Home plate tape measure

• US 6,893,365 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ruth E. Rathbun, William J. Rathbun
• Original Assignee: Ruth E. Rathbun, William J. Rathbun
• Inventors: Rathbun, Ruth E., Rathbun, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US10/216,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20040029655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 473/500, 473/423, 473/451, 473/449, 473/417, 473/501, 473/490, 473/176, 473/499, 473/218, 33/1.G, 33/1.H, 337/59, 337/09, 335/63, 334/56
• US Class Current: 473/500
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A pitching assistance device resembles a home plate with a coiled measuring element stored therein. The measuring element may be selectively extended from the home plate structure to measure off a predefined distance, such as the regulation distance between a pitching mound and a home plate. Once measured, the distance may then be used by a pitcher for warming up or the creation of an improvised bullpen.

Claims

1. A pitching assistance device consisting essentially of:

a pentagon shaped housing conforming to dimensions of a home plate according to standard play regulations and adapted to use as a home plate, said pentagon shaped housing constructed from a plastic material, said housing delimiting an aperture;

an axle integrally formed with said housing;

said pentagon shaped housing comprising a linear edge, said linear edge delimiting an aperture;

a measuring element adapted to extend selective from said housing through said aperture;

a winding mechanism cooperating with said axle to house the measuring element therebetween, said winding mechanism used to coil and uncoil selectively the measuring element, said winding mechanism including a finger divot to assist in operation of said winding mechanism.

2. A pitching assistance device, comprising:

a pentagon shaped housing conforming to dimensions of a home plate according to standard play regulations and adapted to use as a home plate; and

a measuring element positioned within said housing and selectively extendable therefrom such that a predefined distance may be measured therewith;

a winding mechanism for selectively retracting said measuring element into said housing;

an axle positioned within said pentagon shaped housing; and

a spool, said measuring element wound about said spool, said spool rotating about said axle, and wherein said winding mechanism and said spool collectively comprise a protuberance and slot such that when said winding mechanism is rotated, said spool rotates concurrently.

3. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said measuring element comprises indicia to indicate a plurality of predefined distances such that the pitching assistance device may be used to layout impromptu bullpens for a plurality of different play levels.

4. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said pentagon shaped housing comprises a linear edge delimiting an aperture through which the measuring element is extended.

5. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said pentagon shaped housing is constructed from a plastic material.

6. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said measuring element comprises a weed trimming line.

7. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said measuring element comprises a tape measure.

8. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said pentagon shaped housing is constructed from a blow molded plastic material.

9. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, further comprising a finger divot to assist in operation of said winding mechanism.

10. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said measuring element comprises at least one indicium thereon for denoting a predefined distance.

11. The pitching assistance device of claim 2, wherein said winding mechanism is adapted to snap fit within a recess.