U.S. patent application number 11/074756 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for telescopic batting training apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shyr Sheng Enterprise Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chao-Jih Liu.
Application Number | 20060205540 11/074756 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36971766 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060205540 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Chao-Jih |
September 14, 2006 |
Telescopic batting training apparatus
Abstract
A telescopic batting training apparatus includes an upright
support, and a central base unit. The upright support includes a
lower support post, an upper support post telescopically connected
to the lower support post, a locking unit for restricting
telescopic movement of the upper support post relative to the lower
support post, and a ball receptacle mounted on top of the upper
support post. The base unit includes a tubular member sleeved
around the lower support post, and a plurality of radial legs
having inner ends pivotally connected to the tubular member and
outer ends opposite to the inner ends. The radial legs are turnable
between a stretching position, in which the outer ends move away
from the lower support post, and a folding position, in which the
outer ends move toward the lower support post.
Inventors: |
Liu; Chao-Jih; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF
1001 G STREET N W
SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Assignee: |
Shyr Sheng Enterprise Co.,
Ltd.
Taichung Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
36971766 |
Appl. No.: |
11/074756 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/417 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0002 20130101;
A63B 2069/0008 20130101; A63B 69/0075 20130101; A63B 2210/50
20130101; A63B 2225/093 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/417 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A telescopic batting training apparatus, comprising: an upright
support including a lower support post, an upper support post
telescopically connected to said lower support post, a first
locking unit for restricting telescopic movement of said upper
support post relative to said lower support post, and a ball
receptacle mounted on top of said upper support post; and a central
base unit including a tubular member sleeved around said lower
support post, and a plurality of radial legs having inner ends
pivotally connected to said tubular member and outer ends opposite
to said inner ends, said radial legs being turnable between a
stretching position in which said outer ends move away from said
lower support post, and a folding position in which said outer ends
move toward said lower support post.
2. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said tubular member is sleeved slidably around said lower
support post to move downwardly so as to place said legs in said
stretching position and to move upwardly so as to place said legs
in said folding position.
3. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein said central base unit further includes a second locking
unit sleeved on said tubular member to lock said tubular member
against movement relative to said lower support post.
4. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said upright support further includes a clip for holding a
bat.
5. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said lower support post includes a cushion tube disposed
around said lower support post.
6. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising a plurality of stabilizing friction members,
each sleeved around one of said radial legs.
7. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein said tubular member includes a plurality of pivot seats
projecting outwardly from said tubular member, each of said pivot
seats having an inverted U-shaped cross section for receiving a
corresponding one of said radial legs, each of said inner ends
being inserted into and being pivoted to a corresponding one of
said pivot seats.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a batting training apparatus, more
particularly to a telescopic batting training apparatus.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional batting training
apparatus 10 is shown to comprise a base 11, an upright post 12,
and a ball-supporting rod 13. The base 11 is supported on the
ground through two elongated plastic leg members 111 that intersect
each other to form a cross shape. The upright post 12 has a bottom
end connected to the base 11, and a top end connected to the
ball-supporting rod 13. The ball-supporting rod 13 is made of a
foam material, and has a ball receptacle 131 formed on a top end
thereof for supporting a ball 100 so that the ball 100 is at a
predetermined height relative to the ground. Through such an
arrangement, a player can start his batting training by swinging a
bat against the ball 100.
[0005] Although the conventional batting training apparatus can
achieve its intended purpose, it has the following
disadvantages:
[0006] 1. The base 11 is supported on the ground through the ends
of the plastic leg members 111 so that the contact area of the base
11 with the ground is limited. This results in the base 11
providing a relatively weak and unstable support so that when the
player strikes the ball 100 with the bat, the conventional batting
training apparatus 10 easily topples over. Therefore, the
conventional batting training apparatus 10 has to be erected after
each strike, thereby rendering the conventional batting training
apparatus 10 inconvenient to use.
[0007] 2. Since the upright post 12 is not telescopic, the
conventional batting training apparatus 10 has a fixed striking
point so that the player cannot practice batting the ball at
different height levels, thereby affecting the training
efficiency.
[0008] 3. Since the height of the upright post 12 of the
conventional batting training apparatus 10 is fixed, that is, since
the upright post 12 is not telescopic, the conventional batting
training apparatus 10 is not suitable for players of different ages
and heights.
[0009] 4. The conventional batting training apparatus 10 occupies a
substantial space during storage. However, if the conventional
batting training apparatus 10 is disassembled so as to facilitate
storage and is then assembled so as to facilitate use of the
apparatus, considerable time and labor are wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a batting training apparatus that is telescopic, that is convenient
to use, and that can be stably mounted on the ground.
[0011] According to the present invention, a telescopic batting
training apparatus comprises an upright support, and a central base
unit. The upright support includes a lower support post, an upper
support post telescopically connected to the lower support post, a
locking unit for restricting telescopic movement of the upper
support post relative to the lower support post, and a ball
receptacle mounted on top of the upper support post. The central
base unit includes a tubular member sleeved around the lower
support post, and a plurality of radial legs having inner ends
pivotally connected to the tubular member and outer ends opposite
to the inner ends. The radial legs are turnable between a
stretching position and a folding position. In the stretching
position, the outer ends of the legs move away from the lower
support post. In the folding position, the outer ends of the legs
move toward the lower support post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional batting
training apparatus;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a telescopic batting training apparatus according to
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating how an
upper support post can be adjusted through a first locking
unit;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment, illustrating how an upright support and a
central base unit can be respectively retracted and folded;
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates how a bat may be connected to the upright
support after the latter is retracted; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred
embodiment of a telescopic batting training apparatus according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of
a batting training apparatus according to the present invention is
shown to comprise a central base unit 20, an upright support 30, a
ball 100, and a bat 200.
[0022] The central base unit 20 includes a tubular member 21, and
four radial legs 22 connected pivotally to the tubular member 21.
The tubular member 21 defines a central hole 211, and includes an
upper section 213, a lower section 214 connected to the upper
section 213, and four pivot seats 212 projecting outwardly from the
lower section 214. Each of the pivot seats 212 has an inverted
U-shaped cross section for receiving a respective one of the legs
22. Each of the legs 22 has an inner end inserted into and pivoted
to a respective one of the pivot seats 212, and an outer end 222
opposite to the inner end.
[0023] The upright support 30 includes a hollow lower support post
31, an upper support post 33, a first locking unit 50, a
ball-supporting rod 34, and a clip 35.
[0024] The lower support post 31 is inserted into the tubular
member 21 via the central hole 211.
[0025] The upper support post 33 has a diameter smaller than that
of the lower support post 31, and has a bottom end portion inserted
adjustably and movably into the lower support post 31. The lower
support post 31 defines a clearance 312 around the upper support
post 33, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0026] The first locking unit 50 is provided for restricting the
telescopic movement of the upper support post 33 relative to the
lower support post 31. The first locking unit 50, as best shown in
FIG. 5, includes a rotary annular member 51 sleeved threadedly
around the lower support post 31 and having a flanged end 511, and
a wedge-shaped packing member 52 connected to the rotary annular
member 51 and inserted into the clearance 312. When the rotary
annular member 51 is rotated to a tightening position, the flanged
end 511 of the rotary annular member 51 pulls the packing member 52
toward the clearance 312 so that the upper support post 33 is
locked against movement relative to the lower support post 31. When
the rotary annular member 51 is rotated to a loosening position,
the flanged end 511 of the rotary annular member 51 moves the
packing member 52 away from the clearance 312, thereby allowing
movement of the upper support post 33 relative to the lower support
post 31.
[0027] The ball-supporting rod 34 is connected to a top end of the
upper support post 33, and is made of a foam material. The
ball-supporting rod 34 includes a ball receptacle 341 formed on a
top face thereof for holding the ball 100.
[0028] The clip 35 has two opposite ends formed with a first
C-shaped clip portion 351 and a second C-shaped clip portion 352.
The first C-shaped clip portion 351 is secured on the upper support
post 33. The second C-shaped clip portion 352 extends outwardly
from the upper support post 33 for holding the bat 200, which may,
for example, be a baseball bat.
[0029] The radial legs 22 of the central base unit 20 are turnable
between a stretching position and a folding position. In the
stretching position, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer ends 222 of the
radial legs 22 move away from the lower support post 31. In the
folding position, as shown in FIG. 5, the outer ends 222 of the
radial legs 22 move toward the lower support post 31.
[0030] The tubular member 21 is sleeved slidably around the lower
support post 31 to move downwardly so as to place the legs 22 in
the stretching position and to move upwardly so as to place the
legs 22 in the folding position.
[0031] A second locking unit 50' is provided on the central base
unit 20, and has a structure similar to that of the first locking
unit 50. Particularly, the second locking unit 50' includes a
rotary annular member 51', and a wedge-shaped packing member 52'.
When the rotary annular member 51' is rotated to a tightening
position, the lower support post 31 is locked against movement
relative to the tubular member 21. When the rotary annular member
51' is rotated to a loosening position, the tubular member 21 is
free to move along the lower support post 31.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, when a player desires to adjust the
height of the ball 100 on the ball-supporting rod 34, the first
locking unit 50 is simply loosened so that the upper support post
33 can move freely relative to the lower support post 31. The
position of the ball-supporting rod 34 is also changed following
the movement of the upper support post 33. When the desired height
of the upper support post 33 is obtained, the first locking unit 50
is tightened, thereby locking the upper support post 33 and
preventing movement of the same relative to the lower support post
31.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, when it is desired to prepare the
batting training apparatus of the present invention for transport
and/or storage, the first and second locking units 50, 50' are
loosened so that the upper support post 33 can move into the lower
support post 31, and so that the tubular member 21 can move
upwardly along the lower support post 31 so as to fold the legs
22.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 6, in this state where the central base
unit 20 and the upright support 30 are respectively folded and
retracted, a handgrip portion 201 of the bat 200 may be secured to
the second C-shaped clip portion 352 of the clip 35.
[0035] From the aforesaid description, it is apparent that with the
provision of the four radial legs 22 which can be folded and
stretched, use of the batting training apparatus of the present
invention is facilitated. When the legs 22 are stretched, the legs
22 abut against the ground so that the contact area of the central
base unit 20 relative to the ground is increased, thereby achieving
a stable support. Furthermore, the upright support 30 has
telescopic upper and lower support posts 33, 31 which can be
adjusted through the first locking unit 50. This allows for quick
adjustment of the height of the ball-supporting rod 34, that is,
the height of the ball 100 on the ball-supporting rod 34 can be
quickly adjusted according to the height of the player. Since the
upper and lower support posts 33, 31 are telescopic, the batting
training apparatus of the present invention can have a reduced
volume after retraction so that it does not occupy a substantial
space during storage and is easy to carry.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 7, the second preferred embodiment of a
batting training apparatus according to the present invention is
shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in
this embodiment, the batting training apparatus of the present
invention further includes four stabilizing friction members 223.
Each of the stabilizing friction members 223 is made of a foam
material, and is sleeved on a corresponding one of the radial legs
22 (see FIG. 2). The stabilizing friction members 223 can increase
contact and friction with the ground so that the central base unit
20 can be more stably supported on the ground. A cushion tube 313
is disposed around the lower support post 31 (see FIG. 2) of the
upright support 30. The cushion tube 313 is made of a foam
material, and can dampen an external impact force. The cushion tube
313 also serves to protect the upright support 30 so that the
service life and the appearance of the upright support 30 are
enhanced.
[0037] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *