Collapsible and Portable Strikezone & Backstop for WIFFLE® Ball (and other Plastic Baseball) Games

• US 20130267353A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wei Hu
• Original Assignee: Wei Hu
• Inventors: Hu, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/439,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/421
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/54 Foldable elastic frame members automatically resuming their expanded state when released
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

This invention, entitled “Collapsible and Portable Strikezone & Backstop for WIFFLE® Ball (and other Plastic Baseball) Games,” is a lightweight, portable strikezone and backstop for use in WIFFLE ball games. This invention calls pitches entering the strikezone, embedded on the collapsible backstop frame, “strikes” and stops “balls” hitting the backstop. This WIFFLE ball strikezone and backstop is portable and collapsible, being able to have its coilable frame rapidly unfurl and attach to lightweight rods in assembly. The invention'"'"'s strikezone netting serves an objective “umpire” for pitches, while its backstop assists batters in retrieving “balls” faster—facilitating WIFFLE ball play. The invention'"'"'s specific design for use with WIFFLE® and other plastic baseballs enables the backstop frame to be lightweight and portable, which is easily assembled by unfurling and attaching it to lightweight connectors maintaining it perpendicular to the playing ground.

Claims

1. ) A collapsible and portable strikezone and backstop for use with WIFFLE®

(and other recreational plastic-baseball) ball games, serving as an “

umpire”

in calling pitches “

strikes” and

stopping “

balls”

at the backstop, is comprised in combination of;

a. a main elliptical-shaped backstop consisting of a synthetic fabric attached to a collapsible and coilable frame member; and

b. within the backstop, a target aperture, representing a strikezone for determining whether a pitched WIFFLE®

(or other plastic baseball) ball is a “

strike”

or a “

ball,”

embedded within backstop frame; and

c. a pouch netting, attached on the rear side of the backstop, surrounding the strikezone aperture opening that funnels pitched “

strikes”

into a ball reservoir located at the base of the backstop; and

d. two detachable and retractable connectors/fasteners brace members connected the sides of the base and bottom of the backstop to support the strikezone and backstop perpendicular to the ground.

2. ) The collapsible and portable strikezone and backstop of claim 1 is collapsible by collapsing, bending, or folding the collapsible and coilable frame members (which retain its original shape when fully unfurled, such as steel wire) into a portable size, wherein:

a. when the strikezone and backstop is collapsed, the collapsible and coilable frame member, being one continuous piece, forms overlapping loops over one another so that it can be coiled; and

b. the collapsible and coilable frame member includes two ends which permit axial rotation for collapsing the unit for disassembly and transport of the device; and

c. the supporting braces are attached to sides and base of the perimeter of the collapsible and coilable frame member in fully-assembled form; and

d. further in fully-assembled form, the collapsible and coilable frame member and backstop is semi-elliptical and semi-rectangular in shape in a size suitable to serve as a backstop and strikezone for WIFFLE®

(and other plastic baseball) ball games.

e) The collapsible and portable strikezone and backstop of claim 1 is also collapsible by employing detachable frame members (such as fiberglass poles) and connectors as a modification of the preferred embodiment of the invention (instead of collapsible and coilable frame members) to establish the frame and shape of backstop and support it perpendicular to the ground.

3. ) The device of claim 1 facilitates and increases the enjoyment of WIFFLE®

ball by modifying the rules of the game by employing the device to serve as an objective “

umpire”

in calling pitches either entering the strikezone aperture to count as a “

strikes”

or hitting the backstop to count as “

balls.”

a) The device of claim 1 has a strikezone target and backstop is specifically designed for use with pitched WIFFLE®

(and other recreational plastic baseball) balls.

b) The device of claim 1 reduces and minimizes the retrieval time of pitched WIFFLE®

(and other recreational plastic baseball) balls, which either enters the strikezone aperture to funnel in a ball reservoir or hits backstop and stops in front of it, by the batter.

c) The device of claim 1 can also being used in WIFFLE®

ball games and tournaments as an objective umpire in calling “

balls” and

“

strikes”

instead of other currently-used inferior strikezone designs.