Throwing target, system, and method

• US 8,668,604 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Joseph Stemle
• Original Assignee: Stephen Joseph Stemle
• Inventors: Stemle, Stephen Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/921,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 473451-456, 273398-402, 273/409
• US Class Current: 473/456
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0046 Mechanical means for locating the point of impact or entry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/007 Target zones without opening defined on a substantially horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

The present application is directed to a throwing target method. The throwing target comprises a baseball strike zone, one or more target zones located in the strike zone and one or more target zones located around the strike zone. The throwing target also comprises one or more non-target zones located in the strike zone. The total surface area of the target zones located around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones located within the strike zone.

Claims

1. A method of training an individual'"'"'s management of a baseball strike zone while performing the act of pitching comprising:

providing a throwing target, the throwing target having a border including two obtuse angles defined by a distance there between, the throwing target having a designated baseball strike zone therein of a particular height and width, a plurality of zones outside of the strike zone assigned as zones for locating thrown pitches and at least one zone outside of the strike zone assigned as a zone to avoid locating thrown pitches, wherein the vertices of the obtuse angles are separated from the strike zone by both zones assigned as zones for locating pitches and at least one zone assigned to avoid locating pitches;

targeting a particular zone for locating a particular type of pitch; and

delivering a pitch in an attempt to contact the zone targeted.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the strike zone includes one or more zones therein assigned as zones for locating thrown pitches and at least one zone therein assigned as a zone to avoid locating thrown pitches.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the throwing target may be used to monitor an individual'"'"'s pitching performance by charting the location of an individual'"'"'s pitches on the throwing target over time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the throwing target may be used to collect information regarding an individual'"'"'s pitching tendencies in game situations.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the distance between the vertices of the obtuse angles is about equal to the width of the strike zone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein particular types of pitches are selected from the group consisting of fastball pitches and off-speed pitches.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an individual with a particular game scenario prior to the individual delivering a pitch toward the throwing target.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the game scenario includes a particular pitch count, a particular game situation, and a particular batter.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a particular zone to aim the pitch upon release of the ball from the hand, the aimed for zone being different than the intended zone of contact of the ball on the throwing target.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the throwing target may be used to prepare for facing a particular batter by delivering one or more pitches toward one or more particular zones based on information known about the batter.