# US 2013/0157785 A1 · Sports practicing system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157785 A1 - Document ID: US20130157785A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/715,570 - Filed: 2012-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Inventors: Robert W. Connors - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157785A1 ## CPC - A63B 69/0002: {for baseball} - A63B 69/0079: {Balls tethered to a line or cord (A63B43/007 takes precedence; other games using tethered balls A63B67/10; games using a bat or racket with a ball tethered thereto A63B67/20)} - A63B 69/0091: {Balls fixed to a movable, tiltable or flexible arm} - A63B 69/0013: {Baseball bases} - A63B 69/3655: {Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor} - A63B 69/3661: {Mats for golf practice, e.g. mats having a simulated turf, a practice tee or a green area} - A63B 69/3667: {Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet} - A63B 69/38: for tennis {(A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence)} - A63B 71/022: {Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls} - A63B 2069/0008: {for batting} - A63B 2071/0063: {Shock absorbers} - A63B 2071/009: {Protective housings covering the working parts of the apparatus} - A63B 2071/024: {with screws or pins in the earth} - A63B 2071/026: {stabilised by weight} - A63B 2071/065: {Visualisation of specific exercise parameters} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B 2220/53: Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch - A63B 2225/093: Height - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A sports practicing system includes: a lever arm including an aperture; at least one ball secured to the lever arm; a pivot about which the lever arm rotates; an upper member to which the pivot is connected, the upper member including first and second ends; a base for placement on a ground, the base supporting the upper member; and an elastic strap stretched from the first end of the upper member to the second end of the upper member, an inner portion of the strap intersecting the pivot so the strap deflects the lever arm and the ball when the lever arm rotates about the pivot due to the ball being struck. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sports practicing system comprising: a lever arm including an aperture; at least one ball secured to the lever arm; a pivot about which the lever arm rotates; an upper member to which the pivot is connected, the upper member including first and second ends; a base for placement on a ground, the base supporting the upper member; and an elastic strap stretched from the first end of the upper member to the second end of the upper member, an inner portion of the strap intersecting the pivot so the strap deflects the lever arm and the ball when the lever arm rotates about the pivot due to the ball being struck. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the lever arm includes a plurality of apertures for receiving the pivot and for ball height striking adjustment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the lever arm includes first and second ends, the ball a first ball secured to the first lever arm end, and which includes a second ball secured to the second lever arm end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 4) The sports practicing system of claim 4, which includes an aperture through each of the first and second balls, and which includes first and second bolts or a stretchable cord extending through the apertures to secure the balls to the first and second ends of the lever arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the elastic strap defines an aperture for fitting over a distal end of the pivot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sports practicing system of claim 5, wherein a proximal end of the pivot is connected to the upper member such that the elastic strap is stretched away from the upper member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the pivot extends through a collar, the collar extending through the aperture of the lever arm and setting a distance such that the lever arm can rotate without undue wobbling about the pivot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the pivot is connected to the upper member via a hand-actuated knob. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the lever arm includes padding located between the ball and the aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the pivot is threaded for securing to at least one of the lever arm and upper member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the base includes a vertical post extending to a plurality of legs for placement on the ground. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sports practicing system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of legs is filled with a weighting material, such as sand. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sports practicing system of claim 11, which includes at least one additional strap stretched between the vertical post, or a portion of the upper member connecting to the vertical post, and at least one of the legs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, wherein the upper member, pivot, lever arm and ball are removable from the base for connection and operation with an external vertical support, such as a fence. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sports practicing system of claim 14, wherein the upper member, pivot, lever arm and ball are connected to the external vertical support via at least one additional elastic strap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The sports practicing system of claim 1, which includes a mat positionable with respect to the upper member, pivot, lever arm and base, and a plurality of foot markers removably attachable to the mat. ### Claim 17 A kit for a sports practicing system, the kit including: a lever arm; at least one ball for securing to the lever arm; a pivot about which the lever arm rotates; an upper member to which the pivot is connected; structure for securing the pivot to the lever arm and upper member; a strap for deflecting the lever arm; and a plurality of members for forming a base for supporting the upper member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17, which includes at least one additional strap for securing the base to the upper member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17, which includes at least one additional item selected from the group consisting of: (i) a mat positionable with respect to the upper member, pivot, lever arm and base, (ii) a plurality of foot markers removably attachable to the mat, (iii) a home plate, (iv) at least one sandbag, and (v) a bag for storing and transporting the kit. ### Claim 20 A sports practicing method comprising: enabling a ball to be pivoted about a pivot; counterweighting the ball on an opposing side of the pivot from the ball; and reversing a rotational direction of the ball after being struck to rotate back towards a user so that the ball can be re-struck. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The sports practicing method of claim 20, which includes reversing a rotational direction of the ball a plurality of times after being struck to reduce the momentum of the ball.