Patent EA-003178-B1 (EA)
Title: Ball hitting practice apparatus
Inventor: MOSS ROBERT ALLEN
IPC: A63B69/00
Filed: 2000-07-27
Abstract: 1. A ball hitting practice apparatus (10,150), said apparatus comprising: a substantially rigid member (15,200) having a first end and a second end: a first hinge (20,160) that can be suspended from a frame (40) and attached at or near said first end such that said first hinge constrains said substantially rigid member to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis; and a ball mounting assembly (25,192) suspended from said second end of said substantially rigid member. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid member is mounted to said first hinge such that said first hinge constrains said second end to rotate in a substantially vertical plane. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said frame has a vertical support structure (60) that is substantially in said vertical plane. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid member has a weight that is less than a weight of a combination of said ball mounting assembly and a ball (35,80,120,140) attached to said ball mounting assembly. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a combination of said substantially rigid member, said ball mounting assembly, and a ball (35,80,120,140) attached to said ball mounting assembly has a center of gravity that is below said second end of said substantially rigid member. 6. The apparatus at claim 1 wherein said first hinge is secured to said frame. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said frame comprises a substantially horizontal support structure (50,170) onto which said first hinge is secured. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said frame further comprises a substantially vertical support structure (60) having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein said substantially horizontal support structure has a first end and a second end, said first end of said substantially horizontal support structure being secured near said upper end of said substantially vertical support structure, and wherein said first hinge is secured near said second end of said substantially horizontal support structure. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said frame further includes a base (70), said substantially vertical support structure being secured to said base for supporting said substantially vertical support structure. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said base comprises a plurality of legs. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said legs comprises collapsible legs. 12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said substantially vertical support structure has an adjustable height. 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said substantially vertical support structure is telescopic to allow adjustment of said height. 14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said substantially horizontal support structure has an adjustable length. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said substantially horizontal support structure is telescopic to allow adjustment of said length. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball mounting assembly comprises: at least one shaft (74); and at least one tubular member (76) adapted to rotate around each of said at least one shaft, wherein said at least one tubular member allows for releasable mounting of a ball (35,80,120,140). 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said shaft comprises an element selected from a group consisting of a rope and a rod. 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a releasable fastener is fixed to at least a portion of said tubular member for facilitating releasable mounting of said ball. 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said releasable fastener comprises two complementary halves (78,79), a first of said halves being fixed to said tubular member and a second of said halves being fixed to said ball. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said releasable fastener comprises a hook and loop type fastener. 21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said portion of said tubular member is concave for increasing contact surface between said two halves. 22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said releasable fastener comprises a piercing half (132) and a pierceable half (134). 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said piercing half comprises at least one pointed member and said pierceable half comprises rubber. 24. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein at least one suction cup is secured to said tubular member for detachable mounting of said ball. 25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid member has a length that is adjustable. 26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid member is a rod comprising a material selected from a group consisting of foam, aluminum, plastic, rubber, a soft material, and any combination thereof. 27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said rod comprises an aluminum inner rod and a soft material that surrounds at least a portion of said aluminum rod. 28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said rigid member comprises: an upper elongated portion (16) attached to said first hinge; and a lower elongated portion (18) suspended from said upper portion and capable of movement that is independent from movement of said upper portion. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said upper and lower elongated portions are attached together using a ball-and-socket type fastener. 30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said upper and lower elongated portions are attached together using a cylinder-and-socket type fastener. 31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said upper and lower elongated portions are attached together using at least one hook. 32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first hinge comprises: a first part; and a second part that is rotatable about said first part and that is attached to said first end of said substantially rigid member. 33. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first hinge comprises: a first part that allows said rotation of said substantially rigid member about said substantially horizontal axis; and a second movable part including a spring element that allows said rigid member to move in and out of a substantially vertical plane. 34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first hinge comprises: a movable part for allowing a swinging motion of said substantially rigid member about said substantially horizontal axis; and a spring element attached to said substantially rigid member to allows said substantially rigid member to move in and out of a substantially vertical plane. 35. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first hinge comprises a movable part for allowing a swinging motion of said substantially rigid member in a substantially vertical plane, and wherein said substantially rigid member comprises a spring element to allow a lateral motion of a portion of said substantially rigid member. 36. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball mounting assembly comprises a ball mounting device (29,70,100,130,196) suspended from said second end of said substantially rigid member. 37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said ball mounting device comprises: a tube (72) having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of extending shafts (74); and a plurality of tubular members (76) adapted to rotate around each of said shafts, wherein said at least one tubular member allows for releasable mounting of a ball (35,80,120,140). 38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein a releasable fastener is fixed to at least a portion of said tubular member for facilitating releasable mounting of said ball. 39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said releasable fastener comprises two complementary halves (78,79), a first of said halves being fixed to said tubular member and a second of said halves being fixed to said ball. 40. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball mounting assembly comprises: a tether (30,90,194,220) suspended from said second end of said substantially rigid member; and a ball mounting device (29,70,106,130,196) suspended from said tether. 41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said tether is adjustable in length. 42. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said tether comprises an elastic string. 43. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said tether comprises a non-elastic string. 44. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball mounting assembly (25,192) is releasably suspended from said second end of said substantially rigid member. 45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said ball mounting assembly (25,192) comprises: a tether (30,90,194,220) suspended from said second end of said substantially rigid member; and a ball mounting device (29,70,106,130,196) suspended from said tether. 46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said tether has an upper end with an object (230) attached and said second end of said substantially rigid member has a passage (207) adapted to hold said object until said tether has a tension that is greater than a threshold tension. 47. A method for practicing hitting a ball (35,80,120,140), said method comprising: providing a ball hitting practice apparatus (10,150) comprising: a substantially rigid member (15,200) having a first end and a second end; a hinge (20,160) capable of suspension from a frame (40) and attached near said first end of said substantially rigid member such that said substantially rigid member rotates about a substantially horizontal axis; and a ball mounting assembly (25,192) suspended from said second end of said substantially rigid member; mounting said ball on said ball mounting device; positioning said ball at a height; allowing said ball to fall while attached to said ball mounting device; and hitting said ball with a hitting device. 48. The method of claim 47 wherein said hitting said ball causes said ball to dismount from said ball mounting device. 49. The method of claim 47 wherein said hitting device is selected from a group consisting of a bat, a club, a racket, a stick, a bare hand, and a gloved hand. 50. The method of claim 47 wherein said positioning includes causing said substantially rigid member to rotate on said hinge about said axis in a substantially vertical plane. 51. The method of claim 47 where