Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for practicing pitching a baseball. The apparatus can be configured to receive pitches thrown into a specific designated area of the strike zone and to reject pitches not thrown to the specific designated area. The apparatus alters the position of the strike zone to compensate for the positioning of a catcher behind home plate. The apparatus more accurately identifies the strike zone, and areas outside the strike zone, to which a pitcher should practice throwing pitches.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   N/A 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   N/A. 
   THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   N/A. 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   N/A. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for practicing sports. 
   More particularly, the invention pertains to a method and apparatus for practicing pitching a baseball. 
   (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
   One well known apparatus for practicing pitching a baseball is known as the “CANVAS CATCHER” and consists of an upright frame with a piece of canvas mounted on the frame. A single opening is formed in the canvas. The width of the opening is generally equivalent to the width of a regulation home plate. A pitcher practices by throwing a ball into the opening. This device has been available and successfully marketed for many years and apparently exemplifies conventional wisdom that pitchers should practice by throwing a baseball over home plate into an opening having a width comparable to home plate. 
   The width of a regulation home plate is seventeen inches. The diameter of a regulation “hardball” baseball is about three inches. A ball thrown over a regulation home plate is, according to the rules of baseball, called a strike if any portion of the ball is over the plate. This rule has the effect of making the strike zone equal to about twenty-three inches. Accordingly, pitching devices having an opening that has a width equal to about seventeen inches do not accurately represent the strike zone according to the rules of baseball, and do not enable a pitcher to practice throwing a baseball over areas that are inside and outside the outer edges of home plate and that still qualify as a strike because a portion of the ball passes over home plate. 
   Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved pitching device that accurately reflects the strike zone according to the rules of baseball and that enables a baseball pitcher to practice throwing a baseball in selected areas of such a strike zone. 
   Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for practicing sports. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for practicing pitching a baseball. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pitching practice apparatus that enables a pitcher to practice pitching by throwing a baseball to areas outside of the strike zone. 
   Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved pitching practice apparatus that enables a pitcher to readily identify and throw to specific areas in the strike zone. 
   These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a frame and strike zone indicator utilized in the pitching practice apparatus of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view illustrating the frame and strike zone indicator of  FIG. 1  and also illustrating the strike zone parsing unit housed in the frame; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating the pitching practice apparatus of  FIG. 2  with a sheet material installed thereon to cover a portion of the target area(s) in the strike zone parsing unit; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the pitching practice apparatus of  FIG. 2  with the sheet material of  FIG. 3  installed thereon in an alternate orientation to cover a different portion of the target area in the strike zone parsing unit; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view illustrating the pitching practice apparatus of  FIG. 2  with a sheet material of different shape and dimension installed thereon to cover still a different portion of the target area in the strike zone parsing unit; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a conventional baseball field illustrating the mode of operation of the pitching practice apparatus of the invention; and, 
       FIGS. 7 to 10  illustrate the mode of operation of the shielding panel of the invention. 
   

   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved method for practicing pitching a baseball. The method includes the step of providing apparatus comprising an upright support; a strike zone parsing unit mounted on the support and including at least two target openings collectively defining a virtual strike zone that has an effective width that is greater than the width of a regulation home plate; and, a shielding system for covering least a portion of at least one of said openings. The method also includes the steps of selecting a first target area consisting of at least a portion of one of the target openings; throwing pitches toward the first target area; selecting a second target area different from the first target area; using the shielding system to cover at least a portion of one of the target openings while leaving the second target area open. The apparatus can include a plate with a plurality of strike zones each in registration with one of the target openings. The method can include throwing pitches over a strikes zone in registration with the selected target area. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved strike zone parsing display marked to define at least three separate strike zone areas including a first area shaped and dimensioned to correspond to an area extending through a center portion of a primary area defined by a regulation home plate; a second area shaped and dimensioned to correspond to a first initial area corresponding to a portion of the primary area to one side of the center portion, and to an auxiliary area corresponding to an area outside the primary area and adjacent the first initial area; a third area extending laterally away from the first area and the second area and shaped and dimensioned to correspond to a second initial area corresponding to a portion of the primary area to another side of the first area, and to a second auxiliary area corresponding to an area outside the primary area and adjacent the second initial area. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved method for practicing pitching a baseball. The method includes the step of providing apparatus comprising an upright support; a strike zone parsing unit mounted on the support and including at least one target opening defining a virtual strike zone that has an effective width that is greater than the width of a regulation home plate; and, a shielding system for covering least a portion of the opening. The method also includes the steps of selecting a first target area consisting of at least a portion of the target opening; throwing pitches toward the first target area; selecting a second target area different from the first target area; and, using the shielding system to cover at least a portion of the target opening while leaving the second target area open. 
   In still another embodiment of the invention, I provide improved apparatus for an individual to practice throwing to different locations over a regulation home plate having a width and a peripheral edge. The apparatus includes an upright support; and, a strike zone parsing unit mounted on the support and including at least two separate target openings collectively defining a virtual strike zone that has an effective width that is greater than the width of the regulation home plate. The apparatus can include a system to reduce the size of the target opening. The apparatus can include a horizontally oriented plate including a centerline and positioned in front of and normal to the strike zone parsing unit. The apparatus can include a strike zone parsing plate having a width; a peripheral edge; a primary area circumscribed by the peripheral edge; and, three separate marked strike zone areas. The strike zone areas include a first area shaped and dimensioned to correspond to an area extending through a center portion in the primary area; a second area shaped and dimensioned to correspond to a first initial area corresponding to a portion of the primary area to one side of the center portion, and to an auxiliary area corresponding to an area outside the primary area and adjacent the first initial area; and, a third area extending laterally away from the first area and the second area and shaped and dimensioned to correspond to a second initial area corresponding to a portion of the primary area to another side of the first area, and to a second auxiliary area corresponding to an area outside the primary area and adjacent the second initial area. Each of at least two of the strike zones are in registration with a separate one of the target openings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates the pitching practice apparatus of the invention generally indicated by reference character  10 . Apparatus  10  includes an upright support  11  including interconnected sides  12  and  13 , top  14 , bottom  15 , and feet  16  and  17 . Feet  16  and  17  rest on the ground, on a floor, or on another desired horizontally oriented support surface. A strike zone parsing unit is mounted on support  11  and indicated by dashed lines  18 . Straps  19  to  22  or any other desired support means removably or permanently secures parsing unit  18  to support  11 . 
   Horizontally oriented strike zone parsing plate  30  is placed in front of unit  18  on the ground or on another horizontally oriented support surface. Plate  30  can have any desired shape and dimension and configuration, including the shape and dimension of a conventional baseball home plate, but presently has a shape in which the width of plate  30 , indicated by arrows A, is greater than the seventeen inch width, indicated in  FIG. 1  by arrow B, of a conventional home plate. In addition, plate  30  includes parse or strike zone areas  35 ,  36 ,  37 . 
   Area  36  lies intermediate dashed lines  31  and  32 . Area  35  lies intermediate dashed line  32  and the side  33  of plate  30 . Area  37  lies intermediate dashed line  31  and side  34  of plate  30 . 
   Areas  35  to  37  are each preferably readily visually discernible and distinguishable one-from-the-other to a viewer. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such is achieved by coloring area  35  red, area  36  white, and area  37  blue. Any other desired color schemes and/or markings or shaping or dimensioning can be utilized to enable one area  35 ,  36 ,  37  to be readily visually discerned and distinguished with respect to each of the remaining areas  35  to  37 . 
   Strike zone parsing unit  18  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 2  and includes hook and/or loop VELCRO fastening strips  44  to  47  each fixedly secured to a panel  38  of material. Panel  38  can be rigid or semi-rigid. If panel  38  is rigid or semi-rigid, panel  38  may be propped against a vertically oriented support surface or panel  38  may have feet or some other support system and upright support  11  may not be necessary in the practice of the invention. 
   Panel  38  is presently preferably, however, fabricated from canvas, from a thick polymer, or from some other pliable material that flexes or elastically stretches or at least partially deforms or gives when a baseball is thrown against panel  38 . 
   One or more openings  48 ,  49 ,  50  is formed through panel  38 . Each opening is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with a netting  60  or other assembly that is attached to the rear of panel  38  and of the opening, and that catches and stores balls that are thrown toward the front of panel  38  and that pass through an opening  48  to  50 . The front of panel  38  is shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 . 
   Each opening  48  to  50  is, if desired, be provided with an edging or border  51  to  53 , respectively. Each border  51  to  53  is preferably visually discernible and distinguishable with respect to the remaining borders  51  to  53 . In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such is achieved by coloring border  51  red, border  52  white, and border  53  blue. Any other desired color schemes and/or markings or shaping or dimensioning can be utilized to enable one area  51  to  53  to be readily visually discerned and distinguished with respect to each of the remaining areas  51  to  53 . 
   The width, indicated by arrows H and I and J, of an opening (including the border around the opening), can vary as desired, but presently is in the range of six to nine inches. The sum of the widths H to J can also vary as desired, but presently is in the range of eighteen to twenty-eight inches, preferably twenty to twenty-six inches, most preferably twenty-three to twenty-five inches. 
   Alternatively, the width of each opening  48 ,  49 ,  50  (not including the width of the accompanying borders  51  to  53 ) can vary as desired, but presently is in the range of five to ten inches. The sum of the widths of openings  48 ,  49 ,  50  (not including the widths of the accompanying borders  51  to  53 ) can vary as desired, but presently is in the range of eighteen to twenty-eight inches, preferably twenty to twenty-six inches, most preferably twenty-three to twenty-five inches. 
   The height, indicated by arrows F, of the bottom of each opening  48  to  50  above the ground can vary as desired, as can the height, indicated by arrows G, from the bottom to the top of each opening  48  to  50 . 
   In one configuration of the apparatus of the invention, the height F is about equal within plus or minus six inches to the height above the ground of the knees of a hitter of average height and physical build, and, the height G is equal within plus or minus six inches to the distance from the knees to the center of the chest of a hitter of average height and physical build. In other words, height G is about equal to the height of the normal strike zone in the game of baseball for a player of average height and physical build. The height G is currently thirty-two inches. 
   In another preferred configuration of the apparatus of the invention, the height F is about equal (i.e., equal to within plus or minus one-half inch) to one to eight inches, preferably three to five inches, most preferably four inches, less than the height above the ground of the knees of a hitter of average height and physical build, and, the height G, is about equal (i.e., equal to within plus or minus one-half inch) to one to eight inches, preferably three to five inches, most preferably four inches, less than the distance from the knees to the center of the chest of a hitter of average height and physical build. This preferred configuration is advantageously utilized when the apparatus of the invention is positioned a distance behind home plate at a location that generally corresponds to the distance behind home plate at which a catcher positions his glove to receive a pitch from a pitcher. When the apparatus of the invention is so positioned behind home plate, the preferred configuration is important because it more accurately represents the strike zone utilized by a pitcher for most pitches. The preferred configuration is believed to more accurately represent the strike zone because the pitcher tends to throw many pitches that travel along a line that is canted, or downwardly tilted, from the pitcher&#39;s mound to home plate. This is the case in part because the top of the pitcher&#39;s mound is at a higher elevation than home plate, and in part because the location of the pitcher&#39;s hand when the ball is released often is at a higher elevation than the elevation of the ball when the ball crosses home plate. Consequently, since the ball travels along a downwardly tilted line, or path, from the pitcher&#39;s mound to home plate, the ball will, when it reaches the catcher&#39;s glove, be at a lower elevation than that ball is when it crosses home plate on its way to the catcher&#39;s glove. In addition, some pitches “break” downwardly when they reach the vicinity of home plate. Therefore, reducing the heights F and G to positions below the normal “knee-to-mid-chest” strike zone is believed to be important in training a pitcher to throw a baseball in the desired strike zone. In the preferred configuration the height F is currently eight and one-half inches and the height G is currently thirty-two inches. 
   As is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , strike parsing plate  30  is placed in front of unit  18  such that when plate  30  and unit  18  are viewed from the front as is depicted in  FIG. 2 , area  35  appears below and centered on and thus in registration with opening  48 ; such that area  36  appears below and centered on and thus in registration with opening  49 ; and, such that area  37  appears below and centered on and thus in registration with opening  50 . Plate  30  is preferably, although not necessarily, spaced a distance in from of unit  18  that is about equivalent to the distance between home plate and the mitt of a catcher positioned behind home plate, i.e., practice apparatus  10  is positioned such that unit  18  is at the position of the mitt of a catcher waiting to receive a pitch. The width C of area  35  can vary as desired but is typically equivalent to width H or to the width of opening  48 , i.e. is equal to or within plus or minus two inches of the width H or the width of opening  48 . The width D of area  36  can vary as desired but is typically equivalent to width I or to the width of opening  49 , i.e. is equal to or within plus or minus two inches of the width I or the width of opening  49 . The width E of area  37  can vary as desired but is typically equivalent to width J or to the width of opening  50 , i.e. is equal to or within plus or minus two inches of the width J or the opening  50 . 
   Opening  50  corresponds to an area of the strike zone that is on the inside of home plate. A baseball  92  that is thrown at and enters opening  50  travels over area  37 . In  FIG. 2 , baseball  92  is depicted after it has passed over area  37  and at the moment it is entering opening  50 . Opening  49  corresponds to an area of the strike zone that is in the center of home plate. A baseball  91  that is thrown at and enters opening  49  travels over area  36 . In  FIG. 2 , baseball  91  is depicted after it has passed over area  36  and at the moment it is entering opening  49 . Opening  48  corresponds to an area of the strike zone that is on the outside of home plate. A baseball  90  that is thrown at and enters opening  48  travels over area  35 . In  FIG. 2 , baseball  90  is depicted after it has passed over area  35  and at the moment it is entering opening  48 . When panel  38  is fabricated from canvas or another material with some give, a ball  90  usually will still travel into an opening  48  even when an outer portion of the ball contacts a border  51 , provided the majority of the ball is, as is the case in  FIG. 2 , positioned to travel through opening  48 . 
   In  FIG. 3 , an auxiliary panel  70  of canvas, polymer, or other material is placed on unit  18  to cover a portion of each opening  48  to  50 . Strips  71  to  73  of VELCRO fastening material are permanently secured to the back of panel  70 . Each strip  71  to  73  removably attaches to at least a portion of an opposing strip  47 ,  44 ,  46 , respectively, on unit  18 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates another orientation in which panel  70  is mounted on unit  18  to cover openings  48  and  49 . In  FIG. 4 , strips  71  to  73  are each removably secured to at least a portion of an opposing strip  45 ,  47 ,  44 , respectively. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a pliable panel  71  removably secured to unit  18 . Panel  71  has a configuration different than that of panel  70  such that panel  71  leaves only a portion of opening  50  uncovered. As indicated by dashed line  76 , portion  78  of panel  71  can be folded along dashed line  76  over onto portion  77  such that the entire opening  50  is uncovered. Or, portion  77  can be folded along line  76  over onto portion  78  such that openings  48  and  49  are uncovered and opening  50  is completely covered. Any desired number of panels  70  and  71  of any desired shape and dimension and configuration can be utilized to cover selected portions of an opening(s)  48  to  50  so that the size of the exposed portions of opening(s)  48  to  50  is reduced and requires a pitcher to exercise a greater degree of control and accuracy to consistently repeatedly throw a pitch into the exposed portions. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a conventional baseball field including home plate  86 , pitcher&#39;s mound  81 , pitching rubber  82 , first base  83 , second base  84 , and third base  85 . 
   In use of practice apparatus  10 , apparatus  10  of  FIG. 2  is positioned behind home plate  86  at a location that places the front or face of unit  18  (which front is visible in  FIG. 2 ) at a location that approximates the distance of a catcher&#39;s mitt behind home plate when a catcher is ready to receive a pitch from a baseball pitcher. A panel  70 ,  71  is, if desired, utilized to cover portions of openings  48  to  50 . A pitcher takes his normal position on mound  81  astride or adjacent rubber  82 ; selects a particular opening  48  to  50  or, more preferably, a more specific selected target location in an opening  48  to  50  (i.e., the top, middle, or bottom of an opening  48  to  50 ) at which to throw a pitch; and, imagines that a catchers glove is at the selected target location. The pitcher fixes his eyes on the selected location, relaxes by inhaling and exhaling, blocks out extraneous noises or thoughts, concentrates on watching the selected target location, and throws a pitch at the selected target location in unit  18 . If the pitch passes through an opening  48  to  50 , the pitch is captured in netting  60  behind the opening. If the pitch misses all three openings  48  to  50  and strikes panel  38 , the ball typically bounces off panel  38  in a direction generally toward plate  30 . If the ball completely misses apparatus  10 , it sails past and rolls along the ground or impacts a backstop or some other object that is behind apparatus  10 . The pitcher repeats the foregoing process as many times as desired and, if the pitcher wishes, uses a panel  90 ,  91  to cover portions of opening(s)  48  to  50  to change the location of or reduce the size of the target location the pitcher selects. 
   One advantage of apparatus  10  is that it can be utilized at locations other than a full blown baseball field, and can be used with or without a pitcher&#39;s mound. Portable pitcher&#39;s mounds are available that can be readily set up so that apparatus  10  can be utilized at a park or any other location that has sufficient space for a portable pitcher&#39;s mound and for apparatus  10  positioned a selected distance (typically about 62 feet) from the front edge (edge closest to home plate) of the pitcher&#39;s rubber  82  on the pitcher&#39;s mound. The front edge  80  of parsing plate  30  or of a conventional home plate is positioned sixty feet and six inches from the front edge of pitching rubber  82 . 
   In addition to being used to practice pitching a baseball, the apparatus  10  can be utilized in conjunction with other sports. By way of example, and not limitation, apparatus  10  can be utilized to practice pitching a softball into one or more openings  48 ,  49 ,  50  of desired shape and dimension, to practice chipping a golf ball into one or more openings  48 ,  49 ,  50  of desired shape and dimension, and so on. 
   Apparatus  10  can also be used by baseball players other than pitchers to practice throwing a baseball. The apparatus  10  can, for example, be placed at second base facing home plate and a catcher can practice throwing from home plate to second base by attempting to throw the ball from home plate into one of openings  48 ,  49 ,  50 . Or, the apparatus  10  can be placed at second base facing first base and a first baseman can practice throwing from first base to second base by attempting to throw the ball from first base into one of openings  48 ,  49 ,  50 . And so on. 
     FIGS. 7 to 10  illustrate another embodiment  70 A of an auxiliary panel of canvas, polymer, or other material is placed on unit  18  to cover portions of openings  48  to  50 . Panel  70 A, like panel  70 , includes strips of VELCRO fastening material are permanently secured to the back of panel  70 A. Each strip removably attaches to at least a portion of an opposing strip  44  to  47 , on unit  18 . Panel  70 A includes three flaps  90  to  92 . In  FIG. 7  only flap  90  is folded to the left (in the direction of arrow G) to expose the upper part of opening  50 . The remainder of opening  50 , along with openings  48  and  49 , is covered by panel  70 A. The configuration of panel  70 A in  FIG. 7  permits a pitcher to practice throwing baseballs into the upper portion of opening  50 . If desired, flap  91  can also, in  FIG. 7 , be opened and folded to the left to expose the central portion of opening  50 ; or, flap  92  can be opened and folded to the left to expose the lower portion of opening  50 . In  FIG. 7 , panel  70 A is mounted on panel  38  such that flaps  90  to  92  are on the right hand side of panel  38 . In  FIG. 8 , panel  70 A is mounted on panel  38  such that flaps  90  to  92  extend across the upper middle portion of panel  38 . In  FIG. 9 , panel  70 A is mounted on panel  38  such that flaps  90  to  92  extend along the left hand side of panel  38 . And, in  FIG. 10 , panel  70 A is mounted on panel  38  such that flaps  90  to  92  extend across the lower middle portion of panel  38 . 
   In  FIG. 8 , only panel  90  is opened to expose the upper portion of opening  48 . In  FIG. 9 , only panel  90  is opened to expose the lower portion of opening  48 . In  FIG. 10 , only panel  90  is opened to expose the lower portion of opening  50 . 
   As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, if in  FIG. 8  panel  91  is opened by downwardly folding panel  91 , the upper portion of opening  49  is exposed. If panel  92  is opened by downwardly folding panel  92 , the upper portion of opening  50  is exposed. Velcro fastener strips  92  and  93  can be fixedly secured to the outer surface  96  of panel  70 A (which outer surface includes the outer surface of panels  90  to  92 ) so that when panel  92  is opened, strips  92  and  93  are adjacent and contact one another and releasably hold the distal end of panel  92  in place. Similarly, in  FIG. 8  VELCRO fastener strips (not visible) on the inside surface  97  of panel  70 A (which inside surface includes the inside surface of panels  90  to  92 ) at the distal ends of panels  91  and  92  secure panels  91  and  92  to VELCRO fastening strip  44  on panel  38 . Strip  95  on the inside surface  97  of panel  70 A secures the distal end of panel  90  to strip  44  when panel  90  is closed. In  FIG. 8  panel  90  is open and panels  91  and  92  are closed. 
   If in  FIG. 9 , panel  92  is opened by upwardly folding panel  92 , the lower portion of opening  48  is exposed, and so on. 
   A panel  70 A can have any desired number of flaps each of any desired shape and dimension to cover and expose desired portions of openings  48  to  50 , or multiple panels can be utilized. 
   In the drawings, openings  48  to  50  each have longitudinal center lines that extend vertically and openings  48  to  50  are side-by-side. Openings  48  to  50  can be formed through panel  38  to have longitudinal center lines that extend horizontally such that openings  48  to  50  are “stacked” one-on-top of the other; i.e., the size and orientation of each opening  48  to  50  can vary as desired. Each opening need not be the same size as the other openings. 
   Having described my invention in such terms as to enable those of skill in the art to make and practice it, and having described the presently preferred embodiments thereof,