Ball batting game apparatus

• US 4,944,513 A
• Filed: 03/07/1989
• Issued: 07/31/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John R. Zentner
• Original Assignee: John R. Zentner
• Inventors: Zentner, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US07/321,294
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 273/25, 273/26 R, 273/26 A, 273/26 B, 273/26 D, 273/26 E, 273/26 EA, 273/28, 273/29 R, 273/29 A, 273/58 C, 273/60 R, 273/67 R, 273/88, 273/90
• US Class Current: 473/428
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/48 with perforated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0084 the line or cord being fixed to at least two points

Abstract

Ball batting apparatus for playing ball with one to three players which has a pair of spaced apart line attaching members (30) positioned a predetermined distance with a line (40) stretched therebetween. Line tensioners maintain the tautness of the line and a ball (56) with a hole (58) in the center thereof is slideably contained on the line. A ball striking device having extended fingers (60) allows a player to hit the ball with the fingers penetrating either side of the line. In one embodiment, a ball launching implement (72) is used by a second player to propel the ball with a flick of the wrist to the player having the striking device simulating a pitcher. In another embodiment, a third player acts as a catcher and manipulates the line (30) with an adjuster (96) simulating a curve or sliding pitch.

Claims

1. A ball batting game apparatus for playing with two players comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced-apart line-attaching members positioned at a predetermined distance,

(b) a line between and contiguous with said attaching members above a ground surface providing a directional guide therebetween,

(c) line tensioning means connected between the line and the attaching members causing the line to be taut defining a relatively straight linear guide between the members,

(d) a ball having a hole in the center thereof disposed on the line through the hole allowing the ball to move freely on the line in a linear direction,

(e) a ball striking device held by a player having extended fingers on one end and a gripping surface on the other providing a striking force to propel the ball along the line when hit by the player, with the fingers penetrating either side of the line hitting only the ball when the player arcuately swings the striking device, and

(f) a bifurcated ball launching implement held by the other player, the implement having forks on one end and a handle surface on the other allowing the remaining player to orientate the forks on the line contiguous with the ball and propel the ball with a flip of the player'"'"'s wrist to the player having the striking device in a pitching manner allowing the striking device to be swung impacting the ball thrusting it back toward the remaining player in a hitting manner duplicating, in constraint, a game using a ball and a bat or racket.

2. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line attaching members further comprise at least one post positioned rigidly in the ground with one end retained in the ground and the remaining portion oriented in a vertical position with the post having sufficient structural integrity to maintain its relative position when strain is placed therebetween by the tensioning members.

3. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line attaching members further comprise at least one upright arm with radial ends having a mounting plate on the ends thereof for attachment to a rigid surface such as a building or structure.

4. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line attaching members further comprise a strap having adjustable connecting means and a line fastener thereon allowing attachment of the line to a tree, pole or other rigid vertical structure around the perimeter thereof.

5. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said line fastener further comprises a "D" ring held captive by the strap providing a mounting surface for said line tensioning means.

6. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line attaching member further comprises a plurality of handles held by one or more non players providing portable attachment of the line and manual tensioning thereof.

7. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line further comprises a flexible wire rope consisting of a plurality of wire strands one strand forming the center around which the other strands are laid in a spiral manner.

8. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising a resilient thermoplastic coating over and impregnated through the wire rope for wear resistance and protection.

9. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible line further comprises a woven fibrous cord with fibers laid in parallel and woven into a homogenous mass.

10. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible line further comprises a rope consisting of ribbons spun into yarn twisted into strands.

11. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line further comprises a plurality of rigid sections having male and female threads on each end joined together by sequentially connecting the ends together forming a rigid line from one attaching member to the other.

12. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line tensioning means further comprises a turnbuckle having an arbor with right and left hand threaded eyes rotatably disposed on each end shortening the distance between the eyes when rotating the arbor allowing the line to be tensioned between the attaching members.

13. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line tensioning means further comprise a winch upon which the line is wound, said winch having a free-spooling one-way ratchet with an operating handle, when the handle is rotated, the line is wound tight around the spool with the ratchet maintaining the tension by the relative position of the ratchet.

14. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said line tensioning means further comprises a threaded eye having a swivel and a threaded C shaped bracket such that when the eye is rotated within the bracket, the relative length of the line is shortened creating the tension on the line.

15. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball is hollow having sufficient structural integrity to withstand the impact of the striking device.

16. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball is solid having sufficient resiliency to respond to the impact of the striking device when swung by the player.

17. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball striking device further comprises a bat having cavities in one end with said extended fingers connected integrally to the cavities in the end opposite the handle.

18. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball striking device further comprises a baseball bat and a ring having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of the bat, with said plurality of extended fingers connected to and extending from the ring in such a manner as to lengthen the bat when the ring is placed thereon held in place by the diametrical difference in the bat and ring.

19. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball striking device further comprises a racket having the handle with a gripping surface and the extending finger end radiused in a tennis racket manner duplicating the weight and feel of a racket used to play tennis.

20. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said ball striking device further comprises a racket having the handle with a gripping surface and the extending finger end radiused in a racketball, racket manner duplicating the weight and feel of a racket used to play racketball.

21. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising an impact meter with

(a) a ratcheted housing having a hollow interior,

( b) an extended ratcheted plunger having a hole centrally positioned therein located within the housing with the hole encompassing the line,

( c) a spring contiguous with said plunger positioned within the housing with one end touching the plunger yielding when the ball impinges thereon in a compressable manner,

(d) measuring means to indicate and retain the movement of the plunger so as to record the energy of the ball remaining at the end of the travel along the line, and

(e) reset means integral with the meter allowing the ratchet of the housing and plunger to be released after measurement has taken place by the player.

22. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

said line, ball and ball striking device coated with fluorescent paint allowing the moving elements of the game to be seen by others when illuminated at night.

23. The ball batting game apparatus for playing ball with one player comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced-apart line attaching members positioned at a predetermined distance,

(b) a line between and contiguous with said attaching members above a ground surface providing a directional guide therebetween,

(c) line tensioning means connected between the line and the attaching members causing the line to be taut defining a relatively straight linear guide between the members,

(d) a ball having a hole in the center thereof disposed on the flexible line through the hole allowing the ball to move freely on the line in a linear direction,

(e) a ball striking device held by the player having extended fingers on one end and a gripping surface on the other providing a striking force to propel the ball along the line when hit by the player, with the fingers penetrating either side of the line hitting only the ball when the player arcuately swings the striking device, and,

(f) a spring surrounding said line on an end adjacent to one of said attaching members allowing said player at an opposite end to hit the ball with the striking device driving it along the line impacting the spring such that it rebounds to the player.

24. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

said line, ball and ball striking device coated with fluorescent paint allowing the moving elements of the game to be seen by others when illuminated at night.

25. The ball batting game apparatus for playing ball with three players comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced-apart line-attaching members positioned at a predetermined distance,

(b) a line between and contiguous with said attaching members above a ground surface providing a directional guide therebetween,

(c) line tensioning means connected between the line and the attaching members causing the line to be taut defining a relatively straight linear guide between the members,

(d) a ball having a hole in the center thereof disposed on the flexible line through the hole allowing the ball to move freely on the line in a linear direction.

(e) a ball striking device held by a first player having extended fingers on one end and a gripping surface on the other providing a striking force to propel the ball along the line when swung by the first player, with the fingers penetrating either side of the line hitting only the ball when the first player arcuately swings the striking device,

(f) a bifurcated ball launching implemented held by a second player, the implement having forks on one end and a handle surface on the other allowing the second player to orientate the forks on the line contiguous with the ball and propel the ball with a flip of the second player'"'"'s wrist to the first player having the striking device in a pitching manner allowing the striking device to be swing impacting the ball thrusting it back toward the second player in a hitting manner duplicating, in constraint, a game using a ball and a bat or racket, and

(g) an angular line adjuster providing a manually adjustable angle of the line at the attaching member nearest the first player allowing a third player to manipulate the line causing the ball, propelled by the second player, to curve or slide like a pitched ball in the game of baseball.

26. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said angular line adjuster further comprises a first and a second parallel member attached together on each end, a line attaching rigid eye in the center of the first member for connecting the line, a pair of handle means one on each end of the second parallel member for manual manipulation, and, slideable means, interfacing said adjuster to said line attaching members allowing the adjuster to be slid from side to side and rotated simultaneously defining infinite angular combinations while the ball is traveling along the line.

27. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said angular line adjuster further comprises a handle held by the third player as a combined line attaching member and a line adjuster.

28. The ball batting game apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising said line, ball and ball striking device coated with fluorescent paint allowing the moving elements of the game to be seen by others when illuminated at night.