Famous Patents
In 1608, Dutch eyeglass maker Hans Lipperhey filed the first patent for a working telescope. The patent was denied.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7288917 | Transmitter for radio-controlled toy A mobile toy is described. The mobile toy includes a wheel assembly having a hubcap for removably engaging a wheel of the wheel assembly. The mobile toy may also include a transmitter having a charging pad for charging of a radio-controlled embodiment of the toy. Th... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7183929 | Control of toys and devices by sounds A method of controlling at least one device by incidental sound produced by a living creature and including: attaching a sound-maker to a living creature so that the natural movements of the living creature will cause the sound-maker to emit a sound; receiving the s... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7137910 | Rotating wheel return mechanism A practice machine for receiving a thrown ball and returning it to a user is generally provided with a backstop for stopping the thrown ball, a pan disposed below the backstop for collecting the ball, a ball return adjacent the backstop for expelling the ball, and a... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7082938 | Baseball fielding practice machine The present invention provides a baseball practice machine for propelling balls onto a practice field thereby providing simulated hits for use in fielding practice for ball players. The practice machine includes a ball hopper, a propulsion unit for propelling a ball... | 08/01/2006 |
| 6820605 | System and method for reducing time between pitches in a spring-actuated pitching machine The present invention consists of a conversion quick pitch system and method for converting a spring-actuated pitching machine of the Iron Mike type to a video pitching machine, i.e., a pitching machine that includes a video projection screen on which the video imag... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6776732 | Simulated tennis ball trajectory & delivery system A tennis training simulation system is disclosed that improves both reaction time and ground stroke techniques within a limited physical training environment. This training system combines simulated service of a tennis ball from a service line over a virtual net, an... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6766794 | Device for hands-free firing of projectile device A device to aid in firing a projectile firing device is disclosed. The device includes a hands-free switch which signals a firing mechanism to fire the projectile firing device. ... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6679239 | Remotely actuated apparatus for throwing an object Apparatus for throwing a football includes a pivoting arm supporting the ball and a spring, which preloads the arm to pivot upward and release the football. The arm is rotated manually to a ready-to-throw preloaded position, where the arm is latched by a ... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6637418 | Kit for converting conventional, spring-actuated pitching machine into a video pitching machine The present invention consists of a conversion kit for converting a spring-actuated pitching machine of the Iron Mike type to a video pitching machine, i.e., a pitching machine that includes a video projection screen on which the video image of an actual ... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6539931 | Ball throwing assistant A ball-throwing machine includes a camera connected to a computer vision unit and a microphone connected to a speech-processing unit. The computer vision unit processes images from the camera to determine a user's position, and to detect user gestures fro... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6371871 | Member for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward the member by propulsion apparatus A member (e.g. baseball bat) including a switch manually operable to obtain the transmission of signals by a transmitter in the member to an apparatus for propelling an element (e.g. ball) toward an individual holding the member. The element is propelled ... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6244260 | Interactive projectile-discharging toy An electronic game includes a device that is held or worn by a player, and a housing. The device includes an emitter that emits a signal in response to player input. The housing includes a controller and a detector that detects the signal from the emitter... | 06/12/2001 |
| 5529310 | Hand-held multi-function wireless target control system A hand-held multi-function target presentation control system with interchangeable operator control modules for communicating with at least one wireless target control modules. The operator control module having a user interface for selectively controllin... | 06/25/1996 |
| 5490493 | Machine for delivering balls, especially tennis balls A machine for delivering balls, especially tennis balls, has a ball feeder (6) to feed individual balls (5) from a ball magazine (2) to a ball ejector (3) and a machine intrinsic feed controller (30) for sending internal control signals, controlling the b... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5427380 | Hand-held multi-function wireless target control system A hand-held multi-function target presentation control system with interchangeable operator control modules for communicating with at least one wireless target control modules. The operator control module having a user interface for selectively controllin... | 06/27/1995 |
| 5396876 | Apparatus and method for propelling a rolling hockey ball A hockey propulsion device that uses an infrared control unit to control speed of hockey ball ejection as well as starting and stopping. A single DC powered motor rolls a ball along a railed guideway using friction of the ball against a rubber ball propul... | 03/14/1995 |
| 5359576 | Voice activated target launching system with automatic sequencing control A voice activated skeet/trap triggering system comprising a receiver unit and at least one transmitter unit. The receiver unit interfaces with the target launcher via an interface cable, which cable replaces the conventional puller cable that supports the... | 10/25/1994 |
| 5311856 | Gas gun and quick release mechanism for large loads A large diameter gas gun has a triggering mechanism for quickly and effecely releasing a large bore projectile which is accelerated under gas pressure to impact upon a target area to produce a substantial shock field.... | 05/17/1994 |
| 4860717 | Self-loading, remotely operable and variable, portable ball throwing apparatus and method A self-loading, remotely operable and variable, portable ball thrower. An arm with a hand attached thereto is, in the uncocked position, tensioned by an elastic biasing element, such as surgical tubing, in the forward direction. An individual batter, oper... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4815438 | Accelerator for paired masses A method and apparatus has two stages of acceleration establishing levels of kinetic energy in paired bodies contributing to a total system mass that is to be accelerated in a given time profile. A first stage of acceleration places the paired bodies in h... | 03/28/1989 |
| 4778177 | Baseball toss-up apparatus for batting practice and game play A spring loaded arm mechanism is incorporated into a baseball home plate support for tossing a regulation or practice baseball, from ground level, upwardly into the batter's strike zone. A ball launching arm, arm bias spring, arm latch and a release are a... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4706641 | Automatic clay target feeder attachment for trap shooting machines An automatic clay target feeder attachment that can be attached to a clay target trap shooting machine that will self-load the trap shooting machine without need of manual assistance within the forward trap pit on the shooting range. Such feeder attachmen... | 11/17/1987 |
| 4699116 | Multiple arm target launcher A target launcher having multiple throwing arms which are driven by an electronic control assembly to launch each throwing arm sequentially at a predetermined timed interval. The target launcher will accommodate a variety of different kinds of targets to ... | 10/13/1987 |
| 4688804 | Upstanding target structure for playing a game The apparatus comprises an upstanding target structure defining one or more scoring zones and a launcher for launching clay pigeons across the scoring zone or zones. Clay pigeons are launched from a trench and a shooter occupying a cabin scores by hitting... | 08/25/1987 |
| 4539774 | Rodent exterminator A rodent exterminator triggered by the presence of a rodent in close proximity thereto having a spear attached thereto which impales the rodent, killing it instantly. A remote trigger actuates a solenoid to release a spring biased plunger, which is propel... | 09/10/1985 |
| 4508093 | Target-pigeon launcher A launcher for target pigeons of the kind having propellor type wings and which includes a drive unit having a rotating shaft to which a target pigeon is releasably connected. The target pigeon is releasably secured by a retainer head mounted on the rotat... | 04/02/1985 |
| 4352348 | Soccer ball practice machine A soccer ball practice machine includes a pair of juxtaposed, oppositely rotating wheels for propelling a soccer ball toward a soccer player to facilitate the practice and instruction of a wide variety of soccer skills. The orientation of these wheels can... | 10/05/1982 |
| 4345577 | Spring type apparatus for projecting balls Apparatus for projecting balls, having an impact device (10) supported in a frame (11) and provided to convey to a ball an impulse in a direction of projection (Z) from a position in the frame. The frame (11) is supported in a frame work (30) for movement... | 08/24/1982 |
| 4302749 | Automatic firing for clay pigeon launcher A system for controlling operation of a clay pigeon launcher in response to a voice command, to one of a plurality of microphones. The system provides for the averaging of the signal output of the microphones and the selection of the output of highest lev... | 11/24/1981 |
| 4271813 | Batter actuated baseball pitching machine An inexpensive machine which pitches plastic baseballs. The machine is actuated by the user pulling, and then releasing a cord, as he brings his bat into a hitting position. The machine consists of a frame and two legs which form a tripod base, a ball rac... | 06/09/1981 |
| 4261322 | Vehicular toll ejecting apparatus A toll ejecting apparatus for propelling at least one coin from a vehicle to a toll collection receptacle includes a hollow elongated barrel having a propelling mechanism mounted reciprocatively longitudinally therewithin. The mechanism includes a coin-re... | 04/14/1981 |
| 4256303 | Tennis practice device A tennis practice device for propelling balls to a player. The player cocks a hammer and sets a time delay mechanism from his receiving position which is remote from the hammer. After a fixed period of time, during which the player positions himself, the ... | 03/17/1981 |
| 4205651 | Autoloading target-pigeon launcher A launcher for a target pigeon having a central coreless ring and a pair of propeller-type vanes projecting therefrom has a launch head whose tip can be rotated about a head axis for spinning a target pigeon held on the tip by a pair of retractable holdin... | 06/03/1980 |
| 4181911 | Target release system A target release system, particularly suited for use in simulating the hunting of wild game, characterized by a portable signal transmitter for transmitting detectable signals in a terrestrial space environment, a plurality of visually secluded signal rec... | 01/01/1980 |
| 4168695 | Portable ball throwing machine having oscillatory feature A portable ball throwing macine employs a battery operated motor for projecting tennis balls for practice purposes. The balls are fed from a bin by means of a ball fence and agitator to a tube which conveys the ball to a ball track. A spring biased arm is... | 09/25/1979 |
| 4082076 | Spring type ball-pitching apparatus The ball-pitching apparatus of this invention has a ball-holding container affixed to one end of an arm. A baseball can be releasably supported within the container. The arm is pivotally mounted to a base such that opposed ends of the arm may be pivoted w... | 04/04/1978 |
| 4077386 | Ball projecting apparatus Table tennis balls are pushed by a rotated, notched, feed disc from a hopper to a pair of rotated throwing discs which move each ball along either an adjustable, spin producing, bottom guide or an adjustable, spin producing, upper guide. Thrown balls hit ... | 03/07/1978 |
| 4004806 | Apparatus for collecting balls Disclosed is an apparatus for collecting balls from a playing area, preferably tennis balls, comprising a channel surrounding at least a portion of the playing area for receiving balls rolling out of the playing area, a device of relatively high weight in... | 01/25/1977 |
| 3999754 | Table tennis trainer A table tennis trainer having a net trap erected for positioning at one end of a tennis table and associated therewith a ball collecting and return assembly having a ball collecting tube with negative pressure gradients to move the ball to a supply box wh... | 12/28/1976 |
| 3937191 | Rocket launcher including remotely releasable pin latch Toy rocket launcher adapted for refueling and for remotely triggering the launch of a rocket positioned thereon. The launcher comprises a body having a recessed platform for receiving the end of the nozzle of a toy rocket; a channel for refueling, communi... | 02/10/1976 |
