Triple-adjustable height batting practice device

• US 5,303,914 A
• Filed: 07/12/1993
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James N. Cooksey
• Original Assignee: James N. Cooksey
• Inventors: Cooksey, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/089,099
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 R, 273/29 A, 273/26 D
• US Class Current: 473/429
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0091 Balls fixed to a movable, tiltable or flexible arm

Abstract

An upright standard is provided including a plurality of horizontally outwardly projecting vertically spaced support arms journaled from the sleeve for rotation thereabout, the outer ends of the support arms including target members thereon for striking by a bat-like member. The upright is removably supported from a base structure including depending ground impaling blades and the support arms are mounted from the upright upon sleeves journaled from the upright and including weight means on the sides thereof opposite the sides from which the support arms project in order to enable the support arms to rotate about the upright in a substantially balanced manner.

Claims

1. A multiple height batting practice device for children, said device including an upright standard having upper and lower ends, said lower end including base means for supporting said standard in an upright position from a horizontal surface, said standard including a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced apart circumferential, radially outwardly projecting abutment means thereon, a support sleeve journaled on said standard between each pair of abutment means, each of said sleeves including an elongated horizontal arm supported therefrom with a base end of each arm supported from the corresponding sleeve and a free end of each arm projecting generally radially outwardly of the corresponding sleeve, each of said free ends including a target member thereon to be swung at with a bat member, each of said support sleeves including, on the side thereof opposite the side from which the corresponding support arm projects, an outwardly opening sleeve in which weight material is disposed for balancing said sleeve for rotation about said upright in a substantially balanced manner with said weight material at least substantially offsetting the weight of the corresponding support arm and target member.

2. The batting practice device of claim 1 wherein said base includes a plurality of depending ground engaging tines for downwardly penetrating the ground.

3. The batting practice device of claim 2 wherein said tines include upper end outwardly projecting abutment members for abutting engagement with the surface of the ground.

4. The batting practice device of claim 1 wherein said radially outwardly projecting abutment means and the corresponding support sleeves are adjustable vertically along said upright.

5. The batting practice device of claim 4 wherein said abutment means comprise abutment rings extending circumferentially about said upright, said rings and said upright including diametrically opposite radial bores formed therein registerable with each other, and a diametric pin removably secured through each set of registered bores.

6. The batting practice device of claim 6 wherein each pair of diametrically opposite radial bores formed through said upright for supporting a corresponding pair of rings are spaced apart a distance measured longitudinally of said upright equal to the distance between the last mentioned radial bores and the next pair of upright registered radial bores disposed above and below said last mentioned registered bores.

7. The batting practice device of claim 6 wherein said base includes a plurality of ground engaging tines for downwardly penetrating into the ground.

8. The batting practice device of claim 7 wherein said tines include upper end outwardly projecting abutment members for abutting engagement with the surface of the ground.

9. A multiple height batting practice device for children, said device including an upright standard having upper and lower ends, said lower end including base means for supporting said standard in an upright position from a horizontal surface, said standard including a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced apart circumferential, radially outwardly projecting abutment means thereon, a support sleeve journaled on said standard between each pair of abutment means, each of said sleeves including an elongated horizontal arm supported therefrom with a base end of each arm supported from the corresponding sleeve and a free end of each arm projecting generally radially outwardly of the corresponding sleeve, each of said free ends including a target member thereon to be swung at with a bat member, said base defining an upwardly opening centrally disposed cylindrical sleeve portion, said sleeve portion including at least one bayonet slot formed therein, the lower end of said upright including a radially outwardly projecting bayonet pin receivable in said slot.

10. A multiple height batting practice device for children, said device including an upright standard having upper and lower ends, said lower end including base means for supporting said standard in an upright position from a horizontal surface, said standard including a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced apart circumferential, radially outwardly projecting abutment means thereon, a support sleeve journaled on said standard between each pair of abutment means, each of said sleeves including an elongated horizontal arm supported therefrom with a base end of each arm supported from the corresponding sleeve and a free end of each arm projecting generally radially outwardly of the corresponding sleeve, each of said free ends including a target member thereon for striking by a bat member, each pair of diametrically opposite radial bores formed through said upright for supporting a corresponding pair of rings being spaced apart a distance measured longitudinally of said upright equal to the distance between the last mentioned radial bores and the next pair of upright registered radial bores disposed above and below said last mentioned radial bores, said base including a plurality of ground engaging tines for downwardly penetrating into the ground, said tines including upper end outwardly projecting abutment members for abutting engagement with the surface of the ground, said base defining an upwardly opening centrally disposed cylindrical sleeve portion, said sleeve portion including at least one bayonet slot formed therein, the lower end of said upright including at least one radially outwardly projecting bayonet pin receivable in said slot.