Portable apparatus for practicing batting

A portable apparatus for practicing batting that includes a frame, a net, and a ball. Each lower terminal end of the frame has a ball-engaging eye bolt. A pair of net-engaging uprights of the frame have a pair of tubes that are formed as one-piece therewith for ease of manufacture by eliminating a need for welding. Button fasteners replaceably maintain the members of the frame together for ease of fabrication and collapsing by eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. A second upper member of the frame has a plurality of ball-engaging blind bores. A lowermost terminal edge of the net drapes so as to prevent any balls from rolling thereunder while providing a dampening effect for the ball when hit thereagainst and is free as a result of the frame being void of a lower cross member for eliminating rebound of a ball that hits low on the net. The ball includes a swivel pulley and a pair of ball-engaging cords, each of which extends from an associated ball-engaging eye bolt to slightly below the ball where they are knotted and then extend together upwardly through a throughbore in the ball, with a snug friction fit, where one ball-engaging cord is then knotted to another ball-engaging cord slightly above the ball and then the another ball-engaging cord extends along the swivel pulley and terminates in a ball-engaging hook that selectively engages one ball-engaging blind bore for adjusting height of the ball from the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
 1. Field of the Invention 
 The present invention relates to a batting practice assembly. More 
 particularly, the present invention relates to a portable apparatus for 
 practicing batting. 
 2. Description of the Prior Art 
 Numerous innovations for portable batting practice assemblies have been 
 provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these 
 innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which 
 they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
 A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,791 to Ratajac et al. teaches a 
 collapsible portable batting cage having an upper frame assembly, a lower 
 frame assembly, and a rear frame assembly. A length of shock cord is 
 threaded through a vertical bore hole. The top end of the shock cord 
 passes through an eye bolt on the front end of the upper frame assembly 
 and its free end is detachably secured to the top edge of the rear 
 assembly. The bottom end of the shock cord is passed through an eye bolt 
 mounted on the front end of the lower frame assembly and it has its free 
 end detachably secured to the bottom edge of the rear assembly. There is 
 structure on the respective top edge and bottom edge of the rear frame 
 assembly for adjusting the height of the static position of the ball prior
 to a person taking practice batting swings against it. A safety line is 
 passed through the horizontal bore hole of the bail and its respective 
 ends are secured to the left and right upright tubular members of the rear
 frame assembly. The batting cage is both portable due to the nature of its
 light weight components and it is also collapsible which allows it to be 
 stored or carried in a compact manner. 
 A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,948 to Thomas teaches a portable ball
 receiving device with attachments for hitting and throwing. A lightweight 
 frame with a large aperture for receiving a multitude of sports related 
 balls. The main frame members are coupled at midpoint to allow for easy 
 separation or connection. The rear base folds onto the same plane with the
 vertical and oblique members when in a portable configuration. It includes
 a receiving net to catch and contain balls which are hit, thrown, or 
 kicked into the frame aperture. Attachments include a vertically 
 adjustable batting tee and a strike zone that hooks to the corners for 
 easy use. 
 A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,326 to Marcyes teaches a batting 
 practice apparatus that employs a cyclone fence as an upright, rigid 
 support. A rigid, horizontal arm is detachably secured at one end to the 
 top of the fence. At the other end of the horizontal arm is detachably 
 secured the upper end of a vertically extending shock cord. At the other 
 end of the shock cord is attached an anchoring spike. Intermediate the 
 ends of the shock cord is a ball. The shock cord passes freely through the
 ball along its vertical axis. A tether passes horizontally through the 
 ball at a location confronting the fence. Opposite ends of the tether are 
 removably secured to the fence to form a triangle for adjusting the 
 horizontal location of the ball. While the tether is detached from the 
 fence at either end, the ball is movable along the shock cord to a desired
 height. When the tether is attached to the fence at each end in a taut 
 state, the ball is maintained at the adjusted height along the shock cord.
 A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,646 to Dickson teaches a batting 
 practice device consisting of a framework with a horizontal base in the 
 shape of a "T" with a vertical member affixed to the intersection of said 
 horizontal "T". A second horizontal member centered and affixed to the top
 of said vertical member to form arms of a vertical "T" that are parallel 
 to the arms of said horizontal "T". A ball target, baseball, softball, 
 etc. is supported by a flexible means of suspension system. Whereas, the 
 ball is supported at a degree of angle relative to the ground by two upper
 suspension members extending at outward angles to the top arm of the 
 frame, and a lower suspension member extending outward to the lower tip of
 the base of the frame forming a "Y" configuration. Another, line of 
 similar flexible means is attached to the intersection of said horizontal 
 and vertical "T"'s, to stop return velocity of the ball after being hit by
 a bat. The framework is adjustable in height and length to facilitate 
 lowering and raising the position of the ball. The framework is 
 collapsible to allow ease of transportation. 
 A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,537 to Zuber teaches a batting 
 practice apparatus that includes a ball, an elongated support arm made 
 from PVC pipe and various PVC fittings, and a strand of flexible material 
 tethering the ball from the support arm. A PVC adapter fitting is provided
 on the first end portion of the support arm for removably attaching the 
 support arm to a separate mounting member. A PVC tee fitting is provided 
 on the second end portion of the support arm for providing a rotatable 
 structure on the support arm. A PVC plug fitting is secured to the PVC tee
 fitting, and the strand is secured to the PVC plug fitting. Various 
 mounting members are disclosed to mount the apparatus on various existing 
 supporting structures, including a post, a chain-link fence, and an 
 umbrella stand base. 
 A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,102 to Lawson et al. teaches a 
 training device for batters which aids a batter in practicing and 
 developing the batting swing including an upright member having a number 
 of arm engagement fittings. The upright member has a horizontal member 
 attached at approximately its midpoint, for supporting the device on a 
 support structure, typically a top rail of a fence. The upright member is 
 secured to the fence or other support structure by a tensionable strap. A 
 horizontal arm is removably mountable in any of the vertically oriented 
 arm engagement mechanisms. A tether depends by its first end from the 
 horizontal arm. A ball is slidably adjustable along the tether. The second
 end of the tether is attached to the support structure to limit travel of 
 the ball and tether. Because the training device for batters has a number 
 of locations along the length of the upright member at which the 
 horizontal arm member is mountable, the device may be attached to and used
 on support structures having a variety of heights. In addition the device 
 includes an adapter which allows the training device to be surface mounted
 on a variety of support structures. 
 A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,250 to Cripe teaches a practice 
 device for improving batting, pitching, and fielding skills. The device 
 includes a backstop which can be adjusted at different angles to the 
 vertical to return balls striking the backstop on the ground or in the 
 air. With the device configured for batting practice, a ball is positioned
 at a selected height above and at a selected location across the span of a
 home plate by a suspension system which includes a cantilevered arm fixed 
 to the backstop, a tether, and a motion damping arrangement which almost 
 instantaneously brings the tethered ball to rest after the ball is struck 
 and rebounds to its rest position. The components of the practice device 
 can be and quickly folded or otherwise positioned against the backstop to 
 provide a compact, easily stored package. The practice device can also be 
 easily configured as a wheeled cart easily moved from one location to 
 another along with ball bags and other equipment stowable on the cart. 
 It is apparent that numerous innovations for portable batting practice 
 assemblies have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be 
 used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the 
 specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would 
 not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore 
 described. 
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
 ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable 
 apparatus for practicing batting that avoids the disadvantages of the 
 prior art. 
 ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable apparatus 
 for practicing batting that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
 STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable 
 apparatus for practicing batting that is simple to use. 
 BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a
 portable apparatus for practicing batting that includes a frame, a net, 
 and a ball. Each lower terminal end of the frame has a ball-engaging eye 
 bolt. A pair of net-engaging uprights of the frame have a pair of tubes 
 that are formed as one-piece therewith for ease of manufacture by 
 eliminating a need for welding. Button fasteners replaceably maintain the 
 members of the frame together for ease of fabrication and collapsing by 
 eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. A second upper member of the frame 
 has a plurality of ball-engaging blind bores. A lowermost terminal edge of
 the net drapes so as to prevent any balls from rolling thereunder while 
 providing a dampening effect for the ball when hit thereagainst and is 
 free as a result of the frame being void of a lower cross member for 
 eliminating rebound of a ball that hits low on the net. The ball includes 
 a swivel pulley and a pair of ball-engaging cords, each of which extends 
 from an associated ball-engaging eye bolt to slightly below the ball where
 they are knotted and then extend together upwardly through a throughbore 
 in the ball, with a snug friction fit, where one ball-engaging cord is 
 then knotted to another ball-engaging cord slightly above the ball and 
 then the another ball-engaging cord extends along the swivel pulley and 
 terminates in a ball-engaging hook that selectively engages one 
 ball-engaging blind bore for adjusting height of the ball from the ground.
 The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present 
 invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, 
 however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together
 with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood 
 from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and 
 understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
 10 portable apparatus for practicing batting of the present invention 
 12 frame for resting on ground 14 
 14 ground 
 16 net 
 18 ball 
 20 pair of net-engaging uprights of frame 12 
 22 lowermost ground-engaging terminal ends of pair of net-engaging uprights
 20 of frame 12 
 23 ball-engaging eye bolt of each lowermost ground-engaging terminal end of
 lowermost ground-engaging terminal ends 22 of pair of net-engaging 
 uprights 20 of frame 12 
 24 uppermost terminal ends of pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of frame 12 
 26 pair of tubes of pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of frame 12 
 28 upper net-engaging cross member of frame 12 
 30 first button fastener of frame 12 
 32 second button fastener of frame 12 
 34 first lower ground-engaging member of frame 12 for resting on ground 14 
 36 proximal end of first lower ground-engaging member 34 of frame 12 
 38 distal end of first lower ground-engaging member 34 of frame 12 
 40 third button fastener of frame 12 
 42 second lower ground-engaging member of frame 12 for resting on ground 14
 44 proximal end of second lower ground-engaging member 42 of frame 12 
 46 distal end of second lower ground-engaging member 42 of frame 12 
 48 fourth button fastener of frame 12 
 50 fifth button fastener of frame 12 
 52 first upper member of frame 12 
 54 proximal end of first upper member 52 of frame 12 
 56 distal end 56 of first upper member 52 of frame 12 
 58 sixth button fastener of frame 12 
 60 second upper member of frame 12 
 62 proximal end of second upper member 60 of frame 12 
 64 distal end of second upper member 60 of frame 12 
 66 seventh button fastener of frame 12 
 68 eighth button fastener of frame 12 
 69 plurality of ball-engaging blind bores in second upper member 60 of 
 frame 12 
 70 uppermost terminal edge of net 16 
 72 lowermost terminal edge of net 16 
 74 pair of sidewardmost terminal edges of net 16 
 76 upper cross member-engaging sleeve formed by uppermost terminal edge 70 
 of net 16 
 78 upright-engaging sleeves formed by pair of sidewardmost terminal edges 
 74 of net 16 
 80 throughbore in ball 18 
 82 pulley-engaging eye bolt of ball 18 
 84 pulley-engaging quick disconnect link clip of ball 18 
 86 swivel pulley of ball 18 
 88 pair of ball-engaging cords of ball 18 
 90 lower knot of pair of ball-engaging cords 88 of ball 18 
 92 upper knot of pair of ball-engaging cords 88 of ball 18 
 94 ball-engaging hook of pair of ball-engaging cords 88 of ball 18 
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
 Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, 
 and particularly to FIG. 1, the portable apparatus for practicing batting 
 of the present invention is shown generally at 10. 
 The general configuration of the portable apparatus for practicing batting 
 10 can best be seen in FIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with 
 reference thereto. 
 The portable apparatus for practicing batting 10 comprises a frame 12 for 
 resting on the ground 14, a net 16 extending across the frame 12, and a 
 ball 18 operatively connected to the frame 12. 
 The configuration of the frame 12 can best be seen in FIGS. 1-3, and as 
 such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
 The frame 12 is tubular and comprises a pair of net-engaging uprights 20 
 that are straight, parallel, spaced apart, and lie in a first plane. 
 The pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 12 have lowermost 
 ground-engaging terminal ends 22 that bend slightly forwardly and inwardly
 to form right angle shaped bottom corners and uppermost terminal ends 24 
 that bend slightly forwardly and inwardly to form right angle shaped top 
 corners and which are parallel to the lowermost ground-engaging terminal 
 ends 22 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 12, 
 respectively. 
 Each lowermost ground-engaging terminal end 22 of the pair of net-engaging 
 uprights 20 of the frame 12 has a ball-engaging eye bolt 23 that extends 
 inwardly therefrom towards the other lowermost ground-engaging terminal 
 end 22 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20. 
 The pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 12 further have a pair of
 tubes 26 that are formed as one-piece with and extend slightly inwardly 
 therefrom, respectively, so as to afford ease of manufacture by 
 eliminating a need for welding and to afford ease of fabrication and 
 collapsing by eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. 
 The pair of tubes 26 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 
 12 extend in the first plane of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of 
 the frame 12 and are disposed slightly below the uppermost terminal ends 
 24 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 12, respectively. 
 The frame 12 further comprises an upper net-engaging cross member 28 that 
 is horizontally-oriented and extends telescopically, slidingly, and 
 replaceably out from one tube 26 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 
 of the frame 12 and telescopically, slidingly, and replaceably into 
 another tube 26 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 12. 
 The upper net-engaging cross member 28 of the frame 12 is replaceably 
 maintained in the one tube 26 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of 
 the frame 12 by a first button fastener 30 and is replaceably maintained 
 in the another tube 26 of the pair of net-engaging uprights 20 of the 
 frame 12 by a second button fastener 32 so as to afford ease of 
 fabrication and collapsing by eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. 
 The frame 12 further comprises a first lower ground-engaging member 34 that
 is horizontally-oriented for resting on the ground 14, J-shaped, and 
 extends from a proximal end 36 thereof replaceably, straight, 
 telescopically, slidingly, forwardly, and inwardly from out of the 
 lowermost ground-engaging terminal end 22 of one net-engaging upright 20 
 of the frame 12 to a distal end 38 that hooks rearwardly and inwardly to 
 form a substantially V-shaped bottom front end. 
 The first lower ground-engaging member 34 of the frame 12 is replaceably 
 maintained in the lowermost ground-engaging terminal end 22 of the one 
 net-engaging upright 20 of the frame 12 by a third button fastener 40 so 
 as to afford ease of fabrication and collapsing by eliminating a need for 
 nuts and bolts. 
 The frame 12 further comprises a second lower ground-engaging member 42 
 that is horizontally-oriented for resting on the ground 14, straight, and 
 extends replaceably, telescopically, and slidingly from a proximal end 44 
 thereof rearwardly outwardly from out of the distal end 38 of the first 
 lower ground-engaging member 34 of the frame 12 to a distal end 46 that is
 replaceably, telescopically, and slidingly received by the lowermost 
 ground-engaging terminal end 22 of another net-engaging upright 20 of the 
 frame 12. 
 The second lower ground-engaging member 42 of the frame 12 is replaceably 
 maintained in the distal end 38 of the first lower ground-engaging member 
 34 of the frame 12 by a fourth button fastener 48 and is replaceably 
 maintained in the lowermost ground-engaging terminal end 22 of the another
 net-engaging upright 20 of the frame 12 by a fifth button fastener 50 so 
 as to afford ease of fabrication and collapsing by eliminating a need for 
 nuts and bolts. 
 The first lower ground-engaging member 34 of the frame 12 and the second 
 lower ground-engaging member 42 of the frame 12 lie in a second plane that
 is generally perpendicular to the first plane. 
 The frame 12 further comprises a first upper member 52 that is 
 horizontally-oriented, J-shaped, and extends from a proximal end 54 
 thereof replaceably, telescopically, slidingly, straight, forwardly, and 
 inwardly out of the uppermost terminal end 24 of the one net-engaging 
 upright 20 of the frame 12 to a distal end 56 that hooks rearwardly and 
 inwardly to form a substantially V-shaped top front end. 
 The first upper member 52 of the frame 12 is parallel to and spaced 
 vertically above the first lower ground-engaging member 34 of the frame 
 12, a predetermined height. 
 The first upper member 52 of the frame 12 is replaceably maintained in the 
 uppermost terminal end 24 of the one net-engaging upright 20 of the frame 
 12 by a sixth button fastener 58 so as to afford ease of fabrication and 
 collapsing by eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. 
 The frame 12 further comprises a second upper member 60 that is 
 horizontally-oriented, straight, and extends replaceably, telescopically, 
 and slidingly from a proximal end 62 thereof rearwardly outwardly out of 
 the distal end 56 of the first upper member 52 of the frame 12 to a distal
 end 64 that is replaceably, telescopically, and slidingly received by the 
 uppermost terminal end 24 of the another net-engaging upright 20 of the 
 frame 12. 
 The second upper member 60 of the frame 12 is parallel to and spaced 
 vertically above the second lower ground-engaging member 42 of the frame 
 12, a predetermined height. 
 The second upper member 60 of the frame 12 is replaceable maintained in the
 distal end 56 of the first upper member 52 of the frame 12 by a seventh 
 button fastener 66 and is replaceable maintained in the uppermost terminal
 end 24 of the another net-engaging upright 20 of the frame 12 by an eighth
 button fastener 68 so as to afford ease of fabrication and collapsing by 
 eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. 
 The second upper member 60 of the frame has a plurality of ball-engaging 
 blind bores 69 that are spaced longitudinally therealong and which face 
 the first upper member 52 of the frame 12. 
 The first upper member 52 of the frame 12 and the second upper member 60 of
 the frame 12 lie in a third plane that is generally perpendicular to the 
 first plane and generally parallel to the second plane. 
 The frame 12 is void of a lower cross member that would have connected the 
 lowermost ground-engaging terminal ends 22 of the pair of net-engaging 
 uprights 20 of the frame 12 to each other. 
 Even though the frame 12 being void of a lower cross member may be 
 considered a negative limitation by some, it is the only way, and by far 
 the clearest way, to state the limitation, and therefore must be 
 considered in determining patentability. Support for this assertion can be
 found in the notice entitled "Practice Re: Technical Rejections," dated 
 Apr. 30, 1965 (814 O.G. 715), which states that: 
 "The inclusion of a negative limitation shall not, in itself, be considered
 a sufficient basis for objection to or rejection of a claim." [Emphasis 
 added] 
 And, in In re Duva, 156 USPQ 90, 94 (CCPA 1967), where the Court stated: 
 ". . . it [is] held proper to claim a negative limitation even if a 
 positive expression could have been employed and even at the `point of 
 novelty` . . . " [Empasis added] 
 The fact that the frame 12 is void of any lower cross member is of critical
 importance and obviously a point of novelty, as will be discussed further 
 infra. 
 The configuration of the net 16 can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, and as 
 such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
 The net 16 has an uppermost terminal edge 70, a lowermost terminal edge 72,
 and a pair of sidewardmost terminal edges 74. 
 The uppermost terminal edge 70 of the net 16 is formed into an upper cross 
 member-engaging sleeve 76 which slidingly and snugly receives the upper 
 cross member 28 of the frame 12. 
 The pair of sidewardmost terminal edges 74 of the net 16 are formed into 
 upright-engaging sleeves 78 which slidingly and snugly receive the pair of
 net-engaging uprights 20 of the frame 12, respectively. 
 The lowermost terminal edge 72 of the net 16 drapes into the second plane 
 of the frame 12 so as to prevent any balls from rolling thereunder and is 
 free as a result of the frame 12 being void of a lower cross member as 
 discussed supra. 
 The frame 12 being void of a lower cross member eliminates rebound of a 
 ball that hits low on the net 16 while the draping of the net provides a 
 dampening effect for the ball 18 when hit thereagainst. 
 The configuration of the ball 18 can best be seen in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, and
 as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
 The ball 18 is spherically-shaped for hitting by a bat against the net 16 
 and has a throughbore 80 that extends vertically therethrough, along a 
 diameter thereof. 
 The ball 18 further comprises a pulley-engaging eye bolt 82 that depends 
 from the distal end 56 of the first upper member 52 of the frame 12. 
 The ball 18 further comprises a pulley-engaging quick disconnect link clip 
 84 that depends from the pulley-engaging eye bolt 82 of the ball 18. 
 The ball 18 further comprises a swivel pulley 86 that depends from the 
 pulley-engaging quick disconnect link clip 84 of the ball 18. 
 The ball 18 further comprises a pair of ball-engaging cords 88. Each 
 ball-engaging cord 88 extends forwardly, inwardly, and upwardly from an 
 associated ball-engaging eye bolt 23 of the frame 12 so as to avoid being 
 hit by a swinging bat and meet together slightly below the ball 18 where 
 they are knotted in a lower knot 90 and then extend together upwardly 
 through the throughbore 80 in the ball 18, with a snug friction fit, where
 one ball-engaging cord 88 is then knotted in an upper knot 92 to another 
 ball-engaging cord 88 slightly above the ball 18 and then the another 
 ball-engaging cord 88 extends along the swivel pulley 86 and terminates in
 a ball-engaging hook 94 that selectively engages one ball-engaging blind 
 bores 69 in the second member 61) of the frame 12 for adjusting the height
 of the ball 18 from the ground 14. 
 The lower knot 90 and the upper knot 92 define a length therebetween 
 through which the ball 18 moves for fine adjustment of the ball 18 
 position, with the snug friction fit holding the ball 18 in the adjusted 
 position. 
 It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
 more together, may also find a useful application in other types of 
 constructions differing from the types described above. 
 While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a 
 portable apparatus for practicing batting, however, it is not limited to 
 the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, 
 modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the 
 device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the 
 art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
 the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
 readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
 from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the
 generic or specific aspects of this invention.