BASEBALL BUNTING TARGET SYSTEM

• US 20070178993A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AF Sports LLC
• Original Assignee: Aer-Flo Canvas Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Henning, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,534,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/451
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A batter training and protection system is shown. A protector for protecting an infield area is provided with a plurality of indicia situated thereon or integrally formed therein to define a plurality of target areas, respectively. The indicia may comprise a plurality of material segments, a plurality of colors, patterns, graphics or the like in order to define the plurality of target areas at which a player may practice bunting a baseball.

Claims

1. A bunting target system comprising:

at least one bunting target for placing on a surface and for providing a batter with a target area at which the batter may bunt a baseball wherein said at least one bunting target lies in a first imaginary plane that is generally parallel to a second imaginary plane of said surface and permitting a bunted baseball to roll on it.

2. The bunting target system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target comprises at least one indicia.

3. The bunting target system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target comprises at least one material segment.

4. The bunting target system as recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one material segment comprises at least one indicia.

5. The baseball training system as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one indicia comprises a shape of said bunting target.

6. The baseball training system as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one indicia comprises a color integrally formed or applied to said bunting target.

7. The baseball training system as recited in claim 3 wherein said color is red, yellow or green.

8. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target is defined by a cover that defines a plurality of target zones.

9. The baseball training system as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of target zones define at least one of a bunt-for-hit area, a sacrifice bunt area or a bad-bunt area.

10. The baseball training system as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of target zones are defined by at least one color is integrally formed in said bunting target to identify at least one of said plurality of target zones.

11. The baseball training system as recited in claim 8 wherein said at least one color is integrally formed in said cover material and identifies at least one of said bunt-for-hit area, sacrifice bunt area or a bad-bunt area.

12. The baseball training system as recited in claim 9 wherein said color is yellow, green or red.

13. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system comprises:

a plurality of covers that cooperate to define said bunting target for training a player to hit a baseball to a plurality of target zones; and

a plurality of indicia associated with said plurality of covers, respectively.

14. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of covers may be detachably fastened together.

15. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of covers are permanently fastened together.

16. The baseball training system as recited in claim 14 wherein said plurality of covers, when fastened together, define a trapezoid.

17. The baseball training system as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of covers, when fastened together, define a trapezoid.

18. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of indicia are defined by a shape of said plurality of covers.

19. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein a plurality of said plurality of covers comprise different dimension.

20. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein a plurality of said plurality of indicia comprise different dimensions.

21. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of indicia are defined by a plurality of colors, respectively, integrally formed in said plurality of covers.

22. The baseball training system as recited in claim 21 wherein said colors are at least one of the following:

red, yellow or green.

23. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of predetermined areas comprise at least one of a bunt-for-hit area, a sacrifice bunt area or a bad-bunt area.

24. The baseball training system as recited in claim 23 wherein said plurality of covers comprises a plurality of colors integrally formed in said plurality for covers to identify at least one of said bunt-for-hit area, sacrifice bunt area or a bad-bunt area.

25. The baseball training system as recited in claim 24 wherein said plurality of colors are yellow, green or red, respectively.

26. The baseball training system as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of predetermined covers correspond to at least one of a bunt-for-hit zone, a sacrifice bunt zone and a bad-bunt zone.

27. The baseball training system as recited in claim 5 wherein said plurality of covers defines a bunt-for-hit zone indicia associated with said bunt-for-hit zone, a sacrifice bunt zone indicia associated with said sacrifice bunt zone, and a bad-bunt zone indicia associated with said bad bunt zone.

28. The baseball training system as recited in claim 27 wherein said bunt-for-hit zone indicia, said sacrifice bunt zone indicia and said bad-bunt zone indicia each comprise a color.

29. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target defines a third base target for positioning in operative relationship with a third baseline.

30. The baseball training system as recited in claim 29 wherein said at least one bunting target defines a plurality of boundary edges that are generally parallel to said third baseline when said at least one cover is situated over said predetermined area.

31. The baseball training system as recited in claim 18 wherein said shape is polygonal and defines at least one of a rectangle, triangle, trapezoid or parallelogram.

32. The baseball training system as recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of covers define a bunt-for-hit zone cover for positioning adjacent a third baseline, a first sacrifice bunt zone cover for positioning adjacent said bunt-for-hit zone, and a second sacrifice bunt zone cover for positioning adjacent a first baseline.

33. The baseball training system as recited in claim 14 wherein said plurality of covers each comprise a fastener for detachably fastening said plurality of covers together to another cover.

34. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target comprises a fastener for detachably fastening said at least one bunting target to a support.

35. The baseball training system as recited in claim 34 wherein said support is a tarp.

36. The baseball training system as recited in claim 34 wherein said fastener is Velcro.

37. The baseball training system as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of covers are permanently secured together by welding or sewing.

38. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said bunting target comprises a vinyl coated polyester mesh material.

39. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said bunting target comprises a solid fabric material.

40. The baseball training system as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of covers are secured together permanently by weld or sewing.

41. The baseball training system as recited in claim 14 wherein said plurality of covers are detachably secured together.

42. The baseball training system as recited in claim 41 wherein said plurality of covers are detachably fastened together with Velcro.

43. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target is detachably or permanently fastened, secured or adhered to a field protector.

44. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target defines a protector for facilitating protecting the surface on which it is placed from bunted baseballs.

45. The baseball training system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one bunting target defines either a trapezoid or rectangle.

49. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of indicia comprise at least one of the following:

yellow, red or green.

46. A method for training a batter to bunt a baseball;

providing a trainer for positioning on an infield;

said trainer comprising a plurality of target zones at which the batter may bunt the baseball; and

throwing a baseball at the batter so that the batter may hit the baseball at one of said plurality of target zones.

47. The method as recited in claim 46 wherein said plurality of target zones are defined by a plurality of indicia, respectively.

48. The method as recited in claim 47 wherein said plurality of indicia are a plurality of colors.

50. The method as recited in claim 46 wherein said plurality of target zones are defined by indicia that are integral with said trainer.

51. The method as recited in claim 46 wherein said method comprises the step of:

providing a trainer that comprises a plurality of target zones defining a third base zone, a sacrifice bunt zone, a bad-bunt zone and a first base zone.

52. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said plurality of target zones are defined by a plurality of indicia, respectively.

53. The method as recited in claim 52 wherein said plurality of indicia are defined by a plurality of colors.

54. The method as recited in claim 53 wherein said plurality of colors comprise a first color associated with said third base zone and a second color associated with said first bad-bunt zone.

55. The method as recited in claim 54 wherein said first color is yellow and said second color is red.

56. The method as recited in claim 46 wherein said method comprises the step of:

defining said plurality of target zones to extend along radial lines from said batter'"'"'s box;

wherein at least one of said plurality of target zones enlarges as it moves along one of said radial lines away from said batter'"'"'s box.

57. The method as recited in claim 46 wherein said method comprises the step of:

defining said plurality of target zones to extend along radial lines from said batter'"'"'s box;

wherein a plurality of said plurality of target zones enlarges as it moves along one of said radial lines away from said batter'"'"'s box.

58. The method as recited in claims 46, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

providing a trainer having a plurality of material segments to define said plurality of target zones and that cooperate to define a predetermined shape.

59. The method as recited in claim 58, wherein said predetermined shape is polygonal.

60. The method as recited in claim 58, wherein said predetermined shape is a trapezoid.

61. The method as recited in claim 46, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

providing a trainer that comprises a material that protects the ground and is water-resistant.

62. A method for training a player to bunt a baseball to a predetermined area on a baseball field comprising the steps of:

providing a target that defines an at least one target zone at which the player may selectively bunt the baseball; and

positioning the target in an infield area so that when the baseball is pitched at the player, the player may bunt it toward one of the plurality of target zones.

63. The method for training the player as recited in claim 62 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

defining said at least one target zone by a plurality of colors, respectively.

64. The method for training the player as recited in claim 62 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

defining said at least one target zone by a plurality of material segments, respectively.

65. The method for training the player as recited in claim 62 wherein said target comprises a protector for protecting said infield area.

66. The method for training the player as recited in claim 64 wherein said at least one target zone provides a plurality of target zones defined by a plurality of material segments, respectively.

67. A baseball field comprising:

a baseball field;

a bunting target panel having a plurality of bunting targets situated on the field.

68. The baseball field as recited in claim 67 wherein the bunting target comprises a plurality of indicia to define said plurality of bunting targets.

69. The baseball field as recited in claim 67 wherein said plurality of indicia comprise colors or patterns.

70. An infield protector and bunting trainer for protecting an infield area of a baseball field and for facilitating training a player to bunt a baseball, comprising:

a protector for placing on said infield area; and

a plurality of target zones for defining a plurality of targets at which a player may throw or hit a baseball.

71. A baseball training system comprising:

a material comprising a predetermined shape; and

at least one indicia associated with the material for defining at least one target zone to facilitate training a baseball player.

72. The baseball training system as recited in claim 71 wherein said material comprises a plurality of indicia associated with the material for defining a plurality of target zones, respectively.

73. The baseball training system as recited in claim 71 wherein said material comprises a plurality of segments to define a plurality of target zones.

74. A baseball training system comprising a trainer for placing at an infield area;

and

a plurality of indicia associated with said trainer for defining a plurality of target zones for training a batter where to bunt a baseball.

75. The baseball training system as recited in claim 74 wherein said plurality of indicia are areas on said material defined by colors or material segments.