Patent ID: 6155936
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A portable baseball pitcher's practice target device for baseballs including separate sub-target means representing positions within an imaginary baseball strike zone comprising:a flexible front target panel,a plurality of cut-out portions within said front target panel,said cut-out portions being relatively spaced with respect to each other to designate said sub-targets within said front target panel,a front target frame having top, bottom and side portions for supporting said front target panel with open space below said target panel,a flexible back panel behind said front target panel,a second frame having top, bottom and side portions for supporting said back panel in spaced relationship with respect to and behind said front target panel,said front target panel frame and said second frame being attached in spaced relationship at said top and bottom portions,side and top panels enclosing the space between said front target panel and said back panel,a return panel in cooperating alignment with said back panel and including a lower portion extending below said front target panel into said open space below said front target panel,a collecting area extending across said target device behind said front target panel for individual baseballs passing through said cut-out portions in said front target panel and into contact with said back panel,a rotatable shaft extending across said target device behind and below said front target panel in front of said back panel and in cooperating alignment with the lower portion of said return panel,paddle means attached to said rotatable shaft and extending across said target device for propelling individual collected baseballs,and drive means for rotating said rotatable shaft and paddle means to return collected baseballs to and beyond the front of said front target panel through said open space below said front target panel.