Tethered ball batting practice machine

• US 5,836,836 A
• Filed: 01/28/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grimes, George
• Original Assignee: Grimes, George
• Inventors: Grimes, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/790,052
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 473/428, 473/429, 473/430, 473/427
• US Class Current: 473/427
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0079 Balls tethered to a line or cord A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved batting machine which presents a batter with a ball which is swung around in a generally circular path. The invention was designed to swing the ball in either a horizontal path or a path which is offset from horizontal. The ball is connected to an extended arm via a tether. The extended arm is also connected to a vertical shaft. The shaft is rotated by an electric motor means, along with a centrifugal clutch. The motor is able to rotate the shaft in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, thus giving the batter the opportunity to bat right and/or left handed. The shaft motor assembly is supported by a plurality of adjustable supports.

Claims

1. An improved batting practice device comprising:

a frame having a plurality of foldable support legs providing stabilization to said frame, said support legs being in a substantially tripod configuration;

each of said legs being substantially L-shaped and having a substantially vertical section and a horizontal base section when said device is in use;

said base section having one end thereof pivotally attached to the lower end of said vertical section;

brace means extending between said vertical and horizontal sections, and having one end thereof attached intermediate the ends of one of said vertical and horizontal sections and its other end releasably attached intermediate the ends of one of said vertical and horizontal sections, whereby said frame can be folded to a compact configuration when not in use;

a laterally extended rotateable arm member supported by said frame,

a tethered ball connected to one end of said arm member,

and a driving apparatus supported by said frame and connected to said arm member and used for rotating said arm member about said frame.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said driving apparatus further comprises:

a variable speed motor,

a centrifugal clutch,

a first drive shaft having a first end and a second end with the first end in connection with said motor and the second end in connection with said clutch and when energized is free to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to said motor,

and a second drive shaft having a third end and fourth end with the third end in connection with said arm member and the fourth end in connection with said clutch and when energized is free to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to said clutch.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the variable speed motor is reversible.

4. An improved batting practice device comprising:

a frame having a plurality of foldable support legs providing stabilization to said frame;

a laterally extended rotateable arm member supported by said frame,

a tethered ball connected to one end of said arm member,

and a driving apparatus supported by said frame and connected to said arm member and used for rotating said arm member about said frame, wherein said driving apparatus further comprises

a variable speed motor,

a centrifugal clutch,

a first drive shaft having a first end and a second end with the first end in connection with said motor and the second end in connection with said clutch and when energized is free to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to said motor,

and a second drive shaft having a third end and fourth end with the third end in connection with said arm member and the fourth end in connection with said clutch and when energized is free to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to said clutch.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the variable speed motor is reversible.