Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for a batting tee having a base removably matable to a post that includes a pivot mechanism including a pivot point located between axially aligned first and second springs connected to a cable extending along a coincident longitudinal axis of the first and second springs. The pivot point allows the post to rotate at the pivot point in response to an impact on the ball holder and/or post. The springs force the post back to an upright position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     As is known in the art, baseball and softball players often use a batting tee to practice hitting a ball. The batter places the ball on the tee and takes a practice swing to strike the ball. Some conventional batting tees include posts of a relatively rigid material that tend to deform, e.g., bend, over time due to contact with a bat, and thus, have limited durability. In addition, these tees can damage a bat striking the post in the case of a miss hit. These types of tees also tend to tip over when the bat strikes the post. 
     Another known type of tee  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The tee  10  includes a rigid post  12  with a ball holder  14  at one end and a spring  16  at the other end. The spring  16  is secured to a base  18 . In the case of a miss hit of the ball, the bat can strike the post  12  causing the spring  16  to flex. However, the post continues to move back and forth for a significant length of time, such as in the order of minutes. The batter must grab the post and steady it before placing another ball on the holder  14 . 
     It should be noted that the spring is not used in the manner in which springs are fabricated to operate. That is, springs are made for compression and extension along a longitudinal axis. While a spring will flex about a point along its axis, the spring is not compressed in an axial manner as intended. In addition, the spring requires a significant amount of time to return to its quiescent state. That is, the spring continues to bounce back and forth about the pivot point. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect of the invention, a batting tee comprises: a ball holder, a post having first and second ends, the ball holder connected to the first end of the post, and a base removably matable to the post, wherein the post includes a pivot mechanism proximate the second end of the post, the pivot mechanism including a pivot point located between axially aligned first and second springs connected to a cable extending along a coincident longitudinal axis of the first and second springs, the pivot point to allow the post to rotate at the pivot point in response to an impact on the ball holder and/or post. 
     The tee can further include one or more of the following features: a magnet to secure the post to the base, the first spring comprises a compression spring, a first spring barrier coupled to the cable to contain the first spring in a first cavity and a second spring barrier coupled to the cable to contain the second spring in a second cavity, the first spring barrier comprises a washer, a first clamp secured to the cable proximate the first spring barrier and a second clamp secured to the cable proximate the second spring barrier, the pivot mechanism comprises a connector shaped to increase a distance between the first and second cavities as the post flexes at the pivot point, the connector is shaped to prevent the post from being locked in a flexed position, the connector comprises a groove to prevent the post from being locked in the flexed position, and/or a magnet contained in the post and a ferromagnetic material in the base to removably secure the post to the base. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a batting tee comprises: a post having first and second ends, the ball holder connected to the first end of the post, a base removably matable to the post, wherein the post includes a pivot mechanism proximate the second end of the post, the pivot mechanism including a pivot point located between axially aligned first and second springs connected to a cable extending along a coincident longitudinal axis of the first and second springs, the pivot point to allow the post to rotate at the pivot point in response to an impact on the ball holder and/or post, and a magnet proximate the second end of the post to secure the post to the base. 
     The tee can further include one or more of the following features: the first spring comprises a compression spring, a first spring barrier coupled to the cable to contain the first spring in a first cavity and a second spring barrier coupled to the cable to contain the second spring in a second cavity, the pivot mechanism comprises a connector shaped to increase a distance between the first and second cavities as the post flexes at the pivot point, the pivot point mechanism comprises a connector that includes a groove to prevent the post from being locked in the flexed position, and/or a ferromagnetic material in the base to removably secure the post to the base. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, a method comprises: providing a post having first and second ends, connecting a ball holder to the first end of the post, and providing a base removably matable to the post, wherein the post includes a pivot mechanism proximate the second end of the post, the pivot mechanism including a pivot point located between axially aligned first and second springs connected to a cable extending along a coincident longitudinal axis of the first and second springs, the pivot point to allow the post to rotate at the pivot point in response to an impact on the ball holder and/or post. The method can further include one or more of: providing a magnet to secure the post to the base, coupling a first spring barrier to the cable for containing the first spring in a first cavity and coupling a second spring barrier to the cable for containing the second spring in a second cavity, and/or the pivot mechanism includes a connector with a groove to prevent the post from being locked in the flexed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a prior art batting tee; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a batting tee in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial representation of an end of a post having a magnet; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic representation of a pivot point of a batting tee in an upright position; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic representation of a pivot point of a batting tee in a flexed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a connector in the pivot point mechanism; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a connector to mate the connector of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a base of a batting tee. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 2  shows a batting tee  100  having a ball holder  102  at one end of a telescoping post  104  removably secured to a base  106 . In one embodiment, tubing sections  108   a, b, c  having diameters to provide a telescoping configuration. A first tubing section  108   a , fits into a second tubing section  108   b , which fits into a third telescoping section  108   c.    
     A pivot point  109  is located between first and second springs ( FIG. 3 ), as described more fully below. When a batter strikes the ball holder  102  or post  104 , the portion of the post about the pivot point  108  moves, such as rotating down to the ground. Upon rotating, or hitting the ground, the post  104  quickly returns, e.g., in the order of a few seconds, to a stable, vertical position. The batter can then place another ball on the holder and continue practicing. 
     A bottom of the post  104  includes a post connector  110  for mating with a base connector  112  forming a part of the base  106 . In an exemplary embodiment, the post connector  110  includes a magnet  114  and base connector  112  includes a ferrous metallic material  116 . The post connector  110  can be readily inserted into the base connector  112 . The magnet  114  retains the post connector  110  in the base connector  112  during rotation of the post in response to contact with a bat. 
       FIG. 3  shows an exemplary magnet  114  secured at one end of the post connector  110 . It is understood that the magnetic can have any practical geometry to meet the needs of a particular application. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnet  114  has a cylindrical shape. It is further understood that any suitable magnetic material can be used. In one embodiment, the magnet comprises an earth magnet. In other embodiments, more than one magnetic is used. In another embodiment, a ring magnet is used. The strength of the magnet can be selected to meet the needs of a particular application. For example, a tee ball tee can have a magnet that is weaker than a magnet in a college level baseball tee. The magnet should be of sufficient flux density so as to enable removal of the post connector from the base connector with a reasonable pull strength that also maintains the integrity of the tee during use. The post and base connectors can also have an interference fit. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show additional detail for the pivot point  109  of the tee.  FIG. 4A  shows the tee  100  in an upright position and  FIG. 4B  shows the tee having the pivot point  109  flexed, such as after being struck by a bat, but before return to the upright position. A cable  120  extends along an axis of first and second springs  122 ,  124 . A first spring barrier  126 , such as a washer, is secured to the cable  120  at a top of the first spring  122  and a second spring barrier  128 , such as a washer, is secured to the cable at a bottom of the second spring  124 . The first spring  122  in located in a first cavity  130  and the second spring is located in a second cavity  132 . A pivot connector  134  prevents the post from becoming locked in the horizontal position, as described more fully below. A first clamp  136  adjacent to the first washer  126  is secured to the cable  120  and a second clamp  138  is secured to the cable adjacent to the second washer  128 . The length of cable  120  between the first and second clamps  136 ,  138  remains fixed in the upright and flexed positions. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second springs  122 ,  124  are under compression in the upright position. When the tee is struck by a bat, the pivot point  109  allows the post  104  to move to the ground, for example. Upon rotation of the post  104  at the pivot point  109 , the amount of compression in the first and second springs  122 ,  124  is increased as the cable pulls the first and second spring barriers  126 ,  128 , such as washers. As can be seen, as the post flexes, the first washer  126  pulls down on the first spring  122  to further compress the first spring in the first cavity, and the second washer  128  pulls up on the second spring  124  to compress the second spring in the second cavity  132 . As the post  104  flexes, the pivot connector  134  increases the distance between the first and second cavities  130 ,  132  thereby compressing the first and second springs  122 ,  124  in their respective cavities  130 ,  132 . The springs  122 ,  124  resist the additional compression and push the post back to a vertical orientation. 
     It is understood that the terms “spring barrier” and exemplary “washer” should be construed as any device that can operate in combination with the cable to form a barrier to contain a spring. It is further understood that the term clamp should be construed as any device that can be fixedly secured to the cable. 
       FIG. 5  shows further detail for the pivot connector  134  of  FIG. 4 . The post  104  pivots at the pivot point  109  and the configuration of the pivot connector  134  prevents the post from getting locked in the horizontal position. For example, a pivot connector having a generally convex shape can result in lock up of the post. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the pivot connector  134  includes a groove  136  having a diameter less than a diameter of an end  138  of the pivot connector  134  and less than a mating portion  140  of the pivot connector. This arrangement allows the springs  122 ,  124  to readily push the post to the vertical position.  FIG. 6  shows an exemplary female connector  135  to receive the pivot connector  134 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an exemplary configuration for the base  106 . In the illustrative embodiment, the base has a cutout region  150  to form a handle for carrying the tee. The base can comprise molded rubber or any other suitable material with a weight to counteract spring tension. 
     Having described exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will now become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating their concepts may also be used. The embodiments contained herein should not be limited to disclosed embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.