T-Ball 4 Tykes

Abstract

This invention relates to a baseball batter's training apparatus. This device consists of a supporting base that consists of four arms as stabilizers, attached to a hub. Extending upward from the hub is a vertical lower post, This lower post contains an actuator that drives a fitting that moves up and down it the upper post. When the motor is energized, the upper post is continuously moved vertically in an upward or downward direction. Different length inserted height adjustment posts are used to accommodate for the height of the batter. The ball holder is a stiff sponge like material that can support any ball. The main purpose of this apparatus is to aid a batter in developing better hand / eye coordination.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A continuously or timed vertically oscillating batting practice, or in-game T-Ball apparatus. It is comprised of having a four supporting arms base, attached to a hub. The top of the hub has an upright fixed post. The bottom half allows an actuator to lift and lower a post in a vertically unrestricted shaft. Different length posts are used to accommodate the height of the batter. At the top of the post is a stiff sponge like support that the ball rests atop. The apparatus can be run by a battery or power supply.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to devices that are used for batting swing training, or in a game situation.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are a variety of T-Ball Stands that have been presented to and accepted by the United States of America Patent and Trademark Office. They all have some purpose along with some differences in design or structure that allow the Patent Office to accept their invention as unique, and issue a well deserved Patent. This invention, as the others, is there for one main reason. To elevate the user to become more proficient in being able to increase their concentration and skills while they are at bat in a baseball game. Children from the age of three to about the age of seven usually play in T-Ball baseball games where they don't face anyone actually pitching a ball to them. One reason is that at that age the pitchers lack the strength and control needed to reach the plate with any accuracy. Ergo the T-Ball Stand to eliminate that phase of the game. As a child gets older and taller they will start to play in ballgames where there is actually a real pitcher that is throwing the ball they must hit. Even at that young age of seven and eight the pitcher will be throwing a pitch similar to an eephus pitch. That is a pitch where the ball comes in at a high arc, due to the pitcher's lack of speed. That ball will drop towards the ground as it approaches the plate. This invention, T-Ball 4 Tykes, addresses that situation. By having the ball move in a vertical plane, the batter can get used to seeing a change in height, a necessary skill for a top hitter. With this invention, T-Ball 4 Tykes, he will be getting the training to approximate where the level of the ball will be when they start their swing.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0004] T-Ball Stands have long been used in baseball for practice and in game situations. Not one previous invention, until this one, has addressed the batters concern to hit a ball continuously changing its vertical positions by actually moving either up or down. These prior art baseball T-Ball devices do not provide a solution to these problems. U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,687 B2, William Coleman Lay, has a plural ended pedestal, and that is not pertinent to this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 9,770,638 B2, Robert Argiro, has a chamber, with a device in a top chamber, that shows where the ball was struck, and that is not pertinent to this invention. Pat. No. U.S. D633,583 S, Rich S. Guevara, Shows that by adding or removing sections of the upright, before batter is batting, the height of the ball location can be changed, and that is not pertinent to this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,516 B2, Allen Holland, Has a telescoping inner post that is secured by a pressure fitting, and that is not pertinent to this invention.

[0005] Other Patents, such as, U.S. Pat. No. 8,979,681 B1, Murphy; U.S. Pat. No. 8,((@,348 B2, Meier; U.S. Pat. No. 8,747,258 B2, Durham,; U.S. Pat. No. 8,672,780 B2, Fournier; U.S. Pat. No. 8,784,240 B1, Buono; U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,920 B2, Windsor; U.S. Pat. No. 8,246,492 B2, Gangelhoff; U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,440 B1, Burrell; U.S. Pat. No. 9,492,727 B2, Brossman; U.S. Pat. No. 9,649,544 B2, Fitzpatric; U.S. Pat. No. 9,814,958 B1, Orenstein; U.S. Pat. No. 9,889,359 B2, Ouellette; U.S. Pat. No. 9,914,034 B2, Lee. The claims of objects actions are not pertinent to this invention, nor does this invention infringe on any of them.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 10,11,097 B2, LoDuca, although the height of the ball can be changed, this action is not a continuous action, or a timed one, while the batter is swinging, as is with this invention. Also, the changing of the height is done before the batter is actually at bat. The height change for this invention is the changing to a different length upper post more suitable to the batter's size. That Patent is not pertinent to this invention.APPENDIX To: A Frontal Perspective View Of The T-Ball 4 Tykes Device1End CapsFour end caps #1 affixed to the four arms #22ArmsFour end caps #1 affixed to the four arms #23HubsSaid arms #2 slide into or out of hub #34Lower PostThe lower post #4, is permanently affixed to the hub #34Additional Note:NoteThere are different changeable length #5 posts that can be inserted inpost #4 to accommodate the height of the batter.5Upper PostThe upper post #5 is free to move inside the lower post #46Ball SupportThe ball support #6 is partially over upper post #56Additional Note:NoteThe ball will rest freely on the top of ball support #67On OffWith the on / off switch #7 in the on position the unit is readySwitchto operate8TimerWith the timer / actuator switch #9, pre-set, pressing theActuatoraction switch button #8, will initialize the actuator.SwitchNotActuatorThe actuator (internal mechanism not visible in drawing)Visiblewill raise and lower the upper post #5, causing the ballsupport #6, with the ball atop, to also move vertically up anddown.

Claims

1. This invention uses an actuator. (#7 on FIGS. 2 and 3). The actuator alternately changes the vertical height of a ball, that is sitting on top of an unfastened ball support (#6 in FIGS. 2 and 3). The ball support is slid over the top portion of the upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3).

2. This invention has an upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3), that is completely uninhibited, and is free to be lifted (#4 in FIGS. 2 and 3), and replaced with a different length post to accommodate the height of the batter.

3. This invention has an actuator (#7 in FIGS. 2 and 3), to lift or lower the upper post changing the vertical distance that the upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3) travels.

4. This invention has an upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3), that can be changed to a different size post, to give the same batter practice in adjusting to different level pitches.

Images