Three Dimensional Strike Zone Apparatus
A pitching apparatus comprising a three dimensional strike area assembly having a plurality of zones. The plurality of zones includes one or more target zones and a support, wherein the strike area assembly is disposed on the support at one or more zones of the strike area assembly, and a back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly including areas near the back corners and back edges of one or more of the target zones, wherein when an impact is detected at the one or more target zones the impact will cause at least part of the strike area assembly to actuate.
Conventional baseball pitching aids typically involve using a target for a pitcher that represents the strike zone for a pitcher. However, judging which pitches are balls or strikes can be difficult for a practicing pitcher to visually ascertain from a distance. This is even more of an issue for pitchers desiring to advance their pitching skills by targeting a particular spot or area of a strike zone.
Some of the earliest pitching aids used by amateur ball players were merely basic objects found around a ballpark or home that represented artificial “strike” zones. However, later more sophisticated pitching devices included other types of practice aids. These devices included pitching aids which allowed a pitcher to receive indications of whether they have thrown a strike or a ball.
However, these devices are typically limited to two dimensional targets and are of little value to a pitcher who desires to advance their pitching skills by targeting a particular area of a three dimensional strike zone. Pitchers are limited in their use of these devices, as they are only able to target the front plane or zone of a strike zone, or to miss it. Also, outside of a basic visual or audio indication that a ball or a strike had been thrown, the functional capabilities of these devices are generally quite limited.
For many pitchers however desiring to advance their pitching skills, determining balls and strikes using a two dimensional target may not be very useful. This is due to the strike zone being in the form of a three dimensional imaginary box over the home plate. Furthermore, despite the formal rules, umpires in baseball games differ in the strike zones that they recognize.
In recent years, Major League Baseball (MLB) has experimented with laser light technology in order to standardize the strike zone and further to measure umpires' personal strike zones. However, because balls and strikes are still called by the umpires, and not laser light technology, adjusting ones pitch to a specific umpire or what's called “painting” i.e., consistently hitting specific areas such as the back corners and the back edges of a strike zone is a skill that is greatly desired by pitchers.
As shown in
Referring now to
Further in
Referring also to the illustrations of
However none of the current pitching devices or aids disclose a three dimensional apparatus that represents a three dimensional strike zone over a home plate, allowing a pitcher to advance their pitching skills by targeting, and or and receiving feedback, regarding pitching accuracy when hitting specific backdoor areas of the three dimensional strike zone e.g., the areas on or near the back corners and edges of a three dimensional strike zone.
Furthermore, none of the current pitching devices or aids disclose a three dimensional apparatus that is representative of the three dimensional strike zone, and which orientation can be adjusted as needed in order to adjust or reset the apparatus to make those specific areas easier or more difficult to hit.
It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus that a pitcher can use to advance their pitching skills by receiving instant feedback that the pitcher is able to consistently hit those specific back door areas of the three dimensional strike zone. Moreover, it is also desirable to have an apparatus that can be adjusted as needed in order to adjust or reset the orientation of the apparatus, to make those specific areas easier or more difficult to hit.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the deficiencies of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA pitching apparatus including a three dimensional strike area assembly having a plurality of zones. The plurality of zones of the pitching apparatus includes one or more target zones and a support, wherein the strike area assembly is disposed on the support at one or more zones of the strike area assembly.
The pitching apparatus further includes a back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly including the areas near the back corners and back edges of one or more of the target zones, wherein when an impact is detected at the one or more target zones, the impact will cause at least part of the strike area assembly to actuate. The pitching apparatus further includes that, the strike area assembly includes at least two side zones.
The pitching apparatus also includes at least one of the one or more strike area assembly target zones having zone target indicia disposed thereupon, wherein the target indicia is disposed on the one or more strike area assembly target zones, on or near at least part of the areas near the back corners and back edges of the strike area assembly target zones.
The pitching apparatus further includes that, when an impact is detected in an area where the target indicia is disposed, the strike area assembly will actuate. The pitching apparatus also includes that when the strike area assembly actuates, one or more of lights and sound can be caused to activate. The pitching apparatus further includes that, when the strike area assembly actuates one or more of the vertical position, horizontal position, and orientation of the strike area assembly can change.
Also, the pitching apparatus includes that an adjuster can be coupled to one or more of the support and the strike area assembly, and that when the strike area assembly is caused to actuate, the adjuster can be used to cause the strike area assembly to deactuate.
The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure.
Overview of the System
Referring back to
However, as presently disclosed the apparatus disclosed herein is not limited to practicing or training for the sport of baseball, as the apparatus may be used also for softball, other sports such as tennis, lacrosse, cricket, or any other activity where a pitcher or athlete having a need or desire to target and consistently hit a particular location, and receive instant feedback from, a three-dimensional target for training or otherwise. As further disclosed herein, pitching practice is not limited to actions or activities performed for the purposes of enhancing abilities in particular sport. For example, the pitching apparatus disclosed herein may be also be used in amusement parks, commercial venues, and or arcades, etc. for leisure and or gaming purposes.
As a result, a pitcher as disclosed herein may include anyone that uses a baseball, softball, or any type of projectile to target and attempt to impact the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 with the projectile.
The three dimensional strike area assembly 500 illustrated in
Also, further illustrated in
In one example, target indicia can be different colors that are painted on or near at least part of the edges (507, 519, and 501). However, in another example target indicia can also be tape, engraving or be ingrained within, or other adhesive, or applied differentiator, that is disposed on the assembly 500, having a different texture, color, or design than the target zone of the assembly 500.
The strike area assembly 500 can be composed of a hard material such as a plastic which can cause the assembly 500 to vibrate when impacted by a pitched object. In another example however, the assembly 500 can be composed of a semi-hard material such as polyethylene foam other semi-hard foam based, or non-foam based material such as rubber, particle board or other wood, etc. which can vary in hardness.
In yet another example, the strike area assembly 500 may be inflatable, having included beams or ridges for maintaining shape. In any of the above examples however, the material composition of the assembly 500 must be sufficiently firm enough to maintain the shape and stability of the assembly 500 during use. As discussed below, the composition of the strike area assembly 500 must maintain enough stability for securing sensors, audio and or visual devices, and or other electronics that can be used for device actuation purposes, as discussed below in reference to
Moreover, the dimensions or size of the of the strike area assembly 500 may vary based on the shape of the assembly 500. As illustrated in
In one example, the strike area assembly 500 can be cubical, having dimensions of 17 inches in length, 17 inches in height, and having a depth of 17 inches. However depending on the shape of the strike area assembly 500, the width, height, and or depth may vary in order to suit the different zone sizes and dimensions of the assembly zone 500.
Also as further illustrated in
In another example however, mounting the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 in a pitching area may include first mounting the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 on one or more bases 525 (e.g., one or more stabilizing apparatuses also made out of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable material or any combination thereof, used for stabilizing the assembly 500). In this example, mounting the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 in a pitching area may also include mounting or disposing the support 513 on one or more bases 525.
In yet another example, mounting the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 in a pitching area can include disposing the strike area assembly 500 on a support 513, by suspending the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 from streams, wires, rope, or any elastic or non-elastic cord connected to the strike area assembly 500. In this example, the assembly can be disposed at one or more of the front, sides, and top target zones (507, 519, and 501), the one or more supports 513 being sufficiently stable to hold the strike zone assembly 500 in place for targeting.
In yet another example, the strike zone assembly 500 support 513 may include a ball and socket joint device that movably connects the support 513 and the strike zone assembly 500. Also, as will be discussed further with reference to
Accordingly, now that the strike area assembly 500, target zones (503, 512, and 523), outer edges along each of the target zones (503, 512, and 523), and target indicia (504, 515, and 517) disposed on the target zones have been described, the back door area of the strike area assembly 500 will now be discussed.
In some sports such as baseball, consistently targeting and hitting the different areas along the back door of a strike zone is a skill that is greatly desired by pitchers. For example, hitting the back door in the sport of baseball, or having a three dimensional apparatus that can be used for pitching practice that enables a pitcher to practice hitting the back door of a strike zone will allow pitchers to become more accurate when throwing sliders curveballs and or other pitches. This will in time allow a pitcher to obtain enough accuracy to “paint” the back door i.e., consistently hit specific areas around the back door area such as the back corners and the back edges area of a strike zone.
The back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 is represented by the areas near the back corners and back edges of the target zones. In one example the areas near the back corners and back edges may be areas within zero to seven inches from the respective edges or corner. Illustrated in
The corners (605 and 606) toward the back of the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 represent back door corners of the back door area. As illustrated in
Referring to
Further as illustrated in
In the example illustration of
Although in the above example, the higher valued target locations along the back door area have target indicia disposed thereon, target indicia may be present on at least part of corners and edges of any target zone i.e., top 503, front 511, bottom 512, and or side zones 523.
In one example referring to
In yet another example of the above gaming illustration, the apparatus 500 may have target indicia having different colors or patterns on each target zone (503, 511, 512 and or 523). The different colors are assigned unique point values (similar to a dart board), so that pitchers can compete in a pitching skill game. When the ball hits a color the pitcher gets the number of points for that color. Each pitcher may get a predefined number of pitches. At the end of the inning, each pitcher totals his points to see who has the most points. The pitcher with the most points wins the game.
However, although a three dimensional cubical or rectangular strike area assembly 500, may benefit a pitcher, and may employ target indicia on each of its target zones to assist in those benefits, as discussed below in
For example, the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 may include many different shapes and or sizes having a variety of target zones and or corners.
For example the assembly of
The cross sectional view of strike area assembly 500 of
As discussed earlier, targeting the back door area of the three dimensional strike zone i.e., the higher valued target areas of the strike zone, will allow pitchers to become more accurate when throwing sliders, curveballs, and or other pitches—in time allowing a pitcher to obtain enough accuracy to “paint” the back door. Using the example shapes in
This may be very useful because, at least in the sport of baseball, the pitcher's target area or strike zone is typically determined by an umpire. However naturally, umpires may tend to have different boundaries for a strike zone. For example, one umpire may view the height and dimensions of the three dimensional strike zone perfectly per the guidelines of the sport.
However, some umpires may have a tendency to view the strike zone to be some distance or have different dimensions (e.g., inches either to the right, left, or in some other direction) with respect to the ideal strike zone location per the guidelines of the sport. In these cases, there are many benefits to practicing using a three dimensional strike area assembly 500 having different shapes, as it further allows a pitcher to become more accurate when hitting or targeting different areas of the back door area of the three dimensional strike zone assembly 500.
However, as discussed the three dimensional strike area assembly 500 may have target indicia such as (504, 515, and 517) at least partially disposed on or near one or more target zones, edges, or corners of the three dimensional assembly 500. In another example of the present disclosure, when the one or more strike area assembly 500 target zones detects an impact, the detected impact will cause the strike area assembly to actuate.
For example, when a target zone or e.g., target zone indicia 504, 515, and 517 is impacted by an object, the strike zone assembly 500 may shake or wobble. One example is that when the strike zone assembly 500 is impacted at any target zone, the strike zone assembly 500 will wobble. Another key example of the present disclosure is that when a pitcher targets or attempts to work on the accuracy of a particular type of pitch, and successfully hits the back door area of the strike area target 500, the impact detected at the back door area will cause the strike zone assembly 500 to actuate.
For example, the strike zone assembly 500 could wobble, light up (i.e., lights would emit light letting the pitcher know that the pitch was a strike, and or that the impact of the pitch was detected at the backdoor area), emit sound, etc. This actuation may also be in the form of changing the direction or orientation of the strike zone assembly 500.
For example, if the strike zone assembly 500 is hit by a pitch within the top back door zone 601, the strike zone assembly 500 will tilt upward. That is, if the back door zone 601 detects an impact, the orientation of the front zone 511 of assembly 500 may tilt upward. In the same illustration however, if the strike zone assembly 500 is hit by a pitch along one or more of the side back door zones 603, the strike zone assembly 500 will twist horizontally left or right, or toward the direction of the side back door zone 603. Further, although the side back door zone 603 is only shown on the right side of the assembly 500, a side backdoor zone also exist on the left side of the strike zone assembly 500 (not shown). That being said, a similar change in orientation would apply if the left side of the assembly were to detect an impact. As such, the strike zone assembly 500 will tilt upward and or horizontally, thereby changing the orientation of the strike zone assembly 500 based on where it is hit.
Referring to speaker 802 disposed on the back zone 801 of
Moreover, the same applies to lights used during actuation, which may be florescent, led, or other type of light emitting device. For example, strike area assembly may include one or more lights, located completely within the apparatus 500, be disposed on the support 513, or base 525, and or be communicably coupled with the strike zone assembly 500, but otherwise not disposed thereon.
In another example, an application on a display such as a Personal Handheld Device or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) may receive one or more notifications that an impact has been detected by the assembly 500. In this example, the strike zone assembly 500 may include analog or digital electronics such as processors and memory for transmitting and or causing sensors 803 to record impact location and magnitude data. Such telecommunication devices such as Bluetooth, radio frequency, digital instrumentation controllers such as (MIDI) controllers, or other wireless data transmitters and or receivers can be used to transmit information obtained by sensors disposed on the apparatus 500, as discussed below.
Other telecommunication methods may include using optical links, infrared, or using telecommunication networks such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks by using Short Message Service (SMS) to receive and transmit data. Accordingly, these telemetry methods have transmitters and receivers, such as radio transmitters for Bluetooth, or other radio transmission, light generation and or amplification devices such as Light Amplification Devices, for transmitting optical telemetry, or data transmitters using the GSM network and associated receivers.
In one example, transmitters and or receivers may be disposed within the three dimensional strike area assembly 500. Transmitters in the present disclosure also include transmitters that relay both light and sound. In another example, the transmitters will actuate when one or more sensors are impacted.
Referring to the illustration in
The above discussion referring to
In one example, to stabilize any wobbling or vibrating due to the strike area assembly 500 being impacted, the adjuster 900 may include stabilizing devices such as shocks or dampers. In another example, the adjuster 900 may include a motor and one or more orientation devices such as a gyroscope and or an accelerometer. One or more of these devices may be disposed within an internal compartment 905, of the adjuster 900 housing unit 903.
Furthermore in another example, the support 513 or the strike area assembly 500 may detect changes in the orientation of the strike area assembly 500 due to actuation, and subsequently reset or modify the orientation of the assembly 500. In yet another example, the orientation devices such as gyroscopes and or accelerometers may be disposed within the strike area assembly 500 for detecting changes in assembly 500 orientation, while the motor and other adjuster 900 electrical devices are disposed in one or more of the adjuster housing 903, support 513, or base 525. Not limited to the above configuration, the adjuster 900 electrical devices may also be disposed in the strike area assembly 500, so long as they are secured within the assembly 500 in a way that the impact of pitches do not disable the disclosed functionality of the assembly 500.
Furthermore, in another example, displaying or activating one or more lights, transmitting one or more wired or wireless signals, and or emitting one or more sounds, may be deactuated using electrical switches, or other electrical devices that are capable of detecting when the assembly 500 is actuated by including circuitry used to detect the flow of current e.g., in closed circuits, or the lack of current flow in open circuits. In another example, the electrical devices may include digital timers, for allowing the strike area assembly 500 to be in an actuated state for an allowed period of time, before being deactuated.
In yet another example, the adjuster 900 may be used to tilt or adjust the orientation of the strike area assembly 500. The adjuster 900 may be wired, and adjusted using some wired connection and controller. However, the adjuster may also be adjusted by remote control such as using a wireless remote transmitter on a pitcher's key chain, or other handheld remote transmission device. However, the adjuster 900 may also be controlled remotely using one or more software applications on portable handheld devices such as a smartphones or personal digital assistants (PDAs), running one or more software applications such as Windows, Android, IOS, or other software applications known in the art.
Remote transmission devices, smartphones, PDAs, or other devices may have one or more processors and memory capable of storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the adjuster 900 to deactuate, actuate, and or adjust the orientation of the strike zone assembly 500. In another example, the one or more processors can wirelessly cause the adjuster 900 to perform the above actions through the use of telemetry using transmitters and receivers. By way of example, having the ability to adjust the strike area assembly 500, a particular target zone (511, 503, 523 or 512) can be adjusted so that it becomes a more difficult, or less difficult, to hit a desired target location on that particular zone. This functionality can be used in addition to the deactuation process described above, or when the deactuation process using the adjuster 903 has been disabled.
As shown in
However it is not necessary for a connector 1000 to be disposed on the strike area assembly 500, instead the engager 901 may alternatively be a detachable device, for connecting to the strike area assembly 500 directly. In the above example, the detachable device may use one or more connection devices such as the ball and socket joint, as discussed above, a screw apparatus, bolting, and or snapping and or locking into place, such as using quick connect coupling devices, or other devices commonly used for connecting tubing, hoses, etc.
The housing unit 903 and an engager 901 of adjuster 900 however may include a ball and socket joint, sliding joint, or any other multi-directional movable joint or connection that can be adjusted or moved into one or more of the vertical positions, horizontal positions, and or orientations (e.g., directional rotation) of the strike zone assembly 500. Further, in another example, in lieu of a ball and socket joint, the housing unit 903 and engager 901 may be a single unit, such as containing a motor interacting with, and having a connection disposed one or more gears, for connecting with the strike area assembly 500. In this example, the engager 901 may just be a connection point of the housing unit 903.
The adjuster 901 in another example, may be configured to cause the strike area assembly 500 to rotate and or pause at different speeds. This rotation and or pausing action of the assembly 500 would be useful for a pitcher who desires an even higher level of performance and accuracy, by practicing having to hit different areas of the strike area assembly 500.
This function of the apparatus will also better equip pitchers with an ability of being capable of changing the type of the pitch to be thrown quickly, while maintaining accuracy, in targeting the back door zones of the strike zone assembly 500 described above. In one example, the above functionality is implemented by either initially configuring the one or more processors and memory or by using telemetry to send one or more commands to a processor via the remote transmitter for configuration, to enable the processor to cause the motor, and or engager 901, to engage within the adjuster 900.
The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. It will be appreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that features described above in accordance with any embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter can be utilized, either alone or in combination, with any other described feature, in any other embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter.
In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained herein, Applicants desire all patent rights afforded by the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims include all modifications and alterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A pitching apparatus comprising:
- a three dimensional strike area assembly having a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including one or more target zones;
- a support, wherein the strike area assembly is disposed on the support at one or more zones of the strike area assembly;
- a back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly, the back door area including the areas near the back corners and back edges of one or more target zones; and
- wherein when an impact is detected at the one or more target zones the impact will cause at least part of the strike area assembly to actuate.
2. The pitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more strike area assembly target zones has zone target indicia disposed thereupon.
3. The pitching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the target indicia is disposed on the one or more strike area assembly target zones on or near at least part of the areas near the back corners and back edges.
4. The pitching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the strike area assembly actuates when an impact is detected in an area where the target indicia is disposed.
5. The pitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the strike area assembly actuates, one or more of lights and sound is caused to activate.
6. The pitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the strike area assembly actuates, one or more of the vertical position, horizontal position, and orientation of the strike area assembly is changed.
7. The pitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strike area assembly includes at least two side zones.
8. The pitching apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjuster coupled to one or more of the support and the strike area assembly.
9. The pitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the strike area assembly is caused to actuate the adjuster causes the strike area assembly to deactuate.
10. A pitching apparatus comprising:
- a three dimensional strike area assembly having a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including one or more target zones;
- a support, wherein the strike area assembly is disposed on the support at one or more zones of the strike area assembly;
- a back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly, the back door area including the areas near the back corners and back edges of one or more target zones;
- an adjuster coupled to one or more of the support and the strike area assembly;
- wherein when an impact is detected at the one or more target zones the impact will cause at least part of the strike area assembly to actuate; and
- wherein the strike area assembly is caused to deactuate using the adjuster.
11. The pitching apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more strike area assembly target zones has zone target indicia disposed thereupon.
12. The pitching apparatus of claim 11, wherein the target indicia is disposed on the one or more strike area assembly target zones on or near at least part of the areas near the back corners and back edges of the target zones.
13. The pitching apparatus of claim 11, wherein the strike area assembly actuates when an impact is detected in an area where the target indicia is disposed.
14. The pitching apparatus of claim 10, wherein when the strike area assembly actuates, one or more of lights and sound is caused to activate.
15. The pitching apparatus of claim 10, wherein when the strike area assembly actuates, one or more of the vertical position, horizontal position, and orientation of the strike area assembly is changed.
16. The pitching apparatus of claim 10, wherein the strike area assembly includes at least two side zones.
17. A pitching apparatus comprising:
- a three dimensional strike area assembly having a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including one or more target zones;
- a support, wherein the strike area assembly is disposed on the support at one or more zones of the strike area assembly;
- a back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly, the back door area including the areas near the back corners and back edges of one or more target zones;
- an adjuster coupled to one or more of the support and the strike area assembly;
- one or more processors and memory that store instructions that when executed by the one or more processors: cause the strike area assembly to actuate, when an impact is detected at the one or more target zones; and cause the strike area assembly to deactuate using the adjuster.
18. The pitching apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more strike area assembly target zones has zone target indicia disposed thereupon.
19. The pitching apparatus of claim 18, wherein the target indicia is disposed on the one or more strike area assembly target zones on or near at least part of the areas near the back corners and back edges of the target zones.
20. The pitching apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors and memory that store instructions that when executed by the one or more processors:
- cause one or more sensors disposed on the one or more strike area assembly target zones to record pitch impact location and magnitude data.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 14, 2015
Publication Date: May 18, 2017
Applicant: Precision Sports Technology, LLC (Georgetown, TX)
Inventor: Michael Parks (Georgetown, TX)
Application Number: 14/941,574