TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates an improved cricket ball throwing device or assembly. More particularly, the improved cricket bail throwing device and assembly is expected to be used a training aid for achieving throwdowns during cricket training to substantially achieve the same effect as a bowler using a normal bowling action.

BACKGROUND

[002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

[003] There are several ways of practicing batting in cricket. The most common ways of practicing batting includes getting actual bowlers to bowl at batsman in cricket net. The use of bowling machines is also well known and involves propelling a ball for the full distance of the cricket pitch (or wicket crease) at whatever speed is required by setting the bowling parameters for operating the machine. Such machines are however expensive and cumbersome to install. Another popular way of practicing batting is for a colleague or friend to stand closer to the batsman and use a ball throwing aid such as the ball throwing aid described in UK Patent Application GB2475396. Such ball throwing aids have grown in popularity and are regularly used by many international cricketers for practicing batting. However, one of the limitations associated with such throwing aids relates to adjustability and variety to the speed and trajectory of the ball being thrown by using the known ball throwers. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved ball thrower that at least addresses the shortcomings of known ball throwing aids.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[004] In an aspect, the invention provides a cricket ball thrower assembly comprising: a shaft extending between a proximal and a distal end; a handle adapted to be held by a user, the handle comprising: a hollow internal volume adapted for telescopically receiving the proximal end of the shaft thereby allowing an effective length of the shaft to be adjusted during use; and a locking arrangement to lock the shaft relative to the handle and prevent telescopic movement of the shaft within the internal volume of the handle; a ball holder attached to the distal end of the shaft, the ball holder being adapted to receive and releasably grip a cricket ball.

[005] In an embodiment, the handle comprises a proximal hand receiving portion with the hollow internal volume being provided in a coupling portion of the handle.

[006] In an embodiment, the hand receiving portion is weighted and comprises a weight and mass that is greater than the coupling portion of the handle.

[007] In an embodiment, the ball holder comprises a scoop portion with finger portions extending from the scoop portion to wrap around the cricket ball and hold the cricket ball loosely and allow the cricket ball to be released when inertia of the cricket ball becomes sufficiently high as the user holding the handle swings the thrower with the ball being initially held loosely in the ball holder.

[008] .

In an embodiment, the finger portions are dimensioned to apply a greater gripping force on a ball positioned in the scoop portion relative to a gripping force applied by internal surfaces of the scoop portion to allow the finger portions to guide direction of flight of the ball during release of the ball.

In an embodiment, the finger portions comprises at least a first pair of finger portions along an in-use top portion of the scoop, the first pair of fingers being separated by a convergent V-shaped opening extending inwardly wherein the first pair of fingers is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

In an embodiment, the cricket ball thrower further comprises a pair of opposed finger portions, each of said opposed finger portions being located at a respective lateral side of the scoop portion, the said pair of opposed finger portions extending across the longitudinal axis for providing additional guidance to the flight of the ball. In an embodiment, each of the opposed finger portions is located at an equal separation relative to the convergent V-shaped opening between the first pair of finger portions.

[009] In an embodiment, the distal end of the shaft comprises a ring-shaped connector adapted to connect to a ring-shaped receiver of the ball holder.

[0010] In an embodiment, the ring-shaped connector has a diameter that is greater than a width of a distal end of the shaft and wherein preferably the diameter is two times the width of the shaft.

[0011] In an embodiment, the ring-shaped connector comprises ring-shaped channels on opposed faces of the connector with profiled portions defining the ring-shaped channel on each face wherein each channel is adapted to engage engagement portions of the ring-shaped receiver.

[0012] In an embodiment, the ring-shaped connector comprises a radially central hollow bore extending through the ring-shaped connector.

[0013] In an embodiment, the ring shaped connector is movably disposed relative to the ring-shaped receiver when engagement portions of the ring-shaped receiver are received into the ring-shaped channels to allow variation of the angular orientation of the ball holder relative to the distal end of the shaft.

[0014] In an embodiment, the ring-shaped receiver is adapted to rotate relative to the ring-shaped connector thereby allowing variation of the angular orientation of the ball holder relative to the distal end of the shaft.

[0015] In an embodiment, the ring shaped receiver comprises two spaced part circular ring members adapted to receive and engage the connector therebetween.

[0016] In an embodiment, inner walls of the spaced apart circular ring members define a circular channel to receive and retain the profiled portions of the channels on the faces of the ring-shaped connector and allow relative rotation between the ring-shaped connector and the ring-shaped receiver.

[0017] In an embodiment, the cricket ball thrower assembly further comprises an orientation locking mechanism to prevent relative movement between the ring-shaped connector and the ring-shaped receiver thereby locking the orientation of the ball holder relative to the distal end of the shaft.

[0018] In an embodiment, the orientation locking mechanism comprises a spring loaded locking pin configured to be simultaneously positioned in one of a first plurality of openings arranged radially on the connector and one of a second plurality of openings arranged radially on the receiver.

[0019] In an embodiment, diameter of the ring-shaped connector is equal to or greater than width of the distal end of the shaft.

[0020] In an embodiment, outer walls of the ring-shaped connector and/or ring-shaped receiver further comprises indicia to indicate one or more in-use orientations of the ball holder.

[0021] In an embodiment, the shaft comprises a central portion flanked by profiled strengthening portions extending along the lateral sides of the shaft between the two ends of the shaft.

[0022] In an embodiment, the shaft comprises a plurality of locking apertures adapted to receive a locking member positioned on the handle to prevent telescopic movement of the shaft and fix the effective length of the shaft during use.

[0023] In an embodiment, in an in-use configuration, the shaft and the handle together comprises a non-linear or arcuate cross-section.

[0024] In an embodiment, the shaft comprises a single integrally formed body extending between the two ends. [0025] In an embodiment, the locking arrangement allows the telescopic shaft to be locked to the handle at a plurality of locking locations provided along the length of the shaft to allow an effective length of the shaft to be adjusted.

[0026] In an embodiment, a surface of the shaft is provided with indicia to indicate an expected throwing speed associated with each of the locking locations when a locking location is used for fixing the effective shaft length using the locking arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1A is a left-hand side view of a ball throwing assembly 100 in accordance with an embodiment.

Figure 1 B is a rear view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 1C is a frontal view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 1 D is a right-hand side view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 2 is a detailed rear view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the shaft 120 shown in telescopic arrangement with the handle 110.

Figure 4 is a detailed frontal view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 5 is a detailed right hand side view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 6 is a detailed left hand side view of the ball throwing assembly 100.

Figure 7 is an enlarged rear view of the ball holder 150 (shown in attachment with the distal end of the shaft 120).

Figure 8 is an enlarged frontal view of the ball holder 150 (shown in attachment with the distal end of the shaft 120). Figure 9 is an enlarged right hand side view of the ball holder 150 (shown in attachment with the distal end of the shaft 120).

Figure 10 is an enlarged left hand side view of the ball holder 150 (shown in attachment with the distal end of the shaft 120).

Figure 11 is an isolated view of the shaft 120 which forms part of the ball thrower assembly 100.

Figure 12 is an isolated top rear perspective view of the ball holder 150 which forms part of the ball thrower assembly 100.

Figure 13 is a rear view of the ball holder 150 which forms part of the ball thrower assembly 100.

Figure 14 is a top frontal perspective view of the ball holder 150 which forms part of the ball thrower assembly 100.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Figures 1 to 14 illustrate an embodiment of an improved cricket ball thrower assembly 100. The ball thrower assembly 100 comprises an ergonomic handle 110 that is shaped to be comfortably held by a user of the ball thrower assembly 100. The handle 110 at an in use upper coupling portion 112 comprises a hollow internal cavity for telescopically receiving a proximal end of a shaft 120. The handle 110 comprises an integrally formed body with unitary construction. The cavity of the coupling portion 112 of the handle 110 is sufficiently structured to allow axial movement of the shaft 120 within the cavity for allowing the effective length of the shaft 120 to be varied during use. The handle 110 comprises a proximal hand receiving portion 114 that is slightly enlarged with an ergonomic shape. The hand receiving portion 114 is weighted and comprises a weight and mass that is greater than the weight of the coupling portion of the handle 112. It is important to note that a locking arrangement 130 is provided to lock the position of the telescopic shaft 120 and prevent axial movement of the telescopic shaft 120 within the internal volume of the coupling portion 112 of the ergonomic handle 110 during use. The shaft 120 is provided with a plurality of locking apertures at a plurality of locations along its length to engage a locking member provided on the handle 110 to fix the effective length of the shaft 120 during use. It is also important to note that in the preferred embodiment, the shaft 120 comprises a central portion flanked by profiled strengthening portions extending along the length of the lateral sides of the shaft 120 between the two ends of the shaft 120 which provides added rigidity to the shaft 120 during use and reduces the possibility of mechanical failure of the shaft 120.

[0029] Importantly, the distal end of the shaft 120 is attached to a ball holder 150. Figures 12 to 14 illustrate detailed views of the ball holder 150. In the presently disclosed embodiment, the ball holder 150 is specifically adapted for receiving and releasably gripping a cricket ball. The ball holder 150 comprises a scoop shaped structure 151 with finger portions 152 and 154 (that will be explained in further detail) extending to wrap around the cricket ball and hold the cricket ball loosely. The finger portions 152 and 154 are configured to allow the cricket ball to be released when inertia of the cricket ball becomes sufficiently high as the user holding the handle 110 swings the thrower 100 with the ball being initially held loosely in the ball holder 150. The ball holder 150 has an opening to allow a cricket ball to be received within and released from the ball holder 150. Therefore, the opening of the ball holder 150 is structured to allow the cricket ball to be received substantially within the cup, but it is not too wide to allow the cricket ball to fall out of the ball holder 150. The finger portions 152 and 154 are dimensioned to apply a greater gripping force on a ball positioned in the scoop portion 151 relative to a gripping force applied by internal surfaces of the scoop portion 151 to allow the finger portions 152 and 154 to guide direction of flight of the ball during release of the ball and mimic a bowler’s bowling grip.

[0030] Finger portions 152 form a first pair of fingers that are located along in-use top portion of the scoop structure 151 and aligned along a longitudinal axis of the shaft 120 during use. The finger portions 152 are separated by a V-shaped convergent opening best shown in Figures 12 and 14. The second pair of finger portions 154 are opposed to each other and located at respective in-use lateral sides of the scoop structure 151 so that the second pair of finger portions 154 extend across a longitudinal axis of the shaft 120. Each of the opposed finger portions 154 is located at an equal separation relative to the convergent V-shaped opening between the first pair of finger portions 152.

[0031] The ball holder 150 preferably has internal dimensions that are particularly suitable for receiving and releasably gripping a cricket ball. Portions of the wall defining the volume of the ball holder 150 for receiving the ball extend beyond the mid-point of the spherical volume defined by the ball holder 150 to conveniently provide a means of retaining the ball within the ball holder 150. The ball holder may also include a gripping arrangement provided by a channel or groove to accommodate a segment of the seam of a cricket ball. In this way, the ball is held in a predetermined orientation so that the user can know the approximate alignment of the ball's seam, in use. The channel or groove may have a long axis substantially parallel to (i.e. in alignment with) the long axis of the shaft (and handle means) so that the seam of the ball can be held in substantially parallel alignment with the shaft. By aligning the seam along the axis of the shaft, the seam of the ball can be approximately perpendicular to the ground when the ball is released from the device, which provides the possibility of swinging' or seaming' the ball, in use. The V-shaped notch formed between the first pair of finger portions 152 helps a bowler orient the seam of a cricket ball while placing the ball within the ball holder 150.

[0032] It is also important to note that the gripping force exerted on the ball by the bail holder is sufficiently weak so that that the ball holder ^' s grip on the ball can be overcome (or broken) in normal use (e.g. by the inertia of the cricket ball when thrown using the device) it may also be understood that it is not necessary to provide any additional external force or intervention in order to release the cricket bail from the gripping means. Thus, the bail is reieasabiy gripped during normal use of the device. The approximate magnitude of the gripping force will be apparent to the person of skill in the art having regard to the description of the device herein.

[0033] The distal end of the shaft 120 comprises a ring-shaped connector 125 that is suitably shaped for being received into a ring-shaped receiver 155 via an attachment arrangement 140. The ring-shaped receiver 155 comprises two spaced apart circular ring members 157A and 157B that are adapted to receive the ring-shaped connector 125 therebetween. The inner walls of the spaced apart circular ring members 157A and 157B each define a circular channel to receive and retain the ring-shaped connector 125 and allow relative rotation between the ring-shaped connector 125 and the ring-shaped receiver 155. The ring-shaped connector 125 (isolated views shown in Figures 3 and 11) also comprises ring-shaped channels 127 on opposed faces of the connector 125 with profiled portions defining the ring-shaped channels on each face. Each ring-shaped channel 127 is therefore adapted to movably engage the spaced apart ring members 157A and 157B. As a result, the ring-shaped receiver 125 can rotate relative to the ring- shaped connector 155 to allow variation of the angular orientation of the ball holder 150 relative to the distal end of the shaft 120. Advantageously, an orientation locking mechanism 160 is provided to prevent relative rotation between the ring-shaped connector 125 and the ring-shaped receiver 155. In the preferred embodiment, the orientation locking mechanism 160 comprises a spring-loaded locking pin 162 that is configured to be simultaneously positioned in one of a first plurality of openings arranged radially on the connector 125 and one of a second plurality of openings arranged radially on the receiver 155. Visible indication or markings may also be provided adjacent the openings to provide an indication of the selected orientation at which the orientation has been locked.

[0034] A thorough hole 129 extends through the ring-shaped connector 125 and is positioned radially centrally relative to the ring-shaped channels 127. The overall diameter of the ring-shaped connector 125 is greater than the width of the elongate shaft portion 122 that is received into the coupling portion 112 of the handle 110.

[0035] It is important to note that the ring-shaped configuration of the connector 125 and the receiver 155 coupled with the rotating arrangement 140 provides several advantages. First, providing the ring-shaped connector 125 that is wider than the shaft 120 makes the attachment mechanism 140 stronger. The aforementioned configuration of the ball thrower assembly 100 improves the mechanical strength characteristics and prevents mechanical failure at the point of attachment of the ball holder 150 and the shaft 120. The ring-shaped attachment arrangement 140 also provides a greater selection of orientations that can be easily chosen by relative rotation between the ring- shaped receiver 155 and the ring-shaped connector 125. The provision of a telescopically adjustable shaft 120 further provides additional variation for throwdowns. A greater effective length of the shaft 120 increases momentum and speed of the ball being thrown and the shorter effective length of the shaft 120 reduces the speed of the ball. A combination of variation in the angular orientation of the ball holder 150 and the effective length of the shaft 120 provides a large variety of throwdowns and thereby presents an improvement over prior art throwing devices.

[0036] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of’ is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. [0037] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[0038] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.