Abstract:
A fabric tunnel for baseball pitching practice with a simple “auto-catcher” is made of netting in one embodiment. At the target end a flap with indicia of accuracy of aim also constitutes a flap that provides an audible feedback when hit and also allows the thrown balls to be captured. Straps are used to hold the tunnel in position by attachment to poles supported by guy wires or the straps could be attached to fixed objects such as a chain-link fence.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of PCT/US11/01199 filed Jul. 7, 2011 designating the U.S. which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 61/362,047 filed Jul. 7, 2010. These two applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    These systems and methods are in the field of devices and techniques for practicing a game played with a ball. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    While there are numerous fixed-location batting cages and some transportable batting cages, these devices generally provide no utility for the practice of pitching. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments consistent with these teachings can include a tunnel made of netting with one open side. That open end can be of a size suitable for someone to stand in front of and pitch a ball through the tunnel towards the distal end. The distal end includes a target area of size and with indicia delineating an appropriate region for baseball strikes. A containing region within the distal end can provide for capture and retention of “caught” balls. Embodiments of these teachings do not require rigid frames along the length of the tunnel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows in perspective an example embodiment of the pitching practice “auto-catching” tunnel set up for use—note that in these figures the netting mesh is shown to be larger than would be effective to prevent a baseball&#39;s trajectory, this is for increased clarity in the figures. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows, in isolation, the target region of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows an alternate target embodiment from a view similar to that of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of a portion of the target of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective front right side view of the target region of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  including a container for caught balls; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of a top, right, and left sides of the tunnel of  FIG. 1  laid out for assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of an isolated target area of an alternate implementation; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  shows a tunnel embodiment supported from the top by a modular framework; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  shows an alternate manner of securing one end of a tunnel to a backstop or the like; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  shows a version for use for softball. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    This is related to the present inventor&#39;s application published as US 2009/0286631 A1 on Nov. 19, 2009. Many of the options and alternatives of that application as well as its uses are applicable to the present invention as well. That application is contained within this application to provide additional context. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention can be made by trapezoidal lengths of netting sewn together with nylon webbing.  FIG. 1  shows a pitching tunnel  500  set up for use. It includes a top netting  520  a right-hand side netting  521  a left side netting  522  and a bottom fabric  523 . At the inside of the distal end is a target area  526 . One end is the open end  525 . At the distal end the target area has a target flap  503  A thrown ball accumulation containing area  504  is of netting and holds the balls  527  that have hit the target&#39;s flap and have fallen downward. 
         [0018]    The tunnel is held in use configuration by straps  507  attached by hooks  529 . In some installations some straps may be attached to fixed structures such as a chain-link fence. As shown, the straps are attached to vertical polls  508  which can be held by guy wires (not shown) for support. Although somewhat obscured in this  FIG. 1 , a portion of the target area  526  is constituted as a hinged flap  503  such that a ball thrown with adequate force opens the flap and allows a thrown ball to land the ball container region  504 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows the target area  526  in isolation and without netting for greater clarity.  FIG. 3  is an alternate target  526 ′ having different indica for assisting a pitcher in their aim and in detecting where a thrown ball  527  actually hit. The indica are of a size and configuration as to provide a visual target for aiming and a visual indicator as to the terminus of a thrown ball&#39;s trajectory. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 2 , a sub-region of the target area  526  is hinged at its top  528  as a flap and made of a material of sufficient rigidity that a ball thrown will make a sharp audible report, and deflect the flap allowing the ball to fall in the caught ball container  504 . In  FIG. 4  a view of just the target  526  of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  is seen in a front view. A perspective view of the same portion of the apparatus is seen in  FIG. 5 , in this view, the ball accumulation area  504  is displayed. In the side view of  FIG. 6  the flap  503  is shown in the open position due to a thrown ball  527  pushing it open. 
         [0021]    There may be many materials and methods of construction compatible with these teachings. One manner of construction is demonstrated in  FIG. 7  in a plan view. The trapezoidal sections nettings of the top  520  the right side  521  and the left side  522  are seen in a plan view. These sheets are laid out flat. In this configuration a nylon-webbing seam  512  can be woven in and out of the mesh of the netting creating a seam between the top and the right-hand side and a second steam between the top and the right side. Not shown is the bottom that could be similarly woven to the left side&#39;s lower edge of  515  and the right side lower edge  514 . Alternatively, the bottom may be made of a fabric of other than netting and attached to the sides in a variety of manners known to those skilled in the art. Of course alternate materials might be used for the top and sides and ball containment area as well. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 107  the caught ball region  504 ′ of an alternate version is shown which has an “inner flap”  505  within a flap  503 ′. A ball  527  that hits the target in a particular location can deflect the inner flap  505  allowing that ball to fall into a distinct ball-collecting region  504 ′ for more accurately thrown balls. Balls that do not hit the inner flap  505  end up in another ball-collecting region  501   
         [0023]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate method of supporting a pitching tunnel  600 . In this version the tunnel is held by ties  607  to the top rails of a modular framework  606  comprised of interconnected pipes  605 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 10  shows and partially describes an alternate method of attaching the target area  626  of a tunnel to a backstop or the like. Shown in this figure is an outer sleeve  620  designed to hold metal legs  621 . This design is useful because many baseball fields have a tall backstop on one end, and grass or dirt on the far end. If the user were to fasten the target end of the tunnel to a tall backstop, then one could slide the metal legs into the outer sleeve. The user could then secure the tunnel to ground stakes  628  using straps  627 . The metal legs give the tunnel its shape in this case. 
         [0025]      FIG. 11  shows a female using a version for use in softball. In this version and other versions the tautness of the support members can be achieved with hand winches. 
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art will be aware of materials, techniques and equipment suitable to produce the example embodiments presented as well as variations on those examples. This teaching is presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments and versions help to explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand it. Various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular application contemplated are expected. 
         [0027]    In the following claims, the words “a” and “an” should be taken to mean “at least one” in all cases, even if the wording “at least one” appears in one or more claims explicitly. The scope of the invention is set out in the claims below.