T-Ball 4 Tykes

Abstract

This invention relates to a baseball batter's training apparatus. This device consists of a supporting base that consists of four arms as stabilizers, attached to a hub. Extending upward from the hub is a vertical lower post, This lower post contains an actuator that drives a fitting that moves up and down it the upper post. When the motor is energized, the upper post is continuously moved vertically in an upward or downward direction. Different length inserted height adjustment posts are used to accommodate for the height of the batter. The ball holder is a stiff sponge like material that can support any ball. The main purpose of this apparatus is to aid a batter in developing better hand/eye coordination.

Claims

1. This invention uses an actuator. (#7 on FIGS. 2 and 3). The actuator alternately changes the vertical height of a ball, that is sitting on top of an unfastened ball support (#6 in FIGS. 2 and 3). The ball support is slid over the top portion of the upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3).

2. This invention has an upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3), that is completely uninhibited, and is free to be lifted (#4 in FIGS. 2 and 3), and replaced with a different length post to accommodate the height of the batter.

3. This invention has an actuator (#7 in FIGS. 2 and 3), to lift or lower the upper post changing the vertical distance that the upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3) travels.

4. This invention has an upper post (#5 in FIGS. 2 and 3), that can be changed to a different size post, to give the same batter practice in adjusting to different level pitches.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0004] T-Ball Stands have long been used in baseball for practice and in game situations. Not one previous invention, until this one, has addressed the batters concern to hit a ball continuously changing its vertical positions by actually moving either up or down. These prior art baseball T-Ball devices do not provide a solution to these problems. U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,687 B2, William Coleman Lay, has a plural ended pedestal, and that is not pertinent to this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 9,770,638 B2, Robert Argiro, has a chamber, with a device in a top chamber, that shows where the ball was struck, and that is not pertinent to this invention. Pat. No. U.S. D633,583 S, Rich S. Guevara, Shows that by adding or removing sections of the upright, before batter is batting, the height of the ball location can be changed, and that is not pertinent to this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,516 B2, Allen Holland, Has a telescoping inner post that is secured by a pressure fitting, and that is not pertinent to this invention.

[0005] Other Patents, such as, U.S. Pat. No. 8,979,681 B1, Murphy; U.S. Pat. No. 8,((@,348 B2, Meier; U.S. Pat. No. 8,747,258 B2, Durham,; U.S. Pat. No. 8,672,780 B2, Fournier; U.S. Pat. No. 8,784,240 B1, Buono; U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,920 B2, Windsor; U.S. Pat. No. 8,246,492 B2, Gangelhoff; U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,440 B1, Burrell; U.S. Pat. No. 9,492,727 B2, Brossman; U.S. Pat. No. 9,649,544 B2, Fitzpatric; U.S. Pat. No. 9,814,958 B1, Orenstein; U.S. Pat. No. 9,889,359 B2, Ouellette; U.S. Pat. No. 9,914,034 B2, Lee. The claims of objects actions are not pertinent to this invention, nor does this invention infringe on any of them.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 10,11,097 B2, LoDuca, although the height of the ball can be changed, this action is not a continuous action, or a timed one, while the batter is swinging, as is with this invention. Also, the changing of the height is done before the batter is actually at bat. The height change for this invention is the changing to a different length upper post more suitable to the batter's size. That Patent is not pertinent to this invention.

TABLE-US-00001 APPENDIX To: A Frontal Perspective View Of The T-Ball 4 Tykes Device 1 End Caps Four end caps #1 affixed to the four arms #2 2 Arms Four end caps #1 affixed to the four arms #2 3 Hubs Said arms #2 slide into or out of hub #3 4 Lower Post The lower post #4, is permanently affixed to the hub #3 4 Additional Note: Note There are different changeable length #5 posts that can be inserted in post #4 to accommodate the height of the batter. 5 Upper Post The upper post #5 is free to move inside the lower post #4 6 Ball Support The ball support #6 is partially over upper post #5 6 Additional Note: Note The ball will rest freely on the top of ball support #6 7 On Off With the on/off switch #7 in the on position the unit is ready Switch to operate 8 Timer With the timer/actuator switch #9, pre-set, pressing the Actuator action switch button #8, will initialize the actuator. Switch Not Actuator The actuator (internal mechanism not visible in drawing) Visible will raise and lower the upper post #5, causing the ball support #6, with the ball atop, to also move vertically up and down.