WO1989010775A1 - Ball games practice unit, plus new ball game - Google Patents

Abstract

A practice unit viz a ball launcher (Fig. 1). Tapping its rubber pad (3) with a bat, throws a ball up from an extendable magazine (5) vertically for power batting. Gravity positions each subsequent ball for the action to be repeated. An adaptor (Fig. 11) reduces the lower end of the magazine (5) from its soft ball capacity, to a size suitable for cricket balls, base balls, sponge practice balls and the Sky-ball game balls. An adjustable ball stop (4) locks where needed for different sized balls. With an adaptor (Fig. 11) the launcher unit (Fig. 1), plus the necessary accessories, can be used for playing the Sky-ball 1988 game, either outdoors or indoors, the indoor game using an electronic target-like score indicator, that differentiates between variously powered hits. The indicator can be rendered partially inoperative by an opponent, using a control panel, before each ball is struck.

Description

BALL GAMES PRACTICE UNIT, PLUS NEW BALL GAME.

This invention relates to a multiple ball games practice unit, called "The Sky-hall trainer" , that adapts to the main unit of an entirely new outdoor ball game. (This new ball game being covered by British patent application, No 8811494.7 dated the 14th May 1988.)

A great need exists for a manually operated unit to enable batsmen to practice striking a ball in the air, for help with games such as baseball, softball, cricket, and the new game mentioned above. The perfect co-ordination needed in such games, requires continuous practice, which physically. wears out the bowler or pitcher, thus limiting practice time, so a unit operated by the batsman himself, obviates the need of a bowler or pitcher. Fielders can get practice at ball catching at the same time.

According to the present invention there is provided a manually operated, repeating ball launcher, that caters for various size balls, plus accessories and rules for playing the new same. The basic launcher is constructed in two joinable units for ease of transport and stowage; with the main unit, the actual launcher, consisting of a stout plywood base, pegable to the ground, on one half of which a wooden throwing arm is mounted on a pivot, see-saw fashion, between two wooden blocks. Fixed to the upper end of the wooden arm is a round, wooden, rubber covered striking pad, which when struck, causes the arm's lower end to rise sharply. The second unit is a ball magazine, made of wood or alternatively plastic, the base of which is shaped so that it slots into the empty half of the launcher base. The top of the magazine is a long, narrow, open-topped box-like structure, that slopes down towards the lowered end of the throwing arm, so using gravity to deliver one ball at a time, to a position just above the lowered arm and pressing against a stop mounted on the arm. The striking of the rubber pad, at the arm's higher end, with a bat, throws the lowest ball straight upwards, so that it then can be struck sideways. As each ball is launched upwards, the remaining balls roll down for the action to be repeated. Standard balls can be used or sponge replicas for indoor practice. Sleeve piece adaptors reduce the width of the magazine, so catering for the smaller balls. Ball magazine extentions can be fitted, so allowing many more balls to be inserted at once, giving a much longer practice session before reloading again. When no fielders are available, a loose net can restrain struck balls for ease of collection. A safety shield is positioned at the side of the launcher, so that any low strikes are deflected upwards, so preventing damage to the launcher. When used indoors, screws are inserted through a large plywood or hardboard sheet and up into the base of the launcher and shield, as ground pegs can not be used, and the striker stands on the sheet for stability during practice. This practice unit is a progressive developement of the Sky-ball game covered by the patent application mentioned above, and the following applies to both the May 1988 game and the game referred to in this application, as they are one and the same.

Additional rules:- Standard team Sky-ball is played by two teams of eight, with shirts numbered one to eight and a distinctly different colour to their opponents. Ground staff should be as follows. One referee, four sideline scorers, each holding two score indicators and positioned at the 20, 30, 40, 50 flags on one side, one score keeper and three ball collector;.. The fielding team take position in the "V" as follows, number one in the ten zone, number two in the twenty zone, number three in the left side of the thirty zone, number four in the right side of the thirty zone, number five in the left side of the fourty zone, number six in the right side of the fourty zone, number seven in the left side of the fiftyzone and number eight in the right side of the fifty zone. A "hard" version of team Sky-ball can be opted for by the players, in which shoulder barging is allowed. Any player being fouled shouts "foul" and the ref gives two whistle blasts for instant stoppage of play. A scorer seeing a foul raises both indicators to alert the ref to whistle, and the ref can of course whistle on his own observations. In all disputes the ref awards a penalty or a play-on. Minor infringements merit a ten, twenty, or a thirty strike hopping penalty. More serious infringements merit a ten, twenty, thirty strike, total innings, or total game send off. The ref blows once for play to resume and the striker carries on. Any ball struck but not landing in the "V" scores five.. The side scorers raise their appropriate indicator for each "V" scoring ball, to inform the score keeper. Seven fifties scored from ten balls earns a fifty point bonus, eight from ten earns a hundred bonus, nine from ten earns a two hundred bonus and ten from ten doubles the score to 1000. When playing the tenth ball, if the striker can run and catch the ball in the "V" himself, then the score of the zone in which the ball is caught is increased as follows:- The first digit of the zone's number is doubled and the result multiplies the zone's full number, ie; ball caught in the thirty zone, twice 3 is 6, 6 times 30 is 180* scored. During the last ball play, only the ten zone fielder can oppose the striker in his attempt to catch the ball, all other fielders must give him free passage, and any not doing so means that he is awarded the score as if he had caught the ball where it landed. During play anyone in the "V" can roll spent balls to the two side ball collectors , (who roll the balls at once to the launcher area ball collector), but this may be done after the last ball is played. The side ball collectors can have a three foot, 91·45cm high stop net to retain balls. When the last ball is played and scored, the ref blows his whistle three times for end of innings and the following actions take place as quickly as possible:- The launcher area ball collector fills the magazine with a spare set of balls, while the side collectors roll the played balls to his position. All the fielders move up one position, with number eight going to number one's, unless the number one has been nominated static, in which case number eight goes to number two's position. The next striker goes to the launcher and his position is taken by the last striker. All moves completed, the ref blows once for play to resume. During play, players may only field in their own areas but accidental over-runs into other areas should be over-looked. Players may go outside the "V" to catch a five point scoring ball. After a certain number of innings, score totals decide the winning team. Four whistle blasts indicate the end of the game. (End of additional rules). An. indoor version of the outdoor Sky-ball game, suitable for large halls or gymnasiums, etc; can be played in winter or inclement weather, using standard balls and the launcher and shield fixed to a large panel, (as mentioned before). The striker aims each ball at a very large target, similar to a rifle range target, containing five scoring zones, the centre or bull, scoring fifty, with the four surrounding rings scoring fourty, thirty, twenty and ten. Each ring is made up of a number of sections, and the bull of two sections. Every section is held in position by springs attached to the backboard and this allows any struck section to compress the springs and make electrical contact with a sensor that differentiates between three strengths of blows, the lightest registering the listed score of the section, the medium scoring the listed score plus half, and the hardest blow scoring twice the listed score. Struck balls missing the target score five. This game allows play of a number of innings with the highest score total winning. A variation of the indoor game has an opponent of the striker using a keyboard that connects to the electronics of the target, so that he can render in-operational, certain sections of the target which he chooses, by guessing where he thinks each ball will strike, including half the bull, this selection being made quickly; before each ball is struck.

The position of the launcher, when setting up equipment for play, should allow a ball struck at fourty five degrees to strike an imaginary, horizontal line that bisects the bull. Tiie playing of this game during winter, will keep a striker's, or batsman's muscles and reflexes etc, in perfect trim for many ball games, so that they are in perfect condition at the start of the outdoor season.

All manufacture materials listed may be varied according to circumstances. A specific embodiment of the invention will here be described by way of example with references to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows the two sections of the Sky-ball trainer, fitted together as for use, and in perspective.

Figure 2 shows the Sky-ball trainer, fitted to the optional extra base, (which is used in the Sky-ball game) with the ball magazine removed.

Figure 3 shows a plan of the ball magazine.

Figure 4 shows an exploded side elevation of the Sky-ball trainer 'δ main components, less the magazine.

Figure 5 shows the senior bat used in the Sky-ball game.

Figure 6 shows a specimen Sky-ball scoring zone flag.

Figure 7 shows the safty shield, which is used for practice batting or the Sky-ball game.

Figure 8 shows a Sky-ball trainer magazine extention.

Figure 9 shows a magazine extention support.

Figure 10 shows the scoring zones in the playing area of the Sky-ball game.

Figure 11 Shows in perspective, a Sky-ball trainer sleeve piece adaptor.

Referring to the drawings, in which figure scales can vary, the Sky-ball trainer in Fig 1 comprises a two piece joinable unit, the base 1 of which supports between two blocks 8, a see-saw type throwing arm 2 fitted at it's higher end, with a large, rubber covered wooden pad 3, the lower end carries an adjustable ball stop 4, which caters for different sized balls. Fig 2 illustrates the optional extra swivel base 11 upon which the Sky-ball trainer is lock-nutted, when playing the Sky-ball game, so allowing instant reversal of the unit Fig 1 for left handed players. The ball magazine 5 slots into the two locating rails 6, both shown in Fig 2 and is locked in position by a swivel catch 7. In Fig 3 the magazine's two engaging flanges 9 and the recess 10 to accomodate the lower end of the throwing arm 2 are shown. Fig 4 shows the throwing arm 2 with it's under-mounted pivot holder 12, the three location pegs 13 on one of the two support blocks 8 and the bolt holes 14 in the base 1 and in the support block 8. The quick return of the throwing arm 2 to it's lowered position, is ensured by a spring under the rubber pad 3, (spring not shown).

The shield in Fig 7, padded at the top 15, is held upright by a wooden pole support 16 that has an angled screwed rod at it's upper end, which penetrates the shield and is locked by a wing nut over a washer. Shield and support 16 peg to the ground.

The flag Fig 6 is secured in the ground by a metal rod 17, fixed into a rubber staff 18 that supports the banner 19.

Fig 8 shows a magazine extention, with one of two location pegs 20, the two locking lugs 21 that take strong elastic bands, and two of four side pieces 22 that create a slot to take one of the prongs on the magazine extention support Fig 9. Fig 11 the adaptor, slides into the lower end of the magazine 5, thus reducing it's inner width from it's soft ball capacity to a width that suits a cricket ball, a base ball, a Sky-ball game ball or their sponge practice balls.

Claims

CLAIMS (FURTHER TO THE SKY-BALL GAME CLAIMS 1988)

1 A new ball games practice unit comprising a manually operated, repeating ball launcher, that is operated by tapping it's rubber pad with a bat, which throws the first ball in a ball magazine, a few feet into the air for power batting and automatically re-loads by gravity, until the magazine is empty.

2 A new ball games practice unit as claimed in claim 1, that caters for American soft balls, and by inserting a sleeve piece adaptor, will cater for cricket balls,base balls, sponge indoor practice balls and the balls used in the Sky-ball game, 1988.

3 A new ball games practice unit as claimed in claims 1 and 2, that can be fitted with magazine extentions, thus holding many more balls and extending practice time before re-loading becomes necessary.

4 A new ball games practice unit as claimed in claims 1-3 that incorporates an adjustable ball stop, to cater for various sized balls.

5 A new ball games practice unit as claimed in claims 1-4 that by using an adaptor, is then suitable for playing the outdoor Sky-ball game1988 or the indoor version.

6 A new ball games practice unit as claimed in claims 1-5 which when adapted, can be used in place of the Sky-ball 1988 launcher unit for playing the indoor version of the outdoor Sky-ball game, in conjunction with a target like scoring unit, which electronically registers variously powered hits by the balls and can be partially rendered inoperative by an opponent, before each ball is struck.

7 A new ball games unit (incorporating the Sky-ball game 1988) as described herein with reference to figures 1-11 of the accompanying drawings.