Baseball and softball practice device

• US 6,135,900 A
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McGrath, Joseph M.
• Original Assignee: McGrath, Joseph M.
• Inventors: McGrath, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/097,982
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 473/454, 473/415, 473/421-422, 473/460, 473/462, 473/478, 473/594, 473/435, 473/197, 273/402, 273/407, 273/317.6
• US Class Current: 473/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls

Abstract

A new baseball and softball practice device for improving a ball player'"'"'s skills in pitching, throwing, and hitting. The inventive device includes a length of protective nylon netting. A support frame is provided that is comprised of a pair of opposed folding legs. The support fame includes a top panel and a pair of lower support panels. The support frame is positionable in front of the protective nylon netting. A target is secured between the pair of opposed folding legs of the support frame.

Claims

1. A baseball and softball practice system for improving a ball player'"'"'s skills comprising, in combination:

a length of protective nylon netting, the netting having opposite ends secured to elongated poles, the elongated poles each having a weighted base secured to free lower ends thereof, free upper ends of the poles having a tie down line extending outwardly therefrom, the tie down lines each having stakes disposed on free ends for penetrating a ground surface;

a collapsible support frame adapted for placement on a ground surface in front of the protective nylon netting, the support frame having a first pair of legs and a second pair of legs, the first pair of legs being laterally spaced and substantially rigidly connected by a top panel and a first lower support panel, the top panel being mounted to upper ends of the first pair of legs, the first lower panel being mounted to the first pair of legs at a location spaced from lower ends of the first pair of legs, the second pair of legs being laterally spaced and substantially rigidly connected by a second lower panel, the second lower panel being mounted to the second pair of legs at a location spaced upwardly from lower ends of the second pair of legs, the second pair of legs each having an upper end, each of the upper ends of the second pair of legs being pivotally coupled to one of the first pair of legs to permit pivoting of the second pair of legs with respect to the first pair of legs, the second pair of legs being positioned between the first pair of legs so that the second pair of legs may be pivoted into a nested position between the first pair of legs for permitting a more compact storage configuration, the support frame including a pair of straps extending between the first and second lower support panels to limit the pivot movement of the second pair of legs with respect to the first pair of legs;

a target secured between the first and second pair of legs of the support frame, the target being pivotally coupled to the first and second pair of legs, the target having a passage therein representing a strike zone for an accurately thrown ball to pass through, the target being comprised of a circular tire.