CATCHER'S CHAIR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a catcher's chair useful for a person to assist a baseball or softball pitcher practicing throwing a ball to a catcher. The catcher's chair is at a height which allows the user to sit at the catcher's normal catching position, reducing strain on knees and legs. The catcher's chair comprises a horizontally placed seat, a front panel functioning as a leg to place the catcher's chair at a distance above the ground and also extending above the level of the seat to protect the groin of the catcher when straddling the catcher's chair and facing toward the front panel. A rear panel attached to the opposite end of the seat forms the second leg of the catcher's chair. Optionally a support panel may be attached to the front and back panels under the catcher's chair to provide stability. A kit may be provided containing unassembled parts which can then be assembled to form the catcher's chair.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a catcher's chair for use by a person warming up a baseball or softball pitcher.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Between innings of softball or baseball games or during practices, coaches, other players, or parents sometimes take the catcher's position wearing only a catcher's mitt to warm up pitchers. They usually squat down to give a proper target for the pitcher. Not used to being in this position can be hard on knees and legs. Moreover an errant ball may sometimes bounce or be thrown in a way to put in danger the groin area of the substitute catcher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a portable ease to use catcher's chair which a substitute catcher can sit on in a straddled position to ease the stress on knees and legs, provide protection for the groin area and which can be slightly tilted by the catcher to one side or the other to enable the catcher to catch widely thrown balls. The catcher's chair comprises a horizontal placed seat, a front panel functioning as a leg to place the seat a suitable distance above the ground. The front panel also extends above the level of the seat to protect the groin of the catcher when straddling the catcher's chair and facing toward the front panel. A third panel extends from the seat to the ground to provide further support. The bottom corners of the front panel are rounded, enabling the catcher's chair to be slightly tilted from side to side by the catcher. A major portion of the bottom of the from panel is however flat to sit on the ground without the catcher's chair tipping over.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the preferred embodiments, and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a different embodiment of the front panel contoured at the top to match the groin area;

FIG. 4 is a different view of an embodiment of the front panel wherein the face of the panel is curved to lessen the impact of balls hitting it;

FIG. 5 is a different view of the catcher's chair showing the top surface of the seat panel slightly rounded to make it more comfortable to straddle and sit on;

FIG. 6 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a person in a sitting position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the preferred embodiments, the numbered parts in the figures have the following meanings:

10—The preferred embodiment catcher's chair

11—support panel

11a—handhold portion of support panel 11

12—seat panel

13—rear panel

13a—rounded corners on bottom corners of rear panel

14—front panel

14a—rounded corners on bottom corners of front panel

15—opening in the support panel

16—pair of horizontally aligned seat fastener holes in front panel

16a—optional second pair of seat fastener holes at lower level in front panel

17—two vertically aligned support panel fastener holes

18—fasteners

19—portion of front panel extending above level of the seat panel

20—embodiment of front panel having curved front portion

21—seat with curved top

22—pair horizontally aligned seat fastener holes in rear panel

22a—second optional pair of seat fastener holes at lower level in rear panel

23—two vertically aligned support panel listener holes

24—an embodiment of front panel having a contoured shaped groin protection above the seat level

It is not intended the invention be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described.

FIGS. 1-5 and FIG. 7 illustrate several embodiments of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates using the invention by a person straddling the catcher's chair in a catcher's position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the catcher's chair 10 comprises a rectangular seat 12 having a length, width and thickness. A front panel 14 having a width approximately the same as the seat, is connected to seat 12, and has a length wherein at least a portion of front panel 14 extends above the level of the seat 12 to provide a groin protection section. Front panel 14 has a thickness approximately the same as the seat provides a front leg of the catcher's chair. A rear panel 13 is provided to provide a rear leg of the catcher's chair. As shown it is shorter than the front panel 14 and is attached to the seat to provide a catcher's chair wherein the seat is substantially horizontal to the surface on which the catcher's chair sets. A support panel 11 runs lengthwise below the seat 12 and is attached to the front panel and rear panel, below the seat to form a stable rigid catcher's chair. In the embodiments in the figures the support 11 is perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the seat.

While the bottom edges of front and rear panels 14 and 13 are flat over a major portion of their length, they are rounded, at their bottom corners 14a and 13a, respectively. This allows catcher's chair 10 to tilt slightly to the right or the left, as the user leans out to the side to catch an “outside” or “inside” pitch.

Preferably, there is an opening 15 through support panel 11, which extends sufficiently close to the bottom of support panel 11 to define a handhold portion 11a at the bottom of support panel 11. Handhold portion 11a has a thickness from the bottom of panel 11 to the bottom of opening 15 which is such that most people can easily wrap their hand around it. This facilitates easy carrying of catcher's chair 10 from place to place. Also preferably, the bottom edge of opening 15 is curved in the handhold area, to comfortably receive a person's fingers when they are gripping handhold portion 11a.

The width of front panel 14 is sufficiently wide to provide the user with protection, but is sufficiently narrow that a user does not have to spread his or her legs to an uncomfortable degree in order to straddle catcher's chair 10. A width of about 6-12 inches, preferably about 8-10 inches and most preferably, about 9 inches.

The height of seat panel 12 is sufficiently low to place the user in a typical catcher's crouch position when seated on the chair. However, it is sufficiently high that a user can sit on and straddle seat panel 12 without significant discomfort in bending the knees. A seat height of from about 12 to about 18 inches is preferred, more preferably about 14-16 inches, and most preferably about 15 inches. The length of seat panel 12 is preferably from about 18-24 inches, more preferably about 20 inches. The width of seat panel is from about 6-12 inches, preferably about 8-10 inches and most preferably, about 9 inches.

Front panel 14 should extend a distance above the level of seat 12 sufficient to protect at least the user's groin area, and more preferably sufficient to protect the stomach and at least a portion of the chest area. it should not. however, extend so high as to interfere with the user's ability to catch. Preferably, front panel 14 extends above the level of seat 12 about 6-16 inches, more preferably from about 8-14 inches, and most preferably from about 10-12 inches.

Panels 11-14 are made of a strong but relatively light weight material, such that catcher's chair 10 is easily portable. In one preferred embodiment, panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are all made of the same material and have the same width and thickness. For example, catcher's chair 10 can be constructed from one inch thick by six inch wide wood stock panels, e.g. pine, oak and the like.

As illustrated, the front and rear panels, the support panel and the seat are attached to each other by fasteners 18 extending through the front and rear panels and into the seat and the support panels. As an example, at least one pair of horizontally aligned seat fastener holes 16 are provided in the front panel and at least one pair of horizontally aligned seat fastener holes 22 are provided in the rear panel. Fasteners 18 such as screws, bolts or the like can be inserted through the holes and used to attach the seat. At least two vertically aligned support panel fastener holes 17 are provided in the front panel and at least two vertically aligned support panel fastener holes 23 are provided in the rear panel. Fasteners such as screws or bolts can be inserted through these holes to attach the support panel 11. Fasteners such as wood screws are suitable for assembling the catcher's chair. Bolt/anchor sets can also be employed. Other fasteners are also suitable.

Optionally, additional pairs of horizontally aligned seat fastener holes (16a and 22a) can be provided in the front and rear panels to adjust the height of the seat fastened thereto. In the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 an opening 15 is provided in the support panel 11. This can be used for example as a handle 11a to carry the catcher's chair.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate different embodiments of front. panel and seat that can be used in the invention. In FIG. 3 the portion 19 of front panel 24 located above the seat level is contoured shaped to provide more comfort for the catcher, by being narrower in the groin protection area. This makes it easier for the catcher to spread his or her legs when seated on seat platform 12. The preferred width in the groin protection area is preferably about 4-6 inches, more preferably about 5 inches. In FIG. 4 a front panel 20 is provided having a rounded front portion running widthwise, In FIG. 5 a seat 2.1 is provided having a rounded top portion running, widthwise. The seat portion 12 can be padded to provide additional comfort.

The FIG. 7 alternative embodiment catcher's chair 110 is somewhat lighter, more comfortable and easier to move about than the FIG. 1 embodiment chair 10. Seat 112a has been covered with a cushion 112b. Rear panel 113 is narrowed some between its top and bottom edge. Front panel 114 is similarly narrowed in the lower part of panel 114, opposite rear panel 113. The bottom corners of panels 113 and 114 are rounded at 113a and 114a, respectively, to facilitate rocking to the left or right, as with catcher's chair 10.

The bottom handle forming portion 11a of center support panel 11 in catcher's chair 10 has been removed entirely from center support panel 111 of catcher's chair 110. The downwardly extending front and rear edges of support panel ill terminate about ⅔ of the distance down the bottom edges of front and rear panels 114 and 113. The bottom edge 111a of panel 111 is an upwardly extending semi-circular edge, extending from near the front and rear edges of panel 111, passing a sufficient distance from the top edge of panel 111 to lighten the weight of panel 111, while still leaving it with sufficient supporting strength for seat 112a. The bottom edge 111a thus defines a semicircular opening 115 in support panel 111.

The handle opening 114b for catcher's chair 110 has been moved from the handle 11a location at the bottom of the support panel 11 in chair 10, to the upper portion of front panel 114 in chair 110. The light weight, handle opening location 114b and cushion 112b make catcher's chair 110 easy to handle and comfortable to use.

Exemplary dimensions in inches for the various components of catcher's seat 10 are:

	Preferred	More	Most
Seat panel 12 height:	12-18	14-16	15
Front panel height above the seat level:	6-16	8-14	10-12
Front panel 14 width:	6-12	8-10	9
Front panel 19 width in the groin protection	4-6		5
area:
Width of seat panel 12:	6-12	8-10	9
Length of seat panel 12:	18-24		20

Thus the preferred embodiments provide a small, lightweight catcher's seat which affords protection to at least the groin area of the user, can be tilted easily right to left to catch balls thrown to the User's right or left, and which is easily inverted and carried by its handle from place to place. Its construction of several panels makes it easy and economical to produce. Of course, it is understood that the foregoing are preferred embodiments of the invention, and various changes and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A catcher's chair that is useful for a person to assist a baseball or softball pitcher to practice throwing a ball to a catcher comprising: a front panel attached to the front end of the seat adapted to function as a leg to place the catcher's chair at a distance above the ground and also extending above the level of said seat panel to provide a groin protection area for protecting at least the groin of the catcher when straddling the catcher's chair and facing toward the front panel, and a support panel supporting said seat;

a horizontal seat panel, extending from a front end to a back end;

said front panel having side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge, and being sufficiently wide between said side edges to provide the user with protection, but being sufficiently narrow that a user does not have to spread his or her legs to an uncomfortable degree in order to straddle catcher's chair, and having rounded lower corners, whereby said rounded corners and said narrowness make it possible for a user to tilt said catcher's chair to the left side or right side by the user, to facilitate catching balls thrown to the left or right of the user.

2. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which said support panel is located below said seat panel, and extending generally in a fore and aft direction with respect to the front and back ends of said seat panel; said support panel having a bottom edge, and including an opening through support panel, which extends sufficiently close to said bottom edge of said support panel to define a handhold portion near said bottom edge of said support panel, to facilitate carrying said catcher's chair from place to place.

3. The catcher's chair of claim 2 which includes a rear panel extending downwardly from or near said back end of said seat panel, generally parallel to said front panel; said rear panel having rounded bottom corners, also to facilitate the user's ability to tilt said catcher's chair to the left or right.

4. The catcher's chair of claim 3 wherein said front and rear panels each have a bottom edge located between said rounded lower corners, a major portion of each said bottom edge of said front and rear panels between said rounded corners is flat.

5. (canceled)

6. The catcher's chair of claim 4 in which said front panel width is from about 6-12 inches.

7. The catcher's chair of claim 4 in which the height of said seat is sufficiently low to place the user in a typical catcher's crouch position when seated on said catcher's chair, but sufficiently high that a user can sit on and straddle said seat without significant discomfort in bending the knees.

8. The catcher's chair of claim 7 in which said seat height is from about 12 to about 18 inches, and the width of said seat panel is from about 6-12 inches.

9. The catcher's chair of claim 7 in which said front panel extends a distance above the level of seat sufficient to also protect the stomach and at least a portion of the user's chest area.

10. The catcher's chair of claim 8 in which said front panel extends above the level of said seat of from about 6-16 inches.

11. The catcher's chair of claim 4 in which the portion of said front panel from the top of said seat through the groin protection area is narrower than the widest portions of said front panel, to make it easier for the user to spread his or her legs when seated on said seat.

12. (canceled)

13. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which said front panel width is from about 6-12 inches.

14. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which the height of said seat is sufficiently low to place the user in a typical catcher's crouch position when seated on said catcher's chair, but sufficiently high that a user can sit on and straddle said seat without significant discomfort in bending the knees.

15. The catcher's chair of claim 14 in which said seat height is from about 12 to about 18 inches, and the width of said seat panel is from about 6-12 inches.

16. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which said front panel extends a distance above the level of seat sufficient to also protect the stomach and at least a portion of the user's chest area.

17. The catcher's chair of claim 16 in which said front panel extends above the level of said seat of from about 6-16 inches.

18. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which the portion of said front panel from the top of said seat through said groin protection area is narrower than the widest portions of said front panel, to make it easier for the user to spread his or her legs when seated on said seat.

19. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which the height of said seat is sufficiently low to place the user in a typical catcher's crouch position when seated on said catcher's chair, but sufficiently high that a user can sit on and straddle said seat without significant discomfort in bending the knees.

20. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which said front panel extends above said seat to an upper portion located above said groin protection area, and includes a handle opening in said upper portion.

21. The catcher's chair of claim 1 which includes a cushion on said seat panel.

22. The catcher's chair of claim 1 which includes a rear panel extending downwardly from or near said back end of said seat panel, generally parallel to said front panel;

said rear panel having rounded bottom corners, also to facilitate the user's ability to tilt said catcher's chair to the left or right; said rear panel being narrowed between its top and bottom edges, and said front panel being similarly narrowed in its lower portion which is opposite said rear panel.

23. The catcher's chair of claim 1 in which said support panel comprises a support panel located below said seat panel, and extending generally in a fore and aft direction with respect to the front and back ends of said seat panel; said chair including a rear panel extending downwardly from or near said back end of said seat panel, generally parallel to said front panel; said rear panel having rounded bottom corners, also to facilitate the user's ability to tilt said catcher's chair to the left or right; said rear panel being narrowed between its top and bottom edges, and said front panel being similarly narrowed in its lower portion which is opposite said rear panel; said support panel having a bottom edge which includes an upwardly extending semi-circular edge portion, extending from near the front and rear edges of said support panel, passing a sufficient distance from the top edge of said support panel to lighten the weight of said support panel, while still leaving it with sufficient supporting strength for said seat panel; said front panel including a handle opening in the upper portion thereof; said seat panel including a cushion thereon.

24. A catcher's chair that is useful for a person to assist a baseball or softball pitcher to practice throwing a ball to a catcher comprising:

a horizontal seat, extending from a front end to a back end;

a front panel attached to the front end of the seat adapted to function as a leg to place the catcher's chair at a distance above the ground and also extending above the level of the seat to protect at least the groin of the catcher when straddling the catcher's chair and facing toward the front panel, and a support panel supporting said seat; said support panel being located below said seat panel, and extending generally in a fore and aft direction with respect to the front and back ends of said seat panel; said support panel including a bottom edge, and an opening through support panel, which extends sufficiently close to said bottom edge of said support panel to define a handhold portion at the near said bottom edge of said support panel, to facilitate carrying said catcher's chair from place to place.

25. A method of catching a ball thrown by a pitcher in softball or baseball, comprising: providing a catcher's chair comprising: a horizontal seat, extending from a front end to a back end; a front panel attached to the front end of the seat adapted to function as a leg to place the catcher's chair at a distance above the ground and also extending above the level of the seat to protect at least the groin of the catcher when straddling the catcher's chair and facing toward the front panel, and a support panel supporting said seat; said front panel having rounded lower corners, whereby said catcher's chair can be tilted to the left side or right side by the user, to facilitate catching balls thrown to the left or right of the user; and

sitting on said seat of said catcher's chair, facing forward towards said front panel, and catching balls, tilting said catcher's chair to the left or right, by leaning to catch balls thrown to the left or the right.