U.S. patent application number 17/169266 was filed with the patent office on 2022-08-11 for quick release batting tee.
This patent application is currently assigned to JUGS SPORTS, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is JUGS SPORTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Gregory J. ANDERSON, Kerry K. PAULSON.
Application Number | 20220249931 17/169266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005398651 |
Filed Date | 2022-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220249931 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PAULSON; Kerry K. ; et
al. |
August 11, 2022 |
QUICK RELEASE BATTING TEE
Abstract
A batting tee is provided that includes a base to which a post
is removably mounted. The post includes an upper, distal end for
supporting a ball at a height convenient for a batter to hit, and a
lower, proximal end to engage the base. The base includes a member
that is spring-biased into engagement with the post, the post
including an aperture. The aperture removably receives the member
so that the post may be released from the base by pulling the
member against the spring bias, and the post can be engaged with
the base by releasing the member, permitting spring bias to move
the member into engagement with the aperture.
Inventors: |
PAULSON; Kerry K.; (Kahuku,
HI) ; ANDERSON; Gregory J.; (Tualatin, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JUGS SPORTS, INC. |
Tualatin |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
JUGS SPORTS, INC.
Tualatin
OR
|
Family ID: |
1000005398651 |
Appl. No.: |
17/169266 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/0075
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A batting tee, comprising: a base to which a post is removably
mounted, the post having an upper, distal end for supporting a ball
at a height convenient for a batter to hit, and a lower, proximal
end to engage the base, wherein the base includes a member that is
spring-biased into engagement with the post, the post including an
aperture to removably receive the member so that the post can be
released from the base by pulling the member against the spring
bias, and the post can be engaged with the base by releasing the
member, permitting spring bias to move the member into engagement
with the aperture.
2. The batting tee of claim 1 wherein the aperture extends entirely
around the post.
3. The batting tee of claim 2 wherein the post is circular in cross
section and the aperture is annular.
4. The batting tee of claim 3 wherein the post further includes an
annular radially-outwardly extending ring disposed proximally of
the aperture, the ring preventing the post from being removed from
the base when the member is in an engaged position.
5. The batting tee of claim 1 wherein the member comprises a plug
in the shape of a pin.
6. A system for releasably engaging a batting tee post in a batting
tee base, comprising: a post having an upper, distal end for
supporting a ball to be struck by a batter, and a lower, proximal
end for being releasably engaged by the base; and a base including
a member that is biased into engagement with the lower end of the
post so that the post can be removed from the base when a pulling
force is applied to the member to remove it from engagement with
the post.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the post is circular in cross
section and includes a radially-outwardly-extending annular ring at
the lower, proximal end, and wherein the member is biased into
engagement with the lower, proximal end of the post, distally of
the annular ring so that the annular ring prevents the post from
being raised distally above the member when the member is engaged
with the post.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the base includes an aperture and
the member comprises a pin disposed in the aperture, the pin being
spring-biased into engagement with the post.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the base includes an aperture and
the member comprises a pin disposed in the aperture, the pin being
spring-biased into engagement with the post.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a base for a batting tee that
includes first and second base halves that are pivotally mounted to
each other.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Batting or hitting tees have been used for many years, not
only for younger children who do not yet have the coordination to
hit a pitched ball but also for batting drills and to build the
hitter's strength up by repeatedly hitting a stationary ball. Many
such tees have been sold by Jugs Sports, Inc. and other companies.
Batting tees typically include a base and a post assembly, with the
post assembly having a lower end mounted to the base and upper end
designed to hold the ball to be hit at a height approximating that
of the player's strike zone. The post is typically removably
mounted to the base so that the base may be removed from the post,
and both may be placed in an equipment bag with balls, bats and
catcher's equipment. The removably mounting is typically a threaded
mounting that permits the post to be threaded into and unthreaded
from the base. However, this can be a time consuming process, which
can be problematic immediately before and following a practices and
games when the coaches are busiest organizing team activities.
Therefore, a goal in batting tee design has been to develop a
removable mounting that can provide a secure mounting that can
permit the post to be quickly and easily removed from the base.
[0003] One proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
8,821,322. This mount includes a latching engagement with the bar
that is engaged in a slot. While this presents a secure engagement,
it does include a number of parts, some of which appear to be quite
heavy in construction. This presents a problem in that it not only
increases the weight in the equipment bag but can also drive up the
cost of the batting tee.
[0004] It is accordingly an object of this disclosure to come up
with a system for mounting a batting tee post to a base that
facilitates quick and easy removal, but which is simply in
construction and does not dramatically increase the weight or cost
of the tee.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevation sectional view of an embodiment
of the present disclosure, depicting the base and a lower end of
the post, showing the spring-loaded member engaged with the post;
and
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side elevation sectional view of an embodiment
of the present disclosure, depicting the base and a lower end of
the post, showing the spring-loaded member disengaged from the post
against the bias of the spring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which
are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced.
It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
structural or logical changes may be made without departing from
the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to
be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is
defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0010] Various operations may be described as multiple discrete
operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in
understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should
not be construed to imply that these operations are order
dependent.
[0011] The description may use perspective-based descriptions such
as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are
merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to
restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.
[0012] A batting tee is provided that includes a base to which a
post is removably mounted. The post includes an upper, distal end
for supporting a ball at a height convenient for a batter to hit,
and a lower, proximal end to engage the base. The base includes a
member that is spring-biased into engagement with the post, the
post including an aperture. The aperture removably receives the
member so that the post can be released from the base by pulling
the member against the spring bias, and the post can be engaged
with the base by releasing the member, permitting spring bias to
move the member into engagement with the aperture.
[0013] The aperture may extend entirely around the post, and the
post may be circular in cross section, with the aperture being
annular. The post may further include an annular,
radially-outwardly extending ring disposed proximally of the
aperture, the ring preventing the post from being removed from the
base when the member is in an engaged position. The member may
comprise a plug in the shape of a pin.
[0014] Another aspect of the disclosure provides a system for
releasably engaging a batting tee post in a batting tee base. The
post may include an upper, distal end for supporting a ball to be
struck by a batter and a lower, proximal end for being releasably
engaged by the base. The base may include a member that is biased
into engagement with the lower end of the post so that the post can
be removed from the base when a pulling force is applied to the
member to remove it from the post.
[0015] The post may be circular in cross section and include a
radially-outwardly-extending annular ring at the lower, proximal
end, and wherein the member is biased into engagement with the
lower, proximal end of the post, distally of the annular ring so
that the annular ring prevents the post from being raised distally
above the member when the member is engaged with the post. The base
may include an aperture and the member may comprise a pin disposed
in the aperture, the pin being spring-biased into engagement with
the post.
[0016] Referring to the figures, a batting tee is generally
identified with the numeral 10. Batting tee 10 includes a post 12
and a base 14. Post 12 includes an upper or distal end 16 designed
to hold a baseball (not shown). Post 12 typically includes several
telescoping sections 18 that may be extended for use with batters
desiring the ball to be placed at various heights, or collapsed as
depicted for storage and transport. Post 12 also includes a base
engagement member 20 to which the post is typically mounted by
threads 22. The proximal end of post 12 may be defined by an
outwardly radially-extending annular ring 24 that defines an
annular aperture 26 disposed distally thereof.
[0017] Base 14 includes a post engagement member 28 that is
fastened such as by bolts 30 to base 14 within a circular receptor
29. Post engagement member 28 defines an opening 31, usually
cylindrical in shape, which is designed to receive post 12. As
shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, post engagement member 28 includes a
plug 32, sometimes referred to herein as a member, which is biased
by a spring 34 into engagement in annular aperture 26 of post 12.
Plug 32 may be said to be in the configuration of a simple pin.
[0018] Plug 32 may include a distal end 36 having a shoulder 38
that abuts spring 34. The plug/spring assembly may be housed in a
post engagement assembly 40 that may be threaded at 42 into post
engagement member 28. Post engagement assembly 40 may have a
proximal end taking the configuration of a nut such as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 to facilitate easy removal from post engagement
member 28. A strap or ring 44 may be mounted at a hole 46 in the
end of engagement assembly 40 to facilitate easy withdrawal of the
plug against the bias of spring 34.
[0019] In operation, post 12 would normally already be threaded
into base engagement member 20. To mount post 12 to base 14, plug
32 is pulled out against the bias of spring 34 by the user engaging
ring 44 and pulling. This withdraws distal end 36 of plug 32 from
opening 31, making space for the distal end of post 12. However,
plug 32 remains engaged in post engagement member 28 so it is not
discarded or lost. The post is then inserted into opening 31 so
that the proximal end of post 12 abuts base 14. Plug 32 is then
released, permitting the bias of spring 34 to push the distal end
36 of plug 32 into annular aperture 26. Because annular aperture 26
normally extends entirely around base engagement member 20, post 12
may be at any rotational disposition within the engagement member
so the user does not have to "hunt" for an engagement hole.
[0020] To remove post 12 from base 14, the user simply pulls on
ring 44 to withdraw plug 32 from annular aperture 26, permitting
the user to lift post 12 out of base 14.
[0021] The present disclosure thus provides a simply mechanism for
removably mounting a batting tee post to a base that is inexpensive
to build, is light weight, and is easy to use.
[0022] Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent
embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same
purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described
without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will
readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very
wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any
adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein.
Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited
only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
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