Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Practice or training device
Utility Patent
1999-06-28
2001-01-02
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Practice or training device
C473S421000, C473S430000
Utility Patent
active
06168540
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a batting practice assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable apparatus for practicing batting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for portable batting practice assemblies have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,791 to Ratajac et al. teaches a collapsible portable batting cage having an upper frame assembly, a lower frame assembly, and a rear frame assembly. A length of shock cord is threaded through a vertical bore hole. The top end of the shock cord passes through an eye bolt on the front end of the upper frame assembly and its free end is detachably secured to the top edge of the rear assembly. The bottom end of the shock cord is passed through an eye bolt mounted on the front end of the lower frame assembly and it has its free end detachably secured to the bottom edge of the rear assembly. There is structure on the respective top edge and bottom edge of the rear frame assembly for adjusting the height of the static position of the ball prior to a person taking practice batting swings against it. A safety line is passed through the horizontal bore hole of the bail and its respective ends are secured to the left and right upright tubular members of the rear frame assembly. The batting cage is both portable due to the nature of its light weight components and it is also collapsible which allows it to be stored or carried in a compact manner.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,948 to Thomas teaches a portable ball receiving device with attachments for hitting and throwing. A lightweight frame with a large aperture for receiving a multitude of sports related balls. The main frame members are coupled at midpoint to allow for easy separation or connection. The rear base folds onto the same plane with the vertical and oblique members when in a portable configuration. It includes a receiving net to catch and contain balls which are hit, thrown, or kicked into the frame aperture. Attachments include a vertically adjustable batting tee and a strike zone that hooks to the corners for easy use.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,326 to Marcyes teaches a batting practice apparatus that employs a cyclone fence as an upright, rigid support. A rigid, horizontal arm is detachably secured at one end to the top of the fence. At the other end of the horizontal arm is detachably secured the upper end of a vertically extending shock cord. At the other end of the shock cord is attached an anchoring spike. Intermediate the ends of the shock cord is a ball. The shock cord passes freely through the ball along its vertical axis. A tether passes horizontally through the ball at a location confronting the fence. Opposite ends of the tether are removably secured to the fence to form a triangle for adjusting the horizontal location of the ball. While the tether is detached from the fence at either end, the ball is movable along the shock cord to a desired height. When the tether is attached to the fence at each end in a taut state, the ball is maintained at the adjusted height along the shock cord.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,646 to Dickson teaches a batting practice device consisting of a framework with a horizontal base in the shape of a “T” with a vertical member affixed to the intersection of said horizontal “T”. A second horizontal member centered and affixed to the top of said vertical member to form arms of a vertical “T” that are parallel to the arms of said horizontal “T”. A ball target, baseball, softball, etc. is supported by a flexible means of suspension system. Whereas, the ball is supported at a degree of angle relative to the ground by two upper suspension members extending at outward angles to the top arm of the frame, and a lower suspension member extending outward to the lower tip of the base of the frame forming a “Y” configuration. Another, line of similar flexible means is attached to the intersection of said horizontal and vertical “T”'s, to stop return velocity of the ball after being hit by a bat. The framework is adjustable in height and length to facilitate lowering and raising the position of the ball. The framework is collapsible to allow ease of transportation.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,537 to Zuber teaches a batting practice apparatus that includes a ball, an elongated support arm made from PVC pipe and various PVC fittings, and a strand of flexible material tethering the ball from the support arm. A PVC adapter fitting is provided on the first end portion of the support arm for removably attaching the support arm to a separate mounting member. A PVC tee fitting is provided on the second end portion of the support arm for providing a rotatable structure on the support arm. A PVC plug fitting is secured to the PVC tee fitting, and the strand is secured to the PVC plug fitting. Various mounting members are disclosed to mount the apparatus on various existing supporting structures, including a post, a chain-link fence, and an umbrella stand base.
A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,102 to Lawson et al. teaches a training device for batters which aids a batter in practicing and developing the batting swing including an upright member having a number of arm engagement fittings. The upright member has a horizontal member attached at approximately its midpoint, for supporting the device on a support structure, typically a top rail of a fence. The upright member is secured to the fence or other support structure by a tensionable strap. A horizontal arm is removably mountable in any of the vertically oriented arm engagement mechanisms. A tether depends by its first end from the horizontal arm. A ball is slidably adjustable along the tether. The second end of the tether is attached to the support structure to limit travel of the ball and tether. Because the training device for batters has a number of locations along the length of the upright member at which the horizontal arm member is mountable, the device may be attached to and used on support structures having a variety of heights. In addition the device includes an adapter which allows the training device to be surface mounted on a variety of support structures.
A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,250 to Cripe teaches a practice device for improving batting, pitching, and fielding skills. The device includes a backstop which can be adjusted at different angles to the vertical to return balls striking the backstop on the ground or in the air. With the device configured for batting practice, a ball is positioned at a selected height above and at a selected location across the span of a home plate by a suspension system which includes a cantilevered arm fixed to the backstop, a tether, and a motion damping arrangement which almost instantaneously brings the tethered ball to rest after the ball is struck and rebounds to its rest position. The components of the practice device can be and quickly folded or otherwise positioned against the backstop to provide a compact, easily stored package. The practice device can also be easily configured as a wheeled cart easily moved from one location to another along with ball bags and other equipment stowable on the cart.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for portable batting practice assemblies have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable apparatus for practicing batting that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portab
Aryanpour Mitra
Chapman Jeanette
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