US 11,724,170 B2
Squash ball launching machine
Anthony Paul Nashaat Hannallah, Guildford (GB); and Jonathan Paul Taylor, Stonehouse (GB)
Assigned to Stingray Squash Machines Limited, Guildford (GB)
Filed by Stingray Squash Machines Limited, Guildford (GB)
Filed on May 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/319,037.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/024,276, filed on May 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0354021 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. A63B 69/40 (2006.01); A63B 47/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/06 (2006.01); A63B 102/06 (2015.01); A63B 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 69/406 (2013.01) [A63B 47/005 (2013.01); A63B 71/0622 (2013.01); A63B 47/02 (2013.01); A63B 2071/0683 (2013.01); A63B 2102/06 (2015.10); A63B 2220/72 (2013.01); A63B 2220/833 (2013.01); A63B 2225/093 (2013.01); A63B 2225/50 (2013.01); A63B 2225/64 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ball launching machine, comprising:
a base unit comprising an enclosure;
a pair of counter-rotating flywheels disposed within the enclosure;
a meter wheel disposed within the enclosure, the meter wheel located adjacent to an inlet to the pair of counter-rotating flywheels such that the meter wheel can selectively pass the balls to the pair of counter-rotating flywheels via rotation of the meter wheel;
a drive motor coupled to the meter wheel; and
a controller electrically coupled to the drive motor,
wherein the controller is configured to selectively actuate the drive motor to turn the meter wheel, and
wherein the controller is configured to determine that one of the balls has been metered by monitoring a load value of the drive motor.