Device for catching a ball
First Claim
1. A ball catching device comprising:
- a frame defining a strike zone;
a target mounted to said frame in alignment with at least a portion of the strike zone;
detection means for detecting the occurrence of a ball being in the strike zone in alignment with said target;
display means operatively connected to said detection means for indicating the occurrence of a ball being in the strike zone in alignment with said target;
target shifting means, operatively connected to said target, for shifting the location of said target relative to said frame;
control means for controlling the shifting of said target by said target shifting means in a predetermined manner; and
wherein said detection means comprises a photosensitive means for detecting when a ball is in the strike zone in alignment with said target.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for catching a ball comprises a frame member 6 constructed on the ground or the like, a net member 7 put on the frame member 6, a mat member 1 disposed substantially at the central part of the net member 7, the mat member 1 having a strike zone 2 defined thereon, a detection means 3 for detecting the position of a pitched ball B in the strike zone 2, and a display means 4 for displaying the detected position of the ball B. When the pitched ball B collides with or passes through the strike zone 2, the detection means 4 detects the colliding or passing position and has a judgment passed on the pitched ball B as to whether it is a strike or ball in accordance with a baseball rule, and the judgment is displayed by the display means 4.
Some devices for catching a ball further comprise a base member 5 permitting the total weight of the device to be arbitrarily varied with a ballast W such as water, sand, steel ball or the like, a pitch target 15 shiftable after every pitch, and/or a ball return system 9 for automatically returning the pitched ball B to the pitcher.
39 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A ball catching device comprising:
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a frame defining a strike zone; a target mounted to said frame in alignment with at least a portion of the strike zone; detection means for detecting the occurrence of a ball being in the strike zone in alignment with said target; display means operatively connected to said detection means for indicating the occurrence of a ball being in the strike zone in alignment with said target; target shifting means, operatively connected to said target, for shifting the location of said target relative to said frame; control means for controlling the shifting of said target by said target shifting means in a predetermined manner; and wherein said detection means comprises a photosensitive means for detecting when a ball is in the strike zone in alignment with said target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A ball catching device comprising:
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a frame defining a strike zone; a target mounted to said frame in alignment with at least a portion of the strike zone; detection means for detecting the occurrence of a ball being in the strike zone in alignment with said target; display means operatively connected to said detection means for indicating the occurrence of a ball being in the strike zone in alignment with said target; target shifting means, operatively connected to said target, for shifting the location of said target relative to said frame; control means for controlling the shifting of said target by said target shifting means in a predetermined manner; a ball return means, mounted to said frame, for returning a ball toward a location forwardly of said frame after the ball has been thrown through the strike zone; wherein said ball return means comprises an ejection means for ejecting a ball, and a motor means for operating said ejection means; and wherein said ejection means comprises an action arm pivotably mounted to said frame for movement between a cocked position and an ejecting position, biasing means for biasing said action arm toward its ejecting position, and lock means, operatively connected to said motor means, for releasably locking said action arm in said cocked position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification