Connie Jo Silin

US Patent:

53338553, Aug 2, 1994

Filed:

Jul 20, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/916514

Inventors:

Connie J. Silin - Kansas City MO
David E. Fowler - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

A63B 6940

US Classification:

273 26A

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.