Portable batting cage with extended hinged wings

• US 5,577,721 A
• Filed: 05/03/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Standard Marine Supply Corp.
• Original Assignee: Standard Marine Supply Corp.
• Inventors: Hardee, David B., Burbank, William H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/434,414
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 A, 273/410, 273/411, 273/29 B, 273/29 A
• US Class Current: 473/421
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A portable batting cage having a backstop, two extended wings, a top and wheels is disclosed, the wings being pivotally mounted onto the backstop to allow adjustment to different relative angles. An extended tongue is provided to counterbalance the extended length of the wings, the wings being longer than the backstop. The top is non-rigid to allow for multiple positioning of the wings.

Claims

1. A portable batting cage comprising a backstop having a first end and a second end, a first lateral wing having a free end and an attached end, said first lateral wing attached end being pivotally attached by wing attachment means to said first end of said backstop, a second lateral wing having a free end and an attached end, said second lateral wing attached end being pivotally attached by wing attachment means to said second end of said backstop, and a non-rigid top connected to said backstop, said first lateral wing and said second lateral wing;

said backstop, said first lateral wing and said second lateral wing comprising a rigid, lightweight frame and netting attached to said frame by netting attachment means;

the length of said first lateral wing being greater than the length of said backstop and the length of said second lateral wing being greater than the length of said backstop;

an extended tongue comprising a fixed end connected to said backstop and a free end, said tongue extending from said backstop in the direction opposite the direction in which the first and second lateral wings extend from said backstop; and

wheels pivotally attached beneath said first lateral wing, said second lateral wing, and said extended tongue, where one of said wheels is attached adjacent said free end of said first lateral wing, another of said wheels is attached adjacent said free end of said second lateral wheel, another of said wheels is attached adjacent said attached end of said first lateral wing, another of said wheels is attached adjacent said attached end of said second lateral wing, and another of said wheels is attached adjacent said free end of said extended tongue, and

dual wing attachment means adapted to connect one lateral wing of one device adjacent a lateral wing of a second device.

2. The device of claim 1, where said extended tongue comprises a first connector member and a second connector member, said first connector member joining said free end of said tongue to said first end of said backstop, and said second connector member joining said free end of said tongue to said second end of said backstop.

3. The device of claim 2, where said first connector member and said second connector member form an angle of approximately 100 degrees.

4. The device of claim 1, where said non-rigid top is comprised of netting means of sufficient width such that said first lateral wing and said second lateral wing can be positioned with interior angles greater than 90 degrees relative to said backstop.

5. The device of claim 4, where said top further comprises suspension means to retain said netting means generally horizontal relative to the ground.

6. The device of claim 4, where said device further comprises means to tighten said netting material of said top such that said netting means of said top is positioned generally horizontal relative to the ground.

7. The device of claim 1, where said netting attachment means comprise hook and loop type fasteners.

8. The device of claim 1, where said dual wing attachment means comprise mechanical type fasteners.

9. The device of claim 1, where said dual wing attachment means comprise hook and loop type fasteners.