Ambidextrous pitching screen system

• US 7,153,225 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Morrow Sports, LLC
• Original Assignee: Morrow Sports, LLC
• Inventors: Morrow, William David
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US10/958,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473454-456, 473/446, 473/434, 473/476, 473/478, 473/197, 273/401, 273/402, 273/410, 273/407
• US Class Current: 473/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0097 Ball rebound walls with holes or in combination with nets A63B63/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A pitching screen which provides a first pitching lane and a second pitching lane in a single pitching screen configuration to allow both left-handed pitchers and right-handed pitchers to pitch without repositioning the pitching screen.

Claims

1. A pitching screen, comprising:

a. a support structure providing;

i. a first linear support element having a length of between about 48 inches and about 120 inches disposed between a first end and a second end;

ii. a second linear support element having a length of between about 48 inches and about 120 inches disposed between a first end and a second end; and

iii. a coupler to which said first end of said first linear support element and said first end of said second linear support element couple to establish said first end of said linear support element and said first end of said second linear support at a fixed angle of not more than about 100 degrees;

iv. a base coupled to said second end of said first linear support and coupled to said second end of said second linear support to locate said second end of said first linear support element and said second end of said second linear support element a distance apart proximate to a support surface and locates said first end of said first linear support coupled to said first end of said second linear support distal from said support surface;

v. a restraint element which extends between said second end of said first linear support element and said second end of said second linear support element, and wherein said restraint element generates flexure in said first linear support element to establish a first arcuate support element, and wherein said restraint element generates flexure in said second linear support element to establish a second arcuate support element; and

b. an object deflection material having a plurality of aperture elements establishes a substantially planar screen bounded by said support structure.

2. A pitching screen as described in claim 1, wherein flexure of said first linear support element and flexure of said second linear support element each define a radius of a circle of between about 36 inches and about 120 inches.

3. A pitching screen as described in claim 2, wherein said first linear support element comprises a plurality of axially coupled linear support segments.

4. A pitching screen as described in claim 3, wherein said second linear support element comprises a plurality of axially coupled linear support segments.

5. A pitching screen as described in claim 4, further comprising an elastically tensioned coupling between said plurality of axially coupled linear support segments.

6. A pitching screen as described in claim 5, wherein said coupler of said support structure is established at a distance above said support surface of between about 60 inches and about 120 inches.

7. A pitching screen as described in claim 6, wherein said base comprises:

a. a first tee extension coupled to said second end of said first linear support element; and

b. a second tee extension coupled to said second end of said second linear support element.

8. A pitching screen as described in claim 7, wherein said restraint element comprises a bifurcated restraint element each end having a pair of connectors which couple with each leg of said first tee element and said second tee element.

9. A pitching screen as described in claim 8, wherein said object deflection material having a plurality of aperture elements is selected from the group consisting of a woven material, a knotted material, a net material, and a screen material.

10. A pitching screen as described in claim 9, wherein said object deflection material deflects an object selected from the group consisting of a ball, a soft ball, a baseball, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, and a foot ball.