Pitching trainer with automatic ball return

• US 5,133,548 A
• Filed: 12/11/1990
• Issued: 07/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey J. Bedord, Joseph P. Bedord II
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey J. Bedord, Joseph P. Bedord II
• Inventors: Bedord, Joseph P. II, Bedord, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/625,810
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 A, 273/29 A, 273/181 F, 273/405, 273/407, 273/410, 273/26 D
• US Class Current: 473/436
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• 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 69/406 with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction

Abstract

A pitching trainer includes an automatic ball return includes a frame defining a ball-receiving chamber including a cushion at the back wall of the chamber, a floor therebeneath, and a ball-expelling machine connected to the floor for returning a ball cast into the chamber to the user. The cushion is configured to absorb the impact of the ball and allow it to drop onto the floor, which is preferably smooth-surfaced, inclined and provided with a hole through which the ball may pass to the ball-expelling machine. The cushion is provided with a target area, and an indicator which signals when a ball impacts the target area. A ramp may be provided at the front of the trainer whereby a ball directed below the floor of the chamber may be guided therein, and the ramp may be provided with indicia corresponding to a specific sport to assist the user in his efforts to hit the target area.

Claims

1. A pitching trainer for receiving a thrown ball and returning it to a pitcher, said trainer comprising:

a frame presenting a first, frontmost pair of normally upright transversely spaced support posts, a second, rearmost pair of normally upright transversely spaced support posts, an upper frontmost transversely oriented member connecting said frontmost pair of upright support posts and a lower frontmost transversely oriented member positioned rearwardly of said upper frontmost transversely oriented member, a rearward pair of transversely oriented members connecting said rearmost pair of support posts including a rearmost upper member and a rearmost lower member, and two pairs of respective upper and lower fore-and-aft oriented connecting arms interconnecting respective frontmost transversely oriented members and rearmost transversely oriented members;

first and second side walls supported by said frame and extending from said frontmost support posts rearwardly to respective rearmost support posts, said side walls being defined by netting sized to prevent the passage of the ball therethrough, said side walls extending forwardly of said lower frontmost transversely oriented member;

a back wall defined by a cushion extending substantially between said rearmost pair of support posts and substantially between said rearmost upper member and said rearmost lower member, said cushion including a front panel, a back panel and a quantity of impact-absorbing material therebetween, said cushion presenting target-defining indicia thereon;

a floor located beneath said cushion in ball-receiving relationship thereto, said floor including a plurality of smooth, even and uninterrupted panels inclined toward a ball-receiving hole defined in said floor, said floor being elevated relative to a surface supporting said trainer;

a ball expelling machine including motive means for returning the ball to the thrower;

means connecting said floor and the ball expelling machine for enabling the ball to roll from the hole to the ball expelling machine; and

a ramp extending rearwardly and upwardly toward and connected to said lower frontmost transversely oriented member and rearwardly of said frontmost uprights support posts, said ramp presenting indicia thereon including home plate indicia, said home plate indicia being positioned on said ramp in spaced relationship forwardly of said target-defining indicia on said cushion, at least a portion of said ramp being located intermediate said first and second side walls.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including signalling means associated with said cushion for indicating engagement of the thrown ball with the target area.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a wheeled carriage connected to said frame.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said wheeled carriage includes means for adjusting the orientation of the carriage relative to the frame.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including additional netting supported by said frame defining a roof oriented in a normally substantially horizontal plane.