# US 6,296,581 B1 · Collapsible batting practice apparatus, and connectable plastic tubing used in same

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- Number: US 6,296,581 B1
- Document ID: US6296581B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 08/382,486
- Filed: 1995-02-01
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1995-02-01
- Inventors: Terry L. Sever
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296581B1

## CPC

- A63B 71/028: {Floor sockets for removable poles}
- A63B 47/002: {Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir (automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40)}
- A63B 63/00: Targets or goals for ball games (golf cups A63B57/40)
- A63B 69/0002: {for baseball}
- A63B 69/40: Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls {or other bodies} ({golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405;} traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

According to the invention there is disclosed a collapsible batting practice apparatus which comprises an inclined ball delivery channel for delivering a ball to a hitting area under gravitational forces, a support stand for supporting the inclined ball delivery channel at an elevated position, the support stand including a base and an elongate column connecting the inclined ball delivery channel and the base, and the inclined ball delivery channel and the elongate column being selectively collapsible into sections storable within the base. The base preferable comprises a five to seven gallon bucket, the elongate column is formed from a plurality of rigid tubular sections formed of a rigid plastic such as polyvinyl chloride and compressible rigid connectors also formed of PVC or the like which fit within the sections of tubing so as to be completely concealed thereby. Additionally, the apparatus also preferably includes a batting practice net for restricting movements of batted balls, a collapsible support frame for supporting the net in a substantially vertical orientation, and a base which dually functions to support the collapsible frame in an operative position thereof and to store the components of the collapsible frame and the net when disassembled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Batting practice apparatus comprising:
inclined ball delivery means for delivering a ball to a hitting area;
support stand means for supporting said inclined ball delivery means at an elevated position, said support stand means including a base and an elongate column connecting said inclined ball delivery means and said base;
said inclined ball delivery means and said elongate column being selectively collapsible and storable within said base;
said inclined ball delivery means including a ball feed section, a ball output section disposed at a lower level than said ball feed section, and a curved intermediate section connecting said ball feed and ball output sections such that free ends of said ball feed and ball output sections face in substantially the same direction; and
said inclined ball delivery means is substantially U-shaped when viewed in plan.