Means Removably Supporting Projectile In Position To Be Struck And Thereby Projected By Player (e.g., Batting Tee, Etc.) Patents (Class 473/417)
  • Patent number: 11957968
    Abstract: A batting training aid includes a base, a vertically-extending brace or leg supported by the base, and a plane attached to an upper end of the brace via a joint. The brace allows for adjustment of the height of the plane, while the joint between the plane and the brace allows the plane to roll, pitch, and/or yaw to mimic optimal swing planes for different pitch locations/angles and batter heights. The training aid can incorporate a batting tee for tee work and/or a resistive medium to approximate contact during dry swings. A guide bar can be provided above the plane to prevent a hitter from swinging down on the ball. Sensors can be incorporated into the training aid to measure one or more swing metrics, such as bat speed; data collected by the sensors can be transmitted to external devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Perfect Swings USA LLC
    Inventors: John Morabito, Jonathan Perlman, Dominic Morabito, Nicholas Edward Morabito
  • Patent number: 11806738
    Abstract: A door painting assembly includes a tripod that is positionable on a horizontal support surface such that the tripod is vertically oriented. A shock absorber is slidably integrated into the tripod and the shock absorber is positionable at an adjustable height on the tripod. An armature is attached to the shock absorber thereby facilitating the armature to be positioned at an adjustable height on the tripod. The armature has a gripping element to engage the door to retain the door in a vertical orientation. In this way the armature facilitates a front of the door and a back of the door to be painted without having to reposition the door. The shock absorber absorbs vibration from the door resulting from the force of paint from a pressurized spray gun thereby inhibiting the tripod from is affected by the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Kyees
  • Patent number: 11707660
    Abstract: A ball assembly for a swing trainer that withstands repeated hits with forces applied by professional athletes. The ball assembly comprises a ball, a wire rope, a ball stud swaged to one end of the wire rope and a connector sleeve swaged to the other end of the wire rope. A whole is drilled through the exact center of the ball and wire threaded therethrough. After the ball stud and connector sleeves are swaged to the ends of the wire rope, the ball stud is pressed into the hole in the ball. The wire rope may be coated to extend life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Keaton Smith
  • Patent number: 11654340
    Abstract: A hitting practice device allows a batter to swing the bat, make contact with the device, and then to follow-through with the swing while maintaining contact with the device. In embodiments, the hitting practice device includes a pivoting base, a post connected to the base, a pad attached at the upper portion of the post, and a stopper that prevents the base from pivoting beyond a recovery angle. In other embodiments, the base includes a base plate and stabilization plate connected by a hinge. In embodiments, a pad and dampener absorb most of the initial impact of the hit, pausing the swing for analysis. The pivoting base then allows the batter to continue, follow-through and complete the swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Alan Scott Meredith
  • Patent number: 11596845
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a tee-ball bag apparatus and method of use. The tee-ball bag apparatus provides users with a convenient place to storage and transport items as well as provide a tee-ball tee support with multiple pitch locations to hit a ball from. The tee-ball bag apparatus comprises a pentagonal bottom portion, a rear wall, first and second side walls, first and second forward walls, and a removable pentagonal lid coupled to an upper end of the rear wall. The rear wall, the first and second side walls, and the first and second forward walls extend vertically from the pentagonal bottom portion. The tee-ball bag apparatus further includes a plurality of vertical tee slots positioned within an interior of the bag and coupled to the rear wall. A tee-ball tee is placed within and support by one of the vertical tee slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: L7 Ventures LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Hazen
  • Patent number: 11583748
    Abstract: A teaching tool for use by an instructor teaching proper footwork and effective swing techniques to students of the game of tennis as well as to students of other racket-based sports. The teaching tool provides an elongated member and a mounting member extending perpendicularly from the distal end of the elongated member. A target object is connected to the distal end of the mounting member. The target object and distal end of the elongated member may be separated by a target distance defined, in part, by the size of racket the student is using. In use, the instructor can directly and selectively control the movement of the target object to simulate imparted spin and motion of the target object before and after the student strikes the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: David Alexander Siudzinski, John Carlo Manigaulte
  • Patent number: 11541293
    Abstract: A batting tee that can be used by righthanded and lefthanded hitters to expand their batting zone. The batting tee comprises of two weighted legs that extend from a point of origin, an angle of twenty-five degree is created between the two weighted legs. Each weighted leg is hollow and defines an upper and a lower linear channel that can receive a block that sustains a screw in post. The post has a ball holder. A triangular weighted sheet attaches to an inside side of each weighted leg. Each leg defines a block insertion point at a location that is at a furthest distance from the point of origin, the block insertion points are defined on the upper part and the power part of each leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Gerardo Montesino Pinera, Tamara camejo cruz
  • Patent number: 11413513
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving batter technique is herein disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus is a batting tee that includes a base, a vertical shaft assembly that is mounted to the base and has a ball support at an uppermost end thereof, a light source housed within the vertical shaft assembly and designed to illuminate an area proximate the ball support, and a controller for activating the light source. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing the above-described batting tee, placing a ball on the ball support of the tee, hitting the ball off the ball support to activate the light source, and keeping eye contact with the illuminated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ZVTEE
    Inventors: Daniel Allen Penrod, Shawn Eisemann
  • Patent number: 11298602
    Abstract: A portable training device includes a first and second elongated members, a coupling device, a base, a holder device, and a member holder. An elongated slot is positioned between a distal end and a proximate end on at least one side of each of the first and second elongated members. The first elongated member and second elongated member are each received by the coupling device to form a post that extends in a system vertical direction. The member holder has an engagement portion and a member receiving portion. The engagement portion includes a resilient member and a trapezoidal portion. The resilient member and the trapezoidal portion are slidably received in the elongated slot of the first and second elongated members such that the member holder is positioned into a plurality of positions within the elongated slots of the first and second elongated members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Dribble Stick Training, LLC
    Inventor: Luke Christopher Lloyd
  • Patent number: 11077349
    Abstract: A ball tee with motorized retrieval for re-seating a ball after hitting includes a base having a top surface. A housing is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. The housing has a top wall and an interior surface. The top wall has an aperture extending therethrough to the interior surface. A tether container is positioned within the housing. A tee is attached to and extends upwardly from the top wall. A ball is attached to the tether container by a tether. A driver mechanism is mounted on the interior surface. The driver mechanism is coupled to a drive roller such that the drive roller is rotatable by the driver mechanism. An actuating mechanism actuates a wheel toward the drive roller to engage with the tether and the drive roller. The drive roller rotates to retract the tether into the tether container and reseat the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Noah Smith
  • Patent number: 10987561
    Abstract: A hitting practice device allows a batter to swing the bat, make contact with the device, and then to follow-through with the swing while maintaining contact with the device. In embodiments, the hitting practice device includes a pivoting base, a post connected to the base, a pad attached at the upper portion of the post, and a stopper that prevents the base from pivoting beyond a recovery angle. In other embodiments, the base includes a base plate and stabilization plate connected by a hinge. In embodiments, a pad and dampener absorb most of the initial impact of the hit, pausing the swing for analysis. The pivoting base then allows the batter to continue, follow-through and completing the swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Alan Scott Meredith
  • Patent number: 10888756
    Abstract: A field game system and method is disclosed by which multiple players can play a game that combines ball pitching, striking and catching with running. The system includes a visual indicator defining an elongated game lane. A hitting zone indicator may be provided at a proximal end of the game lane, delineating a hitting zone. At least one pitching zone indicator may be provided to indicate a pitcher's position. At least one running distance indicator may be provided along the game lane to indicate one or more running distances. The field game system may further include a standing mat, ball and club or other ball-hitting device for striking the ball beyond the hitting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Vasi
  • Patent number: 10874924
    Abstract: There is provided herein an apparatus and method for teaching a baseball participant how best to swing a bat in order to urge a struck ball to fly in a particular direction. More particularly, various embodiments provide immediate feedback to the batter make proper corrections for a properly hit baseball by forcing the batter to swing the bat at a predetermined angle appropriate for a desired ball trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Robert James Walton
  • Patent number: 10834112
    Abstract: Facilitating web page spectroscopy in a communications network is provided herein. A system can comprise a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations. The operations can comprise receiving first data that describes a first communication packet flow and second data that describes a second communication packet flow. The operations can also comprise training a model based on the first data and the second data, as a result of which the model is trained to detect respective behaviors represented by the first data and the second. Further, the operations can comprise extracting a common parameter from third data that describes a third communication packet flow and fourth data that describes a fourth communication packet flow based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Zaifman, John Mark Mocenigo
  • Patent number: 10814200
    Abstract: A hitting system for sports training includes a ball attached to a flexible mast. The flexible mast may be mounted to a base with more than five sidewalls, which inhibits movement of the system in any one direction after the ball is struck by the user. The mast may project upward from the base. Some embodiments include a weighted basket, which may be filled for example with a plurality of the same type of ball mounted to the flexible mast. Some embodiments may be configured for training with lightweight balls, for example pickle balls. The mast may include a securing mechanism which attaches around one of the pre-existing holes of the ball's shell. In some embodiments, the mast may be modular including a mechanism to detach from and reattach to the basket at the user's will. When detached, the mast becomes a hand-held hitting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: XLP GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Terence Scott
  • Patent number: 10682560
    Abstract: A strike exerciser structure includes: a first rubber pad, defined with a swing space; a second rubber pad, in movable connection with one side of the first rubber pad and positioned inside the swing space, the second rubber pad including a swing portion and connection portion, the connection portion in connection with the first rubber pad, and the swing portion extended from one side of the connection portion; a rod, one end thereof in connection with the swing portion; and a placement portion, configured on one end of the rod away from the swing portion, allowing a placement of a ball. Whereby, if a user uses a bat to hit the rod or drive the rod to move with a swing force upon a strike exercise, the swing portion will be oscillated with the connection portion as a fulcrum and spring back to its original position, thereby increasing service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HTY SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsien-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 10668321
    Abstract: There is provided a motorless treadmill. The motorless treadmill includes: a motorless track having a curved shape such that an inclination angle increases with respect to a ground surface toward a front end and a rear end, and configured to move around a closed path by a user's footsteps; and a pair of side covers disposed on two opposing sides of the motorless track, wherein the motorless track changes movement speed according to a location at which the user steps on the motorless track, and wherein, on at least one side cover of the pair of side covers, a speed-related indicator is disposed to indicate information related to the movement speed of the motorless track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Drax Inc.
    Inventor: Seon Kyung Yoo
  • Patent number: 10617911
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for using virtual or augmented reality in sports training, an exemplary method including detecting a position of a real ball, determining a trajectory for a virtual ball, the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, displaying, by a virtual or augmented reality display device, a virtual pitch of the virtual ball along the trajectory intersecting with the detected position of the real ball, detecting, by a sensor included in a glove worn by the player, vibrations caused by an impact between a bat held by the player and the real ball, determining whether a level of the vibrations is within a predetermined range, sending a signal, to a speaker, when the level of the vibrations is within the predetermined range, to cause the speaker to emit an audible tone, and emitting, by the speaker, the audible tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROBOSPORT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore LoDuca
  • Patent number: 10583343
    Abstract: A kit for a batting tee includes a ball holder including a first prong and a second prong, the first prong at a first distal end of the ball holder and including a first recess, the second prong at the first distal end of the ball holder and including a second recess. The ball holder further includes a holder connector disposed at a second distal end of the ball holder, the second distal end of the ball holder opposing the first distal end of the ball holder, the first prong and the second prong extending from the holder connector in a planar fashion with each other. The kit includes a shaft including a first distal end to be attached to the holder connector, and a base including a top surface, the top surface including a mount to which a second distal end of the shaft is to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Launch Angle Tee, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles James Pippitt, William Brent Wright, Kenneth Collins Judge
  • Patent number: 10478695
    Abstract: An instrumented batting system measures a bat speed and an exit velocity as a batter swings a bat and initiates contact between the bat and a ball positioned on a batting tee assembly. The batting tee assembly includes a bat speed radar device and an exit velocity radar device each in communication with a computing device. The bat speed radar device emits a radar beam that intersects a swing plane of the batter in a direction generally toward an expected position of the batter. The exit velocity radar device emits another radar beam that intersects a flight path of the ball in another direction generally away from the expected position of the batter. The system determines the bat speed and exit velocity using the radar beams, calculates a batting metric based on the bat speed and exit velocity, and displays the swing metric using a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sports Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert E. Dilz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10471326
    Abstract: A batting tee comprises a base for supporting the batting tee during use, a ball support column extending up from the base, and an extra ball holder for holding one or more extra balls before use. In some embodiments, the ball support column comprises one or more rigid sections and one or more flexible sections. The ball support column is adjustable to a desired height. In some embodiments, the extra ball holder surrounds the ball support column. In some embodiments, the extra ball holder is in the shape of a bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Hitting Tee LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Durham, Anthony Paul Sanguinetti
  • Patent number: 10427000
    Abstract: The exercise and rehabilitation device of the present invention includes a telescopic tube, having a first tube with upper and lower ends, and a second tube, having upper and lower ends, telescopically received in the upper end of the first tube. The lower end of the first tube has a base plate secured thereto by a joint which may be flexible or rigid. An open hand support may be secured to the upper end of the second tube by a flexible joint. A closed hand support may be secured to the upper end of the second tube by a double-ball mounting assembly. A forearm support may be secured to the upper end of the second tube by the double-ball mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel S. Miller, Anne Kintner
  • Patent number: 10071296
    Abstract: An instrumented, swing path adjustable, angle-adjustable batting tee is disclosed that measures both a bat speed and a ball exit velocity as a hitter swings a bat and initiates contact with a ball positioned on the tee. A bat speed radar detector is coupled to the tee and positioned within proximity of the ball set on the tee so that the bat speed radar detector measures the bat speed upon the bat initiating contact with the ball. A ball exit velocity radar is coupled to the tee and positioned within proximity of a ball flight of the ball as it leaves the bat so that the ball exit velocity radar measures the ball exit velocity of the ball in-flight after contact between the bat and the ball. The ball flight is a path that the ball travels after contact between the bat and a baseball or softball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sports Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert E. Dilz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10004967
    Abstract: A base for a batting tee may be provided that includes a first and a second base half that are pivotally mounted to each other such that they can pivot from an open position to one with the two halves flush against one another. The base may also include at least one batting tee mount disposed on at least one of the base halves. Each base half may define an aperture at complementing positions so that a hand hole is defined and extends through each base half for carrying the base when the base halves are flush against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: JUGS SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Kerry K. Paulson
  • Patent number: 9914034
    Abstract: A batting tee that includes a return mechanism, a swing arm connected to the return mechanism to swing about a rotation axis, a strike target connected to the swing arm, and a base supporting the return mechanism and the swing arm, the return mechanism including a mechanical energy storage device that stores mechanical energy when the swing arm swings in one direction in response to a batter's striking of the strike target, and a damper that slows down the swinging of the swing arm in the opposite direction as the swing arm swings back by the force supplied by the mechanical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Donald M. Lee
  • Patent number: 9889359
    Abstract: Improvements in a baseball practice batting tee that allows a person to strike a baseball off the top of the tee. The height of the tee can be from one or more adjustment mechanisms. The mechanism can be from finite detents with a pin in a hole or from a shaft frictionally being maintained in the tube. The top of the batting tee is formed with a spiral ridge to slightly rotate when a ball is struck off the top of the tee. The rotation allows the impact forces from impact with a baseball bat to be distributed from different directions on the top of the tee. The height adjustment is with an expandable washer that slides in a honed tube that has a constant diameter along the length of the tube to maintain a constant force to maintain the height of a ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Philip Roland Ouellette
  • Patent number: 9827475
    Abstract: A batting tee has a post including a ball holder on a top end of a post, and a tube cap on a bottom end of the post. A receptacle is positioned in a recess in a base frame having a through hole. The tee is set up for use by passing the post through the through hole from the bottom of the base and securing the tube cap to the base. The batting tee may be set up for use, and disassembled for transport or storage, quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: PRO PERFORMANCE SPORTS, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Keith Holland, Kash Oris Bell
  • Patent number: 9814958
    Abstract: An adjustable batting tee comprising: a base with a lower planar support surface; an outer tube extending from the base, wherein the outer tube includes a hollow core; an inner tube, wherein the inner tube is disposed within the hollow core of the outer tube; and a locking mechanism which locks inner tube relative to the outer tube at one of at least two discrete positions relative to the floor, ground and/or home plate so as to present a ball supporting distal end of the inner tube at one of the discrete heights from the floor, ground and/or home plate. The locking mechanism includes a projection, at least two circularly shaped grooves, and a longitudinal groove in communication with the at least two circularly shaped grooves. A visual indicator is provided to indicate to the user the discrete heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: The Prophet Corporation
    Inventors: Amber Orenstein, Laura Ann Fletcher, Brady Scott Whitney
  • Patent number: 9757636
    Abstract: The present invention is an athletic training device, principally for baseball, comprised of a frame having a rear tubular member, base tubular member, a front tubular member and an adjustable and extendable pole. A rigid pad is mounted to the rear tubular member. Rear and front foot stride bars are mounted to the base tubular member and the pole, respectively. A front lateral bar is connected to the front tubular member. Use of the device for a particular individual is accomplished by repositioning the stride bars, front foot lateral bar and pad. The device permits the user to self correct stance, stride and body positioning while hitting, fielding, catching or pitching a baseball or softball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Stephen F Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9649544
    Abstract: A batting tee includes a base and an attachment portion attached to the base. A first rod is optionally releasably connected to the attachment portion. A second rod having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the first rod is positioned at least partially in the first rod. One or more O-rings are positioned on the second rod within the first rod. A collar is attached to the first rod and positioned to allow the second rod to pass through the collar while resisting passage of the O-ring out of the first rod. A rod cap is attached to an end of the second rod and positioned to resist removal of the O-ring from the second rod. A ball holder is attached to the other end of the second rod. The second rod is movable telescopically within the first rod to raise and lower the ball holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: EASTON BASBEBALL/SOFTBALL INC.
    Inventors: Henry S. Fitzpatrick, Dewey Chauvin
  • Patent number: 9486684
    Abstract: A batting training device having a track defining a track path extending to each side of a batter's strike zone. The path may be arcuate. A trolley supporting a vertically adjustable post is movable along the path. The vertically adjustable post is movable between a lower end of the batter's strike zone and an upper end of the batter's strike zone, wherein the trolley movable along the path and the vertically adjustable post cooperate such that the ball is capable of being positioned substantially anywhere in a batter's strike zone for batting training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Charles S. Howerton
  • Patent number: 9457252
    Abstract: The present invention is a baseball practice device having a base frame with a pair of tubular members connected perpendicular to each other by mounting to an elbow tube fitting. A tee tube fitting is slideably positioned on one of the tube members. An aluminum pole is mounted to the tee tube fitting and a tee member with a flexible support member is inserted into the pole. At the distal end of the support member, baseball mounting means are attached. A baseball hitter places a ball on the mounting means to practice a swing. The support member allows the hitter to adjust the ball position to a different vertical or horizontal elevation as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen F Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9452336
    Abstract: A tee for supporting a baseball comprising a longitudinal shaft comprising a first end and a second end, a base structure coupled to said first end and configured to rest on a surface, a mesh support connected to said second end of said shaft. The tee further comprising a coupler adapted to rigidly affix said mesh support to said second end of said shaft, wherein said shaft is adapted to change the distance of said mesh support above said surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: TRIAD SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Dave Nelson, John Lucas
  • Patent number: 9381416
    Abstract: A batting aid has an upstanding tee with an upper end and a lower end. A connector adapted to attach to the upper end of the tee has a first connection means and a second connection means. The second connection means is positioned at an angle from the first connection means. A first guide is attached to the first connection means and positioned at an angle with the tee. A second guide is attached to the second connection means and positioned at an angle with the tee. A batter moves a bat towards a ball on the tee in a direction along the first guide, strikes the ball with the bat, and moves the bat along the second guide after striking the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Deyan Stojanovic
  • Patent number: 9375622
    Abstract: A swing guide training apparatus may have a base with a vertical support where the vertical support can adjust the height of the apparatus. Opposite the base, there is a pair of swing guide arms forming a swing guide assembly. These swing guide arms are open on each end and are connected by a U-shaped member allowing a bat to be swung through the space provided by the swing guide assembly. The U-shaped member can be compressed or expanded to change the width of the swinging channel. Additionally, other features may be present such as a mount for holding a baseball and a device to measure the speed of the bat as it is swung through the swing channel. The swing guide assembly rotates to accommodate batters that are left and right handed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Frederic Bond
  • Patent number: 9358440
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a ball tee for supporting a ball. The ball tee includes a base, a telescoping post, a clamp, and a ball holder. The base presents a plurality of laterally extending arms and an opening. The telescoping post includes a static segment and a first telescoping segment. The clamp is configured to secure the telescoping post to the base. The clamp is disposed at least partially within said opening of the base and at least partially around said static segment of the telescoping post. The ball holder is disposed atop the telescoping post configured to support a ball. The ball holder includes a rolled flexible sheet and an outer holder (and in some embodiments an inner holder). The rolled flexible sheet presents a generally conical shape oriented with a large end upward for supporting the ball, and is at least partially disposed within the outer holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Burrell
  • Patent number: 9289670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for conserving battery power during shipping for an impact activated device for transmitting a radiofrequency signal. The method comprises forming an impact activated device for transmitting a radiofrequency signal. The shot tracking device is shipped in commerce and received at a retailer. The shot tracking device is stored at the retailer, wherein the battery has at least 90% of its capacity until paired with a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Joseph Balardeta, Scott Denton
  • Patent number: 9220965
    Abstract: A tee ball stand with a ground engaging base, a perpendicular stanchion connected to the base, and a resiliently flexible ball holder mounted atop the stanchion. The ball holder is formed from sheeting material rolled into a frusto-conical shape and maintained in such shape on a tapered base fitting. The base fitting includes a longitudinal abutment edge to align the longitudinal edge of the sheeting material with respect to the base and radially projecting pegs which register with holes in the lower skirt of the sheeting material in order to maintain the sheeting material in the proper frusto-conical shape and to prevent separation from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Franklin Sports Inc.
    Inventor: Seth Hochberg
  • Patent number: 9149707
    Abstract: The tool includes a rigid base with an upright rigid post attached perpendicularly to the base a rigid form fitted outer sleeve, measured to fit snug over the upright post. This sleeve allows for height adjustability, also includes a uniquely formed and rigid wand, with a measured, weighted counterbalance end with a small hole to accommodate a bungee cord attachment and on the other end a set and re-settable fix tennis ball mounting the tennis ball itself is mounted on a spindle on a small rod which allows free rotation of the ball for the purpose of ball striking muscle memory development, the ball-mounting wand is bent, geniculate and curved into a question mark like configuration using holes and peg attach the wand to the crown of the form fitted outer sleeve using the counterbalance and the bungee cord the ball can be repeatedly struck, displaced and self-reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Hayden Alexander Cochran
  • Patent number: 9126086
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a modular sports training system that can be assembled, placed on a supporting surface, and stood upon by a person during sports training activities. The system is adapted to be assembled with one module being disposed at a non-parallel angle to another module. The non-parallel angle allows a person standing on the system to place one foot on one module and another foot on another module at the non-parallel angle, such as in a batter's stance, and allows the person to stand in a stable manner while encouraging certain positioning of the feet during the sports training activities. The modules can be coupled by an interlocking protrusion and receiver arrangement. The modules can be coupled together by inserting a protrusion of one module into a receiver of another module when the modules are unaligned relative to each other; and then twisting the modules into alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventor: Hershel James Howard, II
  • Patent number: 9050516
    Abstract: A ball tee for batting practice has a base assembly including a base, a post cup pivotally attached to the base, and at least one spring biasing the post cup into an upright position. A post assembly has a lower end inserted into the post cup. The spring causes the post assembly to return to the upright position after the post assembly is struck and deflected by a bat. The base assembly may include a base plate, a spring bracket attached to the base plate, and an axle extending through the spring bracket, through the spring, and through an axle hole in the post cup. The post assembly may have two or more tubes that allow the height of the post assembly to be telescopically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: PRO PERFORMANCE SPORTS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Allen Holland, Kenneth Ollie Stark
  • Publication number: 20150105187
    Abstract: A baseball swing training device that is operable to teach an improved baseball swing plane wherein the baseball swing training device is tiltably adjustable in a first direction and a second direction. The baseball swing training device further includes a base member having a telescoping support arm extending upward therefrom. Secured to the telescoping support arm is an upper frame assembly that includes a support arm that is u-shaped. An upper bat guide member and a lower bat guide member are secured to the support arm and are parallel in configuration having a void therebetween. A pair of ball grip members are mounted intermediate the lower bat guide member and upper bat guide member. A speed sensor is present and is operable to detect the speed of either the ball or the bat during use of the baseball swing trainer and display the speed on a LCD screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: David Willardson
  • Patent number: 8992348
    Abstract: A swing training device has an upright vertical support which is height-adjustable and multiple training attachments for working on a batter's different skill sets. The attachments include a regular batting tee, a “cast away” batting tee, an “in and out” batting tee, and a “perfect cut” batting tee. Each tee is interchangeable with the others, each being used with the vertical support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Johnny M. Meier, Boe Baitinger
  • Patent number: 8979681
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a batting tee having a base removably matable to a post that includes a pivot mechanism including a pivot point located between axially aligned first and second springs connected to a cable extending along a coincident longitudinal axis of the first and second springs. The pivot point allows the post to rotate at the pivot point in response to an impact on the ball holder and/or post. The springs force the post back to an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Promounds, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Murphy, Christopher S. Beshere, William E. Rullo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8974324
    Abstract: A baseball hitting trainer comprises a supportive cup, an upper pipe, a lower pipe, an upper sleeve, a lower sleeve, an resilient piece connected between the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve, a locking device for locking the upper sleeve with the resilient piece to the lower pipe, a base fixed to the lower sleeve, a weight block, and a fastening ferrule, wherein the lower pipe is allowed to be inserted through the central through hole of the weight block, and the fastening ferrule is fitted around the lower pipe to fasten the weight block onto the lower pipe, whereby the hitting trainer can provide two modes of operation. Under the swing mode, the weight block can be positioned at various heights by adjusting the weight block along the lower pipe to have the hitting trainer swung at various frequencies and speeds, at which a hitter wishes to practice a hitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Yung-Chien Chen
  • Publication number: 20150065272
    Abstract: A swing guide training apparatus may have a base with a vertical support where the vertical support can adjust the height of the apparatus. Opposite the base, there is a pair of swing guide arms forming a swing guide assembly. These swing guide arms are open on each end and are connected by a U-shaped member allowing a bat to be swung through the space provided by the swing guide assembly. The U-shaped member can be compressed or expanded to change the width of the swinging channel. Additionally, other features may be present such as a mount for holding a baseball and a device to measure the speed of the bat as it is swung through the swing channel. The swing guide assembly rotates to accommodate batters that are left and right handed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Frederic Bond
  • Publication number: 20150024876
    Abstract: A ball having colored indicators provided thereon that are positioned in a manner to indicate to a game participant where to hit the ball in order to obtain a desired result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Darrin B. Farrow
  • Publication number: 20150005109
    Abstract: A batting aid has an upstanding tee with an upper end and a lower end. A connector adapted to attach to the upper end of the tee has a first connection means and a second connection means. The second connection means is positioned at an angle from the first connection means. A first guide is attached to the first connection means and positioned at an angle with the tee. A second guide is attached to the second connection means and positioned at an angle with the tee. A batter moves a bat towards a ball on the tee in a direction along the first guide, strikes the ball with the bat, and moves the bat along the second guide after striking the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Deyan Stojanovic
  • Publication number: 20140364255
    Abstract: A tee for supporting a baseball comprising a longitudinal shaft comprising a first end and a second end, a base structure coupled to said first end and configured to rest on a surface, a mesh support connected to said second end of said shaft. The tee further comprising a coupler adapted to rigidly affix said mesh support to said second end of said shaft, wherein said shaft is adapted to change the distance of said mesh support above said surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: DAVE NELSON, JOHN LUCAS
  • Patent number: 8905867
    Abstract: A batting tee system includes a batting tee assembly that may be used with conventional balls or with the ball described as an embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, the batting tee assembly may be used with a netting system that provides feedback to a batter based on a trajectory of the ball after it has been struck by a bat and leaves the batting tee assembly. In one embodiment, the batting tee assembly includes a support base coupled to a swing arm, which in turn is coupled to an adjustable-height batting tee. The batting tee system may be configured for both left and right handed batters and also placed in a portable or storable configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Steve Keller