Patent Publication Number: US-2017361195-A1

Title: Apparatus, system and method for protecting a pitcher of a ball

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for protecting a pitcher of a ball from being struck by a returning ball hit by a batter. More specifically, the invention relates to a portable system with a container that encloses balls and a screen. A lid of the container has a base that may hold the screen. 
     Teams, such as little-league baseball teams, may travel to neighboring towns and/or cities to face opposing teams. Typically, the home team has an advantage of familiarity with the baseball diamond and/or a lot or area where the game is played and/or nearby training areas. 
     Home teams may also have an advantage of practicing batting in a dedicated warm-up area, such as a batting cage. In contrast, the visiting team often hit balls into, for example, a fence due to the space restrictions of visiting teams at various baseball diamonds and/or lots. 
     For practice and/or preparation for a game, a coach for the visiting team may be positioned at a distance of approximately five to six feet away from the batter at an angle to the direction in which the batter hits the ball. Such a configuration of the coach relative to the batter may allow the batter to practice in a relatively confined space, such as in front of a fence, but fails to accurately recreate the orientation of the pitch relative to the batter during a game. Thus, the batters of the visiting team may be at a disadvantage while preparing for the game compared to the batters of the home team. 
     A variety of devices have been developed to assist with creating batting practice areas. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,776 to Macaluso discloses a foldable net with a flexible frame arranged to receive a ball; U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,885 to Munro relates to a device with a collapsible sports goal, such as a goal for soccer, that may be housed and anchored by a backpack. U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,124 to Williams discloses a backstop with a base that has an upper frame joined to support legs of the backstop. A net may be secured to the base to form a backstop with a ball retaining pocket. 
     Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,212 to Hart discloses a ball throwing device mounted behind a frame with a screen extending across the frame. The device may pitch a baseball. The pitching machine may have a frame with a base that rests on the ground and a ball throwing arm supported on the frame. The arm may swing to throw the ball toward a batter when released from a position behind the screen. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,118,103; 5,433,433; 5,427,381; 5,730,466; 6,030,300; 6,264,570; and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013/0267353 and 2014/0274479; and International Patent Application No. WO 2012/032258 generally relate to a frame with a screen to receive a projectile, such as a ball. 
     Known devices for receiving a ball, such as a baseball, and/or for throwing a ball from behind a screen are known. However, the devices may be difficult to transport and/or set-up and/or use. Thus, a need exists for a system that may be easily transported that has the materials needed to prepare a batter prior to playing a game, such as baseball. The system may protect a pitcher from being struck by a returning baseball hit by a batter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for protecting a pitcher of a ball from being struck by the returning ball hit by a batter. More specifically, the invention relates to a system with a container that encloses balls and a foldable screen. A lid of the container has a base that may hold the screen. 
     The invention provides an apparatus having a frame that may fold to reduce to a collapsed size. A screen, which may be made from a breathable material, may be stretched across the frame. A lid, which may be placed on the ground, may have a base that may extend from the lid to hold the frame in a generally upright position. A container may hold the collapsed frame, and the lid may attach to the container. 
     Additionally, the invention provides a system having a container holding a bag and a screen placed on the bag within the container. A lid may be attached to the container and may be removed from the container and placed in an inverted position near the container. A base may extend from the lid to hold the screen which unfolds to an expanded size. 
     Further, the invention provides a method for removing a frame with a screen from a container. The frame may be unfolded to expand in size and may be inserted into a base extending from a lid of the container. The lid may be placed near the container. A pitcher may sit on the container behind the screen. 
     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system and a method for protecting a pitcher from being struck by a ball hit by a batter. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a container with a lid that encloses balls and a screen in the container where the lid is removed to hold the screen. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a container that may be used as a seat by the pitcher. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a pitcher protector system that is self-contained in a container. 
     An even further advantage of the present invention is provide a pitcher protector system that may be enclosed in a portable container. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a pitcher protector system enclosed in a portable container where the pitcher protector system may be removed from the container and oriented in various configurations. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a pitcher protector system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an inverted lid on a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a lid placed next to a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a container holding a bag enclosing balls in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a lid with an arm extended outward in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a screen mounted in front of an inverted container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a screen mounted within an upright container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a screen mounted between several plates in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a screen having feet to stand on the ground in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates perspective views of the unfolding of a screen in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Further, numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pitcher protector system  10  is shown having a container  32 , a lid  20  and frame  18  with a screen  12  extending therefrom. The screen  12  may be generally shaped as an oval, however other shapes, sizes and/or orientations of the screen  12  may be used. The screen  12  may extend upwardly from and/or be attached to a base  22  on the lid  20 . The container  32  may enclose one or more baseballs intended for baseball, softball and/or little-league baseball practice, such as a hollow plastic ball  44  that may have perforations  68  on the ball  44  as shown in  FIG. 4 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that baseball and/or softball are exemplary of sports for which the container  32  may be used. For example, the container  32  may enclose balls  44  suitable for cricket, jai-alai and/or any other game. The container  32  as shown in  FIG. 1  may be exemplary of the general types of containers that may be used with the pitcher protector system  10 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other shapes, sizes and/or orientations of the container  32  may be used. In an embodiment, the screen  12  may be between four feet to six feet in height by approximately two feet in width. Each end of the screen  12  may be shaped as a semi-circle. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the dimensions, orientation and/or configuration of the screen  12  may be exemplary. Other shapes and/or sizes of the screen  12  may be used, such as a square screen, a triangular screen, an octagonal screen and/or any combination thereof, for example. 
     To prepare a batter for a baseball game, the contents of the pitcher protector system  10  may be removed from the container  32  and positioned as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the lid  20  of the container  30  may be positioned in front of the container  30 . A pitcher  28  may invert the container  30  and place the container  30  upon a flat surface, such as the ground to provide a seating surface for the pitcher  28 . The container  30 , as shown in  FIG. 4  may enclose a bag  64  holding one or more balls  44  placed within the container  32 . The screen  12  may be collapsed and/or folded as shown in  FIG. 10 . Further, the screen  12  in a collapsed position  88 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , may be placed on top of the bag  64 . The lid  20  may attach to a lip  94 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , formed on a perimeter of the container  32  to enclose the container  32 . 
     Prior to pitching the balls  44 , the pitcher  28  may remove the lid  20  from the container  32 . The screen  12  may be collapsed and/or folded within the container  32  and may be removed from the container  32 . The bag  64 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , holding the balls  44  may be removed and placed outside the container  32 , for example, near the pitcher  28 . The screen  12  may be unfolded as shown in  FIG. 10  and slid into a base  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . A channel  70  may extend across the base  22  to receive and/or to hold the screen  12  in a fixed upright position. 
     The pitcher  28  may be seated on the container  32  behind the screen  12  at a position approximately several feet, i.e. one to three feet, behind the screen  12 . The pitcher  28  may throw the ball  44  generally in a direction A around a frame  18  of the screen  12 . A breathable mesh  14  may be stretched across the frame  18  to form the screen  12 . In an embodiment, the mesh  14  may allow air to flow through the mesh  14  to permit the screen  12  to remain in a fixed position within the channel  70  of the base  22 . Further, the mesh  14  may allow the pitcher  28  to see where he or she may pitch the ball  44  toward, for example, the batter. The mesh may have a relatively tightly interwoven pattern to protect the pitcher  28  against impact from, for example, heavier balls  44 . Further, the mesh  14  may have a relatively loosely interwoven pattern to permit for air flow for use of the pitcher protector system  10  during windy weather conditions, for example. 
     Further, the mesh  14  may block the passage of the ball through the mesh  14 . Accordingly, the mesh  14  may protect the pitcher  28  from being struck in his or her face by the ball  44 , which may return toward the pitcher  28  from being struck by a batter during batting practice. Further, the direction A may be generally around the screen  12  and/or the frame  18  toward the batter who may be standing approximately six feet to twelve feet from the screen  12 . 
     The pitcher protector system  10  with the container  32  may enclose a bag  64 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , of balls  44  that may be placed beneath the screen  12 . The frame  18  of the screen  12  may be collapsed and/or folded to fit the screen within the container  32 . The lid  20  may enclose the container  32  that may allow for transport to, for example, a baseball diamond and/or field. 
     The pitcher may  28  may sit on the container  32  with his or her arm  34  and hand  42  holding the ball  44  that may be positioned on either side of the frame  18  of the screen  12 . For example, a left-handed pitcher  28  may position his or her left arm around the left side of the frame  18  to throw the ball  44  generally in the direction A toward the batter. A right-handed pitcher  28  may position his or her right arm around the right side of the frame  18  to throw the ball  44  generally in the direction A toward the batter. 
     The screen  12  may provide protection against impact of the returning ball  44  from striking the pitcher  28 . The screen  12  may protect the pitcher  28  from the balls  44  that may be hit by the batter during batting practice. In an embodiment, a Wiffle ball may be a type of ball  44  used with the pitcher protector system  10 . Wiffle is a registered trademark of Wiffle Ball, Inc., a corporation registered in the state of Connecticut. 
     The pitcher protector system  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, may allow the pitcher  28  to sit on the inverted container  32  with his or her knee  30  in a bent position. Specifically, a seating surface  98  of the container  32  may be substantially flat to accommodate sitting, for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The pitcher  28  may pitch and/or throw the ball  44  in the direction A similar to what the batter may encounter during a baseball game. Accordingly, the pitcher  28  may prepare the batter to practice swinging in a manner similar to what the batter may encounter during the baseball game. 
     Further, the pitcher protector system  10  may assist coaches and/or trainers of, for example, traveling baseball teams to practice and/or prepare for a baseball game in locations on another baseball diamond and/or lot which may not offer adequate space for traditional batting practice. The contents of the pitcher protector system  10 , namely the bag  64  that may hold the balls  44  and the screen  12 , may be enclosed by the lid  20  after batting practice and/or prior to travel to and/or from a baseball diamond and/or lot. The pitcher protector system  10  may be relatively lightweight to easily grasp and/or carry and/or transport the container by, for example, the lip  36  of the container, and to lift and/or transport the container  32 . 
     In an embodiment, the lid  20  may be aligned with and/or may be attached to the container  32 . A ridge  96  that may extend from the perimeter of the lid  20  may assist the pitcher  28  and/or another person in grasping the lid  12  to, for example, remove the lid  20  from the container  32 . The ridge  96  of the lid  20  may assist the lid  20  and/or the container  32 , when attached to the lid  20 , being grasped and/or lifted for transport. The lid  20  may have one or more holes to permit for air to flow between an outside atmosphere and the interior of the container  32 . 
     Specifically, the container  32  may be shaped generally as a tub and/or as a bucket made from a molded rigid material, such as plastic. In an embodiment, the container may be made by Jokey Plastik Gummersbach GmbH, a corporate entity of Germany. The container  32  may have a generally square base that may be approximately sixteen inches wide. The container  32  may be approximately fifteen inches tall to define an interior volume of approximately six to seven gallons. The dimensions are intended as exemplary. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other dimensions, configurations and/or materials may be used for the container  32 . For instance, in an embodiment, the container may have the lid  20  that may be generally shaped as a square with a side length of thirteen inches. The container  32  may be generally shaped as a square with a side length of twelve inches with a height of sixteen inches. Alternatively, the lid  20  and/or the container  32  may be shaped as, for example, a rectangle and/or as a cylinder. The general shape of the lid  20  may correspond with the container  32  for fitment of the lid  20  into the container  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the base  22  is shown extending from a bottom surface  26  of the lid  20 . The base  22  may have the channel  70  that may be defined by parallel sides that may extend across the base  22 . A first clip  50  and/or a second clip  54  may attach to a first nut  60  and/or a second nut  62 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In an embodiment, the first nut  60  and/or the second nut  62  may be generally positioned at ends of the base  22 . Accordingly, the first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may rotate outward from the channel  70  to receive and/or attach to the screen  12 . The first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may define an orifice  52 . When the first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may be unfolded and/or rotated away from the groove  70 , the orifice  52  may be aligned to receive and/or attach to the screen  12 . 
     The first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may be made from a rigid material, such as steel and/or tempered steel which may have desirable physical properties. For example, tempered steel may be magnetic. Accordingly, the frame  18 , which may be made from a magnetic metal, for example, may insert into the orifice  52  and attach to, for example, the first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54 . Insertion and/or attachment of the frame  18  with the screen  12  into and/or with the first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may assist the screen  12  to remain inserted in the channel  70  of the base  22 . Legs  24  may be folded along either of the sides  56  to, for example, accommodate the lid  20  to attach to the container  32 . The legs  24  may unfold, as shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, to provide lateral stability to the screen  12 . For example, the channel  70  in the base  22 , which may be positioned generally diagonally across and/or be attached to the lid  20 , may receive the screen  12  and/or the frame  18 . The screen  12  may be positioned generally upright relative to the ground and may stabilize by the legs  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the lid  20  is shown removed from the container  32  and may be placed near the container  32 . The configuration of the lid  20  relative to the container  32  may assist the pitcher  28  and/or a carrier of the container  32  to view the contents of the container  32  prior to setting up the pitcher protector system  10  for batter practice and/or training. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the screen  12  may be placed on top of the bag  64  of balls  44 . In an embodiment, the bottom surface  26 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , of the lid  20  may be attached to the lid  20  by screws  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the bag  64  that may hold the balls  44  may be placed into the container  32  before the screen  12 , which may be placed above and/or on top of the bag  64 . A breathable mesh  68  that may be used to make the bag  64  may allow the pitcher  28  and/or a carrier of the container  32  to visually identify the contents of the bag  64 . In an embodiment, each ball  44  may have perforations  68  which may reduce the weight of the ball  44  and/or enhance the ability of the ball  44  to travel through the air when thrown by the pitcher  28  and/or struck by a batter. The ball  44  that may be shaped as a sphere and be formed from a thin rigid plastic, for example, similar to a Wiffle ball. In an embodiment, a Wiffle ball may be a type of ball  44  that may be used with the pitcher protector system  10 . The screen  12  may be placed in a collapsed and/or folded configuration on and/or over the bag  64  prior to, for example, carrying the container  32  with the screen  12  and/or the bag  64  to another baseball diamond and/or lot. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the lid  20  is shown with the base  22  that may extend diagonally across the bottom surface  26  of the lid  20 . The bottom surface  26  may be attached to the lid  20  by the screws  48 . The legs  24  may be compressed and/or folded inwardly to be parallel to the base  22  and/or each other.  FIG. 4  shows the base  22  extending from the bottom surface  26  with the first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  partially extended. The first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may rotate outward relative to the base  22  to, for example grasp and/or otherwise attach to the screen  12 , which may be inserted in the channel  70 . 
     The lid  20 , as shown in an inverted position in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , may be flipped over and attached to the container  32  to seal the container  32 . The screen  12 , which may be collapsed and/or folded, may be placed on the bag  64  and may be held within the container  32 . Specifically, the first clip  50  and/or the second clip  54  may be compressed against the screen  12  inside the container  32  to, for example, hold the screen  12  in place against the bag  64  to prevent the bag  64  from moving the container  32 . 
     The legs  24  may extend from the base  22 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , to stabilize the lid  20  across the surface, such as the ground, upon which the lid  20  may be placed. Accordingly, high winds and/or other inclement weather conditions such as rain, for example, may fail to destabilize the lid  20  that may hold the extended and/or unfolded screen  12  as shown in, for example,  FIG. 1 . Thus, the pitcher  28  may use the pitcher protector system  10  by throwing the ball in the direction A as shown in  FIG. 1  in a variety of weather conditions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the pitcher protector system  10  is shown with the frame  18  of the screen  12  that may be attached to the bottom surface  26  of the lid  20 . The bottom surface  26  may, for example, wrap around the container  32  to extend in a generally upwardly direction when the container  32  may be inverted and placed on the ground as shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, the frame of the screen  12  may be attached to the container  32  which may be positioned generally upright relative to the ground. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of the pitcher protector system  10  is shown with the frame  18  of the screen  12  inserted into first groove  70  and a second groove  72  that may be positioned opposite to the first groove  70 . The frame  18  may be held in a fixed position by the first groove  70  and the second groove  72  in the container  32  which may be positioned relatively upright to the ground. The pitcher  28  may throw the ball  44  around the screen  12  which may be inserted in the first groove  70  and the second groove  72  to attach to and/or connect with the container  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the screen  12  is shown inserted in between plates  76  that may be placed parallel to the ground, for example. In an embodiment, the plates may be included with and/or carried with the bag  64  of balls  44  and/or the screen  12  in the container  32  to, for example, a game at a baseball diamond and/or lot. The plates may be substantially flat to sit on, for example, the ground, and assist in stabilizing the screen in an upright position  74 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Specifically, the screen  12  may be inserted in between and/or attached in between the plates  76  to be held upright relative to the ground. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the screen  12  is shown with the frame  18  that may be attached to a first pair of feet  90  and/or a second pair of feet  92 . The feet  90  and/or  92  may allow the screen  12  to stand on the ground. The first pair of feet  90  may be positioned apart from the second pair of feet  92  to stabilize the screen  12  on the ground to provide flexibility to the pitcher  28  in preparing a batter to play in, for example, a baseball game. 
     In an embodiment, the orientations and/or configurations of the screen  12  relative to the container  32  and/or the plates  76 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , may provide additional flexibility to the pitcher  28 . Accordingly, the pitcher  28  may prepare and/or use protector system  10  to accommodate a variety of baseball training situations and/or weather conditions, for example. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the screen  12  is shown collapsing from an extended position  78  to a collapsed position  86 . For example, the frame  18  of the screen  12  may be collapsible and be made from a high-carbon content spring steel, such as tempered steel. In an embodiment, the frame  18  may be approximately half an inch (½″) in width. The screen  12  may be approximately two feet in width by four and one half feet in height and be made from a polyester knit fabric. The dimensions may be exemplary and the frame may be formed in any size, shape, orientation and/or dimension. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the frame  18  may be made with a different shape and/or geometry than that shown in  FIG. 10 . The screen  12  may be made from a polyester knit fabric band sown with, for example a cavity to attach to the frame  18 . 
     To assemble the frame  18  with the screen  12 , fabric material that may be used to make the screen  12  may be cut to size. A fabric band, also referred to as a “banding fabric”, may be sewn on and/or across the interior-facing perimeter of the frame  18 . The screen  12  may be made in any color. In an embodiment, the screen  12  may be black. 
     Fabric of the screen  12  may be stretched to attach to the frame  18  and may flex in accordance with movement and/or flexure of the frame  18  during the collapse of the screen  12  to the collapsed position  88 . The frame  18  may be twisted and/or bent to a first intermediate position  80 . The frame  18  then may be further twisted and/or bent to subsequent intermediate positions  82 ,  86  prior to forming the collapsed position  88 , which may fit into the container  32 . The folding and/or collapsing shown in  FIG. 10  of the screen  12  is exemplary. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other methods of reducing the screen  12  in size may exist and be used with the pitcher protector system  10 . For example the screen  12  may be formed with the frame  18  that may periscope and/or sequentially collapse into adjacent segments, for example. 
     Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.