Baseball pitching target with a ball return

• US 4,913,427 A
• Filed: 09/12/1988
• Issued: 04/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jackie L. Wilson
• Original Assignee: Jackie L. Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Jackie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THEATRICE
• Application Number:
  US07/242,648
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 R, 273/26 A, 273/201, 273/29 R, 273/29 A, 273/184 R, 273/183 R, 273/410, 273/411, 273/11 R, 273/407
• US Class Current: 473/432
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

A baseball pitching target with a ball return is provided and consists of a return chute angularly elevated to extend away from a box-like enclosure having an open front end with a target frame vertically suspended between the open front end of the enclosure and the chute. A person standing behind the chute can pitch a baseball through the target frame. The baseball is stopped by the enclosure and falls into the chute to be returned back to the person. One end of the return chute has a front wall removably attached to the return chute by a tongue and groove arrangement whereby the wall can be removed to allow a ball to roll out of the chute and into the field of practice.

Claims

1. A baseball pitching target with a ball return, comprising:

(a) a boxshaped enclosure having an open front end and including a plurality of poles affixed together to form a frame structure, a piece of tough durable material covering said frame structure forming a top wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, and a rear wall for stopping the baseball;

(b) a return chute angularly elevated to extend away from said boxshaped enclosure and including an elongated flat floor having a rear end and a front end, a pair of side angular floors, each extending away at an opposite side of said elongated flat floor, a pair of side walls, each extending upwardly at an opposite side to one of said pair of side angular floors, a rear angular wall extending away from said rear end of said elongated flat floor and said pair of side angular floors, so that said rear angular wall extending under said top wall to bear against said rear wall of said boxshaped enclosure, a pair of spaced apart vertical legs disposed at said rear end of said elongated flat floor for angularly elevating said return chute, and a front wall extending upwardly at said front end of said elongated flat floor to stop the baseball when the baseball is rolling down the return chute, said front wall and said front end of said flat floor in said return chute further including a tongue and groove arrangement therebetween so that said front wall can be removed therefrom for allowing the baseball to roll out of said return chute for fielding practice;

(c) a target frame vertically suspended between said open front end of said boxshaped enclosure and said return chute, so that a person standing at said return chute can pitch a baseball through said target frame and the baseball being stopped by said boxshaped enclosure and falling into said return chute to be returned back to the person, said target frame further including four support members, each of which extending from one corner thereof for vertically suspending said target frame between said plurality of poles of said boxshaped enclosure and said pair of side angular floors of said return chute.

2. A baseball pitching target as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a noramally opened button switch mounted to one of said side walls of said enclosure behind said target frame;

(b) a pivotable long arm mounted to other of said side walls of said enclosure behind said target frame to make contact with said switch;

(c) a counter electrically connected to said button switch;

(d) a display electrically connected to said counter; and

(e) a power supply electrically connected to said display and said switch so that when the baseball passes through said target frame and strikes said long arm, said button switch will close sending a signal through said counter and putting a score on said display.

3. A baseball pitching target as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

(a) a sensor mounted to one of said side walls of said enclosure behind said target frame;

(b) an electric eye mounted to other of said side walls of said enclosure behind said target frame so as to be in alignment with said sensor;

(c) a counter electrically connected to said sensor;

(d) a display electrically connected to said counter; and

(e) a power supply electrically connected to said display, said sensor and said electric eye so that when the baseball passes through said target frame braking visual contact between said sensor and said electric eye a signal will be sent from said sensor through said counter and a score will be put on said display.