Portable Baseball Backstop

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a portable baseball backstop mounted on a vehicle trailer and includes a 3 section fencing unit, with optional fourth section placed above the center portion of the 3 section unit. The backstop is permanently attached or mounted to the trailer and easily placed at the desired location for set up and use by players. The backstop is lifted with the help of a winch / pulley system out of the trailer and set up on the ground with the trailer serving as support system for the backstop. Each of the sections of the 3 section unit are secured in the ground for safe use of the backstop and to eliminate any falling of the backstop during play. The backstop is also secured sufficiently to withstand baseball speeds of about 90+ miles per hour.In particular disclosed herein is a first and second planar fence sections. The first planar fence section is attached to a movable shaft. The movable shaft is pivotally connected to a first end of a trailer. The second planar fence section is attached to the first planar fence section, and the second planar fence section is movable with respect to the first planar fence section. A winch is fixed on a second end of the trailer for lifting the movable shaft from a first position to a second position. A pulley system is attached at the first end of the trailer. A cable wound over the winch is secured to the shaft through the pulley system. The portable baseball backstop assembly is easily transported with the trailer, and assembled for use at a variety of locations. The trailer serves to both secure the backstop and transport it to desired locations.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This is a non-provisional patent application based on co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 211,502 (Attorney Docket No. MEBB-15-1) previously titled “Portable Baseball Backstop”, filed on Aug. 28, 2015, the priority of which is hereby claimed and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to portable fencing for providing safety to spectators while a team is practicing baseball. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable backstop which is mounted on a trailer for easy deployment at a desired location.[0004]Description of the Related Art[0005]Baseball is a very popular game in North America and parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and East Asia. The game requires practice by the individual player and the team to build and maintain skills. For team practice, a backstop is needed...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a portable backstop fence unit that can be easily moved and assembled at different locations. It is designed to withstand the force of a ball hitting against it. The fence unit consists of a movable shaft and a planar fence section that is attached to the shaft and can rotate along it. A winch is fixed on the trailer and can lift the shaft from a first position to a second position. The fence can stand vertical on the ground in the second position. This portable backstop fence unit covers a large area and can be quickly assembled at a desired location. It reduces the time required for assembly compared to conventional portable backstop systems.

Problems solved by technology

Many of the current backstops in public places which are usable by little league teams, or high school or college teams are in disrepair, with holes in the netting or fencing, and often rusted.

There are also a limited number of the backstops available for the many teams who need them.

However, the current portable backstops fail to cover desired area for protection of spectators from wild pitches or foul balls, or have the desired safety features for young players.

Moreover, the current portable backstops fail to achieve safety conditions such as preventing injuries from wild pitches or foul balls and also maintaining stability of the backstop.

Portable backstops with wheels exist, but have the problem of needing to be guided manually to be placed at the desired locations for practice of the game as a team.

The set-up of these types of backstops on wheels can be difficult based on weight of the backstop and the ground conditions for sliding over the dirt or grass.

Further, the manual deployment of the portable backstops from trailers (i.e., placement in a truck or trailer and its subsequent removal for use) can be cumbersome, needing man power and is a time consuming process.

However, such practice areas do not provide a solution for a team to practice baseball (“situational practice”).

However, the mechanism fails to achieve a perpendicular position of the deck with respect to the ground.

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