QUICK RELEASE BATTING TEE

Abstract

A batting tee is provided that includes a base to which a post is removably mounted. The post includes an upper, distal end for supporting a ball at a height convenient for a batter to hit, and a lower, proximal end to engage the base. The base includes a member that is spring-biased into engagement with the post, the post including an aperture. The aperture removably receives the member so that the post may be released from the base by pulling the member against the spring bias, and the post can be engaged with the base by releasing the member, permitting spring bias to move the member into engagement with the aperture.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a base for a batting tee that includes first and second base halves that are pivotally mounted to each other.

BACKGROUND

Batting or hitting tees have been used for many years, not only for younger children who do not yet have the coordination to hit a pitched ball but also for batting drills and to build the hitter's strength up by repeatedly hitting a stationary ball. Many such tees have been sold by Jugs Sports, Inc. and other companies. Batting tees typically include a base and a post assembly, with the post assembly having a lower end mounted to the base and upper end designed to hold the ball to be hit at a height approximating that of the player's strike zone. The post is typically removably mounted to the base so that the base may be removed from the post, and both may be placed in an equipment bag with balls, bats and catcher's equipment. The removably mounting is typically a threaded mounting that permits the post to be threaded into and unthreaded from the base. However, this can be a time consuming process, which can be problematic immediately before and following a practices and games when the coaches are busiest organizing team activities. Therefore, a goal in batting tee design has been to develop a removable mounting that can provide a secure mounting that can permit the post to be quickly and easily removed from the base.

One proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,821,322. This mount includes a latching engagement with the bar that is engaged in a slot. While this presents a secure engagement, it does include a number of parts, some of which appear to be quite heavy in construction. This presents a problem in that it not only increases the weight in the equipment bag but can also drive up the cost of the batting tee.

It is accordingly an object of this disclosure to come up with a system for mounting a batting tee post to a base that facilitates quick and easy removal, but which is simply in construction and does not dramatically increase the weight or cost of the tee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation sectional view of an embodiment of the present disclosure, depicting the base and a lower end of the post, showing the spring-loaded member engaged with the post; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation sectional view of an embodiment of the present disclosure, depicting the base and a lower end of the post, showing the spring-loaded member disengaged from the post against the bias of the spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.

A batting tee is provided that includes a base to which a post is removably mounted. The post includes an upper, distal end for supporting a ball at a height convenient for a batter to hit, and a lower, proximal end to engage the base. The base includes a member that is spring-biased into engagement with the post, the post including an aperture. The aperture removably receives the member so that the post can be released from the base by pulling the member against the spring bias, and the post can be engaged with the base by releasing the member, permitting spring bias to move the member into engagement with the aperture.

The aperture may extend entirely around the post, and the post may be circular in cross section, with the aperture being annular. The post may further include an annular, radially-outwardly extending ring disposed proximally of the aperture, the ring preventing the post from being removed from the base when the member is in an engaged position. The member may comprise a plug in the shape of a pin.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a system for releasably engaging a batting tee post in a batting tee base. The post may include an upper, distal end for supporting a ball to be struck by a batter and a lower, proximal end for being releasably engaged by the base. The base may include a member that is biased into engagement with the lower end of the post so that the post can be removed from the base when a pulling force is applied to the member to remove it from the post.

The post may be circular in cross section and include a radially-outwardly-extending annular ring at the lower, proximal end, and wherein the member is biased into engagement with the lower, proximal end of the post, distally of the annular ring so that the annular ring prevents the post from being raised distally above the member when the member is engaged with the post. The base may include an aperture and the member may comprise a pin disposed in the aperture, the pin being spring-biased into engagement with the post.

Referring to the figures, a batting tee is generally identified with the numeral 10. Batting tee 10 includes a post 12 and a base 14. Post 12 includes an upper or distal end 16 designed to hold a baseball (not shown). Post 12 typically includes several telescoping sections 18 that may be extended for use with batters desiring the ball to be placed at various heights, or collapsed as depicted for storage and transport. Post 12 also includes a base engagement member 20 to which the post is typically mounted by threads 22. The proximal end of post 12 may be defined by an outwardly radially-extending annular ring 24 that defines an annular aperture 26 disposed distally thereof.

Base 14 includes a post engagement member 28 that is fastened such as by bolts 30 to base 14 within a circular receptor 29. Post engagement member 28 defines an opening 31, usually cylindrical in shape, which is designed to receive post 12. As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, post engagement member 28 includes a plug 32, sometimes referred to herein as a member, which is biased by a spring 34 into engagement in annular aperture 26 of post 12. Plug 32 may be said to be in the configuration of a simple pin.

Plug 32 may include a distal end 36 having a shoulder 38 that abuts spring 34. The plug/spring assembly may be housed in a post engagement assembly 40 that may be threaded at 42 into post engagement member 28. Post engagement assembly 40 may have a proximal end taking the configuration of a nut such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to facilitate easy removal from post engagement member 28. A strap or ring 44 may be mounted at a hole 46 in the end of engagement assembly 40 to facilitate easy withdrawal of the plug against the bias of spring 34.

In operation, post 12 would normally already be threaded into base engagement member 20. To mount post 12 to base 14, plug 32 is pulled out against the bias of spring 34 by the user engaging ring 44 and pulling. This withdraws distal end 36 of plug 32 from opening 31, making space for the distal end of post 12. However, plug 32 remains engaged in post engagement member 28 so it is not discarded or lost. The post is then inserted into opening 31 so that the proximal end of post 12 abuts base 14. Plug 32 is then released, permitting the bias of spring 34 to push the distal end 36 of plug 32 into annular aperture 26. Because annular aperture 26 normally extends entirely around base engagement member 20, post 12 may be at any rotational disposition within the engagement member so the user does not have to “hunt” for an engagement hole.

To remove post 12 from base 14, the user simply pulls on ring 44 to withdraw plug 32 from annular aperture 26, permitting the user to lift post 12 out of base 14.

The present disclosure thus provides a simply mechanism for removably mounting a batting tee post to a base that is inexpensive to build, is light weight, and is easy to use.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A batting tee, comprising:

a base to which a post is removably mounted, the post having an upper, distal end for supporting a ball at a height convenient for a batter to hit, and a lower, proximal end to engage the base, wherein the base includes a member that is spring-biased into engagement with the post, the post including an aperture to removably receive the member so that the post can be released from the base by pulling the member against the spring bias, and the post can be engaged with the base by releasing the member, permitting spring bias to move the member into engagement with the aperture.

2. The batting tee of claim 1 wherein the aperture extends entirely around the post.

3. The batting tee of claim 2 wherein the post is circular in cross section and the aperture is annular.

4. The batting tee of claim 3 wherein the post further includes an annular radially-outwardly extending ring disposed proximally of the aperture, the ring preventing the post from being removed from the base when the member is in an engaged position.

5. The batting tee of claim 1 wherein the member comprises a plug in the shape of a pin.

6. A system for releasably engaging a batting tee post in a batting tee base, comprising:

a post having an upper, distal end for supporting a ball to be struck by a batter, and a lower, proximal end for being releasably engaged by the base; and

a base including a member that is biased into engagement with the lower end of the post so that the post can be removed from the base when a pulling force is applied to the member to remove it from engagement with the post.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the post is circular in cross section and includes a radially-outwardly-extending annular ring at the lower, proximal end, and wherein the member is biased into engagement with the lower, proximal end of the post, distally of the annular ring so that the annular ring prevents the post from being raised distally above the member when the member is engaged with the post.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the base includes an aperture and the member comprises a pin disposed in the aperture, the pin being spring-biased into engagement with the post.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the base includes an aperture and the member comprises a pin disposed in the aperture, the pin being spring-biased into engagement with the post.