Pro pitching device

• US 5,611,531 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jim Skerlan
• Original Assignee: Jim Skerlan
• Inventors: Skerlan, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/667,392
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 A, 273/1.5 A, 273/181 D, 273/181 F, 273/394-396, 273/397, 273/402, 273/29 A, 273/363, 273/365, 273/378, 273/379, 273/382, 273/383, 273/385, 273/389 , 273/390
• US Class Current: 473/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A pro pitching device (10) comprising a backboard target (12) having a bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture (14). An assembly (16) is for elevating the backboard target (12) in an adjustable vertical position above the ground (18). A person (20) can stand at a distance away from the backboard target (12) and throw a ball (22) towards the backboard target (12) and into the bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture (14). A facility (24) is for stopping the ball (22) after entering the bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture (14) and allowing the ball (22) to fall gently to the ground (18).

Claims

1. A practice target device comprising:

a) a backboard target having a bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture;

b) means for elevating said backboard target in an adjustable vertical position above the ground, so that a person can stand at a distance away from said backboard target and throw a ball towards said backboard target and into said bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture;

c) means for stopping the ball after entering said bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture and allow the ball to fall gently to the ground;

d) a diamond shaped brace member; and

e) means for attaching said diamond shaped brace member to a rear surface of said backboard target, to add additional strength to said backboard target.

2. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 1, wherein said backboard target is fabricated out of a high impact material that is selected from the group consisting of plastic, fiberglass, acrylic, metal and wood.

3. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elevating means includes:

a) a pole inserted vertically into the ground;

b) an upper bracket;

c) means for affixing said upper bracket between a rear surface of said backboard target and said pole;

d) a lower bracket; and

e) means for affixing said lower bracket between the rear surface of said backboard target and said pole.

4. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 3, wherein said upper bracket includes:

a) an upper collar clamp to fit onto said pole, wherein said upper collar clamp having a pair of flanges with an aperture through each said flange; and

b) a pair of upper arms extending outwardly at an angle away from said upper collar clamp, wherein said pair of upper arms each having a bent free end with a plurality of mounting holes therethrough.

5. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 4, wherein said upper affixing means includes:

a) an upper clamp bolt to extend through said apertures in said flanges of said upper collar clamp;

b) an upper clamp nut to thread onto a threaded shank of said upper clamp bolt, to secure said upper collar clamp onto said pole;

c) a plurality of upper arm bolts, wherein each said upper arm bolt extends through said backboard target and one of said mounting holes in said pair of upper arms; and

d) a plurality of upper arm nuts, wherein each said upper arm nut threads onto a threaded shank of each said upper arm bolt, to secure said upper bracket to said backboard target.

6. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 3, wherein said lower bracket includes:

a) a lower collar clamp to fit onto said pole, wherein said lower collar clamp having a pair of flanges with an aperture through each said flange; and

b) a pair of lower arms extending outwardly at an angle away from said lower collar clamp, wherein said pair of lower arms each having a bent free end with a plurality of mounting holes therethrough.

7. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 6, wherein said lower affixing means includes:

a) a lower clamp bolt to extend through said apertures in said flanges of said lower collar clamp;

b) a lower clamp nut to thread onto a threaded shank of said lower clamp bolt, to secure said lower collar clamp onto said pole;

c) a plurality of lower arm bolts, wherein each said lower arm bolt extends through said backboard target and one of said mounting holes in said pair of lower arms; and

d) a plurality of lower arm nuts, wherein each said lower arm nut threads onto a threaded shank of each said lower arm bolt, to secure said lower bracket to said backboard target.

8. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 1, wherein said ball stopping means includes:

a) an elongated funnel shaped catcher net, having an open narrow bottom end and a wide top end; and

b) a collar affixed to a rear surface of said backboard target about said bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture, so that said wide top end of said catcher net can be attached to said collar with said catcher net hanging down and said narrow bottom end slightly above the ground to allow the ball to exit therefrom.

9. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 1, wherein said brace member attaching means includes:

a) a plurality of brace member bolts, wherein each said brace member bolt extends through said backboard target and one side end of said diamond shaped brace member; and

b) a plurality of brace member nuts, wherein each said brace member nut threads onto a threaded shank of each said brace member bolt, to secure said diamond shaped brace member to said backboard target.

10. A practice target pitching device comprising:

a) a backboard target having a bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture;

b) means for elevating said backboard target in an adjustable vertical position above the ground, so that a person can stand at a distance away from said backboard target and throw a ball towards said backboard target and into said bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture;

c) means for stopping the ball after entering said bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture and allow the ball to fall gently to the ground;

d) a diamond shaped brace member;

e) means for attaching said diamond shaped brace member to a rear surface of said backboard target, to add additional strength to said backboard target;

f) an upper channel track U-shaped in cross section, affixed to an upper horizontal edge of said backboard target, so that said upper channel track overhangs a front surface of said backboard target;

g) a lower channel track, U-shaped in cross section, affixed to a lower horizontal edge of said backboard target, so that said lower channel track overhangs the front surface of said backboard target;

h) a target plate having a smaller bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture, said target plate being insertable between said upper channel track and said lower channel track, so as to fit in front of said backboard target; and

i) a latch mechanism on each of the vertical side edges of said backboard target, so as of hold said target plate in place in front of said backboard target.

11. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 10, wherein said backboard target is fabricated out of a high impact material that is selected from the group consisting of plastic, fiberglass, acrylic, metal and wood.

12. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 11, wherein said elevating means includes:

a) a pole inserted vertically into the ground;

b) an upper bracket;

c) means for affixing said upper bracket between a rear surface of said backboard target and said pole;

d) a lower bracket; and

e) means for affixing said lower bracket between the rear surface of said backboard target and said pole.

13. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 12, wherein said upper bracket includes:

a) an upper collar clamp to fit onto said pole, wherein said upper collar clamp having a pair of flanges with an aperture through each said flange; and

b) a pair of upper arms extending outwardly at an angle away from said upper collar clamp, wherein said pair of upper arms each having a bent free end with a plurality of mounting holes therethrough.

14. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 13, wherein said upper affixing means includes:

a) an upper clamp bolt to extend through said apertures in said flanges of said upper collar clamp;

b) an upper clamp nut to thread onto a threaded shank of said upper clamp bolt, to secure said upper collar clamp onto said pole;

c) a plurality of upper arm bolts, wherein each said upper arm bolt extends through said backboard target and one of said mounting holes in said pair of upper arms; and

d) a plurality of upper arm nuts, wherein each said upper arm nut threads onto a threaded shank of each said upper arm bolt, to secure said upper bracket to said backboard target.

15. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 14, wherein said lower bracket includes:

a) a lower collar clamp to fit onto said pole, wherein said lower collar clamp having a pair of flanges with an aperture through each said flange; and

b) a pair of lower arms extending outwardly at an angle away from said lower collar clamp, wherein said pair of lower arms each having a bent free end with a plurality of mounting holes therethrough.

16. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 15, wherein said lower affixing means includes:

a) a lower clamp bolt to extend through said apertures in said flanges of said lower collar clamp;

b) a lower clamp nut to thread onto a threaded shank of said lower clamp bolt, to secure said lower collar clamp onto said pole;

c) a plurality of lower arm bolts, wherein each said lower arm bolt extends through said backboard target and one of said mounting holes in said pair of lower arms; and

d) a plurality of lower arm nuts, wherein each said lower arm nut threads onto a threaded shank of each said lower arm bolt, to secure said lower bracket to said backboard target.

17. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 16, wherein said ball stopping means includes:

a) an elongated funnel shaped catcher net, having an open narrow bottom end and a wide top end; and

b) a collar affixed to a rear surface of said backboard target about said bull'"'"'s-eye central aperture, so that said wide top end of said catcher net can be attached to said collar with said catcher net hanging down and said narrow bottom end slightly above the ground to allow the ball to exit therefrom.

18. A practice target pitching device as recited in claim 17, wherein said brace member attaching means includes:

a) a plurality of brace member bolts, wherein each said brace member bolt extends through said backboard target and one side end of said diamond shaped brace member; and

b) a plurality of brace member nuts, wherein each said brace member nut threads onto a threaded shank of each said brace member bolt, to secure said diamond shaped brace member to said backboard target.