# US 7,744,496 B2 · Batting practice tee > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,496 B2 - Document ID: US7744496B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/709,563 - Filed: 2007-02-22 - Published: 2008-08-28 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-22 - Inventors: Michael P. Chisena - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744496B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/0075: {Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like (golf tees A63B57/10)} - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/182: {Softball} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract An improved multi-adjustable batting practice tee featuring a base assembly with an improved tube assembly thereby enhancing tube movement and overall batting tee stability is disclosed. The base assembly is configured to have standard dimensions for a “HOME PLATE” in accordance with the rules of Major League baseball. The base assembly includes a continuous channel positioned across the entire horizontal plane of the base assembly that includes an inner-locking guide rail system for enhanced batting tee stability. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A batting practice tee comprising: a base assembly including a continuous uninterrupted channel fixedly mounted to said base assembly, said channel being defined by first and second sidewalls extending generally downwardly, a bottom surface generally orthogonal to the sidewalls, and a top portion having an opening, said channel including an inner-locking guide rail fixedly disposed within said channel along said bottom surface of said channel and said first sidewall between a first termination point and a second termination point of said channel, said inner-locking guide rail protruding into a space defined by said channel so that a width of a lower space of said channel is smaller than a width of an upper space of said channel; said inner-locking guide rail forming a generally rectangular profile within said channel, a height of said inner-locking guide rail being a portion of a height of said first sidewall and a width of said inner-locking guide rail being a portion of a width of said bottom surface; and a tube assembly for holding a ball, said tube assembly removably coupled to said channel and being rotatable between an open position and a closed position, said tube assembly including a slidable device disposed about a rod of said tube assembly, a head of said rod fitting within the lower space of said channel and said slidable device fitting within the upper space of said channel so that a portion said slidable device is positioned above said-inner-locking guide rail, said slidable device being wider than the lower space of said channel, wherein, in said open position, said tube assembly is removable from said channel and movable throughout said channel, and wherein, in said closed position, said tube assembly engages said inner-locking guide rail to secure said tube assembly to a location along said channel, said tube assembly holding said ball above said location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel is formed in a generally inverted T-shape and grooved into said base assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The batting practice tee of claim 2, further comprising at least one side channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The batting practice tee of claim 2, further comprising at least one forward channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel above a leading edge of said base assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel is mounted to a top surface of said base assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The batting practice tee of claim 5, further comprising at least one side channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The batting practice tee of claim 5, further comprising at least one forward channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel above a leading edge of said base assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel comprises dual U-shaped devices and a grooved track having a generally inverted T-shape, said U-shaped devices and said T-shaped track grooved into said base assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The batting practice tee of claim 8, further comprising at least one side channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The batting practice tee of claim 8, further comprising at least one forward channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel above a leading edge of said base assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel comprises dual U-shaped devices and a grooved track having a generally inverted T-shape, said U-shaped devices and said T-shaped track mounted on a top surface of said base assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The batting practice tee of claim 11, further comprising at least one side channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The batting practice tee of claim 11, further comprising at least one forward channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel above a leading edge of said base assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel is formed from a single channel having a U-shape and inverted T-shape, said single channel grooved into said base assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The batting practice tee of claim 14, further comprising at least one side channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The batting practice tee of claim 14, further comprising at least one forward channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel above a leading edge of said base assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel is formed from a single channel having a U-shape and inverted T-shape, said single channel mounted on a top surface of said base assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The batting practice tee of claim 17, further comprising at least one side channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The batting practice tee of claim 17, further comprising at least one forward channel extension for attachment to said continuous channel above a leading edge of said base assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, further comprising a handle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said tube assembly comprises a slidable member for moving said tube assembly through said channel, said slidable member including a slidable device and a threaded rod. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said tube assembly comprises a slidable member for moving said tube assembly through said channel, said slidable member including an upper portion and a lower portion having a slotted opening for receiving a threaded rod. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said continuous channel provides stability to at least one of said tube assembly and said base assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said inner-locking guide rail provides a surface for guided movement of said tube assembly throughout said continuous channel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The batting practice tee of claim 24, wherein said surface is a top surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The batting practice tee of claim 24, wherein said inner-locking guide rail engages and secures said tube assembly to at least one location along said channel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said inner-locking guide rail provides stability to at least one of said tube assembly and said base assembly. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The batting practice tee of claim 27, wherein said inner-locking guide rail provides a centripetal force barrier to absorb a centrifugal force generated by a bat striking said tube assembly. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The batting practice tee of claim 27, wherein said continuous channel provides a centripetal force barrier to absorb a centrifugal force generated by a bat striking said tube assembly. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said tube assembly includes a threaded rod and a slidable device fitted about the shank of said threaded rod between the head of said threaded rod and an impact absorbing element of said tube assembly that threadingly engages said threaded rod, the head of said threaded rod being configured to fit in a space adjacent to said inner-locking guide rail and one of a side wall of said continuous channel or a second inner-locking guide rail, said slidable device being positioned above said inner-locking guide rail when said tube assembly is moveably coupled to said base assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The batting practice tee of claim 1, wherein said channel is a single undivided continuous channel configured to facilitate movement of said tube assembly to each available batting position of said batting practice tee without removal of said tube assembly from said channel.