Ambidextrous pitching screen system

• US 20060073919A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morrow Sports, LLC
• Original Assignee: Morrow Sports, LLC
• Inventors: Morrow, William David
• Granted Patent: US 7,153,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/434
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A pitching screen which provides a first pitching lane and a second pitching lane in a single pitching screen configuration to allow both left-handed pitchers and right-handed pitchers to pitch without repositioning the pitching screen.

Claims

1. A pitching screen, comprising:

a. an object deflection material;

b. a support structure to which said object deflection material substantially conforms, wherein said support structure has a configuration which allows an object to be pitched by a pitcher from either the left hand side or the right hand side of said support structure; and

c. a base which maintains said support structure in substantially fixed orientation to a support surface.

2. A pitching screen as described in claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinylchloride, virgin polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, metal, aluminum, and fiberglass.

3. A pitching screen as described in claim 2, wherein said support structure comprises:

a. a first linear support element having a first end and a second end;

b. a second linear support element having first end and a second end; and

c. a coupler to which said first end of said first support element and said first end of said second support element are joined.

4. A pitching screen as described in claim 3, wherein said coupler to which said first end of said liner support element and said first end of said second linear support element are joined disposes said first support element and said second support element at an angle of not more than about one hundred degrees.

5. A pitching screen as described in claim 3, further comprising a restraint element to which said second end of said first linear support element and said second end of said second linear support element are responsive.

6. A pitching screen as described in claim 5, wherein a characteristic of said restraint element generates flexure in said first linear support element to establish a first arcuate support element.

7. A pitching screen as described in claim 5, wherein said characteristic of said restraint element generates flexure in said second linear support element to establish a second arcuate support element.

8. A pitching screen as described in claim 7, wherein length of said linear support element is between about 48 inches and about 120 inches.

9. A pitching screen as described in claim 8, wherein flexure of said linear support element defines a radius of a circle of between about 36 inches and about 120 inches.

10. A pitching screen as described in claim 3, wherein said first linear support element comprises a plurality of axially coupled linear support segments.

11. A pitching screen as described in claim 10, wherein said second linear support element comprises a plurality of axially coupled linear support segments.

12. A pitching screen as described in claim 11, further comprising an elastically tensioned coupling between said plurality of axially coupled linear support segments.

13. A pitching screen as described in claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises:

a. a first arcuate support element having a first end and a second end;

b. a second arcuate support element having first end and a second end; and

c. a coupler to which said first end of said first support element and said first end of said second support element are joined.

14. A pitching screen as described in claim 13, wherein said first arcuate support defines a radius of a circle of between about 36 inches and about 120 inches.

15. A pitching screen as described in claim 14, wherein said support structure has a height from said support surface of between about 60 inches and about 120 inches.

16. A pitching screen as described in claim 3, wherein said base comprises:

a. a first tee extension coupled to said second end of said first linear support element; and

b. a second tee extension coupled to said second end of said second linear support element.

17. A pitching screen as described in claim 13, wherein said base comprises;

a. a first tee element coupled to said second end of said first arcuate support element; and

b. a second tee element coupled to said second end of said second arcuate support element.

18. A pitching screen as described in claim 16, wherein said restraint element comprises a bifurcated restraint element each end having a pair of connectors which couple with each leg of said first tee element and said second tee element.

19. A pitching screen as described in claim 1, wherein said object deflection material further comprises a plurality of aperture elements.

20. A pitching screen as described in claim 19, wherein said object deflection material which comprises a plurality of aperture elements is selected from the group consisting of a woven material, a knotted material, a net material, and a screen material.

21. A pitching screen as described in claim 20, wherein said object deflection material deflects an object selected from the group consisting of a ball, a soft ball, a baseball, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, and a foot ball.

22-35. -35. (canceled)