Convertible baseball/softball training equipment

• US 9,283,456 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Thomas, Richard Bertagnolli
• Original Assignee: Mark Thomas, Richard Bertagnolli
• Inventors: Thomas, Mark, Bertagnolli, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US14/092,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/426, 473/430, 473/434, 473/433, 473/451, 473454-456, 473/421, 473/431, 124/78, 124/79
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/401 substantially vertically, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• 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
• 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

Abstract

Baseball or softball training equipment that is capable of converting from a system for practicing pitching and throwing to a machine for throwing balls to practice batting or fielding. The equipment comprises: a main frame for catching a ball thrown toward the system; foldable backstop components hinged on both sides to the main frame; a plurality of movable, resettable targets connected to the main frame and extending over a ball collecting component; and a ball return component with a motorized wheel situated beneath the ball collecting component and detachably mounted for removing from the main frame and affixing to its own stand.

Claims

1. A baseball or softball training system comprising, in combination:

a main frame for catching a ball thrown toward the system;

foldable backstop components hinged on both sides to the main frame;

four quadrant targets, each target;

(i) being situated in a simulated batter'"'"'s strike zone, (ii) connected to the main frame;

(iii) adapted for swinging inwardly on contact with a thrown ball then automatically resetting for a next throw; and

(iv) extending over a ball collecting component; and

a ball return component having a motorized wheel situated beneath the ball collecting component and detachably mounted for removing from the main frame and affixing to a separate stand for serving as a practice pitching machine.

2. The training system of claim 1, which further comprises means for varying speed at which each ball is returned to a thrower through the system.

3. The training system of claim 1, which further includes a support bracket for a radar unit.

4. The training system of claim 1, which includes one or more adjustable brackets for changing the angle of ball return to effect a grounder, line drive or pop fly.

5. The training system of claim 1, which includes an upper pair and a lower pair of throwing targets.

6. Baseball or softball training equipment that is capable of converting from a system for practicing pitching and throwing to a machine for throwing balls to practice batting or fielding, said equipment comprising:

a main frame for catching a ball thrown toward the system;

foldable backstop components hinged on both sides to the main frame;

two upper quadrant and two lower quadrant targets, each target;

(i) being situated in a simulated batter'"'"'s strike zone, (ii) connected to the main frame;

(iii) adapted for swinging inwardly on contact with a thrown ball then automatically resetting for a next throw; and

(iv) extending over a ball collecting component; and

a ball return component having a motorized wheel situated beneath the ball collecting component and detachably mounted for removing from the main frame and affixing to a separate stand.

7. The training equipment of claim 6, which further includes a support bracket for a radar unit.

8. The training equipment of claim 6, which includes adjustable brackets for changing the angle of ball return to effect a grounder, line drive or pop fly.

9. The training equipment of claim 6, which has vertically adjustable backstop extensions.

10. The training equipment of claim 9 wherein said extensions are at least partially covered with netting or screen.

11. The training equipment of claim 6, which has horizontally adjustable backstop extensions.

12. The training equipment of claim 11 wherein said extensions are at least partially covered with netting or screen.