Pitching practice apparatus

• US 5,333,856 A
• Filed: 04/19/1993
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan S. Gery
• Original Assignee: Jonathan S. Gery
• Inventors: Gery, Jonathan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/047,893
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 273/181 R, 273/181 A, 273/26 A, 273/29 A, 273/55 B
• US Class Current: 473/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/005 Keeping track of the point of impact or entry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/002 variable in size
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40

Abstract

A pitching practice apparatus (10) including a backstop member (30) stretched between a main frame member (20); wherein, the backstop member (30) is provided with a generally flaccid strike zone member (40) forming a pouch (43) that may be stretched by an auxiliary tensioning unit (15); and, wherein a strike zone obscuring unit (14) which will selectively obscure the upper and/or lower portions of the strike zone opening (37) in the backstop member (30).

Claims

1. A pitching practice apparatus comprising:

a framework unit including a vertically disposed generally rectangular main framework member;

a backstop unit including a generally enlarged rectangular backstop member having an enlarged generally rectangular central opening formed therein;

wherein, the backstop member is supported by the main framework member which is further provided with a rearwardly projecting base framework member;

a generally flaccid strike zone unit including an enlarged generally rectangular strike zone member whose dimensions are significantly greater than the dimensions of the enlarged opening in the backstop member;

wherein, the peripheral edges of the strike zone member are attached to the periphery of the backstop member adjacent said opening;

such that the strike zone member forms a pouch; and

, wherein the strike zone member is further provided with an anchor element;

a strike zone obscuring unit including at least one obscuring member including a generally rectangular panel suspended at a selected height on the back stop member to obscure a portion of the opening in the backstop member; and

,

an auxiliary tensioning unit associated with the strike zone member for stretching the strike zone member into a tensioned state;

wherein, the tensioning unit comprises an elasticized cord element having hooks formed on both ends;

wherein, one hook engages the anchor element on the strike zone member and the other hook engages the base framework member.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the strike zone obscuring units comprise a pair of obscuring members;

wherein one obscuring member selectively covers the upper portion of the opening in the backstop member; and

, the other obscuring member selectively covers the bottom portion of the opening in the backstop member.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1;

wherein, the base framework member is attached to the main framework member to give a generally L-shaped configuration to the framework unit.