Baseball pitching analyzer
US5333855A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63B2024/0043
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A baseball pitching analyzer having a housing in the form of a cube with a forward face including an opening through which the baseball may pass. The periphery of this opening is angled inward to provide a funnel arrangement such that balls striking the front face will be deflected through the opening. Located within the housing is an open rectangular frame mounting a plurality of light emitters and associated light detectors, arranged to form an array or grid of intersecting light beams. The frame includes lenses spaced from the emitters and detectors to maintain a well collimated light beam. The emitters and detectors are alternated about the periphery of the frame, such that light emitters are located adjacent each of the light detectors. The associated beam for each detector is therefore less likely to impinge upon another detector, reducing crosstalk and permitting a closer grid spacing. The control system includes a timer which is started upon the blocking of a light beam and stopped upon the unblocking of a light beam. This time is used with the known diameter of a baseball to calculate the velocity of the pitch. Balls received within the device are conveyed to an elevated d…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.