Wind resistant practice cage

• US 8,172,703 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lay, William Coleman
• Original Assignee: Lay, William Coleman
• Inventors: Lay, William Coleman
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICONOVICH, ALEXANDER R
• Application Number:
  US11/653,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20080171618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 473/421, 473/422, 473/490, 473/451, 135/87, 135/90, 135/97, 135/121, 135/125, 135/143, 135/146, 135/119, 135/136, 135/156, 273/317, 273/137.6, 273/348, 273/108, 273/108.3, 124/1, 124/6, 124/10, 124/78, 124/81
• US Class Current: 473/421
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/406 with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 4/00 Friction-wheel operated launchers

Abstract

A batting or ball practice cage has one or more frame members with a net attached over the frame. Frame members may be assembled having springs or elbows at the corner. A pitching machine may be aligned with the cage at one end.

Claims

1. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure disposed on a surface for use with a moveable object comprising:

a) at least one rigid frame member made of a first material and at least one flexible frame member made of a second material different from the first material;

i) the at least one rigid frame member comprising an at least one rigid upright member for association with and extending upwardly from the surface to provide substantially vertical upright rigidity for maintaining a swinging area, the at least one rigid upright member having a lower end for associating with the surface and an upper end for connection to at least one flexible frame member such that the at least one rigid upright member maintains rigidity against bending forces applied by the connection to at least one flexible frame member;

ii) the at least one flexible frame member comprising an at least one arched, flexible cross member, the at least one arched, flexible cross member having at least one distal end and at least one proximal end, the at least one proximal end for assembly with the upper end of at least one rigid upright member to inhibit overflexing of the flexible cross member while providing flexibility against wind forces that may act on the combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure;

b) barrier means associated with the at least one rigid frame member and the at least one flexible frame member, the barrier means being configured to restrain the moveable object, the barrier means having an opening for allowing the moveable object to pass from an external object projecting device through the barrier means into an internal area defined by the barrier means; and

c) a cover harness for attaching the external object projecting device to the barrier means such that the external object projecting device is disposed outside the internal area, the cover harness closing the opening about an entry opening and comprising at least one alignment extension for registering with at least one alignment eye disposed on the external object projecting device for slideably connecting the external object projecting device to the cover harness and aligning the external object projecting device with the entry opening in the cover harness.

2. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one distal end of at least one arched, flexible cross member is associated with the surface.

3. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid upright comprises metal tubing of a predetermined size.

4. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one arched, flexible cross member comprises a fiberglass rod of a predetermined size.

5. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the barrier means comprises netting.

6. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connection means associated with the opening for associating the cover harness with the barrier means and the external object projecting device.

7. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one anchor base for associating the lower end of the at least one rigid upright member with the surface.

8. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one anchor base for associating the distal end of the at least one arched, flexible cross member with the surface.

9. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid upright member comprises at least one first side rigid upright member and at least one second side rigid upright member, the lower end of at least one first side rigid upright member associates with the surface, the upper end of at least one first side rigid upright member assembles with the proximal end of at least one arched, flexible cross member, the distal end of at least one arched, flexible cross member assembles with the upper end of at least one second side rigid upright member, the lower end of at least one second side rigid upright member associates with the surface.

10. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one first side rigid upright member and at least one second side rigid upright member retain at least one flexible cross member in an arched disposition.

11. A combination resiliently rigid and flexible structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a) at least one anchor rope for stabilizing at least one of either at least one rigid frame member or at least one arched, flexible frame member;

b) at least one surface engaging stake associated with the at least one anchor rope; and

c) at least one resilient pad for cushioning at least one of either at least one rigid frame member or at least one flexible frame member from contact by the moveable object.

12. A resiliently flexible structure disposed on a surface for use with a moveable object comprising:

a) at least one flexible frame member comprising a flexible cross member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end for disposition on the surface, the distal end for disposition on the surface;

b) a cover attached to the at least one flexible cross member for defining an internal area and restraining the moveable object within the internal area, the cover having an opening for allowing the moveable object to pass through the cover; and

c) a cover harness disposed within the opening to inhibit exit of the moveable object from the internal area and for attaching an external object to the cover such that the external object is disposed outside the internal area defined by the cover, the cover harness comprising a barrier material and an entry opening, the entry opening being smaller than the opening in the cover, the cover harness having at least one alignment extension for registering with at least one alignment eye disposed on the external object for slideably connecting the external object to the cover harness and aligning the external object with the entry opening in the cover harness.

13. A resiliently flexible structure as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one anchor base for associating at least one flexible cross member with the surface.

14. A resiliently flexible structure as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a) at least one anchor rope associated with the at least one flexible frame member for stabilizing the at least one flexible frame member; and

b) at least one surface engaging stake associated with the at least one anchor rope.

19. A resiliently flexible structure as recited in claim 12 wherein the opening has a first zipper portion and the cover harness has a second zipper portion and attaching the cover harness to the cover comprises joining the first zipper portion to second zipper portion in zipper engagement.

20. A resiliently flexible structure as recited in claim 19, further comprising a closure piece having a third zipper portion and wherein the closure piece is attachable to the cover to close the cover opening when the cover harness is detached from the cover, attaching the closure piece to the cover comprises joining the first zipper portion to third zipper portion in zipper engagement.

15. A practice cage disposed on a surface for use with a moveable object comprising:

a) at least two independent frame members disposed on the surface;

b) a cover attached to the at least two independent frame members for defining an internal area and restraining the moveable object, the cover having an opening that allows the moveable object to pass through the cover within the internal area; and

c) a cover harness for connection to the opening in the cover and for attaching an external object to the cover such that the external object is disposed outside the internal area defined by the cover, the cover harness having an entry opening and the external object having an outlet, the cover harness comprising at least one alignment extension for registering with at least one alignment eye disposed on the external object for slideably connecting the external object to the cover harness and aligning the outlet of the external object with the entry opening in the cover harness.

16. A practice cage as recited in claim 15, wherein the external object is a pitching machine and the outlet is a ball outlet.

17. A practice cage as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a) at least one anchor rope associated with at least one of the at least two independent frame members for stabilizing at least one of the at least two independent frame members; and

b) at least one surface engaging stake associated with the at least one anchor rope.

18. A practice cage as recited in claim 15, further comprising at least one resilient pad for cushioning at least one of the at least two independent frame members from contact by the moveable object.