John A Stump

US Patent:

7213724, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Jan 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/361995

Inventors:

David S. Langer - Haleiwa HI, US
John Stump - Santa Barbara CA, US

International Classification:

B65G 59/00
B65H 3/30
B65H 5/00
B65H 3/00
G07F 11/16

US Classification:

221289, 221294, 221298, 221236, 221258, 221271, 221276

Abstract:

A table tennis ball delivery device adapted to be secured to or adjacent the side of a table tennis table for directing a ball to a player upon the activation of a switch by the player. The device includes a chamber for carrying a supply of table tennis balls, a ball transfer mechanism for selectively advancing an individual ball from the chamber to a location over a flexed or cocked delivery spring oriented such that upon activation of the switch by a player, the spring is released so as to strike a ball and launch the ball to the player. The ball transfer mechanism is coordinated with the spring cocking and release mechanism so as to position another ball over the delivery spring and re-cock the spring immediately upon the launching of the ball to the player.