Patent Application
20230181991
The present disclosure relates to baseball and softball. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to pitching devices for swing practice.
Baseball is America's pastime and is regarded as the first professional sport in the United States. As a result, baseball and softball games are played at all ages and levels in virtually every city in the U.S. Players who want to improve their batting game often find that they must practice alone, which is complicated due to the requirement for both a pitcher and a batter. To solve this need, various devices have been invented over the years. One of the most common devices for batting practice is a batting tee. A tee holds the ball at a predetermined height, allowing a user to place a ball on the tee and then swing to hit the ball. While this is helpful for beginners, because the ball is motionless and at the same height, it lacks the realism sought by more advanced batters.
To be more realistic, other pitching devices have entered the market. These machines are typically pre-loaded with several balls and are placed at a distance to the batter, effectively pitching the ball to the batter. However, pitching machines usable by a single player are expensive and require a power source. Further, the rate of the pitch is also determined by the machine with few settings for variation. If a batter wishes to change the pitch, they must quickly approach the machine, likely while it is still pitching, to make adjustments. While these machines can be more realistic, their cost and difficulty of use makes them unobtainable and unusable for many, particularly if there is no readily available power source at the practice location.
Accordingly, there is a need for a pitching/tossing device that is inexpensive, easy to use, does not require power, and that still provides a realistic pitch (e.g., motion and variance in position). The present disclosure seeks to solve these and other problems.
In some embodiments, a ball tossing device comprises a base and a lever, the lever comprising a foot portion and a tossing portion, and the base acting as a fulcrum for the lever. In some embodiments, the foot portion and the tossing portion may be removably coupled to one another.
In some embodiments, a method of using the ball tossing device comprises a user placing a ball on the tossing portion, stomping a foot on the foot portion, thereby actuating the lever and tossing the ball upward from the tossing portion, and then hitting the ball with a bat.
The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Reference to the drawings is done throughout the disclosure using various numbers. The numbers used are for the convenience of the drafter only and the absence of numbers in an apparent sequence should not be considered limiting and does not imply that additional parts of that particular embodiment exist. Numbering patterns from one embodiment to the other need not imply that each embodiment has similar parts, although it may.
Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.
It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
The term “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).
As previously discussed, there is a need for a pitching/tossing device that is inexpensive, easy to use, does not require power, and that still provides a realistic pitch (e.g., motion and variance in position). The ball tossing device disclosed herein solves these problems and others.
In some embodiments, as shown in
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Further, even if used with the same sized ball, it may be preferable to have varying positions of the fingers 128, 130 and/or the ball-abutting protrusions 134, 136 so as to achieve different ball positioning results when a user is using the ball tossing device 100. In some instances, the length of the tossing portion 108 may vary, accounting for different arm lengths and swings of users. Further, the second arm 114 may also be elongated or shortened, with each user able to customize for their use by coupling their desired length of second arm 114 to the first arm 110. While a release lever 144 is shown and described, it will be appreciated that other removably attachable coupling mechanisms may be used, such as spring-loaded pins, clips, locking pins, etc.
Additionally, while the foot portion 106 is generally shown as flat, it will be appreciated that other formfactors may be used without departing herefrom. The ball tossing device 100 may be made from plastics, metals, woods, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or any other suitable material. Additionally, the base 102 may comprise non-slip pads, feet, or surfaces, and the foot portion 106 may also comprise non-slip surfaces and/or pads.
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While the lever 104 is generally shown as comprising a first arm 110 coupled to a second arm 114, such a configuration is not required. Indeed, the lever 104 may be of single manufacture from the foot portion 106 to the tossing portion 108. Additionally, while the lever 104 has been shown and described as being removable from the base 102, that is likewise not required and the lever 104 may be more permanently affixed to the base 102 while still remaining pivotable.
As appreciated from the foregoing, the ball tossing device 100 disclosed herein solves the need for a pitching device that is inexpensive, easy to use, does not require power, and that still provides a realistic pitch.
It will be appreciated that systems and methods according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include, incorporate, or otherwise comprise properties or features (e.g., components, members, elements, parts, and/or portions) described in other embodiments. Accordingly, the various features of certain embodiments can be compatible with, combined with, included in, and/or incorporated into other embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, disclosure of certain features relative to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting application or inclusion of said features to the specific embodiment unless so stated. Rather, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can also include said features, members, elements, parts, and/or portions without necessarily departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Moreover, unless a feature is described as requiring another feature in combination therewith, any feature herein may be combined with any other feature of a same or different embodiment disclosed herein. Furthermore, various well-known aspects of illustrative systems, methods, apparatus, and the like are not described herein in particular detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the example embodiments. Such aspects are, however, also contemplated herein.
Exemplary embodiments are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages herein. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/288,277, filed on Dec. 10, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63288277 | Dec 2021 | US |
