Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-11-27
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S462000, C473S429000, C473S425000, C473S430000, C473S438000, C024S114500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322460
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to sporting implements. Stated more particularly, this patent discloses and protects a batting practice device for aiding a ball player in practicing and improving his or her batting ability and for allowing a player to warm up prior to a game or a given at bat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Becoming a better hitter is certainly an object of every baseball and softball player. Similarly, nearly all players in such sports typically find it advantageous to warm up prior to each game. Still further, most players seek to take a number of practice swings immediately prior to a given at bat to refresh muscle memory, to warm up, and, possibly, to quell any nerves that might interfere with proper batting.
Unfortunately, even during practice sessions, it is often difficult for a batter to get as much practice as he or she might desire or, indeed, require. With this, a hitter may be deprived of the practice needed to become truly proficient. Although pitching machine have been disclosed that may be useful tools for enabling a hitter to get more of the practice that is essential to developing a proper hitting technique, like an actual human pitcher, use of such machines or a human pitcher require not only the batting practice pitcher or the pitching machine, but they also require an open field and persons to shag the batted balls. These requirements render such practice methods problematic for an individual user and particularly impracticable for a batter while a game is underway. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it is desirable to provide a means for a ball player to practice to practice batting in a limited space without interfering with non-practice areas and without requiring the retrieval of a ball with each practice swing.
Advantageously, as one knowledgeable in the art will be aware, a number of inventors have sought to provide batting practice devices that meet the aforementioned needs of ball players. These devices are of undisputed utility, and they have undeniably improved batters' abilities by allowing extended, individual practice sessions. They have also enabled unobtrusive opportunities for a batter to warm up prior to a game or a given at bat.
Unfortunately, though, the devices of the prior art suffer from a number of disadvantages that together make clear that there remains a need in the art for an improved batting practice device. For example, many batting practice devices of the prior art are complex in construction whereby they are susceptible to malfunction and breakage and are relatively expensive and difficult in manufacture, installation, and repair. By way of example, many prior art batting practice devices provide a target member for being struck that is retained at a first end of a tether that, in turn, is retained by its second end by a retaining structure. In these devices, the tether can become entangled, a swiveling structure can become worn or broken, the swinging target member can strike the user or an observer, and the tether can break thereby creating danger, expense, and delay. Furthermore, many prior art devices require tools and demand a significant expenditure of time and effort for their installation. With this, use of the devices can be delayed and even discouraged.
With these things in mind, it becomes clear that a batting practice device that overcomes the deficiencies of its predecessors while providing a number of heretofore unrealized advantages thereover would represent a marked advance in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Advantageously, the present invention sets forth with the broadly stated object of providing a batting practice device that solves each of the problems left by the prior art while providing a number of heretofore unrealized advantages thereover.
A most basic object of the invention is to provide a batting practice device that enables a ball player to practice batting in a limited space without a need for other players or assistance.
A further object of the invention is to provide a batting practice device that is exceedingly simple and durable in construction.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a batting practice device that can be coupled to an environmental structure, such as a fence, in a rapid manner without a need for tools.
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention undoubtedly will be obvious both to one who has an opportunity to enjoy the use of an embodiment of the present invention and to one who reviews the present disclosure.
In carrying forth these objects, a most basic embodiment of the invention essentially comprises a batting practice device for enabling a user to practice batting and to warm up prior to a game or a given at bat. The batting practice device is founded on an elongate retaining rod, a target member that is coupled to a distal end of the rod, and a means for supporting the proximal end of the rod. Advantageously, even under this most basic embodiment, a ball player can practice batting and can warm up prior to a game or a given at bat by striking the target member with a striking implement.
Preferably, the target member will be affixed directly to the distal end of the elongate retaining rod without the intervention of any tether or other structures that have been employed in the prior art. Furthermore, the preferred elongate retaining rod will be resiliently flexible whereby the target member and the elongate retaining rod will tend to deflect in response to an impact by a striking implement and whereby the target member and the elongate retaining rod will tend to return approximately to an initial position after an impact by a striking implement. Still further, a most preferred elongate retaining rod will be formed from a strand of wire rope coated with a plastic sheath. With this, the elongate retaining rod will demonstrate exemplary durability while not tending to damage a striking implement with which the batting practice device is struck.
The preferred target member will have a bore hole therethrough, and the elongate retaining rod will be received within the bore hole. To retain the target member on the elongate retaining rod, a ball stop will be disposed at the distal end of the elongate retaining rod. In such a case, the target member can have a countersunk bore hole portion surrounding the bore hole whereby the ball stop can be counter sunk within the countersunk bore hole portion and whereby damage to a striking implement by the ball stop is prevented. The ball stop can be fixed to the distal end of the elongate retaining rod or it can be removably coupled, as by a threaded fastener, so that the ball stop and the target member can be selectively removed from the elongate retaining member. With this, the target member can be removed and replaced when damaged or worn.
The means for supporting the proximal end of the rod may be in the form of a clamping structure for clamping the batting practice device to an environmental structure whereby the batting practice device can be employed in a wide variety of locations. In such a case, the clamping structure could comprise a first clamping block and a second clamping block that cooperate with a means for selectively pressing the clamping blocks together. With this, the first and second clamping blocks can be disposed to sandwich and clamp about an environmental structure.
In certain embodiments, the first and second clamping blocks may be disposed on a retaining sleeve. Also, the means for selectively pressing the first and second clamping blocks may be a clamping nut that is disposed on the retaining sleeve in cooperation with threads that are also disposed on the retaining sleeve. Preferably, a clamp stop will be fixed to the retaining sleeve so that the first and second clamping blocks can butt thereagainst when they are pressed together by the clamping nut. The preferred clamping blocks will include aligned first and second elongate clamping furrows for engaging adjacent wire strands on a chain link fence. Furthermore, pins
Aryanpour Mitra
Chapman Jeanette
O'Connell Law Firm
LandOfFree
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