Mechanical baseball umpire

Abstract

A vertically suspended loop to which a flexible net is attached serves to judge if a pitched ball approximately passes through the strike zone above the batter's plate in the game of baseball (or a related game). A pitched ball, not swung at by the batter, which passes through the loop and is subsequently retained by the net shall be called a "strike," whereas a pitched ball, not swung at, and not passing into the net shall be ruled a "ball." The loop is suspended by suspension members between a pair of vertical, spaced apart posts such that the posts and loop all be substantially in the same vertical. The loop being suspended at a height above a support surface which is substantially the height of the strike zone of a batter.

Description

PRIOR ART DEVICES

1,170,715 2/1916 Westgate 273/26 A 1,371,867 3/1921 Dean 273/103 2,805,070 9/1957 Waters 273/103 3,133,733 3/1963 Elseroad 273/88 3,206,196 9/1965 Jackson 273/102.2 R X 3,328,033 6/1967 Hendry 273/127 R 3,656,750 6/1970 Meunier 273/105 R 3,706,451 12/1970 Dixon 273/26 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A loop to which a flexible net is secured is vertically suspended from two poles, and serves to objectively determine if a pitched ball approximately passes through the strike zone above the batter's plate in the game of baseball (or a related game). The poles are secured in the ground (or floor) to the rear of the batter's plate, and on a plane that is parallel with the front of the batter's plate. The loop (with the attached net) is suspended from the poles from one of several positions depending upon the height of the individual batter; the strike zone in the game of baseball is that area of space over the batter's plate which is between the batter's shoulders and his knees; thus the loop must be suspended in a position that is directly behind the batter's plate and adjusted to be between the batter's shoulders and his knees. When a ball is thrown from a distance and passes through the loop in flight and is subsequently retained by the attached net, a "strike" shall be called on the player at bat. A pitched ball, not swung at by the batter, that does not pass into the loop shall be called a "ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mechanical umpire in use; and FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of the mechanical umpire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Refering to FIGS. 1 and 2, loop 14 to which a flexible net 16 having its perimeter secured to loop 14 (and including a bottom portion located below the level of loop 14) is vertically suspended from two poles each of which is composed of two separate sections 10 and 12, and secured in the ground (or floor) perpendicularly, the loop 14 being fastened to one of the eye bolts 18 on each upper section 12 of each pole by a chain 20 which is affixed to loop 14 and snaps onto the eye bolt 18 by means of a swivel snap 24.

When a ball 26 is thrown by a player 28 from a distance through loop 14 and thus into net 16, it is assumed that the ball 26 passed through the strike zone (that space directly above the batter's plate 30 which is between the shoulders and knees of the player at bat 32) and a "strike" shall be called; when a ball 26 is thrown from a distance by a player 28, the batter 32 does not swing the bat, and the ball 26 does not pass through loop 14 into net 16, a "ball" shall be called.

The ball 26 can be hard or soft since the structure of FIG. 2 can be of steel, aluminum, plastic, or any other viable material, and the lower sections 10 of the poles can be either pushed slightly into the ground or permanently secured therein, or permanently affixed to the floor.

Although this invention has been described in reference to a number of particular drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Claims

Having described the invention, the following claims are hereby set forth:

1. A mechanical baseball umpire comprising:

a pair of elongated vertical support posts spaced a preselected distance apart, each having a series of vertically spaced eye bolts attached thereto intermediate its ends; a net structure, said net structure having a net member formed as a pocket having a closed bottom portion and an open top portion, said top portion being secured around the periphery of a loop to form an open pocket, said loop having a pair of elongated suspension members attached thereto, each of said suspension members having means at its free end to fasten said suspension members to eye bolts for suspending said loop and net from said pair of posts such that said loop lies in a substantially vertical plane between said post, said fastening means being disengagable from said eye bolts for vertically adjusting said loop and net on said posts, said post net and loop arrangement serving as an umpire in the sense that when a ball is thrown through the loop and retained by said net a "strike" is designated and when a ball does not pass through said loop a "ball" is designated.

2. The mechanical baseball umpire of claim 1 wherein said fastening means are swivel snaps.

3. The mechanical baseball umpire of claim 1 wherein said support post are hollow and are separable into top and bottom sections, said top section being telescopically inserted into said bottom section, said eye bolts being attached to said top section.