Retainer plates for throwing machine
A set of universal fit retaining plates which secure to one or more legs of a ball pitching or skeet throwing machine to help maintain a steady trajectory of the throwing mechanism. The plates are engaged to the ground with protruding devices and secure to the machine leg(s) by means such as a funnel type pocket which can hold the end of a leg in a wedge fit condition. This accommodates a variety of machines with different leg angles, leg end profiles, and leg end materials. The retaining plates help keep the throwing machine in a steady position in a variety of conditions and situations such as hard, dusty ball field surfaces, soft, moist field conditions or when a ball hits the machine.
This invention relates to a retaining plate device that is adaptable to a variety of throwing machine configurations. These machines are well known in the prior art. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,440,0132, 6,089,217 and 5,947,101. These machines are generally provided with a tripod leg type base in which some designs the legs fold up for compact storage. However, none have universal-fit leg retaining plates that hold the throwing machine in position to maintain a steady throwing trajectory in a variety of conditions.
Most pitching machines on the market have no physical means to horizontally hold the unit in place during multiple use cycles other than tangential friction between the end of the leg and the ground surface. After a few pitches or after the machine is hit by a ball or player, it can shift causing an undesirable game delay because subsequent machine position readjustments are necessary. This readjustment requirement can be especially acute if poor field conditions are encountered such as hard, dusty surfaces or a soft, muddy field.
Some machines offer dedicated retaining pin provisions integral to the leg. But these are specific to the machine and are not universally adaptable to other designs like the proposed invention. These designs often require inconvenient use of tools such as a hammer to drive stakes into the ground. These driven stakes in turn can be difficult to pull out before removing the machine from the field. They also offer limited load distribution and can still work loose in certain field conditions after multiple pitching cycles because they do not have a self tightening mechanism that results in tighter ground engagement and tighter grip on the leg(s) after multiple use cycles. Also the fit-up between a separate pin and the pin mounting provision is a loose fit resulting in relative motion between the pitching machine and the ground which in turn detrimentally affects pitching accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention provides a simple method to secure a throwing machine to the ground in order to maintain a steady throwing trajectory.
It is the principal objective of this invention to provide a securing means that is universally adaptable to a variety of throwing machine configurations.
Another objective of this invention is to have integral to the retaining plates, ground engaging protrusions offering a wide load distribution pattern and configured to optimize performance and cost.
Another objective is increased ground engagement of retainer plate(s) after repeated throwing cycles.
Still another objective of this invention is to incorporate a wedge style pocket to have a tight fit with the end of a throwing machine leg and can accommodate a variety of leg end shapes and sizes.
A further objective of this invention is to also demonstrate a variety of alternative designs that can accomplish similar objectives.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring to the illustrations, in
In
A variety of means can be incorporated to retain the leg to the retainer plate. One alternative means is illustrated in
The retaining plate in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore. These and other changes may be made, as desired, without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of claims to be made.
Claims
1. A retaining brackets used to hold a steady position of a pitching machine which includes; a top surface, a pocket mounted on said top surface, and said pocket including an opening to connect a leg of the pitching machine to the bracket and a plurality of ground engaging protrusions extending away from said top surface to engage a ground surface to prevent shifting of a pitching machine during use.
2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the includes a surface with a taper that causes said leg to wedge in said pocket.
3. (canceled)
4. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the ground engaging protrusions are formed by bending down corners of the top surface of the retainer bracket.
5. (canceled)
6. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said top surface is a generally planar top surface.
7. A combination machine leg and retaining bracket used to hold a steady position of a machine, said combination including: a retaining bracket having a top surface, a funnel pocket mounted on said top surface and said funnel pocket including an opening to receive a portion of said leg of the pitching machine and at least one ground engaging protrusion extending away from said top surface to engage a ground surface to prevent shifting of the machine during use.
8. The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein the funnel pocket includes a surface with a taper that causes said portion of said leg to wedge in said pocket.
9. The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said funnel pocket includes an angle bracket having at least two planar surfaces attached to said top surface and wherein each of said at least two planar surfaces and said top surface engage with said portion of said leg to secure against movement relative to said funnel pocket.
10. The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one ground engaging protrusion is formed by bending down a corner of the top surface of the retainer bracket.
11. The combination as recited in claim 10, wherein said top surface includes a hole and wherein said combination includes a spike adapted to pass through said hole to further secure said top surface to said ground.
12. The combination as recited in claim 11, wherein said top surface is rectangular and includes four triangular protrusions formed by bending down of four corners of said rectangular top surface.
13. The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein said top surface is a generally planar top surface.
14. A universal retaining bracket used to hold a steady position of a throwing machine leg on a ground surface, said retaining bracket including: a generally planar top surface, a funnel pocket mounted on said generally planar top surface and said funnel pocket including an opening to receive a portion of said leg of the throwing machine and at least one ground engaging protrusion extending away from said generally planar top surface to engage said ground surface to prevent horizontal shifting of the machine during use.
15. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein the funnel pocket includes a bracket with a taper that causes said portion of said leg to wedge in said pocket.
16. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said funnel pocket includes an angle bracket having at least two planar interior surfaces attached to said planar top surface and wherein each of said at least two planar surfaces and said planar top surface engage with said portion of said leg to secure against movement relative to said funnel pocket during use of said machine.
17. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one ground engaging protrusion is formed by bending down a corner of the planar top surface of the retainer bracket.
18. The retaining bracket of claim 14, wherein said planar top surface includes a hole and wherein said bracket includes a spike adapted to pass through said hole to further secure said planar top surface to said ground.
19. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said planar top surface is rectangular and includes four triangular protrusions formed by bending down four corners of said rectangular planar top surface.
20. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said leg can be removed from said funnel pocket by picking up said machine.
21. The retaining bracket as recited in claim 14, wherein said leg is attached to said retaining plate.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 13, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2005
Applicant: Lynne Weber (Holland, IN)
Inventors: Randall Englert (Huntingburg, IN), Norman Weber (Holland, IN), Lynne Weber (Holland, IN), Lonnie Oxley (Versailles, KY)
Application Number: 11/105,323