Foul ball basket for baseball backstops

• US 6,729,981 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Clifton
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Clifton
• Inventors: Clifton, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US10/270,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20040077437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 473/468, 473/451, 473/432, 473/462, 473/421, 473/422, 473/439, 473/152, 473/FOR.103, 273/410, D21/796, D21/799.1
• US Class Current: 473/468
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 safety device that allows a baseball spectator to return a foul ball without interrupting the game or risking injury to a player or an umpire, made up of a basket that attaches to the spectators'"'"' side of a backstop. The basket has an opening through which a spectator can insert a retrieved foul ball and has a flapped opening through which an umpire can collect the ball as needed.

Claims

1. A foul ball basket comprising:

a multi-planar frame partially covered with fence wiring, wherein said basket is mounted to a standard baseball backstop;

said basket dimensioned and configured to provide a first opening and a second opening through both of which a baseball can be inserted or removed, and wherein said basket is dimensioned and configured such that said first opening faces said backstop and said second opening is accessible from the spectator side of said backstop.

2. The foul ball basket according to claim 1, wherein said frame is constructed of galvanized steel conduit.

3. The foul ball basket according to claim 2, wherein said frame is constructed of galvanized steel conduit that is ⅜

inch thick.

4. The foul ball basket according to claim 2, wherein said frame is constructed of galvanized steel conduit that is ½

inch thick.

5. The foul ball basket according to claim 1, further comprising a hinged flap covering said first opening.

6. The foul ball basket according to claim 5, wherein said hinged flap is constructed of one of rubber, lead and plexiglass.

7. The foul ball basket according to claim 1, wherein said frame is comprised of three rectangles, wherein the first rectangle is larger than the second and third rectangles, said first and second rectangles are co-planar and said second rectangle is positioned inside said first rectangle, further comprising first spokes from each corner of said first rectangle to the corresponding corner of said second rectangle, wherein said third rectangle is not coplanar with said first and second rectangles, and further comprising second spokes from each corner of said first rectangle to the corresponding corners of said third rectangle.

8. The foul ball basket according to claim 7, wherein fence wiring is secured over each of four trapezoid-like shaped areas formed by the sides of said first and third rectangles and said second spokes running between those rectangles.

9. The foul ball basket according to claim 8, wherein the corners of said first, second and third rectangles are rounded.

10. The foul ball basket according to claim 9, wherein said second spokes running from said first rectangle to said third rectangle are curved.

11. The foul ball basket according to claim 10, where in said first rectangle is 20 inches wide and 24 inches tall.

12. A foul ball basket comprising a multi-planar frame partially covered with fence wiring:

(a) said basket mountable on a standard baseball backstop, and said basket is dimensioned and configured to provide a first opening and a second opening through both of which a baseball can be inserted or removed, said basket further dimensioned and configured such that said first opening faces said backstop and said second opening is accessible from spectator side of said backstop;

(b) said frame being constructed of galvanized steel conduit;

(c) said frame comprised of three rectangles, with the first rectangle larger than the second and third rectangles, said first and second rectangles arranged co-planar one another, and said second rectangle positioned inside said first rectangle, and first spokes from each corner of said first rectangle to the corresponding corner of said second rectangle, said third rectangle not co-planar with said first and second rectangles, and second spokes from the corners of said first rectangle to the corresponding corners of said third rectangle; and

(d) fence wiring secured over each of four trapezoid-like shaped areas formed by the sides of said first and third rectangles and said second spokes joining those rectangles.

13. The foul ball basket according to claim 12, wherein said second spokes running between said first and third rectangles are curved.

14. The foul ball basket according to claim 12, wherein said conduit is ⅜

″

inch thick.

15. The foul ball basket according to claim 12, wherein said conduit is ½

″

thick.

16. The foul ball basket according to claim 12, further comprising a hinged flap covering said first opening.

17. The foul ball basket according to claim 16, wherein said flap is constructed of a material from the group consisting of rubber, lead and plexiglass.

18. The foul ball basket according to claim 12, wherein the corners of said rectangles are rounded.