US20040162166A1

US20040162166A1 - Baseball pitch practicing rack

Info

Publication number: US20040162166A1
Application number: US10/370,320
Authority: US
Inventors: Feng-Yi Tien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-13
Filing date: 2003-02-13
Publication date: 2004-08-19

Abstract

A baseball pitch practicing rack includes two opposite frame seats, a front crossbar mounted between the two opposite frame seats, a rear crossbar mounted between the two opposite frame seats, two opposite U-shaped support foot frames each pivotally mounted on a bottom of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats, and a main frame pivotally mounted between the two opposite frame seats. The main frame is provided with a plurality of swing boards, so that the user can pitch the baseball toward the swing boards to hit one of the swing boards, so as to practice the pitching accuracy.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a baseball pitch practicing rack, and more particularly to a baseball pitch practicing rack including a main frame provided with a plurality of swing boards, so that the user can pitch the baseball toward the swing boards to hit one of the swing boards, so as to practice the pitching accuracy.

2. Description of the Related Art

When a single person is practicing pitching the baseball, he can face the wall to practice the pitching skill. However, the practicing process is tedious and boring, so that the practicing person easily loses his interest. In addition, the person cannot practice the pitching accuracy when pitching the baseball toward the wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a baseball pitch practicing rack including a main frame that can be used to simulate the strike zone of the baseball.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a baseball pitch practicing rack, wherein the main frame is provided with a plurality of swing boards, so that the user can pitch the baseball toward the swing boards to hit one of the swing boards, so as to practice the pitching accuracy.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a baseball pitch practicing rack, wherein the return rod is moved upward to press and return each of the swing boards to the original position.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a baseball pitch practicing rack, comprising two opposite frame seats, a front crossbar mounted between the two opposite frame seats, a rear crossbar mounted between the two opposite frame seats, two opposite U-shaped support foot frames each pivotally mounted on a bottom of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats, and a main frame pivotally mounted between the two opposite frame seats.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0010]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a return rod of the baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away side plan cross-sectional view of the baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a swing board of the baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0015]
FIG. 7 is a side plan folded view of the baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. [0017] 1-6, a baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises two opposite frame seats 10, a front crossbar 11 mounted between the two opposite frame seats 10, a rear crossbar 12 mounted between the two opposite frame seats 10, and two opposite U-shaped support foot frames 20 each pivotally mounted on a bottom of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats 10.
The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises two [0018] elbow links 21 each having a first end pivotally mounted on the rear crossbar 12 and a second end pivotally mounted on a respective one of the opposite support foot frames 20, so that each of the opposite support foot frames 20 can be expanded or folded on the respective frame seat 10.
The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises two [0019] mounting tubes 14 each having a first end mounted on a top of a front end of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats 10, and a substantially inverted U-shaped front rail 30 having two ends each inserted into a second end of a respective one of the two mounting tubes 14.
The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises a substantially inverted U-shaped [0020] rear rail 31 having two ends each mounted on a top of a rear end of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats 10.
The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises [0021] cushioning nets 200 and 300 and cushioning cloth 100 mounted between the two opposite frame seats 10, the two support foot frames 20, the front rail 30 and the rear rail 31.
The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises a [0022] main frame 40 pivotally mounted between the two opposite frame seats 10. Preferably, the main frame 40 is pivotally mounted between the two opposite frame seats 10 by a shaft 15.
The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises two [0023] support rods 13 each having a first end pivotally mounted on the rear crossbar 12 and a second end rested on a back side of the main frame 40.
The [0024] main frame 40 is formed with a plurality of partitions 400. The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises a plurality of swing boards 70 each pivotally mounted in a respective one of the partitions 400 of the main frame 40. Thus, the user can pitch the baseball toward the swing boards 70 to hit one of the swing boards 70, so as to practice the pitching accuracy. When the swing board 70 is hit by the baseball, the swing board 70 is pivoted to a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 5.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the [0025] main frame 40 is provided with two guide tracks 60. The baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises a return rod 80 movably mounted on the main frame 40 and capable of contacting with each of the swing boards 70, two fixing seats 82 each slidably mounted on a respective one of the two guide tracks 60 and each secured on the return rod 80 for moving the return rod 80, and a pull cord 50 reeved through a top of the main frame 40 and having two ends each secured on a respective one of the two fixing seats 82 for pulling the two fixing seats 82. Preferably, each of the two fixing seats 82 is formed with a substantially T-shaped guide slot 81 for receiving the respective guide track 60. Thus, when the pull cord 50 is pulled, each of the two fixing seats 82 is moved upward along the respective guide track 60 to move the return rod 80 upward, so that the return rod 80 is moved upward to press and return each of the swing boards 70 to the original position as shown in FIG. 5.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the [0026] swing boards 70 is pivotally mounted in a respective one of the partitions 400 of the main frame 40 by a support shaft 75. Preferably, each of the swing boards 70 has a bottom formed with a base 71 pivotally mounted on the support shaft 75. The base 71 of each of the swing boards 70 has a first end provided with two first magnets 72 and a second end provided with two second magnets 73. Each of the partitions 400 of the main frame 40 is provided with a positioning plate 41 made of metal.
Thus, referring to FIG. 5, each of the [0027] swing boards 70 is pivoted on the support shaft 75 between a first position where each of the swing boards 70 is located at a horizontal state, so that the two second magnets 73 of each of the swing boards 70 are secured on the respective positioning plate 41 of the main frame 40, and a second position where each of the swing boards 70 is located at a vertical state, so that the first second magnets 72 of each of the swing boards 70 are secured on the respective positioning plate 41 of the main frame 40.
Referring to FIG. 7, the [0028] front rail 30 is detached from the two mounting tubes 14, so that the rear rail 31, the two mounting tubes 14, the two support foot frames 20, the main frame 40 and the swing board 70 can be folded into the two opposite frame seats 10.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. [0029]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A baseball pitch practicing rack, comprising two opposite frame seats, a front crossbar mounted between the two opposite frame seats, a rear crossbar mounted between the two opposite frame seats, two opposite U-shaped support foot frames each pivotally mounted on a bottom of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats, and a main frame pivotally mounted between the two opposite frame seats.

2. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main frame is pivotally mounted between the two opposite frame seats by a shaft.

3. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the further comprising two support rods each having a first end pivotally mounted on the rear crossbar and a second end rested on a back side of the main frame.

4. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main frame is formed with a plurality of partitions, and the baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises a plurality of swing boards each pivotally mounted in a respective one of the partitions of the main frame.

5. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 4, wherein the main frame is provided with two guide tracks, and the baseball pitch practicing rack further comprises a return rod movably mounted on the main frame and capable of contacting with each of the swing boards, two fixing seats each slidably mounted on a respective one of the two guide tracks and each secured on the return rod for moving the return rod, and a pull cord reeved through a top of the main frame and having two ends each secured on a respective one of the two fixing seats for pulling the two fixing seats.

6. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the two fixing seats is formed with a substantially T-shaped guide slot for receiving the respective guide track.

7. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of the swing boards is pivotally mounted in a respective one of the partitions of the main frame by a support shaft.

8. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of the swing boards has a bottom formed with a base pivotally mounted on the support shaft, the base of each of the swing boards has a first end provided with two first magnets and a second end provided with two second magnets.

9. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of the partitions of the main frame is provided with a positioning plate made of metal attracted by the first magnets and the second magnets of the respective swing board.

10. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the swing boards is pivoted on the support shaft between a first position where each of the swing boards is located at a horizontal state, so that the second magnets of each of the swing boards are secured on the respective positioning plate of the main frame, and a second position where each of the swing boards is located at a vertical state, so that the first second magnets of each of the swing boards are secured on the respective positioning plate of the main frame.

11. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 1, further comprising two elbow links each having a first end pivotally mounted on the rear crossbar and a second end pivotally mounted on a respective one of the opposite support foot frames.

12. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 1, further comprising two mounting tubes each having a first end mounted on a top of a front end of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats, and a substantially inverted U-shaped front rail having two ends each inserted into a second end of a respective one of the two mounting tubes.

13. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 12, further comprising cushioning nets and cushioning cloth mounted between the two opposite frame seats, the two support foot frames and the front rail.

14. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped rear rail having two ends each mounted on a top of a rear end of a respective one of the two opposite frame seats.

15. The baseball pitch practicing rack in accordance with claim 14, further comprising cushioning nets and cushioning cloth mounted between the two opposite frame seats, the two support foot frames and the rear rail.