Baseball batting cages

Claim 2

A limited area batting cage comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular playing area and surface having a length substantially greater than 61 feet and a width substantially greater than 10 feet, a home plate zone positioned adjacent one end of the area and also substantially centrally thereof, a ball pitching machine having an elevated ball storage hopper and a ball throwing arm associated therewith adjacent the other end of the area, said pitching machine positioned with its throwing arm aligned substantially along the central, longitudinal axis of said rectangular playing area, whereby a ball thrown by the machine moves substantially longitudinally axially of the area and to the center of the home plate zone, at least the periphery of the said playing area, in its entirety, horizontal and level, the said rectangular playing area and surface framed by vertical screening at the periphery thereof on all four sides, the rectangular playing area thus having two end wall and two side wall screens, a ceiling screen roofing the entire enclosed area and surface, a pitched ball-receiving screen positioned behind home plate, the playing area and surface being downwardly sloped from the longitudinal sides toward said central longitudinal axis and sloped substantially uniformly from a point well back of the center of the home plate zone to closely adjacent the front of the pitching machine in such manner that a transverse vertical section through the playing area and surface between the home plate zone and pitching machine will give a substantial V-shaped cross-sectional profile with the depth and slope of the V increasing going toward the pitching machine from the home plate zone, the pitching machine elevated on a pedestal block which is level with the horizontal periphery of the playing area, the playing area to the sides of the pitching machine and any of said playing area existing to the rear of the pitching machine and the block mounting same being recessed, sloped and configured so that all balls reaching the playing area zone past the front of the pitching machine and block supporting same will be gravity returned to the front of the block and pitching machine, and an automatic ball pickup and return device positioned in front of the pitching machine for picking up played balls and returning them to the pitching machine ball storage hopper.

Claim 3

A batting construction as in claim 1 wherein the width of the playing area in the vicinity of the home plate zone is substantially 4 feet wide and the distance from the back of the home plate zone to the front of the pitching machine supporting block is 60 feet 6 inches, with the distance from the back of the home plate zone to the ball-receiving screen approximately 6 feet.

Claim 4

A batting cage construction as in claim 1 wherein the ball pickup and return device comprises, in combination: an elongate, vertical chute which is rectangular in horzontal transverse section, said chute having substantially vertical forward and rearward walls positioned with respect to the home plate zone, respectively, and substantially vertical side walls, said chute positioned in front of the pitching machine, with its lower end at the lowest point of the playing area. said chute extending from ground level at its lower end to adjacent the top of the elevated ball storage hopper at its upper end, a ball-receiving inlet at the lower end of said chute facing the home plate zone, a ball dispensing outlet at the upper end of said chute facing the ball-receiving hopper, a endless conveyor belt associated with said chute, said conveyor belt mounted on and carried by pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of the chute and running on one side thereof in the chute from the lower end to the upper end thereof, the pulley and belt at the lower end forming a portion of the ball-receiving inlet, the pulley at the upper end positioned at least as high as the ball dispensing outlet, and means driving one of said pulleys and said belts.

Claim 5

A limited area batting cage comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular playing area and surface having a length greater than 61 feet and a width greater than 10 feet, a home plate zone positioned adjacent one end of the said area and also substantially centrally thereof, a ball pitching machine having an elevated ball storage hopper and ball throwing arm associated therewith adjacent the other end of the area, said pitching machine positioned with its throwing arm aligned substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the rectangular playing area, whereby a ball thrown by the machine moves substantially longitudinally axially of the area in moving to the center of the home plate zone, the said rectangular playing area and surface framed by vertical screening on all four sides thereof, a ceiling screen roofing the entire enclosed area and surface, a vertically adjustable screen positioned transverse said playing surface and in front of the pitching machine over which the pitching arm hurls the balls to the plate, a pitched ball receiving screen behind some plate, the playing area and surface being downwardly sloped from the longitudinal sides towards said central longitudinal axis and sloped from back of the center of the home plate zone to adjacent the front of the pitching machine in such manner that a transverse vertical section through the playing area and surface will give a substantial V-shaped cross-sectional profile with the depth and slope of the V increasing going toward the pitching machine from home plate, and an automatic ball pickup and return device positioned in front of the pitching machine for picking up played balls and returning them to the pitching machine ball storage hopper, the automatic ball pickup and return device comprising, in combination: an elongate, vertical chute which is rectangular in horizontal transverse section, said chute having substantially vertical forward and rearward walls positioned with respect to the home plate zone, respectively, and substantially vertical side walls, said chute positioned in front of the pitching machine, with its lower end at the lowest point of the playing area, said chute extending from ground level at its lower end to adjacent the top of the elevated ball storage hopper at its upper end, a ball-receiving inlet at the lower end of said chute facing the home plate zone, a ball dispensing outlet at the upper end of said chute facing the ball-receiving hopper, an endless conveyor belt associated with said chute, said conveyor belt mounted on and carried by pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of chute and running on one side thereof in the chute from the lower to the upper end thereof, the pulley and belt at the lower end forming a portion of the ball-receiving inlet, the pulley at the upper end positioned at least as high as the ball dispensing outlet, means driving one of said pulleys and said belts, and the front and rear walls of the chute being resiliently mounted with respect to one another.

Claim 6

A limited area batting cage comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular playing area and surface having a length greater than 61 feet and a width greater than 10 feet, a home plate zone positioned adjacent one end of the said area and also substantially centrally thereof, a ball pitching machine having an elevated ball storage hopper and ball throwing arm associated therewith adjacent the other end of the area, said pitching machine positioned with its throwing arm aligned substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the rectangular playing area, whereby a ball thrown by the machine moves substantially longitudinally axially of the area in moving to the center of the home plate zone, the said rectangular playing area and surface framed by vertical screening on all four sides thereof, a ceiling screen roofing the entire enclosed area and surface, a vertically adjustable screen positioned transverse said playing surface and in front of the pitching machine over which the pitching arm hurls the balls to the plate, a pitched ball receiving screen behind some plate, the playing area and surface being downwardly sloped from the longitudinal sides towards said central longitudinal axis and sloped from back of the center of the home plate zone to adjacent the front of the pitching machine in such manner that a transverse vertical section through the playing area and surface will give a substantial V-shaped cross-sectional profile with the depth and slope of the V increasing going toward the pitching machine from home plate, and an automatic ball pickup and return device positioned in front of the pitching machine for picking up played balls and returning them to the pitching machine ball storage hopper, the automatic ball pickup and return device comprising, in combination: an elongate, vertical chute which is rectangular in horizontal transverse section, said chute having substantially vertical forward and rearward walls positioned with respect to the home plate zone, respectively, and substantially vertical side walls, said chute positioned in front of the pitching machine, with its lower end at the lowest point of the playing area, said chute extending from ground level at its lower end to adjacent the top of the elevated ball storage hopper at its upper end, a ball-receiving inlet at the lower end of said chute facing the home plate zone, a ball dispensing outlet at the upper end of said chute facing the ball-receiving hopper, an endless conveyor belt associated with said chute, said conveyor belt mounted on and carried by pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of chute and running on one side thereof in the chute from the lower to the upper end thereof, the pulley and belt at the lower end forming a portion of the ball-receiving inlet, the pulley at the upper end positioned at least as high as the ball dispensing outlet, means driving one of said pulleys and said belts, and the front and rear walls of the chute being resiliently mounted with respect to one another.

Claim 7

A limited area batting cage comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular playing area and surface having a length greater than 61 feet and a width greater than 10 feet, a home plate zone positioned adjacent one end of the said area and also substantially centrally thereof, a ball pitching machine having a elevated ball storage hopper and ball throwing arm associated therewith adjacent the other end of the area, said pitching machine positioned with its throwing arm aligned substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the rectangular playing area, whereby a ball thrown by the machine moves substantially longitudinally axially of the area in moving to the center of the home plate zone, the said rectangular playing area and surface framed by vertical screening on all four sides thereof, a ceiling screen roofing the entire enclosed area and surface, a vertically adjustable screen positioned in front of the pitching machine over which the pitching arm hurls the balls to the plate, a pitched ball receiving screen behind home plate, the substantial center portion of the playing area and surface being downwardly sloped from the longitudinal sides towards said central longitudinal axis and sloped from back of the center of the home plate zone to adjacent the front of the pitching machine in such manner that a transverse vertical section through the playing area and surface will give a substantial V-shaped cross-sectional profile with the depth and slope of the V increasing going toward the pitching machine from home plate, and an automatic ball pickup and return device positioned in front of the pitching machine for picking up played balls and returning them to the pitching machine ball storage hopper, the automatic ball pickup and return device comprising, in combination: an elongate, vertical chute which is rectangular in horizontal transverse section, said chute having substantially vertical forward and rearward walls positioned with respect to the home plate zone, respectively, and substantially vertical side walls, said chute positioned in front of the pitching machine, with its lower end at the lowest point of the playing, said chute extending from ground level at its lower end to adjacent the top of the elevated ball storage hopper at its upper end, a ball-receiving inlet at the lower end of said chute facing the ball-receiving hopper, an endless conveyor belt associated with said chute, said conveyor belt mounted on and carried by pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of chute and running on one side thereof in the chute from the lower to the upper end thereof, the pulley and belt at the lower end forming a portion of the ball-receiving inlet, the pulley at the upper end positioned at least as high as the ball dispensing outlet, and means driving one of said pulleys and said belts, said chute made up of two elongate trough members which are hat-shaped in horizontal transverse section, one of said members of lesser depth than the other partially received within the greater depth member.

Claim 8

A limited area batting cage comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular playing area and surface having a length greater than 61 feet and a width greater than 10 feet, a home plate zone positioned adjacent one end of the said area and also substantially centrally thereof, a ball pitching machine having a elevated ball storage hopper and ball throwing arm associated therewith adjacent the other end of the area, said pitching machine positioned with its throwing arm aligned substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the rectangular playing area, whereby a ball thrown by the machine moves substantially longitudinally axially of the area in moving to the center of the home plate zone, the said rectangular playing area and surface framed by vertical screening on all four sides thereof, a ceiling screen roofing the entire enclosed area and surface, a vertically adjustable screen positioned in front of the pitching machine over which the pitching arm hurls the balls to the plate, a pitched ball receiving screen behind home plate, the substantial center portion of the playing area and surface being downwardly sloped from the longitudinal sides towards said central longitudinal axis and sloped from back of the center of the home plate zone to adjacent the front of the pitching machine in such manner that a transverse vertical section through the playing area and surface will give a substantial V-shaped cross-sectional profile with the depth and slope of the V increasing going toward the pitching machine from home plate, and an automatic ball pickup and return device positioned in front of the pitching machine for picking up played balls and returning them to the pitching machine ball storage hopper, the automatic ball pickup and return device comprising, in combination: an elongate, vertical chute which is rectangular in horizontal transverse section, said chute having substantially vertical forward and rearward walls positioned with respect to the home plate zone, respectively, and substantially vertical side walls, said chute positioned in front of the pitching machine, with its lower end at the lowest point of the playing, said chute extending from ground level at its lower end to adjacent the top of the elevated ball storage hopper at its upper end, a ball-receiving inlet at the lower end of said chute facing the ball-receiving hopper, an endless conveyor belt associated with said chute, said conveyor belt mounted on and carried by pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of chute and running on one side thereof in the chute from the lower to the upper end thereof, the pulley and belt at the lower end forming a portion of the ball-receiving inlet, the pulley at the upper end positioned at least as high as the ball dispensing outlet, and means driving one of said pulleys and said belts, said chute made up of two elongate trough members which are hat-shaped in horizontal transverse section, one of said members of lesser depth than the other partially received within the greater depth member.