U.S. patent application number 12/141063 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-17 for ball hitting practice device.
Invention is credited to Grace Liao.
Application Number | 20090312123 12/141063 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41415316 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090312123 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liao; Grace |
December 17, 2009 |
Ball Hitting Practice Device
Abstract
A ball hitting practice device includes a base member having a
reception portion on a top thereof and a spherical recess is
defined in an underside of the reception portion. A passage is
defined through the reception portion and communicates with the
spherical recess. A post can be a single post or composed of
multiple sections. The post has a base part at a lower end thereof
and a cup is connected to a top of the post. The base part is
matched with the spherical recess and a diameter of the post is
smaller than an inner diameter of the passage. The post extends
through the passage and a top of the base part is in contact with
an inner surface of the spherical recess. A positioning cap is
fixed to the underside of the base member so as to position the
base part. A ball is put on the cup and the user hits the ball to
practice hitting skills.
Inventors: |
Liao; Grace; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LIN & ASSOCIATES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
P.O. BOX 2339
SARATOGA
CA
95070-0339
US
|
Family ID: |
41415316 |
Appl. No.: |
12/141063 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/417 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2069/0008 20130101;
A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 69/0073 20130101; A63B 2225/093
20130101; A63B 69/0002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/417 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/40 20060101
A63B069/40 |
Claims
1. A ball hitting practice device, comprising a base member having
a reception portion extending from a top thereof and a spherical
recess defined in an underside of the reception portion, a passage
defined through the reception portion and communicating with the
spherical recess; a post having a base part at a lower end thereof
and a cup connected to a top of the post, the base part having an
outer periphery that is matched with the spherical recess and a
diameter of the post being smaller than an inner diameter of the
passage, the post extending through the passage from an underside
of the base member and a top of the base part being in contact with
an inner surface of the spherical recess; and a positioning cap
having a convex top which is shaped to match with the underside of
the base part so that when the positioning cap is fixed to the
underside of the base member, the base part is clamped between the
positioning cap and the base member.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post includes a
first section, a second section and a third section, the base part
is connected to a lower end of the first section and the cup is
connected to a top of the third section.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cup has a threaded
rod extending from an underside thereof and a plurality of rods
extending from a top of the cup, the threaded rod is threadedly
connected with a threaded hole in the top of the third section.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stepped recess is
defined around the spherical recess in the base member and a
plurality of fixing holes are defined in a surface of the stepped
recess, the positioning cap includes a flange and through holes are
defined through the flange, the flange is engaged with the stepped
recess and screws extend through the aligned through holes and the
fixing holes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a ball hitting
practice device which includes a post on a base member and a ball
is supported on the post which can be adjusted its angle relative
to the base member
[0003] 2. The Prior Arts
[0004] A baseball or softball hitting practice device in the market
includes a base member with a post on the base member and a ball
can be held on the top of the post so that the user hits the ball
to practice hitting skill. The post is perpendicular to the base
member so that the user can only hit the ball at the fixed
position. However, the ball comes from different heights and angles
in real games so that the conventional ball hitting practice device
cannot meet requirements of the users. Besides, the length of the
post cannot be adjusted and needs to be improved.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,554 discloses a ball hitting practice
device which is disclosed in FIG. 5 and includes a base member 10
with a frame 11 located thereon and a semi-spherical recess 111 is
defined in the frame 11. A post includes a first section 23 and a
second section 24 which is flexible and a connection tube 22 is
connected to the flexible second section 24. A sphere 21 is o
connected to the first section 23. The connection tube 22 further
is connected with an extension rod 40 which has a cup 41 on a top
thereof. A foam tube 30 is mounted to the first and second sections
23, 24 and the sphere 21 is pivotably engaged with the
semi-spherical recess 111. The sphere 21 is pivotable in the
semi-spherical recess 111 and the second section 24 can be bent and
the extension rod 40 can be optionally connected to the second
section 24 so that the post can be hit to pivot toward different
directions. The length of the post can be adjusted by using the
extension rod 40. However, the sphere 21 is not well positioned in
the semi-spherical recess 111 and can be disengaged from the
semi-spherical recess 111. Furthermore, the extension rod 40 and
the connection tube 22 are always perpendicular to the ground and
this restricts the position of the ball can be set relative to the
user so that the user cannot practice hitting regarding different
angles. The user can only choose to connect or not connect the
extension rod 40 to adjust the length of the post and this
adjustment range is too narrow and cannot fit to different users'
needs.
[0006] Another ball hitting practice device is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,204,769 which includes a base member 12 with an opening
28 and a frame 25 extends through the opening 28 from the underside
of the base member 12. The frame 25 is fixed to the base member 12
by extending screws 29 through the flange 33 on the frame 25 and
connected to the base member 21. A locking nut 35 is located to
contact the underside of the frame 25 which includes ridges 27. A
post includes a top section 22 and a bottom section 24, wherein the
top section 22 includes a flexible section 48 and a plurality of
grooves defined in the top section 22. The bottom section 24 is
connected to a cover 26 and a plurality of ridges formed on the
bottom section 24. The top section 22 is mounted to the bottom
section 24 and the ridges are engaged with the grooves so that the
top and bottom sections 22, 24 can be adjusted their relative
positions to obtain different heights for the post. The cover 26 is
connected to the frame 25 so as to set the post and engaged with
the ridges on the frame 25. A bolt 34 extends through the locking
nut 35 and the frame 25 so as to be connected to the cover 26. A
cup 16 is connected to the top of the flexible section 48 and the
top section 22 includes a separation layer 46, a flexible cable 42
is connected between the cup 16 and the separation layer 46. The
post can be set to inclined positions relative to the base member
12. Thanks to the flexible cable 42, the cup 16 can be pulled to
desired position and then connected to the top of the post by
bosses extending from an underside of the cup 16. Besides, the
bottom section 24 is retractable relative to the top section 22 to
adjust the length of the post. By the adjustable post and the cup
16, the ball hitting practice device provides much more different
molds for the user to practice hitting. Nevertheless, the ball
hitting practice device includes too many parts and spends a lot of
time to assemble or manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
ball hitting practice device which improves the drawbacks of the
conventional ball hitting practice devices by providing adjustable
post and cup.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
ball hitting practice device which is composed of less number of
parts and can be assembled and manufactured within a short period
of time.
[0009] According to the present invention, a ball hitting practice
device is provided and comprises a base member having a reception
portion extending from a top thereof and a spherical recess is
defined in an underside of the reception portion. A passage is
defined through the reception portion and communicates with the
spherical recess. A post has a base part at a lower end thereof and
a cup is connected to a top of the post. The base part has an outer
periphery that is matched with the spherical recess and a diameter
of the post is smaller than an inner diameter of the passage. The
post extends through the passage from an underside of the base
member and a top of the base part is in contact with an inner
surface of the spherical recess. A positioning cap has a convex top
which is shaped to match with the underside of the base part so
that when the positioning cap is fixed to the underside of the base
member, the base part is clamped between the positioning cap and
the base member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a ball hitting practice
device in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the ball hitting practice
device in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2A shows an underside of a base member of the ball
hitting practice device of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the connection of the
base member, a first section and a positioning cap of the base
member of the ball hitting practice device of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows that a post of the ball hitting practice device
is pivotably moved;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a conventional ball hitting practice device;
and
[0017] FIG. 6 shows another conventional ball hitting practice
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1
and 2, the ball hitting practice device in accordance with the
present invention comprises a base member 5, a post 7 on the base
member 5, a positioning cap 6 connected to the underside of the
base member 5 so as to be connect the base member 5 and the post
7.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base member 5 has a
reception portion 50 extending from a top thereof and a spherical
recess 51 is defined in an underside of the reception portion 50. A
passage 52 is defined through the reception portion 50 and
communicates with the spherical recess 51. The base member 5 is
made to have a shape the same as a base plate in a baseball or
softball game. As shown in FIG. 2A, a stepped recess 53 is defined
around the spherical recess 51 in the base member 5 and a plurality
of fixing holes 54 are defined in a surface of the stepped recess
53. The inner diameter of the stepped recess 53 is larger than the
inner diameter of the passage 52.
[0020] The post 7 includes a first section 71, a second section 72
and a third section 73. The number of the sections is not limited
or the post 7 can be a single post which provides a fixed height of
hitting point. The connection between the three sections can be any
known method such as force-fitting, threaded connection,
retractable mounting or bolts connecting. The sections can be solid
sections or hollow sections. The diameter of each of the sections
can be varied. The sections can also have a threaded rod on one end
and a threaded hole in the other end such that the sections can be
connected to each other by threading.
[0021] The first section 71 has a base part 711 at a lower end
thereof and a cup 74 is connected to a top of the post 7. A
plurality of rods 742 extend from a top of the cup 74 and arranged
to define a concavity in the center thereof, so that a ball can be
positioned in the cup 74. A threaded rod 741 extends from an
underside thereof and the threaded rod 742 is threadedly connected
with a threaded hole 731 in the top of the third section 73. The
threaded rod 741 can be replaced with a rod and the threaded hole
can be replaced with a hole in which the rod is inserted. The cup
74 can also be integrally connected with the third section 73.
[0022] The base part 711 has an outer periphery that is matched
with the spherical recess 51 and a diameter of the post 7 is
smaller than an inner diameter of the passage 52 so that the post 7
is allowed to be pivotable. The post 7 extends through the passage
52 from an underside of the base member 5 and a top of the base
part 711 is in contact with an inner surface of the spherical
recess 51. The first and second sections 71, 72 can be made by
stiff material such as plastic so as to be firmly connected with
the base member 5, and the third section 73 and the cup 74 can be
made by softer material such as rubber.
[0023] The positioning cap 6 has a convex top 61 which is shaped to
match with the underside of the base part 711. The positioning cap
6 includes a flange 62 and through holes 63 are defined through the
flange 62, the flange 62 is engaged with the stepped recess 63 and
screws extend through the aligned through holes 63 and the fixing
holes 54. When the positioning cap 6 is fixed to the underside of
the base member 5, the base part 711 is clamped between the
positioning cap 6 and the base member 5.
[0024] When adjusting the post 7 relative to the base member 5, the
screws on the positioning cap 6 are first loosened and the base
part 711 can be moved within the spherical recess 51 of the
reception portion 51, such that the post can be pivoted as shown in
FIG. 4. The screws are then tightened to set the post 7 so that the
user can practice hitting in different angular positions.
[0025] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
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