Tethered practice apparatus for a ball game

• US 6,334,821 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shigeru Kita
• Original Assignee: Shigeru Kita
• Inventors: Kita, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/073,673
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 473/430, 473/422, 473/423, 473/431, 473/426, 473/427, 473/428, 473/429, 473/439
• US Class Current: 473/430
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/002 variable in size
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00

Abstract

A ball game practice apparatus comprising a ball, a practice apparatus main body that hangs the ball and at the same time regulates the ball flying range, the practice apparatus main body possessing a frame that can hang the ball at a specified position via an elastic means and a column for supporting this frame, wherein the elastic means comprising a frame connection extended along the frame and mounted to the frame and a ball connection that hangs the ball, characterized by the frame connection of the elastic means mounted to the frame which is turned back by at least a pair of turn-back portions with a rotatable turn-back mechanism.

Claims

1. A ball game practice apparatus comprising:

(A) a ball; and

(B) a practice apparatus main body having the ball hanging therefrom, the practice apparatus main body having;

(i) a frame having a front end and a rear end,

(ii) an elastic means connected to the frame, and

(iii) a column for supporting the frame at a support location approximately midway between the front end and the rear end of the frame wherein the column is adjustable to secure the frame at the support location in a desired vertical position;

wherein;

the frame is adapted to position the ball at a specified predetermined position via the elastic means,

the elastic means includes;

a frame connection extending along the frame and mounted to the frame;

a ball connection from which the ball hangs; and

at least a pair of turn-back portions each having a smoothly rotatable turn-back mechanism,

wherein the frame connection of the elastic means is supported by the frame and is turned back by the pair of turn-back portions,

wherein the pair of turn-back portions is mounted to the frame such that the turn-back portions are seperated from each other and the column for supporting the frame is interposed therebetween,

wherein the frame connection of the elastic means extends in a longitudinal direction of the frame and is positioned substantially in parallel with the frame, and has a portion which is turned back by the pair of turn-back portions into a direction substantially parallel to the frame;

wherein the ball hung from the ball connection is positioned at the outside of the pair of turn-back portions and at a distal end side of the frame;

wherein the rear end of the frame is restrained by a telescopic element which may be adjusted to a predetermined length to vertically position the rear end of the frame; and

wherein the frame is permitted to rotate about the column during play.

2. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame connections are isolated to avoid contact with one another.

3. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frame is fixed to the column with a predetermined height and is rotatably pivoted thereto.

4. A ball game practice apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ball connection of the elastic means includes a plurality of portions forming loops, each of these portions connected via a twist straightening mechanism.

5. A ball game practice apparatus according to claim 3, further including a rebounding board for the ball installed ahead of a ball flying direction.

6. A ball game practice apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rebounding board is configured to have an adjustable rebounding board surface angle.

7. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 3, further including a target having a return prevention mechanism which securely prevents a return of the flying ball and wherein the target is installed ahead of a ball flying direction.

8. The ball practice game according to claim 1 further including a rotation restrictor allowing unrestrained rotation within a predefined range of rotation.

9. A ball game practice apparatus comprising:

a vertically adjustable column;

a frame having a front end and a rear end and pivotally supported on the column approximately midway between the front end and the rear end of the frame, wherein the column may be vertically adjusted to vertically adjust the position of the frame at the column;

a telescopic element restraining the rear end of the frame, wherein the telescopic element may be adjusted to a predetermined length to vertically position the rear end of the frame;

an elastic means attached to the frame the elastic means including;

at least a pair of smoothly rotatable pulleys attached to the frame;

a frame connecting line extending along the frame, attached to the frame along a substantially parallel path, having a portion which is turned back by the pair of pulleys so as to become substantially parallel with the frame, and reeled about the pulleys;

a ball connection attached to the frame connecting line; and

a ball supported on the ball connection, wherein the ball supported on the ball connection is positioned at the outside of the pair of pulleys and at a distal end side of the frame.

10. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 9, further including an elastic winding means mounted at the top end of the column, the elastic winding means having the frame connecting line attached thereto.

11. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ball connection of the elastic means includes a plurality of loops and a plurality of twist straightening mechanisms.

12. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 9, further including a rebounding board for the ball located ahead of a ball flying direction.

13. The ball game practice apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rebounding board is configured to have an adjustable rebounding board surface angle.

14. The ball practice game according to claim 9 further including a rotation restrictor allowing unrestrained rotation within a predefined range of rotation.