US3633909A - Baseball pitcher{3 s practice device - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
  • A63B69/0002—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for baseball
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
  • A63B2208/12—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player specially adapted for children

Definitions

• This invention relates to a device for simulating baseball pitching conditions and more particularly to a novel device constructed to represent true baseball pitching conditions by use of a three-dimensional batter in conjunction with an adjustable rectangular strike zone.”
• This invention relates to a baseball-pitching simulator, and more particularly to a machine representative of real playing conditions for teaching the art of pitching in a baseball game.
• pitching targets are employed to develop and improve pitching control and accuracy. They are also employed as a family game.
• Such pitching devices usually comprise a piece of flexible material mounted on and held erect by a wooden or tubular frame, the mounted material having holes therein.
• the device may have figures of players, such as catchers and batters, drawn on the flexible material in an attempt to depict playing conditions and the ball is to be thrown at the pictured scene.
• My invention overcomes these problems because, the strike zone" is exactly delineated and adjustable, thereby providing a teaching device which demands the necessary exacting standards in that immediate and accurate information is obtained as to whether or not the pitch thrown was a strike.
• My invention also aids in teaching control because the inherent fear children and adults have of hitting the batter is placated, in that the guesswork of when a batter is hit is gone thereby providing the student with the opportunity to correct his faults and learn control free from the psychological distraction of the possibility of causing harm to a live batter.
• a device consisting of a life-size, threedimensional figure in a batting position which is removably mounted on a base.
• the life-size, three-dimensional figure is mounted in a batting position in relation to an adjustable rectangular frame.
• the area within the inner perimeter of the adjustable rectangular frame exactly delineates a strike zone.” A ball passing through this area would denote a strike.
• This pitching simulator achieves true playing conditions because a catcher can assume a catching position as he would in a real contest behind the rectangular frame, defining the strike zone," provide a glove target for the ball to be thrown to and return each pitch, thereby providing a threedimensional, true to life, playing simulation with exacting standards rather than the speculative two-dimensional one provided for by prior devices.
• my invention presents a condition affording perception, that is, the student is pitching to a batter and thereby obtaining a feel" of the game. Accuracy and control are paramount in achieving the art of pitching and my invention provides exacting standards. A student would know whenever a batter is hit and would know whenever the ball passes through the "strike zone he has pitched a strike. The "strike zone is fully adjustable to achieve the variety of strike zones" due to the varying sizes of players, a pitcher may face during a game.
• FIG. I is a front elevation of one embodiment of the pitching simulator.
• FIG. 2 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the pitching simulator.
• the pitching simulator comprises a three-dimensional manikin 1 having a relativedegree of durability being composed of a synthetic material.
• the three-dimensional manikin 1 may be composed of vinyl plastic inflatable by pumping air into it, a metal tubular frame with a plastic covering, plastic, wood, polyurethane foam, hard rubber or metalq
• the manikin l is removably mounted on base 2, the base 2 may be composed of wood, metal, plastic, polyurethane foam, or be of a metal tubular construction.
• the manikin I is attached to the base 2 by means of a strap 3, the strap 3 being connected to the base 2.
• the strap 3 may be leather, heavy canvas, plastic or any other flexible material sufficient to hold said manikin I erect and in a batting position.
• the batters box" would be drawn onto the base 2 on either'side of the homeplate 4 designating that area in which a batter is to stand while batting.
• the homeplate 4 and batters box having'the dimensions conforming to the major leagues baseball regulations and the homeplate” 4 being either drawn on the base 2 attached thereto and composed of wood, plastic, metal, hard rubber or polyurethane foam.
• a spring 5 Connected to and detachable from the homeplate" 4. is a spring 5 which is adapted to accept leg 6 of the adjustable rectangular frame 7 to hold the frame 7 in a parallel relationship to the manikin l.
• the spring 5 affords resiliency to the leg 6 and rectangular frame 7 so that if either the leg 6 of any part of the rectangular frame 7 is struck by a pitched baseball, the spring 5 will absorb the resultant shock.
• the spring 5 may be eliminated from the device and instead a bore would be provided through the'center of homeplate" 4 said bore adapted to accept the leg 60f said rectangular frame 7.
• the rectangular frame 7 is in two sections, an upper section 8 and a lower section 9, each-consisting of a horizontal end member and two vertical side members.
• Each of the side members of the upper section is connected to a side member of the lower section by a telescoping means and affording a rectangular shape, the inner area of said frame 7 exactly delineating the strike zone 10.
• the telescoping means 12 is adjusted by loosening the adjustment screws 12'adjusting the strike zone to the desired position and tightening said adjustment screws 12'.
• Said rectangular frame 7 may be composed of tubular metal, wood, tubular plastic, solid plastic, hard'rubber or polyurethane'foam.
• Said rectangular frame 7 may also be provided with a detachable net 11 or canvas bag to catch and retain any balls thrown through' the strike zone" 10.
• the pitching simulator comprises an adjustablethree-dimensional manikin composed of vinyl plastic having two separate compartments on upper 21 and a lower 22 which are inflatable by pumping air into them so that the distance between the manikins 20 shoulders and knees may be varied by varying the amount of air pumped into the compartments.
• the manikin 20 may be composed of a metal tubular frame with a plastic covering with telescoping means on the tubular frame of plastic, wood, polyurethane foam, hard rubber or metal with insertable parts to vary its height.
• the manikin 20 is attached to a lever spring 23 which spring is removably connected to the base 24.
• the lever spring may be connected to the base on either side of homeplate 25 to afford the simulation of a rightor left-handed batter.
• a leg 26 Connected to and detachable from homeplate 25 is a leg 26 having an upper 27 and lower 28 portion connected with a telescoping means 33 so as to vary the height of the rectangular frame 28 and to hold the frame 28 in a parallel relationship to the adjustable manikin 20.
• the telescoping means 33 is adjusted by loosening the adjustment screws 33', adjusting said telescoping means 33 to the desired position and then tightening said adjustment screws 33'.
• the rectangular frame 28 is in two sections, an upper section 29 and a lower section 30, each consisting of a horizontal end member and two vertical side members. Each of the side members of the upper section is connected to a side member of the lower section by a telescoping means 34 and affording a rectangular shape, the inner area of said frame 28 exactly delineating the strike zone 31.
• the telescoping means 34 is adjusted by loosening the adjustment screws 34, adjusting said telescoping means 34 to the desired position and then tightening said adjustment screws 34'.
• this device can be used utilizing one or more of its parts, that is, with or without the manikin, with or without the strike zone, or with or without the manikin and strike zone.
• An adjustable baseball-pitching simulator comprising:
• a base a three-dimensional, life-size manikin being composed of synthetic material and removably mounted on said base, said manikin also being provided with a means for varying its height;
• a rectangular frame having side and end members and a a three-dimensional, life-size manikin being composed of synthetic material and removably mounted on said base, said manikin also being provided with a means for varying its height;
• a rectangular frame having side and end members and a leg extending from one of said end members, said leg being provided with a telescoping means, the inner area of said frame defining a strike zone, said leg member being romovably mounted on said base at a location which positions the frame in substantially strike zone" relation to said manikin and the side members of said frame being constructed and arranged such that their lengths may be adjusted to vary the area of the strike zone defined by said frame.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Description

Claims (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25370550

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

Cited By (28)

Citations (6)

• 1969
  • 1969-11-18 US US877706A patent/US3633909A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (6)

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