Strike Zone Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for defining a strike zone of a batter positioned to bat a ball thrown in the general direction of the batter. The apparatus includes a support and a strike plate operatively connected to the support and configured to be positioned so as to be struck by the ball when the ball passes through the strike zone of the batter. The apparatus further includes an adjustment mechanism operatively connecting the support and the strike plate to permit adjustable orientation of the strike plate relative to the support.

1 . An apparatus for defining a strike zone of a batter positioned to: 
 bat a ball thrown in the general direction of the batter, comprising:    a support;    a strike plate operatively connected to the support and configured to be positioned so as to be struck by the ball when the ball passes through the strike zone of the batter; and    an adjustment mechanism operatively connecting the support and the strike plate and operable to provide adjustable orientation of the strike plate relative to the support.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a linkage assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to provide folding and unfolding of the strike plate relative to the support.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to provide tilting of the strike plate relative to the support.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to provide raising and lowering of the strike plate relative to the support.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strike plate is made of plastic.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strike plate is made of wood.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strike plate is made of metal.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said linkage assembly comprises a first link pivotally coupled to said support and a second link coupled to said first link and said strike plate; and 
 said strike plate can be raised and lowered relative to said support by pivoting said first link relative to said support to adjust an angular orientation of said first link relative to said support.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said linkage assembly comprises a first link coupled to said support and a second link pivotally coupled to said first link and coupled to said strike plate; and    said strike plate can be raised and lowered relative to said support by pivoting said second link relative to said first link to adjust an angular orientation of said second link relative to said first link.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said linkage assembly comprises a first link pivotally coupled to said support and a second link pivotally coupled to said first link and coupled to said strike plate; and    said strike plate can be raised and lowered relative to said support by pivoting said first link relative to said support to adjust an angular orientation of said first link relative to said support and by pivoting said second link relative to said first link to adjust an angular orientation of said second link relative to said first link.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said linkage assembly further comprises a support member extending between and connected to said first and second links; and    said support member is releasably connected to at least one said first and second links, said support member releasably latching said second link in said angular orientation of said second link relative to said first link.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said adjustment mechanism further comprises an adjustable bracket secured to said support;    said first link is pivotally coupled to said support with said adjustable bracket; and    said adjustable bracket is operable for releasably locking said first link in said angular orientation of said first link relative to said support.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustable bracket secured to said strike plate and a linkage assembly coupled to said support and said adjustable bracket; and    said adjustable bracket is operable to permit tilting of said strike plate relative to said support.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said support defines a cavity having an open top; and    said adjustment mechanism is operably foldable into said cavity.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said strike plate is operably foldable onto said support when said adjustment mechanism is folded into said cavity; and    further wherein said support and said strike plate at least partially enclose said adjustment mechanism.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said strike plate is releasably latched to said support when said strike plate is folded onto said support and said support comprises a handle.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said support comprises a base, a pair of spaced apart side members secured to and extending upwardly from said base, and at least one end member secured to and extending upwardly from said base; and    said base, said side members and said at least one end member define said cavity therebetween.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said adjustment mechanism further comprises a frame coupled to said strike plate; and    said linkage assembly is coupled to said support and said frame and is operable for permitting said frame and said strike plate to be raised and lowered relative to said support.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said linkage assembly comprises first and second spaced apart pairs of parallel links, each said link of each of said pairs of parallel links being pivotally coupled at one end thereof to said support and coupled at an opposite end thereof to said frame.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said frame comprises first and second spaced apart side members;    said adjustment mechanism further comprises first and second braces;    said first brace is connected to said first side member and to one of said links of said first pair of parallel links, said second brace being connected to said second side member and to one of said links of said second pair of parallel links; and    said braces are operable for releasably latching said frame in a fixed position above said support.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said frame comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches formed therein;    said adjustment mechanism further comprises at least one support member coupled at one end thereof to said strike plate and having an opposite end releasably engaged with one of said notches when said apparatus is in a use position, wherein said strike plate is inclined at an angle relative to said support;    said adjustment mechanism is operable for adjusting said angle by releasably engaging said at least one support member with another one of said notches.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a beverage holder supported by said frame; wherein    said beverage holder comprises at least one recess formed therein that is configured to receive a beverage container.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sound module secured to said strike plate; and    at least one sensor secured to said strike plate and electrically coupled to said sound module;    wherein said sound module is operable to play a recorded message, in response to input from said at least one sensor, when a pitched ball hits said strike plate.    
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for defining a strike zone of a batter positioned to bat a ball thrown in the general direction of the batter, comprising: 
 a support; and    a strike plate dimensioned to define the strike zone;    wherein said strike plate is movably mounted relative to said support for movement to and between a storage position generally parallel to said support and a strike-zone-defining position inclined to said support.