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US 3,937,464 AGranted
Batting practice apparatus
OwnerCasimir Zalewskiinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerCasimir Zalewskiinventor
Estimating the term…
A ball is slidably mounted on a horizontally extending track which is supported by a tripod. The tripod has an upwardly extending post and a support arm which is adjustably attached to the post and extends transversely therefrom. The support arm is adjustably attached to the track to support the same. An upper rail is spaced above the track and extends parallel thereto to form an open ended bat guideway. The ball is mounted on a carriage which slides within the guideway and is spring biased to normally hold the ball in the open end of the guideway. The position of the ball and orientation of the guideway with respect to a batter can be easily adjusted to be disposed at any desired position within an individual batter's strike zone by the adjustments on the tripod and support arm. When the bat is properly swung, it hits the ball squarely and knocks the ball down the guideway to the end of the track, where the ball carriage strikes a resilient bumper. The bat moves through the guideway without touching its boundaries and then leaves the guideway. The ball subsequently returns to the open end of the guideway under the influence of the spring biasing means. If the ball is not hit squarely, it will not travel all the way to the end of the track. If the bat is swung at the wrong angle, it will contact the track or the upper rail, thereby giving the batter notice of an improper swing. If the swing is grossly incorrect, the bat may miss the ball and the guideway entirely and strike resilient bumpers at the open end of the guideway. At least one leg of the tripod support is preferably wheeled so that the apparatus may be easily moved from place to place.
Batting practice apparatus comprising a linear track, means supporting said linear track, a rail spaced laterally of said track and extending parallel thereto, said track and rail comprising means forming a bat receiving guideway open at its front end through which a bat may be swung, a ball, means slidably supporting said ball for movement along said track within said guideway, means normally urging said ball toward the open front end of said guideway and means for limiting the movement of said ball toward said open front end of said guideway, said means supporting said linear track comprising a post, a support arm adjustably attached to said post and extending transversely therefrom, and means attaching said support arm to said track for supporting the same.
Batting practice apparatus comprising a linear track, means supporting said linear track, a rail spaced laterally of said track and extending parallel thereto, said track and rail comprising means forming a bat receiving guideway open at its front end through which a bat may be swung, a ball, means slidably supporting said ball for movement along said track within said guideway, means normally urging said ball toward the open front end of said guideway and means for limiting the movement of said ball toward said open front end of said guideway, said means supporting said linear track including an upwardly extending post, a first sleeve slidably mounted on said post, a threaded bore in said first sleeve for receiving a set screw and clamping plate to hold said first sleeve at any desired height on said post, a second sleeve rigidly attached to said first sleeve and extending transversely thereto, a supporting arm passing through said second sleeve and projecting sideways therefrom, means for resiliently clamping said supporting arm in said second sleeve, the end of said supporting arm which is opposite said second sleeve being bent at an angle of approximately 90.degree., a third sleeve rigidly attached to the bottom of said linear track, the end of said supporting arm which is opposite said second sleeve being positioned within said third sleeve, and means for resiliently clamping said support arm in said third sleeve.
Apparatus for teaching a batter to swing a bat and develop a preconditioned reflex action adapted to the batter's individual stance and style, said apparatus comprising a bat swing guideway adapted to receive the ball hitting end of a bat swung by the batter, said guideway having an open front end, means for adjustably supporting said guideway at various levels and inclinations for matching the natural swing path for the particular batter using the apparatus so that the guideway will intercept the bat during swinging motion of the bat by the batter, a ball in said guideway and means slidably supporting the ball for movement along said guideway after impact with the bat, and means resisting movement of the ball along the guideway to develop the batter's follow-through.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.