Batting practice machine

• US 5,018,729 A
• Filed: 09/05/1989
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cecil L. Wilkerson
• Original Assignee: Cecil L. Wilkerson
• Inventors: Wilkerson, Cecil L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/403,160
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 E, 273/29 A
• US Class Current: 473/427
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20

Abstract

A batting practice machine comprising a generally flat horizontal base; a vertical frame; an adjustable, rotatable, outward extending arm; a line secured to the arm; a ball secured to the line; and a motor and drive mechanism for rotating the arm in a generally horizontal circle, thereby moving the ball along a horizontal circular path for repeated presentation to a batter.

Claims

1. A batting practice machine comprising:

a) a generally flat, horizontal base further comprising a flat bottom and a peripheral wall, defining a reservoir therein;

b) a vertical frame secured to said base, and extending upward therefrom;

c) an adjustable, rotatable, outward extending arm attached to said frame;

said arm being semi-rigid with an overall length of about 48 inches and a diameter of about 0.50 inch, said arm further comprising a hard outer tubular layer having three separate linear sections each about 16 inches in length, and an elongated flexible core having two linear sections each about 18 inches in length, with at least two apertures inscribed through the diameter of said arm perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said arm;

d) a flexible line secured at a first end thereof to said arm;

e) a ball secured to a second end of said line; and

f) drive means secured to said frame and secured to said arm for rotating said arm in a generally horizontal circle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a compression spring inserted in the outer end of said arm, and an end plug preventing said compression spring from exiting said arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said end plug has a central passageway having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said line;

said first end of said line passes through said plug and said spring, stop means attached to said first end of said line and being within said tubular outer layer of said arm for preventing said first end from passing back through said plug and spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said line is about 42 inches in length, about 12 inches inside said arm and about 30 inches exposed.