Baseball pitching training apparatus

• US 8,771,107 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Isaac S. Ayala
• Original Assignee: Isaac S. Ayala
• Inventors: Ayala, Isaac S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US13/230,886
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 473454-456, 473/422, 473/434, 473/451, 273/348, 273/407, 273/402
• US Class Current: 473/456
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0004 specially adapted for particular training aspects
• 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 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/003 non-electronic means for locating the point of impact on a target or the point of entry in the goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

A baseball pitching training apparatus is for practicing accuracy and consistency in throwing a baseball or softball. The apparatus has a durable target with a plurality of target zone openings and a plurality of mesh pockets, with one pocket attached to a rear side of the target behind a target zone opening. In use, the user aims a baseball at a selected target zone in order to train pitching situation accuracy and consistency. The target also includes a plurality of apertures along top and bottom edges to facilitate suspension from a structure. The bottom edge of the target can alternately have a sleeve for supporting a weighted insert to maintain the position and shape of the target in a substantially vertical plane when suspended from support structure.

Claims

1. A baseball pitching training apparatus comprising:

a resilient flexible target comprising;

a plurality of target zone openings disposed through a front surface adapted to receive a pitched ball corresponding to a plurality of locations of said pitched ball;

a plurality of upper apertures along an upper edge;

a plurality of lower apertures along a lower edge; and

,

a plurality of mesh pockets affixed to a rear surface aligned with each of said plurality of target zone openings for retaining said pitched ball passing through any one of said plurality of target zone openings;

a plurality of entrance strips extending across each target zone opening of said plurality of target zone openings, said plurality of entrance strips of an associated target zone opening of said plurality of target zone openings being sufficiently spaced apart to allow said pitched ball to pass through said associated target zone opening and into an associated mesh pocket; and

a rectangular frame for supporting said target in a substantially vertical plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of target zone openings further comprises a center zone corresponding to a strike zone, a right zone corresponding to a right outside of said strike zone, a left zone corresponding to a left outside of said strike zone, an upper zone corresponding to an upper outside of said strike zone, and a lower zone corresponding to a lower outside of said strike zone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises:

an inverted “

U”

-shaped member having tapered ends;

a pair of elongated vertical members, each having an aperture on a top end for receivingly attaching one of said “

U”

-shaped member tapered ends and an opposing tapered bottom end;

a pair of lower members, each having a forward and a rearward extending member and a “

T”

-portion disposed at a middle portion between said forward and rearward extending members, said “

T”

-portion comprises an upper aperture for receivingly attaching said vertical member tapered bottom end and a side aperture;

a horizontal member having opposing tapered ends for insertingly attaching between opposing “

T”

-portion side apertures.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a first elastic cord having end hooks disposed on opposing ends attachable around said inverted “

U”

-shaped member of said frame such that said first elastic cord end hooks connect to an opposing pair of said plurality of target upper apertures; and

a second elastic cord having end hooks disposed on opposing ends attachable around said pair of lower members of said frame such that said second elastic cord end hooks connect to an opposing pair of said plurality of target lower apertures.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said “

T”

-portion of each of said pair of lower members is raised in relation to opposing ends of said forward and rearward extending members.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said frame further comprises a pair of guides affixed to opposing sides of said “

U”

-shaped member for maintaining said first elastic cord in a fixed position upon said frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of entrance strips of said associated target zone opening of said plurality of target zone openings comprises identifying indicia for individually identifying said associated target zone opening of said plurality of target zone openings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said center zone further comprises up to three generally rectangular center zone openings disposed on a left vertical edge of said strike zone and up to three generally rectangular center zone openings disposed on a right vertical edge of said strike zone, further comprising a continuous border surrounding a perimeter of said center zone to visually identify a desired strike area.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said right zone further comprises up to three generally rectangular right zone openings disposed to a right outside of said right vertical edge of said strike zone.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said left zone further comprises up to three generally rectangular left zone openings disposed to a left outside of said left vertical edge of said strike zone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper zone further comprises up to two generally rectangular upper zone openings disposed above said right vertical edge and said left vertical edge of said strike zone.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower zone further comprises up to two generally rectangular lower zone openings disposed below said right vertical edge and said left vertical edge of said strike zone.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said center zone further comprises up to three generally rectangular center zone openings disposed on a left vertical edge of said strike zone and up to three generally rectangular center zone openings disposed on a right vertical edge of said strike zone;

wherein said right zone further comprises up to three generally rectangular right zone openings disposed to a right outside of said right vertical edge of said strike zone;

wherein said left zone further comprises up to three generally rectangular left zone openings disposed to a left outside of said left vertical edge of said strike zone;

wherein said upper zone further comprises up to two generally rectangular upper zone openings disposed above said right vertical edge and said left vertical edge of said strike zone; and

,

wherein said lower zone further comprises up to two generally rectangular lower zone openings disposed below said right vertical edge and said left vertical edge of said strike zone.