Abstract:
The present invention provides an apparatus for calculating the distance of a ball placed into motion comprising, a means for positioning a ball at a desired height for striking, a means for measuring force exerted upon the ball when struck, a means for measuring launch angle relative to a horizontal playing field which a ball travels upon impact, a means for calculating distance the ball would travel if not restricted using the measured force and launch angle, and a means to display the calculated distance.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This U.S. Utility Patent Application claims the benefit of an earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/668,375 filed on Apr. 5, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a portable apparatus which can calculate the actual distance a ball would travel upon being struck by a tennis racket, baseball bat, golf club and the like by measuring the force of impact upon the ball and angle of launch.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many practice devices are currently available on the market such as batting tees and batting cages to improve a batter&#39;s swing. Some are permanently affixed to the ground, and others are portable. While they are useful in containing a ball which is struck by a baseball bat, they cannot help the batter determine the actual distance the ball would have traveled if the path of the ball was not restricted in any way. The distance a ball travels is of utmost importance in the game of baseball. The further the ball travels, the more likely the batter can run safely to a base without being tagged out.  
         [0004]     Similarly, in golf controlling the distance of the golf ball is critical. The more accurately and further a golfer can place the ball, the more likely he will be under par.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides an apparatus for calculating the distance of a ball placed into motion comprising, a means for positioning a ball at a desired height for striking, a means for measuring force exerted upon the ball when struck, a means for measuring launch angle relative to a horizontal playing field which a ball travels upon impact, a means for calculating distance the ball would travel if not restricted using the measured force and launch angle, and a means to display the calculated distance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     In the drawings,  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the batting practice apparatus;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the batting practice apparatus with netting; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the batting practice device with launch angle sensors. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Turning now to the drawings, and more particularly  FIG. 1 , what is shown is a batting practice apparatus  100  comprising a collapsible frame  200 . Collapsible frame  200  can be constructed from solid or hollow tubular plastic, steel, aluminum or other lightweight materials. Collapsible frame  200  is comprised of a base frame  210 , vertical stand  220  and arm  230 . In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1  base frame  210  is trapezoidal having four sections  210   a,b,c , and  d . However it is contemplated that base frame  210  can be formed in a variety of other shapes such as, for example but not limited thereto, circular, square, rectangular, triangular or virtually any shape.  
         [0011]     Secured to section  210   a  of base frame  210  are axel holders  240   a  and  b  through which axel rod  250  extends. Wheels  260   a  and  260   b  are attached to either end of axel rod  250 .  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, vertical stand  220  is constructed from at least two separate sections  220   a  and  b  which are connected to one another by connector  300 . However, it is also contemplated that vertical stand  220  can be constructed from one contiguous section. The proximal region  230   a  of arm  230  is removably affixed to vertical stand  220  by yet another connector  300 . Connector  300  can be quickly loosened to disconnect arm  230  from vertical stand  220 , as well as disconnect the separate sections of vertical stand  220  from each other for compact storage or transport.  
         [0013]     Ball  10  is secured to frame  200  by a means for positioning the ball at a desired height. Ball  10  can be a baseball, softball, golf ball, soccer ball, football and the like. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , ball  10  is tethered to cables  20  and  21  along its vertical axis which are attached to cable loops  30  and  31 . Cable loops  30  and  31  run around pulleys  40  and  41 . Pulley  40  is removably attached by hook  50  to eyelet  60 . Eyelet  60  is affixed to base frame  210  at section  210   c . Pulley  41  is either removably or permanently attached to distal region  230   b  of arm  230  of collapsible frame  200 . When loops  30  and  31  are both rotated simultaneously clockwise or counterclockwise, the height of the ball can be lowered or raised in relation to ground upon which base frame  210  rests. Tether  22  extends from ball  10  to vertical stand  220  and prevents it from ricocheting back towards a batter when hit.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment, ball  10  can be positioned upon a batting tee which can be adjusted to a desired height.  
         [0015]     Tether  23  extends from ball  10  to the distal end  500   a  of detector arm  500 , the proximal end  500   b  of which is connected to a force/angle meter  400 . In one embodiment, force/angle meter  400  is comprised of two individual components, a force meter  600  and an angle meter  700 . However, it is contemplated that both the force meter  600  and angle meter  700  can be integrated together to form a single unit. Several force meters which are suitable for use with the present invention are currently available on the market. Such force meters include, for example but not limited thereto: Model Nos. EX475040 and EX475044 manufactured by Extech; Model Nos. MG, FGE/FGV, DPS, Z2, FGE-HX/FGV-FX DPSH, BGI, CG, MG and MK by Electromatic. Several angle meters which are suitable for use with the present invention are currently available on the market. Such angle meters include, for example but not limited thereto: Model No. Pro 3600 manufactured by Macklanburg; AccuStar® Electronic Clinometer manufactured by Schaevitz Sensors.  
         [0016]     When the ball is struck by a baseball, tether  23  pulls detector arm up or down and away from the meter  400 . The force exerted upon ball  10  is detected and measured by force meter  600  and the angle is detected and measured by angle meter  700 . The angle and force measurements are then relayed to a microprocessor which can calculate the actual distance ball  10  would have traveled if not restricted by tethers. The calculations performed by the microprocessor will take into account the weight of the ball being used as well as the force of impact and launch angle. The microprocessor can also calculate the average force of impact, launch angle and distance for a single batter or a multiplicity of batters. The calculated distance, or any other statistic, can then be relayed from the microprocessor and displayed upon display screen  700 . In one embodiment, the display screen is a liquid crystal display. In one embodiment, a multiplicity of display screens are present so that if more than one person is practicing, then each individual&#39;s score can be displayed.  
         [0017]     A batter can find an optimum batting stance to achieve maximum or desired distance when batting a ball. The batter can remember the optimum batting stance in relation to home plate using practice home plate  800  which has marking  810  thereon.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the batting practice apparatus  100  with safety netting  900  which traps ball  10  in case the tethers attached to it break.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows stripes  910  on netting  900  running horizontally. Several stripes  910  are affixed to netting  900  and each stripe signals to the batter the angle which the ball is traveling relative to the ground. The angle helps the athlete better estimate the distance the ball will travel. In one embodiment, each stripe is affixed to a tether which then connects to a force meter. When the stripe is contacted by a untethered ball, the angle measure is relayed to a microprocessor along with the force of impact. These measurements taken along with the weight of the ball will be used to calculate the distance the ball would travel if unrestricted in motion.  
         [0020]     In use, a batter can adjust the height of the ball by rotating, either clockwise or counterclockwise, adjusting loops  30  and  31 . The batter then strikes ball  10  with a baseball bat with a particular force causing the ball to travel forward at a certain angle known as the launch angle. Tether  22  extending from ball  10  to vertical stand  220  prevents ball  10 , now traveling forward and away from the batter, from ricocheting back towards a batter.  
         [0021]     As the ball moves forward, tether  23  pulls on the distal end  500   a  of detector arm  500 . Tether  23  also pulls detector arm  500  up or down. The force exerted upon ball  10  is detected and measured by force meter  600  and the angle is detected and measured by angle meter  700 . The angle and force measurements are then relayed to a microprocessor which calculates the actual distance ball  10  would have traveled if not restricted by tethers. The calculated distance is then relayed from the microprocessor and displayed upon display screen  101 .  
         [0022]     The batter can find an optimum batting stance to achieve maximum or desired distance when batting a ball by choosing from several positions shown as markings  810  around the practice home plate  800 .  
         [0023]     While the examples show the device of the present invention in use for batting practice, this device can be utilized for various other sports such as golf, cricket, tennis, football, soccer or just about any other sport which uses a ball.