Mechanism for Protecting a Baseball Pitcher

Abstract

A mechanism to protect a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher is disclosed. The mechanism includes a base, a post, and a shield. The base, oriented substantially vertically and shaped generally rectangularly, includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The shield is rotatable about the post between a first position designated for a right-handed thrower and/or pitcher and a second position designated for a left-handed thrower and/or pitcher.

Description

FIELD

The present subject matter is directed, in general, to a mechanism to protect a baseball pitcher from injury from a line drive toward the pitcher and more particularly, to a mechanism to protect a pitcher during batting practice.

Background

To investigate how the prior art attempted to solve a current problem involving injuries to baseball pitchers, we investigated the prior art, finding, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,688 to Coulbourn, directed to a protective barrier for use on a baseball field. The barrier is actuated by motion sensors housed within a structure. The protective barrier is actuated when a projectile such as a baseball travels through the sensors' line-of-sight. The barrier serves to sense when a line drive is hit towards a pitcher and will rapidly extend to block the baseball, greatly reducing possibility of harm to a pitcher.

L-frame pitching screens, or “L-screens,” and similar devices have long been used to protect pitchers from being struck by batted balls during batting practice. A typical L-screen includes a tubular frame in the shape of a capital “L,” and includes netting for blocking balls batted toward the pitcher. The L-screen is typically placed near the front of the pitcher's mound or other pitching area so that the pitcher may stand behind the L-screen while pitching batting practice (or while feeding balls into a pitching machine). The pitcher typically stands behind the L-screen and throws pitches over the “short” portion, or lower section, of the L-screen. The pitcher may stand behind the “tall” portion of the screen while pitching (except for a pitcher's throwing arm), or a pitcher may move behind the tall portion of the screen after throwing a pitch. When a ball is hit toward the pitcher, the L-screen protects the pitcher from being struck by the batted ball. An example is US published patent application 2007/0049428 to Stromsborg for an L-screen to protect baseball pitchers. The screen has several screen sections pivotally connected to each another. In addition, the L-screen sections are pivotable, relative to each another, beginning with a collapsed configuration in which screen sections at least partially overlap one another, to a deployed configuration in which the various screen sections form a so-called L-shape. Another L-screen for protecting a baseball pitcher is disclosed in US 2011/0195804 to Hixon et al. The '804 published application discloses a protection panel that is transparent to provide an unobstructed view through the protection panel and has adequate strength to withstand impact of a baseball hit by a batter.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,153,225 and 8,651,981 (both to Morrow) are directed to a pitching screen, providing a first pitching lane and a second pitching lane in a single pitching screen configuration, for allowing left-handed pitchers and right-handed pitchers to pitch without repositioning the pitching screen.

After reviewing practical aspects of prior art mechanisms, described above, it was found that all are cumbersome and therefore inefficient and, further, that none sufficiently protects a pitcher in various pitching situations.

The present subject matter is essentially a frame with a lower section designed to protect ball thrower from the waist to the ground and an upper section pivotable about a vertical axis to protect left- and right-hand throwers.

For purposes of providing a complete disclosure and satisfying the enablement requirement of Title 35, USC, § 112, the hardware (e.g., screws, nuts, bolts, and other faster means) and materials (e.g., netting disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,225 to Morrow and transparent protective panels disclosed in US published application 2011/0195804 to Hixon et al.) of all the prior art described in preceding paragraphs—are hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter is directed to a mechanism for protecting a softball/baseball thrower/pitcher. The mechanism includes a base, a post, and a shield. The base, oriented vertically and shaped rectangularly and being about twice as wide as high, includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The post, which extends above the upper portion of the base, defines a vertical axis (X-X). A pair of feet, secured to opposite ends of the lower portion of the base, extend laterally from the base, for stabilizing the base vertically. A tubular portion of the shield is pivotably mounted to a vertically extending portion of the post. This feature of the present subject matter enables the shield to be rotatable about the vertical axis (X-X), between a first pitching position for a right-handed softball/baseball thrower/pitcher and a second pitching position for a left-handed softball/baseball thrower/pitcher.

An additional feature of the present subject matter is its scalability. By this, we mean that the principles of the present subject matter can be used to provide mechanisms suitably dimensioned and configured to be useful to softball/baseball throwers/pitchers from elementary school through college.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present subject matter will be better understood after referring to the drawings and the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, a perspective view of the mechanism of the present subject matter depicts the shield component of the mechanism in its first position.

FIG. 2, another perspective view of the mechanism of the present subject matter, resembling FIG. 1, demonstrates rotation of the shield component about an axis provided by the post component of the mechanism.

FIG. 3, yet another perspective view of the mechanism of the present subject matter, shows the shield component oriented in the second position.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken from the plane 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken from plane 6-6 in FIG. 3.

Regarding figures and description, similar reference numerals shall be used to refer to similar components throughout the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a mechanism to protect a softball and/or baseball thrower and/or pitcher includes a base 100, a post 120, and a shield 140. Base 100, shown oriented substantially vertically and shaped generally rectangularly, includes an upper portion 160 and a lower portion 180. In the figures of the illustrated embodiment, the base 100 is shown dimensioned and configured to protect adult thrower/pitchers and therefore has a height H ranging from about 30 to about 40 inches and a width W ranging from about 60 to about 80 inches. A person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”)—which is the field of the present subject matter—will appreciate that principles of the present subject matter include a variety of mechanisms dimensioned and configured to protect throwers/pitchers of all age groups.

The post 120, fixed to and extending vertically upwardly from the upper portion 160 of the base 100, defines a vertical axis X-X. The shield 140 is pivotably mounted to a vertically upwardly extending portion of the post 120. In FIGS. 1-5, the shield 140 has a height and a width approximately equal to the height. Thus, each of the height and width of the shield 140 ranges from about 30 inches to about 40 inches. A POSITA will appreciate that other embodiments of the shield would naturally be dimensioned and configured to protect throwers and/or pitchers of all age groups. The shield 140 is rotatable about the post 120 between a first position (FIG. 1) for a right-handed pitcher and a second position (FIG. 3) for a left-handed pitcher.

The mechanism of the present subject matter further includes a pair of feet 200 (FIG. 3), fixed to and extending laterally from spaced-apart lower surface portions of the lower portion 180 of the base 100. In accompanying figures of the mechanism of the present subject matter, each of the feet 200 extends laterally from the base 100 by a length ranging from about 2 inches to about 14 inches or more, to support the base 100 upon a surface S. As an example, each of the pair of feet 200 can extend laterally from the base 100 by a length ranging from about two inches to about fourteen inches or to about two or three feet, for supporting the base 100 upon a surface S. Moreover, as shown in the figures, the surface S is substantially horizontal.

Yet another embodiment of the mechanism of present subject matter, designed to protect a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher, and depicted in accompanying FIGS. 4 and 5—shall now be described in detail.

Another embodiment of the post 120a (FIG. 4) is fixed to and extends vertically upwardly from the upper portion 160 of the base 100, as described above. In this embodiment the post 120a also extends to the lower portion 180 of the base 100, to firmly stabilize the post 120a relative to the base 100.

In addition, FIGS. 4, 5 present another embodiment of the feet 200 described above in relation to FIGS. 1-3. The present subject matter further includes at least one embodiment of the feet 200a, exemplified by a pair of tubular members 210 located at spaced-apart end portions of the lower portion 180 of the base 100 and extending laterally therefrom. (FIGS. 4, 5.) One tubular member 210, since it is hollow, enables an axle (not shown) of suitable diameter to be disposed therethrough. The foot 200a (i.e., and also the tubular member 210) includes a pair of wheels 220 fixed to opposite end portions of the axle, for enabling the mechanism of this embodiment of the present subject matter to be moved from one location (e.g., a storage facility) to another location (e.g., a playing field). Moreover, the other foot 200a of this embodiment (FIGS. 4, 5) can be lifted, to enable this embodiment of the present subject matter to be wheeled across a surface S, whenever desired.

The mechanism of this embodiment (FIGS. 4, 5) of the present subject matter further includes a ceiling 240 extending substantially horizontally from an upper portion 260 of this embodiment of the shield 140a in relation to the surface S. The ceiling 240 is dimensioned and configured to protect a softball and/or baseball thrower and/or pitcher, especially the head of such person.

The mechanism of the present subject matter (FIGS. 1-5) additionally includes a spring-biased pin 280 mounted on the shield 140, 140a. In operation, an end portion of the spring-biased pin 280 automatically forcefully fits into an associated aperture or hole of suitable dimension and configuration (due to the preselected spring constant). The aperture or hole into which the pin 280 fits is located on the upper portion 160 of the base 100 of the mechanism to securely retain the shield 140, 140a “locked-in-place” whenever the shield 140, 140a of the mechanism is moved to its first position (FIG. 1) and whenever the shield is moved to its second position (FIG. 3).

Turning now to FIG. 6, which is an enlarged sectional view taken from plane 6-6 in FIG. 3, a solid post 120 is shown disposed in a hollow portion of the shield component 140, 140a of the mechanism with enough of a gap between the exterior surface of the post 120 and the inner surface of the shield 140, 140a for enabling shield 140, 140a to pivot about the axis X-X.

While a tubular post is certainly within the scope of the present subject matter, a solid post is preferred for material strength and durability purposes.

The mechanism of the present subject matter further includes a pair of braces 290. Each brace 290 has opposite end portions. In the illustrated embodiments, one end portion of the brace 290 is fixed to the post 120 (as shown in FIGS. 1-3), or to the post 120a (as shown in FIGS. 4, 5) and the other end portion is fixed to the upper portion 160 of the base 100. Also, each brace 290 is angled relative to post 120 and upper portion 160 of base 100, for stabilizing vertical orientation of the axis X-X relative to the surface S.

To summarize, the present subject matter is directed to a protective baseball/softball batting practice L-Screen (or “swivel piece”) feature of the present subject matter that can be easily rotated about a vertical axis to accommodate either a right-handed or a left-handed thrower or pitcher. There is no need to move the base component of the mechanism of the present subject matter for a different-handed thrower. In embodiments of the present subject matter, a spring-loaded pin can be fixed to (such as by being welded to) an upper section of the base, for enabling a user simply to pull the spring-loaded pin up, to release the swivel piece, for enabling the swivel piece to be spun about the vertical axis. In operation, the spring-loaded pin automatically inserts itself into an aperture or hole of suitable size located on the upper surface of the base. The swivel piece also includes head protection for use in batting cages to protect a thrower from head shots when balls are batted inside the cage. The head protection consists of a top or upper section for the swivel piece, on a 90-degree hinge, which flips 180 degrees from one side to the other of the upper portion 260 of the shield 140a, depending upon whether a right- or a left-handed thrower is using the head protection feature.

To be clear about the head-protection feature of the present subject matter, the ceiling component 240 of this embodiment (FIGS. 4, 5) is shown horizontally disposed and extending toward a thrower or pitcher when the shield component 140a is “fixed” in the second position. The 90-degree hinge feature of this embodiment, located along the upper portion 260 of the shield 140a, enables the ceiling component 240 to be flipped 180 degrees to the other side of the upper portion 260 of the shield 140a to extend horizontally toward a thrower or pitcher when the shield 140a is “fixed” in the first position.

What has been illustrated and described in this patent application is a mechanism for protecting a softball and/or baseball thrower and/or pitcher. While the mechanism of the present subject matter has been shown and described in reference to current embodiments, the present subject matter is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, many alternatives, changes, and/or modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present subject matter after this patent specification and the accompanying drawing figures have been reviewed. Thus, alternatives, changes, and modifications are to be viewed as part of the present subject matter insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mechanism for protecting a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher, comprising: a base (100) shaped generally rectangularly, disposed substantially vertically and having an upper portion (160) and a lower portion (180);a post (120) fixed to and extending vertically upwardly from the upper portion (160) of the base (100) and defining a vertical axis (X-X);a shield (140, 140A) pivotably mounted to a vertically extending portion of the post (120), wherein the shield is rotatable about the vertical axis (X-X) between a first position located for a right-handed softball and/or baseball thrower and/or pitcher and a second position located for a left-handed softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of feet (200) fixed to spaced-apart end portions of a lower surface of the lower portion (180) of the base (100) and extending laterally from the lower portion (180), for supporting the base on a surface (S).

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the surface is substantially horizontal.

4. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein at least one of the pair of feet is a tubular member (200A), and wherein the mechanism further comprises: an axle (210) disposed through the tubular member (200A); anda spaced-apart pair of wheels (220) rotatably mounted on opposite end portions of the axle (210), for moving the mechanism over the surface.

5. The mechanism of claim 2, including a ceiling (240) extending substantially horizontally from an upper portion (260) of the shield (140A) in relation to the surface (S), wherein the ceiling is dimensioned and configured to protect the head of a softball and/or a baseball thrower and/or pitcher.

6. A mechanism for protecting a baseball pitcher, comprising: a base (100) shaped generally rectangularly, disposed substantially vertically, and including an upper portion (160) and a lower portion (180), wherein the base (100) has a height ranging from about 30 to about 40 inches and a width ranging from about 60 to about 80 inches;a post (120A) fixed to and extending vertically upwardly from the upper portion (160) of the base (100) and downwardly to the lower portion (180) of the base (100), wherein the post (120A) defines a longitudinal axis (X-X) substantially vertically oriented relative to a surface; anda shield (140A) pivotably mounted to a vertically extending portion of the post (120A) and having a height and a width, each of which ranges from about 30 to about 40 inches, wherein the shield (140A) is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (X-X) defined by the post (120X) between a first position designated for a right-handed pitcher and a second position designated for a left-handed pitcher.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, further comprising: a pair of feet (200) fixed to spaced-apart end portions of a lower surface of the lower portion (180) of the base (100) and extending laterally from the lower portion (180) of the base (100), wherein each of the pair of feet (200) extends laterally from the base (100) by a length ranging from about two inches to about fourteen inches or to about two or three feet, for supporting the base (100) upon a surface (S).

8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the surface is substantially horizontal.

9. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein at least one of the pair of feet (200) is a tubular member (200A), and wherein the mechanism further comprises: an axle (210) disposed through the tubular member (200A); anda spaced-apart pair of wheels (220) rotatably mounted on opposite end portions of the axle (210), for moving the mechanism over the surface.

10. The mechanism of claim 7, including a ceiling (240) extending substantially horizontally from an upper portion (260) of the shield (140A) in relation to the surface (S), wherein the ceiling (240) is dimensioned and configured to protect the head of a pitcher.