US3940131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Batting practice device
Assignee: ST CLAIRE MAXINE S
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Filing: 1974-10-08
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Granted: 1976-02-24
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Expires: 1994-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A batting practice device is provided for assisting a hitter in determining whether or not his swing is level and achieving a level swing at balls located at various positions relative to the strike zone. A pair of elongated vertically spaced horizontally extending arms are provided, the lower arm having a member associated therewith for supporting a practice baseball to be hit. The arms are supported on a vertical support member, and adjustment structure is provided for allowing positioning of the practice ball in any position relative to the strike zone. Base members for supporting the vertical support may be in the form of home-plates, and structure may be provided for rotating the arms about the vertical support to allow cooperation of the arms with either of the plates whereby the device may be used by both left-handed and right-handed batters.
Inventors
- 👤 Ebba J. St. Claire, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:22
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/0002; A63B69/0073; A63B69/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A batting device comprising means for assisting a baseball player in developing a level swing of a conventional baseball bat, said means including a pair of elongated generally horizontally extending vertically spaced parallel arms including an upper arm and a lower arm, said arms being vertically spaced a distance sufficient to allow the passage of the bottle-shaped portion of a horizontally disposed conventional baseball bat therebetween, said arms substantially lying in a single vertical plane, said arms having no vertically extending connecting member at at least one of the ends thereof thereby forming an open end, means located on said lower arm for supporting a baseball between said arms, and means for supporting said pair of arms in their generally horizontally extending position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A batting device comprising means for assisting a baseball player in developing a level swing of a conventional baseball bat, said means including a pair of elongated generally horizontally extending vertically spaced parallel arms including an upper arm and a lower arm, said arms being vertically spaced a distance sufficient to allow the passage of the bottle-shaped portion of a horizontally disposed conventional baseball bat therebetween, said arms substantially lying in a single vertical plane, said arms having no vertically extending connecting member at at least one of the ends thereof thereby forming an open end, means located on said lower arm for supporting a baseball between said arms, and means for supporting said pair of arms in their generally horizontally extending position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for attaching portions of said arms remote from the open end thereof to said supporting means so that said arms may be swung 180° about a vertical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said attaching means is vertically adjustable with respect to said supporting means whereby the vertical position of said arms may be adjusted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as recited in claim 2 wherein said attaching means further comprise means for allowing adjustment of the horizontal position of said arms in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said baseball supporting means is adjustable along the length of said lower arm to thereby adjust the position of a baseball supported thereby with respect to said arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a vertically extending support member and a first base member for supporting said vertically extending member and adapted to be disposed on the ground, said base member including a first plate member having the same shape and diemsnions as a conventional baseball home-plate, and said base member being spaced horizontally from said vertical support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A device as recited in claim 6 further comprising means for attaching said arms to said vertical support member, said means including means for allowing adjustment of said arms in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the front edge of said firt plate member from positions on one side of said front edge to positions on the other side of said front edge and means for allowing adjustment of the vertical position of said arms with respect to said vertical member, and means for allowing adjustment of said ball supporting means along the direction of elongation of said lower arm from a position on one side edge of said first home-plate shaped base member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a second base member operatively attached to said vertical support member, said second base member also having the shape and dimensions as a conventional baseball home-plate and being spaced on the opposite side of said vertical support member from said first base member and having edges thereof parallel to corresponding edges of said first base member and orientated in the same direction, and means for operatively connecting said arms to said vertical support member so that said arms may be rotated 180° about said vertical support member whereby said device may be used by either a right-handed or left-handed batter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for operatively connecting said arms to said vertical support member includes a sleeve member for surrounding a portion of said vertical support member, and means for maintaining said sleeve member in a particular vertical and rotative position with respect to said vertical support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for allowing adjustment of said arms in a direction perpendicular to the front edge of said first plate member includes a plate member having a horizontally extending groove therein and means connected to said arms for cooperation with said groove, and wherein said groove includes an enlarged portion thereof for allowing detachment of said arms from said plate member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-23 | 1979-08-25 | 1980-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-23 | 1983-08-25 | 1984-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-23 | 1987-08-25 | 1988-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |