Target receptacle for catching balls

• US 7,648,431 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roy Kinkead
• Original Assignee: Roy Kinkead
• Inventors: Kinkead, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour; Mitra
• Application Number:
  US11/974,585
• Time in Patent Office: 829 Days
• Field of Search: 473/454, 473/455, 473/456, 473/422, 473/431, 473/451, 124/6
• 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 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/02 for picking-up or collecting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A target receptacle, for use in practicing baseball, softball, and the like, having a main part and a base plate. The base plate is secured to a ground surface. The main part is rotatably mounted to the base, has an intake opening, and exit port, and a fully enclosed conduit connecting the intake opening and exit port. When a ball is thrown into the intake opening, it travels through the conduit and exits through the exit port.

Claims

1. A target receptacle, for use upon a ground surface, in training a player to throw a baseball, comprising:

a base plate, for resting upon the ground surface;

a main part mounted to the base plate, the main part having an upper portion and a stand, the upper portion having a front and a rear, a top, and a bottom, the upper portion having an intake opening oriented toward the front, the intake opening substantially rectangular, the upper portion further having an exit port oriented toward the front and located below the intake opening, a fully enclosed conduit connecting the intake opening and exit port including a concave rear wall, and a lower transition curve between the rear wall and exit port, wherein the rear wall is curved continuously with the lower transition curve toward the exit port so that when a baseball is thrown at the intake opening, it is directed by the conduit to exit through the exit port under its own power.

2. The target receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein the main part is rotatably mounted upon the base plate, such that the main part can be rotated with respect to the base plate.

3. The target receptacle as recited in claim 2, wherein the base plate has a plurality of stake holes, to allow the base plate to be anchored into the ground surface to stabilize the base plate.

4. The target receptacle as recited in claim 3, wherein the base plate has a front and a rear, and wherein the base plate has a substantially square main portion and a rectangular support extension that extends from the rear of the base plate.

5. The target receptacle as recited in claim 4, further comprising a ball bag, for selectively covering the exit port to collect balls as they exit the exit port.

6. The target receptacle as recited in claim 5, further comprising a membrane made of a flexible material and located within the intake opening, having a center and a plurality of radial cuts, the membrane allowing a baseball to enter the intake opening when thrown thereat and selectively preventing the baseball from bouncing out of the intake opening.

7. The target receptacle as recited in claim 6, wherein the exit port is flared laterally outwardly.

8. The target receptacle as recited in claim 7, wherein the intake opening is sized substantially like the strike zone of a player.

9. The target receptacle as recited in claim 8, further comprising a riser box sized to be slightly larger than the base plate, the riser box having an upper surface for positioning beneath the base plate for raising the intake opening, and a lower surface for resting upon the ground surface.