Collapsible and Portable Strikezone & Backstop for WIFFLE® Ball (and other Plastic Baseball) Games

Abstract

This invention, entitled “Collapsible and Portable Strikezone & Backstop for W IFFLE ® Ball (and other Plastic Baseball) Games,” is a lightweight, portable strikezone and backstop for use in W IFFLE ball games. This invention calls pitches entering the strikezone, embedded on the collapsible backstop frame, “strikes” and stops “balls” hitting the backstop. This W IFFLE ball strikezone and backstop is portable and collapsible, being able to have its coilable frame rapidly unfurl and attach to lightweight rods in assembly. The invention's strikezone netting serves an objective “umpire” for pitches, while its backstop assists batters in retrieving “balls” faster—facilitating W IFFLE ball play. The invention's specific design for use with W IFFLE ® and other plastic baseballs enables the backstop frame to be lightweight and portable, which is easily assembled by unfurling and attaching it to lightweight connectors maintaining it perpendicular to the playing ground.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters of Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 ) A collapsible and portable strikezone and backstop for use with W IFFLE ® (and other recreational plastic-baseball) ball games, serving as an “umpire” in calling pitches “strikes” and stopping “balls” at the backstop, is comprised in combination of:
 a. a main elliptical-shaped backstop consisting of a synthetic fabric attached to a collapsible and coilable frame member; and 
 b. within the backstop, a target aperture, representing a strikezone for determining whether a pitched W IFFLE ® (or other plastic baseball) ball is a “strike” or a “ball,” embedded within backstop frame; and 
 c. a pouch netting, attached on the rear side of the backstop, surrounding the strikezone aperture opening that funnels pitched “strikes” into a ball reservoir located at the base of the backstop; and 
 d. two detachable and retractable connectors/fasteners brace members connected the sides of the base and bottom of the backstop to support the strikezone and backstop perpendicular to the ground. 
 
     
     
         2 ) The collapsible and portable strikezone and backstop of  claim 1  is collapsible by collapsing, bending, or folding the collapsible and coilable frame members (which retain its original shape when fully unfurled, such as steel wire) into a portable size, wherein:
 a. when the strikezone and backstop is collapsed, the collapsible and coilable frame member, being one continuous piece, forms overlapping loops over one another so that it can be coiled; and 
 b. the collapsible and coilable frame member includes two ends which permit axial rotation for collapsing the unit for disassembly and transport of the device; and 
 c. the supporting braces are attached to sides and base of the perimeter of the collapsible and coilable frame member in fully-assembled form; and 
 d. further in fully-assembled form, the collapsible and coilable frame member and backstop is semi-elliptical and semi-rectangular in shape in a size suitable to serve as a backstop and strikezone for W IFFLE ® (and other plastic baseball) ball games. 
 e) The collapsible and portable strikezone and backstop of  claim 1  is also collapsible by employing detachable frame members (such as fiberglass poles) and connectors as a modification of the preferred embodiment of the invention (instead of collapsible and coilable frame members) to establish the frame and shape of backstop and support it perpendicular to the ground. 
 
     
     
         3 ) The device of  claim 1  facilitates and increases the enjoyment of W IFFLE ® ball by modifying the rules of the game by employing the device to serve as an objective “umpire” in calling pitches either entering the strikezone aperture to count as a “strikes” or hitting the backstop to count as “balls.”
 a) The device of  claim 1  has a strikezone target and backstop is specifically designed for use with pitched W IFFLE ® (and other recreational plastic baseball) balls. 
 b) The device of  claim 1  reduces and minimizes the retrieval time of pitched W IFFLE ® (and other recreational plastic baseball) balls, which either enters the strikezone aperture to funnel in a ball reservoir or hits backstop and stops in front of it, by the batter. 
 c) The device of  claim 1  can also being used in W IFFLE ® ball games and tournaments as an objective umpire in calling “balls” and “strikes” instead of other currently-used inferior strikezone designs.