Abstract:
A portable ball batting practice apparatus for attachment to a pre-existing support includes an elongated member having two ends. The elongated member is attached at one of its ends, via a rotational hub assembly, to one end of a two-ended rotatable arm. The other end of the rotatable arm is secured to a ball. By employing opposing stops within the rotational hub assembly, the rotational hub assembly allows both right and left handed hitters to utilize the apparatus and produces a directed “pitch” for a user to hit. Incorporated into the elongated member is a releasable anchoring system for attaching the elongated member to the support.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A training apparatus for assisting a user in developing ball batting skills is provided and may be utilized by either right or left handed batters. More particularly, the apparatus releasable secures to an existing support and includes an arm member having a ball that is attached to the arm by a rotational means that supplies to the user a moving ball to hit. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     Several related devices have been found in the prior art that comprise ball hitting trainers. However, most of these devices are rather complex structurally and incorporate self supporting elements or do not provide a moving pitch to hit. One such device merely supplies a ball tethered by a freely rotating pivot joint to the end of a horizontal support. The energy imparted to the ball by the hit is dispatched in spinning the ball in a constant radius circle about the pivot joint and no return pitch is delivered. 
     More particularly, described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,058,277 is a baseball practice machine that includes a motor-driven rotating arm. Connected to the rotating arm is a rubber cord fastened to a ball. Hitting the ball merely extends the cord for a period of time. 
     A practice tether ball device is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 2,976,040. A flexible cable is affixed to a rotating hub. Upon hitting the ball the ball and cord spin about the hub until the imparted energy is dissipated. 
     Supplied in U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,700 is a golf practice device having a vertical support and a downwardly angle arm to which a tether and ball are connected. Hitting the golf ball produces a free rotation of the tether and ball about the tether to arm connection point. 
     Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,502 is a tethered ball for baseball batting practice. Comprising the device is a stake having an internal spring that is fastened to one end of a tether. A ball is fastened to the other end of the tether. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,088 discloses a tethered ball baseball batting practice device. A tethered ball is slidably engaged with an upwardly sloping cable. When the ball is hit it slides up the cable until the imparted energy is spent and then slides back down into an initial position. 
     A training device including a captive ball to be struck by a game club is specified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,926. A ball is fastened to a spring return mechanism. Upon hitting the ball the ball deflects and is repositioned in the initial location by the spring return mechanism. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,494 relates a tethered ball baseball practice having a tethered ball that deflects into a net upon hitting. After the energy of the hit is absorbed in the net, the ball returns to hang in its initial position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,036 reports a batting practice device that holds a ball in a releasable position for hitting. Upon hitting the ball the ball is projected from within the held position and forward. The ball is not tethered to the device. 
     Related in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,735 is a pitching machine having a tethered ball that is secured to a horizontal arm that is part rigid and part semi-rigid. The arm is attached to a vertical support member. A motion damping mechanism is included. 
     A sports training device is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,042. A weighted base member extends into an adjustable vertical support. Attached to the top of the vertical support is a horizontal arm that terminates in a tether that is secured to a ball. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,675 describes a baseball pitching device having a base support and a rotating arm attached to the base. The arm has a tethered ball anchored to one end and a counter weight at the other end. Means are supplied for rotating the arm relative to the base support to produce a moving ball to strike. 
     Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,634 is a tethered ball batting practice device comprising a ball secured to a two-part tether having a cord section and a resilient section. The end of the resilient section is mated to a stake that has a backup anchor. 
     A tethered ball batting practice device is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,450. A ball is tethered to a freely rotating hub. The hub is secured to an arm which is releasably fastened to a vertical support. Hitting the ball produces rotation about the hub until the energy is spent. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,781 discloses a tethered ball pitching apparatus including an elastic cord anchored to a ball. The cord is attached to an elevated bracket. The device is positioned between a batter and a pitcher. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,618 communicates a batting practice device having a tethered ball that is attached to a rotating hub. The hub is connected to a bracket that anchors to a fence of other equivalent support. Hitting the ball produces free rotation of the ball and tether about the hub. 
     Described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,364, issued to the subject inventor Ring, is a portable ball batting practice apparatus that comprises many of the current invention&#39;s elements except that no fixed-length tether is utilized to limit the amount of energy stored after hitting the ball in the wrapping of the resilient tether around the elongated member. Although the device related in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,364 is a very useful practice apparatus, the introduction of the critical fixed-length tether greatly improves usage of the subject device. 
     Another device patented by the subject inventor, Ring, is related in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,315. This device is again a portable ball batting practice apparatus that is somewhat related to the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,364, except the newer device introduced a critical fixed-length, but flexible tether, thus producing a two-tether apparatus, that greatly improved usage of the earlier version. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, easily transported, and easy to set up ball batting practice apparatus that minimizes potential risks of injury during usage. 
     Another object of the present invention is to disclose a ball batting practice apparatus that includes a ball affixed by a rotation arm that is secured to a support member via a hub assembly that produces a pitch motion for the ball when the original hit slows sufficiently. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to make known a ball batting practice apparatus that provides a moving target to hit and that may be utilized by either right or left handed hitters. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to supply a ball batting practice apparatus that utilizes the force the batter exerts to energize the apparatus for the next pitch and therefore requires no electricity or other outside energy source to deliver a pitch-like target ball to a hitter. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ball batting practice apparatus that includes means for generating a pitch when sufficient original hit-induced rotational momentum is lost. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to disclose a ball batting practice apparatus that is easily supported by pre-existing supports that are found at standard ball practice areas. 
     Still a further object of the subject invention is to make it easy for one person to operate and obtain many pitches in a short amount of time without the necessity of a new setup before each pitch. 
     Disclosed is a portable ball batting apparatus for attachment to a pre-existing support. The subject apparatus comprises an essentially hollow elongated member having first and second ends and an interior space. A support means is attached to the elongated member second end. A rotatable arm having first and second ends is attached by the rotatable arm&#39;s first end to the elongated member by rotational means, usually a hub assembly having at least a pair of opposing stops, and a ball is secured to the rotatable arm&#39;s second end. Preferably, the rotational means comprises a hub assembly that includes first and second stops. After the ball is hit by the user, the rotatable arm pivot about the elongated member at the hub assembly until rotational motion decrease to a point that the first and second stops hit one another, thereby reversing the motion of the ball and delivering a “pitch” to the user. Many acceptable anchoring means are contemplated. One possible support mechanism utilizes a post that is releasably secured between a support contacting plate and an anchoring bolt. Frequently, the support contacting plate may have a resilient surface coating that contacts the support for added frictional interaction and minimizing possible damage to the pre-existing support. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, when considered in conjunction with the associated drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the subject invention showing temporary attachment to a support. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the subject invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hub assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial end view of the subject invention detailing the hub assembly with its associate stops and showing the rotational arm at rest. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial end view of the subject invention detailing the hub assembly with its associate stops and showing the rotational arm after rotational energy from a hit has been dissipated with the stops contacting one another and reverse motion of the rotational arm is about to start for delivery of a pitch. 
     FIG. 6 is a planar view of the anchoring bolt of the subject invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a portable ball batting practice apparatus that attaches to a support S. Usually, the support S is a vertical or horizontal fence post or similar structure that is found in a pre-existing form at a ball practice location and is not, usually, built or installed for each practice session with the subject invention. Most ball practice areas have vertical fence posts or backstop supports that are ideal attachment sites for the subject apparatus. Since vertical fence posts are often about three feet to about six feet in height or greater and backstop supports are generally about eight feet or greater, the subject device can be anchored at any desired height for a user. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a support component is present and is an elongated and usually hollow member  10  that serves as a central framework structural element for the subject apparatus. Normally, the elongated member  10  is fabricated from materials such as metal or natural or synthetic polymeric substances and is formed with any suitable cross-sectional profile such as square (shown in FIGS.  1  and  2 ), rectangular, circular, triangular, or other equivalent shape. Usually, the elongated member  10  is rigid or semi-rigid, The elongated member  10  has first  15  and second  20  ends and, as mentioned above, is usually at least partially hollow with an interior space (not shown). 
     As seen in particular in FIG. 1, a rotational arm  25  is secured at one end to the elongated member  10  first end  15  via a hub assembly  30 . The other end of the rotational arm  25  is connected by its other end to a ball  43 . Often, the rotational arm  25  comprises a hollow member that may have one or more segments (see FIG. 1 in which the rotational arm  25  is composed of first  26  and second  27  members that may telescope to minimize storage space). The rotational arm  25  may be fabricated from flexible to semi-rigid to rigid materials, but is usually formed from semi-rigid substances such as suitable natural or synthetic polymers. The rotational arm  25  is rigidly attached to the hub assembly  30  at the hub bracket  37 . As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tether  28  extends the length of the rotatable arm  25  and is secured at one end to the ball  43  and at the other end to the hub assembly  30 . Commonly, the tether  28  is secured by a simple knot  44  and  45  at each end. Other equivalent means for securing the tether  28  are well within the realm of this disclosure. It must be remembered that the rotational arm  25  may be configured in many equivalent ways such as: a structurally continuous member that includes either or both the hub assembly, or a portion thereof, and a ball; a multiple-part assembly that may be disassembled for storage or transportation; a structure lacking the central tether  28  and directly attached to the hub assembly  30  and ball  43 ; and the like. 
     As seen in detail in FIG. 3, the hub assembly  30  comprises mounting plate  31  secured by standard techniques (such as welding, molding, and the like) to the elongated member&#39;s first end  15 . The mounting plate  31  has a notch  32  in its perimeter. Attached to and extending away from the mounting plate  31  is an axle element  33 . The axle element  33  is usually at least partially threaded. 
     A stopper washer  34  fits around or about the axle element  33  and includes a first stop  35  that usually projects away from its outer perimeter, although other equivalent variations are within the realm of this disclosure and a limiting stop  36  which, when correctly assembled with the mounting plate  31 , fits within notch  32 . The combination of limiting stop  36  and the notch  32  allow the subject device to be utilized by either right or left handed hitters. 
     A hub bracket  37  fits over the axle element  33  via an oval or elongated aperture  38 . The hub bracket  37  usually has a generally “L” shaped configuration. Means for securing or retaining the hub bracket  37  to the axle element  33  is provided and is usually a retention nut  39  that is generally threaded to permit the user to tighten and loosen it with fingers only (no extra tool required) to the axle element  33 . Other equivalent attachment methods between the retention means and the axle element are possible such as bayonet means, snap means, and the like. 
     The hub bracket  37  has an attachment region for securing the rotational arm  25 , usually to the foot of the “L” configuration by a rigid weld or equivalent attachment. Generally, the attachment region is a foot portion of the “L” shaped hub bracket  37  that contains an aperture  40  through which the tether  28  extends and is secured via the knot  44 . 
     A second stop  41  projects away from the side of the hub bracket  37  that faces the stopper washer  34  and mounting plate  31 . Together, stops  35  and  41  and the elongated or oval aperture  38  primarily comprise the rotation reversal means of the subject invention. When the movable portions of the hub assembly  30  spin with sufficient momentum to keep the axle element  33  forced against one end of the elongated aperture  38  after a hit by the user, the two stops  35  and  41  do not contact one another. However, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the critical role or function of the hub assembly  30  is allowing rotation of the arm  25 , stopping rotation of the arm  25 , and delivering a pitch to the user for a subsequent hit. Specifically, FIG. 4 depicts the hub assembly  30  and arm  25  of the subject device immediately before being hit by a user. In this “before-the-hit” situation, the arm  25  hangs at rest (or is moving towards the hitter if the ball  43  was previously hit). In this position the stops  35  and  41  are not able to contact one another. FIG. 5 shows the hub assembly  30  and arm  25  of the subject device after the user (right handed in the depicted case) hits the ball  43  and the resultant rotational motion of the arm  25  has slowed to the point at which the outward rotational or centripetal force has decreased enough to allow the arm  25 , when in the approximately vertical position above the hub assembly  30  to drop sufficiently (due to gravitational forces and slippage of the axle element  33  down into the lower portion of the oval or elongated aperture  38 ) for the stops  35  and  41  to hit each other (thus, stopping motion in the original hit-induced direction) and initiate motion in the reverse direction for the forward pitch. Clearly, the retention nut  39  must be fitted to the axle element  33  in a sufficiently loose configuration to permit the downward slippage and rotation, but tight enough to not permit the stops  35  and  41  to pass one another when a “stop” is desired to begin the reverse motion. 
     Slippage of limiting stop  36  within notch  32  align the first stop  35  in a position that shifts and thus stops rotation for either a right or left handed hitter when the second stop  41  encounters first stop  36 . 
     Means for anchoring the elongated member  10  to the support S are provided. Various anchoring means are possible for the subject device such as clamps, straps with come-alongs or ratchets, hooks, and the like. A preferable means for anchoring the subject device is the one shown in the figures. In particular, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the anchoring means as a bracket assembly  75  comprised of a mounting member  80  having alignment rails  81  and  82  and a generally U-shaped anchoring bolt  90  with two threaded ends. As seen in FIG. 6, the generally U-shaped anchoring bolt  90  is usually slightly distorted, from axis A 1  to axis A 2 , to facilitate mounting around a vertical pole with the attachment wing nuts  91  and  91 ′ still on, but this axis distortion is not required, just handy for quick installation purposes. The anchoring bolt  90  is easily and releasably attached to the mounting element  80  via means such as the wing nuts  91  and  91 ′, washers  92  and  92 ′, and a first receiving aperture  100  and second receiving aperture or usually a slot  101  (the receiving slot  101  permits rotation to release the anchoring bolt  90  for easy installation about a vertical pole). Again, clearly, different equivalent and suitable means other than the presented threaded elements can be utilized to secure the subject device to a support S. Also, the surfaces of the mounting element  80  and anchoring bolt  90  that contact the support S may be covered or coated with protective materials to prevent damage to the support S. 
     The invention has now been explained with reference to specific embodiments. Other embodiments will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the appropriate art upon review of the present specification. 
     Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.