Portable Batter Training Apparatus

Abstract

A device for use in the instruction and practicing of hitting a baseball with a bat and consisting of a platform component and a tee component. The platform has a surface area appreciably larger than a regulation size home plate providing adequate area surrounding home plate needed to duplicate horizontally various pitch locations. The platform's surface is made of magnetically attractive material. The tee utilizes a magnetic base that allows it to be affixed to any point on the platform surface giving the user maximum choices for horizontal tee placement. The base's magnetic force is sufficient to hold the tee in place for reasonable bat contact and will release when subjected to mishits. The tee component is vertically adjustable to replicate pitches of various heights.

Description

CROSS REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a batter training apparatus utilizing a vertically and horizontally adjustable tee to allow a user to learn and practice proper technique for hitting a ball with a bat.

BACKGROUND

Prior Art

A batting tee is used by baseball players and coaches in teaching, learning and practicing the skills involved in hitting a baseball. A ball placed upon a tee that can be moved horizontally to spots on and around the home plate area coupled with vertical tee adjustment, allows the users to simulate the various pitches a batter must learn to hit. The player, through repetition and instruction, can develop consistent proper technique required to hit the various pitches thrown in a game.

During instruction or practice it is desirable for the player or coach to be able to make quick, easy and spontaneous adjustments to the tee. It is desirable that the tee be capable of unlimited horizontal adjustability on and around the home plate area and also have ample vertical adjustability. It is also desirable that this adjustability be accomplished instantly and easily without the use of cumbersome adjustment devices such as pins, clips, brackets, tracks, pivots, holes, pegs, rails or legs. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the tee to have adequate stability to prevent nuisance tipping or other movement as this causes the user to spend an inordinate amount of time resetting the tee, thereby disrupting the efficiency and rhythm of practice. Finally, it is desirable that the tee be able to tip in the instance of a mishit to prevent damage to the tee and that the tee can be quickly reset to the desired spot.

An added benefit is a tee that is portable and useable in a variety of locations on a variety of substrates (such as sand, gravel, wood or artificial turf) regardless of the availability of an existing home plate and that this same tee require no extra weighting, shims, blocking or bracing.

A typical batting tee consists of base, which is often in the shape of a baseball home plate but sometimes square or round. Attached vertically to the base, (usually centered), is a set of telescoping tubes on top of which a ball can be placed. The top of the ascending tube may act as the ball holder or the ascending tube might be fitted with a ball holding device. Ball height adjustment is made utilizing the telescoping action of the vertical tubes. If the tee is permanently attached to the base, horizontal adjustment is made by moving the entire apparatus to a different area of the ground. Other tees use integrated tracks, brackets, sockets, pins, pivots or legs. Several tees of the former description are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,138 to Chorey and U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,163B1 to Tanner disclose such designs. Tees of this type suffer from a lack of stability especially on uneven substrates or when placed on the borders of an elevated home plate. These tees are also prone to nuisance tipping and movement. While some allowance for tipping can be beneficial to prevent tee damage on mishits, a tee that tips too easily must be reset even when the batter strikes the ball within an acceptable range of accuracy. This tipping movement creates an annoyance and detracts from the teaching, learning or practice objective. Users frequently are forced to stack auxiliary weights on the base of the tee to gain stability.

Another tee with a with a permanently attached base is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,987 to Rodino, Jr. This device uses a larger heavier base and rigidly connected telescoping rubber pipes for vertical adjustment. Because of the large intrusive base such a tee is very limited in horizontal adjustability. The rubber pipe ball holder is too bulky and creates excessive interference with the batters swing. This type of tee has no built in protection from mishits. Thus, it is susceptible to damage, tumbling and nuisance shifting.

An effort at adding some horizontal adjustability to the Rodino design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,691 to Lefebvre, et, al. The options available for adjustment are limited to a few predetermined choices as dictated by locating holes installed through the base. Also, the adjustment requires the inconvenient process of unscrewing the telescopic pipe ball holder assembly from a threaded disc located under the base of the tee and reassembling it at another hole location. The bulky rubber pipe ball holder creates excessive interference with the batters swing and also has no built in protection from mishits making it vulnerable to damage, tumbling and nuisance shifting.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,091 to Lin discloses an attempt to improve horizontal adjustability by attaching the vertical telescoping pipe assembly to a pivoting swivel mount. The mount rotates on a centrally located bolt on the base and engages locating holes in the base surface via a spring loaded bolt. The location options are restricted by the range of the pivot and the limited number of locating holes. The tee's design makes no allowance for being struck by the bat on mishits and is susceptible to damage, nuisance shifting and tumbling.

Yet another attempt to improve the range of horizontal adjustment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,360 B1 to Eckstein. This tee design utilizes a steel base consisting of two legs secured at 90 degree angles in regard to each other, forming an X. The X base is set on the ground centered over an existing home plate. The tee element has a magnet attached at the bottom end that allows it to be coupled to various locations on the steel X base. To reposition the tee the user must step on the X base to disengage the magnet for repositioning. Horizontal adjustment is limited to the area upon the X base. The design's chosen magnet is of a strength that prevents disengagement on mishits and thus the tee design is susceptible to damage and nuisance shifting. The X base design is prone to stability issues especially when the tee is positioned on the outer ends of the X legs.

Prior art discloses batting tees that use a track or channel system to facilitate horizontal adjustment, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,418 to Owen. The tee is secured to a channel installed in the base with the use of a track follower that slides in the track and is secured to the bottom of the tee with the use of a threaded shank. This creates a rigid connection that will be very susceptible to damage, as well as nuisance shifting and tumbling on mishits. Horizontal adjustability is limited to locations made available by the layout of the installed track.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,683 to Cardieri discloses a tee design that utilizes a tube and aperture arrangement for horizontal adjustment. The vertical adjustable tee member is inserted into vertically aligned apertures supported by a bi-level base with the bases divided by spacers. Horizontal adjustments are limited to the provided apertures. The design does not offer any protection from the force of mishits which will result nuisance movement and damage to the vertical tee member.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a readily adjustable batting tee apparatus that has an expanded range of horizontal positioning and is unencumbered by limiting adjustment devices. In addition, horizontal positioning is achieved and maintained in a way that allows for tee stability while simultaneously limiting susceptibility to damage on mishits. The apparatus includes a batting tee platform component with a perimeter appreciably larger than a standard sized home plate and an independent vertically adjustable tee component. The tee platform's surface is magnetically attractive and furnished with a home plate applique. The tee is equipped with a magnetic base that allows it to be securely positioned without limitation upon the batting tee platform. The tee base's magnetic force is sufficient to hold the tee in place on reasonable bat contact but will release when subjected to mishits. Because the tee platform is substantial enough to maintain position if the tee is dislodged, it is a simple matter to reset the tee and resume activity. Desired horizontal adjustment is made by tipping the tee in any direction to break the magnetic bond and setting the tee on the desired spot. Vertical tee adjustment is achieved through simple manipulation of a set of telescoping tubes, with the adjustment held in place by friction contact made at several points within the tubes assembly. A ball holder suitably sized and made of a resilient material allows bat to ball contact to occur with minimal interference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the batting tee platform and batting tee of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the batting tee platform of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the batting tee of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cut away view of the batting tee of present invention

FIG. 6 is an overhead view of the tee platform of the present invention with a sample array of possible tee positioning.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the batting tee of the present invention attached to an alternate platform.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the batting tee of present invention alternately attached to a dumb bell weight.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the batting tee platform and batting tee of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the batting tee platform and batting tee of the present invention with the tee vertically adjusted to a low position.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the batting tee platform and batting tee of the present invention with the tee vertically adjusted to a middle position.

FIG. 12 is an elevation view of the batting tee platform and batting tee of the present invention with the tee vertically adjusted to a high position.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of the batting tee of the present invention highlighting the sliding tube within the base tube.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the sliding tube assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view the ball holder and the ball holder attachment to the sliding tube of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cut away view of the attachment of the magnet base to the base tube of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the base tube and base magnet assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective of the tee platform and pitch zone markers of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the pitch zone marker of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a cut away view of the pitch zone marker of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the pitch zone marker of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Presented in the drawings is a preferred embodiment of a batting tee platform and accompanying tee. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention batting tee platform 8 and batting tee 10. FIG. 2 is also a perspective view showing the present invention being used in a typical fashion by user/batter (A) striking ball (C) with bat (B). FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of batting tee platform 8 of the preferred embodiment being constructed of a section of exterior grade plywood which has been coated with exterior wood primer. The predominately square plywood section is ideally noticeably larger than a regulation size home plate to provide a surface 18 with adequate area to simulate various horizontal pitch locations as well as facilitate ball placement for various drills. The plywood should be of sufficient thickness to provide material stability as well as provide the mass required to keep batting tee platform 8 in place during use without being too heavy so as to detract from intended portability. Other materials may be used such as plastic, fiberglass or various composite materials. To platform base 20 is attached a layer of sheet steel 21.

Attachment of sheet steel 21 to plywood base 20 is preferably accomplished using contact cement. The sheet steel could be attached with other adhesives or with mechanical fasteners such as screws. Alternative embodiments might replace the use of sheet steel 21 with the use of steel strips attached across platform base 20 or steel rods inlayed into platform base 20. However, maximum horizontal adjustment capability is achieved when the entire surface 18 area is magnetically attractive. Also a flat, smooth surface 18 provides a superior finish and an uncluttered appearance.

When attachment of sheet steel 21 to platform base 20 is complete all sides are sanded and edges eased to eliminate any sharp surfaces and prepare for finishing. Tee platform 8 is then painted with a durable exterior grade paint or comparable durable coating. Surface 18 painting includes a representation of home plate 19 in a contrasting color, preferably white. Surface 18 painting or home plate 19 painting might be replaced by the use of decals or other coating application techniques. Finishing not only protects batting tee platform 8 from environmental damage but also enhances aesthetic appeal. Color selection could match various field surface types.

Handle 22 attachment is undertaken upon completion of final finish coating. Preferred handle material is strong and flexible such as nylon web strap. This type of material is abrasion resistant, won't break if stepped on and will allow tee 10 and platform 8 to be carried together in one hand. Other materials such as rope or vinyl or plastic strap could be used. A shoulder strap might also be used for carrying purposes. Handle 22 is attached to tee platform 8 with mechanical fasteners such as screws 23 with finishing washers 24.

Tee 10 of the present invention is seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The tee assembly utilizes as the tee base 17 a round base ferrite magnet with a nickel plated cap and a manufacturer's listed pull strengths of 190 lbs. Magnet base 17 allows tee 10 to be attached to any point on the magnetically attractive surface 18 of batting tee platform 8 FIG. 6 shows a sample array of horizontal adjustments available with tee 10 upon the surface 18 of batting tee platform 8. The magnetic strength of magnet base 17 is adequate to keep the tee upright during reasonable bat to tee 10 contact but will release from tee platform 8 on severe mishits to prevent tee damage. Potentially the magnet base could be accomplished by using a set of magnets attached to a base frame. To make horizontal tee adjustments the tee is grasped at friction cap 14 and tipped at in any direction to break the magnetic bond between surface 18 of platform 8 and tee 10 and repositioned to a new spot as desired by the user or reset to a the prior position if knocked over on a mishit. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 batting tee 10 can be used independently from batting tee platform 8 by magnetic attachment to magnetically attractive objects. FIG. 7 shows batting tee 10 magnetically attached to a downsized version (D) of batting tee platform 8. FIG. 8. shows magnetic attachment to iron dumbbell weight (E). FIG. 9 shows batting tee 10 attached to a full sized batting tee platform 8.

As seen in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, batting tee 10 is vertically adjustable. Referring again to FIG. 5, a cutaway view discloses that vertical height adjustability is achieved utilizing a set of tubes. Sliding tube 13 slides inside base tube 15 and can be adjusted vertically in a telescopic manner. This arrangement is also seen in FIG. 13. Adjusted height is held using friction force applied to sliding tube 13 by friction cap 14 and bushing 28 to base tube 15. Bushing 28 is pressed onto sliding tube 13 and held by friction. An application of all purpose glue to the connection between sliding tube 13 and bushing 28 will aid in holding bushing 28 in place. FIG. 14 discloses a separate view of sliding tube 13. The applied friction force is enough to hold sliding tube 13 in place during use while still allowing the user to manually adjust sliding tube 13 up or down to set ball holder 12 to the desired height. The diameter of the sliding tube hole in friction cap 14 is smaller than the diameter of sliding tube 13. Friction cap 14 is ideally made of rubber. Rubber has the characteristics needed to allow the sliding tube hole in friction cap 14 to suitably expand and grip sliding tube 13. The diameter of bushing 28 is about the same as the inside diameter of base tube 15. Bushing 28 also provides lateral stability for sliding tube 13. Rubber is the preferred material for friction cap 14 and bushing 28. Bushing 28 could be made of vinyl, plastic or a fibrous material. Alternate of attachment of bushing 28 could be made by using mechanical fastener such as a screw and attaching bushing 28 to the bottom of sliding tube 13. Optionally, height adjustment could be held by the use of an interior twist lock cam or a hand tightened compression nut and sleeve assembly. Ideally sliding tube 13 should be made of an impact and shatter resistant material such as fiberglass or some type of reinforced plastic. A solid rod of the same material could be used. A material of a smaller diameter is preferred to prevent visual obtrusiveness.

Ball holder 12 attaches to the top of sliding tube 13 as can be seen in FIG. 15. The preferred embodiment shows a conical shaped ball holder 12 that is formed of a durable resilient material with enough rigidity to support the ball without collapsing such as rubber, vinyl or suitable derivatives. The ball holder must be flexible enough not to impede the user's swing. The ball holder should be as compact as possible so as not to be visually obtrusive. As seen in FIG. 15 sliding tube 13 is pressed into ball holder 12 . The flexible properties of the material of which ball holder 12 is formed allows sliding tube 13 to a slightly larger diameter than the receiving socket of ball holder 12. When pressed together a friction fit is created that secures ball holder 12 to sliding tube 13. An all purpose glue is applied to the socket of ball holder 12 before joining sliding tube 13 and ball holder 12. The glue aids in the joining of the two parts and will also aid in preventing ball holder 12 from detaching from sliding tube 13.

Base tube 15 is best constructed of painted steel or similar rigid, impact resistant thin walled material. As seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 magnet base 17 is rigidly connected to base tube 15 by means of a rigid mechanical connection. The preferred embodiment utilizes coupling nut 27 which is pressed into base tube 15. Magnet base 17 is secured to base tube 15 by use of bolt 26 and washer 25 connected via a mounting hole in magnet base 17. Thread lock compound is applied to bolt 26 to prevent loosening during use. The connection between base tube 15 and magnet base 17 is covered by a rubber, plastic or vinyl trim piece 16.

FIG. 18 shows an alternate use embodiment for tee platform 8 where pitch zone markers 29 as seen in FIG. 19, are magnetically attached to batting tee platform 8. As seen in FIG. 20 the preferred embodiment is shown using the same fiberglass tube material as is used for sliding tube 13. As seen in FIGS. 21 and 22 a smaller magnet base 32 with a listed pull strength of 15 lbs. is attached to indicator tube 30 using screw 34 and washer 33 via a mounting hole in magnet base 32. The top of indicator tube 30 is fitted with vinyl cap 31 but a small ball or other top could be used to provide a finished appearance and prevent injury. Pitch zone indicators are used when batting tee platform 8 is used as a home plate and a batter is having pitches thrown to him/her and tee 10 is not in use. Pitch zone indicators 29 can help the pitcher better see the zone into which the ball is to be thrown and can help the batter to see where pitches are being thrown in relation to home plate. The magnetic attachment allows pitch zone indicators 29 to be positioned as desired to highlight different pitch zones. Should pitch zone indicators 29 be struck by a ball they will tip and can be reset. The impact resistant tubes will reduce the chance of damage to pitch zone indicators 29.

Claims

1. A portable batter training apparatus comprising:

a predominately square tee platform constructed of rigid materials, combined thickness of said tee platform materials is sufficient to provide anchoring weight for said tee platform, said tee platform top most surface is magnetically attractive, said tee platform edges, bottom and top most surface have an applied protective coating, said tee platform top most surface having a regulation size home plate applique, said top most surface area is appreciably larger than said applique, said tee platform is equipped with a handle,

an independent adjustable tee having a magnetic base rigidly attached to the lower end of an impact resistant female tube which receives an impact resistant male sliding tube facilitating vertical telescopic ability with said sliding tube being held at desired position through the use of frictional force applied on the sliding tube by a cap installed on the upper end of said female tube through which the sliding tube passes and by a bushing installed on the lower end of said sliding tube which contacts the interior surface of said female tube with the upper end of said sliding tube fitted with a compact, resilient ball holding device.

2. The tee as described in claim 1 wherein said tee can having said magnetic base can be secured without limitation upon said magnetically attractive top most surface of said tee platform. attractive top most surface of said tee platform.

3. The location points as described in claim 2 wherein said points are not predetermined.

4. The tee as described in claim 1 wherein said tee having said magnetic base with a suitable pull force to hold said tee in place on said magnetically attractive top most surface of said tee platform during reasonable bat to ball contact.

5. The tee as described in claim 1 wherein said tee having said magnetic base will hold said tee in place as described in claim 3 will have a suitable pull strength to allow said magnetic tee base to release from said magnetically attractive top most surface of said tee platform in the case of mishits to prevent damage to said tee.

6. The tee as described in claim 1 wherein said tee can used independently from said tee platform by magnetic attachment to alternate magnetically attractive objects.

7. The ball holding device as described in claim 1 wherein said ball holder exerts minimal interference with bat to ball contact.

8. The tee as described in claim 1 wherein said tee is vertically adjustable.

9. The tee platform as described in claim 1 wherein said tee platform facilitates the use of magnetically attachable accessories such as pitch zone indicators.