US5401016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic baseball ball and strike indicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-05-18
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Granted: 1995-03-28
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Expires: 2013-05-18
Abstract
Abstract The self-contained ball-strike detector uses two transducers to detect the presence of an incoming pitch, and a series of transducers located on the upper surface of a home plate-shaped housing to determine whether the pitched ball is within the strike zone. Ultrasonic transducers are located near both the right and left boundaries of the strike zone. These transducers and a centrally-located transducer emit high frequency signals in the direction of the pitched ball. A reflected signal is used to determine whether the pitched ball is within the strike zone. The size of the strike zone may be changed to accommodate batters of different heights. The apparatus includes audio and visual indicators of whether the pitch is a "ball" or a "strike" as well as indicators if the batter is "out" or is entitled to a "walk". The apparatus maintains the ball/strike count for each batter, and has light emitting diodes to visually indicate the current count for the batter.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W. Heglund
- 👤 Michael P. O'Dierno
- 👤 Travis Scheckel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:22
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/0002; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0605
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus used in a baseball game that determines whether a ball is within a baseball strike zone, said strike zone having right, left, upper and lower boundaries, said baseball game also using a home plate, comprising: means for detecting whether a ball is approaching said strike zone; first means for determining whether said ball is between the right and left boundaries of said strike zone; second means for determining whether said ball is between the upper and lower boundaries of said strike zone; indicator means for indicating whether said ball has passed through a portion of said strike zone; and a housing; wherein said detecting means, said first determining means, and said second determining means are all disposed in said housing and wherein said housing is also said home plate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus used in a baseball game that determines whether a ball is within a baseball strike zone, said strike zone having right, left, upper and lower boundaries, said baseball game also using a home plate, comprising: means for detecting whether a ball is approaching said strike zone; first means for determining whether said ball is between the right and left boundaries of said strike zone; second means for determining whether said ball is between the upper and lower boundaries of said strike zone; indicator means for indicating whether said ball has passed through a portion of said strike zone; and a housing; wherein said detecting means, said first determining means, and said second determining means are all disposed in said housing and wherein said housing is also said home plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for counting the number of times that a detected ball is determined by said first and second determining means to be within said strike zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: means for counting the number of times that a detected ball is determined to be outside of said strike zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for changing the boundaries of said strike zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for initially setting the upper and lower boundaries of said strike zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said setting means includes: means for emitting a signal toward an object when said object is in a first position; means for receiving a reflected signal after said object has been struck by said emitted signal; means for calculating a distance value functionally related to the distance between said emitting means and said object; and means for storing a value functionally related to said distance value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said distance value is functionally related to the lower boundary of said strike zone, and wherein said setting means further comprises: means for emitting a second signal toward said object when said object is in a second position; means for receiving a second reflected signal after said object in said second position has been struck by said second emitted signal; means for calculating a second distance value functionally related to the distance between said second signal emitting means and the second position of said object; and means for storing a value functionally related to said second distance value, said second distance value corresponding to the upper boundary of said strike zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes: means for emitting a signal in a direction from which said ball is expected to originate; and means for receiving a reflected signal after said emitted signal has struck said ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: means for enabling said first determining means or said second determining means if said reflected signal is received by said receiving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said emitting means includes a transducer interconnected with a surface of said housing that faces said direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first determining means includes: means for emitting at least one signal toward said ball; and means for receiving a reflected signal if said ball is between said right and left boundaries.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said emitting means includes at least one transducer interconnected with an upper surface of said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second determining means includes: means for emitting at least one signal toward said ball; and means for receiving a reflected signal if said ball is between said lower and said upper boundaries.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said emitting means includes at least one transducer interconnected with an upper surface of said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicator means includes: at least one strike light that is illuminated when said ball is determined to have been within said strike zone; and at least one ball light that is illuminated when said ball did not pass through said strike zone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one strike light and said at least one ball light include a plurality of lights which are illuminated to indicate a baseball ball and strike count for a particular player.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: means for manually changing said ball and strike count for said player.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicator means includes: means for generating an audible sound when said ball passes through a portion of said strike zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially shaped like a baseball home plate.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus used in a baseball game that determines whether a ball is within a baseball strike zone, said strike zone having right, left, upper and lower boundaries, said baseball game also using a home plate, comprising: a first sensor circuit that detects whether a ball is approaching the strike zone; a second sensor circuit that determines whether the ball is between the right and left boundaries of said strike zone, and that determines whether the ball is between the upper and lower boundaries of said strike zone; an indicator that indicates whether the ball has passed through any portion of said strike zone; and a housing that substantially encloses said first and second sensor circuits and that is also used as said home plate.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus used in a baseball game that determines whether a ball is within a baseball strike zone, said strike zone having right, left, upper and lower boundaries, said baseball game also using a home plate, comprising: a first sensor circuit that detects whether a ball is approaching the strike zone; a second sensor circuit that determines whether the ball is between the right and left boundaries of said strike zone, and that determines whether the ball is between the upper and lower boundaries of said strike zone; an indicator that indicates whether the ball has passed through any portion of said strike zone; and a housing that substantially encloses said first and second sensor circuits and that is also used as said home plate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of said sensor circuits includes at least one sensor that emits a signal and that receives a reflected signal if said emitted signal strikes said ball.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: means for changing at least one of the boundaries of said strike zone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: means for selecting and storing values corresponding to the upper and lower boundaries of said strike zone.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said housing is substantially shaped like a baseball home plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein all of the components of the apparatus are enclosed within said housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |