof. Notably, the pitching device 10 comprises a time module 72 whereby each pitch emanating therefrom is timestamped. The time module 72 may be adapted to be calibrated according to the time transmitted thereto by the tethered smartphone 64.

Referring to FIG. 19, the coaching system 11 also comprises a server device 74, which is disposed in operative communication with the smartphone 64 over a radio network, such as the Internet. The server device 74 comprises a memory unit 68 and a processor 70 for executing program instructions stored within the corresponding memory unit 68. For the coaching system 11 to function as intended, some of the computational processes may have to be carried out locally on the smartphone 64, while the rest may have to be carried out at the server end. In the following body of text, wherever the term “processor” 70 is used, it could be either the processor 70 within the smartphone 64, the processor 70 within the server device 74, or both. Similarly, wherever the term “memory unit” 68 is used, it could be either the one within the smartphone 64, the one within the server device 74, or both.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 19 and 20, the processor 70, via a user interface (UI) 78, is adapted to receive a launch user input for launch controls on a control panel 56 and transmit the launch input (in the form of executable instructions) to the control module 76 to change the ball pitch accordingly. Each launch input may be associated with an exemplary “save” UI button 80. Upon the activation of the save button 80, which the processor 70 receives as a save user input, the processor 70 is adapted to list the corresponding launch settings as a “user pitch preset” within a presets database stored in the memory unit 68. Thus, a player may save several pitches as user presets. For example, a player may save several serve toss launch settings to practice different serve variations such as flat, slice, kick, etc. The stored user presets can later be revisited and deployed via the UI 78.

The processor, via the UI, is adapted to receive user profile information of a player. Exemplary user profile information includes the name, age, gender, height, whether the player is right-handed or left-handed, etc. Upon validation of the user profile information, the processor is adapted to create a player profile based thereon. Notably, when a registered player “saves” a user preset, it is associated with their account. The coaching system is also a networking system, enabling players (i.e., registered players) to network with one another. More particularly, a player may connect with another player as a fellow player, a coach, or as a student. Several players may be grouped as a clinic, camp, etc., wherein the group composition may include multiple students and a few coaches. A social networking aspect of the coaching system 11 may allow players to search for coaches for guidance. A coach may charge the player for his services.

The coaching system may be configured to allow users to share presets created by a player with others via the UI. The coaching system may be configured such that, in the process of sharing a user preset, a player may annex additional instructions or notes thereto, wherein the additional instructions could be in the form of text, audio, or video.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 21, the memory unit 68 further comprises a drill database (not shown) listed with a plurality of drills, each of which comprises an optimal proprietary pitch preset for an established type of stroke. For instance, if a player decides to execute a “forehand spacing” drill, he can, via the UI 78, select the drill and transmit it to the pitching device 10 for pitching by selecting an exemplary “PRACTICE” button 88 associated therewith. A drill may be further improved upon by a player. A drill may include instructions on where to place the pitching device 10, where to stand, and what training aids are required (cones, targets, markers, etc.). A graphic of the court depicting the player and machine positions may be included, as well as any graphics to help the player understand the drill. The coaching system 11 may be configured such that a drill is shareable in the form of a recommendation, or the like. The coaching system 11 may be configured such that, in the process of sharing a drill, a player may annex additional instructions or notes thereto, wherein the additional instructions could be in the form of text, audio, or video.

Multiple related drills may be grouped (which is referred to as a progression) and transmitted to the pitching device. A progression is also shareable with another player. The coaching system may be configured such that, in the process of sharing a progression, a player may annex additional instructions or notes thereto, wherein the additional instructions could be in the form of text, audio, or video. A user preset, a drill, or a progression may be shared individually with a player, shared within a group of players, or shared publicly. Notably, publicly shared drills, progressions, and user presets can be searched by players. The coaching system may be configured such that players can rate a user present, a drill, or a progression.

The pitching device may be designed to adjust the height of serve tosses and close-range tosses based on the player's height. The memory unit contains a database with player identities linked to their respective heights. This height information is used to determine the optimal height (or height range) for serve tosses and close-range tosses, ensuring that taller players have higher tosses compared to shorter players. The pitch height, whether for a serve toss or a close-range toss, is directly influenced by the torque or speed of the shooting wheels. Each player's height entry in the database is associated with two torque (or speed) entries. The first torque entry specifies the torque (or torque range) required for a serve toss, while the second torque entry specifies the torque (or torque range) needed for a close-range toss. The pitching device uses these torque values to adjust the motors of the shooting wheels, delivering the amount of torque needed to achieve the optimal pitch height for each player.

Referring to FIG. 19, the processor 70, upon receiving a video captured by the camera unit 66 of a player practicing with the pitching device 10, is adapted to trim the video by removing video segments therefrom. More particularly, the video segments pertain to video portions between two consecutive strokes executed by the player in the video. Upon receiving a video captured by the camera unit 66 of a player practicing with the pitching device 10, the processor 70 is also configured to integrate pitch labels at specific time points within the video. This allows viewers to easily navigate to portions of the video that are of particular interest. A pitch label is representative of the pitch delivered by the pitching device 10. The integration of the pitch labels is enabled by synchronizing the timestamped pitches from the pitching device 10 into the captured video.

The captured video may be enhanced with graphics to highlight issues associated with the technique. Written and audio notes, tied to specific timestamps in the video, can be recorded by the player or coach. These annotations will appear as marks on the video timeline, enabling reviewers to quickly access key sections of the video where analysis is provided. In one embodiment, the coaching system is configured such that a captured video can be associated with one or more tags for easier searching and filtering. Examples of tags include forehand, backhand, serve, volley, spacing, takeback, follow-through, etc. In one embodiment, the memory unit includes a stroke database that catalogs various standard shots or strokes. Each stroke is linked to an ideal racquet speed range. In this embodiment, in the captured video, the system is configured to identify the type of stroke being performed as well as the player's racquet speed. The player's racquet speed is then compared to the ideal speed range for that particular stroke. If the player's racquet speed falls outside the optimal range, this discrepancy is highlighted in the video.

Referring to FIG. 19, the pitching device 10, in addition to timestamping pitches, may also be configured to associate a player with the pitch. Notably, the associated player is identified by the associated player's smartphone (or input device) 64 from where the user preset, drill, or progression is transmitted thereto. The pitching device 10 may also, upon identifying the player, be configured to associate the number of pitches/shots practiced by the player.

Referring to FIG. 19, the processor 70 is configured to associate notes with a video (of a player practicing with the pitching device 10) captured by the camera unit 66, wherein the notes could be in the form of text, audio, or video. Telemetry data from the pitching device 10 may be collected by the smartphone 64 and sent to the server device 74 for further processing. The telemetry data will be used to tailor the default player experience to drills and content that the player will be interested in. A proprietary algorithm will be implemented to deliver this experience. Players can set performance goals that can be tracked through the smartphone UI 78 in conjunction with the telemetry from the pitching device 10.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 22, upon receiving video footage captured by the camera unit 66 of a player practicing with the pitching device 10, the processor 70 uses advanced computer vision technology, or the like, to track the player's movement and posture. The processor 70 then superimposes a dynamic reference stick FIG. 90 over the player in the video. This stick FIG. 90 represents the ideal posture and movement that the player should strive for while executing the shot. Additionally, the stick figure dynamically tracks and displays various angles involved in the player's motion, offering real-time feedback to help the player improve their technique.

Metadata of the pitches may be used to support gamification. It will also be used to drive communications to the players. For example, if a player has been executing mainly forehand drills, say, over the past two months, the coach could, via the UI, communicate to the player about suggested drills for other strokes to ensure the player is working on his entire game. In one embodiment, AI analysis will assist the coach or player by automatically highlighting the player's skeleton and tracking the path and motion of the racket. The coaching system will suggest technique adjustments and drill recommendations in real-time, providing immediate feedback to enhance training and performance.

The method for coaching a player using a ball pitching device involves several steps, each designed to optimize the training experience through precise control and customization of pitches. Firstly, the method includes regulating the ball launch settings of the pitching device via an input unit. This step allows for detailed adjustments to parameters such as speed, spin, launch angle, and pitch interval, ensuring that the pitches can be tailored to the specific needs of the training session. Secondly, the method involves defining a user pitch preset through the input unit. A user preset is created by combining various user-defined launch settings, which can then be saved and recalled for future use. Once this user preset is communicated to the pitching device, it results in a corresponding unique pitch being delivered. This ensures that the player can practice with consistent and specific pitch types, aiding in the development of targeted skills and techniques.

The systems and methods may be implemented, for example, using a machine-readable medium or article that can store an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations described herein. Such a machine can include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, electronic device, electronic system, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and can be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software. The machine-readable medium or article can include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit; for example, memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk drive, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Re-Writeable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, various types of Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs), a tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions can include any suitable type of code, for example, source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, or the like, and can be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, functional-programming, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language, e.g., C, C++, Java, BASIC, Pascal, Fortran, Cobol, assembly language, machine code, or the like. Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments, can be combined with, or can be used in combination with, one or more other functions, operations, components and/or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, or vice versa.

Embodiments and examples are described above, and those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments and examples without departing from the scope of the embodiments and examples.

Although the processes illustrated and described herein include a series of steps, it will be appreciated that the different embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited by the illustrated ordering of steps. Some steps may occur in different orders, some concurrently with other steps apart from that shown and described herein. In addition, not all illustrated steps may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with the present disclosure. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the processes may be implemented in association with the apparatus and systems illustrated and described herein, as well as in association with other systems not illustrated.