Ball launching racket

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention generally relates to sports equipment and more particularly to a racket for launching baseballs and softballs as a means for improving ball catching techniques.

#More specifically, the invention concerns an improved ball launching racquet which can be quickly and effectively modified for use as either a ground ball or fly ball hitting device, and which can be interchanged between hardball and softball applications.

#The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the reference numerals designate the structural elements, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball launching racket according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a retention clip according to the present invention, wherein the clip attaches the launching net to the racket frame;

#FIG. 1 generally shows the ball launching racket 10 of the present invention, comprising a net-retaining section 12, or frame, that includes an upper portion 12t, a lower portion 12b, and an elongate handle 14 that is interconnected to the frame 12. The frame 12 defines an opening 13 which may have a round or oval configuration, although the shape of the frame which defines the opening should not be considered to be limiting. It is seen that frame 12 has an outside surface 12d for receiving thereon a net retaining clip 30, as will be explained in greater detail herein. The frame 12 also has an inside surface 12l that faces frame opening 13. In one embodiment, the frame 12 and handle 14 may be constructed of a unitary, tubular metallic material, while in another embodiment, the unitary material is comprised of either wood or a composite.

#The handle 14 extends downwardly and away from frame 12 by an extent which will facilitate comfort, control and stability to the user when launching balls, and may be of a the length that is at least equivalent to the extent of the size of the opening 13. The handle may include a grip 16 for facilitating the gripping of the racket, especially a perspiring palm. The grip may be comprised of various types of materials commonly used in racket sports, i.e., leather, foam rubber, etc., and may further include preformed finger grips (not shown) to further improve the gripping of the racket 10. The distal end 16e of the handle 16 may also be enlarged so as to prevent the racket slipping out of the hand of a user during use.

#FIG. 1 also illustrates that a net 20 that functions to launch the ball from the racket, is disposed within the frame opening 13. The net 20 may be formed of interwoven nylon or polyester strands or cords that ultimately form an open grid pattern of substantially equally-sized apertures. The illustration shows the apertures being formed as squares, as defined by the pattern of the interwoven cords, although other patterns may be provided, such as a honeycomb or rectangular pattern, preferably so long as the apertures are of the same size. The perimeter of the net 20 is comprised of an outermost flexible strand or binding 22 that delimits the size of the launching net 20. The outermost strand 22 may be heavier than the interior interwoven cords and may be complementary to the configuration of the frame opening 13. The net 20 is secured to the frame 12 by a plurality of resilient elastomeric bands 50 which are looped around the outermost strand of the net at equally spaced locations from each other, thereby encircling the perimeter of the net. Each band 50 is attached to a set of arms 32, 34 of a respective anchoring clip 30, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Looping of the individual bands 50 is best understood by referring to the FIG. 4 illustration, where it is seen that each band 50 is formed as a continuous closed loop. When folded flat, each band 50 forms a pair of loop ends 52 and 54 that are defined from a combination of the top strand portion 51 and the bottom strand portion 53. The elastomeric band 50 is folded around the binding strand 22 such that the band center 56 of either the top or bottom strand portion 51 or 53, will be the only part of the elastomeric band 50 contacting the binding strand 22 of the net 20. Because each band 50 is formed as a continuous, closed loop, the looped ends 52 and 54 will be folded around the net binding 22, and the same two looped ends 52, 54, will be folded around a respective arm 32, 34 associated at each end 33a and 33b of the arcuately configured trunk 33 of clip 30. The trunk 33 forms a base portion of the clip, while the arms 32, 34 form a top portion. Each arm 32, 34, extends away from the base of the clip 30 in the same direction and the same extent. Each arm 32, 34 includes a respective proximate end 32a or 34a, and a respective terminal end 32b or 34b. Each of the proximate ends 32a, 34a, are integrally formed with trunk 33 at a respective end 33a or 33b. The terminal ends 32b, 34b of each arm 32, 34, include a respective hand portion 40, 42 that is integrally formed thereon. More specifically, the inside surface 55, 57 of each looped end 52, 54, is respectively in resting contact against an upstanding portion 36, 38 formed on each arm 32, 34. FIG. 3 shows that each loop end 52, 54, is slid in the direction of the heavy arrow and between the gap “G” existing between each arm 32, 34, such that the top strand portion 51 and the bottom strand portion 53 of each looped end 52, 54, is in effect, looped only about the respective upstanding portions 36 or 38 such that a respective arm 32, 34 is interposed between the strand portions comprising the respective elastomeric band 50. The remaining and opposite loop end 52 or 54 of each band is likewise looped about the other upstanding portion 36 or 38. In this way, one elastomeric band 50 will be strung around the binding strand 22 of the net 20 at a predetermined location, and then attached to the arms of a respective clip 30 so as to be restrained between the upstanding portions 36, 38. The clip is then attached to the racket frame 12 by pushing the base portion of the clip (the arcuately configured trunk 33) securely against the frame surface until the inside surface 35 of the trunk 33 is in resting contact against outside surface 12d of the frame 12 (FIG. 3). Due to the construction of upstanding portions 36, 38, a tolerance is provided between the arms 32, 34 of each clip 30 and the frame 12 when the clip/band assembly is secured to the frame 12. This tolerance facilitates holding the clip 30 and band 50 to the frame 12, otherwise, the thickness of the strands forming the elastomeric bands 50 would interfere and prevent the clip 30 from securely seating against the frame 12 if the upstanding portion 36, 38 were not provided. The hand portions 40, 42, of each arm 32, 34, also contact the outside frame surface 12d when the clip 30 is secured to the frame 12, thereby providing additional stability to the top portion of the clip 30, additionally helping the retain it against the frame 12. Furthermore, hand portions 40, 42, cooperate to prevent each of the looped ends 52, 54, of elastomeric band 50 from unworking themselves from the upstanding portions 36, 38 when in use. It is important that the clips 30 be positioned with the semi-circular portion of the trunk 33 encircling the outside surface 12d of the frame so that the tensile forces which continuously pull on the band 50 and keep the net 20 taunt, will also simultaneously pull the clip in contact against the outside surface 12d of the frame 12. In this way, the two looped ends 52, 54, of the elastomeric band 50 actually pulling on the clip 30 in a direction towards the net 20, while the center 56 of the band 50 is pulling on the net 20 in a direction towards the frame 12, and hence towards the clip 30. For this reason, it is not necessary that the trunk 33 of the clip 30 be made to frictionally snap-fit to the frame 12, although the clip 30 may be formed to frictionally snap-fit to the frame. Thus, it can be appreciated that since each looped end 52, 54, are continuously in a state of tension and are pulled towards the net 20, a tensile state condition will continuously exist in each looped end 52, 54, and in each strand 51, 53 (except for the area immediately around center 56), thereby maintaining clip 30 in a firmly secured fashion against the frame 12. This is especially true during use, where the tension forces in these same locations become even greater. The orientation of the clip arms 32, 34 with respect to the arms of an adjacent clip is not important to the function of the clip and band as an assembly.