US4828262A — Ball hitting practice device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 108 words

A ball hitting practice device comprising: (a) a supporting base; (b) an upstanding, substantially vertical support post; (c) a substantially horizontal support bar mounted at an upper end of said vertical support bar, said horizontal support bar lying in a first vertical plane substantially bifurcating said supporting base; (d) a net supported by said horizontal bar and cantilevered therefrom such that a minor portion of said net extends substantially horizontally away from said bar and a major portion of said net extends in a second substantially vertical plane parallel to and laterally spaced from said first vertical plane, and (e) a ball suspended from said horizontal support bar.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 108 words

A ball hitting practice device comprising: (a) a supporting base; (b) an upstanding, substantially vertical support post; (c) a substantially horizontal support bar mounted at an upper end of said vertical support bar, said horizontal support bar lying in a first vertical plane substantially bifurcating said supporting base; (d) a net supported by said horizontal bar and cantilevered therefrom such that a minor portion of said net extends substantially horizontally away from said bar and a major portion of said net extends in a second substantially vertical plane parallel to and laterally spaced from said first vertical plane, and (e) a ball suspended from said horizontal support bar.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said minor portion of said net is supported by a pair of arms detachably connected at first ends to said horizontal support bar, and detachably connected at second ends to each other.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

A practice device as defined in claim 2 wherein said horizontal support bar is mounted to said vertical support post for selective pivotal movement between a first operative position and a second, inoperative position facilitating storage and transport.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said minor portion of said net is supported by a pair of arms detachably connected to an elongated member mounted to said horizontal support bar, said member being selectively pivotable to orient said net in operative positions on either side of said horizontal support bar so that said device is adaptable to both right- and left-handed batters.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

A practice device as defined in claim 4 wherein said horizontal support bar is mounted to said vertical support post for selective pivotal movement between a first operative position and a second, inoperative position facilitating storage and transport.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 72 words

A practice device as defined in claim 4 wherein said elongated member is provided with oppositely angled tubular stubs adjacent either end of said member, each of said stubs adapted to receive one of said pair of arms, said elongated member further provided with means intermediate the ends thereof for detachably coupling said member to said horizontal support bar, and including means for locking said member in either of said operative positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base comprise's a closed loop tubular structure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base comprises a pair of tubular leg portions extending away from each other in a generally V-shaped configuration.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said vertical support post includes at least a pair of tubular members, one of which is telescopically received in the other, and wherein adjustment means are provided for securing said one tubular member at different positions with respect to said other tubular member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said ball is provided with visual indicator means to facilitate hitting of the ball by a user of the device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

A practice device as defined in claim 10 wherein said visual indicator means includes a stripe about the middle portion of said ball.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

A practice device as defined in claim 11 wherein said ball has the size and weight of a regulation baseball.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

A practice device as defined in claim 11 wherein said ball has the size and weight of a regulation softball.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

A practice device as defined in claim 11 wherein said ball has the size and weight of a regulation tennis ball.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

A practice device as defined in claim 1 wherein said ball is suspended from said horizontal support bar by cable means provided with means for damping the kinetic energy of a struck ball.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 105 words

A practice device comprising: (a) a support stand; (b) a vertical support post adjustably mounted to said support stand; (c) a support bar pivotally mounted at one end to said vertical support post; (d) a net supporting frame detachably secured to said support bar; said frame being movable between two positions, approximately 180° apart, so that said batting practice device may be utilized by both right-handed and left-handed batters; and (e) a regulation baseball suspended from said support bar and adapted to be hit into said net, and wherein said baseball is provided with visual indicator means for assisting a batter to hit said ball.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 105 words

A practice device comprising: (a) a support stand; (b) a vertical support post adjustably mounted to said support stand; (c) a support bar pivotally mounted at one end to said vertical support post; (d) a net supporting frame detachably secured to said support bar; said frame being movable between two positions, approximately 180° apart, so that said batting practice device may be utilized by both right-handed and left-handed batters; and (e) a regulation baseball suspended from said support bar and adapted to be hit into said net, and wherein said baseball is provided with visual indicator means for assisting a batter to hit said ball.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

A practice device as defined in claim 16 wherein said support bar is pivotally mounted to said vertical support post for movement between a first operative position wherein said support bar extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to said vertical support post, to a second inoperative position wherein said support bar extends substantially parallel to said vertical support post.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 65 words

A practice device as defined in claim 16 and including means for supporting said net in a cantilevered arrangement with respect to said support bar in said first operative position such that a minor portion of said net extends substantially horizontally away from said support bar, and a major portion of said net extends substantially vertically in laterally spaced relationship with respect to said baseball.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

A practice device as defined in claim 16 wherein said visual indicator means includes a stripe about a middle portion of said baseball.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

A practice device as defined in claim 19 wherein said stripe extends about the middle one-third of the ball, and wherein said stripe is a fluorescent color.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

A batting practice device as defined in claim 18 wherein said baseball is suspended from said support bar by cable means provided with kinetic energy damping means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 106 words

A practice device comprising: (a) a ground engaging support stand; (b) a vertical support post removably attached to said support stand, said vertical support post including means for adjusting the vertical extent thereof; (c) a supporting bar pivotally attached to said vertical support for movement between a first operative position wherein the bar extends substantially horizontally, to a second, inoperative position wherein the bar extends substantially vertically; (d) a net supporting frame detachably secured to said support bar; said frame being movable between two positions, approximately 180° apart, so that said batting practice device may be utilized by both right-handed and left-handed batters; and supporting bar.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 106 words

A practice device comprising: (a) a ground engaging support stand; (b) a vertical support post removably attached to said support stand, said vertical support post including means for adjusting the vertical extent thereof; (c) a supporting bar pivotally attached to said vertical support for movement between a first operative position wherein the bar extends substantially horizontally, to a second, inoperative position wherein the bar extends substantially vertically; (d) a net supporting frame detachably secured to said support bar; said frame being movable between two positions, approximately 180° apart, so that said batting practice device may be utilized by both right-handed and left-handed batters; and supporting bar.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 wherein said ball and said cable are adapted to swivel about a vertical longitudinal axis of rotation extending through said cable in its normal, suspended position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 wherein said cable terminates at its upper end in a swivel coupling attached to said supporting bar.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 55 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 and further including a first sleeve mounted over said cable at said upper end, said first sleeve being held at said upper end by a second sleeve applied over said first sleeve and engaging said swivel coupling at one end and said cable at the other end.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 wherein said ball has the size and weight of a regulation baseball.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 wherein said ball has the size and weight of a regulation softball.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 21 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 wherein said ball has the size and weight of a regulation tennis ball.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

A practice device as defined in claim 22 wherein said net has a mesh opening size of 13/4 inches square.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-08	1992-11-07	1993-05-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-08	1996-11-07	1997-05-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-08	2000-11-07	2001-05-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ball hitting practice device

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