Batting practice device

A batting practice device is attachable to any of various existing permanent fixtures. The device includes a shock and energy absorbing elongate mount bar attachable to the fixture with a portion of the bar extending therebeyond. A metal mounting plate is affixed to the portion of the mount bar which extends beyond the fixture. The metal mounting plate supports a metal pipe affixed thereto suitably by welding. The pipe also has a portion extending from beyond the plate in-line with both the plate and the bar. A metal bushing is rotatably mounted and captured on the pipe portion extending from the plate. The metal bushing has a loop extending outwardly thereon. A piece of braided plastic rope with a hollow core has a first and second end. A ball is provided with a central aperture therethrough for passing the first end of the rope therethrough. The first end is further passed over the bushing, through the loop, into the hollow core the rope, through the ball aperture after which the first and second rope ends are tied into a knot that will not pass through the ball aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a batting practice device, and more particularly, 
to an improved batting practice device that is more inexpensive, durable 
and long lived than other prior batting practice device. 
In general, such batting practice devices are a necessary tool to permit a 
ball player to practice daily, if desired, hitting a ball within the 
hitable strike zone for the baseball player. These devices permit the user 
to train his body, arms and eyes. An observer may coach the user with 
respect to the proper body stance and balance in learning and adapting the 
proper body mechanics for batting. With the aid of batting practice 
devices, an individual can learn to transfer his weight into hitting the 
ball, to slug the ball hard, to become a switch hitter and to develop 
confidence in a sense to see, hear and feel the crisp hard hit of a 
correctly batted ball. 
There are, of course, many baseball and softball batting practice devices 
known in the prior art. The prior art devices are not completely 
satisfactory in all respects and do not provide the same flexibility, 
portability and overall advantages of the present invention. Such prior 
art devices are quite extravagant and complex rendering them quite 
expensive and not readily available to the average young baseball player 
for practice at home. Other types of batting devices appear somewhat 
flimsy and not durable thereby having a shortened life when compared to 
the present invention. 
There is a need for a batting practice device that is easy to manufacture 
and relatively inexpensive, thereby making it available to young players 
as well as the older avid baseball and softball player enthusiast. The 
device must be of a durable construction as to not deteriorate or wear out 
upon the practicing hitters repeated inability to not directly hit the 
ball, but to hit other parts of the device. The device, therefore, must 
not only be durable but be of a long life construction that can take the 
hard abuse that the a training and learning baseball player may inflict on 
the batting practice device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A batting practice device is attachable to any of various existing 
permanent fixtures. The device includes a shock and energy absorbing 
elongate mount bar attachable to the fixture with a portion of the bar 
extending therebeyond. A metal mounting plate is affixed to the portion of 
the mount bar which extends beyond the fixture. The metal mounting plate 
supports a metal pipe affixed thereto suitably by welding. The pipe also 
has a portion extending from beyond the plate in-line with both the plate 
and the bar. A metal bushing is rotatably mounted and captured on the pipe 
portion extending from the plate. The metal bushing has a loop extending 
outwardly thereon. A piece of braided plastic rope with a hollow core has 
a first and second end. A ball is provided with a central aperture 
therethrough for passing the first end of the rope therethrough. The first 
end is further passed over the bushing, through the loop, into the hollow 
core the rope, through the ball aperture after which the first and second 
rope ends are tied into a knot that will not pass through the ball 
aperture. 
A principle object and advantage of the present invention is that it is of 
an extremely durable and long lived construction while yet remaining 
relatively simple, easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the device 
can be mounted on any of a variety of permanent fixtures, such as a fence, 
post, building, tree or wall. 
Another object and advantage is that the elongate mount bar of the device 
absorbs the impact, shock, vibration and energy forces transferred through 
the device which otherwise would be passed on through to the permanent 
fixture. 
Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the device 
may be removed from the permanent fixture for safe keeping or transfer to 
another location.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION 
The batting practice device 10 of the present invention may generally be 
seen in FIGS. 1-8. The device attaches to some existing permanent fixtures 
12 with a vertical surface for suspending the batting practice device 10. 
The device includes an elongate mount bar 24, mounting plate 32, pipe 38, 
metal bushing 46, braided rope 56 and ball 68. 
While the detailed structure assembly and operation of the batting practice 
device 10 is clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3A, samples of permanent fixtures 12 
are shown in FIGS. 4-7. Examples of permanent fixtures might include a 
fence 14, posts 16, building 18, trees 20 and an interior wall 22. 
More specifically, the batting practice device 10 includes an elongate 
mount bar 24 suitably made of a "2.times.4" board 26 approximately four 
feet in length. The bar 24 may be made of a variety of materials but 
Applicant has found that the wooden board 26 readily absorbs the impact, 
shock, vibration and energy forces which a batter will transfer from his 
bat (FIG. 1) to the device which otherwise may be transferred to the 
permanent fixture 12. 
The mount bar 24 is appropriately releasably affixed or attached to the 
permanent fixture 12 by way of six inch hanger bolts 28 or the like. The 
bolts 28 are appropriately attached to the fixture perhaps in several 
vertically aligned locations for adjusting the batting practice device 10 
either upwardly or downwardly to the strike zone of the user. 
Approximately 3/4 of the length mount bar 24 is to be mounted flush onto 
the vertical surface of the permanent fixture 12, where applicable. The 
bar 24 has apertures therethrough which receive the hanger bolts 28 
therethrough. Thereafter washers and wingnuts may be rotatably affixed to 
the bolts to secure the mount bar 24 to the fixture 12. The mount bar 24 
by this arrangement has a bar extending portion 31 approximating 1/4 of 
the length of the overall mount bar 24. 
At the bar extending portion 31 is appropriately affixed a mounting plate 
32 which suitably is made of a zinc-plated heavy gauge steel. The plate 32 
appropriately may be affixed to the bar extending portion 31 by way of 
screws, bolts or the like 36 at the plate's apertures 34. 
Suitably affixed to the mounting plate 32, such as by welding, is a 
zinc-plated heavy gauge steel rod or pipe 38 which has a pipe extending 
portion 39 and an aperture 40 through the end of that portion 39. The 
aperture 40 receives a locking lynch pin 42 while intermediately of the 
pipe extending portion 39 is a stop washer 44 which is welded to the pipe 
38. 
A metal bushing 46 is also appropriately made of a zinc-plated heavy gauge 
steel. The metal bushing 46 may have grease 48 on its inner side for a low 
friction fit and to add lubrication as the bushing 46 is slid over and 
rotated on the pipe extending portion, stopped by the stop washer 44 and 
locked into place the lynch pin 42. The metal bushing 46 preferably has a 
first loop, ring or eyelet 50 and a generally opposing second loop, ring 
or eyelet 52 as will be appreciated. Between the bushing 46 and the lynch 
pin 42 is appropriately located a fender washer 54 to prohibit wear of the 
pin 42 by the friction of the rotating metal bushing 46. 
A braided plastic rope 56 is utilized with this invention and is suitably 
made of a plastic, nylon or polypropylene material with interweave strands 
58. A braided rope 56 of this type typically has a hollow core 60. The 
rope 56 may have a first end 62 and a second end 64. The rope is to pass 
through the central aperture 66 of a ball 68, suitably of the equivalent 
weight of a softball or baseball and appropriately made of ethylene vinyl 
acetate. The braided rope 56 appropriately is protected by a first vinyl 
sheath 70 located just above the ball 68 and second vinyl sheath rope 
guard or protector 72 which surrounds the braided rope at the metal 
bushing 46 area. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 3A, the assembly of the batting practice device 10 
may be understood. The first end 62 of braided rope 56 is initially fed 
through the central apertures 66 of the ball 68. Thereafter the first 
vinyl sheath 70 is threaded over the first end 62 and slid downwardly to 
abut the ball 68. The first end 62 is then thread through the second vinyl 
sheath 72 which together with the braided rope is passed over the metal 
bushing 46 and through the first and second loops or rings 52. Thereafter, 
the first end 62 is inserted into the pointed hollow needle or guide tool 
74. The pointed tool 74 is then inserted into the hollow core 60 of the 
braided rope 56 between the interweaved strands 58. The first end is 
guided along and within the hollow core as it is passed through the 
central aperture 66 of ball 68. Thereafter a knot 78 if formed suitably at 
the first 62 and second 64 ends after which the ends are heat sealed 80 
together. 
Next the lynch pin 42 is removed from the end of pipe 38. The metal bushing 
46 is slid onto the pipe extending portion 39 up to the stop washer 44. 
Thereafter, fender washer 44 is slid onto pipe 38 and lynch pin 42 is 
again locked onto the pipe 38. The invention thereafter is assembled 
excepting only the affixation of the mounting plate 32 onto the elongate 
mount bar 24 or board 26 which in turn is affixed to a permanent fixture 
12. 
FIGS. 1 and 4 through 7 illustrate the various permanent fixtures 12 that 
the batting practice device 10 may be releasably connected thereto. It is 
appropriate to note that a plurality hanger bolts 28 may be vertically 
aligned as to move the elongate bar 24 either upwardly or downwardly to 
position the ball 68 in the strike zone of the batting operator. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the batting operator, and perhaps a coach, can observe 
the rotation of the ball 68 and tell if the hit was popped up, pushed, 
pulled or slugged hard and straight forward from either behind or in front 
of the operator. 
FIG. 7 shows an adjustable wall mount 82 for the inside of a building such 
as a gym. Hanger bolts or studs 84 are affixed into the wall 22. The bolts 
or studs 84 appropriately support an outer tube or sleeve 86 in a secure 
manner. Sleeve 86 supports a set screw with a handle 88. A device support 
rod 90 passes through the sleeve 86 and is adjustably held in vertical 
position by the inward turning of the set screw 88. Arrow A illustrates 
that the device support rod 90 may be moved upwardly or downwardly to 
appropriately position the ball 68 in the user's strike zone. 
Referring to FIG. 8, the present invention may be fitted with a counter 94. 
Counter 94 is appropriately affixed to the pipe 38 adjacent a collar or 
washer 102 which takes the place of former stop washer 44. In place of 
former stop washer 44, a washer 96 is fixed to bushing 46 and supports a 
cog 98. As bushing 46 rotates about pipe 38, the cog 98 extending from 
washer 96 engages the sprocket of counter 100. 
By this arrangement, the user or batting practitioner may count the number 
of revolutions of both the ball 68 and the bushing 46 to ascertain the 
force that the user has hit the ball 68. It is also appropriate that ball 
68 be of substantially the same weight as a real baseball or softball to 
give the user the sensation of actually hitting a real ball. 
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without 
departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof; therefore, the 
illustrated embodiment should be considered in all respects as 
illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended 
claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of 
the invention.