FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a ball ejection machine and more particularly to

a basketball ejection machine designed to automatically shoot balls to a player at

locations on a basketball court in accordance with an instruction set program, thereby increasing the efficiency of a practice session of basketball or possibly other games

where proficiency can be improved by a programmed ball return system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is used to shoot balls to a player at selected locations on a

practice court. The invention is particularly useful in returning basketballs to a player

on the court during a practice session. Invention and use of such ejection machines is known to the public.

As for example, patent U.S. 4,579,340 to Craig and Scott Jenkins in 1986 details a

portable basketball return device to be positioned on a basketball court underneath a

basket into which shooting practice is to be conducted. The device includes a base

with a ball-return mechanism and a vertically extending chute projecting upwardly

from the base and terminating in a hoop-like top opening, to be positioned directly

beneath the basket. The ball-return mechanism includes a horizontal ball-collection

and dispersion tube mounted in the base for swinging movement about a vertical axis

so that the tube may be positioned to direct balls through an open end thereof to a

required location on the court. The ball-return mechanism includes a solenoid

operated plunger carried at the back of the tube for projecting balls therethrough. The

device may further include various electrical controls for automatically and semi-

automatically operating the ball return mechanism.

Similarly, patent U.S. 4,714,248 issued to Richard Kloss in 1987 details a ball

return device that returns balls to a player in order to perform repetitive practice

routines. The device comprises a receiving basket which may be placed under a

basketball hoop and which directs a ball to a pair of rotating heads operable to propel

the ball toward the player. A detection apparatus on the return device is operable to

sense e distance between a player and the return device. When the distance between

the player and the return device is within a zone of acceptable distances, an output

signal is generated which causes the return mechanism to eject a ball toward the player.

While Kloss' invention improves upon that of Jenkins, both patents, which

constitute the present state of the art, lack several features desirable in such a

machine. One of the biggest disadvantages of the prior art is that that they are only

effective if the player makes the shot. The intention of each a machine is to eliminate

time spent retrieving balls, but both of these machines limit their benefits to returning

balls only when a shot is successful, i.e., placing the ball into the basket, as it is only

then that a ball is able to be captured by the device and ejected to the player. Thus,

when a player misses a shot, the ball must be manually retrieved as usual. This

greatly diminishes the benefits of the prior art devices.

Kloss' invention attempts to remedy this weakness by providing an alternate

method of use for the device. In this use, several balls can be stored in the mechanism

for delivery to a player at timed intervals. This option could potentially increase the

invention's benefits, except that the device can hold only a limited number of balls at

a time. Thus, even if the invention can eject a series of balls, the number of balls in

each series is relatively small, thereby requiring that the player more frequently stop

practicing, retrieve balls and replace them in the machine. Additionally, this

invention makes no provision for placing the ball at any particular location, but rather

merely returns the ball to the sensed position of the player. This does not readily lend

the machine to being used in drills when it is desired to shoot a series of shots from a

plurality of particular locations.

Jenkins' invention, on the other hand, refers to optional equipment that could be

added to automatically return balls to certain designated locations on the court.

However, a significant problem is, once again, that the device is capable of housing

only a limited number of balls. In addition, the device makes no allowances for

returning balls at a certain interval, and, as such, balls would not be ejected at regular

intervals. As a result, the ejection time of each ball would likely vary slightly, and

thus could potentially catch a player off guard and lead to injuries. This possibility of

injury is compounded by the fact that the invention fails to provide a safety feature that ensures that a ball will not be ejected when a player is too close to the ejection

unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a programmable ball ejection machine that shoots balls to

a player at either a designated single location or at a preprogrammed set of locations

using an instruction program. The program directs the setting of ball speed, angle of

loft and direction, and further sets the frequency of ball ejection. The invention has a

wide range of uses, and is especially beneficial for improving basketball training.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a ball ejection machine for

multiple and optimal use, especially, but not limited to, basketball training.

The machine has an adjustable ejection means and a ramp to feed balls to the

ejection mechanism. The machine is fully automatic and it ejects balls in various

selectable directions over a range of speeds, according to any one of a plurality of

instruction sets or programs. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to more

effectively simulate actual game conditions and passes by providing broad freedom in

the selection of ejection speeds and directions.

It is another object of the invention to provide programs that automatically direct a

series of balls to various specified locations at specified time intervals. This provides

for improved training by conditioning the player to achieve accuracy from a wide

variety of different court locations.

It is another object of the invention to significantly decrease the amount of time

the player must spend retrieving balls. This is accomplished by providing a storage

means with sufficient storage space to hold approximately 25 balls, so that the device

can eject balls according to a specified program without necessitating that the player

reload balls.

It is another object of the invention to provide greater efficiency by allowing the direction, speed and program pattern of each ejected ball to be regulated with a hand-

held remote control unit. This advantageously allows a coach or the like a wide range

of freedom to control the ball ejection machine from any chosen location in order to

train the player more effectively. Additionally, everything that can be controlled from

the remote control unit can also be regulated from a control panel at the rear of the

machine.

Additional features might include infrared and/or laser sensors in order to detect

the player's position and return a ball to the player wherever the player may be on the

court, a net extension which may be raised by pneumatic cylinders to a position under

the net, in order to better catch balls missing the hoop, and an air hose with an

inflation needle attached to the back of the machine in order to properly inflate balls.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the

following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying

drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational illustration of the invention showing the

movement of a ball from a hopper (A) into a position ready to enter an

ejection means (B);

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational illustration thereof, showing the placement of the

ball in an ejecting position (C);

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a is a side elevational view of a mechanical schematic showing the

components and their relationship in the ejection means thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a portion of the diagram of Fig. 4 taken along line 5-5 and providing further details of the ejection means thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a block diagram defining the interrelationship of input elements

relative to a control device thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a block diagram defining the interrelationship of the output elements

relative to the control device thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 -7 define a ball ejection machine apparatus 1 , herein referred to as

the "machine 1". Although the machine 1 is primarily defined herein for the game of

American basketball, it is potentially useful for other ball games such as baseball,

football, and tennis, as well as games that do not use balls per se, such as hockey and

badmitten.

The machine 1 is used for increasing the efficiency of a practice session of

basketball. The machine 1 simultaneously holds a plurality of a ball 3 and may be

used to return a ball 3 to a player (not shown) after a shot is made, thus saving the

player valuable practice time that is normally consumed by retrieving ball 3. The machine 1 automatically collects ball 3 when it is shot into or, in one embodiment,

near, a basketball goal hoop 5 (Fig. 2) above the machine 1, thereby decreasing the

frequency of replenishing the ball 3 inventory within the machine 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus includes a ball storage means 2 designed to

receive and retain a plurality of the ball 3. The ball storage means 2 has a first

aperture 2 A positioned horizontally, at an upper distal end 2B of the storage means 2.

In one embodiment, shown in Fig. 1, a funnel structure 4 is engaged within and

extends upwardly from the first aperture 2 A. A second aperture 4 A defines the upper

terminal end 4B of the funnel structure 4, the second aperture 4 A having a horizontal

girth large enough so that with the funnel structure 4 positioned and centered under a

regulation basketball backboard and basket hoop, the majority of ball 3 projected at

the hoop will enter the funnel structure 4, regardless of whether or not they pass

through the hoop. Alternately, as illustrated in Fig 2, the storage means 2 may be

coupled to at least one upwardly extending support arm 7A which holds a basketball

backboard 7 and hoop 5 above the first aperture 2A, thus providing for the machine 1

to be used anywhere that appropriate electrical power is provided, and not just on a

basketball court.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ball storage means 2 includes a means for aligning 14

a plurality of said ball 3 into at least one vertical stack 14 A, and preferably four

vertical stacks 14A positioned in mutual adjacency. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3,

the aligning means 14 consists of vertical partitioning walls placed so that each ball 3

entering the first aperture 2 A is diverted into only one of the vertical stacks 14A

defined by vertical channels 18 which are sized so that each ball is positioned directly

above the next so that jamming of one ball 3 with another ball 3 cannot occur upon

release from the storage means 2. This is accomplished by sizing each of the channels

18 only slightly larger then the diameter of the ball 3, so that two of said ball 3 cannot

compete for the same vertical position in the stacks 14A. It should be noted that

basketballs tend to jam when more than one ball 3 attempts to move through a space

where only one ball 3 will pass. This most often occurs when the space is at least 1-

1/2 ball 3 diameters in girth, but does not occur when the space is less than 1-1/8 ball

3 diameters in size. The latter dimension is utilized in the machine 1 wherever more

than one ball 3 is handled, such as in the storage means 2.

A ball load means 16 is provided so as to dispense said ball 3 from the vertical

stacks 14A. There are numerous possible embodiments of the ball load means 16

well known in the art. In one preferred embodiment, used because of its simplicity

and because it completely avoids ball jams, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the ball load

means 16 consists preferably of pneumatic cylinders positioned at the bottom of the

storage means 2. The pistons of each of the two cylinders each control a plate 17

which can dispense ball 3 from two stacks 14A depending upon the cylinders

positioning of the plate 17. These plates move between an upper position wherein

space is not sufficient for the next ball 3 to drop, so that the ball is retained at position

A, as shown in Fig. 1, and a lower position where enough space is available between

the plates 17 and the sidewalls of each of the vertical channels 18 for at least one ball

3 to drop. Preferably, each plate 17 controls the ball 3 in two of the channels 18 of

the storage means 2. The plate is controlled to snap back into the upper position

immediately in order to prevent a further ball 3 to drop. Generally, two ball 3 at a

time are dropped onto ramp 14. A retractable locking means 25 is positioned and supported near the plates 17. This device is able to lock the plates 17 in the upward

position in order to lock-out operation of the machine and to prevent all of the balls

from dropping out of the ball storage means when air pressure is lost, whereupon the

plates 17 would slowly move to the lower position when the cylinders that control

them are exhausted of air pressure.

Once dispensed from the vertical stacks 14 A, each ball 3 is delivered from the

storage means 2 to an ejection means 12 via the ramp 14. The ramp 14 includes a ball

load means 19, preferably another pneumatic cylinder which drives a second release

plate 20 between a lower position and an upper position, as best seen in FIG. 1. In the

lower position, the ball 3 that is closest to the ejection means 12 is prevented from

entering the ejection means 12, and in the upper position the same ball 3 is allowed to

roll forward and fall into the ejection means 12, i.e., the ball holder 15. It has been

found by experimentation that the ability to hold more than one ball 3 on the ramp 14

is necessary to providing a steady stream of ball 3 for ejection without jamming and

in such readiness that the repetition rate of ball 3 ejection may be quite rapid.

The ejection mechanism 12 includes a propelling means 10 positionable with

the ball holder 15 to an inclination angle of between about five degrees and about 46

degrees. Accordingly, ball 3 may be ejected in a steep or level trajectory, by

propelling means 10, preferably an air driven cylinder (Fig. 1), which provides

injection plate 11 for actually contacting and pushing the ball 3. The front surface

11 A of the ejection plate 11 is spherical in shape so as to contact the ball 3 over a

desired surface area, the radius of curvature of the front surface 11A being

approximately equal to the that of the ball 3.

Ball 3 of different diameters may be ejected from the machine 1. This is

easily accomplished by changing the size of the vertical channels 18, and the plates

17, and release means 20. Ball holder 15 is used preferably to hold the ball 3 just

prior to ejection. This holder 15 presents a concave surface, as seen in Fig. 2, to the

ball 3 so that a ball 3 having a diameter different from a standard basketball is still

automatically centered in the holder. Preferably, the longitudinal axis 10A of the

propelling means 10 is positioned slightly higher then the axis 15A of the ball 3 so

that the ball 3 tends, during ejection, to be lifted slightly off the ball holder 15 and in

this way, friction and jamming is diminished.

As best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the propelling means 10, together with the

ball holder 15, and an angle drive means 8 is driven as a unit by a direction drive

means 6, preferably a linear motor, so as to sweep left and right about a vertical axis

12 A. The sweeping movement of this unit about the vertical axis 12A is enabled by

the direction drive means 6 in that the unit is mounted upon a vertically oriented

rotational shaft 6A having a sprocket 6B engaged with the shaft 6A. A drive chain 6C engaging the sprocket 6B, is connected at one of its ends 6C to the linear motor of the directional drive means 6, and at the other one of its ends 6C" to a linear spring

6D, which, in turn, is fixed at its distal end 6D'. To enable rotation of the unit in a

first rotational sense, the linear motor 6 releases the chain drive 6C against tension

from the spring 6D, thereby turning the sprocket 6B and vertical axle 6 A in the first

rotational sense. To enable rotation in the second (opposing) rotational sense, the

linear motor 6 draws the chain 6C toward it, thereby extending the linear spring 6D,

and again rotating the sprocket 6B, this time in the opposing direction. The use of

linear motors has been found to be more precise and rugged, then using motors having

rotating shafts.

The inclination of the ball holder 15 is changed by pivoting one end 15 A,

about a pivot rod 15B. Preferably the forward end 15A of the ball holder 15 is driven

by a second linear motor. The propelling means 10 is preferably attached to the ball

holder 15 so that its angle of inclination is changed with the ball holder 15. The

direction drive means 6 positions the ball holder 15 and propelling means 10 at any

horizontal position over a span of 180 degrees. With the machine 1 positioned under

the basket on the basketball court, 180 angular horizontal degrees enables placement

of an ejected ball 3 in any direction of play on the court. With the angle of ejection

with respect to the horizontal adjustable within a range of about 45 angular degrees,

the ball 3 may be projected with any selected trajectory desired. With the force of

ejection set over a range of choice, the ball 3 may be projected to a corresponding

desired distance. With full control over the above described variables, plus the

repetition rate of ball 3 release, i.e., the time delay between releases, a single, or many

of the ball 3 can be ejected as necessary to complete a simple or complex ball release

program of practice in accordance with a control instruction set 100B. The machine 1

may contain a variety of such program sets 100B so as to be varied from one practice

session to the next or in accordance with the needs of various players having varying

needs or proficiencies .

Overall operation of the machine 1 is controlled by a master control device

herein referred to as "program logic controller" or PLC 100, preferably a computer

based, digital device capable of executing a program set 100B of play instructions as

well as preprogrammed operational instructions. Such a PLC 100 could be a

general purpose microcomputer as is well known for many similar applications. In

Fig. 6 is shown a block diagram of the interconnection of several devices providing

status and event signals to the PLC 100. From the upper left in the diagram, we find

that a hand held remote control device 110, see Fig. 1, may be used with the PLC 100

to provide directions and instructions during startup and operation of the machine 1.

Such a system is not described in detail here as it is well known in the art, as in

remote control device technology used in consumer television, stereo systems and

toys. Further, two sensors 120, 130, "Sensor-Ball Load", and "Sensor -Ramp", see

Fig. 2, respectively, are used to determine if a ball 3 is in the ball holder 15 ready for

ejection, and on the ramp 14 ready for dropping into the ejection means, respectively.

These signals might be produced by light beam sender and receiver devices which are

in common use on assembly lines and other application, or these devices may be other sensors well known in the field of feedback control. Two additional sensors are used in providing information to the PLC as to direction of ejection and angle of release,

referred to as "Sensor-Direction" 140 and "Sensor-Azimuth" 150 respectively, see

Fig. 1. These sensors might be rheostats or equivalent devices within any of a large

number of well known circuits for providing an analog signal which could be

converted to a digital signal by a common D/A circuit. "Sensor-Proximity" 160 refers

to a device positioned at the front of the machine 1, see Fig. 1. Such a device senses

the presence of an individual near the front of the machine 1 especially when a ball 3

is ready for release. Such a situation is dangerous since ball 3 is released, at times,

with considerable velocity. Such a sensing device is most effectively deployed as an

infrared heat sensing device or sonar motion detector in a circuit for producing a signal compatible with the PLC. These devices and their attendant circuits are

notoriously well known in the art. The "Sensor-Goal" 170 is a sensor, preferably

similar to the "Sensor-Ramp", such as a light or sonar device, for instance, that is

positioned on the basketball hoop ring or goal 5 so as to detect a ball 3 moving

through the hoop 5, see Fig. 2. This information is transmitted to the PLC. The

"Card reader" 180 is a standard credit card reading device as is found at banks and in

supermarkets and is very well known. In the present case, the card reader is

functionally set up to read a card of a coach or a player, for instance, and to set an

amount of time the player is permitted, or to allow the coach, by virtue of his

identification, to reprogram the machine 1 via a control panel 195 mounted to, and

hard- wired to, the machine 1, preferably at the rear, see Fig. 1. The "Sensor-air

pressure" 190 is a standard air pressure sensing device with a pressure-to-electrical

conversion signal circuit, providing air pressure level information to the PLC, see Fig.

1. Air pressure information is necessary so as to control the pressure delivered to the

ejection means. The "Modem Control" 193 consists of a device for receiving a phone

line and, further, for receiving a data transmission over the phone line from a remote

modem. Such a transmission may consist of machine 1 set-up instructions, or other

data, and may include inquiry to the PLC for uploading data retained in a memory

device 100 A (Fig. 1), within the PLC 100. Machine 1 data acquisition technique and

hardware are well known in the art. Generally, all of the input devices 110-195, as

well as the controller 100 are well established in the prior art, but the combination of

these building blocks and their manner of use in the machine 1 is novel in the

field of application, and first described herein.

In Fig. 9 is shown the output devices and their interconnections with the PLC 100.

Starting at the upper left in this figure, we find that the PLC controls the direction

drive means 6 for left and right scan of the ejection means 12, and the angle drive

means 8 for up and down scan of the ball holder 15. Also controlled is the velocity

control 220, a means for changing the air pressure delivered to the propelling means

10, preferably an air cylinder device as shown in Fig 1. Additionally, the PLC

controls a shot warning signal 260 which may be a warning light or a warning buzzer

or both, and also generates a problem light 270 to indicate that there is a machine 1

problem, and a ready condition light 280 to indicate that the machine 1 is operable see

Fig. 1. The machine 1 also includes a score board or score display 290 controlled by the PLC. The score display 290 displays the number of shots made successfully, or the percentage thereof, or other progress information, depending upon selection

preferences programmed into the PLC 100 and selected through the control panel

300. As well, the PLC 100 controls validation of the user through a card validation

device or reader 180 and displays status of the validation system through a light

display 310 located on the control panel 300. The machine 1 includes a sound or

music generating device 320 which is controlled by the PLC 100. This is used to

automatically announce that a good or bad score has been reached by the present

player. The announcement may be a prerecorded verbal message or a piece of

appropriate music, etc. Finally, the PLC 100 controls a printer port 330 for local

downloading of statistical information relative to previous play as well as

other information concerning the status of the machine 1 itself. Generally, all of the

output devices, as well as the controller are well established in the prior art, but the

combination of these building blocks and their manner of use in the machine 1 is

novel in the field of application.

For training purposes, a program set 100B may be chosen that shoots ball 3 at

pre-programmed settings and in directions unpredictable to the player. The speed by

which the ball 3 is ejected is controlled by a variation of the air input into the

propelling means 10. Further an optical and or acoustical enunciator 320 is employed

to indicate when each goal is made. The PLC 100 calculates and displays a players

shooting percentage. In order to minimize injuries, one or more proximity sensors

160 are positioned on the front of the machine 1, the purpose of which is to disable the projection means 10 if there is a person in danger of being hit by an ejected ball 3.

Thus, in order for the player to utilize the present invention in the preferred

method, the player must first push a start button to power up the machine 1. The

player then uses up and down arrow keys on the control panel 195 to choose a

program, and only one program lights up at a time, indicating the program to be

activated. The player then pushes an "enter" key to activate the selected program.

The scoreboard counts down ten seconds, and indicates each second with a chirp.

When the ten seconds have passed, the first ball 3 is launched in the first position

programmed.

There are numerous program instruction sets that can be incorporated into the

present invention to provide maximum training benefits to the player. Each program

set of instructions is defined for directing and controlling the machine for accepting

input signals from the input devices and for controlling the machine for generating

output signals for controlling the output devices, said devices being defined in Figs. 6

and 7.

The following are examples and descriptions of such programs. For program

purposes, position numbers are given in terms of degrees. For each program, the user

selects both the azimuth and the air power with which the balls are propelled, thus

determining the approximate distance balls will be launched. The following programs

include recommended launching distances. However, these distances may be

increased when the player wishes to practice outside shots or decreased when the player wishes to practice inside shots. It should be noted that, unless otherwise indicated, the projection means rotates between positions automatically and

immediately, thus allowing balls to be launched from a variety of different positions

without interrupting the launch frequency.

PROGRAM 1 WARM UP Recommended Distance: Set air power and azimuth to 14 feet.

Launch Frequency: One ball is launched every four seconds.

Description: Three balls are launched from each of nine different positions for a total

of 27 launched balls, one ball being launched every four seconds. The first three balls

are launched from position 0. The propelling means then rotates to position 22.5 and

launches the next three balls. The propelling means continues to rotate to positions

67.5, 90, 112.5, 157.5 and 180 after three balls have been launched from each

preceding position.

PROGRAM 2 PASS AND MOVE

Recommended Distance: Set air power and azimuth for a distance of 17 feet.

Launch Frequency: One ball is launched every six seconds.

Description: 12 balls are launched from 5 different positions for a total of 60

launched balls. The first ball is launched from position 0. The propelling means then

rotates to position 45 and a ball is launched. The propelling means then rotates to

position 90, launches a ball, rotates to position 135, launches, and rotates to position

180 and launches. This cycle is then repeated, launching a ball from position 180, then 135, 90, 45 and 0. When the ball storage means is empty, the machine goes into

pause mode to allow the player to retrieve and balls not captured by the ball storage

means.

PROGRAM 3 FOUL SHOOTING

Recommended Distance: Set air power and azimuth for a distance of 15 feet.

Launch Frequency: One ball is launched every five seconds.

Description: 50 balls are launched from position 90.

PROGRAM 4 AROUND THE WORLD

Recommended Distance: Set air power and azimuth for a distance of 20 feet.

Launch Frequency: One ball is fired every four seconds.

Description: Five balls are launched from each of five different positions for a total

of 25 balls. Five balls are launched from position 0, then the propelling means rotates

and five balls are launched from position 45. This continues until the invention has

launched five balls at position 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180.

PROGRAM 5 LOW POST

Recommended Distance: Set air power and azimuth for a distance of 7 feet.

Note: The purpose of this program is to practice short, inside shots such as lay-ups

and dunks. Therefore, the air cylinder should be set at maximum elevation so that the

player is able to catch the ball when it is approximately 9 feet above the ground.

Launch Frequency: One ball is launched every ten seconds. Description: 25 balls will be launched from each of two positions for a total of 50

launched balls. The first 25 balls are launched from position 45. When the 25th ball

has been launched, the machine goes into pause mode while the player fills the

storage means with any missed balls that were not automatically funneled into the

storage means. To re-activate the program, the pause button is simply pressed. The

scoreboard gives a ten second countdown, and then proceeds to launch 25 balls from

position 135.