Hand Held Baseball or Softball Batting Tee

Abstract

A batting tee or batting training device comprising of a handle adapted so that is can be held by a person other than the batter, a ball-holding section which includes a ball-holding apparatus, sleeve, or cone to hold the baseball or softball, and a shaft section between the handle and the ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a batting tee and, more particularly, to a hand held batting tee where the position can be easily changed and ball movement can also be easily achieved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In baseball and softball, one of the most difficult skills to master is that of batting. The batter must be able to coordinate the swing of a bat with the location of a ball so that good contact with the ball can be made while swinging the bat. Once this is mastered, the hitter must also learn to make good contact with the ball at the various positions at which it may cross home plate. This can include pitches that are inside, outside, high, low, or a combination of these variables.

To develop these skills, players have used a stationary baseball or softball tee for supporting a ball at a selected height above the hitting area. With the ball positioned, the batter can practice swinging at that location to assist in the process of coordinating the batter's hand-eye coordination.

A typical batting tee comprises of a planar base having the appearance of a baseball home plate, with an elongated, length-adjustable member. One member being rigidly connected to the base, typically the center, and the other end of the member being adapted to receive a ball for supporting the ball at a variable height above the base.

Variations of the typical batting tee now include batting tees that comprise of a planar base with multiple holes in specific locations. The elongated, length-adjustable member can be moved between the multiple holes to change the location of the hitting area relative to the baseball home plate shaped planar base. The purpose of the multiple holes is to give the batter the ability to practice their hand-eye coordination for different locations of the ball on the baseball home plate. While such batting tees are widely used, there are a number of problems that exists therewith.

First, the batting tee is only capable of supporting a ball at one fixed position at a time. If a batter wants to practice hitting the ball in various locations with each swing, the batter must change the location of the elongated, length-adjustable member after each swing. This is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process.

Second, the batting tee with multiple holes is still limited to the number of locations in which the ball can be positioned for the batter. For example, a batting tee with five holes allows the batter to practice hitting in five locations, but there are infinitely more possible locations that cannot be practiced.

Third, the batting tee is also a heavy and bulky item. Existing batting tees are either not readily disassembled, or they cannot be disassembled at all. This makes the batting tee difficult to package, ship, and store. Furthermore, a batter cannot easily take the tee with him wherever they go for use in practicing batting.

Another training device for batting consists of a handle and shaft with a permanently attached ball on the end of the shaft. This training device is commonly referred to as a “ball on a stick.” A coach or second participant, while holding the handle, can position the permanently attached ball for the batter. The coach or second participant can change the location of the ball for each swing, giving the batter the ability to practice hitting various locations. While this training device is widely used, there are a number of problems that exist therewith.

First, the “ball on a stick” utilizes a permanently attached ball. This means that when the batter hits the ball, the batter is not able to see the speed and direction in which the ball travels once hit. Instead, the ball remains attached to the shaft.

Second, because the ball is permanently attached to the shaft, the coach or person holding the handle is forced to hold the handle and absorb the shock and impact when the batter hits the ball. Throughout the duration of batting, the coach or person holding the handle begins to feel pain in their shoulder, elbow, and wrist as a result of having to absorb the impact of each hit.

Third, the permanently attached ball is often constructed of a material that is harder or denser than a regular baseball or softball. As a result, use of the “ball on a stick” can cause damage to or break a batter's bat.

Fourth, the permanently attached ball suffers from wear and tear when used, and eventually will break from the repeated impact of the batter's bat. Once the permanently attached ball breaks, the training device can no longer be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a batting tee and batting training device that solves these problems in a manner unknown heretofore. The present batting tee and batting training device is capable of supporting a ball at an infinite number of different horizontal and vertical positions relative to a baseball home plate. In this manner, a batter can practice hitting a variety of different pitch locations to better simulate an actual game.

Further, since the present invention is not attached to a base, but is instead held by another coach or person, the present batting tee and batting training device can be moved while the batter swings to help improve the batter's hand-eye coordination. This allows the batter to practice hitting a ball that is in motion.

Further, the present invention can utilize regular baseballs or softballs, soft practice balls, wiffle-type balls, foam type balls and any other type ball as opposed to using a permanently attached baseball or softball. This allows the batter to see the speed and direction of the ball once the batter hits it. This also prevents the coach or other person holding the batting tee from having to absorb the impact of the batter's hit, since the force of the impact is instead transferred to the ball that is not permanently attached to the shaft.

Further, the present invention is lighter and more portable, allowing the batter to take the present batting tee or batting training device with him wherever he goes. The present invention can also be stored in a small space.

Briefly, the present batting tee or batting training device comprises a handle adapted so that is can be held by a person other than the batter, a ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone to hold the baseball or softball, and a shaft section between the handle and the ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a strong and stable batting tee, which is simple in construction and easily transported and stored.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a batting tee or batting training device capable or supporting a baseball or softball at any possible position to allow the batter to practice all of the possible locations the batter may need to be able to hit the ball in.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a batting tee or batting training device in which the position of the supported ball may be readily changed.

If is a further object of the present invention to provide a batting tee or batting training device in which the supported ball may be placed in motion so the batter can practice hitting a moving ball.

Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like or corresponding parts in the several figures and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a batting tee or batting training device constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the batting tee or batting training device of FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a batting tee or batting training device, generally designated 10, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The tee 10 includes a handle 11, a shaft section 12, and a ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone 13.

The shaft section 12 includes a curved section 14 in the present drawing to better position the ball-holding section 13 for the batter. It is possible, however, that the shaft section 12 could be constructed utilizing many different shapes, curves, and designs and still remain in accordance with the teaching of the present invention. The shaft section 12 may be constructed of any durable material that can withstand the impact of a baseball or softball bat.

The handle section 11 in the present drawing includes a cushioned grip 15 and a wrist strap 16 to provide additional comfort and protection for the coach or other person holding the batting tee or training device 10. It is possible that a batting tee or batting training device could be constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention without the use of a cushioned grip 15 or wrist strap 16. The present drawing suggest one possible representation of a handle section 11, but the present invention should not be limited to the design or shape of the handle section 11 in the present drawing. One such variation could include, but is not limited to, the use of an ergonomic handle.

The ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone 13 in the present drawing includes a shaft collar 17, locking pin 18, and rubber cone 19. The baseball or softball would be placed on top of the rubber cone 19 to allow the batter to hit the ball. The use of the shaft collar 17 and locking pin 18 permits the use of interchangeable rubber cones 19 designed specifically for us with a softball or baseball. The batter would be able to change the rubber cone 19 by removing the locking pin 18 from the shaft collar 17, removing the current rubber cone 19, and then inserting a new rubber cone 19 into the shaft collar 17 and inserting the locking pin 18.

The design may still remain in accordance with the teaching of the present invention if a sleeve or other ball-holding apparatus is utilized instead of the cone 19. It is also possible for the present invention to include a different attachment method than the use of a shaft collar 17 and locking pin 18. The present invention may also be constructed without the use of a shaft collar 17, locking pin 18, or other attachment method, and instead include a permanently attached cone 19, sleeve, or ball-holding apparatus.

The cone 19, sleeve, or ball-holding apparatus may be constructed of rubber, pvc, or any other material, whether presently known or unknown, that would be sufficiently durable to sustain repeated impacts from a batter's softball or baseball bat.

It can therefore be seen that according to the present invention, there is provided a novel batting tee or batting training device 10 that solves the problems encountered heretofore.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred physical embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A batting tee for holding a baseball or softball comprising of:

A handle section adapted so a person other than the batter can hold it;

a ball-holding section which includes a ball holding apparatus, sleeve, or cone;

a shaft section that connects the handle and the ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone.