Pitching screen system

• US 7,462,115 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• 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:
  US11/601,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473454-456, 473/446, 473/434, 473/476, 473/478, 473/197, 273/401, 273/402, 273/407, 273/410
• 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 first arcuate support element having a first end and a second end, wherein curvature between said first end and said second end of said first arcuate support defines a circular radius;

b) a second arcuate support element having a first end and a second end, wherein curvature between said first end and said second end of said first arcuate support defines a circular radius;

c) a coupler having a first coupler leg and a second coupler leg disposed at an angle of between about eighty degrees and about one hundred degrees said first coupler leg coupled to said first end of said first arcuate support said second coupler leg coupled to said first end of said second arcuate support to locate said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element a distance apart;

d) a restraint element coupled by opposed ends between said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element which maintains said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element said distance apart;

e) a base coupled to said second end of said first arcuate support element and coupled to said second end of said second arcuate support element said second end of said first arcuate support element; and

f) an object deflection material having a plurality of aperture elements bounded by said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support element, and said restraint element which provides a substantially planar object deflection surface.

2. A pitching screen as described in claim 1, wherein said base locates said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element proximate to a support surface and locates said coupler to which said first end of said first arcuate support element and said first end of said second arcuate support element couple distal from said support surface.

3. A pitching screen as described in claim 1, wherein said base locates said coupler to which said first end of said first arcuate support element and said first end of said second arcuate support element couple at a location above said support surface of between about sixty inches and about one hundred and twenty inches.

4. A pitching screen as described in claim 3, further comprising an object deflection screen cut out.

5. A pitching screen as described in claim 4, wherein said base comprises;

a. a first tee element coupled proximate to said second end of said first arcuate support element; and

b. a second tee element coupled proximate to said second end of said second arcuate support element.

6. A pitching screen as described in claim 5, wherein said object deflection material has a plurality of apertures, and wherein said object deflection material having said plurality of apertures is capable of deflecting 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.

7. A method of producing a pitching screen, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first arcuate support element having a first end and a second end, wherein curvature between said first end and said second end of said first arcuate support defines a circular radius;

b) providing a second arcuate support element having a first end and a second end, wherein curvature between said first end and said second end of said first arcuate support defines a circular radius;

c) providing a first coupler leg and a second coupler leg disposed at an angle of between about eighty degrees and about one hundred degrees said first coupler leg coupled to said first end of said first arcuate support said second coupler leg coupled to said first end of said second arcuate support to locate said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element a distance apart;

d) coupling a restraint element by opposed ends between said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element which maintains said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element said distance apart;

e) coupling a base to said second end of said first arcuate support element and coupled to said second end of said second arcuate support element said second end of said first arcuate support element; and

f) bounding an object deflection material having a plurality of aperture elements by said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support element, and said restraint element which provides a substantially planar object deflection surface.

8. A method of producing a pitching screen as described in claim 7, further comprising the steps of coupling said base to locate said second end of said first arcuate support element and said second end of said second arcuate support element proximate to a support surface and locating said first end of said first arcuate support element engaged to said first end of said second arcuate support element distal from said support surface.

9. A method of producing a pitching screen as described in claim 8, wherein said step of coupling a base to said second end of said first arcuate support element and to said second end of said second arcuate support element locates said first end of said first arcuate support element engaged to said first end of said second arcuate support element at a location above said support surface of between about sixty inches and about one hundred and twenty inches.

10. A method of producing a pitching screen as described in claim 9, wherein said steps of providing a first arcuate support element having a first end and a second end;

and providing a second arcuate support element having a first end and a second end comprises the step of providing said first arcuate support element and said second arcuate support element each defining a part of a circular radius of between about 36 inches and about 120 inches.

11. A method of producing a pitching screen as described in claim 10, wherein said step of coupling a base to said second end of said first arcuate support element and to said second end of said second arcuate support element comprises the steps of

a. coupling a first tee element proximate to said second end of said first arcuate support element;

and

b. coupling a second tee element proximate to said second end of said second arcuate support element.

12. A method of producing a pitching screen as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of deflecting 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.

13. A method of manufacturing a pitching screen as described in claim 7, further comprising the step of providing an object deflection screen cut out in said object deflection screen.