Sport Projectile Return Device

Abstract

A sports training device to practice shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting a sports projectile such as a baseball, golf ball or ice hockey puck; comprising of a tether attached to the projectile, and an electromechanical drive mechanism to act on the tether to return the projectile. In the case of baseball hitting practice, a batter would hit a ball attached to the tether; the ball would travel the length of the tether. The other end of the tether would be secured to the device body. The batter would activate the device to return the ball. The drive mechanism consists of a drive roller attached to a motor, and an idler roller attached to a lever. After the tether is let out the user depresses the lever, pinching the tether between the rollers and activating the motor simultaneously, thus hauling the tether. The tether coils upon itself when it returns.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a return device for sport projectile objects such as balls and pucks used in games and athletic sports. Such a device has particular application to practice for sports where repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting is desirable in order for a player to develop a consistent, controlled and accurate athletic movement.[0002]The present invention provides a means for the sport projectile to be returned to the user for repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting enabling the user to practice the appropriate movement.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Baseball practice has consisted of using a batting tee where a baseball is placed on a pole and a batter strikes the ball with a baseball bat. The baseball would typically either be hit into a field, net, backstop or fence. The disadvantage of hitting into a field is the retrieval of the ball; into a net is in the setup and requirements of a net and r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]This device contains a sports projectile connected to a tether and a means to haul the tether back to the user. The tethered projectile prevents the projectile from damaging property, and eliminates the need for a net setup. The returning of the projectile to the user via hauling the tether eliminates the need to retrieve the projectile.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage of hitting into a field is the retrieval of the ball; into a net is in the setup and requirements of a net and retrieval of the ball; into a backstop or fence is the damage inflected on the backstop or fence by the ball and retrieval of the ball.

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