Baseball practice device

• US 9,457,252 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen F. Schwarz
• Original Assignee: Stephen F. Schwarz
• Inventors: Schwarz, Stephen F
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US14/245,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20150283442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 473/417, 473/422, 473/451, 473/454, 473/423, D21715-721, D21/780
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0075 Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like golf tees A63B57/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36211 Mechanical guides guiding the club head end during the complete swing, e.g. rails

Abstract

The present invention is a baseball practice device having a base frame with a pair of tubular members connected perpendicular to each other by mounting to an elbow tube fitting. A tee tube fitting is slideably positioned on one of the tube members. An aluminum pole is mounted to the tee tube fitting and a tee member with a flexible support member is inserted into the pole. At the distal end of the support member, baseball mounting means are attached. A baseball hitter places a ball on the mounting means to practice a swing. The support member allows the hitter to adjust the ball position to a different vertical or horizontal elevation as needed.

Claims

1. A portable baseball practice device, comprising in combination:

a frame having a first tubular member and a second tubular member, the first tubular member and the second tubular member each having a first end and a second end, and a corner piece having a generally triangular shaped shell with a pair of tubular conduits extending outwardly perpendicular to each other with the first ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member each inserted into the conduits;

end caps connected to the second ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member;

a tee tube fitting having a cylindrical sleeve and a tubular elbow with a defined opening extending outwardly and perpendicular to the cylindrical sleeve, wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes an outwardly threaded extension formed at one end, and whereby the tee tube fitting is slideably mountable on either the first tubular member or the second tubular member;

an inwardly threaded collar mateable with the outwardly threaded extension, whereby when the inwardly threaded collar is disengaged from the outwardly threaded extension the tee tube fitting may be repositioned along either the first tubular member or the second tubular member;

a pole having a first lower end and a second upper end, and having a bore formed therethrough, connected to the tubular elbow of the tee tube fitting at the first lower end of the pole;

a gooseneck having a first lower end and a second upper end, and composed of flexible material, inserted at the first lower end of the gooseneck into the second end of the pole; and

a baseball holder affixed to the second upper end of the gooseneck.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pair of rectangular protrusions, each protrusion having an end wall and side walls integrally formed on opposed sides of the tubular elbow of the tee tube fitting.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2, whereby the tubular elbow has a pair of apertures formed therein juxtaposed the opening.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3, whereby the pole has snaps integrally formed on an outer surface at the first lower end engageable with the apertures formed in the tubular elbow.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, whereby the first tubular member and the second tubular member each have a pair of opposed snaps formed at the first ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member, and the tubular conduits of the corner piece each have a pair of apertures formed therein, and whereby the snaps of the first tubular member and the second tubular member each are securely engaged in the apertures.

6. The device as set forth in claim 4, whereby the shell of the corner piece is affixed to a base platform.

7. A portable baseball practice device, comprising in combination:

a frame having a first tubular member and a second tubular member, the first tubular member and the second tubular member each having a first end and a second end, and a corner piece having a generally triangular shaped shell with a pair of tubular conduits extending outwardly perpendicular to each other with the first ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member each inserted into the conduits;

end caps connected to the second ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member;

a tee tube fitting having a cylindrical sleeve and a tubular elbow with a defined opening extending outwardly and perpendicular to the cylindrical sleeve, and having an outwardly threaded extension formed at one end, and whereby the tee tube fitting is slideably mountable on either the first tubular member or the second tubular member;

an inwardly threaded collar mateable with the outwardly threaded extension, whereby when the collar is disengaged from the extension the tee tube fitting may be repositioned along either the first tubular member or the second tubular member;

a pole having a first lower end and a second upper end, and having a bore formed therethrough, connected to the tubular elbow of the tee tube fitting at the first lower end of the pole; and

a gooseneck having a first lower end and a second upper end, and composed of flexible material, inserted at the first lower end of the gooseneck into the second upper end of the pole;

a baseball holder affixed to the second upper end of the gooseneck;

a baseball home plate main body having a standard pentagonal shape used in baseball, and having a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section each having a peripheral edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, and having a plurality of hinges affixed to the lower surfaces of the first section and the second section that permit the baseball home plate main body to be folded; and

a plurality of hook and loop strips affixed to the baseball home plate main body that connect to the first tubular member and the second tubular member of the frame to securely mount the first tubular member and the second tubular member of the frame on the upper surface of the baseball home plate main body.