Strike zone for return throw pitching assemblies

Abstract

A strike zone target is provided for a training device for pitchers that includes a frame and an elastic net disposed across the frame for absorbing energy of a ball thrown by a player and redirecting the ball back to the player. The strike zone target includes a fabric body having four corners and a fastening element disposed at each of the four corners. The fastening elements permit the strike zone target to be detachably secured to the net while permitting easy repositioning of the strike zone anywhere along the net.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A strike zone target for a training pitching device that has a frame and an elastic net disposed across the frame for absorbing energy of the thrown ball and redirecting the ball back to the player, the strike zone target comprising: 
 a fabric body having four corners; and    a fastening element disposed at each of the four corners, the fastening elements permitting the strike zone target to be detachably secured to the net while permitting easy repositioning of the strike zone anywhere along the net.    
     
     
         2 . The strike zone target of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric body is formed of a nylon material.  
     
     
         3 . The strike zone target of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening elements are constructed such that the strike zone target is releasably secured to the net in a snap fit manner.  
     
     
         4 . The strike zone target of  claim 1 , wherein each fastening element is formed of a strip of fabric that is fixedly attached at one end to the fabric body near one corner thereof, the fabric strip having a free end and includes a fold line that divides the fabric strip into two sections with a first fastening element being disposed on one side of the fold line and a second fastening element being disposed on another side of the fold line, the strip of fabric being securely attached to a cord member of the net by capturing the cord member between the mated first and second fastening parts and the folded fabric strip.  
     
     
         5 . The strike zone target of  claim 4 , wherein the strip is formed of the same fabric as the fabric body.  
     
     
         6 . The strike zone target of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric body has a color different than a color of the net.  
     
     
         7 . The strike zone target of  claim 6 , wherein the fabric body has a red color.  
     
     
         8 . The strike zone target of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric body is attached to a rear face of the net that faces away from the player.  
     
     
         9 . The strike zone target of  claim 4 , wherein the first fastening element is a male part and the second fastening element is a female part that snap fittingly receives the male part.  
     
     
         10 . The strike zone target of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric body is rectangular shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The strike zone of  claim 4 , wherein the fabric strip is fixedly attached to the fabric body at its one end by stitching.  
     
     
         12 . The strike zone target of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second fastening elements are of a hook and loop type.  
     
     
         13 . A training pitching device comprising: 
 a frame and an elastic net securely attached to the frame so that it is under tension and is capable of absorbing energy of a ball thrown by a player and redirecting the ball back to the player; and    a strike zone target that its detachably secured to the net and is freely positionable across the net, the strike zone target including a fabric body having four corners; and a fastening element disposed at each of the four corners, the fastening elements permitting the strike zone target to be detachably secured to the net by capturing a section of the net.    
     
     
         14 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the net is formed of horizontal and vertical cords that are arranged in a grid manner, each corner of the strike zone target being securely attached to one horizontal cord between adjacent vertical cords.  
     
     
         15 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric body is formed of a nylon material.  
     
     
         16 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the fastening elements are constructed such that the strike zone target is releasably secured to the net in a snap fit manner.  
     
     
         17 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein each fastening element is formed of a strip of fabric that is fixedly attached at one end to the fabric body near one corner thereof, the fabric strip having a free end and includes a fold line that divides the fabric strip into two sections with a first fastening element being disposed on one side of the fold line and a second fastening element being disposed on another side of the fold line, the strip of fabric being securely attached to a cord member of the net by capturing the cord member between the mated first and second fastening parts and the folded fabric strip.  
     
     
         18 . The training pitching device of  claim 17 , wherein the strip is formed of the same fabric as the fabric body.  
     
     
         19 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric body has a color different from a color of the net.  
     
     
         20 . The training pitching device of  claim 19 , wherein the fabric body has a red color.  
     
     
         21 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric body is attached to a rear face of the net that faces away from the player.  
     
     
         22 . The training pitching device of  claim 17 , wherein the first fastening element is a male part and the second fastening element is a female part that snap fittingly receives the male part.  
     
     
         23 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric body is rectangular shaped.  
     
     
         24 . The training pitching device of  claim 13 , wherein the fabric strip is fixedly attached to the fabric body at its one end by stitching.