Tommy C Smith

US Patent:

42563046, Mar 17, 1981

Filed:

Nov 27, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/097227

Inventors:

Tommy L. Smith - Aurora OR
Edward G. Dierickx - West Linn OR
Walter B. Schade - Portland OR
Leslie A. Pete - Central Point OR

Assignee:

Athletic Training Equipment Company - Clackamas OR

International Classification:

A63B 3700

US Classification:

273 60B

Abstract:

A baseball suitable for continuous use in a pitching machine comprises a molded, resilient polyurethane foam sphere having a type A-2 shore durometer hardness of less than about eighty to eighty-five. The sphere has a smooth polyurethane surface skin, with the surface of the sphere being provided with a regular pattern comprising a multiplicity of cup-like or hemispherical depressions substantially covering the surface. The baseball has the advantage of durability as well as the advantage of being formed economically in one operation from a homogeneous composition. The cup-like depressions enable the ball to travel greater distances than would be expected for the resilient material, and enhance the accuracy with which the ball can be pitched, bringing the ball substantially within the range of initial performance of a conventional or regulation baseball. The ball is pitched in a pitching machine providing backspin and the depressions appear to cause turbulent airflow enhancing lift and drag factors on the ball as well as stabilizing its flight path. The ball resilience further enhances the ease with which it is manufactured since the ball can be easily removed from a simple mold despite the presence of mold projections used to form the aforementioned depressions.

US Patent:

61521264, Nov 28, 2000

Filed:

Apr 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/295069

Inventors:

Tommy L. Smith - Salem OR
Richard E. Hall - Salem OR
Robert E. Green - Orange CA

Assignee:

Automated Batting Cages - Salem OR

International Classification:

F41B 400

US Classification:

124 78

Abstract:

The invention is a pitching system with a pitching mechanism. A control panel allows a user to separately control ball speed and tilt angle. The control panel also displays an estimated height at which the ball will cross the plate for the selected ball speed and tilt angle. In the preferred embodiment, a vertical row of lamps shows the estimated ball height. The control panel can include symbology to indicate strike zones for batters of different heights. To operate the batting cage, the batter selects the desired ball speed. The control panel displays an estimated ball height based on the selected ball speed and current tilt angle. The batter then adjusts the tilt angle of the pitching mechanism until a desired ball height is reached. The batter then starts the machine. In this manner, the batter avoids wasting balls selecting a preferred choice of ball speed and height.

US Patent:

41978277, Apr 15, 1980

Filed:

Nov 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/850472

Inventors:

Tommy L. Smith - Aurora OR

International Classification:

F41B 1500

US Classification:

124 78

Abstract:

A baseball pitching machine includes a pair of adjacent ball engaging wheels each provided with a groove or concave surface formed in a body of an elastomeric material. As the baseball is received between the grooved wheels, the groove edges are laterally distorted, since the edges are unrestrained, to grip the baseball securely on opposite sides thereof and pitch the baseball in an accurately predetermined direction.

US Patent:

42203317, Sep 2, 1980

Filed:

Apr 5, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/027290

Inventors:

Tommy L. Smith - Aurora OR

International Classification:

A63B 6940

US Classification:

273 26D

Abstract:

A baseball batting range includes a plurality of pitching machines positioned for propelling baseballs toward corresponding batting stations. The range further includes a sloping floor and a sump where the batted baseballs are collected, and a conveyor which delivers the balls from the sump to a distribution hopper elevated with respect to the sump and the pitching machines. Gravity tube magazines fed from the distribution hopper hold a number of baseballs which are metered to the respective pitching machines. The sump and the distribution hopper are provided with agitators facilitating continuous movement of the baseballs.

US Patent:

61950173, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Apr 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/295745

Inventors:

Tommy L. Smith - Salem OR
Richard E. Hall - Salem OR

Assignee:

Automated Batting Cages - Salem OR

International Classification:

G08B 536

US Classification:

34081548

Abstract:

The invention is a user control panel for a pitching system with a pitching mechanism. The control panel allows a user to separately control ball speed and tilt angle. The control panel also displays an estimated height at which the ball will cross the plate for the selected ball speed and tilt angle. In the preferred embodiment, a vertical row of lamps shows the estimated ball height. The control panel can include symbology to indicate strike zones for batters of different heights.